One-Eyed Monster

”We meet again, lads.” The Spirit Form of Lord Soron grinned at Igor and Kadi.

Igor abruptly stood. He stared at the shriveled old man in his Spirit Power State, memories of their past encounter flooding his mind.

”You stopped halfway through your story last time. What a killjoy.” Igor immediately poured cold water on Lord Soron’s remark.

”Heh heh heh…” Hearing this, the sparsely bearded, slightly hunched Lord Soron chuckled, not showing the same sullenness as before.

”Yeah, old man! You said someone would ask us those questions, but no one ever did,” Kadi chimed in, also recognizing the somewhat familiar elder before him.

”Hm? No one asked? Aren’t you surprised that these two lads deciphered your techniques?” Lord Soron turned to Guzan. Even in his Spirit Power State, an aura of authority still emanated from him.

”The answers were within the process itself. It wasn’t that no one inquired; we simply understood, rendering further questions unnecessary,” Master Guzan replied nonchalantly. ”Initially, I was a little surprised, but less so when they summoned you, Lord Soron.”

”These two lads are certainly different, utterly lacking even basic common sense.” Lord Soron was still miffed about the previous incident. When summoned that time, he hadn’t received the reverence he felt he deserved, which had been quite embarrassing…

If he knew how much Igor adored Guzan, would he, in his Spirit Form, be so enraged as to cough up a mouthful of old blood?

Fortunately, he didn’t know. This time, he didn’t need to worry about the time limit, as he hadn’t been summoned.

”To think, Guzan, that you’ve reached an age where your hair is turning white. Time truly spares no one.” Soron chuckled, looking at Guzan. ”Judging by your attire, you’re an Alchemist, aren’t you? Have you finally found your calling?”

”Yes. I’ve dedicated myself to studying Equivalent Exchange, hence my choice to become an Alchemist,” Guzan stated.

Just as Guzan finished, Igor couldn’t resist interjecting, ”Our omnipotent Lord Soron, as verbose as ever.”

”Exactly! Just like his Spirit Book—mystifying and nonsensical,” Kadi chimed in, ever ready to back Igor up and add fuel to the fire.

”With a performance like that, how do you expect anyone to prostrate themselves at your feet?”

”And all this reminiscing! Will you ever get to the point? I’m about to fall asleep!” Kadi was clearly venting his personal frustrations.

Kadi couldn’t entirely be blamed. He was waiting for a specific answer, yet these people kept beating around the bush, never getting to the point. It was purely a waste of time.

Igor and Kadi’s display caused Lord Soron’s Spirit Form to tremble slightly. He couldn’t understand what the world had become. In the years since my departure, has the world of Adventurers with Class developed so rapidly that my name has been forgotten? Or is it that the youth of today are simply shallow and unambitious?

These were Lord Soron’s inner thoughts. He’d experienced this once before; though this instance wasn’t as jarring, it was remarkably similar.

In his Spirit Form, Lord Soron was momentarily speechless. Everything felt insipid, so utterly out of sync with his expectations. Have I truly become worthless?

Is this utter disappointment? Or sheer surprise? Lord Soron was completely oblivious to the current reality, even beginning to wonder if all his efforts had been superfluous.

Has the world truly progressed to the point where it can naturally bear the secrets concealed within this mountain range? Was everything I did truly in vain? Lord Soron wondered helplessly. Unfortunately, as a Spirit Form, he couldn’t freely express his emotions or gestures. His only means of interacting with the external world was through speech. Yet, his dignity prevented him from causing a scene, as that would compromise his status. He was, after all, the omnipotent Lord Soron; how could he possibly allow himself a verbal outburst?

Lord Soron’s silence perplexed Grand Master Guzan. What is going on? This isn’t right. How can this be? We had a clear agreement. Has Lord Soron reneged on it?

Of course, Guzan was unaware of the previous altercation between Igor, Kadi, and Lord Soron—that sorrowful moment had silenced Lord Soron for a considerable time. Now, these two youths were once again mocking him relentlessly. Who could endure such humiliation?

”AHEM. My Lord, we must not forget our agreement,” Grand Master Guzan finally interjected, unable to bear it any longer. He wasn’t accustomed to this side of Lord Soron. The Lord Soron he remembered was omniscient and omnipotent, not one to fall silent over such trivialities.

”I… AHEM… I haven’t forgotten.” Lord Soron finally snapped back to his senses upon hearing Guzan. Guzan’s words, though brief, were profound: Don’t forget the agreement. This implied the agreement was still valid. So, it seems my presence isn’t superfluous after all. It’s just that these two youths are too ignorant, so unlearned they don’t even recognize me, Lord Soron!

Igor genuinely hadn’t heard much of Lord Soron’s name. It wasn’t because Lord Soron lacked renown, nor because Igor was unstudious. The primary reason was that Lord Soron was a prominent figure among Adventurers with Class, a circle Igor had yet to encounter. Igor’s knowledge came mainly from tales sung by Wandering Bards, and bards rarely chronicled the lives of specialized Adventurers with Class in their ballads. They sang of heroic deeds—the sagas of Grand Master Guzan, the legends of the glorious Seven Knights. While Lord Soron was a celebrated Wizard and Adventurer in professional circles, he hadn’t fought for the Empire nor had ties with the Wizard Alliance. He was essentially a free agent, a maverick. Thus, even if his name echoed through the realm of Adventurers with Class, few in the non-professional or quasi-professional spheres knew of him.

That was why Igor could maintain such a deadpan expression, shrugging as he continued to taunt, ”I suggest you think carefully about what you want to say this time, lest you vanish mid-speech again.”

”Rest assured, it won’t happen this time,” Lord Soron affirmed. The unease in his heart vanished. I should pity these two youths, he thought. Those with shallow knowledge often speak rudely. They are deserving of forgiveness.

”So, have you now remembered the question you intended to ask us back then?” Igor pressed on relentlessly.

”Since you insist, young man, I shall give it some thought. The parameters for the summoning were indeed laborious and time-consuming to establish. I incorporated them into the Spirit Book without due consideration at the time. In hindsight, it appears my planning was somewhat inadequate.”

Igor had no idea what Lord Soron was rambling on about. All he knew was that this whole affair was becoming increasingly intriguing. To think the Spirit Book I stumbled upon by chance has so many connections to this mountain range! This is beyond anything I could have imagined!

Lord Soron was truly different now. Master Guzan, despite the years he had weathered, felt he still couldn’t quite keep up with Lord Soron’s current train of thought.

Logically, he should just explain the situation directly to these two youths. Why does he need to analyze it so much? The Spirit Book was finalized long ago; it’s too late for revisions now!