The pendant was looking quite eyecatching, or was it the exact opposite? Did the air wrap it, or did space or the void shroud its existence? It felt it was there, hanging onto the chain that went around his neck.
Murai doubted it was simple or very excessive. He did see it. Felt it too, but he wasn't sure if he trusted his senses. After all, why had he not seen it from the start? He was either distracted, or weird about this entire situation, and his talk with this old man—who seemed to understand his quacks—shocked him greatly.
That pendant was suspicious.
He trusted his hunches most of the time, so this thing here must be something special indeed. That was what he repeated to himself numerous times as his eyes caught its existence, lingering on it far too long than necessary. His eyes didn't seem to move away from it.
For it to hang on thin strands of chains that weren't even metallic, but made of a matter of some significance, Murai bet he didn't know its origin. Chains were flowing circles of some purplish dark energy, thinly knotting to one another, until they ended in a round sphere with a much darker purplish metallic-looking mass.
That was where the energy curved into a weird loop, or as he thought, it turned into a pendant. It was spherical, twisting around some details that resembled an eye.
It was a wonder what the chains were for, or what was the deal with the pendant itself. He didn't notice it, which was weird for him across the board. He considered himself perceptive to anything unusual or significant, so this event left him baffled.
Murai had no trouble keeping his eyes on it, but something about this sight wanted to escape his sight. He kept his eyes on it, lest this pendant or old man disappear from his sight. Had he ever seen it? Something similar may be there, hiding or lurking somewhere in his memories. Deep. In unknown depths.
Deep down, he wasn't sure or right if his guesses to seeing it were what he wanted, or if it was fitting to be so fixated on it.
Something in him told him to not look at it, not be curious about it, or seek its energy. He even wondered why he discovered it if he hadn't seen it before. Did the old man move it closer to him on purpose? Was it a test?
Or was it because of Murai alone?
In his mind, he couldn't resist the urge to look at it, even if it hinted at some troubles. These polar emotions clashed and one was stronger.
He recognized both of them, knowing that this was problematic and insane at the same time. In what way? To him? No. He was just confused, unsure, and doubtful if he should ask about this or not.
This clash of emotions disappeared when his interest in this old man increased. The old man looked at him similarly to how Murai looked at the pendant.
The chain wasn't impressive by itself, that was for sure. The spheric pendant was much crazier, as it depicted some object that held a mass of energy that looked like metallic mana. It wasn't mana per se, Murai knew. Deep down... Again, he felt disturbed.
At least it wasn't... of this world, or was it? A lot of things could be depicted as interplanetary and otherwordly because the universe was rich and unfathomably deep in cultures, ensuring that some connections went around some words. In some sectors, it was more common than in others.
The universe wasn't like a dull lifeless plain, often describing the dead part of the void, cruising onto the Chaos Space that was like a graveyard or gateway into a disturbing space.
This wasn't that, or was it close or from far away? The energy was mana after all, but not all energy was mana. A vast area of space that held life for countless cycles was across many sides of the current universe. Thus some changes and differences were expected. In exceptional sectors, some spaces held up planets full of life, filled with some kind of energy in everyone or everything.
The River of Manaflow flowed like wind, even in different names, lengths, energies, or legacies. But it had its start.
Everything had some origin.
Mana or not, an energy that moved around the universe was the epitome of many various names or styles. Sometimes, it was like water that enriched the world like the purest of Laws. Other times, it was a flame that flew and shined, hot like the finest of stars. Various elements or energies moved the living or regular things, giving some faces or powers.
Some planets were weird in unique characteristics, be it from their origin or their creators. Battleworld was the best example of that kind of world, albeit it held a fairly peculiar style of energy, which was a pure strand of the River of Manaflow at the unknown length of this river. That was a common name Murai learned, describing energies flowing out of the center of the universe.
Battleworld had a steady and gentle flow of energy, depicting the mana as many worlds described.
But this pendant was all mana and not at the same time. Perhaps it was that, or it was from somewhere else. He wasn't sure from where, or whether it was a correct assessment.
It looked like a pure, yet abnormally dense energy, enriching the creation or the destruction of everything like Order and Chaos depicted.
That was what his intuition and hunch told him, while memories and his head ensured that he wasn't far from the truth.
“Seriously, who are you, old man? I don't care for your excuses or some nonsense. Dont' have time for that. No time.” He asked again, watching the old man's craftsmanship in the corner of his sight. He wasn't as interested in his quick hands, tremendous patience, and skill in which he handled the materials, runes, mana, or anything on the table. What was he even making wasn't in his mind.
What he deduced was a couple of materials around the table, but the densely knitted matter that slowly moved from the chains and flowed into the pendant was more interesting. There was some pattern to it, but the pendant was deep and dense like the most mysterious of steels. Any detailed or tighter movement was almost intangible under his senses, and he tried to seek through it as he stared.
It didn't help. All that remained were his failure and eyes.
The old man kept working, but he had enough interest in hearing those quacks and speaking to him at the same time. He was capable, after all, albeit it wasn't very clear from his appearance. His hair was unkept, his beard was at least trimmed but white at some portions, while his frontal attire was dirty and haggard. Perhaps from the work, the way he came here, or whatever else Murai couldn't guess.
Maybe he didn't care for the appearances. That was entirely possible because Murai wasn't that interested in appearances either. At least as a duck, he couldn't care less about his feathers at all, but his half a minute in that Pool made him clean on the outside.
“I am who am I. Who are you to say or ask that?” The old man asked in return, ushering an almost unnoticeable smirk. “There are ways to make it worth it, and I am kind of busy right now. Hands are full...”
“Don't spin this around! I asked.... and this room is, or what... is even there? Where is Mindarch and my demands? Am I even in Levandis Temple? Seriously, what is up with you, old man? How come you get my quacks!? And what is that pendant?! What is going on?” Murai asked and blurred many questions together in a couple of seconds. He wasn't as fast in quacking as this old man in talking, but he tried his best.
“Spinning is my specialty.” The old man chuckled for real, pushed himself from the table, spun the upper portion of the chair in a heartbeat, and went back to work with a simple grab. Murai barely registered how many spins he had made, but he didn't care for the exact number anyway.
He wondered about his or this old man's sanity. Probably both.
“And yes. Yes. Indeed. You are in her temple, much to this 100th Island that is rather special and newly made. Finding a way in was a headache. Some figures destroyed it some years ago. What a shame, I must say, but a new one is nicer. I gave it some knock too, I suppose, since I just invited myself in. She let me, or was she forced onto it? Anyway, that is a simple answer. Are you satisfied? Spread your wings.” he briefly ordered his demand but Murai ignored him.
Murai was unfazed by his impressive spins, or words that followed afterward. It didn't answer much anyway. He was yet to introduce himself, or whether what he was doing was normal or not.
Murai turned forth his patience and ceased his normal ideas. Now, it was time for an information gathering.
“Are you a God? What Path is there for your kin? How come I don't feel anything from you? The soul is there, or... something. Divinity has its special forte in terms of aura, but... what is that pendant again?” He demanded again because he couldn't stop it. He stood half a meter away from the old man's moving hands that cut or bent some metals or handled some runic constructs with a pen or knife. All of his acts were fast and precise.
“That is a lot of questions to take into my old head. For a small Child, you are much bigger than one would guess. In the head, I believe, or somewhere else too? You definitely took this world like a storm, but you don't know it, or do you pretend it doesn't concern you?”
“Don't care.” Murai shook his head and patted his feet on the ground. “Saw worse things. Worlds should adjust to me. Not the other way around.”
“Aren't there manners where you came from, or are you this much of a beast right now, or... is it how you've always been like?” the old man coughed as he turned and took some metals and a bunch of small crates out of some drawer. “Anyway, there are answers where they belong. Do you want them that badly to ask them from me? I feel time in this place is limited. There are times for everything where time is ready.”
Murai was still standing on his own, facing the pendant and this man, and he wasn't sure where he found the word to ask about that pendant.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Questions appear when wonders go. Keeping it inside isn't good. It is a simple cause and effect. And you are insane if you expect me to remain clueless. Since you've grabbed me first and this place is my reward, it is normal to seek you. All under the heavens work like that. Stars or rivers and blood. It is how intellect runs this world... or the universe to some extent.”
“Again with the universe? You are speaking of it lightly in your words but broadly think of the bigger picture. Fascinating perspective. You seek this old man for a curious wonder, but what if it is the same with me?” he changed the materials for some book, before changing back to some runesmithing. “For a Child that is yet to spread its wings, it is wonderful to see you in such spirits. It adds context that I've lacked before, considering how rare Anatidae Children are. Well, you are that and something else, I believe. Wings.” He reminded Murai of something, but he wasn't listening to his demands.
Murai didn't like how this old man acted. It reminded him of some assholes.
“Don't call me a Child. Name' Murai! And you are an insensible foul-mouthed senile old man who has no manners! I walked in and you touched me like a fool. Calling it rude isn't condescending. When meeting such nonsense, curiosity is the only fitting act. Now, you do what? Speaking more nonsense as if I am in the wrong? Nonsense. That is what you do. That pendant is the same!” Murai snapped at him. “Why, who, and how? Are those tough words to ask you?”
“Indeed so. Unless there is a pivotal equal exchange, things hardly make some Order or Chaos, don't you think, little friend?” The old man changed the subject as quickly as he spoke and worked. He almost smiled, but the glint of his glasses revealed eyes that focused on his work. He wasn't looking at Murai at all, but his attention was all over this room, Murai included.
At the moment, it was his little invasive property. An assignment that Levandis had to accept because she couldn't get personal unless some painful consequences would bear their cost.
So whatever this was about, the old man played his cards well, even against a Ruler of one of the Hells. The results were right here, standing at the table. Handling and working with Murai was his priority, albeit brief and wonderful, with closing proper expectations and answers.
Time was ticking away, similar to his work and the use of words. There were many unknown secrets and half-guesses in his mind. And right now, his mind and hands worked on something wonderful.
Which wasn't something Murai was appreciating, or knowing that well. He had a full mind of other things, unlike the old man who came here with a great purpose, bearing dangers known by few.
Murai had his purpose too. It was all over this room, glistering around the bottles, tables, and shelves.
He didn't care for rewards worth a fortune or the entirety of Gate's points. He had eyes on this old man alone;—and that pendant too.
Grunting, he got a gist of what kind of person this old man was. “I see. You are that kind of... guy? You are an old fella, aren't you? The kind that thinks too much about other things and himself? Those are often crazy because of their living, but let me tell you that. I am nothing simple. You look and act like the fools I've seen in some interesting times. Unpleasant and wonderful, I wonder if you are the same as them.”
“Interesting statement, but...” For the first time, the old man's words paused midway through his sentence. He changed his mind about something or hesitated in thought. “Hm. Age is a fantastic aspect and fact. It is like the Law of Time. Without that, there would be no age.”
Murai wasn't sure why he mentioned something that wasn't even worth mentioning. Time was known to be impossible to handle, apart from slowing it through some formations. What exactly did he aim for?
“So, are you like me, fed up with words or worlds? Age or not, should I just jump, flap my wings, and walk away then? I don't like the way this goes, old man. I have life to live, and you are bothering me for nothing. Seems like a good idea to leave, unless you speak and not run around words.”
The old man paused his work, turned to Murai, and observed him while adjusting his glasses. “Who bothers... who? Well, I wouldn't dare to say age is wonderful, nor the world of mouth. No word, by the way. There are information and secrets that can ruin the galaxies, let alone some families, nations, and kingdoms that don't know how life can go and flicker like a candle's flame. A simple blow of air, and poof, it is all gone.” He made a point by slapping his palms and extending his fingers away in a single motion.
“Again with this useless topic... So what? Are you answering my questions or what, old man? I am getting irritated.” Murai said, half sure he was running out of patience, and half sure he was glaring a hole into that pendant. Why was this old man running away from answers?
Well, Murai was an insensible one very often, or was he? He did quack and walked to him first, but again, this old man also mentioned how he invited himself in, so who was bothering who?
Murai wasn't finding this talk problematic by itself. He was sure he didn't want to leave this old man behind. Not before he gets an idea about that pendant, this old man's history, ideas, or why he was here. He didn't look like a janitor to this place, a shopkeeper, or anyone normal.
But again... this old man wasn't talking and running around this conversation as if Murai ruined his family. It reminded him of Lisa, but much more... savage. Another wonderful thing was that Murai had someone who understood him other than a skull and a ghost.
“I run. I've run. We all run away from something.” The old man said, still turned on him and looking at him without working on things on the table. “I can answer to your demands. Sure. Oh, and I haven't lived that long yet, although I would love to try how it feels. Must be long. That is how it feels, right? I am not sure.”
“Why? You can't even think of ages passing by? Are you calling yourself a runesmith, or an old man then?”
“Runes are like Laws. They have a beginning and endless variety. And this talk is close to that, as I've waited long enough for it, and played with threads of hope to change some subjects. So let's say the circumstances between you and me are different like heaven and earth. Some things aren't meant to be. Then, some things should be as they should be, and should be left alone for all eternity.”
“Like my patience?” Murai grunted. “Seriously, who are you and why are you like this?”
“An old man, as you said. However, the secrecy is not something you are free to seek. I am like that too for a reason, as there are places and things one shouldn't see, but at the same time, there are wonders everyone wants to see. So... let's assume the status quo, shall we?” The old man said seriously, moved his arms up, and went closer to Murai. In his hand was a measuring tape.
Murai didn't move. “Change? Is this how it is done where you are from? Hm!”
“Certainly. I am gentle, in fact. Now, move your wings, please. Hurry up already!” The old man barked at him as if Murai had spit on his runes and notebook, or destroyed something special.
Without time or waste of movement, he shoved Murai's wings and neck aside, clutching the wings and handling the sizing strip with numbers.
Murai involuntary spread his wings without any complaint. He did so spontaneously for a good reason. That pendant swayed in the air a handful of distances away and was free for his eyes and mind. He was almost close to touching it. It was a good side effect, or just a coincidence Murai was like this.
Either way, he could care less about the old man's touches or the moving strip.
In a way, the old man appreciated that Murai wasn't moving because he had to take wing sizes and other sizes or positions.
Murai wasn't curious about what he was doing. Once better, he glared at the pendant that was mesmerizing in its activities. Up close, he was able to see more of its structure, color, or waves. Metal energies were moving in layered patterns as if alive, similar to the little chains, but denser in purplish black.
There was some veiled aura around the pendant as a whole, and dense air and gravity, or some sort of effect made this either an artifact, simple token, tool, or something else. It looked important.
Either way, he lost his eyes in it, but not the mind. He asked the old man another question he was curious about, and this time, perhaps he would answer it as his attention was on his feathers and body alike.
“Fine, if you are running, then I won't. You mentioned a couple of interesting things. Are you aware of who am I, or why am I here? You arrived here for a purpose, against Levandis and Mindarch. You wanted something, or, is it the case of who I was? In that case, this is rather laughable and more questionable, since what is there to the past? It doesn't matter to me like the talks about time you've mentioned.”
“Good idea. Is, or was, hm? A pair of words that means present and past. Like age, that is an excellent question that leads to fascinating layers. It is nothing but fascinating!” The old man said quickly as he folded the wings back to their place. After that, he pivoted his legs on the ground, forcing the chair to the opposite side of the table that was a couple of meters away.
There, he found a yellowish parchment paper that was made of some Life Tree, capable of storing moving images after some processing and care. He took a special-looking drawing pencil to his hand and began drawing on the paper. It beamed in weird radiance, or was it because of his speed of drawing?
All of this went to Murai's eyes, as he stood where he was a second ago, observing the old man's actions.
The old man was sitting on the chair, with his notebook acting as the board for the paper. Grabbing a notebook in one hand and drawing or writing with the other, whatever he was doing, Murai wasn't seeing it well.
“Fine. I am all ears and full hands,” he said without looking at him again.
Murai wasn't angry at that. “I am not fond of doing something I don't want to do, nor do anything else that goes against my head. Interest in the present is as good as the future allows, so the understanding goes here first. Past already happened. It is fine to pass on. I don't care for it.”
“Lies, or excuses.” The old man chuckled. “There are things that some folks find precious only at the present. They don't mean much for the past, or the future. It is like watching a painting. It may be old, but the scenery and its truth encompass ages long lost, or the exact opposite. It could be a scene from the present, which may signify the future time or comprehension. What exactly, however? Isn't it a coincidence to touch the future? It is fascinating stuff, isn't that? Just like you.”
Murai snorted. “I am over it. So you are here for me? Why?”
“Why not? I invited my interest and did it by myself. Nothing else here matters, unlike my work.”
“Just because of some curiosity, or some nefarious ideas?”
“I think you are underestimating your body and your circumstances, little friend. I made some mistakes many times, but never regretted it, albeit I should have.”
“Body?” Murai thought of that word for a second, glancing around the room, to the table, his feet, and wings. “Sure. Agreed, but the circumstances? I am fairly sure this is just a time and life that is playing with me. You too! Like everything always did. You do the same thing... Playing with me. Some tend to regret that. I wonder if you will be the same.”
“Is that so?” The old man said without saying anything else.
“Let me give you some guesses. Such an old man like yourself should have most interest in the past, rather than the present. The future holds some interest too, but it depends on what matters to you. How is that so? Why it is the way it is? You are just like me! Wretched in time and worries of time, but so little, it matters little. Is my guess wrong?” Murai argued.
“Is that so? Reality is often wonderful or disappointing, so what makes you say your guess about someone you just met?”
“Who are you to question me then? We just met.” Murai expressed the truth.
And his opposition didn't seem to mind it. “That is true. Some know you though, me included. In various forms too.” he argued. “Your sake preceeds you, little friend. It is an interest old like some worlds, thus such words ought to travel far and wide, providing interest where there shouldn't be. So why are you speculating about me, when we should speculate about you? Both you and me. Right now. Right here. Your life is on the line.”
Murai didn't take his words that seriously, even if he should. “I don't care about it. You are my hunch... You are clearly in my way, standing in the middle of a hunt for my life too. Temple... or you, or whatever. You make no sense. I started this conversation, I know, but you are here too! Speak! You want to do it too, right? So let's do it.” Murai snapped his patience in half and moved his legs to come to his side of the table.
On the way, he stepped on stuff he glanced at once. Materials, tools, and half-finished runesmithing scripts in leather, fabric, or little thin pieces of metallic paper. Their value should be quite high, obvious by mana dancing around some runes, and quite a few open handful crates were full of glittering gems or precious mana-infused materials. It was all the work of pretty decent craftsmen, meant to empower runesmithing to a high degree or create something nice.
Murai aimed his interest at the old man like always.
“A hunch? Fascinating!” The old man kept talking at the same fast pace, leaving Murai helpless to figure out his intentions. He was yet to tell his name, why he was here, or what was even going on. His face remained glued to his notebook, but neither of them was finding the conversation lacking.
Murai did a little bit because the old man wasn't looking at him. He could live with that if the old man would start talking.
In some twisted way, this was a conversation that looked normal as if a pair of old friends had relaxing banter between one another.