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"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X787]
~ With Shisui ~
Sting and Rogue froze instantly at his command. They watched in alarm as Shisui's posture changed, his back straightening with visible effort against some unseen force.
Shisui stood absolutely still, his mind racing to analyze what was happening. This was not simply increased gravity or a physical barrier. It felt more like the ambient energy of the area was actively resisting his presence, pressing against him from all directions simultaneously.
Through his Sharingan, the cause became somewhat clearer. The Ethernano in this region was not just behaving erratically. It was condensed to an unprecedented degree, packed so densely that it created a sort of pressure zone. The particles seemed almost hostile, swirling around him in agitated patterns unlike anything he'd observed elsewhere in this world.
'Is this the threshold that Warrod spoke of?' Shisui thought, recalling the Wizard Saint's warning about venturing too deep into the mountain zone. If this was merely the boundary of whatever the Magic Council was hiding, he could not imagine what lay further inside.
The pressure continued to bear down on him, requiring constant chakra reinforcement to resist. Even with his extensive training and the physical conditioning he had maintained since arriving in this world, Shisui still found himself straining against the invisible force. Had he been any less prepared, any less disciplined in his chakra control, the pressure might have crushed him to the ground.
Shisui wanted to proceed further, to discover what secret lay at the heart of this forbidden zone. The demon's words about a weakening seal echoed in his mind, raising questions that remained unanswered. But as he stood there, feeling the Ethernano pressing against him, he came to a reluctant conclusion.
As he currently was, continuing would be reckless. Without more information about what he was facing, without proper preparation for this specific type of environmental hazard, pressing forward would be gambling with not just his safety but potentially that of his companions as well. The risk outweighed the potential knowledge to be gained. At least for now.
With his decision made, Shisui carefully backed up until he crossed back over the threshold into the forest. As soon as he stepped back under the tree line, the overwhelming pressure lifted, though he could still feel something wrong in the ambient energy around them.
"We're leaving," he announced, his tone leaving no room for argument or questioning. "Now."
Sting opened his mouth as if to protest, but closed it again after one look at Shisui's expression. Even Lector, usually quick to voice his opinions, remained silent, his normally confident demeanor subdued by the obvious seriousness of the situation.
Rogue simply nodded, one hand reaching up to reassure Frosch, who was trembling slightly on his shoulder. "Which way?" he asked quietly.
In answer, Shisui turned and began walking, following the path of marks he'd left on the trees earlier. The others fell in behind him without further comment, the earlier excitement of exploring forbidden territory replaced by a shared sense of relief at retreating from whatever unseen danger lay ahead.
As they walked away, Shisui cast one final glance back at the plains. Whatever secret the Magic Council was hiding in the depths of this mountain zone, he would need to be better prepared before attempting to uncover it. For now, ensuring everyone's safe return took priority over satisfying his curiosity about the demon's cryptic words.
~ Hours later ~
The afternoon sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon as the group emerged from the mountain zone. After hours of retracing their steps through the forest, following Shisui's trail markers, they had finally returned to more familiar territory.
The distant silhouette of the village where they had first encountered each other came into view, its empty buildings a reminder of the mystery that had brought them together in the first place.
Their journey back had been quieter than their inward trek. Sting had not complained about boredom once, and even Lector's usual boastful commentary had been subdued. Whatever they had sensed at the forest's edge had left a lasting impression on all of them.
As the village came more clearly into view, Lector finally broke the prolonged silence, his voice carrying a note of unmistakable relief.
"Finally! A proper place to rest!" The red Exceed fluttered ahead slightly, his wings carrying him just above Sting's shoulder. "I don't know about you guys, but I've had enough creepy forests for one day."
"Fro thinks so too," Frosch agreed from Rogue's shoulder, before adding with innocent bluntness, "But the village has no people. The demon made them all disappear."
Lector's expression fell immediately, his momentary enthusiasm dampened by the reminder of why they had come to this region in the first place. "Oh... right."
"A demon we never even saw," Sting muttered, his frustration evident. "Some S-class mission this turned out to be. We didn't fight anything, didn't save anyone, and we're going back with nothing but a story about a weird forest that made us turn around."
Rogue glanced at his partner but offered no counterargument. The mission had indeed yielded little in terms of concrete results or the action they had anticipated.
They entered the village in silence. The unnatural preservation of the village, with everything left in place as if the inhabitants might return at any moment, only added to the unsettling feeling that had followed them from the mountain.
Shisui, who had led the way without commenting on Sting's complaints, suddenly stopped in the village center. He turned to face the others, his expression serious but not unkind.
"This is where we part ways," he said simply.
The Dragon Slayers and their Exceeds looked at him with varying degrees of surprise and disappointment.
"When you report back to your guild," Shisui continued, "I would appreciate it if you would leave out our investigation in the mountain. This is more for your safety."
He offered a smile that was meant to be reassuring, but something in his eyes—a flicker of intensity, perhaps—gave his request additional weight. To the Dragon Slayers and their companions, that smile combined with the request felt more like a veiled warning than a friendly suggestion.
Lector reacted first, his fur standing on end as he raised both paws defensively. "O-of course! We won't say a word about the mountain! Not one word! Right, Frosch?" He looked desperately at the green Exceed.
"Fro promises too!" Frosch agreed immediately, nodding so vigorously that his frog hood slipped slightly, revealing pink ears beneath.
Sting and Rogue exchanged glances, communicating silently in the way of longtime partners. There was reluctance in their expressions, prideful young mages rarely enjoyed being told what they could or couldn't share about their adventures, but also a grudging recognition of Shisui's request.
"Fine," Sting finally conceded with a slight frown. "Not like there's much to tell anyway. We walked a lot, felt something weird, and turned around."
"We understand," Rogue added more diplomatically. "If a mage endorsed by a Wizard Saint tells us it's better kept quiet, we'd be fools to ignore that advice."
Shisui nodded in appreciation of their agreement, seemingly unaware of their misinterpretation of his motives. Where he had intended to protect them from risk, they had perceived a threat. It was a fundamental disconnect that might have amused him had he recognized it.
"For what it's worth," Shisui said, offering them something in return for their cooperation, "the demon that's been causing chaos in this region will no longer be a problem—at least for the time being."
This statement earned him four pairs of widened eyes.
"What? You defeated it already?" Sting asked, his voice rising in disbelief. "When did that happen?"
Shisui did not directly answer the question. He had briefly encountered the demon, but "defeated" would be an overstatement. Still, his assessment that it was temporarily contained by its failing seal was not entirely inaccurate. The demon itself had said it could not maintain its presence outside for long, and Shisui had felt it's presence disappear completely ever since.
"Let's just say the situation is under control," he replied, not quite lying but not revealing the full truth either. "You can report that much to your guild master."
The Dragon Slayers looked dissatisfied with his vague response, but neither pressed for details. Whatever had happened between Shisui and the demon, if indeed anything had, appeared to be another secret he intended to keep.
"I hope to meet you Twin Dragon Slayers again in the future," Shisui said, changing the subject smoothly, "as equal mages."
The simple compliment, acknowledging their potential while gently referencing their current limitations, struck exactly the right note with the prideful young men. Sting's expression brightened immediately.
"Next time we meet," he declared with renewed confidence, "you won't be able to sneak up on me again like you did yesterday! I'll be ready for you!"
"And I as well," Rogue added with a quiet chuckle, his usual reserve softening slightly.
Shisui smiled, finding their determination familiar and somewhat refreshing. Before turning to leave, he offered one final gesture of goodwill. "If I hear anything about the two dragons in my travels—Weisslogia and Skiadrum—I'll make sure the information finds its way to you."
The offer was unexpected, and its effect on the Dragon Slayers was immediate and profound. Their eyes widened in genuine surprise, followed by something softer. Gratitude mixed with hope that this stranger would remember something so personal to them amid his own journeys and missions.
Sting opened his mouth to express his thanks, but before he could form the words, Shisui simply vanished. One moment he was standing before them, solid and present; the next, he was gone completely, leaving behind only a slight disturbance in the air where he had once stood.
For several seconds, all four of them stared at the empty space in stunned silence.
"That..." Sting finally said, his voice filled with undisguised admiration, "was so cool."
"Sting-kun is right!" Lector agreed enthusiastically. "He just disappeared! No magic circle, no nothing!"
"Fro thinks so too!" the green Exceed chimed in.
Rogue said nothing, but the small smile that touched his lips suggested he shared their assessment.
~ End of Chapter 23 ~
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