A light calm settled after those laughs…
A comfortable calm this time, carrying neither tension nor doubt, but something closer to natural acceptance, as if faiser's presence among them… was no longer strange as it had been moments ago.
The uncle shifted slightly in his seat, then directed his gaze toward faiser and said in a calm voice, carrying nothing more than genuine curiosity:
"faiser… if my question does not embarrass you, I am interested in knowing something simple… which sect or clan do you come from?"
He paused for a moment, then added with a faint smile:
"Not out of suspicion, but simply out of acquaintance. It is rare for us to meet someone like you under such circumstances without a clear background."
A short silence.
But this time—
It was not charged.
It was natural.
As for faiser…
He raised his gaze calmly, without real hesitation, as if he had been prepared for such a question from the very beginning.
"It's time…"
he said internally.
Then—
He exhaled lightly.
And said in a steady voice, carrying no confusion:
"In truth… I currently do not belong to any sect."
He paused for a moment.
Then continued, in a natural tone:
"I used to belong… or at least, that is what I vaguely remember, to a small group… of no real significance, with no known name, and no notable influence."
He looked at them.
Then added:
"But… after an incident… I lost a large part of my memory. The details became blurred, and the places… unclear."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"All I know now… is that I left that place… alone."
Inside—
"A simple story… unremarkable…"
"It does not raise suspicion… nor excessive curiosity."
"Suitable."
The uncle nodded slowly, without showing any doubt. On the contrary, he seemed to accept it easily.
"That explains a lot…"
he said in a calm tone.
Then added:
"In this world, such incidents are not as rare as you might think. Memory loss… or losing one's path… happens more often than is said."
He paused for a moment, then looked at him directly:
"But that does not necessarily mean something negative."
"Sometimes… it can be a better beginning than the past."
faiser smiled lightly and said:
"Perhaps… and that is what I am trying to believe right now."
shin intervened this time, in a completely natural tone, free of any doubt:
"Honestly, that makes a lot of sense, especially after the way you appeared in the forest. Someone who just came out of such an experience… wouldn't be entirely stable."
Then he smiled and added:
"But at least, your luck was good enough to find your way here."
Shirin laughed lightly and said:
"Rather, our luck as well… if he hadn't appeared at that time, I wouldn't be sitting here now."
She looked at faiser and smiled:
"So… whether you remember your past or not, it doesn't change anything for me."
Inside—
"Complete trust."
"Easier than I expected."
faiser smiled and said calmly:
"That is kind of you… truly."
Then, as if smoothly changing the direction, he said:
"By the way… there is something I was thinking about earlier."
He looked at shin.
"What is the reason behind the hostility between you and the Red Bear Sect?"
shin did not hesitate this time.
He answered directly, in a clear tone:
"In truth, it is deeper than it seems, but it begins with a simple point… we were never enemies."
He paused.
Then continued:
"We were once a single sect."
A light stillness.
Then he went on:
"But due to an internal conflict… we split, and became two factions, each walking its own path. Over time… the difference turned into conflict."
He sighed lightly:
"And now… we are just two sects within the same empire, each with its place and influence, but… there is no room for reconciliation. Even though we are now just a lower sect compared to what we once were, our sect has become almost forgotten within this empire."
faiser nodded slowly:
"I see…"
Inside—
"A split… a conflict…!!"
"A familiar system."
He smiled slightly and said:
"I suppose those who escaped today… will not let this pass easily, will they?"
shin said confidently:
"Of course not. Their loss was not great in terms of strength, but it was… great in terms of pride."
He paused.
Then added:
"And this kind of thing… is not forgotten."
faiser smiled faintly:
"Pride… a truly dangerous concept."
The uncle intervened calmly:
"Well, let us not dive deeper into these matters. This is not the time."
Then he looked at shin:
"I think you have rested enough, and you should return to your training. Go and continue training with the third generation disciples outside."
Then to Shirin:
"And you… get some rest. You seem exhausted from escaping those bastards."
The two nodded:
"Alright."
They left the hall.
Calmly.
faiser remained with the uncle.
A short silence.
Then the uncle said:
"faiser…"
He looked at him.
"A simple piece of advice…"
He paused.
Then continued:
"Do not remain long in your current state. Your level is still at the beginning, and in this world… the beginning protects no one. As for your strength, you must train it more. You are still at the Dormant Seed level, and this is a weak level even for beginners. So you must become stronger, at least to defend yourself!"
faiser nodded:
"I will take your words into consideration."
Then he stood and bowed slightly:
"Thank you for your advice."
The uncle smiled:
"Do as you wish then. Consider this sect your home. As for me, I have work to complete, so make yourself comfortable here. Also, I will send someone to guide you to the library if you still wish to go there."
Then he left.
Stillness.
The hall became empty.
Quiet…
Almost heavily so.
faiser remained standing in his place for a few moments, without moving, as if letting the silence stretch around him… until it settled.
Then—
He moved slowly.
Sat.
Rested his elbow on the table.
Exhaled.
"Hah…"
He raised his gaze slightly toward the ceiling.
"Quiet… finally."
He paused.
Then tilted his head slightly, as if a thought was beginning to take clear shape.
"Strange…"
he whispered.
"This world…"
Silence.
Then he continued:
"Is not as complex as it seems."
His fingers moved slowly over the table's surface.
Light, rhythmic taps.
"Rather… people are the ones who make it so."
A faint smile formed on his face.
But it was not warm.
It was—
Aware.
"Everything is clear…"
"Strength… is respected."
"Weakness… is trampled."
"And trust… is given to those who master showing what others want to see."
He paused.
Then—
"Simple."
He lowered his gaze.
His eyes became calmer.
Deeper.
"No difference…"
"Between this world… and the one before it."
"The names change…"
"The rules are decorated…"
"But the essence…"
He paused.
Then—
"Remains the same."
Silence.
Then—
He laughed.
A short laugh.
Quiet.
But it carried something else.
"And the best part…"
He raised his head slightly.
"They think they are complex."
He paused.
Then added:
"When in fact… they are understandable."
He extended his hand, and slowly closed it.
"And controllable…"
Silence.
A single moment.
But it was enough.
Because his gaze changed.
Clearly.
"Not because I am the best…"
"But because I…"
He paused.
Then smiled.
A faint smile.
But this time—
It carried clear narcissism.
"I see… what they do not."
He stood up slowly.
Without haste.
As if the decision had been made from the beginning.
"The library…"
he whispered.
Then added:
"Is not a goal."
He paused.
"But a tool."
He took a step.
Then another.
Toward the door.
"Knowledge… is not for knowledge."
"But… for control."
He placed his hand on the door.
But—
Did not open it immediately.
He paused.
Closed his eyes for a moment.
Then—
Opened them.
"And control…"
Silence.
Then—
"Is not requested."
"But… taken."
He opened the door.
Light entered.
But this time—
He did not stop at it.
He walked straight out.
With a calm step.
Steady.
As if the path before him… required no thought.
And the moment he crossed the threshold—
He smiled.
And said to himself:
"I will not only learn this world…"
He paused.
Then—
"I will understand it."
Another step.
"And when I understand it…"
Silence.
Then—
His smile widened slightly.
"It will have no choice…"
He raised his gaze toward the corridor stretching ahead.
And continued:
"But to move… as I want."
And in that moment…
There was nothing strange.
No sounds.
No signs.
No danger.
But—
There was a faint feeling…
That someone…
Was no longer just a passerby in this place.
But—
The beginning of something…
That may not stop at any limit.