Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Rain explained how, after years of conflict, things had finally reached a point where negotiations for peace had commenced about a decade ago. The leaders on both sides had been willing to consider reconciliation, and there had been hope for a lasting peace.

However, Rain's expression grew darker as he spoke of the sudden reappearance of Joanis, who had brought with him knowledge and seemingly suspicious magic technology. He described how Joanis had met his end at the hands of the king and how, after three years of peace, a new wave of trouble and conflict had emerged.

Isa listened attentively, her eyes reflecting the mix of understanding and curiosity. Rain's words offered a glimpse into a world very different from her own, yet one that was bound by similar themes of conflict, negotiation, and the struggle for peace.

"You left out a bunch of important details, I imagine that you want to learn a few things before revealing them, right?" Isa asked. "Well, this was quite an interesting event. For a species that doesn't live for that long, the human sure experience a lot of things. Regardless, I can imagine that you are guessing that the barriers that you mentioned came from here.

I suspect that they did it, but this Joanis person definitely didn't come here."

"I can understand why, at that time that he got such knowledge, he didn't have the means to cross the ocean that was being controlled by the sea dragons," Rain said. "My guess is that he met someone from here who left your territory a long time ago."

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"That seems plausible, some people over the years claimed that we should expand our horizons, some of them suddenly disappeared, and they were very knowledgeable figures from our lands," Isa explained. "They knew our history well and they knew that things would remain like this forever, and so they thought that they should attack first before our so-called enemies could do that."

"I have some friends who have a lot of information, but they don't know and their libraries talk about demi-humans who had appeared and did anything over the years," Rain said.

"I suspect that they died before they could do anything. Those individuals were very prideful, and they wouldn't try to find allies outside our domains since they think that all of the other species see us as lesser people," Isa explained. "Still, it seems that they tried, and maybe this Joanis person found their technology and obtained their knowledge as well."

"You seem very wise… do you know what that shield is?" Rain asked.

"... It is something that you shouldn't keep with you, if your goal is to truly defend the people that you cared about, I can't say anything more than that."

The granny apparently was even older than Rain had initially thought, and her knowledge about the shield's significance led him to believe that she might also be aware of the importance of the mysterious black cube he had found.

However, she seemed reluctant to share any information about it, leaving Rain with a sense of intrigue and a growing suspicion that there was more to the story than met the eye.

"We could give you some information about how to fight the barriers, but you wouldn't be able to replicate them using normal means, unless we are willing to risk our security," Isa said. "Even if we were, it would take years for you to replicate it, you need to train and raise a shield in a very specific way. You have a demi-human daughter, don't you?"

"... How you can tell?" Rain asked while frowning.

"Even if you try to hide some pieces of information, I can still make fair guesses," Isa said. "Rescuing a girl close to the sea emperor, working with a son of the sea emperor to rescue the sea emperor himself… I don't know why you revealed that much, though."

"To make sure that he won't mess up again since people will know of that in the future," Rain said. "Still, I guess I was too obvious."

"Are you willing to raise your daughter like that?" Isa asked.

"No, I will just punch my way out of the problems when they arise and I will be fine with that," Rain replied.

"I imagined that you would say that, you sound and act like someone who worries day and night about the future of your kids," Isa said.

Rain felt his back itching since he didn't like the fact that he was being read like an open book, but it couldn't be helped since Isa was probably thousands of years old.

"Van, can you call someone to bring us some dinner? We are still going to talk for a while," Isa said.

"Yes, granny," The guard said, and then he left them alone.

"... You are a demi-human with dragon blood, aren't you?" Rain asked when he was sure that no one could hear them.

"What makes you think that?" Isa asked. "Are my ears invisible to you?"

"Your aura is too powerful and your ears are emitting a lot of mana, like they are some sort of active spell," Rain explained. "The fact that you know so much things from the past can only make me think that you have their longevity."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"I didn't notice it, but you can also use that technique, huh?" Isa said. "It is similar to a dragon's eye."

Isa was probably talking about Magic Eyes… although Rain tried to infuse all sorts of parts in his body with mana, he didn't obtain that much results. He felt like his magic power wasn't that strong, but it seemed that not much was necessary for Magic Eyes.

"You are right, I am half human and half dragon," Isa said. "I am the only one left that lives outside their territory. All the others have been hunted and killed by the dragon god."

"If they can live there, why didn't you are with them?" Rain asked.