After waiting for Merim to finish his words, Elihim replied.
"What's your point?"
"I'm just telling you the reason why I want to know about you. The more an Imagi knows, the stronger they are. The life of an Imagi is studying and studying. So I want to learn about you and study you."
Merim leaned forward and rested his hands on his thighs.
"In exchange for that, I will help your family get out of this troublesome poverty and town."
"Ohh..." Elihim smiled, "Then how about your second reason for being here? Helping me."
"It's the same, once you let me study you, I will ask a friend of mine, a Medicinal Imagi bring that long parts of your body back."
"And the last reason?"
"The message? They told me to tell you to come home and that they miss you."
"... I see..." Elihim nodded but he already knew that.
'I first suspected him of something. There is no reason for him to help my family. But now that his true intentions are out, I'm beginning to trust him.'
"It's getting hot out here, come in here first."
Elihim no longer acted his age. He was back to his mature behavior. Leading Merim inside the cave, the Imagi found the inside surprisingly comfortable for its size.
"It seemed like you have an experience with architecture too. If I heard that you're actually an old man in disguise, I wouldn't be surprised."
A wooden cup rose from the wooden table. Water vapor in the air condensed and filled the cup. A gust of wind blew, letting the dry wind out and chill the inside of the cave.
"It's clean." Elihim drank his cup of water.
In less than ten seconds, Merim was stupefied as his heart palpitated.
'Amazing! The wind can be a coincidence but the wood and water cannot!'
While Merim was struck with bafflement, Elihim began the conversation.
"As for you wanting to study me, my answer is no. However, I can give you information."
Merim was intrigued.
'Is he really a kid? At first, I doubt that he understood me but he really did.'
"Of course, in exchange for this information, you will help the Enova Family."
"Heh, deal." Merim excitedly said.
"As for the nature of this deal, as a question first. The weight of the answer is how much you need to pay. Let's start with something with an example, ask me anything."
Merim gulped.
He pondered for a moment before he remembered one question.
"Why did different parts of your body burst?" he began with a simple question and didn't talk about Elihim's origin or nature.
Elihim thought about the answer first, weighed it, and replied.
"To get the answer for that, You have to provide the Enova Family a full meal for an entire month."
"Ohh... now I get what you meant. Deal! That's cheap for an Imagi!"
"Hm, do it first before I provide the answer."
Merim frowned.
"What if you don't answer it after getting what you want?"
"Are you in the position to negotiate?" but Elihim easily rebutted, "You just said that I'm stronger than you."
"..." Merim sweated as he realized the situation he is in.
He forgot that he is inside a lion's den.
"But don't worry. One month of meal provision is not enough. If I don't answer your question, I would be dumb to expect you to come back."
Merim made an "o" on his lips in realization.
"Okay... although I'm very curious and want to know now. I will come back here after I brought the payment. But... how will you know that I provided the payment if you're not there to see?"
Elihim just smiled and two birds flew in and landed on his shoulders.
"I have more than just eyes and ears. Although a bird's ears are far from human, it is enough."
"..." Merim digested what Elihim just said before standing up in shock, "H-how! You can control birds!? That's not in any of the four stages of Imagi!"
Elihim pondered for a moment before saying;
"Another month of meal provision for the answer."
Merim frowned and realized the disparity between him and this kid in front of him.
'Maybe this kid holds a devil inside... however, it is obvious that he still cares for his family. But devil or kid, he's a bit cunning.'
He calmly sat again.
"Fine, after I give them money for two months' worth of food, I come here for the answers."
"Great, and could you add more for snacks? My little sister would enjoy that."
"Sure"
'Hm... so he still calls the girl little sister. It seems that among the Enova family, he is closest to the child.'
"Then I will be immediate and come back later."
"So early? Those are just an example. Our talk just began." Elihim stopped Merim.
'Only the headmaster can order me like this. But I have no choice, do I?'
After that, they talked until the sun is right above the sky.
Merim was forced many times to accept an agreement. In short, these are their agreements;
One, he would keep everything he learned a secret.
Second, he would never harm anyone in the Enova Family.
And lastly, in case of emergency, Merim would need to prioritize, none other than, the Enova Family.
Merim didn't quite understand the last part but he still agreed anyways.
"Oh, I forgot, don't touch Lyssa or Ellie. If you do, I will kill your every friend, family, and lover in front of you before torturing you to death, is that also an agreement."
The Imagi from the prestigious Emeralkan Academy shivered in fright.
"A-agreed. It's not like I plan to or had any interest anyway."
"That's good to know." Elihim nodded, "And don't forget these agreements. It may cost your life if you do."
"Stop saying scary things like that, I may start to see you a devil." Merim couldn't help but comment.
"Hm... devil."
"And also, I don't understand the third agreement."
"You don't understand but you agreed anyway?"
"No, I understand the agreement itself but I don't understand why..." Merim's face turned serious, "It seemed that you are expecting an emergency."
"It is not an emergency if I'm expecting it and doing nothing."
"Uh..."
"But you're right, I am expecting a future emergency."
"What is it?" Merim listened closely.
Elihim stood up and walked to the mouth of the cave. It was high noon and if not for the cold gust of wind, it would've been very hot there.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm talking about the heat, the drought, and what comes after it."
"The flood." Merim remembered.