"Hello? Are you still alive? "
Says Mute staring at the elderly man. He doesn't answer Mute's question and an odd silence engulfs the area. Mute stares at the figure confused until his elderly mouth quivers and he speaks tiredly.
" Indeed, but obviously not for much longer. But why is such a strong Jujutsu Sorcerer doing out here? Oh, now that I think about it. I heard about a special grade sorcerer named Mute being forced into hiding. "
Mute stared at the man with sweat rolling down his face. The man in front of him was no one normal. Mute starts to twitch his fingers getting ready to slice the elderly man down until the man lets out a light chuckle and speaks.
" There's no need to be paranoid, I'm guessing you're Mute. But don't worry I have no intentions to go tell anyone besides I'm going to die soon. If you're wondering how I knew you were paranoid it's due to my technique. In a simplified version of it, I can see someone's emotions. "
Mute stares at the elderly figure before letting out a sigh and speaking.
" I am Mute. But what are you doing so deep in this forest? "
The elderly man smirks before speaking.
" I'm going to pass away soon, and this area used to be a park when I was younger. I enjoyed staying here growing up so I think I should die here. But why are you here? I know you are hiding from the Jujutsu higher-ups but there should be a reason you looked so tired while walking before you noticed me. "
Mute stared at the elderly man before tapping his foot on the ground, increasing the size of the dirt under him and making a slab of dirt to sit on. Mute knew this conversation was going to be a long one. Mute spoke to answer the man.
" Before I can answer your question let me ask you one. What would you do, if your entire life involved killing a man? And you failed to kill the man but killed the one forcing you to kill the man. What would you do next? "
The elderly man let out a loud, Hmm, before he spoke.
" I would still try to kill the man that defeated you. "
Mute looked at the elderly man confused before leaning his chin on his hand and speaking, asking a question.
" Why? "
The elder coughed before talking.
" Because in this world, strength means everything. If you are the strongest you can do whatever you please. Sure it might be lonely but if you only care for yourself then that feeling means nothing. And if you lost to that man, that means he's stronger than you. "
Mute nodded his head trying to process what the man said but before he could fully digest the speech the elderly man spoke once again.
" If you are strongest you have no one to serve. You are at the top of the world. I'm sure you have heard the saying "that all men are equal in death." But that entirely isn't true. Leave a legacy where everyone fears you even after death. Be above others even in death. If you focus on yourself and don't compare yourself to others your potential is near infinite. "
Mute stares at the man before noticing that the elderly man's breath is starting to slow down rapidly. Mute stares at the man's chest before he speaks once again.
" I'm sure you have n-noticed that my death is rapidly approaching. So, if you truly want to die let me tell you this final piece of advice. "
Mute watches as the elderly man lets out a weak smile before he holds onto his chest feeling his slow heartbeat. The elderly took a final deep breath before speaking.
" Those who wish to die will always live longer than those who wish to survive. "
The elderly man's wrinkly old hand slips off his chest falling onto the mossy wooden bench, Mute stares at the elderly man watching him slowly come to rest, dying. Mute looks at the dead body before sitting up from the slab and walking away from the bench.
Clearly, the conversation with the elderly man has changed Mute's mind about something...