"Madneas?" asked Tru "What kind of name is that?"
"I could ask you the same question Lord Tru." said the Madneas with a smile. Tru ignored Madneas' jest and instead looked to his sword.
So 'Mad' what's with the blade less hilt? I shears you use a skill bit felt no mana no seen the blade that cut the magical beast." questioned Tru.
Madneas said nothing but pulled the hilt from the sheath and held it toward the air. He looked in awe at something Tru clearly could not see. He didn't utter a word but replaced the sword in his sheath and looked aback at Tru in silence.
Tru's frustration grew even higher but decided to ignore the clearly unwell man.
'I can see why you wanted me to call you Mad. You literally are.' Tru then looked at the moose's corpse in which Madneas did the same.
"Oh" uttered Madneas "That is right I stole your prey from earlier"
"Yeah you did but I got the magic stone so we can call it even. Not to mention I am taking the hide from it, this is no debate." said Tru.
Madneas lifted his hands and shook his head. "No no no it is yours, Lord Tru. I just have to correct this issue further. A free magic stone and magic beast corpse is not good enough."
"Ok then what is?" asked Tru with a raised eyebrow.
Madneas said nothing but pointed in the direction of the Central Camp. "You'll find a settlement just a few minutes from here. I say you visit it and you'll be in for a big surprise."
Tru looked at Madneas with great suspicion but truly found no reason to disbelieve him. On the contrary Tru believed every word he said.
"Ok fine" said Tru "I will go and see this town you are talking about. Hopefully you aren't lying to me."
"To you, Lord Tru? I would never." said Madneas with a serious expression. His face scared Tru a bit that even with closed eyes Madneas could feel his discomfort.
Madneas quickly bowed several times to Tru. "My apologies I did not mean to make you feel uneasy. I just meant I'd never lie to you, is all."
Tru swallowed hard but nodded reluctantly. He then was about to walk away when a thought crossed his mind.
"Why are you out here by yourself anyway, Mad?" asked Tru.
"One could as you the same Lord Tru." replied Madneas. Tru's anger flared so much that his mana aura began to leak fro n his body but he quickly controlled it.
"Do you answer questions with questions?!" loudly yelled Tru. Madneas said nothing but shook his head in denial. Tru just sighed deeply and rolled his eyes.
"Oh I am just teasing you Lord Tru" quickly said Madneas "Truth be told I am just passing through the area and sensed the mana from your brief fight."
Tru scratched his head in confusion but accepted his answer nonetheless. "Ok well it was nice meeting you, I am going to head out. You be safe now."
Madneas bowed and waved Tru goodbye as the latter walked out of view. Madneas stood there lost in thought before following after Tru. He caught up to him and stopped him.
"What now?!" yelled Tru as Madneas stood before him.
"I had just remembered that you should go and see your friend back at the Gob village." said Madneas.
This statement caused Tru to become in edge but he was weary of Madneas. The latter just smiled and walked away disappearing into the thicket of the forest.
"That was one weird fucker." said Tru.
"Who was?"curiously asked Wrath. "There was someone else here with you?"
Tru was about to respond but ignored her question. He instead looked toward the direction Madneas went.
'Just who the hell are you.' asked Tru while he felt like he accidentally ran into a dangerous beast.
"It's nothing" said Tru "But I think it's time I head back to Nork. Plus it getting late."
"Oooooo not the great Ifrit Tru is scared of the dark. Hahahahaha" teased Wrath.
"Oh hush you. I'm not just need to be somewhere not worrying about dying every twenty minutes." retorted Tru as he began making his way through the forest
Wrath was silent for a while causing Tru to become nervous. He could see the wooden walls of Gob village. The whole journey Wrath was silent and sent Tru into a small panic.
"Hello? Did the cat get your tongue?" asked Tru playfully.
"No." said Wrath who sounded slightly irritated.
"Then what is it?" questioned Tru.
Wrath let out a massive sigh and the silence ensued. "I just feel like an idiot is all."
"You aren't though, so why do you feel like that?" pondered Tru as he entered into the Gob Village.
"I feel like one. It is all from what yo I said about dying." said Wrath "It's literally because you CAN NOT DIE! I explained this before!"
"That's why you been so quiet the whole time?!" yelled Tru as his frustration grew.
"Yeah" said Wrath "cause why are you so stupid."
Tru ignored her when he saw Nork sitting in the middle of the village meditating with his legs crossed. The large orge heard Tru approaching and opened one eye then closed it.
"I see you have returned in one piece" said Nork. Hearing his statement caused Tru to look around with Ifrit's Mana Soul. He scanned lightly but saw no one else and turned to Nork.
"Yeah I did. Why did you say that?" aske Tru as Nork finished his meditation and stood up.
"I'm sure you've heard the loud cries of the Grand Basilisk. It sounds like it is in a frenzy, something has driven it mad." explained Nork.
Tru felt slightly embarrassed as he was responsible for the Grand Basilisk's mood. "Yeah I heard it too but I can easily avoid it" lied Tru.
Nork could tell Tru was lying from his face but said nothing and walked to a pot over a fire. "There is food here if you want some." said Nork who fixed himself a bowl.
Tru also grabbed a bowl and fixed himself some of the magic beast stew. He even summoned Shadow and fixed him a bowl also. Then Tru took up a chair and ate with the two of them.
'Why do you even eat?' asked Wrath 'It is not even needed for you anymore.'
'Because I like food. Whether it is beneficial or not the taste of food is good when made right and this was made perfectly.' Replied Tru as he scarfed down his meal.
He looked over and saw that Shadow finished it's bowl. The young Necrocoil was now full and lazy as it laid near the fire. Nork was captivated by the beauty of the black serpent as he ate.
"What kind of contract is it?" asked Nork.
Tru nearly choked at the unexpected question and looked down at the sleeping Shadow. "It's a Black Coral Cobra." said Tru.
"It is a cobra?" asked Nork "A cobra without a hood?"
Tru did choke on his food this time as he realized that Shadow indeed did not have a hood.
"Uh it's gotta grow into it you know right now it is just a baby." said Tru with an uneasy smile.
Nork lightly snorted and shook his head and continued to eat. Tru got up and fixed himself another helping. He sat before Nork who was still on his first bowl and scarfed down his food again.
"You uh, you ok?" asked Tru as he realized Nork had stopped eating. The large orge just nodded before setting his bowl to the side. He then rested his hands on his head and went deep into thought.
"You know if you need some time I can—"
"No it is fine." said Nork with a deep sigh. "I just want to know what you plan to do after you defeat Rath Gul."
Tru placed his bowl down and looked at Blasphemy on his hand. He then looked towards Shadow before staring at Nork. The fire caused his amber eyes to light up with a pale orange glow.
"Hopefully when I do beat him I can look into getting some answers about a few things. Then I just take it from there." replied Tru.
Nork picked his food back up and lifted the bowl to his head and drained it of its contents. "I see. We all have our paths in life, and I am happy you crossed into mine."
"Yeah why is that?" asked Tru.
"I am happy because I get to live to see my son avenged." said Nork as he clutched his fist. He stared into the fire but Yru could see the rage and hurt in his eyes.
Tru stood up and patted him on the shoulder hoping to bring him some comfort.
"Don't worry, I will make Rath Gul pay for what he did."