"Alright, I can't really escape from this, can I?" Icarius muttered, feeling cornered.
"No, you absolutely cannot! I need those answers if I'm going to be of any help to you," the wyvern said with a mix of urgency and frustration.
Icarius sighed deeply. "Fine, go ahead. What's so important that you can't let me rest?"
The wyvern's eyes gleamed as it continued, "Firstly, you can't just call me Blood Wyvern. I need a name to fully complete the contract between us."
Icarius raised an eyebrow. "So, the contract isn't complete? You've seen how weak I am now. Why not leave and find yourself a better master?"
The wyvern's pride was almost visible. "It's true; the contract isn't complete. But that day, you showed me something rare—absolute dominance. My ego won't allow me to serve anyone who isn't capable of that. Plus, even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't break a contract myself, even if it wasn't fully sealed. Now that you understand the situation, give me a name. If you're bad at naming things, just let Astrid do it."
Icarius couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Astrid coming up with some ridiculous name. "Nah, I'll do it myself. Let's see… Zephyrius, how about that?"
Suddenly, the system menu popped up in front of Icarius with a notification: "You have completed your second contract. You can now communicate telepathically with your contracted creature and assist in its growth."
The wyvern's eyes widened with a spark of admiration. "So you really are a Sage! That explains why you have a system and all that power from back then. I'm honored to be contracted to someone like you."
Icarius's smile faded a bit. "It might look like that, but I don't think I'm much of a Sage anymore."
Zephyrius tilted his head, concerned. "That's why I need to know your story, Master. If I'm going to help you, I need to understand what you've been through."
Icarius hesitated, staring into the distance. "Alright, so..."
Just then, the door creaked open, and the elf man walked in. He was exactly as Zephyrius had described—tall, with ghostly pale skin, striking blue hair, and a beard that matched his ethereal appearance. His presence carried a mix of calm and authority.
The elf didn't say a word at first. He silently approached a small pot and began adding ingredients, each one releasing a faint glow. With a simple gesture, he summoned a blue flame beneath the pot, heating it slowly as he continued to prepare the soup.
Icarius, feeling a bit awkward, broke the silence. "I'm awake, sir. You don't need to make that potion."
The elf man paused, then turned to face him, scratching his well-groomed white beard thoughtfully. His eyes held an ancient wisdom, but there was also something unreadable behind them. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and steady. "You are miserable yet mysterious. You should become less of both. That is why destiny brought you here."
Icarius felt a chill run down his spine. The elf's words felt more like a command than advice.
The elf nodded slowly, his expression softening a bit. "You carry burdens that are not meant to be borne alone. Yet, here you are, still trying to do everything on your own. Perhaps you should begin by trusting those who are willing to stand by you."
Icarius glanced at Zephyrius, who had been quietly watching the exchange. The wyvern's eyes were still bright with determination and loyalty. It struck Icarius then that maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to carry everything alone.
But old habits die hard. He wasn't used to relying on others, and the thought of opening up about his past left a bitter taste in his mouth. "Trust, huh?" he murmured, almost to himself. "It's not that simple."