Icarius tilted his head slightly, curiosity evident in his gaze. "So, what were you trying to ask me?"
Gobralvar, the old elf, stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well, you heard that girl mention how you're not supposed to be in this forest. That's just one of the things we're all wondering about."
Zephyrius, still perched on Icarius's shoulder in his mini form, nodded in agreement. "Exactly."
Icarius frowned, shaking his head. "I don't really know what she meant by that."
Gobralvar rolled his eyes. "How do you not know? Shouldn't that be common knowledge?" His voice carried a hint of skepticism, as if puzzled by Icarius's ignorance.
Icarius sighed, realizing he'd need to clarify things. "Alright, I'll tell you what I've been through so you can get the full picture."
Gobralvar leaned in slightly, his eyes sharpening. "We're all ears. Go ahead."
Taking a deep breath, Icarius began, "I'm not from here—not from this world."
The statement hung in the air for a moment, causing Zephyrius to twitch in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Gobralvar gave the wyvern a stern look. "Listen carefully." Then, turning back to Icarius, he gestured for him to continue.
"I was brought here by some sort of spacetime distortion," Icarius explained. "When I arrived, I got introduced to this system that told me I was the seventh sage."
Gobralvar's eyes widened in realization. "That... actually makes some sense. I see now why your presence here is so strange." He paused, then added, "Let me explain what I know about this world so you can grasp what's considered 'normal,' as that girl put it."
Icarius nodded, relieved. "Thanks. Before that, though, I should tell you more about my experience. When I first got here, I was given immense power—more than what any sage typically starts with. It felt like I had what every previous Sage had combined. But for some reason, I ended up drawn to this place where I got trapped… and then I heard… the Third Sage."
"The Third Sage?" Gobralvar's voice grew tense.
Icarius nodded slowly. "But it was just a magical recording. The encounter wasn't exactly pleasant. He sealed my powers and stripped me of nearly everything."
Gobralvar shook his head in disbelief. "It can't be. The Third Sage would never do something like that."
"He said he didn't like how omnipotent I was becoming. Something about the balance of power," Icarius muttered, irritation creeping into his tone. "I lost my powers in a cave, and I still remember where it happened."
Gobralvar watched him closely, sensing there was more to the story. "Alright… and then you got injured?"
Icarius's eyes darkened. "Not injured. I died—physically, at least."
"And yet here you are." Gobralvar's eyes narrowed. "What happened after that?"
Icarius hesitated, deciding to hold back some details. "I came back… somehow." He shifted uncomfortably, then muttered under his breath, "I really shouldn't bother you with the specifics."
Gobralvar nodded, understanding there were things Icarius wasn't ready to share. "Fair enough. Now, let me tell you what I know. This world was much more peaceful once, but that changed when demons broke into our realm."
Icarius's interest aroused again. "Broke in? Aren't demons supposed to already live in this world?"
Gobralvar's expression grew serious. "Our world, as it turns out, is bi-existential. There's our world and a demonic world—a parallel plane that's not supposed to be connected to ours. But the demons became so proficient in spacetime magic that they managed to crack open a way into our world. And that brought chaos."
Icarius scratched his head, trying to visualize what Gobralvar was explaining. "Wait… do you have a map on you?"
Gobralvar shook his head. "I haven't seen a map in 200 years. But you've seen one, right? One mega-continent with all the nations? It has not changed, right?"
Icarius nodded in agreement, and Gobralvar's expression softened with a gentle smile as he continued, "It's said that the forbidden portal was created in the Dark Forest, far to the south. But in reality, the portal was far from the continent itself. It was made in the middle of the great ocean. The unimaginable heat from the demonic realm evaporated the surrounding water, forming a new island where the demons built their base." That's where the demons built their stronghold."
Icarius listened intently as Gobralvar continued, "The races of this world—elves, dwarves, humans, demi-humans—united to fight the demons. The demons had the upper hand, but the ocean acted as a natural barrier, slowing their advance and giving us time to prepare. Then, one day, someone stumbled upon a mysterious tool in a cave…