-Where the hell did you get that?!

He ignored me, reading the manual and fiddling with the orb.

-Are you deaf!?

He poked a few times at the orb and it whirred to life again, apparently giving him a better result, because he smiled.

-Motherfucker, you…

I started walking towards him.

That was apparently when he finally deemed me worthy of his attention.

Prick.

-What, are you talking to me?

-Do you see anyone else here? I asked where did you get that?!

He gave me a degrading look.

-Ah, right, I forget. You lot are a bit behind the times. Don’t worry about that. It’s nothing that should concern you.

-You serious? You pull something like that out and expect us to just not notice? - For was bewildered as well. - Something like this belongs… that’s a void artifact, isn’t it!?

He nodded with understanding.

-Ah, yes, you are a bit more educated than the rest of you primitives out here… so yes, that’s what it is for you.

What did she mean?

That thing was clearly magical, it was impossible that it was what she thought it was. I was more interested in the printed manual. And the glasses. Where did he get those?

-It’s not then?!

-Oh, of course, by your account it definitely falls under that category - he nodded. - Strange name, but I’ve heard it and yes, it is a void artifact.

For a second I was wondering how much I should reveal. If anything. But being cautious wouldn’t get me anywhere, so…

-Like hell it is! - I protested. - This shit is magical! No void artifact works alongside magic that well! At all, really!

He turned his head, looking at me with curiosity in his eyes behind the veil and glasses.

-I see your understanding about the void artifacts is as shallow as I would expect.

-Am I wrong though? And what, you’re some kind of master on that topic, huh? Explain yourself!

He sighed with disappointment.

-I take back my earlier comment. You are indeed as stupid as the rest of you. But I guess I can correct you a little bit. I do owe you a favor, after all. You did point me towards this interesting piece… - he said, pointing towards the slab.

-Oh, what generosity… - I said, crossing my arms. - Be my guest, please, enlighten us.

-Hm. As you wish.

He was clearly in a better mood than before. I guess whatever he saw in the orb was enough to brighten his mood?

He poked his orb once more and it went dark completely.

-As you noticed, that item is indeed magical in nature.

He poked it again, and the glow came back.

-That is just a piece of outer shell that is magical though. Insides… as you probably noticed…

One poke more. It whirred and unraveled itself again, showing its insides, which were clearly made out of weird metallic pieces… almost looking like some kind of a… circuit board!?

Was I dreaming!?

No, it was clear. While I might not be the authority on technical aspects of computers and all, I know how the insides of a computer look.

And what was inside the orb looked like a very tangled motherboard. Cooling included! That’s where the whirring was from! A fucking fan!

-Insides are just a bunch of components that you would definitely not understand: a void artifact, as you call them. Or a piece of technology, as I know of it. The magic is here just to visualize what the insides produce. Not like you know what that means - he finished, chuckling.

-What the fuck…

-But… don’t the void artifacts suppress magic…? - asked Kon for me. - So how the hell does that thing’s shell work…?

-Ha. So you DO know something. Yes, most of them do. But who said all of them? Progress, my boy, progress! Progress is everything!

Both For and Kon looked at me, standing dumbfounded in front of him.

I was speechless.

What that man was telling me right now was completely breaking my understanding of what I knew before. My basic knowledge was… straight up wrong.

I honestly couldn’t believe it, and I would not, if not for the fact that I was literally staring at it.

-If that’s all, I will just take my leave…

He closed the orb and packed it up, hiding inside his bag.

-What about that staff? - I asked. - It was partially a void artifact too, right?

-How do you…

His eyes widened, suddenly on guard.

-I could tell it was disrupting my magic. Overall mana in vicinity. I thought it was weird, but if what you’re telling is true, then maybe…

-Yes, actually. While different to this - he pointed to his belt - the basis is the same.

-Hm. You’re an interesting person. Are you sure you don’t want to follow me…?

-I bet you’d want us to - chimed in For. - Just to experiment on his form.

-That’s actually a good point - I admitted. - You’ve never said anything about me… why?

-What do you mean…?

-The usual reaction I get - I said, pointing to my torso - is a panicked scream. Everyone thinks of me as a monster, or some strange creature, yet you just treat me like… well, like a human being. Why?

-I mean, aren’t you? - she shrugged.

-You know what I mean.

-Right, right. Of course, you have an interesting form… but far from the weirdest thing I’ve seen. You might be in a far worse state than most though… At least visually… Mentally you seem better… - he said, trailing off.

-The most?

-Ah, yes. I’ve seen many people similar to you. I thought it’s common here, crystal remnants, right? - he asked.

-Sure. Those do exist - agreed For. - But they are far inbetween, and mostly savage, wild creatures…

-If that’s what you say, I am sure it’s true… - he said, not really moved. - I am familiar with the culling of those here, sure, but I thought that some of them were cleanly integrated into society… After all, even your king is one, so…

While we knew that information, hearing that from him was a nice confirmation for a change.

-We are aware. But that doesn’t mean that he’s… open to the public with that information.

He stared at me, intrigued.

-I… I was not aware… Intriguing…

-As for people chasing him, you seem to know not much about this world…

-We don’t need to. We just need to know his whereabouts.

-And you’re failing.

-Hm. I still am not sure how he escaped… and you appeared in his place… You’re incredibly unlucky. Or lucky, depending on how you look at that.

-I vote for “unlucky”. But I have to agree, the discussion with you was enlightening, for one.

-Oh, I wouldn’t call it a discussion, but you’re welcome.

-Hm.

-But, if that’s all, I will take my leave.

-Well, I do have a question… You said that those void artifacts… where do you get them? I thought that they were pretty rare… and you have more than one…?

-Rare? That’s not some collectible treasure or something! - he puffed. - It’s just like a blade or whatever else you make here… It’s created, not found.

-Really…? - For feigned ignorance. - Is that hard to produce…? I mean, those seem complicated…

-And powerful - added Kon.

-And they are. But enough smart people and resources can work a charm.

-I thought Wildnorth was a desert…? Where do you even get the resources?

He froze.

He realized that we caught him saying a bit too much.

He quickly covered himself, though.

-We do have access to the old mines… - he said. - I am pretty sure you are aware of dwarves' old stomping grounds…?

-Sure… doesn’t mean that those are easy to reach.

-You said it yourself. Our artifacts are powerful. Same with magic. It’s not so hard for us to traverse the underground.

-Hm.

He was, of course, full of bullshit.

Even without looking at the state of his mana, I was able to tell. His body language was enough.

-Intriguing. And have you found dwarves as well? I thought that those were pretty rare. At last they are here.

-Yeah, they rarely appear on the continent - agreed with me For. - A shame, they often make great business partners. Or so I would think, after seeing your creations and stories…

-Sadly, not many. But they do help us now and then. We found some of them in their ruins. I guess they decided it’s not worth it… The border is pretty rough and hard to traverse…

Again, he was full of shit.

But which part?

Was that they found them was a lie, that they helped them, or overall their existence?

A bit strange. I mean, when I first appeared here I also was doubting their overall existence, but seeing his mana not change, and constantly pointing to the lie…

-How about elves…? Are they prevalent in your lands?

-Nah, not really. I am pretty sure that most of them are on the continent, aren’t they? But why this sudden questioning…?

Again with lies.

But what was the point? To confuse me?

Or did he notice my ability and was just trying to throw me off the track?

Nah, that was not possible.

-It’s just pure curiosity. It’s not often you have an occasion to talk with someone from Wildnorth.

-Ah. Well, if that’s all, I’ll be taking my leave.

He took one last glance at the glued-together now tablet and started rummaging through his belongings, most likely looking for the anchor.

-Of course…

Next to me I felt a hint of relief from both For and Kon.

Yeah, the situation was a tiny bit tense for a moment there, but I guess all’s well that ends well.

-We don’t want to keep you… - said For, nodding - Err…

-Ha - I realized why she got hung up at the end there. - Right. We never got your name…

He stopped looking for the anchor.

-True. Neither did you.

He gazed briefly at all of us.

-Of course I know For, it’s hard not to. But I never got to know yours, you two.

-Ah.

-My name is Kon - Kon said quickly, introducing himself. - A bit late, but… I guess it’s been a little hectic…

-Yeah, that's a bit of an understatement - agreed the man.

-And my name is Mor. Sorry for late introductions. And you…?

As I was asking him the question, I immediately realized that something was not right.

It was not just some ominous feeling, it was more tangible: as soon as I spoke my name, his mana froze.

I have not seen a reaction like that before.

Up till now, I’ve seen many emotions taking form in people’s magical auras, but this one I could only describe as overwhelming fear.

That’s why it threw me for a loop.

Out of all the people, I never expected for that guy to be afraid now. Hell, just before he was as calm as it gets, instead the three of us were more on the edge.

And for him to react to my name?

Why?

-A… and do you have a surname…? - he asked.

Ha. So I was right. Even without the enhanced sight, his own voice was betraying him: it was trembling.

Kon and For noticed the shift immediately and the brief relief that was just there disappeared and got replaced with even more alertness.

-I…

That was a tiny problem.

Even if not for the strange reaction to my name, I wouldn’t really want to say my own in his company. And not like I could, anyway.

Last time, when I tried introducing myself fully, according to witnesses I just spouted out a hard to understand blurb of… how did he describe to me…? “A mix of different words”? Something like that.

I blame one of I’s for that.

Even if he would be deadly calm, for me to risk him hearing something like that…

Well, it wouldn’t be a smart decision, let’s say that.

-I don’t really have one - I simply said, trying to sound nonchalantly. - How about you?

-Liar.

-Excuse me?