There were far more monsters than humans, and they, too, possessed talents. However, not all talented individuals were equal.
The difference between the most talented person among a hundred others and one in a million was as vast as an abyss. That is precisely why others described them with a multitude of different words: talent, genius, prodigy, and so on.
All of this was necessary to distinguish talented, strong individuals from one another, creating a hierarchy even among the best.
However, for so, this simply wasn't enough. So individuals weren't the strongest or most talented, yet their uniqueness instilled fear in others' hearts. Not because this person threatened them, no, but because everything about this one was a dark, terrifying unknown.
Zin was exactly such a monster.
He rarely fought. Most monsters in the Hollow Lands, especially not the Lords, had never seen him in battle. Still, they all feared him. No one wanted to face him, let alone speak of him.
Perhaps this was one of those cases where the stories and tales about the fighter were more vivid and impressive than the fighter himself, but no one dared to test that or question it.
"Phantom?"
Zin muttered.
"Adam Vinter?"
He paused for a few monts.
"I don't know that na. I've never heard of this Phantom."
Then, Zin turned away, continuing to stare at the red apple.
"Go away. I told you, I'm not interested."
"B-But!"
Before Es'aha could say anything else, Zin's calm tone cut her off:
"I can't imagine a single sound, scream, or cry of joy that would be new to . This Phantom can't show sothing I haven't heard before."
In fact, Es'aha couldn't argue with that. Even if Adam was stronger than most other Phantoms, he was still a Phantom, a human with emotions. In many situations, he acted just like other people.
That wasn't a bad thing, but it couldn't pique Zin's curiosity.
"If I can't hear anything new, then what's the point of my leaving here?"
He asked before abruptly continuing.
"Es'aha, can you hear that?"
She gulped.
"What are you talking about, Zin?"
In response, Zin pointed to the core, to the trembling black roots, swaying with every gust of wind.
"The cries of thousands of souls in this core. Once upon a ti, it would have been too painful to hear, but now, after so many years, it has turned into a lody that soothes like nothing else. Here, in the silence amidst the madness of the frenzied fla, it is much calr than at the pillars.
"I have nothing against our lands. This place is my ho just as much as your pillar, Es'aha. But if I have the chance to stay away from the sounds of battle, explosions, and lightning strikes, I will take it. I've heard all this more than ten thousand tis already. That's enough."
In any other situation, this would have been yet another of Es'aha's failures. She would have tried again, Zin would have ignored her, and Es'aha would have left.
But not this ti, and the only reason for that, oddly enough, was Kaerno.
"You… you old, cunning snake. Does Adam know about this? Does he know that without your interference, I wouldn't have succeeded? Does he know that you're aware of his secret?"
"Hm."
Es'aha coughed as she gave Zin a serious look.
"I know that, Zin. After all, this isn't my first attempt to bring you ho. But this ti, I have sothing to offer you."
However, he ignored her. He didn't believe it was true. He couldn't imagine sothing he hadn't heard yet.
"What about a heartbeat, Zin? Would you be interested in hearing it?"
Zin turned to her.
"I hope you're not talking about yours. It's a calm lody, but a familiar one. I've heard the heartbeats of babies and the elderly, of cowards and heroes, and of murderers and victors. You and the other Fingers possess terrifying power. Do you really think the heartbeat of so Phantom could compare to that?"
"Yes."
Es'aha stated confidently, which confused Zin. She wanted to bring him ho to her pillar, but she never lied.
"What does that an, Es'aha?" He narrowed his eyes.
"You're right. Compared to monsters like , Adam Vinter won't be able to show you anything extraordinary. I'd think the sa if I were you. That was the case until Kaerno ca to ."
Zin raised an eyebrow, still confused.
Es'aha continued as her voice grew quieter, as if she feared soone might hear them.
"I don't know why or how it happened, but right now, the blood of Queen Elisa flows through Adam Vinter. I don't an the bloodline, he's not her son or a relative. No, her blood is in him, and through that, you'll be able to-"
Zin was quicker: "I'll be able to hear her heartbeat. The heart that exists outside of ti... That sound, I can't even imagine it."
For the first ti during their entire conversation, emotion flashed across Zin's face. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Her heart, her blood. Yes… It might work if they're actually connected. Do you know how this happened? How long has he had this blood?"
Es'aha shook her head.
"Like I said, no. In fact, I've never t this Adam Vinter, but Kaerno did. He saw it in him, and I assure you, that bastard is hard to surprise."
She continued:
"As for the timing. I can't be sure, but I think that's exactly why Adam Vinter is in such a hurry to take part in the Grim Court."
"The blood…" Zin muttered, staring into space. "Her blood is too powerful. It will tear him apart if he doesn't absorb it, and for that… for that, he must evolve."
Es'aha smirked, anticipating her victory after hundreds of failures.
"Yes, and his favorite way to progress is through deadly combat."
"Agh?" He looked up.
Es'aha stepped forward.
"Either you fight him and hear the blood of Queen Elisa flow, or soone else will beco his opponent, and this chance will be lost. Forever."
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