Chapter 165 - Merged

"You do realize that you have a lot of explanation to do?" Reassured Commander Alia. She wasn't the biggest fan of this little event. "I was worried sick." We all witnessed that exact truth. 

"It's true." King Michael complimented her claim, but also after unintentionally added more fuel to the fire. "I thought she got paralyzed for a bit. I had to yell to snap her out of it, rather stressful." He explained in a calm low tone while taking a mouthful of the fish meat in front of him. For years, fish has been the main meal in this half abandoned Kingdom. The difference now, is that they can afford to eat twice or more a day thanks to the earlier established Fishermen teams.

"I realize all of your concern, but it isn't my fault to begin with, its..." Mogranius tried to reason, feeling sympathy for them and their care but also hoping to gain their understanding.

"Then what's to blame?" Asked Eric accidentally raising his voice a little bit and even cutting Mogranius' explanation short. Eric is concerned for his first mentor and is trying to hold in the rage storming in his heart as much as he can, which tends to be tricky with an Inner Demon of rage to beat which qualifies with Level 3.

"Ghosts." Answered Mogranius Boldly. He was as straight ahead with his answer as possible but still didn't fail to confuse everyone in the dining room. Some even stopped chewing because of the sudden mention of Ghosts, they weren't fans of them because of the stereotypical rumors spread around about them from people who had encounters, or Have nothing better to do(Which is quite common.). Considering that Mogranius had these powers before and even after he met these people, proves how secretive he was with this whole topic. If we can recall right, he only mentioned these powers once when Akareas' soul made a surprising entrance back at the Underground Town of Lan Zhe, and never again after.

A bit spooked, Commander Alia asked in a strong wave of concern as she held his hand firmly, her hands felt as soft as a feather pillow. She was sitting close to him for the exact reason, for sympathy filled support. "Ghosts? What do you mean? Are you possessed by a Ghost?" Even after asking that question, she strongly refused to let go of his hand. If this isn't couple goals, than I don't want to hear anything else about Romance.

"Well... not exactly. But, I'm a 58 year old man. Throughout my life I've had many experiences, explorations. And although most were beneficial, some... weren't." Although not direct, his sense of sudden calmness is unusual. Because usually when he is calm, he is about to do something drastic, like the event with the Farmers back at outer lands of Crutal Kingdom for example. The last time he was almost genuinely calm, was at that day. Worth pointing out that his calmness, led to some of those farmers not having a good fare. Infact all of them which associated with the Squad at that day, ended up with a terrible fate. But of course, most of the work was done by Commander Alia when she left with a blast.

"Get to the point man. I have books to read." Stefan urged him to speed up. He usually wouldn't joke or be disrespectful at such cases, but there are so many books, so much research he is able to read, the day just doesn't seem enough. He found a nice book about Wild Boars, Unusual interests but you can't blame anyone for a passion if that passion doesn't harm anyone. No one will complain about you reading too loud after all.

"Oh please. You have no responsibility in this Kingdom, you can read anytime you want." Replied someone. I'd like to say Mogranius with his usual energy, but it wasn't the case. Eric replied with such sarcasm, a bit rude but he only spoke the truth. However, he too was eager enough to find out what Mogranius meant.

"People will you calm down? Let the man speak." Clapped King Michael to grab the two's attention and calm them down. As a man who doesn't want to waste time, this behaviour was bothering him quite a bit.

"Thank you." Showed Mogranius Gratitude without an edge for once, rather odd since King Michael didn't have to go the extra mile to be misunderstood by him. Afterwards he continued to explain before anyone else could interrupt him again, trying to add as much detail as possible. "About 20 years ago. Well, I mean about 220 years ago before I was forced through time... I met with a unique thing... in the Forest."

"You met with Ghosts?" Asked King Michael himself. He was the last that wanted to interrupt but he wanted to know for sure if Mogranius is or is not associated with Ghosts.

But to let out an answer of which King Michael didn't want to hear at all, Mogranius calmly told him. "Quite a few times before I met with the accident yes. But that's not what I want you to focus on." The Ghost part didn't seem to bother him at all, likely because he is used to seeing the unliving all the time.

"Can you be more specific darling?" Asked Commander Alia as she held his hand a bit tighter. She along with everyone is not clear with what Mogranius wanted to explain.

It's not like he wanted to confuse everyone, but he just kept getting interrupted before he could give a more accurate description. "Yes indeed. See once while I was exploring Snow Ignite territory, specifically Septemtrionis Ignis. I planned to call it a day and set up camp somewhere... I didn't realize I was standing right next to something very unusual, and likely very powerful."

"So you are possessed?" What does King Michael have with Ghosts? Mogranius' words barely even linked to it.

"No!" Replied Mogranius with a bit of anger in his tone, they just didn't let him keep this calm way of talking for a bit longer. They just couldn't let him have it.

"Will you let the man explain? Don't talk, just listen. It's that simple!" Commander Alia was getting frustrated, she wanted to figure out what's wrong but these impatient people just won't let Mogranius explain. 

"Well, I tried to get a fire going. Gathering some branches, I touched the wrong tree. Whatever that tree was, once I touched it, I felt like I was being sucked in it. In fact I was! But luckily I was swift enough to find its weakness." Finishing his words, he wore a devious smile on his face. He felt very c.o.c.ky about his swift thinking in that day, and everyone in the room could notice it.

"Was an axe it's weakness?" Asked Eric in curiosity. When he lived in that little farmhouse, at winter he was quite used of cutting down trees and bringing them to the farmhouse. So his first thought about this "weakness" was of course an axe, he is used to it.

"No. Fire!" Mogranius explained in a cold low tone and added in a suspenseful manner. "Before the tree got the opportunity to completely suck me in, I burned part of the tree with my available hand. Seeing me as a strong strong threat, it let me go. But to let me go, I suppose..."

"What!?" Everyone asked in a simultaneous way. This was the answer they all were waiting for.

His lips widening with a smile, Mogranius continued to explain with his tone feeling a bit lighter. "It had to make little sacrifices. It had to give away some of its powers since i'm sure it isn't used to detaching itself from victims which already fell on its trap. I figure that it's only used to sucking Victims in it, in just a matter of seconds." Taking off his Wizard hat and bowing down a little bit, he explained. "I got detached from the tree with a blast." While gesturing on the bald spots on his head. He was being as literal as one can be at such a unique case. "This isn't a bald spot caused by a Student as i Claimed before. I wanted to explain this event long ago but I just didn't know how to."

"Before you ask once again Michael, No. I'm not possessed by a Ghost. At least, I hope not." Odd enough, he cut King Michael's words with that sentence short before he even started talking. "I still possess Paranormal vision, but I'm seeing less Ghosts than i'm supposed too."

"There are Ghosts here?" King Michael was obviously not pleased. Even standing up from his chair with a dash. 

Luckily, Mogranius knew what to say to calm him down at least a little bit. "Man there are Ghosts everywhere. Most don't tend to be harmful though so don't worry."

"But this doesn't explain how you fainted." Reminded Commander Alia as she held his hand a bit tighter, grabbing his attention in the blink of an eye.

"Oh it does if all of you were careful enough to concentrate on what I'm saying. I told you that the tree had to make a sacrifice. I theorize that it's sacrifice was part of its powers. I was granted with permanent paranormal vision as a power, but also linked with the tree, merged with its powers. In a way, merged with its soul."

Stefan of course being the closest to catch up, thanks to paying a lot of attention to the conversation in order to cut the ongoing questions and answers so he can get back to the book he was reading, Asked. "So since you got merged with the Tree, I suppose it got damaged somehow and led to your minor collapse."

"That's my theory." Expressed Mogranius with a dash on his tone, being glad that at least one was able to catch up. "But I have no idea how any living or nonliving Creature would be able to do major damage to that tree. I must go there myself to see what happened."