.
***
Silence fell again a few seconds after Legion's words.
Its misty silhouette remained motionless among the trees, as if the forest itself refused to approach it. The thousands of faces constantly passing through its form continued to follow one another in a slow agony. Some seemed to be crying. Others were screaming. Still others appeared frozen in eternal terror.
"We know that you know the former servant of the Original Gods..."
The countless voices echoed once more.
"We already know it."
Zerath frowned.
— The former servant of what exactly?
Kert simply shrugged.
— Honestly, just looking at his face, you can immediately tell he's not entirely sane.
The color instantly drained from Zerath's face.
— Kert...
He suddenly turned to him with a worried look.
— You should really avoid saying that to that thing.
— Why?
— Because we have absolutely no idea what it's capable of doing!
Kert clenched his fist confidently.
— So what? I've got my powers back. I'm definitely not going to start trembling in front of a ghost that likes scaring people.
Zerath felt a drop of sweat run down his temple.
— You're forgetting one detail...
His gaze returned to Legion.
— That creature almost crushed us just by being present.
— Exactly!
Kert pointed at Legion.
— He started it! He attacks us with his presence, then shows up talking like we owe him something!
His voice rose.
— Who does he think he is?!
— KERT!
Hinata's shout cut through the forest.
Everyone froze.
Even Kert.
Even Zerath.
Even the thousands of faces flowing through Legion's mist seemed to slow for a moment.
Hinata was breathing with difficulty.
Her gaze was unusually harsh.
Almost angry.
— Stop...
Her voice trembled slightly.
— This is really not the moment...
Kert opened his mouth but no sound came out.
Hinata slowly pointed at Legion.
— That thing...
Her throat tightened.
— That thing is clearly not on our level.
The wind blew between the trees.
— Don't think that because I'm protecting you with my mana you can fight it.
Her voice became lower.
— Under normal conditions...
She lowered her eyes for a few seconds.
— Its mere existence would probably be enough to kill us.
Silence returned.
Kert remained frozen.
He had never seen Hinata react like this.
Never.
Usually, even in the worst situations, she maintained an almost strange calm.
But this time...
This time, something had truly frightened her.
— I...
He looked away slightly.
— I'm sorry, Hinata.
Hinata slowly released her breath.
Her anger vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
— Thank you.
Beside them, Zerath silently observed the scene.
Then his gaze returned to Legion.
He understood.
For the first time since their encounter with this entity, he truly understood what worried Hinata.
It was not just the power.
It was worse.
This creature represented something for which no preparation existed.
Something that brutally reminded them that they were not in control.
And Hinata hated that feeling.
Not because she was prideful.
But because she always carried the responsibility of others on her shoulders.
Faced with Legion, that responsibility became useless.
The creature could probably erase them before they even understood what was happening.
A long silence settled.
Then Legion spoke again.
Its thousands of voices overlapped in a spectral rumble.
— Interesting...
Distorted faces briefly emerged from the mist.
— Despite your weakness...
— Despite your ignorance...
— Despite your fear...
The voices continued to merge.
— You remain united.
The pressure crushing the forest seemed to lessen slightly.
Not disappear.
Only lessen, just enough to allow everyone to breathe more easily.
Even Shaï-Thaêl noticed the change.
"Curious..."
she murmured in Hinata's mind.
"This thing is not really trying to kill us."
Hinata replied mentally:
"Then what does it want?"
Shaï-Thaêl remained silent for a few seconds.
Then answered:
"I think we are about to find out."
In front of them, Legion slowly raised a hand made of shadows, ghosts, and dying faces.
— Simply answer our question.
The trees around them began to creak.
— Where is Bivisu?
This time, the question carried nothing of a threat.
It was almost...
An urgent request.
And that worried Hinata even more.
Zerath frowned again.
— Bivisu? Who is that exactly?
The question fell like a stone into water.
Hinata remained silent.
Her mind was racing.
Lying to Legion seemed impossible.
Since its appearance, this creature gave the impression of seeing beyond words, beyond expressions, perhaps even beyond thoughts themselves.
Yet revealing the truth was not an option either.
How could she explain to Kert and Zerath that she had met Bivisu?
How could she tell them about the Ineffables, the Original Gods, the Outergods, and that war that seemed to be preparing in the shadow of the world?
Even she no longer fully understood it.
Everything had become blurred.
Revelations were piling up faster than she could accept them.
And above all...
She had absolutely no idea what Legion wanted with Bivisu.
Was he an enemy?
An ally?
Or something even more complicated?
— Don't say anything.
Shaï-Thaêl's voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
Hinata flinched internally.
— Why?
— Don't say anything.
— And if it attacks us?
A silence followed.
Then Shaï-Thaêl answered with unusual coldness.
— Don't say anything, I said.
Hinata clenched her teeth.
Her gaze met that of the thousands of faces composing Legion.
— Stop trembling.
Shaï-Thaêl's voice softened.
— In front of it, that's clearly not a good idea.
Hinata took a deep breath.
Once.
Then twice.
Then three times.
She closed her eyes.
Trying to regain some semblance of calm.
Suddenly...
A strange warmth spread through her entire body.
Like a comforting wave.
As if something had just enveloped her.
She abruptly opened her eyes.
For a fraction of a second, she saw the spectral silhouette of Shaï-Thaêl.
The spirit of the void was wrapping her in its arms like an older sister protecting a frightened child.
Then the vision dissolved into dark smoke.
— Don't worry...
the voice murmured.
— I'm with you.
Hinata swallowed.
Her heart was still beating fast.
But she could now breathe.
She finally raised her head toward Legion.
— Legion...
Her voice trembled slightly before regaining its steadiness.
— That is indeed your name, isn't it?
The thousands of faces seemed to observe her simultaneously.
— Yes.
Hinata took a deep breath.
— Then I will be clear.
Silence passed through the forest.
— I am not obligated to tell you where he is.
The air seemed to grow heavier.
Even Kert and Zerath suddenly turned their heads toward her.
For a moment, no sound was heard.
Then Legion's countless voices echoed together.
— Very brave...
Hundreds of mouths appeared in the mist.
— Very brave to answer us in this way.
Legion slowly raised a hand.
A hand made of ghosts, dead memories, and fragments of souls.
— We could crush your neck with a single thought.
An icy pressure crossed the space.
— But fortunately for you...
The hand stopped.
— That is not our objective.
Then Legion slightly lowered its head.
And something moved behind it.
A crack.
Then another.
All eyes immediately turned in that direction.
A silhouette was slowly emerging from the darkness.
Even the forest seemed to part in its path.
The man was tall.
Very tall.
His presence gave off an impression of raw power that was difficult to describe.
Every step seemed natural.
As if he had never known doubt.
As if the world already belonged to him.
His face possessed a strange beauty.
Almost unreal.
A cold beauty.
Dominant.
Dangerous.
His long dark hair fell over his shoulders while his red eyes shone in the dimness of the forest.
— Come now, Legion.
His voice was calm.
Almost weary.
— Why waste time with them?
Legion did not respond.
The man continued to walk until he fully emerged from the shadows.
Then his red gaze fixed directly on Hinata.
— You...
A strange sensation immediately ran through her body.
As if this man had recognized her.
Or worse...
As if he had already observed her before.
He stared at her for a few seconds.
Then straightened.
— You were probably the one who had the answers.
His smile widened slightly.
— But that is no longer necessary.
His red eyes glowed more intensely.
— I have already gathered enough information.
Hinata did not respond.
She simply observed this stranger.
Something about him was deeply disturbing.
Even more than his power.
It was his certainty.
As if he already knew exactly how things would end.
— Who is this guy?
she thought internally.
This time even Shaï-Thaêl took time to respond.
That detail alone was enough to worry Hinata.
Finally, the spirit's voice echoed.
More serious than usual.
— I do not know myself...
A silence followed.
Then Shaï-Thaêl added:
— And that... is an extremely bad sign.