After bidding farewell to Zislaid's antique shop, they remained silent all the way to the exit.
Perhaps seeing what weighed on Angel's mind, Sanders pondered for a moment before saying, "Zislaid has his own set of standards for judgment. He reveres balance. While taking, he also gives. This standard does not only apply to his customers; he treats those harmed by transactions with the same impartiality."
Sanders paused, then suddenly smiled. "Speaking of which, when Zislaid first entered the Wizarding World, he was somewhat like you."
"However, you are better than him. Even when you dislike something in your heart, you can still face it rationally and objectively. But Zislaid back then was overflowing with hot blood."
It was Angel's first time hearing Sanders speak of Zislaid's past, and he could not help growing curious. "What happened afterward?"
"Human lifespans are too short, and human nature is too unfathomable. The longer one experiences, the more one understands. Time wore away Zislaid's hot blood. No matter how sincere a person is, they cannot withstand storm after storm." Sanders did not explain what he meant by "storms," merely pausing before continuing, "Speaking of which, I feel that he has not changed much from before. At the very least, compared to the others in the Wizarding World, he has retained his original heart for several centuries."
Sanders turned back and looked at the line of ornate lettering on the wall by the gate—
"If you are willing to burn the brilliance of your life in exchange for a rose, I think you must be mad."
Though this line came from The Florist Who Danced for Sin, the author of that book was actually Zislaid. By carving these words onto his own gate, he was not merely declaring his identity. It also meant that