The thing chatting with the man in the golden mask could barely be called human. Other than its humanoid limbs and head being uncovered, the rest of its body was wrapped in a diamond-patterned blue material that reflected light, resembled gemstones, and was edged in gold. It looked absurdly comical. Its humanlike face wore an expression that was somehow inhuman. If the masked man had known how to describe it, he would have called it the "uncanny valley effect," but his mind contained no such concept. It was not because he was ignorant. On the contrary, he was exceedingly knowledgeable.
The masked man made no comment about the thing's attire, because he knew just how powerful it was. He could not even resist it.
"You should not concern yourself with that man, The Sage."
The Sage in the golden mask remained impassive, gripping a gilded spear set with an amethyst representing honesty and reason. He forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart. "We are partners, Prophetess."
"We are indeed partners, but if you wish to achieve your goal, you must follow my instructions." The blue thing opened its mouth irritably. It did not want to tell The Sage just how terrifying the magic on that man in golden armor was, nor did it wish to waste its power investigating someone's information. Yet it could not show weakness either, because its partnership with The Sage was far from stable, and it had already paid a price too great to ignore in order to make use of him.
"But your target is not that man. It is that boy!" it said. "Only by stopping that boy from approaching the Holy Mountain, or simply killing him, can you save your lover. Anyone who stands in your way must die. Remember, you only have