The black cat strolled through the void, its short, stubby tail swaying gently. For some reason, Merlin actually felt that this strange black cat moved with great elegance.
A cat's movements were elegant?
Merlin even wondered if he had gone mad.
"Young Spellcaster, do not look at me with such eyes. I am the spirit of the stone monument personally inscribed by the great Archmage Fidel, the great Guardian of the Dark Spirit Domain, the great Lord Didimos!"
Amid the black cat's string of "greats," Merlin found himself somewhat speechless. This strange and smug black cat could speak human language; it was an existence Merlin did not understand, and it was connected to the Dark Spirit Domain. It should be able to answer his questions about the Dark Spirit Domain.
Thus, Merlin gave the black cat a slight bow and said respectfully, "Great Lord Didimos, I possess the token of the Dark Spirit Domain and have come here. Please guide me into the Dark Spirit Domain."
Hearing Merlin's respectful tone, the black cat seemed very satisfied and continued, "Young Spellcaster, if you wish to enter the Dark Spirit Domain, should you not offer some Elemental Crystals to the great Lord Didimos?"
"Elemental Crystals?"
It was Merlin's first time hearing of them, and he was rather bewildered.
However, the black cat seemed somewhat dissatisfied, and its tone became shrill. "Young Spellcaster, pay attention. Standing before you is the great Lord Didimos! Though Elemental Crystals are precious, you should not be so stingy. Any type will do—ice, fire, earth, all are acceptable. Of course, ice Elemental Crystals taste the best, and the great Lord Didimos would like them very much. But if there are no ice Elemental Crystals, earth ones will do as well..."
As the black cat rattled off all sorts