The boy called Thoth stood expressionless, neither denying nor affirming the

  name.

  Suddenly, without a word, he turned and began to walk.

  Tamar and the others followed him almost instinctively.

  As he entered a densely wooded area, thorny vines and rough branches moved on

  their own, clearing a path.

  The deeper they went into the forest, the more strange and extraordinary plants

  captivated their eyes.

  At the end of that path stood a peculiar tree in an open field.

  The tree was as massive as a fortress, and its root-like branches stretched

  upward as if it had been planted upside down.

  It had no leaves, yet upon closer look, transparent scale-like shapes drifted

  gently down from above.

  When Ella caught one, it carried the deep scent of foliage.

  It was a palm-sized, flat, transparent leaf.

  As they approached, they saw that a large knot-hole had formed an entrance

  resembling a door.

  “It’s the Ished Tree. A place like a library of the gods.”

  At Tamar’s words, Ella nodded.

  When the boy opened the door and entered, the others followed.

  The inside of the tree was far larger than expected.

  The floor was covered with fragrant moss, and the living wood had shaped itself

  into furniture of various forms.

  In the center stood a staircase spiraling upward.

  The tree seemed to be structured like a multi-story building.

  The boy sat in a chair, poured tea into a wooden cup, and sipped it slowly.

  Wadji sat across from him.

  “Um… may I address you as Lord Thoth? I want to recover my lost memories.”

  “When the tea in the cup spills, you simply pour it again. But how will you

  gather water that has already been spilled?”

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  “So recovering my memories is impossible?”

  Thoth neither denied nor affirmed it.

  That seemed to be his way.

  The recorder of knowledge made no conclusions, no definitions.

  Truth, it seemed, was inherently ambiguous.

  Wadji, wearing a serious expression, asked again.

  “Then what should I do?”

  Thoth sipped his tea and pointed upward with his finger.

  “In this place are stored countless memories and thoughts since primordial

  times.”

  “So… I should refill my cup.”

  Thoth merely blinked once.

  Tamar had been immersed in sensing the elements lingering in the air.

  When Wadji approached, she gave him a crooked smile.

  “So, you found your answer, kid? I think I’ve found mine too. I’ll train

  here in the forest. Like you said, I think I can refine my abilities further.”

  “If it’s you, Miss, you’ll do more than well. I’ll remain here for the time

  being and read the books.”

  Ella suddenly looked uneasy.

  “I need to train too… but is that possible here?”

  Tamar let out a short laugh.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have more than enough sparring partners.”

  Thoth rose from his seat and looked at Tamar and Ella in turn.

  “Crude and young, you fledglings.”

  Tamar almost flared up but restrained herself.

  Her opponent was a great sage who had accumulated the mysteries of knowledge

  and magic since primordial times.

  “Will you teach us a lesson, Lord Thoth?”

  “You have excess strength but lack depth and refinement. Teaching is

  something one gains oneself. I will watch.”

  Thoth turned his head to look at Ella.

  When she met his deep gray eyes, she instinctively shrank back.

  He seemed about to say something but slowly closed his mouth instead.

  Closing his eyes, he murmured a small incantation.

  From the floor, several wooden trunks rose and began twisting together like

  serpents.

  The wood gradually took the shape of swords.

  In the end, two longswords were formed.

  The subtle green grain flowing along the hilts and the sleek black sheen of the

  blades were strikingly beautiful.

  “Use these swords. The Ished Tree is stronger and more flexible than iron.”

  At the sight of the magnificent longswords, Ella’s face lit up with joy.

  When she held one, it felt as light as her dagger, yet she could sense its

  strength and sharpness.

  “Thank you.”

  Thus began Tamar’s group’s life together with the god of wisdom within the

  Ished Forest.

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