[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/GpC2zmX1/Anki-Banner.png[/img][/center] [hr]The 'discussion', as it seemed to be, had finally started between the party and these mysterious individuals. At the time, Fei had finally woken up, and considering his appetite for trying out dragon steak it seemed that Anki's healing magic had managed to do its job of healing a significant amount of the damage from his body. The pixie Dumas had once more returned to his human sized form and joined in on introducing himself through Srikandi. And Catherine... Well, Catherine seemed quite eager to take more samples, this time from the blood of these outsiders as the alchemist was eager to see if her theories regarding the outsiders' origin was right or not. As for Anki, she tilted her head to one side, gaze still filled with curiosity as the outsiders' leader; a woman named Almira, denied that she was an alchemist or mage. [color=DEB887]"A former soldier."[/color] Anki's mind was hard at work trying to figure out whether or not the woman had told her a lie. And if so, which part of it was a lie. She claimed to be 347 years old. Yet she was a human former soldier. It was simply [b]impossible[/b]. The typical human doesn't even generally live over the age of 70, let alone nearly 5 times that. The fact that Almira then backtracked on the topic of her age only made Anki even more curious- and suspicious, of her words. Anki then turned to Srikandi, and started speaking in Oberian, a language she knew Srikandi was somewhat fluent in. [color=DEB887]"Frankly. I think she's lying, Ms. Srikandi. She seems to be hiding quite a few things... And to answer your questions..."[/color] Anki shook her head before continuing. [color=DEB887]"Yes, life extension through magic or alchemy is possible in Oberia. However... One, in regards to alchemy, it would be an extremely expensive process. The person wishing to extend their lifespan will need to drink a series of specially made elixirs that must be taken regularly once a week for a full year... The cost in gold will be humongous, and even then it will only increase the person's lifespan for about 20% of their natural lifespan... Nowhere near enough to reach 347 years old. Note, that this procedure cannot be repeated. One series of elixirs for a year and that's it. Taking any more than that will result in overdosing, which in turn will likely result in either complete and permanent paralysis of the body or death."[/color] She paused briefly, letting her words sink in to Srikandi before continuing. [color=DEB887]"Two, in regards to magic... Only the most powerful of human mage will be able to use their magic to extend their lifespan, and even then only if they are a master of the Earth or Water element. The former achieved so by borrowing energy from the flow of the mythological Tree of Life, while the latter achieved so by conjuring water from the equally legendary Fountain of Youth... In history, only those bearing the title of Lord of Gaea or Lord of Okeanos were capable of such feat... And even then, the longest living human of them all was the 2nd Lord of Gaea, which lived to the age of 288 years old... Still short of the 347 years old this Almira claimed herself to be."[/color] [color=DEB887]"And lastly. No, they do not at all act like Oberians. Not their mannerism, nor their way of dressing, nor their way of speech. Simply put... This Almira is either not fully human; perhaps a half-elf or such similarly longer lived species... Or she had, as I previously said, lied to us."[/color] Her head rapidly snapped back to look at Almira as she uttered the last words of her speech. Once more, the automaton princess of Oberia looked at the strangers with curious eyes... Which were then also tinged with suspicion and wariness.