Emily looked toward Isaac for a brief moment. After seeing him nod, she turned back to Sage Sea.
There was little risk in telling him the truth. If Sage Sea ultimately declined the contract, he would simply return to the nothingness of death until the System summoned him again through another Ancient Spirit Contract.
The odds of someone else ever meeting him again through a contract were practically nonexistent. There were simply too many people across existence who could be potentially summoned instead of him.
Emily began telling her story from the beginning. She spoke about her childhood, the hardships she had faced, the arrival of the System, and the life she had built alongside Isaac.
Sage Sea listened quietly without interrupting even once. His wise eyes remained fixed on Emily as though every part of her story deserved his complete attention.
When Emily finally finished, silence settled over the Moon Dimension for several seconds. Sage Sea slowly lowered his head before speaking in the same calm voice.
"You have lived a difficult life, child."
The change from "beautiful lady" to "child" caught Emily by surprise. She looked at Sage Sea for a moment before answering with a calm expression.
"I have lived a good life, Sir Sage Sea. I won’t say everything went happily, but I am still happy with the life I have. I hope you won’t pity me like this and make a mockery of everything I’ve been through," she said.
Sage Sea blinked before letting out a gentle laugh. His expression remained warm as he looked at Emily.
"Haha, then I apologize for calling you child, beautiful lady. It seems I misunderstood you."
He had assumed Emily was someone weighed down by her past and in need of sympathy. Instead, she stood before him with her head held high, asking him to acknowledge her choices and determination rather than the hardships she had endured.
Sage Sea found that admirable. There were many who survived difficult lives, but far fewer who refused to let those difficulties define them.
Emily smiled faintly before asking, "What is your second condition, Sir?"
"I will not participate in any battle. Long ago, I made a vow that I would never fight again, and I have kept that promise ever since," Sage Sea replied.
Emily became thoughtful after hearing his answer. Through her Spirit Element, she could already tell Sage Sea was incredibly powerful, which meant contracting him would occupy a significant portion of her soul.
If he never intended to fight, then she had to carefully consider whether using that much of her soul on him was the right decision. She respected him, but she also had responsibilities that required her to think practically.
After a brief pause, she asked, "Forgive me for being direct, Sir Sage Sea, but if you will not fight, is there another way you can help me?"
Isaac quietly watched the conversation from the side. A small smile appeared on his face as he realized how much Emily had changed.
The old Emily might have hesitated to ask such a difficult question. Now, she remained respectful while speaking honestly, understanding that both sides were discussing an agreement that needed to benefit them equally.
Sage Sea didn’t seem offended in the slightest. Instead, he nodded with quiet approval before answering. "I can teach. If you wish, I can establish a school and pass on the knowledge I have gathered throughout my life."
Emily blinked in surprise. It was such a simple answer that she almost overlooked how valuable it truly was.
As she thought about it more carefully, she realized how terrifying that offer actually was. Someone who stood on the same level as Oz and Eizekiel had lived for countless years, accumulating knowledge that ordinary people could never hope to obtain.
If such a person taught others, the benefits would reach every part of a city. Whether it was cultivation, governance, crafting, strategy, or countless other fields, everyone could grow stronger from his guidance.
"Does that mean you are very knowledgeable, Sir Sage Sea?" Emily asked.
Sage Sea smiled modestly before replying, "Knowledge is simply what allowed me to continue living after I swore never to fight. Throughout my life, I often served as a minister and adviser to different kingdoms, and even when those kingdoms fell, the victors usually invited me to remain because they still valued what I could offer."
He spoke without any trace of pride, simply stating what had happened over the years. Yet the meaning behind his words was impossible to ignore.
Emily had already made her decision.
"I would like to form a contract with you."
"Then I would be honored to accept." Sage Sea inclined his head respectfully.
Ancient energy appeared beneath them as the contract began. Spiritual light flowed between Emily and Sage Sea before gradually settling into both of their souls.
The connection formed naturally, and each of them could clearly sense the other’s presence through the completed contract. After exchanging a few formal greetings, Sage Sea slowly looked around the Moon Dimension.
His gaze eventually stopped on Ki Beli and the other captured members of the Florathi Kingdom. He studied them quietly before turning back to Emily.
"What do you intend to do with that man?" he asked about Ki Beli.
"I plan to kill him and tame his spirit," Emily answered honestly.
Sage Sea wasn’t surprised by her response. Powerful Beast Tamers had always sought strong spirits, regardless of whether those spirits had once been allies or enemies.
After observing Ki Beli for another moment, Sage Sea’s expression grew slightly more serious. "That man’s soul carries the protection of a god. If you attempt to draw out his spirit, that protection will activate and destroy his soul."
Emily frowned as she listened. Isaac’s expression also changed.
"The resulting explosion would be powerful enough to destroy this entire place. Whoever placed that protection clearly intended to prevent anyone from claiming his soul," he said.
Isaac and Emily exchanged surprised looks. Before imprisoning Ki Beli, they had specifically asked Oz and Ezekiel to examine him for hidden protections like this, yet neither of them had discovered anything unusual.
After a brief silence, Emily looked back at Sage Sea. "Sir Sage Sea, are you able to remove that protection?"
She asked the question without much expectation. If even Oz and Eizekiel had failed to notice it, dealing with it seemed almost impossible.
Sage Sea simply gave a calm nod.
"Yes."