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What in the world was that?

Psychic feedback?

No... even in this low-powered state, Ettol could still guard himself against that tactic, for the most part. Not to mention, being the victim of malicious feedback was excruciatingly painful, while this hadn't hurt at all.

Instead, he'd only felt that windy pulse. Briefly disorienting, perhaps, but painless.

What did that mean? Was this a fellow wielder of the Windlight? Somehow, Ettol did not think so. Surely, a fellow wielder would be more easily recognizable than this.

The stranger was remaining quiet, he noticed. Not pressing for information. Not demanding anything. Just standing there, blankly.

"...Why have you come?" said Ettol.

"Why did you accept me in?" said the stranger.

Hmph. "I enjoy meeting new people."

"Or perhaps you were expecting someone else? Someone more familiar to you?"

"Someone like who?"

"One of your fellow visitors," said the man.

And Ettol paused. Something in the way he'd said that made the Gentleman of Palei hesitate. There was no obvious malice in it, nor had this stranger made any hostile movements towards him thus far.

And yet...

Visitors, were they? That choice of word felt particularly loaded. It indicated not just a rare piece of knowledge about him and his kin, but also an opinion about said knowledge.

An opinion that Ettol had not often found very warm or welcoming in the long history of his incarnations.

Perhaps his next words were Germal's influence, because he decided, for once, to be more direct. "Do you consider me your enemy, stranger?"

"Should I?"

"Certainly not. But it would also help me to answer that question more exhaustively if you told me who you were."

"Well, I wouldn't want you to exhaust yourself."

"Heh. Kind of you to worry, but I am tougher than I look."

"I'm sure you are."

"A name is all I am requesting. Is that so much to ask?"

"Not at all. But lying would be a hassle. And hypocritical, perhaps."

"A lie by omission is still a lie, no? Or so people keep telling me."

"Then it is a good thing that omission and refusal are not the same thing."

Yes, this opponent was quite experienced, indeed. There was no telling how much he already knew of Ettol and his kin.

"...Very well, then," said Ettol. "It is obvious enough that you want something from me. If you would tell me what you are looking for, then perhaps I might help you find it."