40 - the face stealer and goodbyes

Walking into the palace's throne room Levi could see Sage sitting at the far end of it on his throne, he was surrounded by what Levi could only assume were parrot females with a look of satisfaction on his face.

Stopping at the front Levi and Sage looked at each other and before Levi could get a word out Sage spoke first, "Girls why don't you go and rest for now, I have something to discuss with our friends." said Sage as the females started leaving one after another through a side door close to the throne, some even giving Levi and Acnologia annoyed looks that he chose to pretend that he didn't notice.

"I've heard that you've been running around making trouble in my domain." said Sage after his playmates left as he eyed Levi, his eyes narrowing.

He didn't seem to be angry though just curious and maybe a little bit annoyed which made Levi relieved, even with his new merge ability with Acnologia he didn't think he could take him on, although he had the vague feeling that Sage was more annoyed at them interrupting his special time than him scorching that hill.

'How are they doing it anyway?' That thought suddenly struck Levi, refusing to leave his head, he looked at Sage up and down observing him repeatedly but he still couldn't come up with an answer to that question.

It took some moments for Levi to snap out of it and when he did he felt really awkward, both for staring at Sage that long and for not answering his question, he really felt sorry for what he did and Sage's accusatory look didn't alleviate his guilt.

"Well I wouldn't put it like that exactly." said Levi trying to clear things up, Acnologia on the side was nodding his head up and down backing him up.

'I knew I could count on you boy.' thought Levi, happy with his companion backing him up.

"Oh and how would you put it?" questioned Sage with an amused look.

"I was testing a new power I had developed and things went a little out of hand." said Levi telling half-truths, he couldn't just tell him that he had gotten it from the system.

"Is that so." said Sage, narrowing his eyes, clearly seeing that Levi wasn't telling him everything, "Anyhow, no harm was done so it's alright, just be careful from now on, what did you want to see me for?"

Levi could swear that he detected a tone of impatience in Sage's voice, 'How good can parrot sex even be?.' thought Levi dumbstruck, but he wasn't clueless enough to voice it out.

"I came to tell you that we will be leaving today, so this might be the last time we meet." said Levi waiting for Sage's reaction, if there was one then Levi couldn't detect if so he continued speaking, "We appreciate all that you've done for us but I can't stay here, I need to find a way back home." said Levi with a heavy tone in his voice.

"Are you sure about that? You might have been lucky for now but the spirit world is way bigger and more dangerous than you realize." asked Sage with a tone of concern slipping into his voice which surprised Levi, he didn't think he cared that much for them to be concerned.

Levi wanted to retaliate and tell Sage that he had the worst luck ever but he chose not to, it wasn't the time to rant about his shity luck.

Nodding his head Levi spoke, "I am sure, if I don't dare to face hardship and danger then what kind of person am I? I am ready for whatever might come my way, if not how will I grow and move forward." said Levi his voice and eyes firm.

Hearing him Sage nodded his head before speaking, "Very well then, just know that you're welcome back here anytime, both of you, you'll always be a friend of the spirit parrots, as long as you don't side with the eagles that is." said Sage narrowing his eyes at the last part but with a playful tone in his voice.

"Haha, you don't have to worry. I doubt they will want anything to do with us after our last encounter." replied Levi, which made him think, 'It would be problematic if we encounter them during our journey.'

'I'll just leave that problem to my future self to worry about.' thought Levi shoving that problem to the back of his mind.

Nodding at his answer Sage seemed to be thinking for a while as if he was hesitating about something before he finally seemed to make up his mind and spoke, "I don't know if it's a good idea to be telling you this, but I trust that you will be responsible with this information." said Sage seriously, making Levi pay close attention.

"If you keep heading west from here, sooner or later you will come upon the territory of an ancient spirit, he calls himself KOH THE FACE STEALER." said Sage menacingly making Acnologia hide his head between his two wings.

Pausing for a while to let Levi process the information Sage continued, "If there is anyone who knows a way back into the physical world without waiting for the harmonic convergence it is him, he may be younger than me but his ability made sure that he's very knowledgeable, and that's why you should be careful, his name is not just for show."

Gulping Levi asked, "What do you mean by that?'' he already knew the answer to that but he still had to act it out, it didn't make sense for him to know information like that. He was also surprised that Koh might know such information, if he had to pick someone who might hold such a piece of information he would have chosen Vaatu instead but it seemed he had underestimated the face-stealing centipede.

"Koh the face stealer is an ancient and malevolent entity, he has the ability to steal the face of any being that displays any emotion near him and wear it as his own, granting him their memories and experience hence his name." said Sage gravely making both Levi and Acnologia gulp, Levi was just putting up a front but the small dragon was really scared.

"I trust I don't need to tell you what to do when you meet him." said Sage raising an eyebrow and making Levi wonder how that was even possible.

"Show no emotion whatsoever?" replied Levi with a questioning tone even though he already knew the answer.

"Yes, and one other thing, try not to offend Koh for there is someone behind him that even I don't dare cross easily." said Sage seriously with an apprehensive tone shocking Levi, this time for real.

He had seen how powerful Sage was, 'He could create matter out of nothing for god's sake, like the time we first met.' thought Levi remembering how Sage had controlled his and Acnologia's body so effortlessly and created a big table and chairs with just a wave of his wing.

But he was now saying that he didn't dare cross the being was behind Koh? Levi of course knew who Sage was talking about, Koh's mother, the mother of faces, but he didn't think she was that powerful.

Levi suddenly felt as if the hall was a little bit colder as the hairs on his arms stood straight and he couldn't help but feel a foreign gaze invade the palace hall and linger on him for a second before disappearing, looking at the two others present here with him, he saw that they didn't show any reaction making him think that he had just imagined it.

"But you don't need to worry about it too much." spoke Sage finally with an amused tone, "You likely won't ever run into someone like that so rest assured."

'Great now you might have just jinxed me.' thought Levi almost berating Sage out loud.

Thanking deep breaths and exhaling slowly to get over that creepy sensation, Levi cubed his fist in the palm of his right hand and bowed a little as a show of appreciation, "Thank you, Sage, I will never forget your kindness and generosity." he said seriously.

From the corner of his eyes Levi could see Acnologia taking the same stance he did or at least trying to before he bowed his waist toward Sage.

"I am sure you won't, you're not the ungrateful type after all." said Sage with a mysterious smile.

Levi couldn't help but feel there was a hidden meaning behind his words, and he also had to wonder if Sage had some sort of bipolar disorder, sometimes he seemed like this mysterious Sage that knew everything and at other times he seemed to only care about sex and food.

Before he could ask about it though Sage spoke once again. "If that is all let me then grace you with one last gift." said Sage before lifting his wing and waving it in front of him.

*Pzzt* *pzzt*

A sound that was akin to that of both electricity and air at the same time came from behind Levi and Acnologia, as they turned around to look at what it was they saw a blue circular gateway appearing right in front of them.

On the other side of the gateway they could see a huge meadow stretching for as far as the eye could see, there were all kinds of flowers of all colors and spirit animals running around, sounds of birds and small insects could be heard from the other side singing a beautiful melody as the sun hung high in the sky shining its beautiful rays over the entire scenery.

As they looked at this scene only one word came to Levi and Acnologia's minds, "Beautiful."

"I've opened this portal as close as I can to Koh's territory and I've chosen a safe region. If you keep heading west from there you should reach him in one month." said Sage, interrupting their trance.

Turning around and thanking him profusely one more time both Levi and Acnologia stepped into the portal as it closed behind them leaving the palace hall empty and quiet with the exception of Sage who seemed to have an air of loneliness enveloping him all of a sudden.

"Be safe my old friends, we will meet again." he Sage as he looked at where Acnologia and Levi were standing just moments ago, a complicated look on his face.

"Daddy can we come in." said a feminine voice from the side door close to the throne room.

"Hahaha of course baby, Daddy is ready for round two, and bring your friends over." shouted Sage out loud at her, the air of loneliness around him completely gone replaced by one of excitement.

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AN: Don't know about you guys but I am very satisfied with how this chapter turned out, lemme know what you think.

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