If the Box of Cicia had existed from the beginning, she’d have at least a millennia of "age," making Angel’s twenty years not quite "large" by comparison.
"Do you just enjoy stalling?" Cicia’s voice seemed squeezed through clenched teeth, showing her great frustration.
"No. I wasn’t stalling; I was conversing by your standards. If you’re strict, then I’ll be strict; if you’re magnanimous, then I’ll be magnanimous. But if you expect me to be magnanimous while you’re strict, then there’s nothing to discuss."
Angel paused, then added: "Oh, and what I’ve just said counts as a round of Q&A too."
"So, we’re now even again. It’s my turn to ask now."
Cicia was silent for quite a while this time.
Although Angel didn’t know Cicia’s thoughts, his heightened senses were still at work, with emotional waves constantly surging in the darkness, indicating that Cicia’s mood was definitely unsettled.
After a long while, Cicia spoke again, "Alright, go ahead and ask."
This time, Cicia didn’t have much to say, and those proud emotions had already begun to gradually retract.
"My question is still the same as before, I already know your name is Cicia, but in what form do you exist? I’m very curious."
Angel paused for a moment, "By the way, I’m young and it’s normal to be small-minded. I hope the previous unpleasantness doesn’t continue."
Cicia snorted coldly, "A brat like a radish mound, in the past, if I saw someone like you, I’d definitely give a swift kick!"
Angel smiled faintly and didn’t respond.
After a round of cursing, Cicia returned to the main topic, "In what form do I exist? Haven’t you seen it? My shell exists in the form of a box, and my consciousness is confined within this box. I’m neither a spirit nor an undead; my soul has merged with the box and is completely imperceptible. So, when you ask in what form I exist, I don’t know either; perhaps a conglomeration of memories? Or maybe, some unknown energy form."
Cicia’s words answered thoroughly, yet were also very obscure.
Ordinary wizards may not fully understand in a short time. However, Angel was different; he had seen souls taken by the Demon God, yet the consciousness remained in Popota in the Wilderness of Dreams.
So, for such an existence without a soul but with thought and consciousness, Angel wouldn’t be surprised.
Of course, having Angel explain the principles involved, he wouldn’t be able to do it either...
Angel: "Your answer was very thorough; I roughly understand your situation. Now it’s your turn to ask questions."
Cicia sneered, "I don’t believe you can understand my situation."
Following this, Cicia’s question came from the misty darkness, "My question is still about your left ear. I’m interested in your left ear, but I won’t ask in a specific manner anymore. You can tell as much as you’re willing to."
Cicia’s words were actually quite crafty; between the lines, it seemed like she was offering a favor to Angel, but this unlimited form of questioning made it hard to guess Cicia’s true intent.
Nevertheless, no matter what Cicia intended, she had clearly removed the veneer of "absolute equality in the concept of the crown clown." In some aspects, it also meant conceding to Angel.
"I don’t know what you’re interested in, so I’ll tell you as much as you’re willing to accept."
Angel then began to speak at length.
Since Cicia had shown an attitude of concession, Angel didn’t use rhetorical tactics or fancy speech. Otherwise, Angel would certainly start from the moment he was "born" to discuss the changes in his left ear.
Angel knew what Cicia wanted to know was definitely connected to the Flame Mark. Yet he didn’t know to what extent Cicia wanted to delve.
If it was only about the superficial Flame Mark and the situation regarding Odeclass, Angel could talk about that.
But if she wished to probe deeper... Angel would need to think it over.
Thus, based on these conditions, what Angel said about the left ear was mostly superficial.
For instance, the earring on the ear was transformed from a certain shadow creature, temporarily sealing the mark inside.
Additionally, the mark on the earlobe is a symbol of friendship from a major figure in the Abyss.
Lastly, Angel provided a general description of the rumors about that major figure from the Abyss—Odeclass, and then stopped speaking.
"I’ve said as much as I can for the time being; I wonder if you’re satisfied?"
Angel seemingly casually asked the question, "Are you satisfied?" In reality, it was a way to probe Cicia’s intentions.
If she was satisfied, it meant what Cicia wanted to know was likely within the things he said. If she wasn’t, then undoubtedly Cicia was seeking the deepest secret.
Cicia: "You certainly had much to say about your left ear. Judging by the weight of your responses, it was sincere. Unfortunately, you didn’t cover what I wanted to know."
That is to say, Cicia was not satisfied.
Angel’s eyebrows drooped a bit, and he already had some thoughts.
"It’s my turn to ask now. To save time, how about I ask two questions directly?"
The slender hand in the darkness waved carelessly, "As you wish."
Angel could feel that Cicia was probably tired, maybe due to not getting what she wanted to know, her interest was waning.
It’s quite normal, after all, these old creatures, over the passage of time, had long since worn away their old passions. For Angel’s left ear to ignite even a bit of Cicia’s curiosity was already quite remarkable.
"The first question, does the so-called treasure refer to items with emotional attachments?"
Cicia: "That’s right, those items that the owner finds hard to part with often hold some unspeakable emotions. These emotions can add a bit more joy to my dull life. Just to note, your two gold coins hold great value to me; you can feel your attachment to them."
"So does this mean I’ve passed?"
Cicia: "This question is a freebie for you, indeed. Once you leave here, I will mark you, granting you the qualification to continue forward."
When Cicia said this, she noticed Angel’s eyes flickered. She was about to wrap up but added another sentence after noticing his expression.
"I know what you’re thinking: why is there a setup here to exchange a precious item for the qualification to proceed, right?"
Angel nodded.
Cicia: "This question isn’t a secret, but it’s a complicated story. Starting from the beginning would be long and tedious, so I’m not going to bother. You just need to know that initially, the precious items required here were designated by the Warden; nowadays, it’s up to me to decide."
Although Cicia didn’t elaborate, she had essentially made the main point clear.
To progress from here, you must have a pass or a precious item. Over ten thousand years ago, the precious item designated by the Warden was different from today’s.
Thus, perhaps the so-called precious item from ten thousand years ago was a fixed, specific treasure, and "it" might have also served as an alternative "pass"?
Angel only mused a little and didn’t truly inquire further. He was indeed curious about what the treasure from ten thousand years ago referred to, but that wasn’t the most crucial thing at present.
"Hurry and ask; afterward, I need to rest. I absolutely despise children, especially crafty ones. I have no intention to keep droning on with you," Cicia said while speaking, Angel even heard a yawn, showing that Cicia’s enthusiasm had indeed waned.
Given this, Angel decided to set aside his original question regarding the Wood Spirit temporarily and opted to ask another question.
"My second question is about you, Cicia."
Cicia sneered, "You’re that interested in me? Too bad, I’m not interested in hairless ones."
Angel didn’t mind Cicia’s mockery and slowly began to speak:
"Is Cicia a Baiyuanian?"