Forbidden: Max level warrior

The corridors of the high observatory in the capital were dim, lit only by the glow of arcane crystals and the silent rotation of enchanted scrying mirrors. The Whispered Eye had convened—though it was rare for more than two or three of them to meet in the same room, this incident had drawn nearly all available members. Even those deep in research or isolation had been summoned.

One of the floating crystals still sparked erratically, fragments of its ruined mirror scattered in the center of the room like splinters of ice.

"It wasn't a fluctuation," said a voice, cold and analytical. "We all felt it. Roughly two hours ago, a surge of mana from the forest."

Another mage—hooded, older—nodded slowly. "Initial speculation suggested a dragon awakening. Or worse. There are ancient seals beneath that forest. We feared something may have broken free."

A third mage, expression hidden behind a bronze mask, crossed their arms. "So we looked. We reached out to the edge of the disturbance."

"And we found… them," the first finished grimly.

Images flickered on the repaired mirror—still glitching, still incomplete. A boy and a girl walking a dirt path. The boy's coat black as midnight. A calm stride. A distant smile. And then—static. Destruction. The thread shattered like glass.

"His presence broke three scrying threads simultaneously," muttered another. "Even the capital's primary prism couldn't hold."

"That's not an ordinary anomaly," someone whispered.

There was silence.

Eventually, the eldest among them—a figure who hadn't spoken yet—leaned forward. "What classification would you assign?"

Another replied, voice low. "Unranked. Unscannable. No signature we recognize. If he were a mage, he would rank above Archmage."

"There are no Grand Mages in the Scarlet-Flame Kingdom," someone said quickly. A defensive reflex. A reminder of limits.

The masked one scoffed. "Perhaps there weren't. Until now."

The air grew tense.

"We must proceed carefully," said the elder again. "Investigate. Watch. Do not engage. Not until we know more."

And then, almost as an afterthought: "The girl—identify her."

---

Back in Feldrath, the streets buzzed with the midday rush. Merchants barked about spices and steel, and guards leaned lazily by lamp posts. Ann walked through it all like he owned the ground. Lilly kept close beside him, still awed by the crowd, the buildings, the sheer life of the place.

"You need new clothes," Ann said without turning his head.

Lilly blinked. "W-what?"

"Your dress is torn, your shoes are nonexistent, and you look like a runaway peasant."

"I am a runaway peasant."

"True. But now you're a peasant sponsored by the Demon Lord of Infinity."

She blinked. "That's… that's not a real title."

"It is now."

They came to a modest stone building, wooden signage etched with a swirling thread-and-needle crest above the door. Ann opened it and stepped inside. The air was cool, lavender-scented, and lined with enchanted mannequins and fabric shelves. A man—well-dressed, silver-bearded, sharp-eyed—stepped forward."Welcome, traveler. You've entered the finest tailor's house in all of Feldrath. What may I offer you today?"

Ann gestured casually toward Lilly. "She needs a new outfit. The best you have. Most expensive. No shortcuts."

The shopkeeper's eyes briefly scanned Lilly's worn dress and bare feet. His polite expression didn't crack, but his voice dipped with careful skepticism. "I see. Forgive me, sir, but… our finest set is enchanted and imported. It costs ten gold coins. Most adventurers don't request anything in that range."

Ann tilted his head. "I didn't ask what most adventurers do. I asked for your best."

The man hesitated, then nodded and stepped into the back room.

Lilly leaned in, whispering. "You don't really have to—"

"Yes I do," Ann cut in softly. "You're walking beside me now. I don't want you dressed like someone else's broken past."

The shopkeeper returned carrying a velvet-lined box, setting it carefully on the counter. "Here it is. Full transformation set. The ring, once attuned, becomes a dress tailored to the wearer's form. The enchantments include passive shielding—resistant to all attacks beneath A-rank classification—auto-repair, and self-cleaning properties. It's a favorite among certain noble families. Comes with matching slippers and underlayers."

He paused.

"One thing, though... I feel obligated to inform you that this set has already been reserved. By the son of the Warden."

Ann's expression didn't change—but the air seemed to thicken.

"The Warden's son?" he asked calmly.

"Yes," the shopkeeper said. "He made it clear it wasn't to be shown or sold to anyone else. I—I really shouldn't even be letting you see it, but…"

Ann stepped forward. "And yet here we are."

The tailor blinked as Ann leaned just slightly over the counter.

"You fear the Warden's son," Ann said. "But when I asked, you hesitated. You questioned my coin. But not his."

"I-I only meant—he's a noble, and—"

"I'm the Demon Lord of Infinity."

That made the man blink. Hard. His lips parted. For a second, he wasn't sure if it was a joke, a threat, or just lunacy. His eyes darted toward Lilly as if to confirm the statement was real. She only shrugged.

"I... see," the man said, clearing his throat awkwardly.

Ann opened his coat and took out a heavy pouch, then set it down on the counter. He untied the strings and let the contents spill: twenty gold coins in a slow, deliberate cascade.

The man stared, stunned.

"Double the price," Ann said. "Forget the reservation."

"I… sir," the man stammered. "Even nobles don't pay twenty gold for a single set. This is—"

"It's not just a set. It's mine now."

The man looked from the gold to Ann, then to the ring.

Then he stepped back, bowed, and said, "Then allow me to prepare the case. The shoes and accessories are included."

He offered Lilly a small box containing soft, matching slippers in pale blue, along with a pair of enchanted gloves and a silver-stitched cloak, folded precisely.

She stared at them like they might vanish if she touched them.

"If the Warden's son comes for it," Ann added as he pocketed the ring, "tell him he was outbid. By the Demon Lord of Infinity."

The shopkeeper swallowed. "Understood."

They left without another word.

Outside, Lilly turned the ring over in her hand. "That title of yours…"

Ann glanced at her. "What about it?"

"You really know how to scare people with nonsense."

"I'm not sure if I'm scaring them with nonsense," Ann muttered, "or if they just sense it's not nonsense."

She slipped the ring onto her finger. A shimmer of silver-blue light rippled outward, forming a flowing sapphire dress around her body. It adjusted itself perfectly to her shape—elegant, sleek, and clearly noble-crafted. The cloak layered itself around her shoulders, and the slippers matched as if they'd always been hers.

She looked down at herself in silence.

Ann started walking. "Come on. Let's see the food this place has to offer."

She smiled, then followed. They stepped into the cobbled street, heading toward the nearest tavern—and whatever came next.