So… kid… you’re saying that your original personality, the one I met, is actually something called artificial soul created by the millennia-old necromancer who can’t even confirm anything because she got abducted by one of the Ghosts of Bellcephora… isn’t this, you know…? Hard to believe?

Ludier’s shadow with whom the black-haired boy consulted, asked in a doubtful tone.

|Said an apparition held up with mana in the world where magic is real.|

Zoemi sighed, rolling his eyes and leaning his back against the wall.

I just think that if you really were thrown back in time, I would travel together with you – I am basically living inside your head.

Ludier’s shadow countered, also making it sound as if he sighed.

|When I activated the spell you were out and holding back Kiorterell for me – we were barely connected, so that’s most likely the reason why only I experienced it.|

Zoemi pointed out and shrugged his shoulders making an annoyed expression.

|Do you want to try using the same spell again to make sure?|

Ludier’s shadow asked, making quite a good point.

|I can’t.|

Huh? What do you mean by you can’t?

The black-haired boy shook his head, refusing without a moment of hesitation and confusing the unique shadow of the ice magician even more.

|Look.|

Although the refusal came instantly, it did not mean that the black-haired boy was going to just drop the subject – instead, he reached out his hand and concentrated.

His mana shifted into a time attribute one and proceeded to construct a spell…

*haaaaaa*

…only to be released without properly forming, with the sound of the person breathing out in relief…

Oh… I felt that – there’s something blocking you from using the time spells!

Ludier’s shadow gasped, and Zoemi nodded his head with a bitter expression.

|I have a sneaking suspicion that the thing preventing me from using the spell is that so-called original personality. He doesn’t want to witness the events that followed the scene that I already saw – and taking into consideration the nightmares that I experienced since childhood and what is publically known about the assassination of almost every single member of the royal family three hundred years ago, I am not even that surprised.|

Zoemi admitted with a slight frown and looked up at the ceiling.

|And to make everything even more annoying, Kiorterell is literally just bouncing in the darkness searching for Rethaq. You would think that if he is so shocked and confused, he would have contacted the rest of the Ghosts.|

The black-haired boy scoffed, concentrating to peek at the member of the Ghosts of Bellcephora who specialized in possessing other people.

Didn’t he shout something about their family being only a ruse but him and that supposed other Ghost being the real deal? Maybe that’s it? Not to mention that the cheery Ghosts said something vaguely alongside the same lines?

|Fair point.|

Ludier’s shadow displayed that he wasn’t just a witty freeloader and pointed out, making Zoemi tilt his head to the side and nod, agreeing with the explanation.

|Then, what now? Do you reckon I should give him more time to figure things out and maybe contact other Ghosts, or should I try to get him now? He could be the most problematic one to kill if left alone, but with the element of surprise on our side, he should go down even easier than Rethaq or Raseriat.|

The black-haired boy asked, raising his hand and moving his fingers, causing ice, darkness, acid, and plasma particles to appear and dance atop it as a half-constructed spell.

Ah! Now we are threading on the area of my specialty! Wait of course! What is the use of killing a small fish when you can use it as bait for the real catch!

The shadow of the dead ice magician laughed, and boasted, sharing the wisdom of a man who was walking the path of revenge quite successfully until he met an unfortunate end at the hands of someone completely unrelated to his cause.

|Must I remind you that the small fish that you are referring to was directly responsible for my mother deteriorating health and mental state? Without him and Rethaq tormenting her, the mana she received might have as well properly settled in and she would not die. He is not just a small fish – in your fishing allegory, he is a killer whale.|

Zoemi furrowed his brows and corrected what he thought was wrong about Ludier’s words.

Would she really be alive though? You can’t say for sure.

|…|

The unique shadow argued, and he received no answer, as there was none.

Of course, Zoemi wasn’t sure – even if he anted for it to be true, what would that change at the current time with his mother already dead?

It was only an excuse that he came up with because he didn’t want to wait and let the chance to kill Kiroterell pass.

Kid, just leave him for now – unless he discovers your sentinel, you can take him out from the shadows.

|Fine…|

Ludier’s shadow advised Zoemi, and the black-haired boy sighed and nodded.

And changing the subject – they really will not let you fight tomorrow? Isn’t the Victureo family the organizer? What, are they afraid that you will wipe off the opponents too fast?

The unique shadow switched gears within an instant and asked, clearly trying to make his host cheer up.

|You’ve heard lord Telorius – they want me to win since I am their representative, but if things will go too well, the queen might go and throw a hissy fit and claim that the whole tournament was staged or something equally annoying. And honestly, I would not put it past her, even though it does sound like a childish tantrum.|

Zoemi shrugged and relaxed his shoulders – it was already quite late and it would be best for him to go to sleep, to have even a little bit of rest, since it was just like Burushi has told him before.

Healing magic is useful, but it simply cannot be used to get rid of some bodily functions.

|Taking it easy tomorrow might be a good idea – I can use the duels as a template and make it seem like my future fights are a lot closer than they could be – making me just scrape by instead of outright stomp my opponents should also aid in cutting off the easy way for the queen to make things difficult for anyone who doesn’t go along with her plan… whatever it is… You know what? I should keep an eye on her too, just in case.|

”Sentinel.”

”(~!)”

The black-haired boy thought and laid down – before furrowing his brows and conjuring the excited murky-black sphere out of the thin air.

”Try to sneak into the royal castle and attach yourself to the queen’s shadow – it’s okay if you fail, just come back.”

”(~!)”

Zoemi instructed the sphere and gently patted it, making it squirm happily under his touch before it flew off, changing into murky mist and passing through the window, before materializing back into its original shape and zooming off into the night.

|Allright – goodni…|

*knock* *knock* *knock*

”…ugh…”

Zoemi nodded to himself and closed his eyes – but just then someone knocked on his door, making the black-haired boy let out an annoyed sound.

”…Zoemi…? Are… are you asleep…?”

”!!!!”

But that all changed when the person knocking on the door called out in a hushed voice – and Zoemi instantly recognized it.

Zoemi jumped out of bed and hurried to the door, opening it ajar.

”Ah…!”

…and making the dark-haired villainess flinch and blush the moment she saw his face…