"What have you done with the Signus?" Nova asked, breaking the tense silence that had fallen over the dining hall. The question had burned in his mind since his first meeting with the Cardinals.

Shivere's lips curved into a thin smile. "He's sealed away in his little dimension until I leave the city. After that..." She spread her hands in an elegant shrug. "Well, that depends on how fast he can break free."

Nova felt the weight of the possessed audience's attention, hundreds of blank faces turned toward their conversation. The being's presence pressed against his skin like a physical thing, waiting to see how this dangerous dance would play out.

"And what happens to those associated with your actions?" Nova kept his voice carefully neutral.

"Ah." Shivere nodded in understanding. "You fear being marked as my accomplice."

"Of course." Nova's eyes darted to Annelie, still standing like a doll in the center of the room with that horrible, unnatural smile. "I don't have the power to evade the full might of the church as you do. And I have people to protect."

"Then stay behind." Shivere moved closer, softly stepping on the cold marble floor. "Clear yourself of suspicion. Help them clean up the mess I leave behind."

Nova considered her words carefully. 'It's not the worst idea… But a lot would depend on how much reason the Signus is willing to see. He will have lost all his Cardinals and their souls, and his pride will be wounded. The terms will need to be precise. And perhaps I can use the final card in my sleeve to reach the best possible outcome.'

"I'll need guarantees." He met her gaze steadily. "Sixty thousand Soul Power, handed over before you leave. A binding contract that prevents you from bringing harm to me, Millie, or Animo for twenty years."

"All acceptable terms, as long as I am allowed to retaliate. But what of Him?" Shivere's eyes darted to the darkness gathering at the room's edges.

"The contract must include your best efforts to prevent Him from harming us as well." Nova's voice hardened. "I won't leave that loophole open."

A low chuckle ran through the possessed audience, like wind through dead leaves. The being's attention seemed to sharpen, but it made no move to intervene.

"And in return?" Shivere asked, though her tone suggested she had low expectations.

"We stay clear of your plans related to the church. Unless directly threatened, we won't interfere with whatever you intend to do. Your crusade is your own."

Shivere's expression turned thoughtful as she considered the proposal. The candlelight caught her eyes, showing the red that was slowly returning. "You would stand aside? Even knowing what I might do?"

"The church created you. It's only right that it accepts the consequences." Nova spread his hands. "But, I have to include… Please avoid as many innocent deaths as you can."

"Very well." Shivere straightened, seeming to come to a decision. "I accept your terms. Shall we create the contract?"

Nova nodded, already gathering essence to begin the formation. But before starting, he caught a flicker of something in Shivere's eyes—a hint of respect, perhaps, or gratitude.

'Don't thank me just yet. I'm planning to chase you out of here with a big stick.'

He knelt on the marble floor, letting his essence flow outward. Intricate patterns spread across the white rock, with blue light tracing each rune with precision, building the familiar patterns of his contract spell.

Nova's fingers traced glowing runes across the marble floor as he spoke. "I know you're an intense negotiator, but let's find a fair middle ground for both of us." His voice carried a subtle edge. "And remember what position you're negotiating from."

Shivere's shoulders tensed at the reminder. Her eyes followed the spreading formation as she let out a small sigh. "I remember, don't worry."

The smaller details of the contract were negotiated many times between them, including clauses like early warnings, acceptable harm, the definition of intention to harm, accidental harm, exact identities of the involved members, and so on.

'Even kings have given me easier contracts than these… And they had advisors going over every clause.'

"I wish I had met you sooner." Shivere's voice cut through his concentration, softer than he'd ever heard it. "Before I was forced to lay these plans."

The vulnerable tone in her voice was so clear that Nova knew she was being honest. But although he felt the same way, he wasn't about to forgive her actions. "That would have been nice," he replied evenly. "Unfortunately, there are no medicines for regret."

"Right… I am beyond saving." Her eyes closed for a breath of time, and when they opened again, they were back to their blood-red color. "I have no plans to stop the path I have taken." Her gaze fixed on his with burning intensity. "Let's hope we do not cross each other again."

The formation pulsed beneath them, sensing the finality of their agreement. Twenty years of mutual non-aggression, sealed in magic and runes.

"I feel the same way, Shivere. But I have little doubt we will."

"...Well, you'll have the advantage." A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "I can only hope I am ready."

"No one can know what the future holds." Nova straightened, studying their completed work. "But if you fear the time we meet again, make sure you keep innocent blood off your hands. Then we won't have much of an issue."

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Shivere's lip curled slightly. "I'll keep it in mind. However, you have a long way to go before you can stand on that stage."

"Indeed. So the sixty thousand Soul Power will come in handy." He reached his hand forward as if she could just hand him the souls.

Shivere furrowed her brows. "I don't have a soul stone on me. Shall we go back to the—"

Before she could finish her sentence, a light thud sounded behind her back. She turned, revealing the soul stone they had used earlier on the floor, rolling slowly to her feet.

"...Thanks." She bent to retrieve the stone, studying it with narrowed eyes before holding it out to Nova. "The souls are inside. I trust you can verify the amount?"

Nova pressed his palm against the cool surface, feeling the essence within. His eyebrows rose slightly as he counted. "Are these from the church's reserves?"

"No, they're not." Shivere's tone made it clear she wouldn't elaborate further.

Without comment, Nova absorbed the hundreds of small souls into his core, though questions burned in his mind.

'...I suspect these are from victims of the rift. Now, how did you receive these instead of the rift being? And why are they all perfectly pure already?'

"Well, at least you upheld your part." He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle in the cool air. "So, to uphold my own, I'll tell you to leave now."

"What?" Shivere's composure cracked. "You have no way to decide when I leave this place."

Nova didn't reply. Instead, he pulled something from his pocket. Something he received on his first day here. A simple black letter, unremarkable except for the power it represented.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop another degree as Shivere recognized what he held. "...You… That won't let the Signus free. It's just a one-way ticket."

"I know." Nova turned the letter slowly in his small hands, letting candlelight play across its surface. "But the runes embedded in the paper were quite simple to decode. And I don't want the Signus to doubt who's responsible for finally letting him out." His lips curved into a slight smile. "I need him to be grateful."

"He's completely sealed!" A hint of desperation crept into Shivere's voice, cracking her carefully maintained facade.

"With your power? He only needs a crack to shatter that seal. You, of all people, should know the power he holds."

"...Fine." Shivere's shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly. "I'll leave. Let's hope we both reach our goals before meeting again."

"You'll have to be first, then." Nova met her gaze steadily. "My goal is greater in scope than yours."

Applause resounded in the great hall as everyone gave a standing ovation. "Bravo! A great show!" The unified voices carried an edge of dark humor. "...But now the curtain closes. You may leave first, Shivere."

She glanced wordlessly at the shadows gathering at the room's edges. Then she turned back to Nova, drawing herself up with the pride she had carried since they first met. "You have my respect, Nova. Let's hope you keep it."

Then she was off, leaving through the same door she entered through. The corridor was still black as night, leaving Nova to wonder if it was part of the void itself. Her footsteps echoed through the unnaturally dark corridor long after she disappeared from sight, like the void itself was savoring her departure.

"He has enjoyed your show, Nova." The crowd all smiled again—unnatural smiles, more fitting on dolls than humans.

Nova felt the being's attention focus on him like a physical weight. It was unpleasant, to say the least. "Well, that's good. I wouldn't want to bore you."

"The woman told you not to let Him in the next time he knocks, but you have nothing to fear from Him. He hopes you will meet again."

'What possible reason could I have to accept that?'

There was one question still on Nova's mind as he waited for the being to leave. "...Can I ask what your name is?"

"Oh, He has many names." The voices seemed to come from the shadows themselves now, a shade darker than before. "The man in the shadows, the one of a thousand faces, the crown prince of dark..." A cold wind swept through the hall, making the candles gutter. "But you may call Him The Fool."

"The Fool?" Nova's blood ran cold. Through all his lives, through countless worlds and stories, that name carried weight. No one ever truly defeated The Fool—they might survive, might even outsmart him, but he always had the last laugh.

Nova shuddered as he sensed the cold wind once again pass by him. Then, the massive doors swung shut with a resonant boom, and the dining hall returned to normal. The possessed people blinked in confusion, looking around with bewildered expressions as they tried to understand why they were all standing.

Only Annelie, still in the middle of the room, seemed to know what had happened. She walked toward Nova confidently despite the small tears in her eyes.

Nova watched her approach, waiting for her to speak. When she remained silent, he started, "Were you awak—"

"Well done," she cut him off, sounding more than a bit frustrated. "Thanks for taking care of everything on your own. And make sure you keep things close to your heart so you don't reveal anything too soon. Can't have the useless allies hold you back, after all."

"...The letter was a bluff." Nova's voice softened. "It's completely useless, and I didn't plan for this to happen."

Annelie just stared at him with intense grey eyes.

"Are you… mad because you couldn't do anything?" Nova studied her face carefully. "Because I lost the advantage in negotiations because of you?"

"Yes." Her voice was perfectly neutral, looking composed despite the lingering tears.

"...Well, don't be. There was nothing we could have done to anticipate that happening. And my immunity is the only reason I was fine.." A touch of self-deprecation crept into his tone. "It's the only thing it's useful for, my great mythical trait."

"I feel useless." Annelie stated it like a simple fact. "I can't keep up with you."

"Annelie, you know that's not true." Nova met her gaze directly. "I might have died in the meeting with the Cardinals without you. I might have wasted hours in the void without you. Worst case, I might never even have made it back."

"That's true." She nodded once, clinically acknowledging the point.

Nova tilted his head, beginning to understand the pattern. "...What is this conversation? I feel like you're leading me in a dance, and that you already know what I'll say." His lips curved slightly. "Is it just that you need to hear me say it?"

"Yes." The simple admission carried no shame or emotion, just a straightforward purpose.

Nova chuckled, seeing the stoic expression on her face. It was like she was mechanically walking through the steps of what should be an emotional conversation, like checking items off a list. A tiny part of her needed it, but the rest found it useless.

"Well, there you have it." He glanced around the still-confused dining hall. "I still think we should try getting the Signus out, so if you two are done eating..."

The dining hall had begun to return to normal around them, with no one else even suspecting something had taken place. Only the blood below Nova's feet could prove otherwise.

"Nova!" Millie's voice cut through the dining hall's returning normalcy. She darted between the tables before stopping before them with a confused expression. "Why did the air turn so dark?"

"It did?" Nova kept his voice light, innocent. A practiced smile crossed his face as he ruffled her hair. "Who knows? Sometimes strange things happen in places like this."

"But Paula said there was a funny man here!" Millie's fingers twisted in her robe as she spoke."Is he gone?"

Nova's eyes met Annelie's across Millie's head. A silent understanding passed between them—the souls had sensed The Fool's presence, perhaps even recognized what he truly was.

"If there was a funny man here, he is gone now. And he won't bother you again." He squeezed her shoulder gently. "Are you done eating?"

"Yep!" The serious moment passed as quickly as it had come as Millie's natural cheer returned in full force.

"Good! Then let's go visit a mad prisoner."

'And hope he doesn't blow shit up when he gets out…'

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