The body fell away, the two halves coming to rest by my feet. Blood pooled, and a few organs slithered out of the bone prison that used to be a ribcage. What used to be a face stared lifelessly in return, both halves sharing curious eyes. Already, the light had dimmed, absent from the corpse.

Blood continued to pool at my feet, a thick crimson thing that stained the pretty marble.

I raised my sight and took in my arm. Extended, it was coated in the same viscous liquid from claw to elbow. It made sense—when you impaled someone through the stomach, you were bound to get dirty.

I almost snorted, the idea echoing strangely in my mind.

The echo returned, a different laugh from a different individual. Inwardly, I saw a pair of malevolent eyes and froze.

It came to me. Memories of my body moving without my control, the cold, mechanical movements that weren't my own. The voice that spoke through my throat, using my lips and tongue.

Information ran through me with the subtlety of a waterfall. I remembered it all. The mindscape, the golden thread. Sam's face and her voice damning my ears. In a rapid flash, scenes played out in order, showing my avatar fighting for control as we dived into my mind.

There was the void, the vast emptiness filled with a paltry sum of memories. Then my breath hitched as the chain broke and the sealed memory finally played out.

Fire, music, screeching metal. The scene continued to play while I squirmed, forced to relive it. From start to finish, up to the very end, where a woman made of light shielded me from pain.

Ding!

I sharply inhaled and looked down. It was real. The body I impaled, the owner stared at me. More memories kept flooding in, of dialogue I didn't understand but knew. I raised my gaze and caught my tail burning in the corner of my vision.

It was real.

I closed my eyes and dived inward but the presence was gone. Pushing further I searched the furthest corner, behind the mental walls. When I arrived at the cage the bars were broken. Cut as if by a blade, the metaphorical metal sported a deep slash carved diagonally across the gate. A single object rested in interior of the cell. A paper placard made of pink cardstock and written with gold ink.

You know where to talk.

He was real.

A physical touch brought me back to the world, and I opened my eyes. Galarion hovered distantly, stretching a long tentacle to tap my shoulder. His usually bright skin lay dormant and dark, and I caught the gentle shake in his limbs.

"Hey, it's okay. There's no need to be afraid," I said, softening my voice.

Galarion reached a mental probe, and I accepted it, sending my emotions through the link. He returned the message with one of his own—one that made me stop and reach for my face.

Sure enough, I was grinning. No, the face-splitting smile was more than that.

Tasting blood on my tongue, I loosened my expression and patted Galarion's tentacle. Everything felt strangely detached, like I wasn't really here. But I knew my familiars should never be afraid of me—a fact strong enough to cut through the haze.

After sending more impressions to the mind squid, he bubbled in surprise. His form exploded in a riot of color, and he slammed into my face like a water balloon.

"Master! You're back!"

I wanted to peel him off, the strangulation of his tentacles was eliciting a deep sense of claustrophobia, but instead, I continued to stroke his head. "I am. Sorry about that, Galarion. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Master wasn't Master. But he was. But he wasn't!"

I winced. Later, I decided.

"I know. I'm back now. Are you okay?"

Galarion peeled away enough for me to see a green checkmark flash across his face. "Yes! Not hurt, but I listened. Recorded memories."

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"I see… Hold on to them for now, okay? Return, and I'll talk to you later."

Galarion wilted but complied. He offered one last squeeze that encompassed my head before sinking into my chest and returning to the soulspace. With his absence, my emotions fell away—losing what little hold they had.

I scanned the ground again and cataloged the body. It was an even cut, with no jagged edges. Through meat and bone, the only protest to the clean divide was the tearing around the stomach from where my arm had been.

My tail lowered, and I examined the tip. At first, I thought blood covered it, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't the outside that made the crystal material dark. A thin crack curved down the center as black flecks stained the indent. An impressive feat considering how tough my bones were.

Idly, I noticed the pain radiating from my limb, but like everything, it barely registered. More a fact than a presence.

I spread my senses and took in the surrounding. True to the man's word. The dome's barrier was black. While I could see the audience behind the mana, most wore annoyed expressions as their eyes tracked something invisible.

Whatever it was that hid the artifact's mana before was absent. With a flick of my tail I caught the small glowing pyramid. Made of glass, a series of runes blazed on the core between the sides.

Crunch!

The glass shattered, and the mana dispersed. Tinkling chimes echoed in my ears, and the barrier lost its color. In seconds, it flickered and dissipated.

Without the artifact, the illusion faded, and the crowd came to their senses. A buzz of confusion rang out before someone finally noticed the bisected corpse at my feet. The first scream triggered a wave, and the crowd took on a different tone.

I looked up and scanned the booths. Eventually, I found him. Using mana to amplify my voice, knowing the enchantments would pick it up, I cleared my throat. The people hushed, and I locked eyes with the announcer.

"I quit."

His jaw dropped. "Y-you what?"

"I'm withdrawing from the tournament. I'm done with this shit."

He scrambled to find his words, but I turned away, feeling a presence to my right.

Myol tossed my spear, and I caught it with a grunt.

"You have a bad habit of losing your weapon."

"Thanks," I said.

"Don't thank me yet. If half of what they told me was true, you should be hating me right now."

"Why's that?"

Her eyes narrowed. The audience snapped out of their stupor and started shouting. Some booed, others cheered. More than a few demanded to know what was going on. Myol's eye twitched, and she raised her hands, channeling mana into her palms.

She clapped, and a shockwave of air thundered out. The boom silenced the arena, and she erected a barrier around us.

"Don't play dumb, brat. I may have quit, but I still let you walk into that shitshow."

Oh. She thinks I should be mad at her. How funny.

I shrugged. "It was my choice. Obviously, their plan failed. I'm still alive and talking."

"How much of this is a front?"

I paused but shrugged agaain. "I don't know."

"At least you're honest. Are you sure about quitting?"

I nodded, and she shook her head.

"Go, then. I'll take care of things here. Best you return to the Lightcrests while things blow over."

"I'm in trouble even though they hired someone to break my mind and steal my memories?"

Myol let out a bitter laugh. "Not in trouble, but a man is dead. Whatever. I'll handle it—it's the least I can do."

"Thanks. I'll be leaving then." A hand grabbed my shoulder and I sighed. "Yes?"

"I don't know what happened in that match. I was blind as everyone else, but I can feel it in your mana. It's distasteful, and a disgrace but I have to asks so I can tell the nobles to shove it."

I closed my eyes. "Go ahead."

"You don't plan on killing anyone else if I let you leave? If you are, I'll drag you to the Lightcrests myself."

Do I?

The drawn-out pause tightened her grip, but she waited for my reply. I thought about it. Flashes of fire, pain, and anguish flickered through my mind, and I clenched my fists. But as quickly as it came, the rage burned down to embers and died. It was as if my emotions lacked their usual... Bite. Just something process now that things were done.

"Unless someone attacks me, I'm not going on a murder spree. I defended myself. That should be enough."

She released my shoulder. "Very well. Take the side tunnel. At the end, turn right. That passage leads down the street to the main square. Nobody will follow you."

I nodded and started walking. Before I entered the tunnel, mana flared, and I looked up. I willed my mask to form an X over my face and waved. The others were worried, but Teddy understood. I could use some alone time. They'd find me if they needed me. Hells, Isaac wouldn't be far, knowing him.

As I walked through the underground passageway, I counted my steps and twirled my spear. People would recognize me. Did I care?

I shook my head. With a thought, my mask shifted. Gone was the plain, smooth surface. In its place, the mask extended into a snout and changed colors, turning green and pink. A thread of mana snapped with a pop as Chomperz appeared.

The dragonling hovered before me and crossed his arms.

"You too?" I asked.

Chomp.

I reached to touch him but he evaded my arm and grabbed my spear. He swallowed it whole and pointed to my chest. With a smirk, I pulled off my hoodie and he spat out Magnus' one of the few completely unknown to the public. In reality my pants were coated in gore and blood, but already the enchantments were taking care of it.

After dressing I waited and my familiar moved closer. He stopped before my face, his large eyes pressing into mine. I stared back, unblinking.

Chomp.

He poked my nose before slipped into my chest and left me alone in the tunnel.

I scratched my chin and shrugged. On second thought, I didn't need a mask.

But what to do now?

Memories flooded in, different ones but familiar. One in particular came to mind and I smiled. Putting the mask on my hip I restarted my walk and headed for the city. A tavern shouldn't be hard to find.

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