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Pauline reached out with one of her wings and touched the illusory building.

Hector could see that the structure was slowly shifting in a strange, ethereal way. One moment, it appeared old and rusted, and the next, it became significantly less so, merely a bit dull and weathered-looking. Then the next, it looked almost new. Then back to rusted.

Hmm.

He felt like he understood. The perception of time. That was what she'd said, wasn't it? He was seeing the building over the course of the many years, compacted into only a minute or two.

How odd. Was it really just this monster's "aura" or whatever that was causing this phenomenon? He had to wonder what Garovel would make of this situation. He considered asking him, but he wasn't even sure how he would begin to explain. Maybe later.

More importantly, he wanted to know how much longer this would take.

Because nothing was happening.

Hector waited but did not see, nor feel, nor sense any changes in the environment or in the Sparrow herself. At length, he had to say something. "Pauline? Are you okay?"

'Hmm? Ah. Yes, I am fine. I understand now. This place is a reservoir of psychic information. And also a minor point of geographic resonance. There seems to be... perhaps a hundred years or so of knowledge preserved here.'

"A hundred years?" said Hector, surprised. "That sounds like... quite a lot."

'Well, not every moment in time has been kept. Only moments of "psychic significance," you might say. But yes, there is quite a lot to go through.'

Hector had questions, though he wasn't certain which to start with. Just how deep did all this psychic stuff go?

'By your silence, I assume you are still confused. I could share with you what I am able to see. I believe that would explain much better than I ever could with words. But you will have to either take off your helmet or place your bare hand on my back.'