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Plus, Caster probably didn’t actually need to hold onto Rezolo. If he could really just teleport Loren and Rezolo to him whenever he wanted, then would it even matter if they decided to leave his service?

Definitely something to be mindful of, Hector thought. If he wanted to take Loren away from Caster, then he’d have to find a way to protect Loren from any lingering hold or influence that Caster might have over him.

Thankfully, he already had an idea or two about how to approach that problem.

‘...I have not been to Andeyal in a thousand years,’ said Rezolo.

‘Great,’ said Voreese. ‘So we’re all useless. If this really is a game of corporeals versus incorporeals, then I think we might be losing, gentlemen.’

Rezolo hovered a bit closer. ‘I have, however, seen this type of phenomenon before. This heavy darkness blanketing the area.’

‘So have we, actually,’ said Garovel. ‘Quite recently, in fact.’

‘Oh yes?’ said Rezolo.

‘Yep. Okay, well... I suppose it wasn’t QUITE like this. It was more like an ardor-based “mistiness,” rather than this oppressive darkness. But the similarities are certainly striking, I must say.’

‘And how did that situation end up?’ said Rezolo.

‘Oh, um. We soon encountered a golem and a feldeath who kicked the shit out of each other.’

‘Ah...’

‘Yeah, we nearly died. Not an experience I’m eager to replicate, if possible.’

Rezolo glanced back at Loren, then looked over the group another time. ‘Well, I am reasonably certain that this is not... that.’

Hector wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but it somehow felt too soon for that.

‘Yeah, I figured as much,’ said Garovel. ‘Wouldn’t make any sense for a feldeath to be down here, just below the capital of Intar. The Vanguard would’ve taken care of it ages ago.’

‘Or it would’ve destroyed the city and killed everyone,’ added Voreese.

‘Or that, yes. Thank you for the input.’

‘Sure thing. Oh, but while I’m at it, I feel like you’re neglecting another possibility. Maybe a feldeath was just born very recently! And we’re the lucky ones to discover it!’

‘No,’ said Garovel, as if he were talking to a dog who’d just pooped on the floor, ‘that doesn’t make sense, either, Voreese. Intar has plenty of active reapers who would’ve prevented so many wandering souls from ever amassing into a feldeath.’

‘Mm, dunno. Could’ve been a mass casualty event that went unnoticed down here. Like a cave-in, for example. That shit used to happen all the time, y’know.’

‘Please stop trying to rationalize us into the worst-case scenario.’