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But even as they conducted a conversation between auras alone, they also kept up a completely different discussion with their physical voices in the normal world. There were pressing questions that Hector wanted answers to, after all, including the one that Garovel had asked him to bring up.

"Have you already neutralized all the Yigorosks in the entire city?" said Hector.

"Yes. No need to worry. How much do you know about the current state of Andeyal? I've only just arrived and could use any information you might possess."

"If you only just arrived, then how can you be so sure that you got them all?"

"The Idkin are a familiar foe to me. I've learned their tactics and how to sense their various presences, even the ones that employ stealth. Truthfully, this incursion wasn't even that bad. It could have been far worse, believe me."

"Well, I've heard Jercash is responsible for most of the recent issues in the city. Your people are keeping it under a psychic lockdown, in case you didn't already know."

"Aha. Jercash, yes. He will not be a problem, either."

Hector wanted to doubt the man's certitude, but given who he was dealing with here, it was kind of difficult to do so. "Er--there are Yigorosks that employ stealth? Or--eh--Idkin, you said?"

"Oh, es. Idkin is the term for the larger group to which Yigorosks belong. They are as diverse as we humans--or perhaps even moreso. And there are abilities can be quite strange. Camouflage and psychic concealment being among them. I advise you to be wary of that, should you have to deal with them again in the future. Some are quite intelligent, as well, making it possible to reason with them, even." The emperor paused to bob his head. "Or be deceived by them. Again, I advise caution."

That was all rather unpleasant news. "But the ones you just boxed in..."

"None of the cunning ones, no. Just their mindless hordes, driven by purely instinct and simple orders. I'm sure you would be able to tell if you assessed one up close."

The man sounded so casual and matter-of-fact, despite the roiling emotions that Hector knew to be underneath. It really did feel like this guy was existing in two different worlds at once. Hell, maybe even more than two. Given how new to this he still was, there were probably still things that he couldn't yet sense, depths that he couldn't yet reach.