Luo Yun's face displayed a multitude of expressions muddling the feelings Aleister received.

"And before you ask, no—that was obviously not planned."

Luo Yun bobbed his head. "It did not seem like it. However, I didn't realize you were so passionate about becoming a Weaver."

"I didn't know I was either. To be honest, I do not know what came over me. In fact, I don't even really remember what I exactly said."

Syn sniffled and pretended to rub away tears from her eyes. "Well, I for one thought your speech was very heartfelt and moving."

"That's my contractor," Aleister said, pointing at her. "I don't think I've formally introduced you to her."

"I recall you mentioning her existence, but I don't believe we've met before now, so allow me to introduce myself." Luo Yun bowed. "I am Luo Yun."

"This one is named Syn."

Luo Yun chuckled. "I don't know why, but its strangely odd seeing words come out of the mouth of a bird."

"Is it really that strange, though? I would have expected someone like you to have seen much stranger."

"I did not gain my knowledge from exploring the world through travels or anything, it was simply through my family."

"Sure, but you really encountered nothing strange when you travelled all the way from the Icewind Tundra?"

"I arrived in the city as a stowaway, so if the ship and crew encountered a strange creature, I wouldn't have experienced it. Besides, is it not possible that you're just so used to her appearance that it does not seem strange to you?"

"I don't actually see her as bird unless she willingly forces herself that way. It's just whenever she's in her ethereal form, her physical manifestation in the world," Aleister replied. "And you were a stowaway? That's not what I imagined at all."

"My departure wasn't pleasant, which is how I will leave it for now."

"I'm not a bird, I'm a raven."

"Yeah, and a raven is a kind of bird. We've discussed this before."

"We have, and its still raven to you. Also, I don't physically manifest this as a plane, instead, I take on an illusory form. Regular physical objects or actions will not affect me unless I choose to interact with that said object or action," Syn added.

"So in theory, to my eye, any pet owner could have been a contractor in secret?" Luo Yun asked.

"Well, in theory, I suppose so." Aleister shrugged. "But, I don't know how many contractors are just casually walking around. Although, in Osetia, I wouldn't be surprised if its in the hundreds."

"I doubt its that high," Syn said.

"I know Aunt Lavinia is a contractor as well, so I'll just ask her. In fact, I haven't actually seen her contractor yet."

"That might be because I no longer have a distance restriction placed on me like before. So I can travel as far away from you as I wish. However, I also now cannot phase through walls, floors, ceilings, and other barriers of that nature and must use doors and passage ways like you would."

"Huh, interesting trade off."

"Annoying is what I call it. Also, since we have some time to kill. I have a few questions about your speech."

"Don't ask, because I don't even remember the words that came out of my mouth."

"Like that's going to stop me."

"True."

"First up, the hope is a prison part confused me." Syn pushed up her glasses, which she seemingly put on in an instant, without Aleister noticing, as she stared at a notepad. "Surely you meant despair, right? Because why would you be breaking free from hope? Isn't hope what despair is keeping prisoner?"

"I didn't misspeak. What I meant is that we're all stuck in a prison called hope, but it doesn't have to be in charge of us. We can always turn the situation around and capture it. Also, I read that line in a fairytale and its always stuck with me, so there is that as well."

"A bit abstract, but I'll take it. For my second questions, it has to do with the won't play their games and break the board. When you mentioned stalemate, I assumed chess was the game you referred too."

"Yes, obviously."

"Then, who would be the players?"

"I didn't mean actual players, I just meant like two opposing forces fighting or faking a fight but keeping everything same as nothing changes. Who those forces are will change for everyone, so I thought it better to keep it vague so they could insert whoever they wanted into those slots."

"That was the part I agreed with the most. Not being a part of their game." Luo Yun scoffed in scorn as a snarl spread across his face. "That's the whole reason I left that grave place."

"Alright, well, I have several more questions—"

"Save them for later, as I believe it has been five minutes since Aleister over here ended his monologue. And as much as I feel strangely inspired by it, I hope it doesn't mess up my plans."

"Well, it won't really effect your plans. Besides..." Aleister folded his arms wide, opened, and turned around. "There is no way everyone will leave, right? They applied to the dojo in the first place, so clearly they have some motive or initiative to stay. Also, I'm sure that even if any of them thought about leaving, if no one else left, it would be awkward for only them to leave. I said there was no shame if they left, and there isn't, but they will be ashamed of themselves. Of course, if they really felt like they needed to leave, they probably wouldn't feel that shame."

"I hope you're right. But even if only two people stay, I'll be fine with that."

"Wait, then answer this last question before you open that door."

"Go ahead."

"What was your plan with this? I thought you were just gauging reactions to what you said and would pick the ones who didn't leave or showed a deeper interest. But, you somehow ended up saying that you'll make them Weavers? Obviously, you didn't promise it, but you did heavily imply it."

"I implied it. And it may or may not be true. However, the crucial point of my speech was what I said at the very end. They all came here for power, and we can only find true power from inside of ourselves." Aleister placed his hand on the door handle and pushed it down. "Well, I said that, but thinking about it, it's not strictly true, is it? You could just become a devout worshipper of a god and get some of that sweet divine anima. Or, like me, use the power of the world. Whatever that means. Although in my case, I had to find my purpose before I broke through that night. And, its not like you can just one day decide to worship one god above all to gain boons from them. Well, unless you're Kyoko and Nana. But, they don't count."

"So even if they decide to leave, you're hoping that they will understand their true calling? Wow, I didn't realize you were such a thoughtful person."

Aleister regrew his smug expression and pushed the handle down to open the door. "Alright, I gave you the time. Now, do any of you plan on leaving?"