The small body of the girl toppled to the ground at her feet. Was it more like Morgan’s body? Mihari wasn’t entirely sure. It seemed Kimi, the young woman, was more alive than expected. No matter, she had what she needed, and if a few sacrifices had to be made, so be it.

With Morgan’s mostly involuntary assistance, Mihari finally found a way to her freedom. She could even maintain the special power her sister squandered. That wasn’t all she found, however. While she was plundering the old ghost’s memories she discovered a device he created, the Unity Crystal.

With it, her wild ambition wouldn’t be so implausible. In fact, it might even be too easy.

Though before she could attend to that, she first had to deal with the dark cloaked woman who dropped in. It seemed Reaper managed to break away from the Leviathan. Judging by the sounds in the distance Mihari assumed other Templar agents leapt into the fray in her stead.

As Mihari looked at the Duroterran woman, she was struck by a memory, an old one from the doctor. “Alvina?” she said. She laughed, giggled even. “Ah, I’d forgotten what it felt like to speak, to hear my own voice. Not that the sound is quite right…”

Reaper stepped back. “Morgan! What have you done?”

“No, no, I’m not your old colleague. Though I must say I’m surprised on his behalf to see you alive. However did you manage that? Something to do with your nanotechnology?”

Reaper drew a folded spear from her back, swinging it so it clicked into shape. A light rippled over the joint. “What are you? And what have you done to Hitori?”

“Straight to business? Well, before we get to that, there is one final piece I need.” Mihari kneeled over Kimi’s body. The already small girl was withered even further, now little more than a bag of fragile bones. A deathly pallor hung over her skin. She was not quite so wasted a few minutes ago, but Morgan’s battle with Mihari sapped the last of her strength.

Mihari plucked a crystal from a pouch on the girl’s waist, tucking it away into the satchel on her back.

“Now, I know you’re here looking for that,” Mihari said. “But I have need of it myself, you see. Perhaps I’ll return it when I’m finished.”

Reaper launched forward, the half moon blade of her spear slicing through the space Mihari’s head had been a millisecond earlier. Mihari herself was now by the edge of the clearing.

She laughed. “Alvina, you really are a feisty one, aren’t you? Impulsive too. It seems you still haven’t learned your lesson. Perhaps I can offer additional instruction.” Mihari moved her left hand to the hilt of her blade.

The boy never learned the secret of this weapon, but she remembered it well. In a smooth motion she split her sword into its twin, the second made of glowing silver. A string of grey light joined them together.

Reaper attacked again, although this time she found herself tangled in hundreds of needle thin strands of a shimmering metal. Most of them shattered on impact, though a few were driven a short depth into her skin. Mihari once again slipped out of reach. Reaper wrested herself from the nest of spines with little effort and the material dissolved in a glimmering wave.

“Half the secret to my success, really,” Mihari said, gesturing to her swords. “My father made them, and they’re quite suited to me.” She smiled. “Now, as for your questions. First, it’s rude to ask a woman ‘what’ they are, rather than who. Taira Hitori-Gensui, by the way. And second, it’s not what have I done to Hitori, it’s what am I going to do for him. And the answer to that is, ‘What I should have a long time ago.’”

Mihari bowed, then whipped away. A rain of daggers blocked the path behind her.

Alright Aunt Mihari, I have to admit, that was pretty cool. Now give me back my body.

Mihari frowned. “You have got to be kidding me.”