It was a strange time for the trio, to suddenly find themselves without work when up to now, they’d been faced with an insurmountable amount they could not possibly finish in a lifetime – or a dozen. Even with the help of Thracian, Azrael had not hoped to make more than a little dent into the mountain of haunts and curses plaguing his home

Ignis knew this period of grace wouldn’t last long; people were still dying and few died without regret or resentment. Anyway, his current goal hadn’t really changed, to keep an eye on the dangerous ghost and its reckless master. Jokingly, he asked. “Good job for accomplishing your life’s purpose… in a matter of weeks no less. What do you want to do next? Conquer the world? Bring eternal happiness to all?”

“I don’t know, I never thought I’d see the day… and I didn’t do it. It just sorts of happened.” Having lost his purpose, the young boy had been out of it for days.

“You have two options right now, go back to Janardan, or to the church. Either way, the current situation in just a temporary reprieve. Sooner or later, we’ll be needed again.” Whatever the youth’s choice, he intended to follow after the dangerous pair, from his point of view, they were no better than a lit candle in a dusty mill… or worse, a bored Windy

kid until he stopped being a danger to himself and those around him.

If he didn’t return to the church, he’d probably lose his salary, but as a decently powerful a fire mage, he could easily work as an escort, same for Thracian. Industries also were also always on the lookout for someone like him, he’d heard they employed mages to smelt special metal that could not be melt under normal circumstances… not that he’d like this kind of job.

“I’ll return to the church. I owe them, and I want to learn more about curses; it’s not something Mister Janardan and the others can teach me.” Judging from the tone, it was a conclusion he’d reached just then.

Something in the statement bothered Ignis though. “I thought you said they didn’t do it because it wasn’t as urgent.”

“That’s what I thought, and what they think. However, I’ve come to realize they only know the basics. Practice makes perfect, and they’ve none. Someone needs to do it, right?”

Ignis couldn’t help but smile at the gall of the kid; he hadn’t changed at all. He was telling him he’d use him and the church to learn all he could all he needed then bring back this knowledge to his former companion.

“Don’t you want to stay and see how the country change? The balance of power has greatly shifted after the destruction of the northern metropoles.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to stay, but I’m still a novice and a child; I won’t be of any help to them right now.”

This thoughtful aspect of the child made for a great contrast with his usual bullheadedness and recklessness. ‘Thoughtful yet reckless, deliberate yet careless. What’s wrong with his head?’

“Let us go home then.”

“Your home, not mine.” Pointed out Azrael in a terrible attempt at humor.

“Alright then, if you want to nitpick. Let us go back to our temporary dormitory.”