With a slap from Amber, the grayish-white dust that had been continuously rising and dispersing from Modir immediately came under visibly effective control, rapidly gathering and returning to the old mage's body. Yet Amber's expression did not relax in the slightest. Instead, she looked even more grave and tense than before. After withdrawing her hand and staring at Modir for a long while, she finally broke the silence. "This can probably only keep it under control for a while..."
"I know." Modir smiled with a complicated expression, raising his hands before his eyes and looking at them. "I can feel it... As part of the memories in my mind began to 'loosen,' I finally realized... Miss Amber, am I already dead?"
Amber opened her mouth. Even with her easygoing nature, she did not know how to answer such a blunt question for a moment. But Gawain stepped forward at that moment. He patted Amber on the shoulder, signaling her to stand aside for now, then looked into Modir's eyes. "I won't hide it from you... By the standards of an ordinary mortal life form, there's no way you could still be alive. Only half of your body and soul remain, but a force is sustaining your life..."
"The Night Lady?" Modir frowned faintly, speaking thoughtfully. "The deity I saw in that 'dream'?"
Gawain and Amber nodded at the same time. Modir smiled in understanding. "Oh, that wasn't hard to guess."
"I have to remind you again," Amber said. Seeing the old mage's calm smile, she seemed even more nervous than he was. "Your situation isn't good. Though I don't understand the mechanism, your memories are clearly closely tied to both your soul and body. Now that you've recalled things you theoretically shouldn't remember, the Shadow Dust sustaining half your body