The Persistent Ghost

Amber left. Gawain quietly watched Veronica/Ophelia, who still appeared calm and composed, while Pittman stood silently to one side, his eyes slightly narrowed as though resting with them closed.

"I thought you would leave with her," Veronica said to Gawain. "You seemed quite concerned about your 'guard.'"

"I know her. Right now, she would rather be alone for a while," Gawain said. "Before that, I still have some things to ask you."

"...The Defiants were a group of stubborn, fanatical heretics, and our plan was much the same," Veronica said frankly before Gawain could speak. "We did everything we could to preserve our humanity in the plan, but humanity alone could not fight the gods and the apocalypse—sometimes, our methods may seem as cold-blooded and cruel to you as those cultists'. I hope you understand that."

"Don't worry. I understand that very well. The Abomination Project Camil took part in was not fundamentally different from the Shadow Plan, and those plans had quite a few methods in common with The End of All Things," Gawain said, shaking his head. "The difference is that you were at least trying to preserve your humanity."

"There is no difference—at least, not to people involved in it like Miss Amber."

"She will calm down. Too much happened to her today," Gawain said. "I have some questions for you."

Veronica nodded. "Please, ask."

"Salilendorf received orders from Francis Moen and went to the Dark Mountains in search of the Shadow Fortress—why did Francis II know that the Shadow Fortress existed?"

This was a crucial question. The Defiance Plan was one of the greatest secrets left behind by the Ancient Gandor Empire, yet very few people knew of it. Why, then, had the young Francis II known that the Shadow Fortress existed? He had even possessed