After it was completely dark, Iver changed into the Clerical Robe he had not worn in a long time. He solemnly lit three brand-new candles in his bedroom.
In front of Iver was a silver basin on the table, filled with salt that he had sanctified during the day.
Yulia and Ligeia sat side by side on the edge of the bed, while Yanis spied on the room from within a landscape painting hanging on the wall.
Iver closed his eyes before the candlelight for a long time, preparing his emotions.
The sacred yet faint candlelight shone upon Iver. Behind him, shadows twisted and writhed as though they were living things.
"I beseech the Candlebearer, God of Sacred Number Three, God of Thorns Binding the Body, God of Burning Body Chasing Darkness..."
Iver murmured, repeatedly closing his eyes in prayer. "Please watch over the flame of my soul... Watch over me as you would watch over the candle in the corner...
"I beseech the Candlebearer, God of Sacred Number Three..."
His solemnity made Yulia tense unconsciously as well, her back stiffening.
She had always known that her brother possessed a method of strengthening the abilities of the Shadow Demon and the Paradox Flame Butterfly through Self-Sacrifice.
But Iver had never demonstrated it before her.
There were many things Iver had never shown Yulia. Some were to keep her from worrying, while others were because he did not want her to come into contact with anything too dangerous.
Yulia understood this perfectly, but found it difficult to argue against. After all, it stemmed from Iver's concern and protection for her. At its root was the persona she herself had constructed before Iver—in his perception, Yulia was a frail girl who needed to be cared for.
There was no sudden incident now,