After bidding farewell to Old Dad John, who seemed to live a leisurely life every day, Shade hurriedly took a carriage to Quill Street with his gifts. By the time he saw Dorothy, Luvia had already arrived.
Dorothy was going to Yodel Palace as a guest at the banquet, so she wore a formal ballroom gown. The sky-blue dress, which suited her golden hair beautifully, was exceptionally lovely. Luvia, meanwhile, was attending Yodel Palace as an employee of the Seer Association, so she wore the association's relatively plain black formal clerk's dress with silver trim.
After Shade complimented them on how beautiful they looked, the delighted ladies had him wait in the living room while they took a little more time to adjust their outfits in the bedroom.
So Shade went to the kitchen to make tea and sat on the sofa to wait. Compared to when he had visited that morning, Dorothy's apartment seemed even messier. Clothes, ribbons, and shoes had been tossed everywhere, while most of the tea table was occupied by a makeup case with a mirror.
Since he happened to have nothing to do, he decided to formally learn Mind Blast. Learning this thaumaturgy required no complicated ritual materials. All he needed was the Mind Crystal, and then...
Shade pinched the ring on his right index finger with his left hand, closed his eyes, and turned it slightly, letting his fingertips brush over the Mind Crystal embedded in it.
At the same time, he silently recited the strangely pronounced incantation in his heart and used his Spiritual Power to sense the scenery before him in the darkness.
His brow suddenly furrowed as his spirit flowed toward his right index finger. Shade extended his finger and pointed forward. The invisible spiritual force, amplified by the ring, entered