"Let me correct you. First, I'm a man. Second, I didn't learn this through a ritual. Miss Mana Falianna passed it down to me."
That was how Shade understood this power. Miss Galina shook her head.
"The requirements for learning it and using it are one and the same. If you yourself weren't qualified, it would have been impossible for you to inherit it. But—"
She stared at Shade in confusion, her tone somewhat displeased.
"Did Miss Mana Falianna think there were no Witches in the Sixth Epoch? It was clearly a Witch's power, yet she passed it down to a man."
The latter half was spoken very softly.
Shade did not know how to answer. He turned to look at his Destiny Ring, hesitated, and then spoke again.
"The reason I told you about this is that the problem isn't actually Feliana's Witch Light."
As he spoke, Shade set the Cat on the sofa and stood up.
"Please come into the hallway with me."
"You mean..."
Miss Galina frowned slightly, tapping her leg rhythmically with her fingers.
"Shade, no matter how I think about it, that should be impossible."
"Have you heard of the Witch Light Spirit Rune?"
Shade asked. Miss Galina shook her head.
"A rune related to Witches can only appear on a Ring Arcanist who possesses a Witch's power. I'm absolutely certain of that."
"Yes, which is why there's a problem. I can feel that this Spirit Rune is very different."
Since Mia was also wandering after Shade, wanting to follow him into the hallway, Shade could only have Tifa hold the Cat for the moment.
He and Miss Galina arrived in the hallway, and the Duchess told the nearby maids not to approach for the time being.
Shade cleared his throat.
"The Princess in the