After setting down the heavy roll of parchment, Shade searched through the pile of toys and pendants in the bedside table and found the ice crystal pendant.
Shade stared blankly at the pendant. After clasping it in his palm, he thought of Miss Chloe.
Of course, he understood what feelings that silver-haired, red-eyed witch had held for him during their final farewell. But Miss Chloe was also the witch who had lived furthest in the past from the Outlander's own point in time.
With a soft sigh, he placed the ice crystal pendant beside the three faintly glowing stone slabs. His fingers brushed over the slabs, and then he hugged the cat and brought Aiken Ola-Chosen One's Arrow to find Tifa.
Night had already fallen, and from the manor's corridors, he could see fine snowflakes dancing beneath the moonlight.
During the period when Miss Galina was "confined to bed," all affairs in the manor were handled by Tifa and the secretarial staff. When Shade found Tifa, she had just finished arranging tomorrow's schedule in the study.
Seeing Shade enter, Tifa had Miss Galina's personal maids leave for the time being. The young ladies smiled and said hello to Shade, then whispered among themselves about rumors concerning his relationship with their Head Maid.
Only after the door closed did Shade raise the arrow in his hand.
"Tifa, do you need new power?"
He briefly explained the arrow's current function and attributed this new ability to Miss Feliana's blessing.
Although Miss Galina was absent, Tifa had not sat in the head seat behind the desk. Instead, she had placed another chair beside the elegant velvet backrest chair.
"No one would refuse new power."
She said this with a smile.
"Then I'll prick you with it. Please roll up your sleeve."
Shade waved