"Why not test him? We'll all hide and have the illusion mimic Baron Kaming while it waits for that man."
Shade proposed, and Miss Owl agreed with the plan:
"Of course. I don't need to hide—I'll just stand on that branch over there. After all, I'm an owl."
However, she did not fly over immediately:
"But don't underestimate this opponent. A mere illusion is too unreliable."
"Yes, which is why we'll do this."
Shade pulled a suit of toy armor from his pocket. After restoring it to human size, he controlled it with Puppet Manipulation. He made it hop a few times on the ground beside the railway tracks, then brushed it with his hand. A flash of red light passed over it, and the armor transformed into Baron Kaming.
"This doesn't resemble the moon illusions your teacher uses. This illusion has a kind of savage, frenzied beauty."
Miss Owl commented with utmost seriousness, though she did not pursue the matter. Instead, she flapped her wings and flew above "Baron Kaming."
"Not bad. Unless he's also skilled in illusions, it'll be difficult for him to tell at a glance that it's fake. But how will you hide? More illusions? Or invisibility?"
"Like this."
Shade recalled something that angered him, then covered his face with both hands.
"Calm Stance."
Two curled stone wings appeared behind him. As the surface of Shade's body turned to stone, they folded together and covered him.
Although Miss Owl had watched him cast the spell, she felt that once she looked away, it would be difficult to "find" him again.
"What kind of strange new ability is this? Daniste doesn't seem like the sort to teach this kind of Thaumaturgy. What exactly did you learn from her?"
She landed atop the statue's head, while Shade let