Using the second key to the "Gravestone Wasteland" was probably the most rewarding of all Shade's time adventures.
Thaumaturgy Satiety Feast, Eternal Fire Mark, and Body of Courage had all been enhanced, while he had gained the new thaumaturgies Hungry Kiss and Photosynthesis, as well as the curse Body Burning Oath.
The total gains from some key adventures might not even have been as great as this one:
"This way, even if I don't obtain that Miracle—Envy in the end... I shouldn't say things like that."
Luvia, who had been waiting for Shade's return at home, welcomed him and the cat back in the living room of Room Two. She greeted Shade with a hug. Of course, before leaving, Shade had already asked the Witch Emperor to use magic to remove every kiss mark and trace of perfume, so Luvia had no idea what Shade had been doing a minute earlier.
Still, she noticed that Shade seemed to have grown a little taller, though the change was almost imperceptible. Before she could ask about it, she noticed that he seemed to be lost in thought:
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, sorry, it's nothing. I'm trying to use my newly acquired ability to sense the locations of the remaining three divided Flames. But I can't sense anything right now. Does that mean there are no Flames near Tobesk?"
As he spoke, he instinctively looked down at his feet—or rather, at the house itself. The Girl with Purple Eyes did not notice that. She merely breathed a sigh of relief:
"It's good that you're all right. It looks like you gained quite a lot this time. Did the adventure go smoothly?"
"Yes."
Shade hugged his beloved girl again and took a deep breath, just as the Witches often did to him:
"It went fairly