The Price and the Punishment

"Are you Sister Devlin? Shade mentioned you to me. I'm Iluna Bayes."

Out of respect for an Eleventh Ring Arcanist, and because she was awed by the nun's bearing, Iluna introduced herself carefully.

Sister Devlin maintained her calm expression and gave a slight nod.

"Hello, Balanced Chosen One."

Having said that, she actually handed Iluna a business card. It bore only the name Devlin, with no surname, and listed her position as Director of Snake Heart Hospital.

"This is mine."

Iluna hurriedly searched for her own business card. Though she found it somewhat shabby, she still handed it over, then introduced someone else.

"This is Priest Latt Augustus, a friend of Shade's from the Dawn Church."

"Hello, Sister. I'm from the Tobesk Diocese."

The Old Priest said, exchanging business cards with Sister Devlin as well. By the firelight, the nun "looked towards" Priest Augustus and hesitated for a moment.

"Hello."

"Sister Devlin, how did you get in here?"

After putting away the business card, Iluna asked curiously.

"I assisted two Witches in fighting Joey Barton. Barton summoned some terrifying things—terrifying things from the Fifth Epoch—which held the Witches back. I pursued him into a passage in the mountain's belly, and then we fell into the well together."

While the three by the bonfire busied themselves exchanging business cards, Shade by the Mudflat turned again to look at Mr. Barton, whose face wore a wistful expression.

"What are you going to do next?"

Mr. Barton sighed.

"Of course, I'll bring her over. Mr. Watson, you once asked me what price I would be willing to pay to bring her back."

The three by the bonfire all looked over as well. Joey Barton turned to Shade, and there was tremendous resolve in his eyes.

"I'm willing to give everything I have."

He