Leonard sat quietly in his chair for a while, his heart heavy, before speaking again.
"Let's skip catching up. We already know how everyone's been doing... One of you became the Crazy Adventurer, the other a Blood Bishop, and I joined the Church as a Red Glove..."
He shook his head. "At least Ince Zangwill is finally dead... His Excellency Ahab Ishmael, a Senior Deacon of the Church, was powerful enough to kill that damned traitor..."
Hearing this, Klein stole a glance at Luther. It seemed to say, You still haven't told Leonard that you're Ishmael?
I just haven't had the chance...
That was what Luther thought.
"But there's something I think I should tell you."
Leonard abruptly changed the subject. "Old Man-yes, the Parasite inside me-still hasn't shown any signs of activity..."
It had been a day or two since Leonard returned from Feysac and reported to the Church in Backlund, but he still felt uneasy. First, Deacon Ishmael had yet to return. Second, Old Man remained silent.
Indeed, Pallez Zoroast had stopped responding to Leonard after that encounter with Ince Zangwill, and his silence had continued to this day.
"It's almost as if something is still watching from nearby, and he still needs to hide."
Leonard frowned as he summed it up. Someone watching?
His description also gave Luther pause.
"Who is Pallez hiding from? Adam, or his brother, Amon, who appeared in Backlund before?" Klein mused. "Perhaps he thinks Amon is still in Backlund, so he's being extra cautious."
"Maybe, but he stopped responding to me back in Feysac. Was Amon there too...?"
Leonard spoke hesitantly.
"In other words, Adam is more likely."
As Luther listened, his eyes narrowed.
What is he watching? Why is his attention still on Leonard?
Wasn't everything in Feysac already over?
*Could