After exploring Observer Castle last time, Abner had been planning to recreate the ritual from eleven years ago and complete the long-term mission Lilith had given him.
However, Pale Admiral Maria had said she needed time to prepare, causing them to miss several Full Moon nights in a row. Only today had she finally come to keep their appointment.
Abner sized up the Pirate Admiral who had come to him of her own accord. He discovered that although the striking woman was still wearing the standard Intis armor, she had not brought her sword, Pale Justice, with her.
Noticing Abner's gaze, Maria explained, "Although Pale Justice is a powerful weapon, its main function is to restrain the influence of that thing inside me...
"Bringing it along would affect the ritual's effects... The reason I took so long to come was that I needed time to sever the connection between it and me."
"You know what I'm going to do?" Abner asked with interest.
Maria nodded. "Emperor Roselle had a 'prophecy' regarding what you intend to do... Besides, if I want to completely free myself from the thing inside my body and avoid becoming the vessel—or the vessel's mother—of some entity, I'll have to rely on this ritual."
Hmm... This should be the arrangement Old Huang left behind before his death, with his lover Bruna helping to complete it... Tsk. Compared to the other three, Maria and Philena, who was picked up by Little Snake's people, have had it pretty good. Neither of them was tormented too badly by the 'contamination' in their bodies.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Abner welcomed Pale Admiral into his residence and settled her in a guest room. He himself had to go bring over the other four surviving girls from eleven years ago.