When Abner saw who had arrived, Karen endured the "affliction" and managed to say in fits and starts:
"If you can... please make some ice for me... I need to cool down..."
Abner paused, then glanced at the silver-white revolver with the extended barrel in Karen's right hand. A thought crossed his mind. He simulated a Zombie's ability and formed a ring of ice around Karen.
The revolver was called the Ace of Hearts. It was a Sealed Artifact in Karen's possession, crafted from the Beyonder Characteristic of a Light Priest. It could fire bullets condensed from Holy Light.
Karen had told Abner about it after the Demoness of Affliction incident in Backlund, though he hadn't mentioned its negative effects. From the looks of it, one side effect was being scorched by the sun...
For a Vampire, wasn't that practically a weapon designed to counter him?
Karen carried something so unfriendly to him all year round. Did it have sentimental value? Or did he have some peculiar taste?
While Abner was mulling this over, Miss Judy recovered. She thanked him solemnly, then seemed to sense something with an object. She stared at him and said in puzzlement:
"Abner, she actually went to find you... I thought she'd bring Mom and Dad... or at least notify the Church..."
Wasn't that because her double's mind was full of me? Uh... that sounded wrong...
I mean, I was the only person she remembered... No, that wasn't right either...
Forget it. Any explanation would sound strange, especially when I couldn't explain why the Barrier let memories of me through...
Better let Miss Judy ask her double and draw her own conclusions.
Several thoughts flashed through Abner's mind, but outwardly he said lightly, "I happened to be in Bayam. I'd also noticed something unusual around