Her name

Nim neither rose nor bowed. He simply sat there, looking up at Neph, his expression so utterly calm that she instinctively sensed something was wrong.

He isn't asking what my name is... perhaps he wasn't asking for my name even before this.

...What is he asking?

Neph felt as though she knew the answer. She hadn't understood the first two times, but this time, she thought she did. Perhaps his question should have been translated as-How should I record you in the myth about to be born?

Realization dawned on Neph's face. The first thing that sprang to mind was "White Angel." She dismissed that notion, which had been nothing more than a bit of mischief, and replaced it with the more serious "God of Winter." Then she dismissed that new idea as well.

I'm not the God of Winter... at most, I've inherited his legacy... if he's actually dead.

Besides, if this is the world of Lord of the Mysteries, falsely claiming a god's identity actually has mystical consequences... "White Angel" would be manageable. I clearly have absolutely nothing to do with the Sun Pathway. Once little Sun reveals the matter of devouring the Creator, I can separate myself from the Eternal Blazing Sun. But "God of Winter"...

"I found..." she began, weighing her words, "the relics of a god."

"...?" Nim still said nothing, yet Neph sensed a confusion that his composure could not quite conceal.

"...I call him the God of Winter. It was because of him that I came to this world," Neph said carefully. "If you're asking me, I'd rather call myself Pure White... hmm, perhaps your legends mention the existence of the 'White Angel'?"

Nim nodded, then frowned at her. "You... the power you possess seems vastly different from what the myths record of the 'White Angel.'"

Vastly different doesn't begin to cover it. I feel like I'm exactly what he would want to purify... Neph lowered her eyes and slowly began:

"The 'White Angel' was one of those who devoured the Lord's body."

"...?" Nim's pupils abruptly contracted. Neph watched him rise in agitation, turbulent waves surging through those deep, distant black eyes.

Neph exhaled and finally settled on her identity. "I am the successor."

Though the Lord hasn't acknowledged me yet... of course, the main reason here is that I'm not an angel either...

She paused, then asked Nim, "Should I bring out that Sealed Artifact now?"

"Yes." Nim nodded and stepped aside.

Neph's figure suddenly faded, becoming transparent before vanishing on the spot along with the Blank Canvas. When she reappeared, she was crouching on the floor, holding A Bucket of White Paint.

Nim instinctively moved to approach, but Neph pulled out the brush with one hand, activated her Spirit Vision, and looked straight at the clock without hesitation.

Under Neph's Spirit Vision, the hands marking the hours, minutes, and seconds on the otherwise unremarkable clock seemed to be shrouded in a barely perceptible dark glow.

That dark glow hugged the hands closely, with only slight curls at their tips. They looked less like clock hands than tentacles straining to straighten themselves.

Neph raised the brush and, guided by her spirituality, swept it hard across them-the dark glow vanished. In her Spirit Vision, the clock was now no different from any other object bearing the marks of age, except for a streak of white.

Under Nim's puzzled gaze, Neph put the brush back, rose, and stepped away, saying:

"Amon left a special means of surveillance on that clock to watch this place. I'd rather not have our entire conversation take place under his gaze."

Nim nodded. He seemed to have no intention of disputing her words, instead turning his attention to the paint bucket. Neph watched him feel around inside his clothes and produce a round object with a center ground from transparent crystal... Wait?

Neph instinctively shifted back a step. Nim looked at her in puzzlement as he pulled the object all the way out, allowing her to see it in full.

-It was a magnifying glass with a handle.

Neph breathed a sigh of relief. Putting on a smile as though nothing had happened, she asked:

"What is that?"

"This is one of Moon City's five powerful Sealed Artifacts," Nim said, showing Neph the magnifying glass. "We aren't sure which Pathway it corresponds to. It has extremely powerful insight and seems to have suffered some unknown corruption."

He paused, then added, "I once used it to observe you."

Understanding dawned on Neph. She studied the magnifying glass and smiled. "I have a suggestion."

"What is it?" Nim asked in confusion.

Neph offered her suggestion sincerely. "The next time you use this item, could you hold it over your left eye? Otherwise, you might easily frighten someone."

"Why?" Nim asked instinctively.

Neph smiled without answering. Though Nim still had questions, he did not press her. He picked up the magnifying glass in his left hand, held it before his left eye, and began walking around the paint bucket.

Neph moved farther away to give him room. After slowly circling it twice, Nim stopped, lowered the magnifying glass, and turned to tell her:

"I'll give it a try. I should be able to seal it temporarily, but a long-term seal will require further study."

He paused, then approached the paint bucket and bent down to lift it. Even without Spirit Vision, Neph could see viscous darkness pouring out of him and wrapping around the bucket.

Neph had the sense not to interrupt. Only after Nim lifted the paint bucket, now wrapped in a layer of darkness, did she ask, "Is that a Nightwatcher's ability?"

Nim nodded. "Yes. This is a Nightwatcher's Evernight Domain."

He paused, then, seeing the curiosity on Neph's face, explained further:

"We can create a domain formed of pure darkness. It can be used for defense, to counteract negative effects, to provide a favorable and comfortable combat environment for the spirits we control, and to strengthen ourselves. It can also corrode enemies, gradually draining their vitality. In addition, it can plague a target with misfortune.

"I tried enveloping it in a Darkness Domain to counter its negative effects. That does help to a degree, but it can only serve as a short-term seal. I'll need to replenish the Darkness Domain's power frequently until I find a way to seal it for the long term."

In other words, you added a layer of black paint to the outside... Neph understood. She nodded, then asked:

"Then, what do we do next...?"

"Next, I would like to ask you a favor," Nim said, looking at Neph with a solemn expression. "I would like you to help erase the corruption from my body."

"...?" Neph froze for a moment. As she looked at Nim, she found his expression extraordinarily earnest, as

though he were about to march onto a dangerous battlefield.

He wants to experiment on himself... Neph instinctively clenched her fist, then smiled gently and said:

"All right."