Hadrian, sat in that space with Alia at their round table, observed as Baruch thrashed in pain through the shimmering portal.

When Baruch last did the ritual, Hadrian had interrupted it because he was sealed in the box and was afraid it would have worsened his situation.

Of course, in the end, he hadn't truly needed Baruch.

Having other vessels in the real world, he sat back and watched, as the plan had always been.

Even if he wanted to help, the guy could not be trusted being outside his control range.

On top of that, the sorcerer lady was the one overseeing Baruch's ritual this time round.

Hadrian couldn't see Baruch's soul body unless summoned up here, but he imagined the ink-like influence was spreading through it.

After a few painful moments for Baruch, he stopped thrashing, breathing heavily as he lay on the ground.

The sorcerer lady took steps towards him, her black dress shuffling.

She went to one knee, grabbing Baruch's sweaty cheek, and placing her thumb on his glabella.

Her eyes fluttered with her pupils rolled back, and after a short moment, she let go of him.

In that time, Baruch collected himself, and slowly stood up as she did.

He looked away from her sharp gaze.

"Should I leave?" He asked.

"I don't mind the company," she responded with a hint of laughter. "Come," she said, and put out her hand out for Baruch to hold.

With her left elbow crossing with his right, they walked side by side out the chamber.

Baruch kept his chin high, but you could see the slight crease of his brow, his eyes focused forward.

His mind was mostly on that existence not interfering with the ritual like he'd previously done.

"The rest of your family were pardoned as you asked, have you not thought of going back to see them?" she asked.

Baruch was silent for a moment then cleared his throat.

"After what happened, I think this is for the best." He said.

The sorcerer lady nodded.

"Lys," she said, "you should call me Lys."

They cut left of the hallway they'd been walking straight down and went up a flight of stairs.

"I heard most of you simply calling me the witch."

Baruch, slightly confused about the direction they were headed, pondered on what to say, such that the conversation wouldn't become any more awkward.

"You don't like it?" He asked.

"Hm. It's not truly an insult, but it sounds harsh. Sorcerer, or my pretty name, would be better."

She led him to one balcony, out under the warm golden early morning sun, where the view of the entrance path was unobstructed.

There, a carriage waddled towards the keep.

"Three centuries ago, the other path mages should have started appearing the same way."

Her eyes were on the carriage as she said this, talking more to herself than to Baruch.

Sparing her a glance, Baruch licked his lip.

Juggling his thoughts on what to say, he rubbed his nose for a second, his eyes also on the approaching carriage.

"I thought mages would have been around for much longer than three hundred years."

"You would." she muttered.

The carriage came to a stop.

The driver got out, opening the right door.

The first figure to step out was Haldon. Turning back to the carriage, he held out his right hand, and a hand from inside reached out to his.

Led by Haldon, a woman stepped out.

In the summoned council room in that misty hazy space, Hadrian's brow creased in grim apprehension .

What is she doing here?

His rising panic caused some of the parts of the summoned hall to break off and disperse into fog.

Glancing at Alia, he calmed himself, looking back down into the shimmering portal.

"Who's that?" Baruch asked.

"A clue." Lys said.

The wind blew across their faces, making their hair strands dance.

"We've uncovered a few, and a trail." She said.

"One of those is a mother using new found wealth, to try and locate her missing daughter."

In the dull white space, Hadrian's eyes closed for a moment.

What did I expect?

"Her description…. " Lys continued. "Matched the girl that Bagdona had seen in his office, Haldon at the metal workshop, and me, when sealing and fighting her."

"Previously, the old sorcerer had used her son being taken to locate "him" Without a proper method to deal with him at the time, they could only watch until I arrived."

She paused for a moment.

"For whatever reason, even working with Jasmine, the box can't be located."

Haldon led the woman into the castle like a gentleman.

"With her, maybe there's an opportunity."

Turning to Baruch, she smiled. "I have to go now." She said, and Baruch gave her a nod.

Hadrian, meanwhile, was in great unease.

His heart had tightened and he'd nearly descended back into the real world with the mystical box, even if it meant risking being teleported to another random location, perhaps he would be lucky and manage to bring Alia into this space.

With the sorcerer lady saying they could not locate the box, he'd come to the conclusion that the space interfered with whatever methods they had.

Thinking about it, though, he calmed himself.

Baruch had been brought to the balcony at the perfect moment to see the carriage and Alia's mother.

If it happened at any other moment, it could truly have been a coincidence, but immediately after Baruch's ritual made Hadrian suspicious.

They know I interfered with Baruch's ritual last time….

Even if he didn't interfere again, at the very least, he might watch.

But if they thought I'd be watching, why show me a method to potentially locate me?

Hadrian drummed his fingers on his armrest.

Unless they can't. The old witch was able to use her son to find me, but there are facts like range to consider.

Even with Jasmine there, of the space path that evidently has to do with locations, there are surely conditions to be met and he hasn't even met me before, while Lys' sorcery surely has some limitations.

Hadrian's eyes narrowed.

They're sending a message? A threat?

He glanced at Alia.

Why would they be confident with such a threat? Alia is just another vessel.

Unless they think she isn't.

They'd already referred to me as a "he" but perhaps it was only by default.

While mages didn't follow a patriarchal system, the regular people who were the majority, did.

Baruch referred to him as a he during his recount, but he'd also only learnt it from another vessel.

Hadrian's first murder to leave a trail, happened the same night Alia disappeared, where four youths saw him and that first adult vessel rising from the dead.

With his facial features and in the night, they probably confused him for a girl.

If they've been unravelling clues, they could have gone as far back as that, and maybe connecting that Alia might have been the one who awakened such magic?

Hadrian let out a sigh.

It truly wasn't necessary , I was on my way back, but I can't blame them for attempting any method they can.

With Jasmine there, they're surely under some pressure.

The summoned seats and tables deformed into mist.

I tried my best to keep her out of this.

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