— Skill: Metamorphosis activated.
The Light Mana took the form of prismatic bubbles, shining colors that sparkled and pleased my eyes when they wrapped around my limbs. Its glory was strangely full of warmth and comfort, like an illusion. I chuckled to myself and inspected the new branch of rough flesh formed in place of my original silky arm. The rest of my new form followed after the bubbles enveloped me. I spent some time messing with both the Dark Stone’s settings and the Metamorphosis Skill menu creating this thing it called an “avatar.” It had a darker skin tone and was less attention seeking than the original form, but I liked it! If Hannah was to blend in with the Common Humans then this form will do. I peered at my new self in the mirror. Dirty brown hair, blue eyes, gloomy and taller than Charlotte. Perfect!
“How’s this?” I asked Malcom, who was standing by silently. We were in the Library, protected by his new and improved Ward.
“It looks dreadfully human,” he blurted before yelping. “Erm, Your Majesty.”
“Good, good,” I grinned. The face didn’t even look scary when I smiled!
— Skill: Metamorphosis: Error! Preset unable to be saved. Set Human level. (Maximum Level: 33)
“Huh?” I squinted at the screen. Level? Oh, I suddenly remembered the Awakening Orb debacle. I don’t want to be mistaken for a level 1 again! Should I set it to my max level? I shook my head. The ugly brown haired girl in the floating translucent screen’s reflection did not look that strong. “Set Level 10. That seems appropriate for this form’s appearance, no?”
“It is as you say, Your, erm, Boss,” Malcom peered at the screen. I allowed it to be seen by him, as I apparently had the ability to share that with Powerful Friends. “Could I ask for a favor from you, Boss?”
“Of course,” I scrolled through the preset. It showed various symbols depicting body parts and numbers ranging from small to large, which I used to create this body. “Save it, Wisdom!”
— Skill: Metamorphosis: Error! Preset unable to be saved. Avatar does not possess a class. Select [Human Mage], [Witch] or [Ninja].
“Eh!? Malcom! This stupid thing is bullying me!” I whined. The Body Spider looked at the Status, but shrugged. “Human Mage has ‘human’ in it, so select that and save!”
The screen stayed for a moment, but suddenly a new window revealed itself.
— Skill: Metamorphosis activated. Preset “Hannah” successfully saved as a Level 10 Human Mage.
“There. This unassuming and hideous form will be perfect for invading the town,” I sighed and sprawled out on Malcom’s desk, pushing books off the shelves. Malcom clapped. “Now what favor were you going to ask me?”
“Oh! Right, Boss,” he looked like he was going to burst from nervousness. “If you truly are going to explore the town, then seek the Adventurer’s Guild. It’s a small thing, but we’re afraid that their numbers are dwindling too quickly.”
“I see, perhaps we can breed a few of them in the Labyrinth?” I pondered aloud. “Very well, Malcom. And what are these two things doing here?”
“A thousand thank yous, Boss,” Malcom looked relieved, but noticed what I was glaring at.
A quiet maid began to pick one of the books up, avoiding eye contact with me. The Seven Gods — The Forbidden Mountain Range, a subset collection of the Western Atlas. Oh, that’s the mountain range where I sent the big Arch Spider guys to! They’re the Seven Gods now. I tried to laugh menacingly, but coughed instead. Cackling on my back is hard to do! Nana merely scooped it up and stocked it neatly next to the others. At least, her levels were much more dangerous than the last time I saw her. She flinched when she noticed me looking at her, but there was something in her throat that was broken.
— Nana, level 37
— Classes
Messenger Spider [Epic], level 20
Body Spider [Epic], level 10
Body Spider Assassin [Epic], level 7
A variant evolved from a Body Spider’s yearning to gain trust from its Queen. It specializes in stealth and incredibly devastating sneak attacks.
“Blanche has determined these two should remain in this castle in order to avoid raising suspicion,” Malcom explained. “We all have sinned against you, but we hope to be of service to the Queen even if it costs us our lives.”
“Huh, very well,” I said in an authoritative tone. I glanced at the other one. Its name used to be Sydney, but this one was quiet as well. Instead, it bowed to me with quivering lips. “Why don’t they talk?”
— Sydney, level 36
— Classes
Messenger Spider [Epic], level 20
Body Spider [Epic], level 10
Body Spider Shielder [Epic], level 6
A variant evolved from a Body Spider’s wish to gain trust from its Queen. This Body Spider is incredibly durable, despite being poisoned and unable to speak.
“Oh,” I kicked another book off the desk by accident, but Sydney did not complain as she picked it up. “Blanche couldn’t heal these two all the way, huh.”
“Well,” Malcom stammered. “They chose to never use their words against you again.”
“Why? It’s not like it truly was you who said those things to me,” I trailed off. Perhaps a new angle was needed. Servants should not bear unnecessary burdens like that in their minds — it’s too distracting and only I’m allowed to be distracted! “You two are forgiven, how about that?”
They smiled weakly, but bowed in gratitude. What odd little fuzzy butts! Well, they looked human, but they were my fuzzy butts nonetheless! Mage Link could see the Nature runed Body Spider inside their chests. I wondered if there were Spider Mana runes anywhere? Surely my beloved fuzzy butts should be beyond simple Nature elemental runes, webs and fangs. Perhaps I should experiment with the fundamental properties of these runes myself. The preparations for my invasion of the Town of Bohun were complete, but there was one thing that irked me. My Status listed my classes as both a level 13 Witch and a level 20 Human, yet I was technically not a human. None of those human buffs affected me!
“If I’m shaped like a human and started off as one,” I mused. “Then why am I not human? What am I now?”
Metamorphosis does not appear to have a time limit and removing all my forms turned me into something unspeakable. I didn't even know I could remove my default Charlotte appearance and be whatever formless creature underneath it. My body melted in magic, then turned into a grey pile of melted flesh. When my formless blob looked at myself in the mirror, I found it difficult to even remember what it looked like.
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. The User has failed to Ascend to the Heights of Heroism due to incompatibility and therefore has been stripped of their humanity. User “Charlotte” is simply a Witch.
“There that thing is again,” I pointed at the screen. “Height of Heroism!”
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. The Height of Heroism is different for each human, however, when one Ascends their Soul is left inside the Height as a new Star.
“Does that mean I failed to meet the Goddess of Light in her Realm?” I muttered. “I don’t get another Star in this life? I guess I’ll stick to being a blobby Witch!”
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. Confirmed. The Goddess of Light does not recognize the Entity as a part of Her System. Divine Equalizer and the Forbidden Skill prevent Her from influencing the User “Charlotte.”
“Precisely, Your Majesty,” Malcom pointed at the notification. “Though, as I’m sure you are aware, your plans have masterfully taken you losing your humanity into account. We are hard at work adding the finishing touches to its grand design, especially now that our main force can exit the Labyrinth.”
“Huh, right,” I think I am picking up what these fuzzy butts want. Based on the Law of the Status, they must need their own Statuses to level up. Is this what Wisdom wants me to become? The Goddess of Fuzzy Butts? This Divine Seed, I tried scrolling through my Status’s features for more information about it, but all that came up was the item’s name. It must be linked towards the path to becoming such an Entity, but the details were rather vexing in their evasiveness. I needed more information, but I did not know where to get it from. For now, I should focus on finding my Demon Stones. I sighed as I opened the door and the daylight greeted me from the windows.
Would Father even let me out the front gates if I asked?
“Now, now, Your Majesty,” Malcom soothed me. “Your participation is necessary in this little game of ours, if you may indulge us. Go and explore this town. I know it will be boring to you, but if you please — Summon me. I will be there if you desire my assistance anytime.”
“What about Blanche?” I asked, but felt guilty from seeing Malcom’s hurt face. For a Body Spider, his expressions were more complex than Blanche’s. “I-In case I really need back up, of course.”
“Ah, your loyal General is currently getting the Labyrinth ready for new… customers, shall we say. It’s why we need you to investigate them on the inside! Haha! And I have word I’ll be sent to Tiltoast. I shall be more free than a rotfly out of its roots, Boss.”
“That’s comforting,” I noted. I didn’t want to know what a rotfly was. We were headed back to my room, past several guards who were about to object at me for something, but Malcom held his hand up.
“She is with me,” he raised his tone harshly at the guards. Oh, Geer’Sha! I’m still in my disguised form! They looked at us suspiciously, until he looked at me. “I plan on feeding that… child this one or whatever that Witchspawn does.”
A chuckle escaped one of them, while we continued on our way.
“Good thinking,” I let out a sigh of relief as Malcom stepped ahead of me and bowed.
“After you, Boss,” he pushed the door open and a gloomy atmosphere made my cheeks cold. The room was dark and stony, complete with a large bed greeting me.
“Wow,” I gasped. The Spider Worker responsible for remodeling my destroyed room was snoozing in the corner, but I patted his head and sent him away! As I stopped at the window I took a breath. I’m about to be Hannah, for now! “Be seeing you, Malcom. Ta-ta! CAW!”
I shot through the open window. If a bird could smile, I would be right now with my beak! The world below me became small lines of rooftops colored like disorganized brown leaves and gray stone streets. Right, Father’s Manor sat upon a hill, surrounded by a ring of stone and spears. It looked down upon these [Common] class Humans living their meaningless lives. The wind was sliced easily by my glorious wings as I dove down. It’s been awhile since I went out to find strength alone, even if the strength was knowledge at the moment.
The humans were a lot more advanced than the villages in my own Realm, using wagons and carriages in an organized fashion. It was busy as I flew over. More importantly, birds rested on a stationary wagon with a warm aroma wafting up to my own beak. Bread? Bread! I landed on the top of the stall with the rest of them. Now these were my people! They squawked and squabbled, while waiting for an opportunity to strike at any bread that lost its way from the wagon. Instead of the delicious food, I noticed the shiny pieces of metal and slips of paper one of the humans handed to the owner of this place. Money, huh? Father used a lot of those things to buy this T7 Gem of mine.
— Skill: Alchemy: Copper is a T1 Material and can be used in various crafts and transmutations.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
I guessed I’ll need to start acquiring money on my own if I were to start using Alchemy properly. There was an important looking item called a Soul Jar the Spiders were interested in, requiring a human heart and various metals. On the other hand, Transmuting massive amounts of metals to gold and then turning those into a Strand of Light to increase my Stats further sounded like a good reason to chase after human money. Something swatted at the canvas we were standing on, sending the rest of the flock to fly.
“Git, git!” The hand’s owner shouted at us, narrowly missing me with a newspaper. Rude! I squawked, but my research on bread and money was over anyway. We landed in an alleyway close by, but they were merely waiting for the crowd to thin out before attempting to steal bread again when they dispersed. Seek the Adventurer’s Guild, Malcom said.
Well, friends, it was time for me to fly ahead and find that place quickly! I searched for that round building that was much more grand than the others I noticed when I first arrived in this town. There! I avoided a flock of squabbling crows and zipped to the ledge of the Guild’s roof. A lot of armed people were walking in and outside of the building. How odd that humans allowed others to carry weapons like that, how uncivilized! Hmph!
The wind cooled my wings as I looked down upon the dirty, barbaric humans. It was time to turn back into one myself and join the fray! Except I wouldn’t do it here! Transforming into Hannah on this roof would definitely attract all kinds of attention and I was not sure if humans even had the ability to transform into other animals. I dived down and pecked at an unsuspecting human’s helmet before banking into an alleyway. The man toppled over into the mud, while his party laughed at him before realizing his wound was serious. Take that, you uncivilized brute! His health took a huge hit! Let that be a lesson!
When the place was clear, I changed into Form: Hannah and the world became a lot bigger. Being a bird was fun and all, I thought as I resisted flapping my arms, but it was good to be back. This form was slightly taller than the original Charlotte. I wondered if I could make that form taller as well. As I made my way towards the main street an all female party of Adventurers marched by. Instinctual fear filled me for a brief second, but they kept walking. One of the mages glanced my way, but thank Geer’Sha she did not have suspicion. You got this Charlotte, or Hannah, whatever! I can make it to the Guild and fulfill Malcom’s mission!
“Did you hear about Jorim?” The swordswoman giggled. “They kicked him out!”
“He looked roughed up,” the cleric tried to stifle a chuckle, but she laughed along. “Losing his whole party and his license! No more harassment! Yes!”
“Pink!” The mage blurted. “He rambled about how he was so scared of Pink! How preposterous is that!”
Pink? I slowly fell behind and couldn’t pick up their conversation anymore. They were headed towards a building called a Tavern, but that was not my objective! The Guild was before me and I heard a loud commotion storming from behind its doors. I grasped one of their panels and steeled myself before pushing it open. Why did I accept to help you, Malcom? Espionage is definitely not my thing!
Luckily, it seemed like I did not need it! A cacophony of sounds hurt my new ears the second I opened the door. Men were shouting at each other, heavy boots clomped on the wooden floorboards rapidly back and forth as a frantic busyness washed over me as I crept my way inside.
“Need a poison healer! Our party’s tank is in critical condition!”
“Get in line for a healer, out of the way!”
“Man Harvester raid over here! Level 15 and up!”
“Spider Dungeon is closed! No more requests for Forbidden Forest ventures are allowed!”
“Mountain Stalkers and Mountain Goblins sightings in the Northern Hills! Dragon Wolves in the Northeast Plains!”
“Tiltoast defenses are needed! Come help us rebuild!”
I wandered along the walls of the bustling building, taking in the sounds of everyone. From what I gathered, things were not looking good for this little establishment. Several bodies were wrapped in webs resting in the large hall’s center, with blood splotches soaking through them. The patients inside were already expired, but more were on the way. Each of them needed healers. Soon, I found myself in front of a board with hundreds of posts on it, each asking for aid of some kind against Monster attacks. Of the many scratch filled documents, only two caught my eyes.
— URGENT HELP NEEDED
Something is eating my cows from underground! It looked like a Spider, yet it did not have fangs like one and swallowed one of my cows whole! I’m a Farmer Class based in Tiltoast, yet I am too afraid to go back to my home and start working again!
Danger Class: A Rank
Location: Tiltoast Farmlands
Client: Scared Farmer
Reward for Species identification: 10 Gold
Reward for Species elimination: 60 Gold
— PINK SPIDERS FOUND NEAR CLEAR LAKE
Our Beast Reader has been slain! It was horrible! The Pink Spiders are real and a sighting of a group has been confirmed in the Clear Lake. They are well above level 30 and possess the Passive Skill: Deathtouch!
Danger Class: S Rank
Location: Clear Lake, West Bohun
Client: Heartbreaker Association
Reward: 300 Gold
There was that Township again, I saw more requests in that area further up the board. Yet, nothing about Starfalls or treasures. That Tiltoast place seemed to get the spearhead of all the recent Spider activity. I was curious about the Pink Spider rumors starting to spread. Could the Pink Arch Fey be experimenting with her magic on some of the fuzzy butts? Heh, I grinned to myself as the thought of that rude girl clinging on to my dear Brother. She was from there. Sucks to be those Tiltoast people. I think I’ll pay that town a visit, see if I can’t expedite the Spider’s attacks to completion. It would be lovely for them!
“Oi, out the way, lass!” Someone called for me. It was the tall swordsman from that female party! She stood behind me, with the other members glaring down at me with their faces full of disdain. I suppressed clicking my tongue in annoyance. I was distracted!
“Sorry, sorry,” I muttered and attempted to squeeze my way out of their path. One of them grabbed my arm as I almost made it. I glanced at the hand’s sleeve. “E-Eh?”
— Clothes Identifier: Eye Robe of the Stars [Epic]: Robes crafted with fine materials and embroidered with Stardust, covering over an expertly crafted Armor set made from meteorites. Especially strong against magic attacks and adds extra Magic damage to Spells and Skills.
“Dirty commoners like you don’t belong here,” the orange haired Mage told me, her eyes narrowing on my own clothes as if she was forcing herself. Ah, I looked at her Status. She suffered from my Dark Stone’s Mage Crusher effects, yet she wielded a sword? Human Classes were confusing! The disguise was working, I guessed. The rags I wore made everyone think I was harmless! “Seek the Church down the road, child, they are holding service for the Lost Lights like you.”
— Brukara, level 22
— Classes
Mage [Common], level 20
Elementalist [Epic], level 2
— Danger Class: A Rank Adventurer
Debuffs: Weakness to Holy Elements, Weakness to Chaos Element, Mage Crusher, Beautiful
Not knowing what to say since attention was gathering upon these A Rank adventurers, I waited for her to let me go and veered off towards the Guild’s exit. A Church of Light, huh? Would she recognize me in this form? The True Me, who she sent that Hero to destroy. There was only one way to find out! I wandered down the road towards the holy building.
A crowd gathered around the Church’s steps and I heard yelling. No, I realized the crowd surrounded the source of the yelling; he was preaching to them! My senses heightened as he glanced my way. What is this? A green bolt suddenly launched its way to me, but shattered upon striking something a meter in front of me. An attack? I stuck to an unbothered appearance and blended in with the commoners.
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. The Dark Stone has successfully redirected the Status Appraisal: Light’s Eye. User “Charlotte” has been appraised as Hannah of Bohun, Level 10 Human Mage Class Preset and her true Status has been hidden.
An appraisal, huh? I felt the gaze look away, as if it dismissed who I was. The redirection highlighted who appraised me with a green aura, the Preacher of course, which the crowd did not seem to notice. Since this form was taller, more gloomy and also lanky, I could see the man easily over the heads of some shorter Commoners. The rich Nobles stood closer, separated from the Commoners by a temporary ward, but I could still hear the sermon. As I laid eyes on him, horror fell upon me on how close I was to being found out.
Warning! Entity has high EV!
— Yengir of Sharra, level 30
— Classes
Martial Artist [Rare], level 10
Human Sage [Epic], level 10
Human Prelate [Fixed], level 10
— Danger Class: S Rank Light Wielder
Buffs: Height of Heroism, Perfectly Altered, Goddess’s Favor, Powerful Operator, Immune to Rot, Immune to Darkness, Immune to Basic Elements
“People of Bohun!” He uttered loudly, his voice shaking with wisdom and conviction. “Times are changing. The Starfalls, the Monster levels rising and the Darkness threatening us from the Mountains… It might all seem overwhelming, but as the Monsters grow stronger so commands the Goddess: Grow your Status and Ascend! There is Hope yet! Our armies and Ministries are coming, yet even your assistance will allow the Light to shine upon these wretched enemies and be remembered by Her! What is more — the Hero is defending Tiltoast! Become like the hero and our combined Statuses will beat back the Darkness.”
What a monster! I mused as he rambled on. Does he want these people to go to their deaths by fighting high leveled monsters? How diabolical! I love it! The buff said he was a Powerful Operator which allowed him to be able to gain stats while working alone, so it was no wonder he’s higher level than the rest! Soldiers lined up along the Church’s steps and the Nobles cheered for their new leader. They were all level 20, so I did not understand why they were excited for their arrival. Those poor things, I suppressed a giggle. Someone suddenly tugged on my sleeve. Light and unarmed? You fool! I prepared a counterattack, but my palm felt a rough texture slip in between my grasp. A scroll?
“Psst! Hey!” A kid’s voice whispered to me. I whirled around. It was the tomato thrower!
“T-Tomato Thrower?” I blurted as I looked at him. Erickson, son of Erick, looked at me for a moment before an exasperated sigh twisted his face.
“C’mon, how does somebody new here know I did that?”
“Y-You’re quite infamous,” I stammered. How would I know? Erickson’s face turned red like a tomato, but he continued.
“You’re not from around here, are you? Spiders get your village?” He asked, but shook his head and looked disappointed with himself. “Sorry, that’s probably bringing up bad memories again. I’m Erickson. Well, the Leader is interested in any newcomers that show up.”
“Hannah,” I nodded. He stuck his hand out, while I looked at the scrawny thing inquisitively. What do I do with that? I waited for a response quietly, but realized none would come to me. Right, Attor was with Blanche.
“Ah, well, our Leader doesn’t let any plain old girl or boy get to see him,” He awkwardly pulled his hand away. “You solve that puzzle at the Owl Bookshop, then you’re in. Got it?”
“Got it,” I said, inspecting the tiny scroll in my hand. An Owl Insignia was marked on it, along with a message telling me to Seek the Owl’s Star. “Okay…”
“Oh!” Erickson turned back. “One more thing. The Church will get you some clothes and shelter. Not much, but they helped Father and I a lot so…”
His eyes and reddened cheeks lingered on mine for a moment before he huffed off into the crowd. I stood waiting around, but Yengir blabbed on for a long time! Do all Church Services last this long? I noticed the crowds seemed to lose interest, yet the nobles seemed captivated. Was it because of the level differences? Those within the Ward’s protection were all level 15s and above, but the Humans on my side were less than that. Well, it wasn’t like this so System of Light was my idea, I smirked to myself. The Laws sounded pretty on paper, yet most of these creatures seemed ill-fit for battle. How could one reach the Stars when astrology was banned? When smaller children depend on them? It’s rubbish!
“You,” a gentle voice called for me. The crowd had dispersed, with some of the humans in rags like the ones I wore were standing in lines for food. It was Yengir himself calling for me! I gulped. Did he see my thoughts? Oh, Wisdom! “Come, child. Step into the warmth.”
Eh? Other children were lining up in their own separate group around him for bundles of clothes so I joined them. Might as well take some before the sun comes down! Would they notice I’m missing? I dismissed that thought. Malcom would warn me if someone needed me.
“You’re not from around here, aren’t you?” Yengir asked me, handing me the cloak. “Are you perhaps from the fallen Church village? Rest here, child. We cannot dare to think of repaying you for that tragedy, but we can serve as much as we are able to so you can get by.”
Church village? It must have been a place swallowed by the Spiders. So I did the only sensible thing and nodded slightly. Hannah is from there! Thanks for the backstory! There were no notifications that the Dark Stone was deflecting a thought probe Skill, so I assumed my head was safe for now. Yengir looked at me softly, a stark contrast from the passionate display he put on for his sermon.
“Do you remember the Church’s teachings?” He asked. “The first tenant of the Convergence. Ah, as clear as the day and bright as the Stars. We lift the broken up and Ascend. Benevolence and growing in strength together. Remember it, child. You are special to the Goddess of Light, especially in the magical unseen. There is a home for you here, should you ask for it. Lift the broken up together and Ascend.”
Once again, I bowed slightly gratefully and clutched the new clothes close to my chest. If an invitation to join the Church of Light was on the table, I did not want it. The Goddess might have seen me even now, through that man’s eyes. When I looked his way before I left the church, he was conversing with others about the same things he spoke to me about. Eh? Perhaps, was he truly just a roaming salesman? A false merchant of hope?
At any rate, I was glad to escape that sermon and added a skip to my step. The rough texture of the scroll rubbed against my fingers, so I decided that should be the next thing to investigate at the request of the Tomato Thrower. If there is a Leader of a network of unassuming children finding secret things the adults are doing, then I was in! The bookstore, eh? It should have an owl on its sign matching the icon on the scroll. As I wandered the streets with the other people leaving the church, I heard strange murmuring from an alleyway. A familiar Status appeared from the darkness, floating above what appeared to be a sentient pile of disheveled rags.
Jorim? An old friend, eh? I smiled. He must be the last of his friends. The rags shifted towards me as it heard my steps, but kept muttering to themselves. His voice was too cowardly to hear, anyways.
“Yo,” I spoke to him. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“S-Stay away!” Jorim yelled at me, but he did not recognize me. “A-A brat like you? Feelin’ tall because I’m a disgrace?”
“No,” I twirled the scroll in my finger idly. “I’m surprised the Spiders did not get you. How did you escape the dungeon?”
His HP was at a meager 77%, a perfect target to destroy alone. No one would miss a failed adventurer, right? Wait, let’s have some fun, I grinned to myself and ignored his ramblings. Malcom, to me.
“You don’t understand, you brat! Those Pink Spiders will be the death of us all!”
“Oh, I think I understand the Pink Spiders a bit more than you,” I activated Metamorphosis and changed back to Charlotte as my shadow stirred.
“You! You’re the Bohun’s bast–”
My grin widened as the fear creeped across his face, but before he could annoy me with his voice I wrapped a web around his mouth.
“I spent so long listening to an old man talk about hope and Light,” I exaggerated, watching his HP succumb to my tightening webs. “But I think it’s time for some despair and darkness, you know? Malcom.”
A muffled scream came from the ex-adventurer, but the Body Spider stepped over to him and used a Dungeon Skill.
“It appears this one lived because of an Escape Stone,” Malcom noted. “The device was used on the second floor. His friends made great meals for us.”
More struggles came from him, but I held him in place with a firm grasp.
“Well, surely he doesn’t have another one, right?” I laughed. “Take him back to the Labyrinth. That ought to be fun when he sees his favorite color again.”
“You got it, Boss!” Malcom said gleefully. I watched as he took the man known as Jorim by the throat and sank into the shadows, never to be seen again.