I’m so embarrassed. Kente said again.

Just forget about it, man. Marke replied. We can’t all be elven poet laureates. He teased.

The researches were deep in a discussion about possible mechanisms by which “the shadow entity” might have observed the notes and how those mechanisms could provide a clue to the true nature of the entity. After half an hour of that discussion, Zily interrupted.

“It sounds to me like you have much to prepare for next time. Perhaps we should finish for today.” She said.

“Yes, Hero Zily is correct.” Aulysse said. “We could discuss this for days but we have already identified multiple experiments that will take several days. We will break for now and return in the morning. Is that acceptable, Hero Dingo?” She asked.

“Yes. I look forward to it.” Marke said.

—————

Over the next few days, Marke settled into a rhythm. Each morning he would arrive at the research tower for either an experiment or a discussion, then he would visit “tourist” attractions around the city or read books in a park. He and Zily ate dinner at a different restaurant most evenings. Marke made a few friends among the soldiers who were quartered in the other apartments and a couple of them were happy to practice some light sparing before breakfast. There were a few close calls where Marke nearly splattered his opponent against the wall, but Kente helped him reign in his strength and speed.

The research at the tower took many different forms. There were hours and hours in which Nieven paraded different materials and compounds in front of Marke to see if Kente could interact with them at all. Kara devised more and more intricate detection spells that Marke half suspected were an attempt to circumvent his ability to block identify skills, but they never detected Kente. Jandar attempted several kinds of trances that were meant to allow a necromancer to commune with spirits more clearly, but Kente couldn’t figure out how to connect and communicate. Saida attempted several esoteric bindings of some sort as an attempt to locate Kente’s non-physical form. Nothing worked. Two weeks later, Zily was the one who made the first breakthrough.

“What level is he?” Zily asked at dinner one night. They both had huge bowls of soup and rice in front of them, and Marke was trying to decide if the soup was more like pho or chicken noodle.

“Huh?” Marke asked. “Oh, he doesn’t have a level.” He said.

“What do you mean?” Zily asked, brows furrowed.

Pay attention. Kente prodded Marke.

Marke looked up, focusing on Zily’s question. “He doesn’t have the System. I am able to allow him to interact with my System things, but he doesn’t have his own.” He said.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Zily’s expression turned thoughtful. She didn’t speak much for the rest of dinner, but she insisted on joining him at the tower the next day.

“Hero Dingo told me last night that the shadow entity doesn’t have the System.” Zily said. “I wonder if that detail got overlooked in your investigation.”

The researchers all looked around at each other, confused. Kara looked up from her notebook to ask the next question. “No level? Like a ?” The reactions to her question ranged from skeptical to panicked.

“What’s a ?” Marke asked. Jandar ran out of the room. Saida became fully engrossed in her notes and wouldn’t look up. Aulysse’s expression said she hadn’t heard a more foolish idea in recent memory. Zily looked confused. Kente sighed.

Kara tore a page out of Jandar’s notebook and drew something on it. Marke knew exactly what she drew, but he still picked up the page when she pushed it towards him. The page had a stick figure person with an evil smile and horns.

Marke snorted and tried not to smile. He calmly placed the page back on the table. “He doesn’t look like that.” Marke said. True, I’m the handsome one. Kente confirmed.

“Saida.” Aulysse spoke slowly. “Please go tell Kurzeth that I want him in this room. Use this talisman.” Aulysse handed a small disk to the incredulous alchemist. Saida’s expression turned to a glare when Aulysse didn’t reconsider, but she took the disk and left the room.

“I think it is extremely unlikely that the shadow entity is a demon.” Aulysse said. “But following that thread might grant us more insight that we have found so far.”

I can’t be a demon. Kente said. I’ve only been to hell twice! Marke carefully didn’t laugh at Kente’s joke. “Why do you think it is unlikely?” Marke asked.

Aulysse leaned back in her seat. “Demon’s are rarely as subtle as spirits, and we already know the shadow entity is not a spirit. The-” Aulysse was interrupted by a flash of red light and an explosion of smoke in the middle of the room. Deep laughter began to echo around the room but that, too, was cut short.

When the smoke cleared, Marke held a glowing knife against the throat of a humanoid goat with solid red eyes. Zily shouted in alarm and rose from the table. Aulysse threw up her hands to try and diffuse the situation.

“Apologies!” She spoke loudly and clearly. “Apologies, I should have sent more specific instructions. Everyone please sit down. Kurzeth, sit here.” Aulysse gestured to the seat next to her. The goat person turned to smoke, which flowed over to the chair before reforming as the goat person, seated. Marke slowly put his knife back in his bag and walked around the table to his own chair.

“Hero Dingo, this is Kurzeth.” Aulysse said. Marke thought she looked a little flustered. “Kurzeth is a demon who is bound to serve the head of this research tower–currently me. Kurzeth, greet the hero.” Aulysse commanded.

“Howdy.” The goat man said.

What? Kente said. Marke failed to hide his shock at the greeting. “Howdy to you too.” He tried to say in english. He and Kente had never been sure if they spoke english in each realm or if their language was altered or if everything was translated in each realm. The goat person nodded in response, so Marke figured it was english this time.

“Kurzeth, I command you to join this research action according to the terms specified in instruction set number 37. Confirm you will do so.” Aulysse commanded.

“I confirm.” Kurzeth replied in elvish.

“Kurzeth, can you detect a demonic presence or any demonic influence on or near Hero Dingo?” Aulysse asked.

Kurzeth narrowed his eyes at Marke. Marke felt an odd prickling sensation somewhere deep inside.

Hey! Cut that out! Kente said.

Kurzeth turned to Aulysse. “I’m not sure.” He said.