Renya and Avar took a break from combat training under the black dome. With no maids to serve them thanks to Fubuki being preoccupied, the two 'enjoyed' the silence with each other. If Renya could snap Avar's neck without consequences for the future, she would have.

She had plans. Ostensibly. Really, Avar just felt like too much potential utility to kill. The bad part was the same as the good part, he had too much potential.

"So... Ichi is..."

Avar grunted out the words from the ground. He'd been lying there from the spar, half-dying, for a long time now.

"A real idiot would never know how much of an idiot they are, that is how they are a real idiot." Renya explained to Avar without provocation.

"No... I mean... the power..."

Avar's last gasps escaped as he fell unconscious. Renya poked the bakeneko on the ground, making sure he wasn't faking. She didn't think he was that clever anyways.

"A useful druid. How else would I conquer existence? You should think of the future, next time. If it's not at least a hundred thousand moves ahead, if you don't start at the end point with really specific vision in mind, you'll never get anywhere, right, Avar?"

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Renya talked to Avar's body.

Under Avalon's castle, the endpoint wasn't reached yet. Danberu stayed into the night, hearing out Syon. The girl looked to be an adolescent, but Danberu began to doubt her maturity. At first, he thought himself clouded by his misery, then he thought himself a poor judge of tengu because of his experience with them in the past, until he finally came to a firm conclusion.

She's bad at living. Really bad. At what specifically Danberu was unable to pinpoint, and his frustration grew until it popped, and he began to merely enjoy her company. Danberu couldn't believe the stories she told of her past in the least.

"So, you say, you have fought Druid Runa and not only survived, but won?"

The girl nodded. Danberu was used to Syon's favorite tactic for conversation. Expound on information, then nod. Danberu smiled. He'd heard children tell stories like this. They too, all of them, believed that if they tried really hard, someday, they too could be a Druid and rule over existence.

"And then we got his sword and put it in the Armory because giving it to the Seer's Council would have lead them to give it to Dracula - like everything else they do. They know the true powers of the world - and they obey them."

Syon nodded after speaking, anticipating Danberu questioning her.

"But, Druids can only be killed by legendary druid-killer weapons. You had one, from your previous conquers, I assume."

Syon's mind flashed over the inventory. She remembered every fight like it was yesterday. Memory was important, that's why she kept a diary. Memory was important, that's why you don't write everything down.

"Three. We used one of them. Gjahallorn, The Black Beast. Summons a constrained black hole."