Apparitions were stirring in the shades of the marble pillars and the spiral stairs. But at this moment, Elara was too engaged in her conversation with Kairos to worry about them.

“Come again?” she asked.

“I, indeed, was born on that cargo spaceship. I was brought up by its controlling system and all the working robots on it.”

“No way! You've never met your parents, just like me?”

“No. Not even know which planet they came from.”

“That must be tough. I mean...not having your family around...”

But Kairos shook his head. “It doesn't bother me that much. I enjoyed myself growing up on the spaceship. I get to travel to different galaxies with my robot friends. It's also convenient for my detective career. Hey, maybe you can join us on a little trip someday.”

“That would be nice.” this proposal crossed Elara's heart like a shooting star crossed the night sky, leaving nothing but a trace of faint hope after an instant glint. So she changed the subject. “So why did you come to Earth? Is there a case waiting for you here?”

“Oh, no, not at first,” Kairos explained. “The spaceship docked here for delivery purposes, so I seized the opportunity to explore this primitive planet with a legendary past.”

“Primitive? Legendary past?” Elara echoed to herself.

“Actually, I was on my way to investigate a case on Planet Formula Phenom, near Rhododendron Blackhole.”

“What happened there?”

“An infant of the Oneirogéfyra species disappeared. Vanished. Without a trace. Quite a myth. Anyway, as soon as I landed this afternoon, I detected abnormal fluctuations of electromagnetic waves in this castle. Weird, isn’t it? So I reckon I should investigate it first.”

“What kind of fluctuations?”

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“Like I said, abnormal ones.”

Talking to Kairos was like, it occurred to Elara, a trip to the House of Terrors. It made you want to keep punching someone's face. His face, to be precise.

“This castle is haunted. If that's what you mean,” Elara said after a while. “Ghosts cause electromagnetic disturbances, don't they? Learn that from Spooked.”

“What kind of ghosts?” Kairos inquired, a mist of curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

“Well, there's Lord Sunnyduke, who built the castle, for starters. And you know, the usual, like women in white gowns, drowned children, soldiers with their heads hanging around.”

“You are able to see all of them? Like just now?”

“Well, yes. Mostly.”

“That's weird. I thought the so-called ghosts on your planet were merely hallucinations. Are you sure the things you see are really ghosts?”

Kairos could tell Elara was struggling. He was just about to move on when she finally spoke.

“I'm...er...not sure. I mean, every time I tell people I can see ghosts, I'm regarded as either a psycho or an attention-seeker...No one believes me. So maybe I am seeing hallucinations...”

“Don't get me wrong,” Kairos interjected quickly. “I'm not accusing you of anything. I do believe you--”

“You do?” some kind of emotion which was very similar to gratitude rose in Elara's chest.

“Of course. I believe you see something, something horrible, resembling the ghosts.”

“What is it?”

“I have no idea.” Kairos shrugged, his attention shifted to a cabinet beside him.

Again, Elara suppressed an urge to punch him in the face.

“But I've never seen the devil.”

“The devil?” Kairos's attention shifted back at once.

“Yes, the devil. He is the main demon in this castle. Legend has it that the other lingering spirits were seen playing cards with the devil on the stroke of midnights on a full moon.”

“Why a full moon?”

“To see cards clearly, I suppose. Anyway, tales of the devil traced back to an ancient secret tribe. They were chosen by the Gods to guard a devil imprisoned underground in this very spot. I heard that this castle stands upon the ruins of their altar, erected to keep the devil in check as the divine instructions.”

Kairos chuckled, setting deeper into the chair. “Convenient for these gods persons, delegating such an arduous mass to others. Well, all these theological cultures of yours are fascinating, but I don't think the so-called ghosts are responsible for the abnormal indicators on my sensor. It's different. There must be something else.”

Unexpectedly, Kairos leaned forward to Elara, showing a knowing smirk, which made her blush a little.

“What now?” she asked, her heart beating quickly.

“Troubled by bad dreams, hah? Heard you scream there.”

The dreams were the deepest secrets in her heart. Elara felt exposed.

Intrigued by the embarrassed expression on Elara's face, Kairos whispered in a gentle voice, “Allow me to stay the night, will you? And tell me more about your dreams...”