Dave leaned back in Sherlock's plush, leather chair, mentally going over his brief life in Shandria.

"Wait a minute," he said. "If this... witch coven mafia, or whatever they are, wants my Phantomancy abilities so badly, why would they risk exposing me to the authorities? Both Cedez and Stellaris threatened me with exposure. What if I just told them to piss off?”

Sherlock’s green eyes looked at Dave from behind dark glasses.

“A solid point,” he said. "The threat of exposure might be just that - a threat. Empty words to coerce you into compliance."

"Right," Dave continued. "If Phantomancy is as rare as we think it is, they'd want to keep me functional and out of prison. Exposing me would be counterproductive to their goals. Stellaris collared me to control me, her threat was empty.”

“And yet you fell for it,” Sherlock nodded.

“You could have helped,” Dave pointed out.

“Need I remind you,” Sherlock waved a hand. “I am but an incomplete person, a glove that you’re wearing. At best I’m the rational side of you, the concept of your own Wisdom magnified by magic. If you fully don’t realize something, I won’t necessarily realize it either. Besides that, you getting captured by Stellaris has great value. While she thinks that you are magically bound she will spill many secrets. In reality, you hold a greater position of power, able to make completely unexpected moves.”

“Fine, fine,” Dave said. “Anyway, I reckon that maybe we have more leverage here than we thought.”

“Indeed,” Sherlock affirmed. “You represent great value as the only wielder of Phantomancy in Shandria. Which opens up new possibilities. Also, instead of killing Stellaris or running away..."

"We could capture her," Dave finished the thought. "Test what she is, try to get some answers."

"A risky move, but potentially very informative. If she is indeed some sort of magical construct or a shapeshifter, subduing her could provide valuable insights into our adversaries."

"But how would we go about capturing her?" Dave asked.

Sherlock stroked his chin thoughtfully. "With enough Strength, you could likely overpower her. You might be able to improvise some restraints from items in the room."

Dave glanced around the dreamscape office, as if he could see the red-tinted room beyond. "There are curtains we could use as makeshift ropes," he suggested.

“A solid idea,” Sherlock nodded.

"Okay, so what's the plan? Wait for her to come back, then ambush her?"

"Essentially, yes," Sherlock confirmed. "But we need to be prepared for various scenarios. What if she doesn't come alone? What if she has magical defenses we haven't anticipated?"

Dave frowned.

“I’ll pretend to be collared,” he said. “Bind the back of the collar behind my hair with a little curtain-slice rope. If she’s alone, I’ll strike. If she has backup, I’ll wait until we are alone.”

Dave and Sherlock continued their discussion, making several new deductions. They theorized that Stellaris, Cedez, and Oraniss might be part of a larger network of magical beings, each with their own agenda, potentially fighting amongst each other for control over Shandria’s underworld.

They also considered the possibility that the collar might have some tracking or monitoring capabilities, which could be a problem.

As their conversation wound down, Dave felt himself drifting back to consciousness. The dreamscape office faded away, replaced by the crimson-hued upstairs room of the Nightingale tavern.

Getting up, he put the collar back on, securing it with a slice of curtain from behind. The magic of the collar was broken as the hexagrammic runework was torn and it didn't even tingle on his neck.

Time passed, and eventually, daylight began to break through the slats of the steel shutters, painting thin lines of gold across the red-draped room. Dave had spent half of the night in a state of hyper-vigilance, alternating between pacing the room and sitting tensely on the edge of the bed.

----------------------------------------

With the first light of morning breaking through the steel shutters, the door clicked. Dave's heart rate spiked as he watched the handle turn.

Stellaris glided into the room, wearing the same black dress studded with blue gemstones. Her silver-blue eyes sparkled with an unsettling cheerfulness as she regarded Dave. She was alone.

"Good morning, darling," she purred. "I trust you slept well?"

Dave forced a smile. "As well as can be expected," he replied, sitting up on the bed.

"I hope your stay was comfortable," she said. "It's necessary, you understand. For both our sakes."

“Actually, I don’t understand,” Dave said, sliding all of his points into Wisdom to interrogate the singer. “Why did you collar me? Is Cedez Astra your competition or something? How did you even know that I'm a Necromancer?"

Stellaris spun a chair around, its wooden legs scraping against the floor. She sat down, resting her elbows on the chair's back, her silver-blue eyes never leaving Dave's face. The morning light filtering through the shutters cast striped shadows across her features, giving her an almost predatory appearance.

"You see, Dave," she began, "you've made quite an impression since your arrival in Shandria. More than you realize, I'm afraid."

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"What do you mean?"

Stellaris's dark lips curled into a knowing smile. "The guards at the gate, the Guild Secretary. The Healers, baffled by your unusual abilities. Even that simple dragon blacksmith, puzzled by your switching abilities. Separately, these incidents might not mean much, but together..." She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

"You've been watching me," Dave said.

"Shandria has many eyes. Watching, listening, piecing together the puzzle that is Dave Walter," Stellaris nodded. "You see, there are others in Shandria who sort of suspect you. But they lack the network, the resources to put it all together. They're like blind men touching different parts of an elephant, each convinced they know the whole picture."

"You have access to this network of eyes then?"

“Yes,” Stellaris's smile widened. "Let's just say I have a broader perspective. Which is why I collared you. To protect you."

"Protect me? By binding me?"

"Oh, darling," Stellaris cooed. "This isn't enslavement. It's a shield, a claim. You see, there are others out there who would do far worse than collar you. They'd simply... consume you."

"Like Oraniss tried to do," Dave muttered.

"Precisely. Oraniss was... overzealous. There are many Huntsmaws like her who only wish to feast. In this world of shadows and monsters, sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don't."

“I don’t know you,” Dave pointed out. “I barely know Cedez.”

“There will be plenty of time for us to get to know each other,” Stellaris said. "Astra is not who she appears to be. She's dangerous, Dave."

"How so?"

"She's been manipulating you from the start. That little café of hers? It's just a front. A way to gather information, to ensnare unsuspecting newcomers like yourself."

"But she helped me," Dave stated “Warned me about dangers…”

“All part of her manipulation,” Stellaris said. “Cedez is playing a long game. She feeds you bits of truth mixed with lies, gains your trust, all while pushing you towards her own agenda. She's grooming you, molding you into a weapon she can use. I’m much more straightforward, see? I know that you’re a weapon and I’m going to use you to kill all the others.”

"Who are the others?"

"It's best not to speak of the others, darling. They have ways of... foreseeing plans if their names are mentioned. We must handle them one by one, carefully cutting them out of existence like a surgeon excising an infected tumor.”

Again, like Cedez, Stellaris seemed to shove Earth-metaphors into everything.

Dave nodded, trying to keep his expression neutral despite the churning in his stomach. "I see. And what would you have me do?"

“Kill the princess."

"Which princess?" Dave blinked.

"Cedez Astra. I need you to trick Cedez into entering her cafe's shell. Once inside, you must kill her and consume her soul." She said this as casually as if she were ordering coffee.

"You want me to… kill Cedez?"

"Yes, darling. It's quite necessary, I'm afraid," Stellaris purred. "Oh, and don't forget to bring back all of her magic outfits, books, and tools. We can't leave such valuable resources behind. Kill her caretaker mage too… Murdoc the Snailmancer.”

“Right,” Dave nodded, pretending to go along with the double murder plan.

She stood abruptly, her dress shimmering as she moved. "Wait here," she commanded, before gliding out of the room.

Dave sat in stunned silence.

Moments later, Stellaris returned, a dark leather backpack in her hands. She placed it on the bed next to Dave. "This bag has expansion runework, it will fit lots of stuff in. It should be more than sufficient to carry everything. Dump all of her clothes into it after you consume her."

Dave stared at the bag.

"Come on, you've done it once," the dark elf said. "You can do it again. Just stab her in the heart with that bone knife of yours and eat her soul."

Dave looked back at Stellaris. "What if she resists?" he asked.

Stellaris began to pull off one of her gloves, revealing a bare, gray-skinned hand. "Well, we can't have that, can we? Perhaps you need a little... boost."

“You can amplify my power, like Cedez?”

“Yes.” She extended her hand towards Dave. "I can magnify one of your Attributes. Which would you prefer to use? Strength to overpower her? Agility to outmaneuver her? Or perhaps Charisma to become invisible?"

“Charisma can make a person… invisible?” Dave asked.

“Oh, of course, my simple Earth-man, you don’t know how Charisma magic works yet! Think of Charisma as an instrument that can create a specific kind of a standing magical wave,” Stellaris explained. “A violin that can play a certain tune. The limits of it are based on the musician’s power and talents in understanding how to wield it.”

Dave listened intently as Stellaris paced the room.

"You see, darling," Stellaris began, "Charisma magic is quite handy, like a symphony of influence. Each 'tune' you play affects the world. Everything around you can be affected in different ways by it.”

She held up one finger. "Take the Bond of Trust Resonance, for instance. With this tune, you can create an instant connection with someone, making them feel as if they've known you for years. It's particularly useful for gathering information or manipulating people into doing your bidding. Sadly, such effect is temporary and some people can notice the Charisma use."

Dave nodded.

“A talented Charismancer needs no Veritix Kitlix,” she explained. “A Truth Compulsion Resonance forces a person to be honest, no matter how much they might want to lie. Charisma doesn’t just apply to other people. Think outside of the box–by using Charisma on yourself, you can enhance your own senses. Hear whispers from across a crowded room, see details others might miss. The Song of Strength used on yourself can make you stronger without actually having points in Strength.”

“Charisma can amplify other Attributes?” Dave blinked.

“Yes. A truly talented Charismancer can amplify others or themselves. You accidentally used the Glamour of Prestige Resonance when you convinced that salesman that you were a Scrutimancer.”

“Oh,” Dave said. "Right. Were you watching me?"

“I was. What you projected was an authority song, making others perceive you as someone of great importance. With it, guards step aside, doors open, people hang on your every word and help you out."

Dave nodded along.

“The Siren's Call is a tune that could lure people or animals into traps. The Confidence Infusion song can bolster one's own self-assurance to superhuman levels. Charisma that amplifies your Wisdom produces Songs such as Echoes of the Past,” Stellaris explained. "It allows you to use Charisma on objects, gleaning information about their history or previous owners."

“Sounds useful for investigating things,” Dave nodded.

"Then there's the Animal Whisperer tune, which lets you control beasts. Quite handy in a pinch in the wilds,” Stellaris added. “Or the Radiance of Youth, a tune that could make the user appear younger. The Highborn Lords have personal Charismancers on call that make them look more youthful and dashing.”

"Are all Charismancers this versatile?" Dave asked.

"No," the elf shook her head. "Many focus on amplifying a single tune as their day job. However, I believe that you will be able to produce any of these tunes due to your... rare skill."

“I see,” Dave said. “What exactly are you, Stellaris?"

"My, my, aren't we full of questions today? But I suppose it's only fair to tell my Champion what I am. I am, to put it simply… a princess of Shandria."

"A princess? Aren't the rulers of Shandria all human?"

“They are,” Stellaris nodded, dragging a slender finger across her neck in a gesture of decapitation or perhaps enslavement. “We’ll handle the pesky humans once Shandria is fully mine.”