What does one do when they get strange letters from an unknown source? One of the ways of going about it was tossing it into the garbage bin. That worked for useless coupons and advertisements. There was another option — going to the police and telling them about it, in case the message was a threat. However, in this case it was neither. Danny wasn't sure what to make of the message he received. To go and accept the invitation meant going in blind. He didn't even have a clue about who the mysterious messenger was. But if they were secretive, it was for a reason. And they didn't have full trust in him either. Danny kept thinking about this for a long while. He had an entire day to ponder on the matter, after all. An entire day spent doing shopping alongside Meili. He had to spend his money on something.

It wasn't anything big, he didn't exactly have a carriage. And, as far as he could hear from the locals, it was impossible to hire any at the time. Danny allowed himself a new set of clothes. Black silk robes were outstanding in his opinion, if a bit pricey. Luckily, his appearance of a man who hadn't slept the entire night, alongside his natural ability to scare people off resulted in a neat discount. He got those wondrous clothes and began to wear them immediately. Meili, too, got something out of it, getting another blue dress for herself. Suffice to say that she was surprised to receive something, but did not bring this up. She could see it.

No matter how her companion and captor tried to cover his concerns, his mind was focused not on the clothes, not on the books, but on completely different things. Meili was observant far beyond what's expected of her age, and to see his distant look was another off-putting feature of his. For a man with so many secrets he was surprisingly easy to read sometimes.

By the end of the day Phantom had grown far too impatient, Meili could see him pacing around, fully absorbed in his thoughts, to the extent that he actually bumped into some people by accident, resulting in several angry conversations and half-hearted apologies. Meili herself was worried, of course. Granted, she wanted him to be six feet under, his corpse burned and desecrated with piss and horseshit, but her own life was at stake here. She tried to snap him out of it, to make him hurry to the finish line that was the conclusion and final decision of his. But, dismissive he was of her, Danny ignored the child and kept his own pace. In this tale he was a turtle, not a hare. It was better to think rationally and decide on how to proceed.

He had a couple of responses and directions on how to act. The possibility of him outright refusing to go was nonexistent. He was going to visit the place the note had spoken of. Perhaps it was his arrogance speaking, he was, after all, a being that could withstand colossal damage. But it still was not a panacea against everything this world had to offer in the dangers department.

Thus, Phantom did not wait for long. The word 'tomorrow' was a broad one, one that could be applied to the whole 24 hours. So, better be impatient right at the spot than miles away. The time given to him was obviously in case he needed to get a ride. Danny knew perfectly well where the Flugel tree was. From the encyclopaedia he had gathered that the sage responsible for helping seal the Witch of Envy had planted it, and now what used to be a tiny seed had grown to be a massive pillar reaching for the skies. The role of a major landmark it fulfilled to the letter, and while flying after Emilia Danny had not missed it. He didn't need any maps or guidelines or cumbersome children for the task. This time, surprisingly, Meili did not protest, for the message creeped her out as well. Danny was, nonetheless, amused by her pushing him off the cliff she herself was not eager to leap from. But that's just how their relationship was.

And so, he was now looking at the tree that was the meeting spot. If a trader passed by, they would have been greeted by a sight of a glowing ghost who was sitting cross-legged, floating, having an expression of someone who did not wish to be interrupted. Not that he was particularly busy, mind you. Staring up at the distant moon was hardly the reason enough to stay away from the prying eyes. Danny sighed, glancing at the colossal structure just near him. The trunk of the dark brown tree was dry and extremely hard to the touch of his gloved hands. To his surprise, Phantom realised that it was actually iron bark. Figures. Such a gigantic structure could not be held by other, flimsier kinds of wood. But alas, his interest died off quickly, for biology was not his vocation.

"What am I doing?" Muttered Danny, wiping his face.

He was beating around the bush, well, a tree more like. This Brownian motion he was a part of was something unaccounted for. He felt frustrated to a degree, but it was, admittedly, something he had partially dealt with. Danny once again floated in the air, now assuming the lying position. Why was it like that, he wondered. What was there in him which attracted problems and got him involved in each mess on his path? Everything up until the point of Clockwork's death could have been considered his own meddling, but now, with the puppet master dead, Danny was left with the same sort of problems. So it must have been him all along. A sudden spark, a flash of an idea came as quickly as it was dismissed. An idea of leaving this part of the world all together and putting his mishaps and their consequences to rest. But Phantom instantly decided once again that he was not going to run from a bunch of psychos. Still, sitting by a huge tree was not going to help him in any case if nobody was there to meet him.

Danny landed on the soft grass, taking the last look around and guessing that he still had to wait until the morning. And better do so at a better place. He turned around.

Only to face a hooded figure. Phantom lightly gasped, took a subconscious step back and readied himself. Normal people did not appear out of nowhere. Then again, the getup of normal people did not consist of black cloak and hood. The hood, as Danny realised after a second glance, was very much like the 'uniform' of those who back in his own world would have very much liked to see his black friend killed. The slits through which this person should have seen his surroundings, were crimson red, which, somehow, seemed to give off an ominous glow under the moonlight. The sleeves were big and wide, but Danny saw something gleam from within it.

"Please, tell me that you weren't the one to leave that message."

Phantom was very unsure of what he was getting into. But he certainly did not like it. The response to his question was only a quiet nod.

"Yes as in 'I WAS the one who did it' or 'Yes, you are correct'?"

A single raised finger. So it was the first one.

"I prefer conversations to the guessing games," grumbled Danny. It was the second night without proper sleep.

Suddenly the strange figure simply... fell through the ground. Phantom blinked, his eyes wide. Was that a ghost? No, his sense did not pick anything. That was unsettling. Looking around, Danny saw the same man standing near the roots of the colossal tree. He gestured at a hole between the gigantic sprouts, before disappearing within it as well. Phantom had a growing feeling in his stomach that he was about to make his predicament far worse. And yet, the half ghost's legs made step after step in direction of aforementioned hole. Danny didn't even need his intangibility to get inside. He slid down a very steep slope, a cloud of dust raised in the process. Wiping his face, he examined his surroundings. It was a spacious cavern, the roots of Flugel's handiwork lined the ceiling and slithered across the floor. The smells of wet dirt and rotten wood presented a strange, odorous cocktail that assaulted his nostrils. Danny noticed the absence of his guide and rubbed his tired eyes.

"I don't have time for this," he growled, before a gust of air escaped his mouth and something reached his ears.

A cackle. A chilling, excited cackle coming from the shadows.

"He came, he really came, yes he did!"

And the one who spoke the words that dripped with madness soon emerged from his dark cover. There, dressed in the same cloak as the one who guided the half ghost into the cavern, stood a person. His face was visible, under the rays of moonlight that somehow reached so deep inside. But honestly, it would have been better if he wore a hood, or a mask, or anything that would hide the hideous mug of the man. He was about as tall as Phantom, and yet his thin complexion made him seem higher than he actually was. This feature of his was underlined by his clothes, dark and reminiscent of a grotesque cassock. Yet Danny paid no attention to his wardrobe, eyes transfixed on his face. Gaunt, pale as a corpse skewered by plague, of which there were reminders in the form of green tint. His eyes were open wide, and his wide, open smile let Danny see perhaps each of his teeth. The green hair of the man, so unbecomingly, showed the signs of certain care, combed in a bowl cut. For someone with an obvious lack social decorum this was quite interesting.

"I believe you have me at a disadvantage," said Danny slowly. He knew that he shouldn't attack first. "Although you have a charming postman."

The man laughed loudly, bending backwards, "Oh, he is the tiniest bit as expected!"

Then he straightened up, even further creeping Danny out. His further approach was met by a hostile gaze that seemed to confuse him for a moment.

"Allow me to introduce myself!" The creep bowed, "Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti, yes!" He exclaimed, looking at the guest.

Danny raised an eyebrow, "What, like a star? This name doesn't tell me anything."

"How?" Petelgeuse whispered. "How can you not know? Don't you have the Gospel too? Or maybe you are too..." he got so close that Phantom could feel the rancid smell coming from his mouth, "Lazy to check it? If so..."

He laughed and opened his arms wide, "You have come to the right person, for I am the Sin Archbishop representing Sloth, yes!"

Phantom froze in his spot. How could he not have guessed it sooner? The mystery, the messenger in dark cultist robes. Against the odds and his own conscience he actually walked into them. Luckily, even if meeting the cult was one of the more outlandish possibilities, he knew what to do. Don't lose your head, Danny told himself. If worst comes to worst, he still could tail it out of there. Attacking or running now would only make everything worse. He didn't know what to expect, however.

"So," Petelgeuse snapped him out of stupor. "Which one is it?"

"I don't have any Gospels, you see. I wasn't exactly introduced to all of this by a superior..."

He had to lay some baits for the nutcase to answer the questions Danny could not outright ask. The teen nearly thought that he had instantly failed, seeing the outraged face of the cultist.

"Impossible! Outrageous! Incomprehensible!" Petelgeuse tossed around and assumed the most spine-breaking poses.

Danny noticed that they weren't alone now. Instead, they were surrounded by around thirty cultists in the matching robes and hoods. Keep your cool, Phantom, he told himself.

"Perhaps you are not the one we sought? Perhaps the incompetent pawn chose the wrong tile?!"

"If you sought Phantom, that goal you accomplished. I can't answer questions if you don't ask them."

"Yes... correct. Reasonable. So much unlike the irrational Petelgeuse," he began biting on his finger, so horrendously disfigured that Phantom could only assume that it was the nutjob's habit. "If you truly are him. The one who now brings the righteous cause instead of Pariah, then you will show me..."

Danny raised his hand and showcased what the man obviously wanted. The ring glistening on his finger.

"I hope now your concerns are laid to rest."

Danny took time to examine the man, his mind trying to understand what he was. His sense was never wrong. Petelgeuse was a ghost, or a spirit. And yet, there was nothing to exactly point out at what he was. Aside from him looking unnaturally like a corpse. Once again the cultist laughed after squealing with joy.

"Then it is you! The Archbishop, no, the Lord of Concupiscence himself."

Danny liked neither of the titles. At least the cultists were not hostile yet. But, another thing pressed on his mind so much that he couldn't help but blurt the question.

"How do you know about me? I tried to be discreet, you know?" Danny faked being hurt, distressed as he may have been while treading on charcoals.

"Yes, you would not know, would you," Petelgeuse dug in his robe, fishing out a small black book. "This is simply inexcusable! Poor soul seeks enlightenment and yet is being denied it by cruel fate!" He seemed on the verge of crying. "Unacceptable! Oh, yes. The Gospel, boy. Each one of us has one. It is the greatest symbol of love, the directions given to us which will lead us to our glorious fates!"

"So, those are instructions?"

"Not exactly," Petelgeuse giggled, "They know the future and present, after all. It is how we were led to you. How we saw through your perfect disguise! Yes, perfect, I say! Nobody even suspects you, nobody will know that our dearest comrade is in their midst!" 

Danny stared at the book. Could it really see the future, he wondered. It omitted Beatrice knowing about him, after all. And his own, true motives remained a secret. Or maybe it was Petelgeuse who kept quiet. He felt unsettled by the perspective of dealing with people who had an unmatched foresight. Then again, if even Clockwork could be surprised, it was hard to imagine some book having a greater power. Then again, if he could get his hands on one...

"You are aware that I do not wish to blow this cover, I hope?"

"Of course! But I am very much... in awe."

Again, he was too close.

"In awe?"

"You are so far ahead of us all! As expected of someone who replaced Lord Pariah! On your very first day here you have infiltrated the group of that beautiful half-elf. Someone we, the humble servants of the Witch herself, are after as well."

Danny couldn't stop himself from throwing a glare his way. He was talking about Emilia, of that he had no doubt. Petelgeuse saw it, tilted his head to an unnatural angle, eyed the teen in confusion.

"You don't look so pleased."

"I... I busied himself too much with all this!" Danny quickly rebutted, "You are a variable I did not account for in my plans. And if you ruin it..."

The ghastly man gasped and took several steps back. "We intruded! How insufferably preposterous!" He hit his head on the wall of the cavern, "Wait..." he turned his bleeding head towards the half ghost, the one who tried to keep a straight face, "We were here first, yes. We kept planning and planning, we purged away the tiniest semblance of sloth in our plans, it is you who intruded!" Yelled Petelgeuse in the end.

"All I see is you hiding under a tree like a bunch of deranged possums," Phantom hissed and let his eyes glow green, a trait so visible in half-darkness of the cavern. "Shouldn't your Gospel have told you this?"

"How dare you belittle our holy writings?!" Petelgeuse screeched and reach for the teen, seemingly wishing to strangle him.

Danny turned intangible, and the man slipped through.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but you are being irrational," Danny said. "We are working towards the same goal, are we not?"

Petelgeuse seemed to contemplate things, "So you ARE a ghost," he grinned, "Marvellous!"

Madmen always thought about their own things, even when engaging in conversations.

"Yes, the Gospel says we are..." he muttered, chewing on his finger. "And her love... I can sense it on you, too..."

That book grew stranger by the minute. That statement couldn't be further from the truth, obviously. Wait... love?

"Oh, I see it now. Yes... working together, that we can do. Unless he decides to succumb to sloth."

"I didn't agree to what you are planning yet," Danny crossed his hands.

He was growing tired of this discussion. Not scared, just... tired. He found the approach to the maniac without bringing the wrath upon himself. His exhausted mind signalled him that what he was doing was no good, but it was numbed by the calls of Morpheus.

"We need to confirm some things..." Petelgeuse explained. "One cannot let sloth be the downfall. That's why you are here, correct?"

"Yep," Danny responded without thinking.

"Oh, forgive me my prudence! How much did you find?"

A tricky question, one that could not be answered by yes or no. And wasn't Petelgeuse supposed to know such things?

"Admittedly, I was too busy removing the 'variables' I mentioned. I too prepare."

"Oh, we know you killed a member of the Assassin Organisation. Two of them, in fact. One became a pet. I like your methods! Much more than that of that wretch Capella," he muttered scornfully.

"Who is Capella?"

"Not many know her name," he cackled and assumed another twisted pose, "But I know each of the Archbishops by their faces. She is the one you are looking for, in fact."

Danny's eyes widened, "She is the Mother they all mentioned?"

"Yes! How dares she attack one of our own?! Unacceptable! We must not engage in infighting... not with the times being as important as they are..." his voice steadily went from loud to quiet as he uttered the phrase.

"That... does complicate things."

"We told that insufferable brat that she has to wait until the stars are aligned!" Petelgeuse angrily tore off a strand of his hair, "And now she dedicates everything to killing you. She doesn't know, doesn't read the Gospel. If she did, she would know. Horrible misunderstanding."

"Charming person from what I heard."

"If you were my subordinate... the lack of Gospel in your possession would have led to me killing you. Again, that is."

"I get it. How do I get one?"

"I'll see to it. I see you are enthusiastic about this, and not to reciprocate such faith would be so, so slothful of me."

"You are pretty diligent. With what your Sin is."

Petelgeuse only cackled in response. As the uncomfortable silence settled, Danny rubbed his temples.

"What were YOU planning to do? We can work around it."

Danny had to know. Because he was absolutely certain that they were up to no good.

"The Minister summoned all the candidates to the capital. You should know that. And the Gospel dictated that we need to find out why."

"Why didn't it tell you?"

"Sometimes the act of searching itself brings forth the future," Petelgeuse chuckled and patted Danny's head. The action that made the teen grimace. "And now you show up! The one who is not suspected, the one who will not raise suspicion. Yes, the Gospel leads us without fail!"

"You want me to go and spy on them?"

"With all the wondrous and juicy details," he once again cackled.

It didn't sound so bad... what they would do with that information was another thing entirely. And Phantom was in no position to make demands, lest he blew his cover.

"And I will make sure that you are properly introduced to the cult right after! Including Capella. That will dissuade her."

"Is she that close for you to promise it?"

"Well..." Petelgeuse turned his head away, "No. But do not fret, young Ghost King. The message shall reach her."

"Phantom is fine enough."

"Not a very imaginative name."

"Says a lovechild of a star and a wine cellar."

Somehow, miraculously, the atmosphere gained a tone of a fake friendliness. Was it faked by both or only him, the teen wondered. And being a friend of a maniac was just as dangerous as being their foe. Phantom had no illusions and built no cloud castles. But if it got both of his problems off his back, it was satisfactory.

"Corneas and Batenkaitos will soon join us, but they will be rather late, too."

"You are saying these names and I have no idea what they mean."

"Greed and Gluttony respectively, child. After we are done I'll make sure they understand that someone of your rank should not be discarded! Such is the will of Satella. You are one of us, Phantom. Be sure to head straight here after you are done," he pointed a disjointed finger at the teen.

Danny's stomach twisted into a knot at the cultist leader's gentle tone and a sense of camaraderie. They were nothing alike.

"Say, you referred to me as the Ghost King. How much do you know? The Gospel?"

"That much I myself am aware of. Spirits know a great deal of things. And you don't even see them, little things. I hope you don't expect me to grovel before you because I am one?" Petelgeuse narrowed his eyes.

"Too much headache," Danny shrugged, "I am no Pariah, so before me you don't have any obligations. It wasn't me who vested powers in you people, so I don't wish to stand in the way of your sincere love for the Witch. I am just as humble of an Archbishop as you are. That answers one of the questions I had, though. You actually are a spirit."

"I have a strong feeling we will get along. Just. Fine," Petelgeuse put his head on Danny's shoulder, something the latter endured for several seconds. "In any case! Go forth, Archbishop of Concupiscence! Let us do great things together! We shall be waiting right here this very evening."

Danny showed a weak smirk and turned around. He gave him a lazy wave as another hand rested in his pocket. He flew upwards and phased through the wall, a question on his mind.

What did he just get himself into?

-Linebreak-

"This is... a lot to take in," Meili said as she munched on an apple.

Perhaps talking about this in the middle of the square and in the middle of the day was not the best idea, but neither of the two conspirators cared.

"You tell me," Phantom huffed, "How does it feel having worked for a Sin Archbishop all this time?"

"I am working for one now," came a dry response. "But we have a solution to our common problem now."

"You were not a part of the deal, Meili."

"Well," she shifted uncomfortably, "You can ask them, right? That guy seemed to listen."

"That guy has plenty of spiders up in his attic. What makes you think I'd ask?"

She groaned, "Stop pretending, spook. I can see you are not the same as them. You are way too nice of a guy."

"Uhm... thanks?" Danny raised an eyebrow, before sighing. He couldn't even fool a small girl. What was there to say about the Cult? He was only saved by Petelgeuse's fanaticism, it seemed. And if other cultists did not follow that unholy scripture, he was probably screwed.

"Why do people think that way?"

"What do you mean?" Asked the girl. "Everyone so far thought you are probably too nice. My friends in the village think the world of you."

"They aren't your friends," Danny hissed. "And you stay away from them."

In response the little assassin grinned deviously, before the teen's eyes widened in realisation of what he just did.

"Point proven. You are actually just a goody two shoes. Just yesterday you helped that old lady carry her boxes free of charge."

Danny lowered his head in shame and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm such a bad actor."

"Yep. You did scare me when we met, though, I give you that."

"When ghosts are angry, they all do that. Me included," Danny huffed. "I just wish that people back home could see what you do."

"Then..."

"Fine! I'll talk to your boss."

"Thanks," the girl made another bite and tossed away the apple core. "And what will happen then?"

"Well, since I still hate your little sorry butt, I am tempted to just leave you."

"But I am just a girl," she made puppy eyes and put her , "I can't fend for myself."

"'I can't do anything but kill' is what you were meant to say," Phantom grumbled. "You'll find a way. Now scram, the Ghost King is thinking."

"To where?" She deadpanned, "You are the one who brought me here, Majesty."

"I'm getting the feeling you don't believe me."

"I believe that you are an Archbishop."

Danny rolled his eyes and put the head on his hand, "Gee, thanks a lot for your unshakable trust."

His eyes examined the building far away. The gigantic castle was his ultimate destination. A lot of fancy-looking carriages entered through the gates that separated the hill on which the pearly-white structure was located. Of course, he could always sneak in without any troubles. Turn invisible and go for a stroll. But there was no guarantee that nobody there could spot him by other means. Whether they have an excellent hearing, an outstanding smell, but it could spell trouble for the teen. Perhaps someone could vouch for him should this be the case. Emilia was one of the candidates, so she was an obvious choice. He felt wrong for using her like this, but it had to be done. He had to remove at least one threat. And possibly get to know the other. Besides, he got curious himself.

Phantom got up and went in direction of the nearest alleyway. Meili could get back to the tavern whenever she wanted. He was about to transform, but soon he heard oddly familiar voices behind his back.

"Hey, you there, having fun trotting around the place?"

Danny turned around and to his surprise and glee he saw the three bandits that had welcomed him into this wondrous world: the Short, the Thin and the Thug. And from their expressions, he realised that the recognition went both ways.

"Hello there!" Danny grinned. "Long time no see, fellas. Are you the only bandits in the city?" He continued, seeing them frozen with fear. "If so, the situation here is much better than I thought."

"We don't need any trouble!" The Thin shouted. "Forget we said anything!"

"What a coincidence, neither do I. Seriously, go find yourselves a job already and stop assaulting people."

"Don't give us lectures!" The Tiny exclaimed.

"What, Society is at fault? Get lost, I am too busy right now."

Their discussion on the values of civilian life did not occur for the simple reason of them all hearing slow claps. Everyone turned towards the exit of the alleyway, seeing a lady standing there. Observing them, she held a look of amusement in her crimson eyes. From the outset it was obvious that she was someone quite well off. It wasn't just her stunning beauty, the long red blonde hair or... body forms, all impeccable. It was also her attire, the long crimson dress, so fitting for her eyes, the one that also left bare her shoulders. Phantom stopped ogling the beauty sooner than the bandits, confusion plastered on his face.

"Oh, don't mind me," she said, hiding behind the black fan, "Do go on. This is quite entertaining."

Danny smirked, "Lady, I was just directing these vagabonds to a better path in life. If you were expecting a fight, I'm sorry to disappoint. That would have been a one-sided beating. Again."

The expression of her pale face changed, the gaze of hers becoming a very displeased one. Danny blinked. Someone here was craving excitements. Finally the bandits snapped out of their own stupor.

"Look, as we said..."

"Come now, scurry off before I vaporise you. And rethink your attitude while you are at it."

The bandits nodded rapidly and all but ran away. However, Danny couldn't resist giving them a parting gift for the trouble they had caused him in the past. The edge of his finger smoking, Phantom smirked as he released a tiny burst of ectoenergy. The Thug's shirt was set ablaze, and with a loud scream he ran even faster, knocking his companions off the way. The befuddled and scared bandits only ran away faster, throwing fearful glances at the smiling teen. Once they were out of sight, Phantom chuckled and turned to the lady, who, as he could easily notice, had been examining him closely, albeit with the same bored expression.

"Can I help you?" Asked Danny.

"I suppose if you know the ways to alleviate my boredom, you are to tell me. This place is so foul and bland..."

Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "Not sure I can aid with that."

The woman huffed, "Then you are free to leave and not bother me anymore."

Phantom's eye ticked, "You are the one who approached me, you know."

"And it is you who leaves me."

"The nerve of you, lady. Fine, I will find another dark alleyway, this one is yours to claim," Danny made an inviting gesture.

She closed her fan, and her scornful look now was turning more angry. "Don't speak to me in that tone."

"Very well. I'm keeping quiet and going on my way, then. Oh, what's that?"

The lady did not see him as someone dangerous, so she believed in the genuineness of his surprise. All for naught. When she turned around, there was nobody there but an invisible teen, who, with a disgruntled expression, kept standing there in hopes that she would leave. She was, admittedly, stunned for a moment, but then only huffed indignantly and left, finally letting the teen do as he pleased. Even so, what was with that woman, he wondered. He wasn't some beach monkey to take photos with. Sighing, he changed into his ghostly persona and took off, still invisible. The city laid beneath him like a huge and patched carpet, but he wasted no time on sightseeing what had already been examined by him many times before. He really had enough of this city, he liked the countryside he had left much more. Shaking his stark-haired head, the teen flew towards the palace grounds.

He couldn't help but notice the abundance of carriages at the front yard. This event was going to have a lot of visitors. And Danny wasn't happy about that. The more people there were, the bigger were the chances of him being spotted by one sort of means or another. Slowly descending, he landed on the castle wall, narrowly dodging the passing guard. He needed to keep his concentration to maintain the invisibility, for it wasn't his natural condition. It wasn't really that hard, it was like flexing a certain muscle. At the beginning, though, it was something akin to a spasm. Looking around and seeing a group of lavishly dressed people, Danny decided to tail them. He floated several meters above their heads, having approached them slowly in case someone could sense something. Luckily, no such thing happened for the duration of their one-sided partnership.

The palace was a place worthy of being considered as such. The tall ceilings allowed the teen to remain completely unnoticed whilst hanging right under those. His eyes kept scanning everything he came across, as the discussion of the people below didn't spark his interest whatsoever. It was trivial, the politics of tiny lords and squabbles of regional petty kings. Danny saw little point in knowing it all. The situation changed when the conversation took an unexpected turn.

"I don't see any candidates."

"You don't expect a potential queen to aimlessly wander the halls like a restless child, do you?"

"Certainly not," the younger nobleman pointed out. "Still, I was curious. They all are here, right?"

"Yes. Only Lady Barielle is absent. She will undoubtedly come, however."

"I've heard about her. Eighteen years old and twice a widow. She is either a carrier of bad luck herself or is cursed by the spirits themselves."

"As long as you watch your tongue around her, nephew."

"You said that everyone is present... does that include... her?"

Danny raised an eyebrow. The lineup of candidates was most interesting, it would seem.

"Yes. Even that half-devil. What a disgrace."

The teen almost lost the nobles out of sight, his surprise holding him in place. He had a crawling suspicion as to whom they meant. And he didn't like it. Shaking his head, Danny quickly caught up with the nobles, who quickly blended in a larger crowd that was right around the corner. Interestingly enough, there were two groups of people in front of the large doors. To the first belonged Phantom's oblivious guides, dressed in the same purple and bluish clothes. The other earned more interest from the half-ghost. They were wearing the same regal, pearly white attires. Not caring much for the clothes, he diverted his attention to the fact that all of them were armed with swords. Just what he needed. In the meantime, seeing that Emilia was here, Danny decided to try his chances. Perhaps he could convince her. And as if on cue, his senses began to tingle. Puck could hide for as long as he so desired, but no spirit could completely erase their presence. Danny just got close enough to spot the faint trail.

Smirking, the teen flew over the heads of everyone present, giving in to the urge to do a barrel roll in the process and chuckling. He phased through several rooms undetected, before stopping in one of them. There, sitting on the edge of the large bed, was Emilia, who conversed with Roswaal about something.

"Baniiish the worry, Lady Emilia," he said, "I am certain that eeverything will go splendidly."

"Thank you, Roswaal. It's just... well, you know."

"You should nooot concern yourself over this triviality. Few will be so straightforward and rude on such momeeentous occasion. We have gone over your speech already and you have done so magnificently."

Danny decided not to intrude in his usual way. Instead, he flew back to the corridor, where he, just like any decent human being, knocked. The response and invitation to enter soon followed, and Phantom strolled through an open door like he hadn't just eavesdropped on them. Emilia looked shocked to see him, while Roswaal merely raised an eyebrow. It was really hard to surprise this guy, wasn't it?

"D-Danny? What are you doing here?" The half-elf asked maybe too loudly.

Danny raised his finger and put it to his mouth in a multiuniversal gesture of silence, closing the door behind him.

"My, Daniel, you have done a seeerious makeover."

Phantom blinked in confusion, before realisation hit him. Roswaal had never seen his ghost form.

"I do that occasionally," Phantom shrugged, "You are not about to suggest makeup, I hope."

"Goodness gracious, no. It just does nooot suit you, my friend. You haven't spent all your money already, have you?"

"Just to stay in an average tavern and fill my hunger for both the knowledge and physical sustenance. I came here because I got curious. Besides, I fancy meeting you two here. Hey, speaking of, is Reinhard here by any chance?"

"I saw him at the entrance, in fact," Roswaal gave one of his creepy I-know-something-you-don't smiles.

"Don't take it wrong, Danny, I'm glad to see you here," said Emilia and rose from the bed, "But... who let you inside?"

Phantom hissed and rubbed the back of his neck. Here came one of the dreadful questions.

"I myself. I can sneak anywhere, you know. That's why I have a rather unique view on privacy. Is that a big problem?"

"Well, coming here without invitation is a trespassing of a very important place," Emilia mumbled. "You'll get arrested, no doubt."

"Oh," Danny gave an intelligent response. "Well, so far nobody noticed me."

"What Lady Emilia is trying to saaay, is that you'd better leave before you get into trouble."

Phantom glared at the indigo-haired nobleman, and Roswaal himself didn't like the coldness in the shining green eyes.

"I think if she wants to say something, she should do just that. I'm not a china set, I won't break in half."

Emilia looked at him for several seconds, before nodding, "Danny, I am just worried that you are too reckless. You've already gone through a lot since we met. And all because you jump in head first."

"Kudos to you for having me figured out," the half-ghost shook his head. "Then you should also know that to such advice I will pay no heed."

"That... is also true," the girl looked away.

Roswaal hummed and rubbed his chin, "I think there is an interesting way to solve our problems for the benefit of all parties. Daniel, what are you exactly?"

"I'm the only half-human and half-spirit in existence. And no, both my parents are human. It's... a long story."

"Fascinating! What an interesting conceeept! I am positively dying to know more, and it certainly gives... a new perspective to the story you first told me. This works just peeerfectly."

"Roswaal, what is this about?" Emilia asked.

"You are a spirit user, Lady Emilia. It wouldn't be so far-feeetched that you would summon one to guard you. And if it is someone powerful, then it is even better. Your guardian iiiis renowned, but, admittedly, lacks presence in such form."

Both members of the younger generation stared at the eccentric man. The crystal on Emilia's neck glowed. Puck obviously didn't like the comment directed at him. Phantom, however, internally thanked Roswaal for handing him just what he needed. But the decision rested with Emilia, who looked unsure of herself.

"I am quite capable, I'll have you know," Danny smiled.

"I know you are..." Emilia mumbled, "I don't want to bring you into my own problems, Danny. You wanted a quiet life, right?"

"Well... yeah. But I am already here. And that prison cell was very quiet."

"Don't joke like that!"

Danny raised his hands, "I may wish for some serenity in my existence, but without momentous occasions like that it will get pretty boring pretty soon."

He couldn't tell her the real reason he was here for. And Phantom's interest had by then become sincere. So... he wasn't entirely untruthful.

"After all, I am not asking to make me your knight here. And I still will come to help you, contract or not. So no deceit there."

Emilia contemplated the decision and sighed. "You will just sneak in if I say no, right?"

"Yep."

"Alright. You can come with me. But please Danny... don't cause a scene out there. Your actions will reflect on me as well."

"Sure, but why do you ask? Am I that prone to causing them?"

"I just know some things you don't like."

Phantom raised an eyebrow at her statement, but then his mind winded back to several minutes ago and what he heard. Yes. The disdain for someone's origin and nature was something he didn't tolerate.

"Marvellous! And I think it is just the tiiiime to go and join the others... although the attire of our friend is most dreadful."

"Hey, it is a high quality hazmat. These are the clothes I wore when..." Danny stopped himself midsentence. He was fine telling everyone the things that were somewhat within their norms. And being a walking corpse did not coincide with them. THAT was his eternal secret that he, under no circumstances, would share. "Alright, I get what you mean. How about...this?"

Another flash surrounded him, and once the bright light dissipated, Phantom's attire was different. Ghosts and, most probably, spirits largely affected their appearances with their personalities. It stood to reason that the clothes made up of the same ectoplasm as Phantom's own body could take different shapes. Too sad it didn't work on the human body. Same as with his human body, there was a white cloak wrapped around his shoulders, wide enough to hide the body under, one that was split in the middle and made it appear as two pearly white wings. Instead of rubbery hazmat there was a black regal outfit, trimmed with lines of silvery colour. There were also two groups of silver buttons, connected by small chains of the same shade as a way of buttoning them. The combination of two colours prevailed, and on the place of a chest pocket was his own small insignia.

Danny made a theatrical bow with a large grin on his face.

"I believe this shall suffice."

"Wow... you look... unusual like this."

"Pardon?"

Emilia chuckled, "You just always behave the opposite of what your clothes make you appear as. Let's go. The people must be waiting."

The two quickly followed out of the room, leaving the chuckling margrave behind.

Everything was going just fine as far as Danny could tell. He secured himself a nice spot in the front row. Nobody would suspect a thing, nobody was going to kick him out. To some extent, Danny was amused by the looks he and his 'contractor' received. Befuddlement, fear and awe were mixed in a peculiar pattern, hard to decipher. Hard to pinpoint who demonstrated each of those emotions. Danny kept listening to what was said, and he derived certain pleasure in playing his own part. The part of an unknown being that gallivanted alongside the ostracised princess.

"Who in the world is that?" Came a whisper.

"Is it her knight?"

"Is this man GLOWING?"

Danny only smirked. When the people didn't run away screaming he actually enjoyed the attention he received. All those days smiling at the camera only to be misinterpreted as a 'I'll come for you next' gesture came to mind. Perhaps it did have something to do with his less than ideal early years and was just a backlash to an all-around negligence of the youngest child of notorious Fenton family. He didn't know and thus paid it no serious heed. There was nothing wrong with leaving people in awe. Those who reacted in a less pleasant way usually ended badly on the account of them shooting at the reason of their distress. But now Danny was surrounded by people who could probably do more damage than his younger self, so he wasn't that much of a black sheep.

The doors that had been previously closed were by then open, inviting everyone to come in. The aforementioned groups of nobles and knights stood at the each side of the even grander hall. Danny felt a tap on his shoulder, meeting the amused gaze of Roswaal. The man noticed the reactions, too.

"For now you should probably jooin the knights, Daniel. You are supposedly one."

"I'm still not sure about this," Emilia whispered, "Wouldn't that mean that you will have to take part in everything later on?"

Danny blinked, before rolling his toxic green eyes, "As easily as we made that contract, we will just conclude it. Besides, it's not like I won't ever come or help. Think of it as a freelance."

"What is..."

"Come now," Roswaal urged and lightly pushed the teen in the right direction. "We are needed elsewhere."

Phantom huffed and was about to put hands in his pockets, before realising the flaw of his clothing choice. Leave it to him to put himself at a disadvantage. He stood by the knights, curiously eyeing the surroundings and paying the people near no real heed. And they, in turn, didn't seem eager to begin the conversation. All but one knight.

"I knew you would come."

Danny turned to the side and saw the familiar redhead greeting him with a smile. It was obvious how the Sword Saint recognised him, having seen the episode with the destroyed pawn shop.

"Reinhard," the teen chuckled. "Glad to see you, too. And without a screaming girl ready to strike this time."

The knight only rewarded the half-ghost's remark with a smirk.

"So, you actually ended up with Emilia, huh?"

"I was actually thinking of taking a leave," Danny carefully avoided giving a direct answer. "I have some matters to sort out first. But, circumstances just don't give me enough time."

"Mind answering something blunt?"

At Phantom's shrug, the redheaded knight went forward with the inquiry.

"What is it with the glow?"

"Oh, that. I am a spirit actually. The glowing stuff is the aura or photon fluctuations caused by the radiating energy. Take your pick between the science and esoterica."

"Huh..." Reinhard blinked. "Trying to confuse me with unknown words, aren't you?" He chuckled. "I guess you really are a spirit."

"You are taking it well."

"Why would I react otherwise? Spirits are not some demon beasts, you know."

"I'm used to a different perception, but thanks."

Danny was about to join the straight lines of the Royal knights, but another familiar person stopped him.

"That would explain a lot, nya."

Phantom turned his head to see the cat boy who had visited the teen in prison. Now dressed in the same uniform as almost everyone around him, Ferris left no room for doubts about his affiliations and profession.

"Ah, the return of the Why-Boner. Long time no see," Danny smiled.

Ferris gasped, "You are so vulgar, sir spirit," he moaned, putting his small, girlish hand on his cheek. "Wait, are we familiar?"

"We have met. You were also wondering why my heart didn't beat. You are a knight too, Ferris?"

A look of realisation crossed his features when the cat boy examined the teen closer.

"Oh, it is you, Danny! Wow. All this time you have been a spirit and nobody noticed! Well, to answer your question, yes," the youthful knight popped his tongue. "I am a loyal servant of Lady Crusch. She is right there with the others. With green hair."

It was considerate of Ferris to give some pointers. Perhaps the memories of the teen's obliviousness allowed him to make greater judgments. The name rang a certain bell within Danny's mind, and one look at the lady with long and dark green hair, dressed in a blue uniform, immediately made him remember all the rumours circulating around the city. Lady Crusch, the one responsible for single-handedly inflating the price for weapons and metals by purchasing heinous amounts of the former. Seeing how she looked like that sort of women, the ones who were hard as a rock and radiated that air of a teacher who was not above using a ruler for something else than measuring, everything coincided maybe too well.

"What exactly are we waiting for?" Danny asked.

"Not everyone is here. We can't begin until every candidate is present. That would simply be rude. Say, is your 'condition' from back when we first met connected to your... nature?"

"You got me, pal. As I said, I don't have a heart, no matter how well I can hide."

Ferris narrowed his eyes, but the pout evaporated any semblance of seriousness. "You lied to me back then, you know."

"Not really, I just... omitted some things. I guess that answers the question of mana, too. I do things like any spirit."

"Not really..." Reinhard answered, "If you absorbed mana from the air, then it would have left a trail of the space devoid of it. When I saw you fight, I sensed no such thing, but quite the contrary. In fact, I saw a guard vomit when coming in there."

"Huh..." Danny muttered, "That's...certainly new. This place never ceases to surprise me," he smirked, "I'll definitely search into this. Love me some riddle solving. Maybe I pumped it through my core and released more by accident, or maybe it was..."

His rumble was cut short when the doors behind him opened once again, the introduction was about to be uttered, but Phantom, whose eyes were glued to the newcomer he knew, realised that it was soon going to get very intriguing.

He just hoped it was all worth it in the end.