The looks Danny received back in the mansion were something worth memorising. Rem had alarmed the people around about his behaviour, and it caused enough of a stir. Phantom had expected that he would not avoid questioning. Shall he choose to play dumb, he would look suspicious. Shall he tell everything, Danny would be misunderstood. He was in a fairly lousy position, to put it into simpler terms. As he walked back to the mansion, Phantom encountered the two maids and Emilia. He did feel bad for worrying them... or maybe it wasn't worry. The half elf ran towards him the very moment she saw him.

"Danny! What happened?" She asked him.

Danny chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck, "Well... I sensed someone who was familiar. I gave him a friendly greeting."

"That didn't look like a friendly reunion," commented Rem.

Phantom sighed, "Well... It's not like I told the guy where I am. The bastard tracked me down all the way from home and actually wanted for me to come back! I explained to him that this is not an option," he then bowed, "Forgive me for involving you guys in any way. I attacked him because up until now that's all he did. So I struck first. If you want... I will leave."

"That would be best," responded Ram bluntly.

"You didn't have to put it that way," Danny hissed through his somber expression.

"Ram, please," Emilia glanced at the maid and turned to the teen at fault for her worries, "Are you being chased, Danny? Is this why you ended up here?"

"Not exactly, no. I never thought I would have someone following me. Then again... I left without explaining anything."

"Why?"

"This is quickly turning into an interrogation," Danny complained. "I just thought that nobody would mind... and I was, once again, mistaken."

"Where is that person now?" Asked Rem.

"Left him in the forest. Are there any monsters? He is unable to move a limb."

"It is infested with demon beasts," the blue haired maid answered, pointing at a glowing gem on one of the trees, "This barrier keeps them away."

"Shit, that's bad. That's bad, right, Rem?"

"Yes, sir, very bad."

"Thank you, Rem."

"Of course, sir."

"I was just joking, for Christ's sake. I didn't know there were actual beasts!" Danny met Emilia's scolding gaze. "Skulker will be fine, we don't need to worry."

It's not like the beasts would like to eat through a piece of metal just to eat someone made of ectoplasm. If they didn't feed on mana, that is.

"Why? He will get eaten if he can't defend himself!"

"He is a spirit, Emilia. AND he is the size of a particularly large shrimp that is controlling a huge suit of armour. He is like a pistachio that has no cracks — too much bother for a meagre reward. I don't think the animals would actually do this."

"A...spirit?" Slowly repeated Emilia.

"Well, more like a ghost, but I'm not sure if he ever was alive. In short, there is absolutely no reason for us to go."

"Aren't you the one who nags and wants to help everyone?" Ram raised an eyebrow.

"You don't understand. I left properly and with style. Coming back like a kicked puppy would be embarrassing. What's more important, you guys never tried to skin me. He tried every Tuesday, occasionally he did it on Fridays..." Danny sighed, "Yeah, I kinda am an asshole for doing this, but I'm not apologising. That guy did the same thing once when I was fourteen. He cuffed me to a girl that actually wanted to murder me and dumped into the forest for him to hunt. All the while I had to watch for that goddamn sack of flour that was our baby."

He noticed several confused looks. "Educational project. Had to watch over the literal sack of flour. Something about learning to be proper parents in the future. I returned the sack all torn apart and leaving a white trail behind. Not my fault. I was too busy saving myself."

"You had a strange education."

"You telling me. But I think you are missing the point here. The guy tried to kill me many times. Would you try to save that woman who tried to assassinate you the other day? I didn't see you around while I blasted her into oblivion."

"That's... true."

"Don't worry. His employers know where he is and will retrieve him. After all, he is the messenger I didn't shoot. And I'd rather talk to him than with them. Well then, shall we go eat?"

"This isn't exactly how it goes, Dandan."

"What did you just call me?" Phantom's eyes widened in horror as he looked at Ram. "Don't go around calling me like a bowl of noodles!"

"Does your name mean a bowl of noodles?"

"The name has a hebrew heritage and basically means 'God is my judge'. Don't act all smart with someone with a lot of free time on his hands!" He pointed a triumphant finger at the maid, "How did we even get to this point of conversation?"

The pink-haired maid sighed. "You have to answer one particular question. Is whatever it is that follows you a threat?"

Phantom's look gained confidence and conviction, "No, they do not pose any threat to you. And I will make sure of that as long as I am near, I swear it."

-Linebreak-

Margrave Matthers rested in a fashionable armchair, staring out of the window. Those were the late hours of the night, and through the open window the nobleman could see his holdings quite well, enjoying the light of the crescent moon and the midnight breeze. The downed trees right outside the outer wall of his private territory did not escape his attention. Roswaal's gloved hand rested on top of one of the sister maids, stroking her pink hair.

"So, what do you make of our guest?"

Ram understood what meaning her master put into the question. He may have sounded the same as always, calm and dreamy, but she liked to believe that she had learned to read the older man's mood and wishes.

"He is hiding something, Master."

"Ho? And what do you suppose it is? Is he perhaps a spy sent here?"

"He conversed with Reinhard von Astrea before coming here. It is possible."

"Hm...but he does not take part in the elections. Nor did he swear loyalty to any of the candidates. Unless there is indeed something else we do not know."

"I checked the place where his supposed pursuer was. There was nobody there."

"Did he get eaten?"

"That would have left a suit of armour. There wasn't a trace. And he did say that it was a spirit."

"A spirit who followed him from his unknown homeland? It is curious, and for our guest to attack this person on sight he must be important. And young Daniel refused to elaborate, I take it?"

"He is too keen on avoiding conversations on certain topics. From explaining who the person was he made Lady Emilia concentrate on his possible death and Phantom's education. The discussion quickly takes a turn if he doesn't like the topic. He must have an experience with this."

"Oh, dear Ram. You've certainly grown."

Ram put her hands together upon receiving a praise from her cherished Master, enjoying his strokes.

"So, Daniel insists on keeping his past a secret. And how dangerous is said past?"

"He voiced his readiness to leave if you deem him a threat or the one attracting it, Master."

"I see. Let him stay here for a while, you and your sister should observe him. If he is a spy, you know what to do. If you can capture him without a fight, do it. If not, call for me. He has mastered several elements and killed an esteemed assassin. You may prove to be no match for him."

"But Master, aren't you leaving soon?"

"Then you should improvise and adapt. From what I've been told and what I have observed... this boy has more to him than meets the eye."

-Linebreak-

"You want my help?"

Danny wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel about this. Just yesterday the two maids in front of him had been reluctant to accept his help. At that moment, however, on the sunny morning of his second day of haunting the mansion, they themselves asked him. Just when he was on his morning stroll in the garden. It's not that he wasn't happy with the tenderness of his heart being noticed, he was simply confused about the change in attitude.

"You don't sound certain."

"Did you change your mind, sir?"

"No, I didn't," Danny raised his hand, then scratching his temple. "It's just a bit sudden. What do you need me to do?"

"Rem was about to visit Irlam village."

"We have need of several products," the blue-haired sister added. "We get them there. Some of the supplies have considerable weight, so I hoped you could help me carry those to the mansion."

"Oh, sure. Are we going now?"

The maids nodded simultaneously, and soon after Danny was already on his way, along with Rem. The path to the village lied through the forest, and as his companion clarified, even despite the lack of protection stones this particular road was safe. Not that Phantom was afraid of meeting the demon beasts, but it was nice that he wasn't going to fight. Besides, Danny had Rem with him, and he didn't want the girl to be caught in the crossfire. The maid was silent all the way, and the half ghost felt awkward. Here he was, walking alongside a cute girl and he had nothing to talk about with her. Certainly not about the weather, it was the sign of desperation. He never had any proper experience with the opposite sex. His friend Samantha didn't count, it somehow came naturally. Perhaps his view of her as strictly a friend was so entrenched that he didn't think of anything else.

The thoughts of his past dampened his mood a little. It was unfortunate how everything turned out in the end between them. It was one of the things that he truly regretted. What was he to do when everyone was about to kill him? He didn't want them to get involved and die as well. So he scared her and his friend Tucker, they bought his pretence of an insane monster. He loathed and hated himself for this, but in the end Danny was still happy with the result. They were alive, somewhere, away from any dangers. That's all that mattered. At least he did something right.

Reassuring himself once again, Danny followed the maid who had gotten ahead. That returned his mind back to the topic of today. Thankfully, it was Rem who spoke first and rid him of the burden.

"How long are you intending to stay, sir?"

"Oh, I'm not sure... Emilia said that Roswaal will be absent, so it won't just be a couple of days."

He didn't notice a pointed glance. Yes, Master's departure was awfully convenient, wasn't it? His excuse for staying was a strange and convoluted one. He could simply demand money and leave, maybe stay for one night. And yet here he was, snooping around. It couldn't be a coincidence how easy he found the library. And nobody could know what exactly he conversed about with the spirit in the forest. If he was a spy, he was doing an extremely sloppy job. And if the maids made him work for hours on end, he would not get any chance of getting what he wanted. It was a good idea, but then again, he might not do anything to raise suspicions. Rem wasn't sure about how to proceed. But it was now Danny's turn to talk.

"Say, how long have YOU been around?"

"For around six years."

"Huh, you were, what, ten, when you arrived?"

"Eleven."

"I see. Do you like it here?"

Rem nodded, "Yes, I am glad to be of service to Master."

"That's not what I meant," Danny chuckled, "What I wanted to say was, do you enjoy such life?"

The girl looked at him without amusement, "Those two topics are interconnected, sir."

"Not quite. You are your own person, after all. Surely there is something you in particular like, something that is not connected to your services. And what this place gives you, as you seem to like it so much. That's what I'm asking."

"I see no point in this questioning."

Was he trying to shake her loyalty? If so, he wasn't going to succeed.

"I'm just curious, is all," Danny shrugged, "It always comes down to what people like. If people like the same things, they understand each other better. It's kinda redundant to explain such obvious matters, but that's basically how it is for me. I'm much simpler than people usually think."

So he was doing the same thing he had done with Lady Emilia. Rem's line of thought was very straightforward and within the notion of his ill intentions. He obviously got a certain degree of trust from the half elf, but he was getting none from her at this point. That's why there was barely any response. And that's why the discussion quickly died down, much to Danny's dismay. He didn't know why the maids acted so strange around him, but he just wanted to break that ice. Their actions contradicted each other. Unless in their coldness they just used him. But no, the smile and gratitude had been genuine the day before, small they may have been. It was all confusing to him, but it did not shake his resolve.

Soon enough, after about a couple of miles, the village came into view. It wasn't anything special, being a cozy-looking settlement in the middle of nowhere. Several tiny rivers flowed through it, and one would traverse small stone bridges to cross them. Danny and Rem did just that, making their way to the square through the muddy road. Phantom glanced down and saw the girl's tiny black shoes. Only now he realised how impractical her outfit was outside. She would get her white clothes dirty. The square was also a place where the marketplace was located. It was, of course, considerably smaller than that in the capital, but there were veggies, greenery, and even some meat. Danny actually wondered about how that place functioned, with trading nodes obviously far away. It had to rely on some outside traders coming on constant basis. Phantom was proud of his deduction.

"Oi, morning Rem!" A meat trader said to the maid. "The usual?"

"Actually, this time I'll take the neck as well," she pointed at what remained of the butchered pig.

"Hm... what's with the change?"

Rem turned in direction of her companion, who was too busy looking into the well.

"I've got someone who can carry the additional weight. Add a piece of ham as well, please."

Phantom finished his observations and caught up to Rem soon after. He couldn't help but notice occasional looks thrown his way. It was only natural. In distant places like this everyone knew each other, and a new arrival was more often than not a prevalent topic in discussions. Danny was such arrival. He and Rem passed several vendors, and the burden he carried grew with each following step. Phantom was actually stunned at how much stuff the locals had. And considering that all the goods were sold without carrying bags, it was an even more difficult task. It wasn't that he was unable to lift, he had carried a bus full of people with ease. It's the fact that he had only to hands. To Rem's credit, she did ask him if he could manage the load. Eventually Danny gave up and began carrying the stuff with his telekinesis. Rem didn't seem to object, but the locals stared with wide eyes at the cabbage floating near the teen.

"That's a big shopping list," Danny peeked over the maid's shoulder.

"We have only a couple of items left. I'd ask you to wait here, sir."

"Sure," he then noticed her expectant look, "I'm not going anywhere."

Little did he know that it was actually a test of his obedience. She didn't expect him to go on any massacres, of course, but quite often those little things were what gave people away. Besides, she would observe his actions when he thought nobody from Emilia's circle was looking. He could drop the pleasant act, for instance. However, for the first couple of minutes all Rem saw was him curiously observing the surroundings, only for the teen to sigh and touch the floating vegetable, rolling it in the air. But soon there came a chance for Danny to show what he was like. He saw a bunch of children running around and laughing, and nothing would have been wrong, had it not been for their new toy.

"The hell..." Danny muttered, snapping Rem into listening more attentively. "Hey, you kids!"

The children, numbering around six, stopped, looking in confusion at the strange man.

"What do ya want?" One of the boys asked.

"Where did you get that thing?" Danny demanded to know, sounding afraid even, pointing at the metal arm in their hands.

"This is none of your business," another boy huffed, "My Dad is gonna repair the armour he found and I'm gonna be a knight."

Phantom visibly paled. He might have pulled out the energy core, but who was to say there weren't any mechanisms that could still blow up?

"Kid, this is not a toy!"

"What do you even know about it, cabbage wizard?"

Danny's eye ticked, "I was the one who broke it. And I say it is beyond your father's capabilities to repair it. May I look at it? I am kinda not allowed to move right now."

Rem blinked. He was actually going to stay?

"Don't you talk like that about my Dad!"

Phantom raised his hands, "Hey, I don't mean to offend. This 'armour' you speak of is built in a way people around here cannot understand."

"Is it magical?" A redheaded girl asked in excitement.

Danny smiled, "Depends on the definition. Well? Will you let me?"

The kids glanced at each other and came to a silent agreement. They carried the arm of what used to be Skulker's suit and dropped it at Danny's legs. Smirking, the teen kneeled and began to examine a piece of metal. It was the right hand, the one he had cut off in his fit of anger. The alloy was a mixture of several intriguing materials, Danny had learned that much. It was an amalgamation of steel and ectoplasm that carried the hardiness and properties of both. Skulker had added the ghostly substance to transmit his will over all the parts of the costume and allow it to phase through solid objects and become invisible. However, it was hard for him to fly on his own, hence the engines. That's why Danny feared that this hand alone could explode, it held a cannon within.

"What are you doing?" The redhead asked.

"This thing holds a lot of secrets. As far as I'm aware, it is a unique blend of magic and tech. And I believe I can command this hand through my own mana..."

In reality, he would send his ectoplasmic impulse. It functioned as a nervous system, so he wondered if this could work. Telling the kids to step aside, he made his hands glow green. A moment later, with a loud whirring sound a glowing green blade emerged, nearly cutting Danny's knee. The kids jumped and watched the display in awe. Phantom, however, did not seem pleased.

"Wow, that's so cool! What is this armour?" The son of the blacksmith asked.

"It is a suit that belongs to a very obnoxious spirit. I broke it so many times, I learned how it works. That's not the result I expected, however."

"Why?"

It seemed that he had captured the children's utmost attention and curiosity. Danny smiled, pure creatures they were. And there appeared this tiny excited spark in his eyes.

"It appears my mana is not synchronised with that present in this thing, so the commands I give it are not followed to the latter. As you can see, it is sensitive and can be dangerous. It also holds a weapon that can blow up your house, that's why I say it is not a toy."

"But... it can help us too, right?"

"With what, kid?" Danny raised an eyebrow, "Bandits?"

"Demon beasts," the redhead responded grimly, "They live near."

Danny sighed, "Sorry, I can't. Skulker's tools are not meant for use around here. Speaking of whom... how did you even come across this thing?"

"I dunno. The adults say that they heard rattling outside at night, so they came out. And there they found this armour on the street."

"Yeah, I remember that too. I woke up and heard some scary noise. Do you know what happened?" Petra asked the teen.

Phantom scratched his chin in thought, "With his power source gone, Skulker might have needed to strain his own energy to carry himself here. I'm actually surprised he pulled through," he snorted quietly, "If he isn't stubborn, I don't know who is."

"Is that Skulker person bad?"

"I just got angry with him. He is not outright bad, but very stupid. I knew that the armour would protect him from the beasts, damaged as it was. And he also isn't dangerous to you. His suit, if mishandled, is. Where is the rest?"

"It's at my father's workshop," the boy sounded cooperative. He obviously realised that Danny had the needed expertise.

"Well, mind waiting here? I have someone with me. Someone else, please tell the smith to wait. Don't want him hitting what he isn't supposed to."

"Sure thing, cabbage mage," the smith's kid saluted, making his friends laugh.

"Oh, I'll show you the power of my cabbages!" Danny cackled evilly, the named vegetables beginning to menacingly spin.

Rem snapped out of her observations when he mentioned her. Her experiment showed no result, or, rather, the one opposite of what she expected to see. Perhaps he always acted this way with people. Her investigation went nowhere, but it was her chance to learn more about what Danny could do. Something more than throwing cabbages at the laughing children and purposefully missing. Just when he himself laughed maniacally did Rem emerge from her hiding. Phantom soon noticed her and the vegetables froze in the air.

"Hey, Rem. Didn't find what you looked for?"

Rem realised that she had supposedly gone to pick up supples. The maid nodded maybe too quickly, but Danny didn't seem to pay it any mind.

"Oh well. Hey, could we make a stop at the blacksmith's? Something came up just now."

Rem played dumb and asked what all of this was about. Danny explained everything quickly and she chose to agree. The situation did sound dangerous, if the teen hadn't been lying. The two then hurried after the blacksmith's son, and with the village being so insignificant in size, they got there quickly. The house wasn't anything significant, but the purpose was quite clear, what's with the anvil and other needed tools. There wasn't anyone outside, but the ruckus was coming from within the building.

Danny didn't know what he had been expecting, but seeing Skulker's suit suspended by chains looked somewhat off-putting. And the fact that it glowed made the blacksmith and his assistant worried and curious.

"What did you do?" The bearded smith asked.

"I just hit it, for goodness sake!"

"And set the ectoplasm in motion."

The men turned towards the entrance as Danny approached the armour in a couple of large footsteps.

"Who are you, lad?"

"A visitor who happens to know how this conundrum works. Name is Daniel, and I am here to stop you from blowing up the village."

"Wh-what? You serious?"

"Well, maybe not the village, but you may need a health plan. If you live through, that is."

"Dad, look what this guy did to that arm!" The kids showed him the hand with an extended blade.

"So that's where it has been."

His son chuckled nervously. The smith shook his head and looked at Danny.

"So, what do you plan to do?"

Phantom tapped on his chin and looked at the armour closer.

"I think you already figured out that the thing cannot fit even a kid."

"Yeah... it isn't hollow."

"Because the head, the absence of which concerns me, actually holds the one wearing it. Where is it?"

"That's the only thing that we haven't seen yet."

"Must be ejection mechanism... Skulker, you irresponsible prick, leaving such a valuable piece here."

"That's bad, right?" The son asked and Danny nodded.

"The article 'On dispensing of objects native to two different levels'," Phantom raised his finger as he recited it, "To speak simply, objects like this from my home cannot be brought here. And another way around. I once got in trouble because of that law. So basically, my dearest friend just violated it. Again."

"Your home has strange laws," Rem remarked.

"At first I thought so too. But it does make sense. Imagine that some world power gets their hands on something like this, manage to recreate it, or maybe they would get a bomb that can obliterate your capital in one blow. Of course said power will think too much of itself and go to war. It will bring death, suffering and so much else. That's why we make sure that no side gets such advantage of having these tools. And that's why I have to get rid of it."

"Hey, hey, it wasn't your find, kid. You can't just..."

"You still will get nothing out of it," Danny put his hand on the suit. "You are not a scholar, and you can't even use the thing as it is now. You can't even melt it. I don't mean to offend, of course, it's just impossible with given resources."

"I can still sell it."

"Hands off!"

That squeaking voice caught almost everyone off guard. Before anyone could react, a tiny green glob with equally tiny hands and legs floated in front of them. Phantom was the only one unfazed.

"And you can stop it how, Skulker?"

"Well, I... Phantom, I know how it looks, but I came back, right?"

"Was that supposed to lighten your fault?" Danny raised an eyebrow.

"You are the one going around and ripping cores out of people's chests... With all due respect."

"Wait, wait, this is the guy who crawled here?" The smith asked as Rem took a seat on one of the boxes. It was going to take longer than expected. Still, as long as she saw him act, it was going to be fine.

"Yep. Told you he is a tiny bastard. What are you still doing here, Mr. Can't-find-the-remote?"

"I can find it! I just can't get around to doing it. I am also stuck here because my suit doesn't work. I told you that already... sir."

He obviously had more courage now when surrounded by people whom Phantom obviously tried to appease.

"If you think that adding honourifics in the end will fix what you say before them, then you are more stupid than you look. Call me Majesty, for all I care."

Everyone could see how less pleasant Danny sounded while talking to him. Rem actually wondered if that's how he behaved back at his home. No possibility should be dismissed from the start. Phantom sighed and ran a hand through his raven hair.

"I hoped that our friendly neighbourhood cyclops would bring you back."

"No, they obviously thought that I should be here."

"Oh. So you can beg me each passing day? I get grumpy when I have migraine, you know."

"I won't beg, Phantom. Just... could you help me with the suit? I swear I won't bother you here again."

Danny sighed again, rubbing the ring on his finger. "How about I just dump you back home?"

"You... can do that?"

"Yep. That wasn't a question of mine, by the way."

Skulker chuckled nervously, and Danny didn't get it at first. Rem, however, turned out to be quite understanding.

"You have violated that law, have you not?"

"Yeah, girl. That's the problem. I came back, but Walker still won't take kindly to this. I'm surprised the whelp knows the laws."

Skulker felt a finger pressing down on his body. With an innocent smile Phantom pressed him to the table, making him squeak lightly as his legs gave up under pressure.

"Boredom makes you seek the weirdest of hobbies," Danny responded and removed his finger. "What do I do with you?" He sighed in exasperation.

"With my suit I will leave until the dust settles and I can return."

Phantom shook his head. He had gotten so used to stuffing the spectres back into the Zone that he didn't think through the way of doing so without his thermos. It was his own fault to an extent.

"Why can't you people leave me alone," he muttered. "Fine! I'll do what I can. But don't expect me to waste money on it."

"Thank you!" Skulker grovelled.

"Until then, however," Danny raised his finger. "You stay here. I see you in the mansion, you get the greeting like the last one."

"I would ask you to avoid destruction, sir," Rem pointed out.

"Oh, Rem, sorry for forgetting you guys are here. It's kinda personal."

And honestly, it was a lie. Had he forgotten about them, Skulker would have been dumped no questions asked. That's what he told himself.

"Worry not, sir. I understand. Would that mean that your stay here will take longer?"

"Wow, you got yourself a maid already....OUCH STOP PRESSING, I GOT IT!"

"I don't think so, Rem," responded Danny and ignored the plea for a couple of seconds more, "The repairs are menial — mend the arm, charge the thing with mana, replace the energy core. I know how it is done. Give me two days tops."

"Hey, we haven't decided anything yet," the smith finally returned to the conversation.

"It is my armour, human," Skulker growled, not sounding intimidating at all.

"You will get reimbursed, good sir," Danny smirked. "As we work, I will be glad to share the experience. The experience that nobody in this country has."

"Phantom, you can't do that!"

"I was already going to," a shrug followed. "Besides, it might dissuade your employers from nagging me."

"That's some backwards logic," the smith scratched the back of his head.

"They will have to send someone to stop me, of course. What was the guy's name? Mike McDoesntexist? So, lacking the enforcer, they will stop inviting a criminal back home."

"I doubt that such a minor offence added to your list will be enough, Phantom," Skulker rubbed the side of his head. "I mean, despite everything that happened between you and their court, I am still here."

"Good point."

Rem raised an eyebrow. What did the spirit mean by 'everything'? Asking outright would cause Phantom to turn suspicious. She had to choose her words carefully if she wished to learn.

"Well... I never saw an armour such as this," the smith answered. "I hope the knowledge is worth it. Alright, you can use the workshop, but what about the spirit? I'm...not sure if it will be alright."

"Don't sweat it," Skulker huffed, "I'm not doing anything. Look for me in that severed helmet outside."

"Yeah," Danny chuckled, "He also is weaker than everyone present in this room. Alright then. I'm a bit short on time, so I think we will continue tomorrow. If that's alright with you, Rem."

"You... are not bound by the duties we have, sir. You are a visitor of our mansion."

Phantom smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be available right after I'm done."

Skulker raised an eyebrow. The undead tyrant was awfully cooperative with the locals.

Nobody could understand the inner workings of the mind of the monarch — that mess of human emotions and endless locks of ghostly core.

-Linebreak-

Danny scratched his muscles as he and Rem walked through the forest. The sun was already setting, its crimson rays still beating through. The products were floating nearby on the level of his torso. Rem believed him to look ridiculous, but decided not to comment on this. Her thoughts were jumbled and confused.

Phantom was not a person easily deciphered. He was a man whose intentions were unclear. On the first glance he was just naive and stupid, and that was the reason behind it. But he used powerful magic, he was smart enough to understand the situation and immediately strike a deal with a spirit. His confidence was enough to calm the villagers' concerns about spending several nights alongside a spirit.

But he also struck fear into the creature's heart and was, supposedly, a criminal.

And Phantom was not always obvious. When people around were bothered by something, he always noticed it.

"Is something wrong?"

And then he managed to look at her with those innocent ice blue eyes. That teen was unbelievable.

"Oh, it's... nothing that you should be worried about."

"We have checked the products, those games didn't damage them."

"It was still fairly reckless, sir."

Danny smiled, "I get this a lot."

Phantom sometimes thought that it was because of his nigh immortality in the ghost form. It still hurt like all hell, but he took far more risks than anyone without the ability to grow their head back.

"But that's not why you are so thoughtful," Danny stated as a matter of fact, "You can tell me, I'm a good listener, I keep saying."

"If I am honest, sir, I don't like being examined like this."

"Hey, I know I am no psychologist. It's my sister's vocation."

"You have a sister."

Danny winced just a bit, "Yeah... Jazz is a wonderful person. She always managed to do what I did, but so much better. Studies, chores, you name it. Although I know magic, and she doesn't, she still tried to help me master it at the best of her abilities. Heck, Jazz always covered for my incompetent butt. I miss her."

Rem looked at the teen and the whirlwind of emotions raging inside his skull and on his face. He looked saddened upon remembering his relative. And atop all that, it's almost as if he tried to relate to her. But it couldn't be possible. He couldn't possibly have known what Rem's feelings towards her own sister were. This led the blue-haired maid to believe that Danny was genuine in his words at least now.

"But why won't you come back if you miss her?"

Phantom chuckled sourly, "She doesn't live there either. And... she is better off without her stupid little brother," he looked at the distance, "I always brought trouble to those around. Without me around she will be able to follow her own dream. And I am content with that."

"And have you asked her if that's what her dream is?"

"I... can't say I have. Becoming a psychologist has been her dream for years, so I naturally assumed it still is. And besides, I don't think she will answer. I think she hates me now."

"Why?"

"I don't want to talk about it," he muttered, but then smiles, "Look at me, lending my ear to you and then blathering about my own problems. How is it between you and Ram? You are twins, so it gotta be different."

"Less than you would think," she mumbled quietly.

"Is that what's troubling you?"

"That's none of your business."

-Linebreak-

"You found your way back, I suppose."

Danny shrugged, his finger moving across the covers of the books he couldn't read. Beatrice didn't avert her gaze from him, but was seemingly hesitant to throw him out the very instant he stepped into the little girl's library like he owned the place.

"Your library moves around," noted Phantom without seemingly caring about the spirit's remark. "That's impressive."

"There is no need for your compliments, in fact."

"Alright, what is it with all you people? I haven't done anything yet."

There was something about Beatrice that made him less tolerant of jests.

"I am not certain about what you've done to upset the others, but I don't like visitors."

"Come on," Phantom smiled, "Don't be such a tsundere. I'm not doing anything."

"You are taking my time, that's what you are doing."

"It is you who chooses to personally attack me. I will just read quietly, that's what the libraries are about, aren't they?"

"I told you..."

"I'm not looking for hidden knowledge. I only need the basic stuff you can find everywhere."

The spirit pouted angrily and stood up, "And I told you that there is nothing of the sort here! Get out."

Danny tapped on his chin. This girl was the most difficult here. At least the maids didn't shout at him. It was then when Beatrice noticed an object shining on his ring finger. And that's what made her freeze.

"Fine," Danny sighed, "Whatever. I am going. Jeez, you are a greedy one," he kept muttering as he went for the exit.

"Wait right there!" She exclaimed in a shaking voice.

"Leave, stay, make up your mind," the sulking and disappointed teen turned around, now surprised to see the girl shocked. "Uhm... what's going on?"

"That ring...the Ring of the Ghost King..."

"Shit."