Loop left in the early morning, tightening their mask to their face so it would not slip off in the coming battle. The air was cool in the city as they walked out into the street. Still to early to be truly crowded, but already alive with activity.

They knew what they had to do, and they knew they were strong enough to do it.

Jince had to go.

Isabeau looked around that morning for Loop to talk to them after the discussion on Jince last night. He didn't want them to do anything rash, but the lavish room Loop had stayed in was already empty.

"Have you seen Loop?" Odile inquired.

Mirabelle shrugged.

"Are you feeling OK?" Odile inquired.

Mirabelle sighed, "I just... need a bit to process. I'll be OK. Can we talk after? Actually?"

"Of course," Odile nodded. "I'm gonna go look for Loop. I can't find them anywhere."

She had become worried about them now. With how they were acting about hiding their face and their general unease. It was almost like...

Like...

Siffrin.

No that was impossible that wasn't it. Loop wasn't Siffrin, despite the resemblance. However this did instill a deep concern in them within Odile. If they were acting like Siffrin before he died how could she be sure they wouldn't-

Isabeau began to rush past Odile as she searched the lobby. "Crab!" He exclaimed.

"Hey hey what's wrong?" Odile demanded.

"I think Loop went after Jince!" Isabeau exclaimed. "They don't stand a chance against him! We gotta go find them!"

"Wait why is Jince so dangerous?" Odile inquired, confused. "Loop is strong they can handle themself in a fight."

"Didn't Yancy tell you what he wished for?..." Isabeau demanded.

Jince opened the wooden doors to his estate to see Loop, masked and ready for combat. Their old dagger in their hand. They flipped it gracefully over and over under the sunrise.

"You know exactly what I'm here for bigot," Loop glared with death in their eyes.

"Ah," Jince replied. "You're here to challenge me for my station?"

Loop nodded, "You never should have had it in the first place you blinding prick! Stars! The fact you've had your position this long is a grave injustice from the Universe."

"And yet," Jince mocked. "Vel granted my wish all the same. The so called Universe that you claim to loathe me so aligned itself with my desires."

Jince lead Loop to a courtyard out back, empty, made of gravel. "I've had so many fools challenge me I had to build a spot to get rid of them. You expect to be any better?"

"Don't underestimate me," Loop sneered. They were filled with a blinding rage, and a righteous sense of justice. A chance to do good for the people they cared about without holding back. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."

"And you..." Jince chuckled putting on his helmet. "Have no idea what I wished for."

Jince put on a pair of brass knuckles over leather gloves. He bowed to Loop, who returned in kind. Neither truly respected the other. It was a false formality. Jince didn't deserve respect. Jince only cared about LOOKING good not BEING good.

"Let us begin," Jince declared.

Loop was gone faster than the eye could see. Jince could only make out mere afterimages. On his left! No! That was seconds go! Some gravel and dust were kicked up on the right, but Loop has already moved forward.

Loop leapt from above before Jince could even tell what was happening, their dagger charged with Craft.

Loop...

Just attacked.

An explosion of pure craft energy surrounded Jince, sending gravel and dust flying into the air. Loop landed behind where Jince once stood. They dusted off their hands.

Victory was assured with that attack under any other circumstances.

But not this time.

Jince emerged from the cloud unscathed. "Are you quite done?" He demanded.

Loop didn't respond, baffled that Jince remained seemingly unscathed, but they charged again all the same. Jince opened both palms and fired Papercraft at Loop. Loop narrowly evaded the attack and aimed for where the shoulder met the neck. A weak point in any armor.

Loop...

Just attacked.

And.

It.

Did.

Nothing.

Loop's dagger shattered on the impossible armor. Their eyes went wide with shock as Jince laughed. "You degenerates never learn! You think I don't know what you are?"

Jince slammed his fist into Loop's chest. They felt an explosion of agony as something shattered. Dark shaded blood spewed from their mouth as they were sent staggering back.

"I wished to protect this nation from degenerates," Jince continued, gasping for air. He seemed exhausted. "I wished... for an impenetrable defense. My wish was granted in the form of eternal armor. Immune to everything! And you! You think I don't know what's going on with you?"

Jince grabbed Loop and began to strangle them. "You're using it. That vile Craft. That vile craft that twists the form into what it isn't. You've been Bodycraft! Subconsciously, haven't you? Did you feel more "human" Loop? A vile freak of neither gender like you is less than man or woman! You're a sick animal to put down! Nothing more! "

Loop realized that Jince was right on one thing. Exactly one.

Loop had been subconsciously using Bodycraft. As they felt more... human. More accepted. More... whoever they were. They had begun to subconsciously make themself look like this person. Themself. The name they didn't know yet.

As Jince's grip tightened Loop realized they would die here without ever knowing who they truly where.

"Let them go!" A voice screamed as Jince was blasted by a beam of Papercraft. While he was unwounded, he lost his grip, dropping Loop on the ground and shattering their mask.

Odile had arrived just in time and rushed over to Loop. She helped him up, "Are you OK? Come on. It'll be OK. Mirabelle can heal you and-"

Odile's face went paler than any shade Loop had seen upon it before. Her shock turned to anger and betrayal. Then it shifted to worry and confusion. She reached out to Loop who tripped over themself to get away, covering their face with their hands.

But she had seen it.

She had seen it clear as day.

"Why... do you look like Siffrin?" Odile demanded.