Though Athan didn''t stop there when he decided to grab it, snapping the black line behind it, and then slammed it on the floor, shattering it into metal debris.

    His chest heaved, rising and falling albeit quickly, as he glared at it how it pestered him like no other for such a long time— to an inanimate object at that.

    Simultaneously, the door barged open; while he wasn''t surprised to see the three came back, he couldn''t help but gawk at two Keiths that also popped up on the door despite the different colors.

    For a moment, he thought another elusive illusory magic tricked him again.

    While Keith had his usual greaves and braces attached to his leather armor with a sword that he was familiar with, it couldn''t be said the same with the other one.

    ''Inconceivable isn''t that—?!''

    However, he noticed that he wore familiar clothing with a small emblem that glimmered underneath the bland robe he put on.

    Still, he couldn''t believe an ounce of mana was in him— even the regal aura he had disappeared— when Keith had his own capacity within his body.

    For he pondered where was the monstrous Grand Duke of Forsberg he once knew.

    Athan pointed with his mouth parted to a tremble when he realized who it was, despite the total change of his facial features.

    "You!"

    "Save it— Call me by my name, Jonathan." Scratching off his nape while heaving a sigh. "But more importantly, what did you even do to the TV?"

    ''TV? Is he referring to this?''

    Not that Athan was surprised about how he was so fluent about speaking of the language he knew, he couldn''t help but peer at the woman beside him.

    Though at first, he had no idea what they talked about not until how livid Daisy became as her eyes glued to the one he broke not too long ago.

    Jonathan patted Daisy''s back, muttering under his breath, "Seriously, quite an anger issue you have."

    "That isn''t my fault! For this large… Abomination screen showed something blasphemous!"

    Jonathan shook his head and gestured to Stravwuark to help Keith to take him to the other room to recover as he was still in recovery while asking Athan, "What did it ever do to you, even?"

    "I saw my face on the screen!"

    Both Daisy and Jonathan had surprised and confused glances, respectively. She caught the gist right away and whispered at him; from there, he gave a curt nod when he realized what was going as well.

    "So you admitted it?" Athan crossed his arms.

    "Not that I know of..." Jonathan shrugged back. "Isn''t that the same as from the theaters with all the stage and actors?"

    "But this is my life! No one has ever done that—"

    "It must have hurt your pride. After all, what you had watched since your life was all about your glory and fame with all the theaters you''ve been to… I must say, I pity you."

    Athan gritted his teeth for a while but then let out a scoff at him. "So you''ve shown your true colors. You know nothing."

    "I might not. But Nathalie knew..."

    A slight twitch on his eyebrows came before it furrowed deep to a line, and never did he think he would be so pissed off as the flames crackled on his fist.

    Although, before he could charge at him, his fist froze. Eyes darted at Ashtra but not a single trace of his magic came from him as he couldn''t even careless.

    "Enough of this debacle."

    ''That voice!'' Athan''s ears perked up, looking around. ''Where is he? I can''t detect him!''

    Arnold emerged nearby the opened door, shuffling in, and glanced at Athan with a long face.

    ''He really came…''

    Daisy groaned after looking at them with the heavy tension lingering within the room. "Y''all are a hot mess."

    Jonathan then stepped close and cleaned up the mess together with Daisy.

    "Not sure how you even turn that on but I don''t think you had to react the way you did."

    "Dear, maybe he stepped on that." After moving close, Daisy pointed at the black device on the floor as she heaved a deep breath.

    By the looks of it, what he destroyed was precious to her and he did it regardless, clearly blinded with his emotions.

    Somehow, his chest tightened from the guilt that swallowed him in silence. He took it as a huge offense and acted his way.

    Arnold couldn''t help but look around like he was surprised about the interior he was in, then asked Athan, "So, has the curse lifted for now?"

    "The curse was lifted for now—" He stopped after nodding subconsciously.

    Arnold drew his lips thin, mumbling, "I knew this would happen."

    "What do you mean?"

    "We''re but strangers in this world, and only have a temporary link, so we''re bound to go back where we should be."

    ''A temporary link…'' Athan couldn''t help but ponder in his thoughts about the brief idea he had in mind but got interrupted again when he queried back.

    "Where is she?"

    Jonathan and Daisy looked at one another, unsure of what to answer, even though it wasn''t their place to do so when Arnold stared at Athan alone.

    ''She?''

    "I shall ask again, where is Nathalie?"

    Somehow, Athan looked at him with distraughtness found on his face, as though he couldn''t believe what he heard. While he already had quite a once in a blue moon close conversation with him, he didn''t expect to know more of the kernel of truth from hereon.

    Especially with this new identity Mystique had, as Nathalie.

    Though with their faces, he wondered if they told him about it.

    "She''s in her room; resting—"

    However, a subtle click on the door came with the door creaked into ajar. All of their heads turned in that direction, and the slow thuds came with a little rustle against the sheen flooring.

    "Father?" Nathalie''s voice was rather hoarse and dry, and when she appeared at the corner of the alleyway, she was covered in several warm quilts around her with flushed cheeks. "Is— Is that… You—?"

    But then, her eyes flashed from what happened in front of her.