âThatâs it,â Flynn said, jabbing his finger into the picture of the knight. âThe ley lines crisscross so close together in that segment of the world, they almost feed each other. I bet you anything the statue was buried right on top of one which would supercharge it. Someone comes along and brings it to a town that already has all sorts of weird magic and,â he mimed a fictional explosion, sound effects and all. His brown eyes landed playfully on Richard. âI told you Iâd know it when I see it.â
âYes, yes, but we do need a plan before we d-â Richard said dismissively, before being interrupted by the Black Mist herself.
âRichard, you and the other Knights stay here. Iâll be going to the Museum with Mister Carsen to take care of that statue.â she then said, the coldness in her voice actually surprising everyone else at the table, though the Japanese man she arrived with did put a hand on her shoulder out of concern.
âKuroko... is that statue of the one you told me about?â he asked, causing her to nod.
âYes Sosuke,â she said to her husband, âWhatâs more, if what Richard said about it moving was true, then I donât think it... he isnât just a statue. I fear he may be returning to life after... whatever it was that turned him into stone in the first place, he may not only learn that Iâm still around, but he may try and harm you and the others in an attempt to lure me out.â
âWait,â Kylie then asked, âWho is this guy, and what does he want with you, Mist-sama?â
The Black Mist was silent for a moment, the glowing markings on her body dimming a bit as she tried to calm down, before she rubbed her arms and spoke.
âHonestly, I never found out his name, or what exactly he was doing in the place I was... born, I assume.â she said, her voice trembling a bit, âAll I do know about him is that my very first memory as the Black Mist, was that blasted knight running me through with a spear, asking me what I did to someone named Rose, while a dead man was in the corner bleeding out on the floor while the room itself was on fire. I found out that I couldnât die as I ended up sliding off the spear and just... fleeing out a window and jumped out of it before learning the hard way I was not just in a tower, but my body was... extremely difficult to damage. I never thought to go back or search him out for answers, but... I donât know, a part of me seemed to know that no matter what I tried, he wouldnât listen. Could be leftover from whoever it was I used to be, could just be an instinctual form of common sense, but whatever the case, I feel that the only way to help Mister Carsen is to go to that statue, and destroy him for good.â
The shadow then looked to Flynn, her anger having risen as she had told her origin, though before she could ask his opinion, her husband spoke up.
âKuroko... I donât want to let you go alone, especially with a man we arenât even sure is telling the truth.â Sosuke said, âPlease, let me go with you in my knight form, Guaridan. I took an arrow to the heart to protect you, so you know what Iâm willing to do to keep you safe and... I wonât let some kisama try to kill you.â
âNo, Sosuke.â The Black Mist said pleadingly, âYou still havenât recovered from the last battle you assisted in, and until Schrodinger can grow you a new heart to replace your damaged one, I canât risk you pushing that arrowhead you were killed by 9 centuries ago any deeper than it already is, and put you in a constant state of... flickering between life and death.â
The Japanese man was silent as he rubbed his chest a bit, before sighing and nodding at his beloved wifeâs logic.
âBe careful, Kuroko.â he then said before hugging the shadow tenderly, âAnd I hope you make the right choice... also, if Carsen-san tries anything, I reserve the right to punch him.â
âDonât worry my dear stonecutter,Iâll be quite sure to deliver some overdue payback to that knight, and your right to punch Carsen for Flirting is definitely acknowledged.â the Black Mist then said before giving her husband the closest thing she could to a kiss- considering her lack of mouth anyway, before letting him go and looking to Flynn.
âSo, any objections to you and I going in, investigating that statue and destroying him, Mister Carsen?â