“You all did an excellent job,” Takahashi commented.
“That was fun!” Ava said as I helped her off Oberi’s back. “I think we work really well together when we’re focused on one target.”
“Then that’s what we’ll have to do during battle,” I decided. “We’ll work as a unit, focusing on one enemy at a time.”
“Marcus, how do you feel?” Takahashi asked.
Marcus sighed heavily. “Fighting my friends is a piece of cake.”
Yeah, okay. It sure didn’t sound like it, with how winded he was.
“As for my own powers, they’re getting stronger,” Marcus added. “But I can’t help but feel responsible that we haven’t gotten anything from Thaddeus yet.”
“If you have not found him yet, I’m afraid to say he’s likely moved on,” Takahashi said.
“Oh, he moved on,” Marcus said nonchalantly. “That’s why we summoned him back, to learn what he knew. He’s gone to find more information for us.”
Takahashi went silent for a beat, then stammered, “Y— you summoned your friend from the Ancestral Lands andreleased himinside the prison?”
“Yeah. Wehadto talk to him,” Marcus said. “He wanted to help.”
Takahashi sighed heavily. “Marcus, you act like this is an inconsequential act. This isn’t the same as contacting a spirit who’s already trapped on Earth.”
“Why not?” Marcus asked. “He can go back to the afterlife at any time.”
“You don’t know that,” Takahashi protested. “You have incredible power, Marcus, but it is not to be abused. There is a reason spirits don’t come back once they’ve moved on.”
“Yeah, because they don’t have a demigod to make them return,” Marcus insisted. “If I can bring him back here, I can send him back where he belongs. Don’t you want answers?”
“Of course, but not at the expense of others,” Takahashi pressed.
“Thaddeuswantedto help us,” Marcus retorted. “I don’t get why you’re so against this.”
“Takahashi’s right,” Ava cut in. “We don’t know the full extent of our demigod powers, or what bringing back a soul could do.”
“Well, what do you want me to do about it now?” Marcus asked. “I can’t change that we already brought Thad back, so we might as well utilize the tools we have and get answers from him.”
“Every time you summon him, you tear him from the spiritual plane,” Takahashi said. “You don’t know what the consequences of that could be.”
“So enlighten me,” Marcus challenged.
Takahashi didn’t have all the answers. Instead, he said, “The best thing you can do for your friend is let him find his way back to the Ancestral Lands.”
“Okay. I get it,” Marcus caved.
Takahashi seemed to relax. “I think we’ve covered enough in our lesson today. You should all get some rest.”
Takahashi excused us, and the four of us left the training room together with Oberi and Rishi at our heels.
“Takahashi’s blowing smoke,” Marcus huffed. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
Ava’s wheels screeched as she grabbed them and whirled around toward Marcus. “He’s our mentor. You should listen to him.”
“Listen to a man who doesn’t even have answers?” Marcus balked.
“He knows there’s a risk involved,” Ava pressed. “Just because he’s never seen it first-hand doesn’t mean he can’t sense when something’s wrong.”
“Of course something’s wrong!” Marcus practically shouted. “Thaddeus is taking too long to give us answers, and that’s a problem. The least I can do is summon him and see what’s up.”
