Aidan crossed the forest and met Ikaruga again for the first time in a long time. The girl, as always, sparkled with her sexuality. As befits, she greeted him with a low bow in her own style, and then they set off together.

Stopping at the highest part of the island, the pair of wizards reached the high ancient pyramid. It was larger than the trees and stretched right through the tall thickets. In fact, this place seemed to be just an ideal altar for all kinds of forbidden rituals. Perhaps, in the past, this island just served as a refuge for dark sorcerers who practice something dangerous and condemned in the current circles of wizards. The dwelling race of demons here is clearly not without reason.

Aidan slowly surveyed every corner of the pyramid, looked up at the high lunar disk in the sky, and nodded in satisfaction as everything went according to plan.

"Judging by Mavis's words, the Moondrop does not require quite a pyramid, rather it needs a sturdy and even altar. By the runes that she showed me, a lot becomes clear ... "- examining the old columns, dotted with ancient signs, Aidan understood enough:

"This island ... The shape of the moon, the perfect pyramid ... Judging by the records, it was created just for the Moon Drop ritual. Although the magic is old, it looks like Leon somehow managed to unearth it. He also learned about the island and somehow managed to win over Deliora. At least he should manage ... He has no choice, this altar is ideal and far from people. Council would not stick here ... Although, I am surprised how he was able to move almost an entire mountain for whole kilometers. How diligent ... "- closing his eyes, Aidan thought a little, and then got up and turned to Ikaruga:

- Let's go downstairs, I want to check something.

The girl calmly followed her master.

Very quickly they got to a deep and huge dungeon, it was just perfect for such a giant monster like Deliora.

Only Aidan frowned sharply as he looked around the cave: "And how on earth did they manage to shove him in here?" - however, he did not think too much about it, in fact, the cave was created just for the Ritual, which is why it was basically very large and flat in the most basic place where the moonlight fell.

Having quickly surveyed the area, the wizard destroyed a couple of stalactites, and then climbed one of the rocks and asked Ikaruga to cut through the cave for a temporary refuge.

With a deft movement of the blade, the girl fulfilled the order, and after that, Aidan laid out his sleeping bag there and created a couple of fireflies with his magic. Admiring their warm lights, he remembered Mavis again, and then closed his eyes and calmly said:

- I'll wait for them here, and you ... If you want to escape, it's time.

- Run away? - the sorceress in bewilderment Morguna, and then frowned: - Why should I run away?

"This is important to me, which is why I didn't tell you about the huge block of ice. You surprised me because you didn't ask questions. I appreciate that, but it's also clear - I killed your comrades, destroyed your guild. That's why I warn you if you interfere with my plans ...

As soon as his bloody eyes, sparkling even in the semi-darkness of the cave, turned to her, Ikaruga instantly trembled. A chilling feeling, surpassing even the cold of the most terrible ice, ran through every cell. As if death itself was breathing down the back of her head, so his voice penetrated her ears:

- If even a piece of this ice breaks off and if you decide to take revenge on me, I promise you, death will be the last thing you will dream of.

- I ... - Ikaruga averted her trembling eyes and whispered: - I didn't even think about it, why do you say that, sir ... I have long decided to serve you, I have only one dream - I want you to trust me. Aidan closed his eyes again and all the grave cold from the cave evaporated. He paused for a moment and sighed:

- Sorry ... I killed those people, it's stupid of me to trust you. My life is worthless until I repay the one who gave me this chance. It's strange, but ... I feel unworthy to live while she is suffering. Even if I have never met her ... - barely wetting his eyelids, the scarlet glint of his eyes collided with the bright glint of golden fireflies:

- I'm not sure if I'm doomed, but every year the number of those killed by me only grows. In the end, is this an honest exchange? Why is my chance to live again so ... Disappointing.

Turning his gaze to the sorceress, Aidan smiled wryly.

"Do you want to kill me for your comrades?" If you really want to, I can't allow ... if I die, this chance will be even more disappointing. Therefore, please, if you want revenge, just leave, save your strength, do not hope to stab me in the back, I will be many times more ruthless ... It will not work to kill me, no matter how you try.

Ikaruga continued to stand like this, her head bowed, now her shoulders suddenly trembled. She whispered softly:

- I ... I just want to understand you ... I don't have a single drop of anger, I ... I'm sad. Every time I look at you, my chest hurts ... I don't understand ...

"You're too impressionable a girl," Aidan smiled slightly and shook his head.

- I don't think it will bring you anything good.

Ikaruga closed his eyes and nodded silently, but she was definitely not going to back down, sat down on the stone floor and put her katana in front of her.

"Well, I guess it's her choice ..." - returning to himself, Aidan found himself in the subconscious, right on the altar, in front of that grimoire in a strange gray binding, reminiscent of a flame, the tongues of which enveloped the cover and each of the pages. The same black altar, a door with an emerald skull floating in the distance, and countless stars. Since last time nothing has changed here. Although, perhaps, only the grimoire has become smaller. After the first set of information, it decreased noticeably. Compared to the past, this is about a third of the total size. Perhaps touching it will come out no more than three or four times. Aidan, of course, did not even try to speculate, now he came here just to look around, as he did for the last week. He was drawn here, he wanted to touch him, but he knew perfectly well that now was the wrong time and place. Even aside from Ikaruga and the islanders, Aidan simply couldn't afford to scare away Leon and his henchmen. That is why he just looked, admired the stars and waited.

"Soon ... As soon as I finish here, return to Onslow and I will do everything" - he had planned this step for a long time. He wanted to return to that damned place where he had lost two years of his life and explore everything there. Moreover, the county was in a very convenient location. The huge mountain range divided the boundaries of the Kingdom of Seven and was just the perfect area for the next appeal. The mountains spread for kilometers, and if everything is done correctly, then it is possible that in the end you won't even kill anyone. However, Aidan doubted this, at least he already remembered his attempt to escape, eventually killing a bunch of pirates. He didn't want to go to sea anymore, so as not to accidentally get lost, but he wanted to get away from the guild as far as possible. And the plans did not include conversion, or rather, he wanted to contain it, because there was already some method ... Besides, the desire to explore those ruins in Onslow also played a significant role. Only one magic spear was worth what, and yet it was only at the very beginning of the ruins. Who knows what was lurking even deeper. There might be traps, but Aidan was no longer that stupid problem seeker, he already knew much more about magic and barriers. So he was confident in his abilities, something was pulling him into those ruins, perhaps a desire to completely resolve unpleasant memories from the past..