Espel blinked at the question, then gave a small shrug that looked almost apologetic. "I have no problem with clearing a Demon Break," she said, glancing toward the distant red-black line on the horizon. "But I was dragged out of studying, Lancet. I did not know you could just summon me whenever you pleased."

Lancet rubbed the back of his neck, a little sheepish. "I wasn’t even sure it would work every time," he admitted. "But you’re the only healer here, and if we’re going into something like this, we can really use your help."

His eyes met hers a little more directly. "I can use your help."

Espel squinted her eyes at him. After a beat, she exhaled and gave a short nod. "Okay."

That answer barely settled before Spectra, still lounging on her floating cloud of red, tilted her head and smiled in a way that was both amused and pointed.

"And when are you going to meet the end of your bargain, dear Master Lancet?" she asked with a cutting tone.

Lancet looked at her.

Spectra smiled at his confused expression. "My catalyst, remember? You still have not helped me find it." Her smile thinned into something knowingly wicked. "You said you knew where it was."

Lancet didn’t know what to say to that. He had not expected Spectra to bring up the topic of the deals he made right in front of everyone.

Before he could answer Spectra, Espel spoke again, picking up from Spectra’s point.

"You also told me you knew ways to make me stronger," she said. "You said you could unlock parts of my abilities that I do not yet understand. When are you going to begin that?"

"Alright, stop it!"

Kestrel froze as Lancet bolted up to his feet, an aura poured out of his voice that made all of them fall silent at once. "Stop it right now."

Even the wind seemed to hesitate.

Thor’s brow lifted. Astensia’s eyes widened. Espel was as still as a rock. Spectra looked thrilled, shocked but also excited by this outburst from Lancet.

Lancet let out a breath, then looked at them one by one. "I know I made promises to all of you," he spoke loudly. "Deals, if you want to be specific about it."

He looked directly at Spectra, then let his gaze move slowly across the others. His voice softened.

"But I did that because you are real people. You are not weapons. You are not tools sitting in my pocket waiting for me to grab them when I’m in trouble. You’re people. People who deserved a second chance to get back what you lost. To finish what was left undone. To do things differently this time."

Nobody interrupted him.

Lancet’s voice grew steadier the more he spoke. "I didn’t make those promises because I needed your help. You’re my Summons! If I needed something badly enough, I could force you to do it! That’s the truth."

His jaw tightened. "But I haven’t. I never forced Thor to follow me back when we saved Hebthej. I never forced Astensia to kill those students who definitely wanted to kill me! I never forced Spectra to kill that second Demon Head. I did it myself because I knew she would never kill a Demon. I am doing everything I can to make sure I do not take away what matters to each and every one of you just because it would be easier for me."

Spectra’s smile vanished slowly and her eyes began to glisten with traces or hidden emotions.

"I didn’t choose you just because of how powerful you are," Lancet continued, "I know your stories. I know everything about you. I saw all of it before I summoned you, and I understand you so intimately it’s almost like I made you myself."

The power of those words landed at the bottom of their hearts. Thor’s eyes were narrowed, her jaw set in a look of approval at her chosen master.

Astensia’s gaze was fixed on him with a kind of quiet attention that suggested every word had reached somewhere she had not expected to be touched. Espel’s lips parted slightly, and Spectra’s smile was nowhere to be seen.

Lancet looked down at the Heroine of Thunder. "Thor," he said gently, "I know how badly you want to clear Devilfall. I know you want to finish what you left behind, what your former master tasked you with before you died."

He met her eyes steadily. "I promise you that one day, you and I will return there. We’ll clear it together."

Thor’s grip tightened on her hammer, feeling a wave of conviction spread through her. Her chin lifted, and the determination in her eyes returned, brighter than before.

Lancet turned to the Ironwill Knight.

"Astensia," he said softly, almost choking at the name. "I know you want to be out there saving people all over the world. But you also worry you won’t be there when I need you the most. You want to keep your oath and protect me, but you also want to stay true to what you believe by protecting the citizens of the world."

His shoulders raised and dropped. "I think you can do both. And I promise I’ll help you do that."

Astensia’s eyes shone brightly. It was like he had completely read her mind, and those words of assurance were more than enough to uplift her spirit.

"All I need is to get stronger," Lancet added. "To have enough Grace to anchor all of you for long periods of time. And the only way I get stronger is by doing things like this. Killing Demons. Killing Beasts. Leveling up. Expanding my soul core. Improving my Grace Retention."

He stood straight. "I need all of you to make me better so that I can make you better."

The silence that followed was full of understanding and tension. The Heroines were yet to look elsewhere — they were all captivated and inspired by Lancet’s words.

Even Kestrel felt this way, and she had only known the Summoner for five days.

Lancet’s gaze sharpened slightly. "But until then, we are a team. We work together, listen to each other, and we try not to bicker and complain."

He looked straight at Spectra. "Do I make myself clear?"

Spectra looked as though she had been struck by a revelation she found both amusing and strangely beautiful. Her smile returned, but this time it carried no mockery at all.

But she was pleased.

"You’ve never been more clearer, Master Lancet."

Lancet said nothing else. He just stood there, panting gently and realizing he had just spent minutes pouring his heart out. He wasn’t sure if he had sounded harsh or mean. He looked at everyone and they all looked... stunned.

Suddenly, Thor rose from the rock she was sitting on.

Lancet watched her walk up to him with that fierce, unwavering look of hers, then lift her hammer and extend it forward so the head of it met the center between them, the metal gleaming in the mountain light.

"My hammer is yours," Thor swore, her voice low and fierce, "always, Master Lancet."

Lancet stared at her, not knowing what to say.

Astensia stood up next.

A warm golden glow gathered around her as she unsheathed her greatsword in one smooth motion. Smiling gently, she lowered the tip of the massive blade onto the head of Thor’s hammer, holding it there with effortless control.

"My sword and shield is yours as well, Master."

Spectra’s lips curved into a smile. Her eyes glittered with that knowing, delighted amusement she wore when something pleased her more than she wanted to admit.

Without saying anything, she rose from her smoke chair, floating gracefully toward the growing formation. She extended her Hellstaff, resting its head atop Astensia’s blade. Crimson wisps curled lazily around the weapon before fading into the mountain wind.

"I suppose you have my servitude too, Master Lancet," she said.

Espel stepped in after her, quieter than the others but no less certain. She raised the Lance of Samsara and gently laid its tip atop the Hellstaff.

"Mine as well."

Silence settled over the summit.

Then Kestrel stepped forward.

She had remained silent throughout most of this speech, watching each of them with unreadable emerald eyes. Now she drew one of her Dragonswords in a single fluid motion, the emerald steel singing softly as it left the sheath.

Without hesitation, she rested the tip of the Dragonsword atop Espel’s lance, completing the growing stack while keeping a steady grip on the hilt.

"Mine as well."

Lancet was completely overwhelmed. To be so validated like this after pouring his heart out, risking letting out the truth of his powers — it was so fulfilling.

He looked at their faces.

Astensia was smiling warmly. Thor’s eyes burned with conviction. Spectra had a pleased, enthralled smile on her face. Espel looked calm and willing. Kestrel was assured in her choice.

For the first time since arriving in this world...

They truly looked like a team.

Lancet knew what he had to do.

Slowly, he unsheathed the Radiant Guillotine.

The enormous blade rose between them before he carefully lowered its edge atop Kestrel’s Dragonsword, completing the formation.

"Then I will lead you all," he said, his voice clear and certain, "with diligence, affection and honesty."

He smiled right after.

"Now let’s pay Deathrock a visit."