It was the kind of singular moment that burnt itself into Simon's memories. Not because of any shocking revelation or upswell of emotion – although there was no shortage of anger brewing in his heart – but because of the sheer strangeness surrounding it.

  The man across the street, Armand Calloway, had previously ambushed Katarina when she was alone. She hadn't wronged him. No provocation was given. Yet between his Identify Description, his unusually high Level, and the manic grin on his face when he'd attacked her, Armand's motivations were clear as day.

  Night was when he painted Caelryn with rivers of red.

  Serial killer. No other conclusion could be reached. And going by what Simon had witnessed during Katarina's Sin Scry vision...Armand was a man who took great pleasure in his hobby of choice.

  However, none of that demented fervor was present right now. Far from being a terror who stalked the moonlit streets of Caelryn, the Armand Calloway of early afternoon was little more than window dressing. He melded into the scenery so effectively that Simon was tempted to blame it on a hidden Skill.

  Without access to Identify, Sin Scry, and Katarina's personal testimony, he wouldn't have thought the man capable of raising his voice – let alone murder.

  It was that feeling of stark disconnect which made the moment stand out so much. In the span of several brief seconds, Simon went from just another unwitting passerby...to someone who knew. If the crowds on the street had seen what he'd seen, then they would've trampled each other in a mad dash to get away. Like a stampede of deer fleeing from the carnivore suddenly appearing in their midst.

  Their ignorance was bliss. Over the course of the day, thousands of people might pass by Armand's sequestered relaxation spot, some coming within inches of the man. None would ever learn who and what they'd crossed passed with.

  How many of them became victims in the end? Simon's hand twitched as he suppressed the urge to summon a blade from Inventory. Is this his modus operandi? Spend his time people-watching, searching for the right prey, waiting until–

  From behind his back, Katarina tugged at his shirt sleeve. "We need to move," she hissed, whispering urgently. "Walk with me. Same direction, same pace. Keep me hidden. Don't want him to see."

  Simon didn't question her. The two of them marched in tandem, putting distance between themselves and the creature in human guise.

  They stopped when Armand was just barely still in view. From their new vantage point, they could freely examine him without notice. Katarina also took the time to confirm that they were isolated, letting them speak without worry of eavesdroppers.

  "So," the transmigrator exhaled. "I'm assuming he wasn't the original target you had in mind."

  Katarina shuddered. "No. No, he is not." She breathed in, then out, taking a few seconds to compose herself. "Apologies. Don't know what's come over me. He wasn't even the first person to make an attempt on my life. I just..."

  "Something about him unnerves you?" Simon offered.

  She nodded. "It is one thing to fight over food or coin. If someone had stabbed me because they sought to feed themself another day, then I'd still hate them, but at least I'd understand. With this man, there was no rhyme or reason as to why he struck."

  That was the point. She'd likely been chosen because she was unknown to him. Less chance of his crime being traced back to him.

  Granted, Simon was basing that theory on stories from Earth. He shouldn't hold Valtia to equivalent standards. After all, it wasn't like Caelryn City's 'law enforcement' – term used generously – would care about a random penniless urchin being killed. No one would've lifted a finger to investigate Katarina's murder.

  Armand probably didn't need to try very hard to conceal his nature.

  "He was one of many reasons why I left Caelryn City," Katarina murmured. "Couldn't even pretend to feel safe here anymore. I kept thinking, what if he tracks me down, sneaks up while I'm sleeping? Worse – what if he goes for my father instead?"

  "Actually, does Gerold know what happened to you that night?"

  "It was what finally convinced him to leave."

  Simon made a mental note for the future. When they later returned to Gerold with a cure, and he found out that they'd immediately traveled to Caelryn City, once more putting his darling daughter in proximity of a crazed lunatic murderer, the man would be...displeased.

  Which meant Katarina was getting thrown under the bus. She'd recommended Caelryn, and she hadn't warned Simon of her history with Armand, so the transmigrator wasn't to blame.

  "To be honest," she continued, "I'd hoped we might one day seek him out. Can't imagine a more deserving target from which to gain EXP." She slowly enunciated each letter in E-X-P, as if the sounds were unfamiliar to her. "Yet that was but a dream of the future. I definitely didn't expect to encounter him now."

  "You haven't seen him since he tried to kill you?"

  "Not for months, no. Suppose our paths just didn't cross until today."

  "Quite the coincidence," Simon remarked.

  Katarina's eyes widened with sudden realization. "I promise you that I'm not lying about anything," she said, sounding almost desperate. "I know that this may seem like a ruse invented by a two-bit charlatan, but–"

  "I believe you."

  "...You do?" Her voice was quiet yet strained, as if worried that expressing relief would just make her look suspicious.

  Simon raised his right arm, still in human form. "Demon magic. Lets me verify certain details."

  A struggle took place within Katarina's gaze as she stared at his arm. She appeared to be arguing with herself, deliberating on some course of action.

  "Simon..." She addressed him directly. "What do you mean by 'Demon magic', precisely? How does it reveal people's secrets to you, and in what way? At this point, I...think I ought to know."

  Ah. Hmm.

  In truth, Simon would've preferred to keep her in the dark. Knowledge was power. Skills like Identify and Sin Scry would be at their most effective when no one was aware they existed. If others learned how his abilities operated, they could invent measures to counter him, and his burgeoning reputation as a powerful upstart Demon may lose some of its mystique.

  But that wouldn't happen unless Katarina tattled. Considering that he was her one and only chance to save Gerold, she had little reason to undermine him.

  At this juncture, anyway. In the future, if we part ways...

  Simon stifled an internal sigh. While his paranoia was well-founded, the fact remained that he had proposed an equal alliance to Kat. If he'd wanted a simpering yes-man who wouldn't ever question the scary Demon's capabilities, he could've held interviews at Springwater Village and had his pick of the litter. Refusing her without cause would set a bad precedent for the both of them.

  He shouldn't poison a well just as it'd started filling with water.

  "The Skills on our Character Sheets can be split into two categories," Simon began. "Active Skills perform unique functions when activated. If you were a mage, then 'Fireball' might be an Active Skill. Then there are Passive Skills, which represent feats you're inherently good at. You don't need to activate Acrobatics to climb a wall, or use Crossbow Proficiency to land a shot; that expertise is simply a part of who you are."

  And if he'd gotten any of that explanation wrong, then Voice-In-The-Sky was next in line to be thrown under the bus. It was tough being a transmigrator without an instruction booklet.

  Katarina frowned slightly as she checked her Character Sheet. "I don't believe I have any Active Skills."

  "You'll probably learn some as you get stronger." And select a Class Advancement, but we aren't beating that dead horse right now. "My Character Sheet also contains another section – Demonic Skills. To pull the curtain back – that's what I'm referring to whenever I say 'Demon magic'. All of my Demonic Skills seem to be Active types, carrying out defined functions when used."

  "Like a Contract?"

  "That's one of them." Technically, he thought of Contract as a combination Active and Passive ability, but superfluous details would just confuse Kat and muddy the waters. "Sin Scry and Identify are two more Demonic Skills."

  A small, unavoidable lie. Identify was listed under his standard Active Skills section as a 'transmigration bonus'...which Sworn to Secrecy prevented him from saying. "In broad strokes: Identify reveals a limited amount of general information, and can be used on people or items. Sin Scry specifically shows the worst, most vile deeds a person has committed."

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Simon pointed at Armand Calloway, who'd barely moved a muscle. "It's how I confirmed what he was."

  Katarina said nothing for some time. She sank into deep thought, recalling all of their interactions up until now – with added context.

  "Did you ever use Identify or Sin Scry on me?" she eventually asked.

  "Yes. Both."

  She looked away, poorly-suppressed disappointment plain on her features. It was the reaction Simon had anticipated.

  For most people, trust was akin to a brave leap of faith. It was risky, with the potential to backfire – but that was what gave it value. When you extended trust to someone, you were essentially handing them a dagger and baring your chest, betting that they wouldn't take the chance to strike true.

  Conversely, Katarina had just learned that Simon's trust was based not on faith...but on a severe invasion of privacy. He knew far more about her than she'd been willing to share.

  Simon could have lied, claiming that he'd never used his Skills on her. Perhaps Katarina would've even been willing to believe him, rather than face an uncomfortable truth. But–

  "Do you regret it?" she asked.

  "I don't."

  –But that would have defeated the purpose of their alliance.

  Equal partnerships are tough, Simon mused. He'd known that Katarina wouldn't appreciate him using his Skills to research her past. Who would, really?

  That didn't mean he regretted his actions. Identify, Sin Scry, and even this blunt honesty were all part of the cost of doing business. They had been necessary at the time. If she lost a degree of faith in him as a result, then he would just have to make up the difference elsewhere.

  Katarina let out a short, brittle chuckle. "Can't tell if I'm more or less upset with you than before. More, because you're a callous bastard – or less, because you've owned up to it."

  The woman ran a hand through her messy, shoulder-length red hair. "Is it hypocritical to feel a mite betrayed, yet recognize that I still would've done the same in your position?"

  "A little," Simon admitted, "but it's not like I'm any better." The idea of someone using Identify on him inspired a kernel of dread within. Secrets were for him to keep, and for others to divulge.

  Katarina fell quiet once more, her gaze periodically switching between Simon and Armand. She seemed to be processing a tempest of disparate emotions. He chose not to interrupt her, taking the opportunity to plan his activities for the night.

  After five minutes, she spoke. "So." Katarina drummed her fingers on her thigh. "You saw the worst of who am I...and you still made me an ally?"

  He raised an eyebrow. "Should I not have?"

  "I'm no paragon of morality, Simon. No blackhearted reprobate, either, but I've hardly lived a virtuous life." She shrugged with an air of forced nonchalance. "Figured that would give anyone cause for concern."

  "The opposite, actually. All I saw was someone doing their best to get by after being dealt a rough hand. You could've been much, much worse."

  Silence, again. But where the previous silence had felt tense and awkward, this was easier, more contemplative.

  Katarina sighed. "Can I ask a favor?"

  "Depends on what it is."

  "Right." She gestured towards Armand, taking care not to have her face in full view, just in case he happened to glance their way. "Activate your Sin Scry on him. I want to know if – if I was special."

  The word spat out of her mouth like rancid bile. "Has he attacked others as well, or was I merely the passing fancy of a madman? I'm not even sure which I'd prefer to be the case, but...I feel like I need to know. Like it'll help me make sense of what transpired."

  Simon already had a solid guess, but he was morbidly curious about what else Sin Scry would reveal, and helping Katarina achieve a bit of closure wouldn't hurt either. "Using it puts me in a trance for roughly five seconds," he told her. "Keep watch."

  Katarina looked surprised that he'd agreed so quickly, but nodded regardless. After she'd given their location a once-over to ensure that there weren't any prying eyes, Simon stared directly at Armand Calloway, fixing his gaze on what was seemingly a plain, ordinary man.

  Sin Scry.

  Scenes from another life played out before him.

  'Armand. Comes across a drunken, staggering guard. Spies a dagger glinting in their pocket. Its splendor catches his attention. The first thing to ever banish the emptiness inside.'

  'Armand. Stealing the dagger. The first crime after a long life of temperance.'

  'Armand. Slitting the guard's throat. The first kill of oh so very many.'

  'Armand. His guilt and remorse, devoured by the dagger. He goes hunting again within the week.'

  'Armand. Grinning wildly as blood splatters the ground.'

  'Armand. At day, shuffling along in his shell. At night, revelry commences. Kill. Drink. The sweetest embrace, unlike anything known before.'

  'Armand. Luxuriating in the dagger's sustenance. Pouring ambrosia into the emptiness. It can never be filled, but he'll try, by the Ancient's blood will he try.'

  'Armand. Cut the flesh, drink the essence, again and again and again, joyous joyous–'

  "Simon?"

  With a start, he snapped back to reality. It took him a couple moments to notice that Katarina was shaking his shoulder. "What is it?" he asked.

  "Your eyes were blank for ten seconds," she explained. "Was longer than the five seconds you described, and your muscles kept tightening. Thought I should wake you."

  "Thanks." Simon rubbed his face, as if clearing cobwebs from his mind. "Didn't need to see any more than I did. Armand is a senseless, indiscriminate murderer."

  Katarina sucked in a harsh intake of breath. "There was no reason why he attacked me?"

  "Zero. Was simply a case of wrong place, wrong time. He kills for the fun of it."

  Although...something about Armand's memories were bothering him. Simon hadn't let himself get fully immersed in the Sin Scry visions this time – would've been like taking a bath in sewage waste – so the details seemed fuzzier.

  I know his means and his motive. Those are accurate...yet there's another, secondary intent there too. Something I'm missing.

  Well, no big deal. He could just ask the man himself.

  "I'm making an executive decision," Simon declared, stretching his aching limbs. "Our first target will be Armand Calloway. Sorry for delaying your initial suggestion, but unless they're also a homicidal maniac, I think this one takes precedence."

  Katarina bared her teeth. "I have absolutely no qualms with that."

  "Not even when I tell you that Armand is an Estimated Level 28?"

  "...28? Simon, you're Level 13, and I'm Level 12."

  "Correct. Honestly, it's a miracle you escaped him before."

  Her enthusiasm deflated like a poked balloon. "I'm no expert on Levels, but challenging an opponent whose Level exceeds both of ours combined sounds...ill-advised."

  "Could be worse." Simon put on a winning smile. "Springwater's Fell Beast was Level 39 when we found it."

  Katarina sputtered at him. "Wait, you knew that, and you still fought–"

  "The Warding Orbs stalled the Beast – we would've been devoured in moments otherwise. Won't work the same way with Armand. He doesn't have any huge glaring weaknesses we can exploit."

  With a vicious snarl, Katarina clenched her fists. "So be it. We'll increase our Levels until we've risen above that Ancient-cursed savage."

  Simon shook his head. "We don't know how long that'll take. Each day we tarry could be another life he snuffs out."

  "Then what do you suggest? That we just leave him be?!"

  "Whoever said anything about leaving him?"

  A spike of adrenaline pumped through Simon's veins, the plan coalescing in his thoughts. "You're looking at this from the wrong angle. Levels may be a general barometer of strength, but they aren't the end-all. The slavers and the Fell Beast were higher-Level than us, and they're worm food, while we're not. Raw power doesn't win battles; strategy does."

  He locked eyes with her. "Tell me, Kat – what do you think would be karmic justice for a coward who ambushes people in the dead of night? Because I think that turnabout is fair play."