Sasrir tilted his head slightly, the shadows around his silhouette rippling in response to the motion. "Have you thought about your plan to overthrow Gunlaug?"
I exhaled through my nose, eyes still on the settlement below. "I have it mostly figured out. My only regret is that I will not be able to take his Transcendent Echo." A faint smile crept onto my lips despite myself. "Its Rank is not especially important to me, but the aesthetic is exquisite. Pure, flowing gold. Who could possibly say no to that? If only Amon were here—he could steal it for me and spare me the disappointment."
"You really cannot use the abilities of a Psychiatrist or Hypnotist to force him to hand it over?" Sasrir asked, genuine curiosity coloring his voice. "Not even by summoning the Visionary Uniqueness?"
"Sadly, no." I spoke with clear frustration, my right hand curling tightly around the armrest of the chair. The wood creaked under the pressure. "The Uniqueness does not grant me new powers. It only amplifies what I already possess. It pushes my observation to the level of a Discerner."
I lifted my hand, flexing my fingers slowly, as if enumerating the benefits one by one. "I can see Soul Cores and the Ranks of monsters, much like Sunny does with Blood Weave. I can even glimpse fragments of an attribute panel, the way Cassie does. But that is where it ends. I still cannot bend minds, rewrite thoughts, or enter dreams."
My expression darkened slightly. "And using the Uniqueness exacts a severe toll. The drain is not tied to Essence reserves or the number of Soul Cores I possess—it consumes something deeper. Prolonged use feels like scraping the inside of my soul with a dull blade."
Sasrir studied me in silence for a moment. "So Gunlaug remains outside your reach."
"Mentally, yes," I replied calmly. "Which is why he will fall in the simplest way possible. Not through coercion or illusion, but through inevitability. He will be placed in a position where every available choice leads to his defeat."
I leaned back in the chair, loosening my grip on the armrest. "A king who believes himself untouchable rarely notices the ground being hollowed out beneath his feet. By the time Gunlaug realizes what is happening, it will already be far too late."
"So you intend to kill him?" Sasrir pressed, his voice low and even. "Truly finish him off here? I am asking because I want to be certain about your intentions, Adam. If you wish to introduce variables into this world, a man like Gunlaug would be an excellent starting point. An Awakened in possession of a Transcendent Echo could become a pivotal tool."
"I know that," I replied, waving a hand in mild irritation. "But I have no means of controlling him at present. And beyond that, Gunlaug is simply a terrible person. I understand the necessity of maintaining order in the Settlement and the Castle, but there is no justification for the degree of depravity he has embraced."
I paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "Even if Gunlaug and Harus would make an assault on the Crimson Spire significantly easier, it is ultimately pointless. Or would you rather I spare them now, only to kill them after the Crimson Terror is dealt with?"
"That would also work," Sasrir said calmly, without hesitation.
I hummed in response and rose from my chair, the legs scraping softly against the stone floor. "We still have time to refine the details. Nothing is set in stone yet." I turned my head slightly toward him. "Keep an eye out for Sunny, Nephis, and Cassie. Also, pass a message along to Kai and Effie. I want to meet them sometime this week."
"Your word is my command," Sasrir replied. He bowed deeply, his form already beginning to lose definition as shadows pooled around his feet. In the next instant, he slipped into the darkness and vanished, as though he had never been there at all.
I remained standing, watching the empty space for a long moment. Then my gaze dropped to my left hand.
"Spare the Bright Lord…" I murmured softly.
My fingers curled inward, the hand clenching into a tight fist. "Then you had better prove your worth," I said quietly. "Gunlaug."