He frowned.

“You were a deceiver. And you still intrude on sacred ground. However—I admit I came to an inappropriate conclusion. You have no magic. Nor, apparently, any powerful Skills. You are helpless, hence your near death from thirst and lack of sustenance.”

“Glad you noticed.”

The ghostly man ignored that too. He looked uncomfortable, and then—to her surprise—knelt.

“Had I slain you—I would have taken an innocent life. The only recourse for me would be to renounce my class and end my existence forthwith. It was conduct unbefitting a Knight of the Shadowed Blooms.

You have my sincerest apologies.”

He bowed his head, so low it passed through the lid of the coffin Cara was lying on. She blinked at him.

Her first reaction was to further castigate the…man. But in the end, she just nodded.

“Thanks for coming around. Don’t worry about it, either. You saved my life. I’ve gotten worse from crazy actors on the stage. One attacked me with a comb one time. Nearly took out my eye. Gave another guy eight stitches.”

The [Knight] blinked. He eyed her as he slowly rose to his feet.

“I…take your point, Miss Cara. If that is your name. Tell me—truthfully please. How did you come to be here?”

She opened her mouth, and coughed. Instantly, the ghost reached for the bowl.

“Here. Water. I can create more.”

“I—thank you. It—gah—it tastes like dust.”

“I tried to clean the bowl.”

But the water was refreshing, for all it was less clean than the magic water. Cara drank, gasped.

“I was drinking water. I had—a—a Skill? [Melody of Droplets]? But I was so thirsty…”

The man looked at her, almost askance.

“A Skill to conjure water? Perhaps it sated your thirst, but magical water or food conjured by Skills or artifacts are only half as effective as the real thing. If that.”

“Oh.”

For some reason, Cara felt like an idiot, despite the fact that she couldn’t have known any of that. She grimaced, took another sip.

“So you’re not going to kill me?”

Again, the [Knight] bowed.

“No. And I will do my utmost to ensure your survival, Miss Cara. Which…is your name?”

He glanced up at her with a tiny frown. He was still suspicious. Cara gave him a perfectly charming smile.

“Of course it is! Cara…O’Sullivan. That’s me.”

Dalius looked at her flatly.

“Miss Cara. I no longer seek your death. It seems that as a [Knight] of honor, I should be at least privy to your name. I am no [Blood Mage] to use names against you. I ask only as courtesy.”

She hesitated.

“…So my name is important?”

The [Knight]’s brows furrowed further.

“Dark magic always works against the honest and virtuous. But I am a [Knight]. May I know your name if I would ward you? Please?”

She smiled at him.

“Cara.”