Kelam's body goes rigid with a sudden rush of fear. Leaf, alone, treading on what is now enemy ground?

"How much do they know?" she blurts out. "And... and how will you explain your tattoos?"

As wild thoughts and fears fly through her head, she runs a hand through her bangs. If she shaved her head, maybe...

'You would play monk?' the bitter voice deep within her laughs, taking advantage of her distraction to worm back into her thoughts. 'Even more of a joke than playing hero. You lack the will.'

She grits her teeth against the terrible pressure of the dark whisper, the hand that brushed through her hair now kneading her temple.

'Pathetic. You yearn for light, but you lack the strength for it. Just as you lack the strength to acknowledge the truth of your being, the truth of the Void. Such a child. Playtime will end soon enough. Futile to fight-'

She half-steps, half-staggers out of the shade of the parasol, welcoming the shock of sunlight, hoping that the Sun will drive back the voice. This is the worst it's been since Champoor, or maybe even before.

"Sorry... dizzy spell... don't worry," she murmurs, trying to ward off her friends' concern, but she can't look at Leaf as she lies.

As her fears and self-doubts storm on inside her head, it becomes increasingly difficult to determine which thoughts are the voice of the Neverborn and which are her own.