Though the taunting whispers continued, Medrau made no further attempts to mislead Jalen or Seph. Either she was too focused on her counterpart, or she didn't care enough to bother.

Song, meanwhile, was declaring bold challenges at thin air.

"Quit with the games, Medrau, and let's talk face to face."

'Oh yes,' thin air whispered, 'because that worked out so well last time.'

"Why the show, then? Why even go to the trouble? Nightmares are hardly enough to shake us anymore."

'It is exactly that. A show. This is what you expect of me, is it not?' This was said to all of them. 'The Heartless. The Shadow. The grand villain set up to fall, just so you can keep feeling like heroes? If that is how you see me, and I am part of you, than how can I be anything else?'