The Palace Lord, who until now had maintained a calm or mildly amused demeanor, showed genuine surprise for the first time at my remark about his life force sustaining the Ice Essence.

"Ha," he muttered, before looking at me intently.
"Is that correct?" I pressed.

"How did you know?"

"Part guesswork," I admitted.

Among the many hypotheses I considered, it seemed the most plausible. It was merely luck that I struck the mark.

"I was planning to explain that part anyway, but you've spoiled the fun by figuring it out."

Even now, he was seeking amusement in this grim …