When they entered, Artur floated past them aback his cape and slammed the door shut. He turned to look at them with his eyes gleaming.

“Give me the staff, then take off your clothes, both of you,” Artur insisted, holding his hand out and gesturing at Anneliese to surrender Rowe’s former staff.

Argrave instinctively shielded Anneliese with his arm. “You’re going to need a little bit more than goodwill to make a request like that while keeping all your limbs.”

“Don’t make threats like that. Were it that giant, I might actually be scared. You, however, have more finesse than to recklessly remove my limbs.” He shook his head. “I’m not making a single artifact. I’m making a pair, using the Resonant Pillar and Anneliese’s staff as a base. You two are going to serve as the chain that binds them. Though… conduit, or pipe, might be better suited.”

Argrave looked at Anneliese—and indeed, she gave no indication Artur was lying. He looked back at the short man.

“How would you know how to do something like that?”

Artur tapped his eyes, and as if at will, they sparkled myriad colors. “You’ve seen my eyes flash as so, right?”

Argrave nodded. “It’s your A-rank ascension, yes.”

“They saw something in the Shadowlands that I’ve never before experienced,” he told them. “It was as though… it was as though they finally showed a new purpose—a new reaction, to that foreign realm beyond this world. I don’t make a habit of staring into abysses for hours if I don’t see the value in it. And I saw value unimaginable.” He waved between them. “You two must be linked. I’m somewhat confident it would interest no one else. And I’m even more confident no one else could make as good a use of the pair.”

“Assuming you’re capable of this…” Anneliese looked at him curiously. “How might this help with the Shadowlands? How are they related?”

“Dark, light. Life, death. This realm, that realm.” Artur clapped his hands together. “They’re dualisms. I intend to take ample advantage of that dualism using you two. Argrave shall be the dark—death. Anneliese shall be the light—life. Man and woman. Husband and wife. Together, creating the full function of my masterpiece.”