"Murderers cannot make amends. They died for nothing, in the wake of Lenneth's failure to defeat Loki. I was foolish to presume she would succeed, a beacon against Loki's cowardice and anger." So there was some self-loathing, it seemed.

"Hate myself? Ha! Quite the opposite..."

"You hate yourself now because you are powerless, just as you were powerless to save Lenneth even at full strength. I'm you, after all. You are a husk of your former self. Your magic made you. Now it unmakes you."

"Then you suppose I'm disappointed in myself."

"Such gentle wording. Do you intend to deny me?"

"And turn you into a monstrosity? No. We've better things to do than fight my own personal 'demons'. Are you quite finished?"

The Shadow gave them what could only best be described as a Stink Eye. Lezard sighed, adjusting his glasses.

"How does one 'accept' their Shadow, Miss Ivory? Simply tell it, yes, you're right?"