"Hah… hah…" Mikel panted, lying flat on his back and staring into the endless darkness of the void. "…That was one hell of a battle."
Several paces away, Gallos sat, one knee bent, an arm resting atop it, his head turned toward Mikel. If Gallos moved now, he could try to stab the kid. But he knew that even then, Mikel would still fight.
After dueling him for who knows how long, Gallos realized something clearly: Mikel had many concerning traits, but his resilience was the most troubling of all.
"You hold curses," Gallos remarked. "And also own a phantom."
Mikel, still catching his breath, turned his head. "And?"
"That's an odd combination," Gallos explained. "At least, I haven't met anyone who could do both at once."
"Why?" Mikel blinked. "Is it taboo?"
"No, but it requires a higher spiritual energy."
