Far too late (for he typically blamed others, not himself, for his failures), Edwin realized in that moment why he’d lost his last battle with Chris Alan. It wasn’t because the Lord had backed Edwin into a corner or because Edwin had missed some fine details in making a replicant of Autumn. It wasn’t because of the unexpected help that had arrived in battle. It wasn’t even because he’d been overpowered by the White Hand in the end. All these conditions were just part of the crucible in which both Chris Alan and Edwin had been tried.

Under the Lord’s subtle guidance, Chris Alan had outsmarted Edwin, pure and simple. Having done so even in his grief, once Chris Alan had whispered the formula for calling upon Light Without Measure, nothing Edwin could’ve done would’ve saved him, even had Chris Alan not picked up on the telltales distinguishing the real Autumn from the simulacrum, even if no other foes had arrived afterward.

Life was so unfair. Not only was the Undying Singer potentially more powerful than Edwin could ever hope to be; he was actually the greater genius, for the Lord gave him wisdom and faith in addition to his intelligence. He had the true loyalty of his friends, something the Way of Darkness could never win for Edwin from Nicholas and the Death Dealers. And he had a beautiful, intelligent and affectionate wife on top of it – an Inspirer, obviously, like Edwin’s lost wife Davida…

Edwin hated losing a bodily fight, but losing an intellectual one was even more humiliating, especially when someone else set the rules. Nothing in the Realms would make Edwin give that cosmic “teacher’s pet” that satisfaction – not this time!

Edwin’s eyes went mad. “Destroy them all! Leave none alive!”

Aghast, Aggie looked back and forth between Edwin and Chris Alan. Who was really trapping whom here?

“Have it your way, Shadow Master,” Chris Alan looked over to his party as Rafael dissolved the projection. “Are you ready?”

“We will have to be.” Francis spoke for them all.