The fox, named Ren apparently, silently nuzzled Himeko's hand but said nothing.

[color=bc8dbf]"Odette attacked you?"[/color] Livia's eyes widened again before frowning. [color=bc8dbf]"That is...not good...and well, explains where all the spirits have gone. Odette likely...got rid of them."[/color] She paused for a moment, obviously thinking of just what she should tell them here but seemed to quickly decide on her answer. [color=bc8dbf]"Your intuition may only be partly correct, Himeko."[/color] She began. [color=bc8dbf]"Someone may, in part, be controlling her."[/color]

[color=8493ca]"Meaning what exactly?"[/color] Charlotte asked, a frown crossing her face.

[color=bc8dbf]"You see, Odette is a rather special sort of spirit. Dead, yet fully aware and in control...and she possesses the ability to control other spirits. We call spirits like that a 'Wight'. Further still, she possesses the ability to take a spirit and give it another form completely using raw energy...like Ren there."[/color] She said, motioning to the blue fox-like spirit. [color=bc8dbf]"That's not actually a fox, but rather a spirit that was once human."[/color]

[color=8493ca]"...wait, she can turn human spirits into something else? That...sounds painful."[/color] Charlotte grimaced lightly, though she couldn't really judge there. If they were doing it from a mutual agreement or something.

[color=bc8dbf]"Mhm, from an uneducated standpoint you might think so. But most spirits do so willingly as it allows them to both interact with the physical realm and offers them more power to do certain things. It's really a win-win situation."[/color] Livia continued. [color=bc8dbf]"But that also means...if she's hostile then we're going to have to likely fight [i]all[/i] of the spirits that once resided here."[/color]

[color=8493ca]"So what do you mean Himeko's theory 'may be correct'?"[/color] Charlotte questioned again. It sounded like Livia knew a bit more about the situation that she was entirely letting on. Or at least, she had some insight that could help them. She had to at least ask.

[color=bc8dbf]"...Hmph, caught onto that did you?"[/color] She smirked. [color=bc8dbf]"Well, you see, Odette...is bound to this place, if you will. A protector of sorts. This graveyard is ancient and has many secrets within it, should one look. I don't think Odette realizes it herself, but this pillar in front of us is actually [i]her[/i] grave. A rather grandiose one for a simple girl, isn't it?"[/color]