"Even if they don't believe it, it's amusing for me, and that's what really counts at this point where you're involved. Besides, never finding a body isn't going to hurt the story. You've convinced people you're so very clever, I'm sure that version of you can pull off a fantastic disappearing act."

Valdana gets to struggle a little, finds bits of him to claw at before more tendrils of the sutra wrap around every limb that comes his way, forcing them back down again.

"And if they are on their way, they're very slow. And if I can create a lightning bolt out of your toy from four meters away, and control glowing paper tentacles, what makes you think I'm worried about a few people in armor with weapons? Like I said before, they'll just end up in a cute little nap pile. I won't hurt the people doing Dev's old job."

Maybe the little lump is to the right?

"You know, I've never cut something like this out of someone before. Bullets, sure. Shrapnel, of course. The occasional knife, claw tip, shard of something sharp... but this is just so tiny."

At this point, he's basically talking to himself. The tip of his scalpel scrapes something. Is it bone? Or what he's after? Best dig around it to find out!

"I want you to know, Valdana, that Devero is wonderful. He's sweet, and kind, and smart, and selfless, and full to the brim of empathy for others. He deserves better than me, and I know it. But I'm still a huge upgrade over you. So until he's ready to move on from me, I will do everything I can to keep him safe, and to make sure he knows he's loved, and so, so very cherished. I really would have let you go, for him. Anything at all for him."

He finds what he's hunting, and flicks it out onto the floor with a generous ooze of blood.

"I have less than no reason to lie to you. You could have gotten away, if you'd just been a little smarter and a little less full of yourself."