Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, things didn't quite go according to plan at the Quentin Carnival. On the plus side, it doesn't look like the Parchment of Power was lost, since nobody seems to mention the thing. On the other hand, Johnny Blaze is officially out of this madness, given the sheer number of innocents slaughtered by Fallen Sabretooth and Fallen Spyro. But, Wolverine is now officially in the party, and he wants some serious answers. So, what awaits? Read on to discover...

(Our scene opens up back at the Abbey, with Cynder, Wolverine, and Captain America entering the scene, confronted by Caretaker, Magik, and Iron Man.)

Caretaker: What happened at that carnival was a tragedy.

Captain America: (Taking off his helmet) One that could have been avoided.

Magik: If you didn't keep so many secrets.

Iron Man: What is this, a duet? Since when were you two so chummy?

Captain America: Don't change the subject.

Caretaker: The Spirits of Vengeance have always been the secret guardians of the Parchment of Power.

Magik: Guardian? Blaze is probably using the thing for toilet paper right now!

Iron Man: I've met the guy, you give him too much credit.

Caretaker: We did what had to be done. That secret kept that page out of our enemies' hands for centuries.

Captain America: But at what cost?!

Magik: You cannot win this war with secrets!

Cynder: (Having heard enough) Magik is right. If we're going to stop Lilith and Malefor from massacring anymore innocent civilians, we all need to come clean with each other. Now.

Caretaker: There is nothing else.

Captain America: I don't know about the rest of you, but I doubt that.

Cynder: So do I. But I really wish I could believe that.

Magik: So do I.

Caretaker: If that's where we're at, then I see no point in continuing this conversation.

(And with that, Caretaker just straight up leaves, clearly having resolved nothing)

Cynder: Well that was a whole lot of nothing.

Wolverine: She never changes, that one.

Cynder: (At first surprised, but then remembers an earlier conversation) I almost forgot that you knew her at one point.

Wolverine: Some days, I wish I didn't.

Cynder: (Sighs) And here I thought we were finally on the same page. So much for me changing her mind.

Wolverine: Hey, kid. Against that, weigh this, you've got just about everyone else here on your side, I'm sure of it. Well, at least you've got Cap, Magik, and me.

Iron Man: Me too, honestly. I can just see Caretaker's point.

Captain America: The cost of these secrets is losing us the war.

Cynder: Okay, you two, keep it calm. We don't want another Civil War amongst the Avengers. Especially now of all times. (Sighs) Look, let's just get some sleep and figure this crap out in the morning. Maybe then Caretaker will be in a more talkative mood.

Magik: Doubt it.

Captain America: So do I.

Wolverine: Hold on, don't forget, you owe me some sort of explanation for all of this.

Cynder: I haven't forgotten, Logan. (Yawns) I'm just getting tired.

Wolverine: Tell it over a nightcap then.

Cynder: Don't expect much in the way of good rye around here. Pretty sure the liquor cabinet's possessed by a wraith.

Wolverine: Not the first time I've run into that.

Cynder: Now why does that not surprise me in the slightest?

(As Cynder and Wolverine head into the Abbey, still kind of paling around, our tale ends for today)

And that looks like a good spot to end for now. Admittedly a shorter one than most before, but the conversation was too good to dilute with other stuff. So, it looks like a rift is forming between the heroes again due to the sheer number of secrets Caretaker is holding on to. She claims this one about Johnny Blaze is the last one. But is it really? And, getting philosophical for a moment here, is Caretaker actually right? Do the centuries of protecting the Parchment of Power justify the high cost of keeping its guardian a secret? I genuinely want to know what you all think. But no spoilers for the rest of the game if this gets covered at some point should we engage in conversation. So, what awaits come the dawn? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!