It didn't take long before they all took to their heels, especially the fat man who somehow managed to run even faster than before.
Vito grabbed Jonny and dragged him out of the construction site. His face carried a fearful expression, casting multiple backward glances as he lugged his unconscious friend away.
Meanwhile, Luca was relieved but a flood of questions rose in his mind the moment he felt Digger's aura when the man appeared.
He pulled himself to his feet, wiping the dust off his coat and the rest of the clothes, picking up his items that had fallen to the ground.
Finally all the events seemed to register in his mind.
"You're not a mage," he muttered unconsciously.
Digger's presence was far stronger than anyone Luca had ever encountered. Stronger than Haider, stronger than Finley, and certainly far beyond any mage he had met aside from Crowley's student.
The aura receded slowly, until it was nothing more than a faint shimmer on his skin which was barely different from the sunlight glinting on him.
"I had a feeling you were one," Digger said with a nod, "though you seem awfully weak at the moment."
It was almost as if a different person stood before Luca. Yet, beneath it all, he could still make out traces of the bar owner he once knew.
The questions multiplied as he kept looking at him.
"How did you find me?"
"I noticed the mess you left in your departure and connected the dots. Though I never would have guessed you were a mage, kid."
'It must be that bastard's cloaking spell,' Digger thought, taking stock of Luca again. Even now he wasn't giving off the faintest trace of aura aside from the items in his possession.
Digger had also pieced it together from the boy's words. Luca asking that question was a giveaway. Regular people couldn't tell a Knight from a Mage or an Exorcist no matter how hard they tried. They also wouldn't think to ask.
Luca groaned. "It was that Jonny. I didn't know he could get so angry. He was crazy fast, almost crushed me."
"You're not part of the Church, are you?"
The older man raised an eyebrow.
"Do I have to be from the Church to have power?"
Luca thought for a moment and decided the answer was no. He wasn't sure about many things: how the Church had its power, where they drew it from, or even what they truly were, since they weren't mages.
But one thing was clear: power from the Veil could take many forms, though its foundation always came back to Glyphs.
"Well, alright then," Digger said. "I'll explain what I can."
He raised a finger.
"There's an infinite number of other worlds out there and an endless amount of energy to draw from. Likewise, there are millions of supremely powerful beings; beings far beyond what we can even imagine.
"A person can draw from any one of these beings, or from any one of these worlds beyond the Veil. For the Church, all their power comes from the entity known as Sol."
Luca nodded. He knew at least that much.
"And mages?" he asked.
It was something he still didn't fully understand, despite the writings in the tome Crowley had placed within the Legacy.
Digger paused, choosing his words carefully.
"Mages draw on ambient energy within the Veil. What makes mages special is that they can draw from the myriad of energy sources. You, as a mage, aren't bound by the same restrictions as, say, a worshiper of Sol.
"Knights, Exorcists, Dreamwalkers, Dreadnoughts and even some Artificers. Every path draws from the Veil, and everything comes back to the Glyphs. But the Mage path uses glyphs more directly, more efficiently."
Digger paused to let the words sink in. For a brief moment, the silver glow flared on his body, only to fade again.
"You may call upon the demons below, entertain the angels above, beckon the stars and the moons, or even seek aid from the Gods. The world is yours."
It made sense, though certain parts stood out.
"Why doesn't everyone just do that then? Why do some people choose to become Knights instead of mages? And are you saying I could walk any one of those paths if I wanted?"
Digger nodded.
"You could. But not everyone can become a mage. That's the simple and honest truth. You must see it yourself. Most people don't have a choice. They simply take whatever is offered."
Luca couldn't deny it made sense. It filled the gaps in his foundation. Crowley had explained much, but always with the narrow focus of being a mage. He said nothing about any of the other paths.
As he thought it over, he noticed Digger watching him with a curious look.
"How did you plan to escape if I hadn't arrived?"
The question gave him pause. In truth, he had no idea. There hadn't been enough time to activate a spell or talisman. At least not ones that wouldn't have killed him in the process at least.
"Dunno. Guess I got lucky," he shrugged.
Inwardly, he began calculating different scenarios, different methods to avoid ever being caught in such a corner again.
His lips pulled into a grimace as he realized the simple truth: Vito and Jonny, of all people, had managed to overpower him.
Still, something felt complete now, with the knowledge he had just gained. And that included Digger's true identity.
It made sense why he was so feared.
Luca put that aside and returned his attention to him.
"Who are you, really? Is your name even Digger?"
The man's eyes gleamed with a strange light, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Frustrated at the lack of an answer, Luca moved on.
"Aren't you worried those oafs will report you to the Church? They couldn't tell a mage from a Knight if they tried."
Digger's smile deepened, almost unreadable.
"Let them. It's about time I finished what I came for."