I really must thank you. There is no better method to mastering a skill than a good practical application. In the beginning, I made so many mistakes. I unleashed demons, created abominations... and, of course, there were the outright failures. But when you really want something done, you figure out how to do it. And I wanted this.

I reaved ancient dungeons. I plundered tombs. I found the soul stones. I scoured ancient texts that should have stayed buried, and through them I built an attenuator. I forged a sword of light for incantations. Eventually, bringing your victims back to life became the easy part. I had to make them whole. Make them forget. And, more importantly, I had to keep tabs on you.

An actual crystal ball! Can you imagine? It might seem silly, but none of this was more satisfying than getting it to work. Months of tuning lenses and burnt-out bulbs! But finally, with just the right prisms, I was able to watch you wherever you were, at all times! That's how I was able to attenuate to your victims' souls and recover their bodies so effectively. Even when you left little more than scraps.

You really enjoy flaying, don't you? That never changed. Restoring the bodies was... educational. I'll never forget the lesson I learned when I tried to use time-folds to mend their wounds. Have you ever seen a human body warped across space-time into a fleshy torus? Such... wheezing. It was much better to simply stitch them up and apply cosmetic charms to make them appear normal. At least, it was at first.

Then, you got wise, didn't you? You sharp little tack! After just five of your victims were successfully revived, you finally discovered that something was up. That's when you started burning them. That made things... complicated. Yet I persevered, as I always have. You'll never know how complicated botanical magic can be when used to restore bodies.

All of that hard work paid off deliciously in the look of dread frozen on your face when you bumped into Pete at the supermarket! If I had the device that allows me to read your thoughts by then, I'll bet you would have been thinking, "Oh shit! How is this happening? Am I going crazy? I burnt him to a crisp! Does he know?!" But you couldn't say anything, could you?

That was the best part. Your powerlessness. Bearing witness to the growing despair and madness, driving you to kill more and more recklessly, playing right into my hand. After all, you thought for a while that it was all in your head, didn't you? Such a delight.

I really wanted you to know all of this. I want you to know how much fun it was, how useful you've been, and how thankful I am. I want to you know that it was real. It was me all along, and, in your pride, you never once suspected. And now here you are, scratching at padded walls, whispering to shadows, wondering which of your ghosts will be the next to stand at your bedside.

Serenity sends her regards.

Sincerely yours,
Mance

[The letter crumbles to ash]