The evening unfolded just as Michael had suspected.
Once the spell was broken, people began to awaken.
The stronger ones regained consciousness first, while the weaker took longer.
Michael also managed to meet some of the people he'd spoken with in the illusion, though one of them was in a rather troublesome situation.
It was the count who had shared the same worries with Michael about why their mental defense tools hadn't worked.
Apparently, he had "died" to a trap inside the illusion. But whether it was due to a flaw in the spell or simply how it was designed, his mental defense tool only activated when he was attacked in reality.
So yes, the tools had been functioning—but the spell was simply too unique.
When Michael learned this, he was once again grateful he'd chosen to take that hit to his stomach.
If he hadn't, he'd be like the count—unconscious and needing to pay exorbitant fees for a rare high-tier healer.
At least the count had family and connections.
