Play along
As they flew through the air Hao Xuan caught a glimpse of something from the corner of his eye. The shadowy figures from his memories once again became visible at the very edge of his vision but when he tried to look at them directly they would melt into the darkness.
He could tell they were always there but seeing them directly was not as easy now.
'Maybe with time they will completely fade away. I hope they do...' he thought to himself because despite their many uses the price was too high.
Absorbing all the shadows would mean he would integrate their memories and life experiences with his own, which would change him from the inside out.
Even while lost in thought he managed to land precisely where he needed to be, in front of the building that previously housed the protection array for the city.
"We're here...you can let go now..." he tapped on Claudia's back thinking she was scared of heights and had lost herself for a moment.