Chapter 24: Apocalypse
In an underground basement without any windows, the burly Alger Wilson sat by a long table with various apparatuses and goatskin parchments on it .
...
In front of him was a half-consumed candle . The dim, yellowish flame's flickering made the shadows of the objects and table move like a mirage .
Alger's hair was disheveled like seaweed with a deep blue color that resembled black . He wore a robe with lightning patterns embroidered on it . He clasped his hands with his thumbs facing each other while he focused on a bottle of black liquid to the left of the candle .
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Splash! Splash! Splash!
The sound of tempestuous winds or the crashing of the sea waves howled from inside the sealed bottle . And in spots where the black ink did not sink, a faint fog would swirl . It was as though it grew eyes and a mouth .
Alger cocked his head to glance at the clock hanging on the wall and watched the needle strike three .
He pressed down on his temple as his eyes turned dark . Fascinating colors surfaced from the various items on the table .
At that moment, he discovered a deep-red light appear like a tidal wave from nowhere, drowning him instantly!
Backlund, Empress Borough, Inside the Hall family's luxurious mansion .
After dismissing her dance teacher, Audrey locked the door and sat straight up in front of her dressing table .
The sun outside was bright and gorgeous . There was a light-brown notebook made of exquisite goat skin . It was flipped open to reveal that it was blank . To its right was a fountain pen with a golden tip and embedded rubies .
Audrey Hall laid against a down-feather pillow and glanced at the yellow paper in her hand . Her gemlike eyes looked like they had two souls spiraling slowly in them .
Her gaze was calm and cool, as if she were waiting for a play to begin .
As the crimson red erupted, she looked at herself being swallowed with complete detachment .
Above the gray fog, in the magnificent palace, on the ancient and mottled long bronze table .
Klein, who had already activated his Spiritual Vision, looked over when Audrey Hall's figure began to form . He was not surprised to see that the colors deep in her aura had blended together . It became pure and serene, like a lake that was clear and reflective .
She really did become a Beyonder . .
Klein suppressed his impulse, rapped the edge of the long table thrice just like before, and smiled as he said, "Congratulations, Miss Justice, you are a Beyonder now . "
He can tell straight away? Audrey was stunned and smiled faintly .
"Thank you, Mr . Fool, and thank you, Mr . Hanged Man . "
"That was much faster that I thought," Alger Wilson said honestly .
"Good afternoon, Mr . Fool~!" Audrey shouted with a cheery voice .
Following that, she turned her head and looked at the person opposite her . With the same tone, she said, "Good afternoon, Mr . Hanged Man~!"
This lady sure is unsophisticated . Is she so sure that I'm a good person? Why isn't there any fear from her? Is she a noble lady who has been protected well? Klein smiled and maintained his unfathomable image.
Audrey put her palms together and placed them in front of her .
"Mr . Fool, Mr . Hanged Man, I have three questions to ask . If you think that the answers warrant a high price, tell me what you want, I will try my best to seek it . "
"No problem," Alger answered succinctly .
Klein nodded and leaned back further, making himself comfortable .
Audrey thought for a few seconds and said, "The first question is, what does 'acting' really mean? I realize that the remnant psyche in the potion has minute effects on me; is that because I've been acting as a Spectator all this while?"
Alger did not speak; instead, he looked at The Fool, as though waiting for him to give an answer .
Klein rubbed his finger on the edge of the table and said in a relaxed tone, "Let me explain this with an analogy . Imagine the core powers of your potion as a tightly guarded castle . The remnants of the psyche that can cause a lash back resides within that castle . Our goal is to get rid of it and become the true master of the castle .
"There are two ways we can do that . The first is to forcefully invade the castle . There is no guarantee that this will work, and you will most definitely injure yourself unless you can suppress it with absolute power . But of course, we are not equipped to do that .
"The second way is to get the owner of the castle to extend an invitation . This invitation can allow us to slide through the scrutiny of the guards and infiltrate the castle . We can then easily finish off the enemies . But the problem lies in the fact that this invitation specifies the facial features and characteristics of the guest . Thus, we have to disguise ourselves and act as the guest, do you understand?"
Alger immediately asked, as if he had anticipated this reply, "Then the aforementioned invitation is the name of the potion's Sequence?"
"That's right," Klein answered with great affirmation .
Audrey froze for a moment, having the sudden feeling that she completely understood what 'acting' meant .
She immediately exited her Spectator state due to her excitement . She praised in joy, "What an exceptional method, I think—I think it fits your title . Its style is very compatible with The Fool . . . I would never have believed that acting would have such an effect . Luckily, I have been acting as a Spectator the past few days . "
She paused for a moment before saying, "I think that this is a very valuable answer; my heart is not at ease accepting it for nothing . Mr . Fool, what do you need in exchange?
Alger also nodded.
Klein moved his fingers and smiled when he said, "Previously, I said that we would do some experiments to enable you to ask for a leave of absence . That way, you do not have to worry if you have to be somewhere inappropriate on a Monday afternoon . "
"That's our wish . " Audrey loosened her tightly knitted eyebrows .
Alger thought and said, "What do you need us to do?"
"You could try a piece of ritualistic magic during your free time . It need not be too formal . As long as you are in an environment that won't be disturbed . . . Put four brand new candles on an altar, placed on four corners respectively .
. . . Mix moon flowers, gold mint, slumber flowers, fingered citron, and rock-rose together then distill it . Extract it for its essential oil, then pour a drop onto each candle . . . "
"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era . . . the mysterious ruler above the gray fog . . . King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck . . . " Audrey Hall recited the three descriptions to herself silently . She suddenly felt a tumultuous wave of emotion go through her, preventing her from maintaining her Spectator state .
As an aficionado of mysticism, she had learned Hermes that was used in rituals and had tested out the rituals that fellow noble aficionados mentioned in private gatherings before she was pulled into the gray fog or made formal contact with Beyonder powers .
None of those rituals had any effects, but they had given Audrey a basic understanding of the structure of incantations .
Thus, she knew clearly what these three incantations described and signified .
The descriptions usually described one of the seven gods that looked over this world!
Thus, The Fool's incantation was claiming status equal to the Lady of Crimson, Mother of the Secrets, and the Empress of Disaster and Horror!
Is Mr . Fool the unknown, mysterious, powerful, godlike entity that Glaint spoke of? The source of danger that we must avoid in rituals? Audrey quickly recalled the comments made during the strange rituals which she and her friends did not dare attempt back then . She was momentarily at a loss for words .
Alger Wilson, who knew and understood much more than Audrey, shivered from the bottom of his heart .
If the ritualistic magic which Mr . Fool designed truly points to him to allow him to accept our requests, w-we would have to be addressing him with Him . He is to be addressed in the third person, which is reserved for gods . . .
How lucky, how smart I was to act in concert with him and not do anything foolish . Even when I was testing him, I did not step beyond the boundaries of normalcy . . .
Could he perhaps be an ancient, mysterious, horrifying existence, only that he does not appear before us in his true form and name . . . The Primordial Demoness, the Hidden Sage, or the true Creator which many mysterious churches believe in?
Alger understood that The Fool he was looking at now might not be his true form . He might not even have a gender or be a humanoid creature .
Klein propped his forehead up with one hand and tapped on the table with the other hand . He acutely noticed the changes happening to The Hanged Man and Justice .
But he acted as though nothing happened, as if everything was within his expectations . He continued without any care .
"I wish for your help ."
"I wish for your loving grace ."
"I wish for you to give me a good dream ."
"A herb Hornbeam essential oil which belongs to space."
"Lilac A flower which belongs to change."
He finished describing the incantations that belonged to another type of ritual . After he was done, he smiled .
"Lady, sir, have you memorized it?"
"Ah . . . " Audrey exhaled . She quickly covered her mouth and recalled seriously .
With her improved memory as a Spectator, she quickly processed the information and repeated the incantations as a form of confirmation .
Alger acted more normally . His pen did not stop for a moment, no matter what he was thinking about .
"With the incarnation you can use divination more precisely without any worries. Just change the incarnation. Like I wish to know about.. I wish you tell me. But before attempting that you need to request first." Klein said softly.
"Ok Mr. Fool" justice said cheerfully because she can fulfill her. "Stop Audrey, you can't make Mr. Fool worry on these little matters."
"That all from me."
we shall have a time for casual conversation after all official issues have been discussed . Who shall begin?" Klein gave a hand gesture signaling for someone to start .
Alger thought something then glanced at The Fool . He deliberated before saying, "In recent decades, the amount of activities of the various secret organizations has seen an upward trend . In fact, there are even new secret organizations appearing, some of them having reached scale with a good number of Beyonders . "
Are you trying to ask me for the reason?
" You are not worthy enough to know the main reason. But I can only tell you this is related to apocalypse." Klein said and then continued."An Epoch where the old gods fade and new gods arise is about to decend. The tides of history is roaring in unstoppable manner.
After hearing this both justice and hanged man feel very shocked they forget about first statement. Alger wanted to ask about what's the reason behind it. Then he read between the lines and understood that his level is very low and if I wanted to know I need to rise my sequence.
Justice also understood much of it. "Don't look into the mysteries of God."
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