The morning in Igwynt was veiled in a faint mist, with the outlines of distant buildings appearing and disappearing in the haze. Striding briskly along the street, Gregor’s mood was unaffected by the foggy weather. Humming a little tune, he moved forward with purpose, weaving through the flow of passersby.
When he reached the lobby of the Cypress Fir Tower, Gregor entered and went straight to the reception desk. There, an elderly woman was engrossed in writing something. He greeted her cheerfully.
“Good morning, Mrs. Ada.”
“Oh... good morning, Gregor. Walking here as usual, I see…” Ada lifted her head, offering a faint smile. Her expression seemed wearier than before, clearly still burdened by recent events.
“Yeah, exercising more never hurts,” Gregor said while adjusting his collar. Ada responded with a warm chuckle.
“You’re as energetic as ever, young man. Despite running around busily these days, you seem to be in good spirits.”
“Heh… It’s true I’ve been busy lately, but it’s all wrapping up soon. As long as no more flowers show up…”
“Good morning, ma’am. These flowers are from the Rainbow Butterfly Florist. A customer ordered them for delivery—please accept them.”
At that moment, a worker in uniform approached the desk, placing a bouquet of vibrant flowers in front of Gregor and Ada with a polite smile.
Gregor’s expression froze as he stared at the bouquet, his mood suddenly mirroring the foggy weather outside. Ada, on the other hand, glanced at the flowers and shook her head with a wry smile....
Basement of the Cypress Fir Tower, Igwynt’s Serenity Bureau.
In the director’s office, yet another bouquet of flowers rested on the desk. Gregor, Turner, Elena, and James were present, their expressions grave as they focused on the bouquet.
“They’ve sent us something again… Let’s see what message they’ve left this time,” James said as he stepped to the desk. From among the roses, he carefully pulled out an envelope, opened it, and unfolded the letter inside.
James frowned deeply.
“Mr. James, what does it say?” Gregor asked, noticing James’s reaction. After a moment of silence, James spoke.
“It’s song lyrics.”
“Song lyrics?”
Gregor, Turner, and Elena exchanged puzzled looks. James slapped the letter onto the desk, prompting the others to crowd around. Elena read the lyrics aloud.
“Lambs… Lambs… We are lambs… Sweet little lambs… Grant us mercy so we may grow…”
“Hiss… This seems like a children’s song, doesn’t it?” Gregor muttered in confusion. Turner, however, raised his voice indignantly.
“Why would they suddenly send us a nursery rhyme? Do they think we’re children?”
“This isn’t an ordinary children’s song…”
James interjected, his voice serious. The others looked at him in surprise as he continued slowly.
“This song is performed every year at the charity show by the children of Charity Orphanage. It’s a staple performance at the event and was reportedly written by Viscount Field. I’ve heard it a few times myself.”
“Viscount Field? A children’s song performed at a charity show? Why… why would they send us something like this? What’s the point?” Turner looked increasingly baffled, unable to decipher the meaning behind the gesture.
What was this organization, self-proclaimed as the Rose Cross Order, trying to convey with a nursery rhyme?
Just as the group found themselves stumped by this cryptic riddle, James’s gaze sharpened. Fixating on the letter, he seemed to notice something.
James picked up the letter again and carefully separated another sheet that had been subtly stuck to the back. As he unfolded it, intricate drawings covered the page.
“There’s another page? What’s this?”
Turner and the others leaned in. The newly uncovered sheet depicted a complex circular diagram. At the center of the array were symbols of a coin and an equilateral triangle.
“This is… a ritual array with the Stone properties?!”
“It’s a suppression array for cognitive poison. It’s typically used when interpreting mystical knowledge related to the Chalice,” James explained solemnly. He placed the page with the Stone array aside and spread out the page with the song lyrics again.
Then, the four Beyonders present simultaneously felt a subtle shift in their minds. A faint compulsion emerged—a peculiar craving for food. Turner, in particular, unconsciously licked his upper lip.
“This…”
The other three quickly averted their gazes. Elena rubbed her temples and spoke.
“This… is a poison? This song contains mystical knowledge? A Chalice knowledge? The suppression array with Stone properties must have initially blocked it…”
“Why would a song contain a poison? And why does it convey an appetite-related Chalice embodiment aspect?” Turner backed away, his sensitivity heightened as a Chalice Beyonder.
Gregor, deep in thought, suddenly appeared to realize something. He looked at James, still holding the letter.
“Mr. James, earlier you mentioned… this song is a staple at the charity show, written by Viscount Field and provided to Charity Orphanage. But…”
Gregor hesitated, then finally voiced his concern.
“But… why would a song written by Viscount Field contain a Chalice knowledge?”
The moment Gregor’s words fell, a heavy silence engulfed the office. Everyone’s faces turned grim, and no one spoke a word.
At that moment, the weight of their unspoken suspicions hung in the air. The truth, no matter how grim, had to be confronted.
After taking a long, deep breath, James finally broke the silence.
“Gregor, Turner, assemble the squad…”
“Yes, sir!”
...
Noon, Southeastern Outskirts of Igwynt, Charity Orphanage.
The Charity Orphanage was alive with joy. Colorful ribbons and fresh flowers adorned every corner. Children played happily on the lawn, sharing newly donated clothes, books, and toys under the guidance of the nuns.
At the orphanage’s entrance hall, a blonde-haired girl with twin braids, Anna, stood dressed in her best outfit. She carried a small suitcase and faced Dorothy, who was clad in an elegant white dress.
“Miss Mayschoss, I’m so glad you came to see me off today!” Anna said with a bright smile.
Dorothy returned the smile.
“Of course, Anna. You’re my best student. How could I miss this? Remember to be well-behaved and study hard from now on.”
“I will! I’ll listen to the Viscount and work hard on my studies!”
“Good. I believe in you, Anna. Oh, I brought a gift to celebrate your big day. Hold still—I’ll put it on for you.”
Dorothy pulled out a bright yellow floral hairpin from a gray handkerchief and placed it on Anna’s head. Anna touched it and beamed.
“Thank you, Miss! It must look beautiful!”
At that moment, an elderly nun appeared at the doorway and called out.
“Anna! The Viscount is here—it’s time to go.”
“I’m coming, Sister Diedre. Goodbye, Miss Mayschoss!”
“Goodbye…”
Waving goodbye, Dorothy watched as Anna, carrying her suitcase, ran toward the door and took the nun’s hand. Together, they left the orphanage gates.
Outside the gates, Anna bid a tearful farewell to her friends and the nuns. She then walked toward a luxurious three-horse carriage where Viscount Field waited with a smile. Behind him stood his butler, a man with a goatee holding a cane.
“Viscount, I… I’m here,” Anna said hesitantly, wiping her tears.
“From now on, you can call me Father. Let’s go,” the Viscount said warmly, taking her hand to lead her to the carriage.
Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves broke the air. Everyone turned to see several black carriages approaching rapidly. They screeched to a halt nearby, and from the carriages emerged men in black uniforms, armed and masked.
They moved swiftly, surrounding the Viscount’s carriage and everyone present. The scene left the nuns and children at the orphanage gate bewildered, while Anna stood frozen in place.