“Rose Cross Order…”
Inside the grand and magnificent Cathedral of Holy Mount, Hilbert paused briefly upon hearing Artcheli's words, then spoke with a hint of confusion.
“In all the currently active mid-to-large-scale mystical societies, I’ve never heard of anything named the Rose Cross Order. Is this another one of those small, local societies from Igwynt?”
“Whether it’s a small society or not remains unclear. All we know about the Rose Cross Order comes from the records of the local Serenity Bureau in Igwynt. According to those records, the Rose Cross Order is not a society that had long-term activity in Igwynt. It only appeared a few times during the dismantling of the Crimson Eucharist and had some brief contact with the local Bureau. After the cult was eradicated, the Rose Cross Order vanished completely, suggesting they came from outside.
“All signs point to the Crimson Eucharist, established by that ‘Luer,’ having operated for a long time in Igwynt to gather resources for his advancement ritual. But in the end, it wasn’t the local Bureau that wiped them out—it was likely the Rose Cross Order. And since they disappeared immediately afterward, there’s reason to believe they were targeting The Crimson Holy Mother. Given how unknown the name ‘Rose Cross Order’ is in the mystical world, it's very likely to be an alias or branch of some larger organization.”
Artcheli analyzed the situation with a serious tone from her seat. After hearing her assessment, Kramar immediately spoke.
“A branch or alias of another major society? Hmph—so you’re saying the Rose Cross Order might have been dispatched by the Afterbirth Cult to retrieve The Crimson Holy Mother, only to find it had already been sold?”
Kramar posed the question sharply, but Artcheli shook her head slightly and replied:
“That’s possible, but unlikely. According to the information from Igwynt’s Serenity Bureau, the methods employed by the Rose Cross Order were quite different from those of typical Chalice-affiliated groups. We’ve had extensive dealings with many of the Afterbirth Cult’s branches, and none have ever used the name Rose Cross Order. I’m inclined to think their target really was The Crimson Holy Mother, but I don’t believe they are affiliated with the Afterbirth Cult.”
She continued earnestly presenting the findings from her department, and Amanda followed up.
“Setting aside this so-called Rose Cross Order for now—what about that Luer? Do you have any leads on where he came from? If we can identify him, it may help us further understand The Crimson Holy Mother and the recent changes within the Afterbirth Cult.”
“As for that Luer, we haven’t uncovered much. We only know he was brought back to Igwynt by a noble after a trip abroad, whom he then controlled. Starting the investigation from Igwynt alone won’t be enough to trace his background. The inquiries there have only just begun. After this meeting, I will allocate more personnel to thoroughly pursue this lead.”
Artcheli explained further, and Hilbert, now intrigued, added.
“The Rose Cross Order, huh… An organization that just popped out of nowhere. Quite interesting. Though speaking of recently emerged mysterious forces, there’s also that… Heaven’s Arbiter Sect, right? According to the Cardinal of Redemption’s report, they made quite an impressive showing…”
As he spoke, Hilbert turned his gaze toward Amanda across from him. Amanda paused briefly, then nodded and spoke plainly.
“Yes. The reason Sister Ivy and Sister Vania were able to survive their encounter with the cult leader was entirely thanks to the aid of an ancient Revelation inheritance buried in Busalet. The criminal Unina discovered Heopolis—the legendary sacred land of the First Dynasty—within Busalet and attempted to greedily consume the Revelation legacy stored there. But she was met with resistance from multiple ancient Death Monarchs, as well as an ancient sage who had been slumbering within the sacred land.
“That ancient sage appeared to be the High Priestess of the First Dynasty, from seven thousand years ago. It seems she used some secret technique to seal herself together with the sacred land until now. Her power is immense—enough to match Unina, even as a favored of the Mother of Chalice—and she ultimately drove her back. I speculate that a portion of the fallen Revelation deity, Heaven’s Arbiter’s divine power, may still linger within her.”
Amanda spoke calmly. As her words fell, the chamber grew silent. Every cardinal present showed varying degrees of shock.
A High Priestess who could wield divine power—such a description inevitably evoked memories of the one they all served: the Pope, the first beneath God. And from Amanda’s account, it seemed only someone on the Pope’s level could contend with Unina. In other words, that ancient sage possessed power on that level. Was she the "Pope" of Revelation faith?
With that thought, the cardinals’ expressions shifted. The re-emergence of such power after seven thousand years could disrupt the balance of the modern world. If this ancient sage chose to re-engage with the world, her stance could rewrite the current global structure.
“A remnant of the power of an ancient dynasty from seven millennia ago, still persisting today… Unbelievable. That recent activity by Heaven’s Arbiter Sect in Addus—was that her doing as well? If so, then this appearance wasn’t simply reactive defense, but a sign that they intend to interfere in the mortal world again after their long dormancy… This is worrisome indeed.”
Frowning deeply, Marco expressed his concern in his frail voice. As soon as he finished, Alberto added his own thoughts.
“There were Revelation residues on the Busalet battlefield of an absolutely astounding scale—no less than the residuals from Chalice. Additionally, outside the main battlefield, we recorded an enormous number of lightning storm anomalies. Though I wasn’t there personally, based on the aftermath, the strength of this Revelation sage is truly staggering… completely impossible to ignore.”
With a grave tone, Alberto gave his judgment. Artcheli then chimed in.
“From the intel I’ve gathered, many people witnessed a city appear and disappear into thin air. Combined with the Cardinal of Redemption’s report, that must have been Heopolis… the sacred land of the First Dynasty. I’m really curious—what kind of technology did the First Dynasty possess to hide a sacred land of that size for seven thousand years? No wonder it was considered the most magnificent civilization of the Second Epoch…”
She spoke with a mixture of awe and curiosity. Hilbert followed with a somber tone.
“A High Priest of the dominant faith of a powerful ancient civilization… a still-functional sacred land… at least four Death Monarchs at Gold-rank… put all of that together… and what we’re looking at is a terrifying force. In terms of scale, few heretical or heterodox organizations today can match it. Even the Holy See would have to take this very seriously.
“If we really do go to war with the Afterbirth Cult, then the strength of that ancient sage and her cult will be absolutely vital.”
Hilbert spoke gravely. He hadn’t expected that the mysterious Heaven’s Arbiter Sect would turn out to be such a formidable hidden faction. At this scale, only the unified Afterbirth Cult or perhaps the shadowy Nether Coffin Order could compare—though even the inner workings of the Nether Coffin Order remained largely unknown to Holy Mount.
Seated in her position, after observing the other cardinals for a moment, Amanda continued speaking.
“From Sister Ivy’s detailed account, Heaven’s Arbiter Sect that had been active in Addus doesn’t appear to be directly subordinate to that ancient sage. That sect seems to have been founded in our current era by individuals who acquired a Revelation inheritance. Their objective is to excavate hidden First Dynasty ruins buried deep beneath the earth to obtain its legacy.
“This intervention by the sage may have been triggered by the activities of Heaven’s Arbiter Sect. After she repelled the criminal, she immediately concealed the sacred land again and hasn’t appeared since. We still can’t determine her stance. Whether she intends to interfere in the world once more remains unknown.”
Amanda spoke with composed clarity, knowing the situation better than most due to Ivy’s report.
“I see… but regardless, the power wielded by this ancient sage is simply too immense. Whether she awakened willingly or not, we must remain extremely vigilant.”
This time, Alberto, who had remained silent until now, spoke in a calm and steady voice from Amanda’s side. Amanda nodded in agreement.
“Vigilance is appropriate, but with the criminal leading the heretics in a full-scale resurgence, we must also consider the possibility of cooperation. That sage has already fought and driven back the criminal once, putting her at odds with the Afterbirth Cult. And since her sacred land lies in a strategic location, we could use her to deal with the criminal.”
Amanda laid her intentions bare, but the moment she finished, Kramar scoffed from across the room.
“Cooperation? Heh… Your attitude toward such a powerful heretical force is far too lenient, Cardinal of Redemption. You don’t even understand who they are, and you’re already talking about cooperation? Isn’t that a bit too hasty? To be so favorable toward an unknown cult… your position is starting to look concerning.”
Kramar’s voice was laced with sarcasm. Amanda furrowed her brow and replied coldly.
“Cardinal of Inquisition… what are you implying?”
“Implying? Oh, nothing much… Just that I’m a little concerned. What if this mysterious Revelation cult is just another faction of the Afterbirth Cult, and they’ve already infiltrated the Church unnoticed, extending their tendrils even into our sacred halls… and all under the guise of ‘helping’ in a time of crisis?”
Kramar’s voice took on a sinister edge. Amanda’s expression darkened, and she responded sternly.
“Are you accusing me now, Cardinal of Inquisition?”
“No, no… You were personally appointed by the Holy See—I would never question His judgment.
“You yourself are fine. But that doesn’t mean those around you are. Take that Sister Vania you’ve placed such faith in, for example…
“She had contact with Heaven’s Arbiter Sect back in Addus—even received their help during a crisis. Why would they help her? What would they gain? And let’s not forget her record—she’s been involved in all sorts of incidents: the Navaha affair, the grand theft in Adria, the Moncarlo incident, the Hymn Cathedral attack… So many events, and every time she’s supposedly ‘innocent’ and ‘uninvolved’? Is that really possible?
“And now this latest incident in Busalet. The Revelation cult makes its first public appearance—Sister Vania is there. The ancient sage of Revelation awakens—Sister Vania is there again. Are all of these coincidences? Or has she already been corrupted by that reawakened cult? Has Heaven’s Arbiter Sect been secretly grooming her—helping her rise within the Church—until she eventually stands by your side, Cardinal of Redemption, influencing you… turning you into a tool through which they can control the Church?”
Kramar’s eyes gleamed sharply as he delivered his conclusion. Amanda, listening to this litany of insinuations, gave a dry laugh before replying.
“Influence me? So you believe there’s a force in this world that could corrupt me, the will of a Saint of the Church, without my even knowing it?”
“That’s not impossible. Don’t forget… Cardinal of Redemption… what was the criminal’s identity four hundred years ago? She was the one sitting in your very seat.”
Kramar’s tone was calm, but his words carried an unmistakable edge. Amanda responded immediately, voice steady but dangerous.
“Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t question the Holy See’s judgment? Or are you saying I’m no longer His chosen?”
“I don’t question the Holy See’s decision at the time. When He appointed you, I’m sure you were sound. You still are. But who’s to say you won’t become a problem later? My job is to eliminate problems at the root—while they’re still potential risks. And given the past issues with your current seat, I must pay closer attention to it…”
Kramar’s voice grew sharper, more forceful. Amanda narrowed her eyes and replied in a tone just as dangerous.
“What now? Are you planning to interrogate me, Cardinal of Inquisition?”
“No. Not unless the Holy See gives the order—I don’t have that authority. And I do believe you’re innocent, Cardinal of Redemption. But I must insist on interrogating Sister Vania. The suspicions surrounding her are simply too great. I can no longer sit by idly.”
He had finally spoken his true intention. Amanda immediately refuted him.
“Sister Vania has already advanced to the Crimson rank. Without permission from the Holy See, you have no right to arrest or interrogate a Crimson-rank Beyonder.”
But Kramar shot back.
“Don’t mislead people, Cardinal of Redemption. I am merely forbidden from directly arresting someone of archbishop rank. Sister Vania may be Crimson-rank, but she has not been appointed as an archbishop. I have every right to detain her! Your prior interference with my inquisitors was already a breach of Church law!”
In truth, before this meeting even began, Kramar had already sent people to Busalet to apprehend Vania, having gotten advance intel through his own channels. But Amanda had predicted this move and acted faster, deploying her own agents to protect Vania. The two sides nearly clashed in the deserts of Busalet—fortunately, mediators from the Courts of Foundation and Secrets were on-site investigating the battlefield and recovering Ivy, preventing a larger incident.
“The one who broke Church law first was you… Cardinal of Inquisition. Your accusations against Sister Vania are without evidence—pure speculation. I was merely protecting a loyal believer from being unjustly imprisoned and coerced into confessing to baseless ‘crimes.’”
Amanda’s retort was sharp. Kramar’s face twisted with visible frustration.
“So you’re determined to shield that little nun… The Holy See is absent, and your arrogance grows by the day…
“I have ample reason to detain Sister Vania. Your interference is illegal and unfounded. If you don’t believe me, let’s put it to a vote among the cardinals present. In the absence of the Holy See… this is the fairest method, isn’t it?”
Kramar glanced around at the other cardinals, clearly intending to bring the matter of arresting Vania to a vote.
“A vote? Very well…”
Amanda smiled faintly, then added.
“But let me say this—without evidence, Cardinal of Inquisition, your accusations will not be recognized by anyone here. If you can’t produce proof, you’d do best to continue your investigation in silence. If you truly can’t uncover anything, then what you ought to be doing is focusing on your own duties… not casting baseless aspersions.
“This Church is vast. Heresy can appear in many places. You should not be so fixated on Sister Vania. As far as I know, there are numerous regions with suspicious activity… such as Flottes in the Falano Diocese. In the recent governor assassination case, there were signs of heretical activity. I already have leads. Would you like me to cooperate with you in investigating it, Cardinal of Inquisition?”
With a subtly meaningful tone, Amanda narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked toward Kramar. Hearing her words, Kramar froze for a moment, falling silent in his seat.
“Hmm… The Cardinal of Inquisition’s earlier suggestion wasn’t a bad one. Perhaps we could vote on whether or not you have the right to arrest Sister Vania. Why don’t we begin right now?”
Hearing Amanda’s words and seeing Kramar’s current expression, Hilbert rubbed his chin and said with mild amusement. Kramar shot him a glare and then replied.
“Forget it. We’ve already got enough on today’s agenda. No need to pile more onto it. Let’s finish what we’re supposed to be discussing.”
His tone carried a hint of sulkiness. Seeing this, Hilbert chuckled even more visibly.
“Alright then, let’s move on…”
The Cardinal Council continued, with the following discussions focusing mainly on the specifics of Holy War preparations. After lengthy deliberation, the cardinals finally produced an initial war readiness plan.
Next, they turned to discussing how to deal with the newly emerged Heaven’s Arbiter Sect. Facing such a powerful revivalist force—especially during this period of Holy War mobilization—the cardinals found it difficult to agree on a unified approach.
Some, led by the Court of Inquisition, advocated surveillance, investigation, and heightened alert. Others, represented by the Court of Redemption, argued for proactive contact and even recruitment, seeing the group as a potential ally in resisting the Afterbirth Cult in North Ufiga. Neither side could fully persuade the other, though the disagreement didn’t escalate into a forced resolution.
After all, the diplomatic tone used in any first official contact with such a potent revivalist faction would essentially define the Church’s future relationship with them. With the Holy See absent, no one dared to insist on a decisive stance.
And so, as the Cardinal Council came to a close, the Radiance Church’s position toward the so-called “Revival Dynasty” remained officially undecided.
…
Daytime, North Ufiga.
Under the blazing sun, a boundless desert stretched into the distance, with yellow dust whipping through the air. Across the endless expanse, a long railway line ran straight toward the horizon. On its tracks, a train raced swiftly toward the far end of the land.
Inside one of the train’s private compartments, Dorothy, still dressed in traditional North Ufigan robes, sat quietly, gazing out at the desolate scenery during yet another journey.
After returning to Addus, Dorothy and Nephthys had taken a brief rest before setting out again. They boarded the train to head for Kankdal, where they planned to board a ship and leave North Ufiga, marking the end of their journey in the region.
During the return trip, Dorothy kept a close watch on Vania’s situation back in Busalet, particularly on how she would deal with the Church’s aftermath. She was prepared to intervene if necessary.
Shortly after Dorothy’s departure, through Vania’s perspective, she saw the Church’s reinforcements arriving aboard a new model of aerial battleship. A large number of personnel had arrived to survey the battlefield, investigate the incident, and recover Ivy’s ship-body. Given the significance of the event, representatives from many Church departments had come—including envoys directly from the various cardinal authorities. Dorothy, during this time, gained a wealth of insight into the Church’s internal structure.
What surprised her most was that the Court of Inquisition immediately sent two Crimson-rank Inquisitor-Commanders with a team attempting to apprehend Vania on the spot. The situation escalated quickly, and just as Dorothy was weighing whether she needed to step in herself, Amanda’s envoys—of equal authority—arrived in time to confront the Inquisition agents and force a compromise, ensuring Vania wasn’t taken away. Although the crisis was resolved in the end, it was a very tense standoff, nearly breaking into a physical confrontation.
“After this incident, the Church forces already dissatisfied with Vania will only become more hostile… The Court of Inquisition seems completely convinced that Vania is a spy for Heaven’s Arbiter Sect… They tried to seize her outright…
“Thankfully, Vania’s interests are now deeply tied to Amanda’s, and Amanda herself is measured and cautious. As long as Amanda is around, Vania is safe within the Church…
“I haven’t reached the Gold rank yet. I still can’t protect Vania from the Church’s full might. So leaving her under Amanda’s protection for now is the best choice. Once I complete my advancement and become a Gold-rank demigod, I’ll have enough power to ignore the Church’s authority to some extent. When that time comes, if Vania still wants to stay and the Church remains safe, she can stay. But if even Amanda can’t shield her anymore… then I’ll have no problem taking her by force and protecting her myself…”
Sitting in the gently swaying carriage, Dorothy mulled over these thoughts while gazing out the window. After finishing her reflections, she turned her attention back to the cabin, nibbling on fruit from her meal tray, then took out her magic box and opened it.
After fumbling inside for a bit, she retrieved her Literary Sea Logbook and laid it open on the table.
Flipping through its pages, Dorothy quickly turned to the contact page linked to Beverly. After a brief moment of thought, she picked up her pen and wrote the usual greeting.
“Hey, are you there?”
A reply swiftly appeared on the page in neatly printed letters.
“Do you think there’s ever a time when I’m not here?”
Dorothy was about to write her reply when Beverly’s handwriting appeared again.
“I’ve been waiting for you to reach out. Honestly, I didn’t expect it would take you this long. I thought something had happened to you.”
Reading Beverly’s words, Dorothy paused for a moment, then replied with amused interest.
“Oh? You expected I’d come to find you now?”
“Of course… Every time you stir up a storm, there’s a high chance you’ll come to me afterward with questions. And this time, what you did in Busalet was quite the spectacle. I figured your questions would be equally weighty~”
Beverly’s reply appeared before Dorothy’s eyes. Reading it, Dorothy couldn’t help but respond curiously.
“Was my commotion this time really that big? You already know about it?”
“Of course. Don’t underestimate the Craftsmen’s Guild’s intelligence network. Even though Busalet is remote, desolate, and harsh, it’s not devoid of people. The disturbance you caused there was so large that nearly half of Busalet felt it in varying degrees. There were even observation reports from Addus. Entire tribes believed they’d witnessed a divine miracle.
“Lately, we’ve dispatched quite a few agents to assess the mysterious plague there and search for business opportunities. They aren’t blind or deaf.
“And besides… when high-ranking Beyonders with divine power engage in massive-scale combat, it creates shockwaves in the Inner Realm. The battle in Busalet affected multiple sectors of the Inner Realm. These shockwaves ripple through the interconnected layers and can absolutely be sensed by others.”
Beverly’s response flowed out swiftly in neatly printed script. Dorothy, reading the impeccable characters, couldn’t help but think to herself:
“High-ranking mystical combat involving divine forces… can cause shockwaves in the Inner Realm that others can detect? Just how deep must one’s connection to the Inner Realm be to sense that kind of disturbance…?”
Having finished that train of thought, she picked up her pen and wrote back.
“Since you already anticipated I’d be contacting you, let’s skip the small talk and get straight to it. This time, what I want to ask is—do you know anything about the Stone Prince’s mystic history? I mean, credible research materials, anything reliable. I need to confirm his current state.”
After finishing her question, Dorothy quietly waited for Beverly’s response. It wasn’t long before the neatly printed letters appeared again.
“The Stone Prince, huh… what do you need His information for?”
“Mmm… let’s just say I have my reasons. I need a lot of information about the Stone Prince. I need to know His current state—and ideally, find a way to see Him… or at least see a part of Him.”
Dorothy continued writing, and Beverly replied again.
“You want to meet the Stone Prince?”
“Yeah. Why? Is that a problem? Has He already fallen or something?”
Dorothy wrote quickly, but Beverly’s response came calmly.
“No. He’s still there… He’s always been there… never fallen, never been replaced—like a massive stone weathering the sands for ages.”
Reading this, Dorothy paused briefly and then wrote again.
“So, do you have any secret information about the Stone Prince? Or do you know how one might meet Him?”
After a moment’s pause, Beverly’s reply appeared.
“If you’re looking for information, I’ll gather some for you. These are rare materials related to a deity, after all. You can pay me with what I still owe you from last time… or you could pay a high price, if you prefer.”
“Got it. What about a method to meet the Stone Prince? Do you know of one?”
Dorothy asked again, though she didn’t expect much. After all, the Stone Prince wasn’t a god of the Craftsmen’s Guild, and even if Beverly had some unique status, she wasn’t some kind of miracle-working encyclopedic dealer. Matters involving deities were not always within her reach.
That’s what Dorothy believed—until she saw Beverly’s next message.
“You want to meet the Stone Prince…? It’s difficult. But not impossible. At least, not for me.”
Huh?
Dorothy blinked in surprise at Beverly’s neat response. Her mouth fell open slightly. She hadn’t expected Beverly to have a method for that. This woman really was full of surprises—she actually had a way to meet a main deity?
Even among the Seven Living Saints of Holy Mount, none but the Pope could meet a god. Not even Unina could casually meet the Mother of Chalice. Yet Beverly claimed to have a way to meet the Lord of Stone?!
“What’s your method?”
Dorothy wrote, trying to hold back her disbelief.
But Beverly didn’t answer directly.
“That… I can’t just give away for free. What I’m offering isn’t only a way to meet the Stone Prince—it includes my personal assistance. Altogether, that’s quite expensive.”
Reading that, Dorothy froze again. Then, after a long sigh, she picked up her pen and asked.
“Alright then, how much do you want this time?”
She braced herself for Beverly to name some astronomical price. But what Beverly wrote next caught her off guard.
“This time, I don’t want your money. I want you to complete a task. If you can do that, I’ll help you meet the Stone Prince.”
“A task? What kind of task? Tell me.”
Dorothy quickly wrote in reply, but Beverly didn’t reveal the details just yet.
“As for the specifics of the task… I need some time to prepare before I can tell you. Until then, you’ll have to wait a while. I need to gather and verify quite a bit of information first. Once everything’s ready, I’ll contact you myself.”
Beverly's handwriting appeared again on the page before Dorothy. Seeing it, Dorothy let out a soft sigh and then responded in writing.
“Alright then, I’ll wait for you…”
After that, Dorothy and Beverly exchanged a few more light, inconsequential remarks before Dorothy said her goodbyes and closed the Literary Sea Logbook.
With the conversation ended, Dorothy placed the logbook back into her magic box, then leaned back into her seat in the train carriage, contemplating her next move.
“Originally, I thought Beverly’s assistance this time would cost a fortune… but I didn’t expect her to give me a task instead—an unclear task, at that. What kind of task could it be? And once I complete it, will Beverly truly have the means to help me meet the Stone Prince? That’s… rather curious.
“But in any case, it seems unlikely that I’ll be able to complete the Stone portion of the ritual anytime soon. I’ll have to shift focus for now. So… which of the other spiritualities will be the easiest to progress with next?”
With that thought in mind, Dorothy quickly settled on a target: Shadow.
“Judging from what’s happened so far, I seem to have a rather murky connection with the Mirror Moon Goddess, and she appears to be somewhat favorable toward me. So… focusing on the Shadow part now is my best option.
“I still have no clear lead on how to get to the Country of Night, but like before, I can try summoning Mirror Moon again and asking her directly. If that’s the case… I’ll have to return to Pritt…”
With that conclusion, Dorothy made up her mind. After a bit more thought, she finalized her next travel plan: to return to Pritt and attempt to summon Mirror Moon again to get the answers she needed.
Having settled her course, Dorothy let out a light breath and picked up the newspaper delivered earlier by the train staff. However, to her surprise, the first headline she saw was about Pritt.
“Years in the making, long-awaited by all! The inaugural World Expo is about to open in the capital of Pritt, Tivian!”
“World… Expo?”
…
Elsewhere, in a mysterious, enclosed chamber filled with incense and dancing shadows, several ghostly flames floated in the air. On the ground was a vast ritual array—its intricately carved symbols and text shifting rhythmically in strange patterns, pulsing faintly like the reflection of some unknowable entity. At its center was the shadow of an insect-like figure.
At that moment, a pale white glow appeared out of thin air. Within the light, a spectral moth slowly flapped its wings.
The little moth was nearly translucent at first, but as it fluttered in the space, it gradually became more solid—eventually taking on a fully physical form. The now-materialized moth landed on the ritual array, and from there, a shadow erupted violently upward.
When the darkness dissipated, a figure stood at the center of the circle.
It was a man—gaunt to the point of emaciation, with a deathly pallor and tangled black hair. He wore a plain robe of pale grayish-white, and his expression was sickly. His eyes were utterly black, devoid of pupils.
After manifesting, he looked forward, then slowly opened his mouth and, in a trance-like manner, knelt down and bowed his head toward the moth-shaped shadow in the array.
“Ah… another failure…
“I thought… the clash between Revival’s Revelation and the blood-drenched Chalice would stir the Inner Realm, would ripple into the Domain of Dreamscape, and let the true path manifest… But all remains lost in confusion…
“O Moth… the cocoon’s influence has me lost in delusion… Please guide me once more… Let Your servant return to Your side… and aid You in overcoming Your twin-born nemesis…
“The blood-born of Chalice have begun moving in their Mother’s name. The rotting Lantern has armed Themself in vigilance. The ancient Revelation is rising again from the grave… The Dragon’s fangs are seeking prey They should never touch…
“The tide of change is coming. Our time is running out.
“O Moth… show me the way…”
Still kneeling, the man prayed with a dazed yet devout voice. Yet his prayers met no answer, and he remained where he was, kneeling in silence.
After an unknown amount of time, a voice echoed from beyond the chamber.
“My lord… A letter has arrived for you.”
“I have long severed all ties with the mortal world… There should be no letters for me…”
Still kneeling, the man answered the voice beyond the shadows. But the voice continued nervously.
“But… this letter truly is addressed to you. And its appearance… it was most unusual. Quite unnatural…”
The voice from outside trembled slightly as it described the letter’s strange arrival. Hearing this, the man inside paused for a moment, then spoke:
“Bring it in.”
“Yes, sir!”
At that moment, a black envelope fluttered in through the shadows like an insect and landed before the man. He picked it up carefully and examined it.
On the very first glance, his eyes fell upon the seal on the envelope—a blood-red spider insignia.