Capítulo 6: The High Priestess
A/N: I don't think I like this fic at all😬
I really choose the worst option to start the story— I should probably choose Kiyo to be in the Forsaken Land of Gods for Lord of Mysteries, or replacing Lumian for Circle of Inevitability— from WAY back before Chapter 1 began so I can set Kiyo to be more fresh as the Protagonist of CoI x CoTE—so I can be more creative and liberating on controlling the story, to make it at least enjoyable (and unexpected, because that's the point of the story) for the readers who had read LoTM— or intriguing for the ones who hadn't.
The thing I hated the most with writing this fic is the way that I have to somewhat Copy-Paste some segments of the story instead of writing it my own way. The example is like what this chaper does (this one and before has quite a lot of Copy-Paste—though only those two, as far as I remember).
You're probably asking why not just be creative then? I fucking can't...! Not on those parts, at least!
I really hate Copy-Paste, but it's hard to differentiate those (or this) particular Chapters for me, which is all-about the Tarot Club. I don't why that's hard for me. But I know that I would probably did the action again in the future, and while I would definitely try my best to adjust them with Kiyotaka's involvement, the act of Copy-Paste is really rubbing me in the wrong way.
Oh, well, whatever.
Happy reading.
***
"You can address me as The Fool."
The simple answer resonated through the vast hall, dispersing into the fog like a ripple in still water.
Kiyotaka's lips twitched slightly. He hadn't anticipated a title like that.
It was almost amusing yet oddly fitting—a paradoxical blend that struck the right chord without leaning toward negativity.
He turned his focus to the table and the chairs arranged around it. There were twenty-two chairs in total—a conspicuous match to the number of Tarot Cards Emperor Roselle had invented in this world. The Fool was one of them. A card representing infinite potential and beginnings.
Is this a message aimed specifically at me? Does he know I'm a transmigrator and is subtly taunting me with proof of his awareness? No, what about the others here—are they the same?
They speak Loenese, at least. The girl appears to be nobility, judging by her speech and demeanor. The man might also hail from Loen. Is everyone here from Loen?
The silence was broken after a moment when the girl—Audrey—stood gracefully. She lifted the hem of her skirt and bent her knees in an elegant curtsey toward The Fool.
"Honorable Mr. Fool, would you please permit me to take the liberty of requesting you to be the witness of our trade?"
"It's nothing." the Fool answered, his tone effortlessly matching the status implied by his chosen title.
"It's our honor, Mr. Fool." Alger stood up as well. He bent his back slightly with his right palm over his chest. Kiyotaka mirrored his movement without hesitation. "The same goes for me."
The Fool lowered his right palm and smiled.
"Continue."
Alger acknowledged the command with a nod before taking his seat again. His gaze shifted to Audrey.
"If you can obtain the Ghost Shark's blood, send someone to deliver it to the Warrior & Sea Bar on Pelican Street in the White Rose Borough of Pritz Harbor. Inform the proprietor, Williams, that it's what the 'Captain' wants." Alger leaned slightly forward. "Once I receive confirmation of delivery, do you prefer I send you the potion formula through an address or relay it here?"
Audrey placed a hand gently on her chin, deliberating briefly before responding with a pleasant smile.
"I will choose the more secure method. Let's do it here, although it's a test of my memory."
Since Mr. Fool had agreed to bear witness for the trade, it also represented that there would be a similar 'Gathering' the next time.
With this in mind, she suddenly turned her head as she looked at the Fool with sparkling eyes. With a tone of interest, she suggested, "Mr. Fool, would you consider hosting more 'attempts' like this?"
Alger listened to her suggestion calmly; he was tempted by the suggestion as well. He hurriedly echoed, "Mr. Fool, don't you find such 'Gatherings' interesting? Although your powers exceed our imaginations, there has to be certain domains that you don't understand or excel in. The person across me is obviously a young lady of lofty stature. I also have my unique set of experiences, insights, mediums, and resources. The same goes for the man beside me. Perhaps there will come a day when we can help you complete something trivial that might be inconvenient for you."
From Alger's perspective, the fact that he had been forcibly drawn into this space without any warning or any means to resist meant that the mysterious Mr. Fool was in control. Participating in the 'Gatherings' was not necessarily something he could refuse. Therefore, it was better to reap the benefits of this encounter as much as he could to make up for his passive and disadvantaged state.
The trio seated around the elongated table each hailed from distinct backgrounds, bringing unique resources, knowledge, and perspectives to the mystical domain. Alger was acutely aware of the potential benefits of limited collaboration among them. If they interacted and enjoyed some limited cooperation, they could produce unpredictable and immeasurable effects!
The recently concluded resource trade exemplified such potential. Beyond trades, there were possibilities such as delegating actions to dissociate oneself from involvement. For example, Alger thought, if there ever came a need to eliminate a target, he could call upon the Gathering's members—people unconnected to him in any discernible way, ensuring a clean misdirection from investigators.
A young lady of lofty stature... Was my behavior and accent that obvious? Audrey stared blankly, mouth slightly agape.
Kiyotaka recognized the utility in Alger's approach, so he immediately chose to follow his lead. "Mr. Fool, I agree that it's an excellent suggestion. Should these Gatherings become a recurring event, you could certainly entrust certain inconvenient matters to us—assuming, of course, they fall within our capabilities."
The Fool shifted his gaze between the trio. He extended his right hand again, letting his fingers tap gently against the edge of the long table. The rhythm ceased soon, and a smile crossed his face as he regarded their anticipatory expressions.
"I'm a person who likes a fair and equal exchange. Your help will not go unrewarded.
"Every Monday at three in the afternoon, try your best to be alone. After I make a few more attempts and figure out certain things, perhaps you can apply for a leave of absence ahead of time. You will no longer need to worry about being in inappropriate situations."
This was a tacit acknowledgment of their proposal.
Audrey, having just turned seventeen, carried the disposition of someone who had always been sheltered. So it wasn't surprising that, upon hearing The Fool's response, she clenched her fist and pumped it softly in front of her chest in quiet celebration.
Before Alger had the chance to say anything, Audrey spoke, her excitement barely restrained. "Then, why don't we give ourselves call signs? After all, we can't use our real names in conversations."
She glanced briefly at the men across the table, her mind moving rapidly. I may not be able to deceive Mr. Fool about my identity, but I have to ensure these two don't know who I am!
"A good suggestion," replied The Fool, his tone light and relaxed.
Audrey's mind immediately began whirring as she aired her thoughts as they came to her.
"You are Mr. Fool which is derived from tarot cards. Then, as a fixed, long-term, and secretive 'Gathering,' we should be uniform in our designations. Yes, I'll also choose one from the tarot cards."
Her tone slowly turned joyous.
"I've decided. My designation shall be 'Justice!'"
It was one of the twenty-two Major Arcana tarot cards.
"What about you two, Misters?" Audrey cheekily smiled at her partners sitting across her.
Kiyotaka paused briefly before responding, "The High Priestess."
It was also a Major Arcana card—the second one, to be precise.
He noted a slight confusion to his answer, coming from the young woman sitting across from him.
"I like the meaning behind the card," he added, offering his reason, but no further detail.
Audrey smiled, nodding in understanding before turning to the man seated beside him. "And what about you, Mister?"
Alger frowned slightly before relaxing it immediately.
"The Hanged Man."
It was another Major Arcana card.
"Alright, then we can be considered as the founding members of the Tarot Club!" Audrey was the first to blurt it out happily, only to look fearfully at the fog-concealed the Fool. "Will that be alright, Mr. Fool?"
He shook his head in amusement.
"You can decide on such trivial matters by yourselves."
"Thank you!" Audrey was clearly thrilled.
Following that, she looked at Alger.
"Mr. Hanged Man, can you repeat the address again once more? I'm afraid that my memories will fail me."
"No problem." Alger was very pleased with Audrey's seriousness as he repeated the address once more.
After repeating it to herself silently thrice, Audrey said again in excitement, "I heard that tarot cards were invented by Emperor Roselle as a game. In fact, doesn't it come equipped with the power to divine the future?"
"No. Divination usually comes from within oneself. Everyone possesses something spiritual, a sensitivity that allows them to connect with the spiritual world and access higher levels of knowledge. However, ordinary people rarely notice this, let alone interpret the signs they receive. These signs are made clear through tools of divination. A simple example would be dreams and dream interpreters."
Alger glanced briefly at The Fool, observing no reaction before countering Audrey's statement. "Tarot cards are, in fact, such a tool. They employ symbolism and logical frameworks, helping us interpret signs conveniently and accurately."
"I see," Audrey replied, nodding in agreement. After a moment, she added, "That's not exactly what I meant. I'm not questioning tarot cards, but I heard that Emperor Roselle actually created a separate set of cards, something secret and mysterious. They were paper cards that represented some unknown power. There were twenty-two of them, and later in life, he referenced them to create the twenty-two Major Arcana tarot cards that we use today. Is that right?"
She turned to The Fool, as though expecting confirmation.
The Fool simply smiled, offering no response. He cast his gaze at The Hanged Man as though he was putting him to the test.
Alger subconsciously straightened his back and said in a deep voice, "That's right. It is said that Emperor Roselle had seen the Blasphemy Slate and that set of paper cards contain the profound mysteries of the twenty-two paths of the divine."
"Twenty-two paths of the divine..." repeated Audrey with a longing tone.
At the mention of the Blasphemy Slate and the twenty-two paths of the divine, Kiyotaka's focus shifted. While divination did interest him, those two topics were on another level. Before he could voice his thoughts, however—
"—alright, that will be all for today's gathering," the Fool said in a deep voice.
"By your will." Alger bowed his head respectfully.
"By your will."
Kiyotaka and Audrey mimicked The Hanged Man.
He still had many questions and thoughts; thus, he was unwilling to have it end so soon.
The Fool said with a smile, "Let us look forward to the next gathering."
Just as Audrey, Kiyotaka, and Alger heard Mr. Fool's words, their figures turned into a blur as they phased away.
In a second, the 'projection' shattered as the gray fog restored its silence.
***
Whoosh!
Howling wind accompanied a downpour. The three-mast sailboat was tossed around by the crests and troughs of the incoming waves, as if it was being toyed by a giant.
The crimson glow in Alger Wilson's eyes faded. He found himself still remaining on the deck and nothing appeared to have changed.
Almost immediately, the quirky-shaped glass bottle in his palm shattered and the frost within melted into the rain. In seconds, there were no longer any traces left that suggested the existence of the wondrous antique.
A hexagonal crystal-like snowflake emerged on Alger's palm. It then faded rapidly until it was seemingly absorbed by the flesh, vanishing completely in the process. Alger nodded his head in a hardly noticeable manner, as if he was thinking about something. He remained still and silent for a full five minutes.
He turned around and headed for the cabin. As he was about to enter, a man who wore a similar robe embroidered with lightning patterns emerged from inside.
This man, who had soft blond hair, paused and looked at Alger. He held his right fist to his chest and said, "May the Storm be with you."
Alger replied with the same words and gesture. There were no emotions on his rough face which had a well-defined structure.
Alger entered the cabin after the greeting and proceeded to the captain's cabin situated at the far end of the corridor.
Surprisingly, he did not encounter any sailors on the way. The whole place was as quiet as a graveyard.
Behind the door to the captain's cabin, a soft brown carpet overlaid the floor. A bookshelf and a wine rack took the opposite side walls of the room. The books with their yellowish covers and wine bottles with their dark red color looked peculiar under the flickering candlelight.
On the desk with the candle, there was a bottle of ink, a quill, a pair of black metallic telescope, and a sextant made of brass.
Behind the desk sat a pale middle-aged man wearing a captain's hat which had a skull on it. As Alger approached him, he said menacingly, "I will not give in!"
"I believe you can do it," Alger said calmly, so calm that it felt like he was commenting on the weather.
"You..." The man seemed to be stunned by the unexpected answer.
At this very moment, Alger leaned forward slightly and suddenly dashed across the room until they were only separated by the desk.
Pa!
Alger tightened his shoulder and reached out his right hand to choke the man.
Illusory fish scales appeared on the back of his hand as he crazily mustered more strength to choke the man, giving him no time to respond.
Crack!
Amid the crisp cracking sound, the man's eyes widened as his body was lifted up.
His legs twitched furiously before they soon became motionless. His pupils began to widen as he stared aimlessly. There was a stench from between his legs as his pants gradually turned moist.
While lifting the man, Alger lowered his back and strode toward the wall.
Bang! He used the man as a shield and smashed forward at the wall. His extremely muscular arm was monstrous.
A hole cracked open in the wooden wall, and rain poured in, accompanied by the scent of the ocean.
Alger flung the man out of the cabin, straight into the giant waves that resembled mountains.
The wind continued to howl in the dark as almighty nature devoured everything.
Alger took out a white handkerchief and wiped his right hand carefully before throwing it into the sea as well.
He stepped back and waited patiently for company.
In less than ten seconds, the blond man from before rushed in and asked, "What happened?"
"The 'captain' has escaped," Alger answered in an annoyed manner as he panted. "I didn't know he still had some of his Beyonder powers."
"Damn it!" the blond man cursed softly.
He went up to the opening and stared into the distance. However, nothing was visible except for the waves and the rain.
"Forget it, he was just extra loot," the blond man said, waving his arm, "We will still be rewarded for finding this ghost ship from the Tudor Era."
Even if he was a Keeper of the Sea, he would not have hastily dived into the sea under this weather condition.
"The 'captain' will not be able to survive much longer if the storm continues." Alger said, as he nodded in approval. The wooden wall was repairing itself at a discernible rate.
He gazed at the wall and turned his head subconsciously towards the rudder and the sail.
He was perfectly aware of what was going on behind all the wooden planks.
The chief mate, the second mate, the crew, and the sailors were not present. There was no living person on board!
Amidst all the emptiness, the rudder and the sail moved eerily by themselves.
Alger again pictured "The Fool" who was covered in grayish-white fog and sighed.
He turned back and looked outside at the mighty waves and spoke as though in a reverie while filled with anticipation and awe, "A new era has begun..."
...
Empress Borough, Backlund, capital of the Loen Kingdom.
Audrey Hall pinched her cheeks in disbelief of her encounter a while ago.
On the dressing table in front of her, the old bronze mirror had shattered into pieces.
Audrey cast her gaze downwards and saw the swirling "crimson" on the back of her hand; it was like a tattoo depicting a star.
The "crimson" gradually faded and disappeared into her skin.
Only at this point in time was Audrey certain that it was not a dream.
Her eyes twinkled as she grinned. She could not help but stand up before bending down to lift up the hem of her dress.
She curtseyed towards thin air and started dancing lively. It was the "Ancient Elf Dance, "the most popular dance among royalty at the moment.
She had a bright smile on her face as she moved about gracefully.
Knock! Knock! Someone suddenly knocked at her bedroom door.
"Who is it?" Audrey immediately stopped her dance and asked as she tidied her dress to look more elegant.
"My Lady, may I come in? You should start to prepare for the ceremony," Audrey's maidservant asked from outside the door.
Audrey looked into a mirror on the dressing table and quickly wiped the smile from her face, leaving only a tiny hint of a smile.
She responded gently after she had ensured everything was presentable, "Come in."
The doorknob turned and Annie, her maidservant, pushed in.
"Oh, it cracked..." Annie said as she instantly saw the outcome of the old bronze mirror.
Audrey blinked and said slowly, "Erm, Yes! Susie was here just now. I am sure you know she likes to wreak havoc!"
Susie was a golden retriever that was not so much of a purebred. It was a gift given to her father, Count Hall, when he bought a foxhound. Nevertheless, Audrey adored it.
"You should train it well," Annie said, as she picked up the pieces of the bronze mirror adeptly and with care, lest it hurt her mistress.
As she finished tidying up, she asked Audrey with a smile, "Which dress do you want to put on?"
Audrey thought for a while and answered," I like the dress designed by Mrs. Guinea for my 17th birthday."
"No, you can't wear the same dress twice to a formal ceremony or others will gossip about and question the Hall family's financial ability," Annie said, shaking her head in disagreement.
"But I really like it!" Audrey insisted in a gentle manner.
"You can wear it at home or when you attend an event that isn't so formal," Annie said firmly, suggesting that it was not negotiable.
"Then it will have to be the one with the lotus design along the sleeves given by Mr. Sades two days ago," Audrey said as she drew in a gasp inconspicuously, maintaining her sweet smile.
"You always have such a good taste," Annie said as she stepped back and shouted towards the door, "The sixth dressing room! Ah, forget it, I shall fetch it myself."
Maidservants began to work. The dress, accessories, footwear, hat, makeup, and hairstyle—everything had to be taken care of.
When it was almost ready, Count Hall appeared at the door wearing a dark brown waistcoat.
He had a hat sharing the same color as his clothes and a nice mustache. His blue eyes were filled with joy, but his loosening muscles, widening waist, and wrinkles were obviously destroying his handsome youth.
"The brightest jewel of Backlund, it is time for our departure," Count Hall said, knocking at the door twice.
"Father! Stop calling me that," Audrey protested as she got up with the help of the maidservants.
"Well then, it's time to set off, my beautiful little princess," Count Hall said as he bent his left arm, signaling Audrey to hold his arm.
Audrey shook her head slightly and said, "That is for my mother, Mrs. Hall, the Countess."
"Then this side," Count Hall bent his right arm with a smile and said, "This is for you, my greatest pride."
...
Kiyotaka opened his eyes.
Almost immediately, he noticed a triangle, equilateral in form, was etched into the skin of his right wrist. It was faint but unmistakably glowing with crimson colors at the edges. At each of the vertices, intricate symbols flickered within the lines, their movements fractal-like, too complex to grasp at a glance. They vanished just as quickly as they had appeared.
...I was marked, huh?
He surveyed the surroundings. Dim light flickered from scattered candles across the floor, casting soft shadows on the walls of the room. Pale stone walls, heavy wooden beams overhead, and ornate furniture that suggested its old age.
He let out a slight—an almost imperceptible sigh— and shook his head somewhat regretfully.
It seems like I won't be getting anywhere with the answer of my transmigration... at least for the moment.
For now, I need to find a way to become a Beyonder—
The Hanged Man mentioned that I could find it at the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery. Although the notion of binding freedom is rather annoying, having something is better than nothing.
But then the real problem arose.
How exactly would I approach them? I can't simply walk up to them and ask for a Mystery Prayer potion, can I?
As his thoughts wandered further, his attention was drawn by a faint sound. The distinct thud of footsteps, steadily approaching his location.
He assessed the room again. With how the candles laid, it looked straight out like an attempt to summon a demon.
His lips twitched slightly.
This isn't exactly something I'd want others to see— I'm not looking to get exorcised.
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