Chương 38: [Ancient, cruel and demon]
It was broad morning, the movement was continuous and the birds were singing. The noise of cutlery was constant; penetrate, cut and consume.
Delicate and fast movements, in a continuous action of penetrating, cutting and consuming. The chewing sound was brief but persistent.
Penetrate, cut and consume; bite, soak and swallow. Emotionless with a blank face, he penetrated, cut and consumed.
His gaze inert, in the direction of a dissection. Hanging next to a painting, on the heights of his room was the head of a stuffed animal.
It had been a gift from a stubborn old man, his great-uncle. Violently and fleetingly, wasting and spilling saliva, he positioned it and walked away.
His last words were a promise as he left.
"Here, boy! For you to recover your manhood." His laughter was audible to the Athenian Coliseum.
It had finally dawned and it was no longer necessary for him to chase tracks or feces. He had left the strange and gloomy mansion.
He was in his home, sweet home... But like the sickle of a higher moral judgement, the dead eyes of any emotion remained in the heights judging him.
Gradually, her cutlery went still. His eyes held determination and his stomach full.
He began to retreat to his garden, his steps steady. He did not turn his head, nor did he fear for his integrity... His life was full of colors.
Penetrate, cut and consume... Penetrate, cut and consume. A recurring action in all lands, extensive and immobile... A distorted sense of eternity.
Extensive from civilization to nature, an irrevocable perpetual order. Encompassing various areas, remaining immobile for posterity.
In an artistic sense.
"Memoirs of Adda Illyoah". A painting that Federick kept private. Perpetuating the lifestyle of an ancient noblewoman.
Memories that triumphed by being perpetuated. Like the ignorance of living beings, repetitive and meaningless. Like mental grief, stomach pain and constant vomiting...
[I do not eat meat]
"..."
"No, for the hundredth and last time, I don't mean that." Federick said with a slight headache.
She was outside her home, the wind brushing her long hair. He was comfortable trying to figure out the similarities between Christopher's words and Amagatzu's.
[Sir, I am 98.08% certain that I know what you mean! The next:
"Fag of Monastery"]
"I guess manual is still more effective." Federick expressed the wind with a sigh.
Concentrating his efforts, he directed them to excavate his memories, using an auxiliary tool: his innate ability.
Different memories flashed across his memory, his control being rather inexperienced and not at all illustrious.
The gloomy mansion, Carlos II, Christopher and Alexandro...
"I suppose you have not received anything from the cave, but the young man's earnings must not have been nil." Those had been Alexandro's words.
Christopher's actions and words prior to visiting the mansion.
His chant, knowledge and materials used.
In a vortex of memories, Federick squeezed these memories patiently. Gathering and storing them.
But at one point, incredibly he received a slight intrusion. Ephemeral and weak, it disappeared instantly. It was at that moment, that he fully remembered the central point of the puzzle.
"There are countless expressions of these paths, which one must explore and conclude." They had been the words of Amagatzu.
'Should one follow a set path?' Frederick wondered.
'Their power systems are obviously different, but... why do they maintain such similarities?' Federick reflected mentally.
'One way, one way, one way...'
...
A horse-drawn carriage made its way through the narrow streets of the city, the sound of hoofbeats hitting the cobblestones echoing through the buildings. The carriage was painted a deep, glossy black, trimmed with gold accents.
The coachman named Aaron, wore a top hat and tails. The horses, magnificent chestnut specimens, pulled the carriage with ease, their muscles rippling under their glossy coats.
As the carriage passed, people stopped and watched with faces full of curiosity and admiration. Some nodded their heads in respect, while others whispered to each other, elbowing each other. The carriage was a symbol of high wealth and status.
At this precise moment, the passage of the carriage was heading towards the interior of the second sector of the Athenian City. Where wealthy mortals lived.
The driver, a tall, imposing figure with a bushy moustache, held the reins firmly, his gaze straight ahead. He was a man of few words, but his face was a map of wrinkles and folds, testament to the many years he had spent driving carriages through the streets of the city.
Using this experience as leverage, he had managed to obtain the position as the Prince's coachman. A task that was not easy, but attracted extreme status.
Turning a corner, the carriage passed a group of children playing in the street. They stopped their game and watched, wide-eyed, as the carriage passed by, with faces of astonishment and admiration. One of them, a curly-haired girl, reached out to touch the horse, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
But an indistinctly childish hand reached out swiftly, interrupting his chance.
The carriage continued on its way, passing shops and taverns, and the sound of laughter and music filled the streets. The air was filled with the scent of flowers and the smell of freshly baked bread.
The carriage stopped and the driver get out, his joints creaking with age. He stroked the horse's neck and spoke to it softly, in a soft murmur. The horse cawed back, its eyes bright with intelligence.
Federick who was inside the carriage, finally extended his sight to the outside. This was a trip that he had planned.
Recently, only a week ago, a caravan had settled in Athens, who had come from abroad. A renowned and reliable circus troupe, who annually toured the environs of the Central Continent.
It was rumored that a master in the arts of fortune-telling was engaged and offered his services for a "modest" fee.
He aimed to try to experience the so-called "maxims" by using him.
Circuses were characterized as places of wonder and enchantment, where the ordinary became extraordinary and the impossible became possible.
The big top was a riot of color, with red, blue, and purple swirls that seemed to change as you looked at them. The big top was adorned with sparkling sequins and twinkling lights, which provided a mild spectacle due to the timetable.
But the real magic of the circus lay in the "unexplained" acts. There was a man who could transform himself into a variety of animals, from a majestic lion to a mischievous monkey, with a sudden body movement.
There was a woman who could conjure up entire landscapes with just a brush and canvas, creating breathtaking vistas that seemed to come to life before the audience's eyes.
But these actions were not of particular interest to Federick. He approached a manager with questions and received answers.
It turned out that the "Extraordinary Grand Soothsayer: Kansis" was staying in one of the side tents. With this information, he decided to observe the fantastic works of other members of the circus for a moment more.
Observing the different side tents, he noticed a particular feature in one of them: cold, dark, and desolate; very different from the others.
According to the man's words, this should be the right one. Federick thought.
The inside of the tent was empty, with various contraptions strewn about. Kansis was not a lover of cleanliness or was careless to an extreme degree.
After waiting a few minutes, Federick saw an individual approaching from the distance.
Pale skin, green eyes, and brown hair dressed in a tailcoat.
"Minutes... They are the distance between fortune and despair!". He said with his arms wide open.
His smile was unreliable.
"My apologies, sir. I am sorry if I have interrupted you on an important occasion." Federick said classily.
"The fated cannot be interrupted. Now step inside, please." Kansis said with a broad smile.
"You have to come in", Federick said from inside the tent.
"..."
"Young man, of what service do you require?" Kansis asked.
"Three things: past, present, and future," Federick said.
Kansis looked at his client's attire and exposed his biggest smile.
"In today's practice, we will intervene with two different objects: cards and cups. Although austerity is respected when dealing with destiny, we will make an exception for your condition".
His body gave off a faint but existing smell of alcohol.
"Nine glasses in all. The nine rests in the symbolization of a culmination; quite right considering you have visited me." A laugh imbued with haughtiness continued.
This resonated with Federick, due to the words of Alexander the "Ancient Emperor".
Kansis shuffled and shuffled the cards masterfully. His expertise was observable in these simple actions.
"Tell me your day of birth".
"Tell me your favorite color.
"Tell me your mother's birthday".
Three questions, three answers. Through them, he separated a total of nine cards from the deck. Based on an approximation of the results of the three numerical answers.
"If you wonder how color becomes a number? It is intrinsically related to my abilities inherited from past generations of my family." Kansis said with a smile.
Suddenly a mist rose over the table where the nine cups were positioned. Kansis lifted the cards and let them fall.
The table vibrated and the cups began to move in a circle.
With quick movements he picked up the cards in the air, returning them with a sharp movement to the table, where they landed extraordinarily under one of the cups.
When the show ended, the joints of Kansis' fingers rang.
"Rest your hands on three handles from three different cups and we will conclude with the results." Kansis said.
Federick complied, making contact with three handles. Which Kansis turned around, grabbing the respective cards.
"Three Cards: Ancient, Cruel, and Demon." Kansis said.
His smile suddenly disappeared. His fear was to upset his client's mood. His thoughts were a variation, but determined.
"Ancient means that you are by nature wise and imperishable in the memories of others."
"Cruel means that he is disciplined and even cruel to himself, embodying the spirit of effort."
"And demon..." Kansis looked at his client not knowing how to continue.
"A demon is a diabolical, cunning and cruel creature. Embodying hatred as feigned good... They are capable of anything to achieve their goals, aren't they?" Federick responded with a smile.
"You have simplified the virtues of the successful!" Kansis supplemented by doing mental juggling.
"Heh... you're good."
"What would be the price for this meeting?". Frederick asked.
"All for the small price of a 'Crown of Mmon'. You can also pay for a membership..." Kansis spoke until he was interrupted.
A loud slap had landed on his left cheek. The characteristic sound of coins resounded in the background.
A little blood was spilling from his left cheek. Three coins danced on his counter, where the glasses had previously been.
His earlier mild drunkenness had worn off and his confusion was palpable.
But a hand on the back of her shoulder interrupted her already sluggish thoughts.
"Listen to me, these coins are your fee: Three coins for three customers, you'll lure them in and give an unlucky shitty speech... Do you understand?"
"By the way, delete your ethereal shit; and escort your unfortunate customers outside." Frederick finished.
Kansis only managed to observe his retreating rear figure. His cheek still with trauma...
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