A week had passed since the incident at Lake Trishade.
Jack and Reina had been back in Lonestone City for five days. The return journey was not long. Jack had placed a spatial anchor inside their newly purchased home.
They used his Nine-Anchor Portal Ring for instant travel. The convenience of spatial travel was undeniable. It cut down days of travel to mere seconds.
Life in Lonestone City settled back into its rhythm. Jack adhered to a dual existence. By day, he was Jack Night. The burly steamrune engineer. Or Racer Jack, the annoying, fast-talking kamaitachi vigilante.
As Jack Night, he pretty much grounded. Focusing on his steamrune projects. And tinkering with new designs. He could often found in his workshop. Surrounded by gears, circuits, and glowing runes.
As Racer Jack, he zipped through the city. Intercepting thieves. Disrupting minor criminal operations. And occasionally annoying local authorities with his unsolicited interventions.
At night, Jack transitioned. He became Jack Mystery. The spectral harbinger of judgement. Invisible, silent, and chilling. He moved through the whole city.
He sought out the truly guilty. Those who operated in the shadows. Who preyed on the weak. Or who had escaped conventional justice. He dispensed his unique brand of judgement... nightmares.
On the other hand, Jack was always kind to the innocent. Even more so to the one he deemed worthy. He offered unseen protection or subtle aid. And delivered his unique brand of reward... sweet dreams.
His mercy had almost never extended to the corrupt ones. The only one he tried to redeem so far was his woman. Reina. And he actually succeeded.
Reina's karma had changed. Jack's [Eyes of Wisdom] noticed it immediately after they returned from Lake Trishade. It had shifted from negative to neutral. This was a significant development. A testament to her efforts and his influence.
Yet, Reina still continued her charity activities. Previously, it had been a desperate attempt to atone. To scrub away the taint of her past crimes when she still belonged to Night Salvation.
Now, it was different. Her philanthropic work was no longer a forced penance. It had become her comfort zone. She found genuine satisfaction in helping others.
The acts of kindness brought her a sense of peace. One that the manipulations and power grabs of her former life never could.
Her transformation was now complete. At least in Jack's eyes. She no longer had any trace of Queen Mirage. She was now Reina Night. A woman finding her own path to redemption.
Within the past week, Jack completed another steamrune project. It was a personal one. Previously abandoned. But reignited by Reina's request.
She had used an incomplete prototype of his original design during the fight against the Undead Legion Monster. And she had almost immediately asked for a full, refined version.
It was a music player set. The completed collection included a sleek headset, a compact recording device with its specialized recording disc, and the music player itself.
The original prototype had been bulky. And aesthetically unappealing. A functional but crude assembly of runic circuits.
Jack, however, had invested considerable time in refining the design. He focused on sleek casings. Ergonomic shapes. And attractive finishes.
He miniaturized the components. Making them not just functional but also fashionable. The headset was lightweight. The recording device fit in a palm. And the player itself was a small, elegant device that could be comfortably carried.
Once perfected, Jack realized its commercial potential. This was not just a personal gift for Reina. It was an innovation that could change the era.
Just a few days ago, he sold the blueprint design to Melodion. A large company specializing in musical instruments and mechanical music-boxes.
After the demonstration, the negotiation became very swift. And the terms were highly favorable to Jack. He would receive a hefty royalty percentage for every unit sold. Securing a significant passive income stream for their household. Not that he was currently lacking.
But it was reasonable. The demand for such a device, capable of both recording and playing high-fidelity sound, was expected to be immense.
Beyond his engineering feats, Jack had also advanced his Mystic Study. He engraved a new spell into his spectral grimoire... the [Cleansing Mist].
This was not a combat spell. But a utility one. Complex and versatile. Its core function was removal. Specifically, the removal of unwanted things. The spell's power and energy cost were adjustable. Scaling with its intended application.
At its lowest setting, with a minuscule amount of energy, it could simply clean an object. Removing dirt, grime, or minor stains with ease. A slightly higher expenditure could purify water or air.
However, its true power lay in its more advanced applications. It could remove poison from a poisoned person. But it required deep knowledge of both the poison's composition and the body's internal workings. The energy cost for this was substantial. Demanding focus and precision.
Dispelling a curse was even more taxing. Often requiring a great understanding of the curse's origin and its magical signature. And also it required the willpower to counteract it.
Such a feat would drain Jack significantly. A last resort for powerful, entrenched magical afflictions. For others. Jack himself was never afraid of any curse. His [Mythical Adaptation] trait made any form of curse pointless against him.
Anyway, the spell showed Jack's growing mastery over mystic energies. A convenient tool for both common tasks and dire emergencies.
...
Time continued its measured march. Bringing with it the... monthly gathering hour for the Fateless.
Jack Mystery materialized in Rainsister's comfortable living room. Appearing as a shimmering, translucent form near the ornate, wood-carved mantelpiece.
The room was warm. Filled with the soft glow from the flames in the enchanted fireplace. And the enchanted lamps.
Amaranth White was already there. Perched gracefully on an armchair. Her long black hair was tied in a practical ponytail. The Lingreen twins, Adam and Alice, sat on a plush rug near a low table.
Rainsister, the homebody goddess, was relaxing on a plush couch. Just as usual. A steaming mug was held between her slender fingers. She sipped a warm drink. Her expression was serene. Observing with eyes that held the wisdom of ages.
"Welcome, Spirit of Conviction." Rainsister greeted him. Her voice was like a soft bell tone. "Precisely on schedule. I trust all is well?"
Jack gave a slight, ghost-like nod. "As well as can be expected, Rainsister. Thank you for your intervention in the last incident."
Rainsister's smile broadened slightly. "Ah, that was not much of a problem. But, what about the Lady of Dignity? I was curious to hear your assessment."
Jack shifted. His features were unreadable behind the spectral mask. "She seems... decent enough to join these gatherings. Competent. Resourceful."
He paused. A hint of vigilance entered his tone. "But I am still observing her. She is a noble, after all. There is always the risk of connection to troublesome things, to the intricate, often morally ambiguous schemes that seem to define much of nobility."
His words were blunt. His distrust of the aristocratic class was evident. "I wouldn't wish to introduce someone who might bring that kind of baggage here."
Rainsister merely chuckled. A sound like rustling parchment. "Your caution is noted, Jack Mystery. It is, after all, a valuable trait."
Before Jack could elaborate, the twins, Adam and Alice, seized their opportunity. They had been patiently waiting. Vibrating with suppressed energy. Despite their expressionless faces.
"Big sister." Adam burst out in poker-faced expression. "About the Frostfang Wyrms. Can they freeze entire rivers? Is that true? How do they do it?"
Alice immediately chimed in. Still without expression. "And what about the Whispering Sylphs? Do they really sing people to sleep and then lead them into the Feywild? Is the Feywild real, Big Sister? What kind of Mystic Creatures live there?"
A barrage of questions followed. Rapid-fire inquiries about elemental spirits, cryptic beasts, and legendary beings.
Rainsister, patiently, began to answer them. Guiding them through the intricacies of mystic ecology and inter-dimensional lore. Her voice was calm. Her explanations were detailed. Captivating the children completely.
Jack and Amaranth quickly canceled their intention to ask questions to the goddess. They, instead, found solace in the vast library that made up Rainsister's living room.
Amaranth picked up a book on ancient herbal knowledge. Her eyes were quickly scanning the exquisite illustration. And detailed explanation.
Jack drifted towards a section on philosophical texts and spiritual development. His glowing eyes settled on several volumes discussing paths to higher consciousness and enlightenment.
He was not interested in typical religious dogma. But in the practical application of mental and spiritual discipline.
He pulled a translucent copy of 'The Treatise on Illumination through Contemplation' from a shelf. Using the telekinesis ability of his [Mysterious Anomaly] power.
He flipped the pages. He had chosen his path to reach illumination stage. Through Wisdom Contemplation. He knew it would be an arduous journey. It involved rigorous self-examination and deep meditative introspection.
It was about stripping away biases. Understanding the fundamental laws of existence. And ultimately, transcending the limitations of the world.
The text outlined various methods he hadn't considered before. The purgation of worldly desires. The cultivation of pure world of thought. The mastery over one's own internal landscape in comparison to the understanding of external environment.
It also spoke of mental exercises. Of thought experiments. And of disciplined observation of both the external world and the internal self.
Jack knew it was a long road. But then again, life was a journey. The longer the road, the more variety of scenes could be seen.