Before they could reply, Klein comforted them, "Don't worry. It's trivial. If it succeeds, it will be beneficial to you, so I wouldn't be paying extra remuneration"
"Please continue" Audrey instinctively entered the Spectator state, but she couldn't see through the thick gray fog engulfing The Fool.
"As you will" Alger replied, steadying himself.
Arthus also leaned forward to show he was present.
Klein moved his fingers and smiled when he said,
"Previously, I said that we would do some experiments to enable you to ask for a leave of absence. That way, you do not have to worry if you have to be somewhere inappropriate on a Monday afternoon"
"That's our wish" Audrey loosened her tightly knitted eyebrows.
Alger thought and said,
"What do you need us to do?"
"You could try a piece of ritualistic magic during your free time. It need not be too formal. As long as you are in an environment that won't be disturbed... Put four brand new candles on an altar, placed on four corners respectively. It's best if they are candles with a sandalwood scent. Put a loaf of white bread near the candle on the top left corner, a bowl of Feynapotter noodles near the candle on the top right corner, paella by the candle on the bottom left corner, and a Desi pie by the candle on the bottom right corner... Use a silver knife to make a sealed spiritual environment..."
Klein described his modified version of the luck enhancement ritual and taught Miss Justice how to create a spiritual environment for free.
To be frank, as the ritual was targeted at himself, Klein believed that the former part, which was intended to attract the interest of an entity, could be omitted completely. However, he still worked hard to make the procedure seem important. Of course, it didn't comply with what Old Neil taught about gods being second and oneself being third.
"...Mix moon flowers, gold mint, slumber flowers, fingered citron, and rock-rose together then distill it.
Extract it for its essential oil, then pour a drop onto each candle..."
Audrey listened with piqued interest as she recorded all that he said. When he was done, she asked, "What about the incantation? Mr. Fool, what's the corresponding incantation?"
Alger stopped writing with the fountain pen in his hand as well. He turned his head to look at The Fool.
Klein, who was immersed in the gray fog, tapped the edge of the long table with his finger lightly and said calmly and monotonously in Hermes, "The Fool that doesn't belong to this era, you are the mysterious ruler above the gray fog; you are the King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck..."
"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era... the mysterious ruler above the gray fog... King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck..." Audrey Hall recited the three descriptions to herself silently. She suddenly felt a tumultuous wave of emotion go through her, preventing her from maintaining her Spectator state.
As an aficionado of mysticism, she had learned Hermes that was used in rituals and had tested out the rituals that fellow noble aficionados mentioned in private gatherings before she was pulled into the gray fog or made formal contact with Beyonder powers.
None of those rituals had any effects, but they had given Audrey a basic understanding of the structure of incantations.
Thus, she knew clearly what these three incantations described and signified.
The descriptions usually described one of the seven gods that looked over this world!
Thus, The Fool's incantation was claiming status equal to the Lady of Crimson, Mother of the Secrets, and the Empress of Disaster and Horror!
Is Mr. Fool the unknown, mysterious, powerful, godlike entity that Glaint spoke of? The source of danger that we must avoid in rituals? Audrey quickly recalled the comments made during the strange rituals which she and her friends did not dare attempt back then. She was momentarily at a loss for words.
Alger Wilson, who knew and understood much more than Audrey, shivered from the bottom of his heart.
If the ritualistic magic which Mr. Fool designed truly points to him to allow him to accept our requests, w-we would have to be addressing him with Him. He is to be addressed in the third person, which is reserved for gods…
How lucky, how smart I was to act in concert with him and not do anything foolish. Even when I was testing him, I did not step beyond the boundaries of normalcy...
Could he perhaps be an ancient, mysterious, horrifying existence, only that he does not appear before us in his true form and name... The Primordial Demoness, the Hidden Sage, or the true Creator which many mysterious churches believe in?
Alger understood that The Fool he was looking at now might not be his true form. He might not even have a gender or be a humanoid creature.
As for Arthus, he was just happy. After all, this was the beginning of The Fool's online delivery system. He couldn't help but smile, having that thought.
Klein propped his forehead up with one hand and tapped on the table with the other hand. He acutely noticed the changes happening to The Hanged Man, The High Priestess and Justice.
But he acted as though nothing happened, as if everything was within his expectations. He continued without any care.
"I pray for your help.
I pray for your loving grace.
I pray for you to give me a good dream.
Moon flower, an herb that belongs to the red moon, please bestow your powers to my incantation!
Fingered citron, an herb that belongs to the sun, please bestow your powers to my incantation"
He finished describing the incantations that belonged to another type of ritual. After he was done, he smiled.
"Lady, gentlemen, have you memorized it?"
"Ah..." Audrey exhaled. She quickly covered her mouth and recalled seriously.
With her improved memory as a Spectator, she quickly processed the information and repeated the incantations as a form of confirmation.
Alger acted more normally. His pen did not stop for a moment, no matter what he was thinking about.
As for Arthus, he already knew The Fools' incantation by heart. He prioritised memorising the process and the second half in his heart.
After Klein confirmed that Audrey was correct, he smiled and said, "If this test is successful, then we shall modify the ritual next time to achieve what we want to do,
I hope that you will have the time to complete the ritual no later than Wednesday, of course excluding Mr Priestess due to his circumstances"
He intended to come in here again on Thursday night to ascertain if the ritualistic magic was successful.
As for why he did not allow The Hanged Man and Justice to directly request a leave of absence, Klein was worried that he would be unable to discern if the results were from them asking for leave or merely the outcome of an attempt of the ritualistic magic. Was he to pull them into the Gathering if that happened?
"By your will" Audrey and Alger replied respectfully, collecting themselves.
"According to The Hanged Man's suggestion last week, we shall have a time for casual conversation after all official issues have been discussed. Who shall begin?"
Klein gave a hand gesture signaling for someone to start.
Audrey sighed and said, "Mr. Fool, the suggestion you made regarding the exam selection and the separation between civil and political matters has received the approval of many members of parliament. Perhaps it could become a reality. Of course, with the efficiency of this government, the bill will only appear half a year from now at the earliest"
She was not worried that The Hanged Man or The High Priestess would track her down using this piece of information. She had intentionally and intermittently dropped hints and guided those proud wives to think that they had conceived the idea. Those ladies had rushed to tell their husbands, their fathers, and their brothers.
At that moment Audrey felt as though she was watching a flock of golden peacocks showcasing their tail feathers.
She believed that those women would drill it in themselves that they came up with the idea to claim the glory for themselves. They would soon forget about what Audrey's role in the matter was, fighting among themselves to see who thought of the suggestion first.
Using this remarkable way to change the system of a kingdom gave Audrey a weird sense of satisfaction, as if she had found a way for a Spectator to influence the plot of a play.
"Let's hope so," Alger replied sarcastically.
He paused for a few seconds, then glanced at The Fool.
He deliberated before saying,
"In recent decades, the amount of activities of the various secret organizations has seen an upward trend. In fact, there are even new secret organizations appearing, some of them having reached scale with a good number of Beyonders"
Are you trying to ask me for the reason? I have not even gained access to information about illegal organizations... Klein merely smiled without commenting on The Hanged Man's news. He changed the subject and said vaguely, "An ancient power is about to wake from its slumber"
For example, the power represented by the Antigonus family diary…
"Is that so..." Alger muttered softly to himself, as though he recalled something.
Klein swept his gaze toward The Hanged Man, then past Justice and said with a smile, "If there is nothing else to share, then let's end today's gathering here"
"By your will" Audrey and Alger stood up together.
Klein moved his finger and severed his connection with the dark red stars. He watched as the two figures vanished from the magnificent palace.
…
Sebastian was wringing out a fresh cloth, hands moving with quiet precision, when a flicker of motion drew his gaze. He turned and stopped. Arthus's left eye had opened, not in the foggy drift of sleep but with sudden, startling clarity. It was the look of a man who had returned from far away, not from a dream, but from something deeper.
Sebastian felt the breath catch in his chest. That eye, always the only window left to him, was no longer simply observing. It was seeing. Focused. Intent.
"You've returned" he whispered, unsure whether it was a statement or a prayer.
There was no reply, but the look Arthus gave him was answer enough. A flicker of recognition, a whisper of determination behind the stillness.
Something had happened.