join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr
Above the Gray Fog, within that magnificent palace that seemed to have remained unchanged since ancient times.
Leyton sat on the high-backed chair belonging to the Tower, with specks of starlight scattered around him, illuminating the space above the Gray Fog like a brilliant galaxy.
His eyes glowed with a rich purple light, and his left hand gently held a translucent amber.
Within this amber, there was a dense, almost solid, flowing shadow, layer upon layer, like a curtain. Deep within the shadow, there seemed to be an eye hidden, filled with Fallen, filth, and mutated power.
The surrounding brilliant stars scattered rays of light, continuously dissolving the shadow encased in the translucent amber in Leyton's hand. They were dissolved into the purest information, which Leyton recorded and analyzed using his Eyes of Mystery Prying.
Klein quietly sat on The Fool's high-backed chair. He leveraged a bit of the Gray Fog's power to help Leyton suppress the corruption within this drop of blood, making it easier for him to analyze.
About a quarter of an hour later, the shadow Leyton held in his left hand completely vanished.
He withdrew his left hand with a slight lingering reluctance, leaned back against the chair, and the brilliant starlight around him quickly dissipated, returning the magnificent ancient palace to its usual tranquility.
Leyton closed his eyes slightly, digesting the Mysticologist knowledge he had just analyzed:
It can temporarily create a shadow domain, combining the power of Fallen, filth, mutation, and other domains with shadows to create various Monsters, or directly imbue shadows with strange power to corrupt everything within the domain.
It has a bit of the Forsaken Land of the Gods' flavor, but it doesn't require absolute conditions like complete Darkness. Sasrir's blood essence is very high, almost equivalent to the True Creator.
"How was the harvest?"
Klein, sitting on The Fool's high-backed chair, saw Leyton open his eyes and asked in a calm tone.
"Not bad."
"I even want to collect the blood of mythical creatures from every Pathway. For a Mysticologist, any True and effective Mysticologist knowledge is our source of power."
Leyton leaned back in the high-backed chair, his voice filled with anticipation.
Just thinking about it is good; it's a bit unrealistic… Klein silently muttered to himself.
Just as he was about to open his mouth to say something, a crimson light suddenly flowed out from the boundless Gray Fog around him, spreading like a tide.
A crimson star suddenly shone, continuously expanding and contracting.
Mr. Fool's business is quite busy. Leyton sighed slightly, then rose from his seat, preparing to bow and take his leave.
Klein, sitting at the head of the mottled long table, narrowed his eyes slightly. This isn't a crimson star pointing to any member of the Tarot Club. A newcomer?
As his thoughts turned, he didn't respond to Leyton's movement, but directly extended his spirituality to touch the crimson star.
The crimson light suddenly expanded, then quickly receded, solidifying into a tangible image and sound.
Leyton turned to look at the image behind him, his expression stiffened. He saw a familiar figure in the image.
"Captain!" Leyton whispered softly.
Hearing Leyton's soft murmur, Klein quickly reacted and casually asked:
"Admiral of Stars Cattleya?"
Leyton's gaze lingered on the space above Cattleya's body, where there was a pair of cold, emotionless, lashless, almost transparent eyes.
He carefully observed the pair of eyes symbolizing the Hidden Sage, his brows gradually furrowing.
Relying on his familiarity with the Hidden Sage, through this layer of symbolism, he saw more… The Hidden Sage's state isn't right; He seems to have Fallen into some kind of instinct, some kind of madness… Uh, why do I have such a feeling and judgment…
As he pondered, he heard Klein's questioning voice:
"Is this knowledge seeking?"
Leyton came back to his senses, his brows slightly furrowed, and he nodded with a solemn expression:
"Yes, Beyonders who embark on the Mystery Pryer pathway will inevitably receive knowledge infusion from the Hidden Sage."
"If they endure it, they can directly gain corresponding knowledge. If they fail to endure it, they will directly lose control, go mad, and collapse…"
"Hidden Sage… Why do you do this?"
Klein mused as he asked.
He thought of Old Neil, who yearned for the Mysticologist knowledge to resurrect his wife, but lost control because he couldn't bear the Hidden Sage's knowledge infusion.
What kind of state is the Hidden Sage in exactly? Why do I feel that the Hidden Sage I've encountered through Arrodes is completely different from the Hidden Sage other Mystery Pryer Beyonders encounter?
Seeing Klein fall into contemplation at this moment, Leyton cleared his throat and reminded him:
"Cough~ I think you might want to help her first."
Klein came back to his senses. He nodded, then extended his spirituality to touch the constantly contracting and expanding crimson star.
His spirituality surged, pouring into the crimson star, and soon, a mysterious and stable connection was established with Cattleya, whom the crimson star represented.
Cattleya's figure suddenly appeared within this palace, sitting on a high-backed chair in front of Leyton.
After a brief silence, Cattleya gradually recovered. She looked around the palace in a daze, her gaze lingering between the figure shrouded in Gray Fog leisurely seated at the head of the table and the somewhat familiar, blurred figure in front of her.
A moment later, she asked in a drifting tone:
"Is this the Underworld?"
"You are not dead."
Klein chuckled in response.
After seeing the symbol adorned with starlight appear on the high-backed chair where Cattleya was seated, he turned his gaze to Leyton and asked in a calm voice:
"What is your understanding of the Hidden Sage?"
Seeing Klein turn the question back to him, Leyton sat back down on his high-backed chair, leaning against the backrest, and mused:
"He is born from the Hermit Uniqueness, a certain embodiment of the world's knowledge and information, but at certain times, He can also be equated with knowledge itself."
Certain times… So, He isn't always controlled by the corresponding Sefirah? Is this why I feel His manifestations show two extremes? This may not be the whole picture; there should be some reasons I don't know about.
After a brief thought, Klein reined in his thoughts. To maintain his image as "The Fool..." he said another profound sentence:
"Knowledge seeking is a necessity."
A necessity? Is this a hint from the Beacon of Destiny? Leyton narrowed his eyes slightly. He felt he should perhaps reconsider the relationship between the Hidden Sage and the Knowledge Moor. Perhaps, this Uniqueness isn't as simple as being corrupted and activated.
Knowledge seeking is a necessity? Why? Is this a behavior the Hidden Sage has to perform to maintain a certain state? Cattleya also fell into contemplation because of Klein's words.
While Cattleya was deep in thought, Klein casually glanced at her and said in a detached and leisurely voice:
"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?"
"This should be basic etiquette."
Cattleya was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice:
"My name is Cattleya, and I have the title 'Admiral of Stars'."
"Thank you very much for your assistance just now. You can directly command me to do anything you need, as long as it is within my abilities and does not violate my principles."
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr