He had decided: next Monday at the Tarot meeting he would seek help from Mr. Fool, and could also ask Ms. Justice for assistance, he must strangle Qilangos in Backlund!
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At the Glaint residence.
Hastur, Audrey, and Xio came here once again for a gathering.
This time, it was mainly because Xio strongly requested it, saying there was an urgent matter that required help.
After discussing with Glaint, it was Glaint who contacted Hastur and Audrey.
The moment Hastur arrived, he saw Xio's anxious expression and immediately knew that something must have happened to Fors.
The cause was likely the night when the Supernova Dominator acted, the crimson moon shone brightly and affected Fors.
Once everyone had arrived and taken their seats, Xio took a deep breath, calmed herself, and began recounting the events of the past few days.
That night of the stellar anomaly, Fors was subjected to an influence more powerful beyond the previous full-moon whisperings. Although she eventually endured it through sheer willpower, her body and mind had been gravely wounded and would not recover in a short time.
And now, with less than three days left before the next full moon, in her current state, Fors absolutely could not withstand the influence of the full-moon whisperings.
Xio had attended many Beyonder gatherings, but she hadn't found a suitable solution. In the end, she placed her hopes on Hastur.
Among the people she knew, Hastur's knowledge of Mysticism was incomparably vast, and coupled with his air of mystery, perhaps he knew of a way to save Fors.
After listening, Glaint was the first to think of the medicines he had developed, but those could only help condition Fors's body, they could not deal with the whisperings of the full moon, which were a spiritual influence. His drugs were useless for that.
Audrey felt deep sympathy for Fors's plight. Just from hearing Xio's account, she had already been breaking out in cold sweat, fearing Fors would not hold on.
When she heard that Fors had managed to endure it in the end, she finally sighed in relief, though also in lingering fear. Thankfully, she herself had become a Beyonder without suffering such severe side effects as Fors.
Those full-moon whisperings, just from the description, one could tell they were ominous.
Would Mr. Fool perhaps have a way to resolve Fors' problem?
Running through the people she knew, Audrey realized that apart from Mr. Hastur, only Mr. Fool might know a solution.
If Hastur had no solution today, she would seek the Fool's help at Monday's Tarot Gathering.
Perhaps, it could even bring a new member into the Tarot Club.
Faced with Xio and Audrey's hopeful gazes, Hastur pondered for a long time before saying:"There is indeed a way to resolve the full-moon whisperings, but the conditions are somewhat demanding."
Hearing there was a way, Xio nearly jumped up in excitement, her eyes reddening. She tried hard to calm herself down.
"What way?"
"From your description, I suspect these so-called full-moon whisperings are a type of influence imposed by high-sequence Beyonders of the same pathway upon those of lower sequence."
Hastur did not mention the existence of Mr. Door, nor the curse of the Abraham family. Instead, he phrased it another way.
"To dispel this influence, in my opinion, there are two possible methods. The first is to obtain a mystical item that can isolate external influences. Its sequence must not be too low, and its side effects cannot be too severe."
"The second is to seek the help of a powerful being, such as the Seven Orthodox Gods or ancient awakened ones."
Xio listened, full of hope, only to sink into despair again, both methods were too difficult.
In the short term, she had no way of finding a mystical item that could block external influences.
Such an item was a life-saving treasure, practically equivalent to a Beyonder's second life.
No one would easily sell such things. And the sequence could not be too low. Considering the degree of Fors' affliction, the item would need to be at least equivalent to Sequence 6 or higher?
As for the second method, she and Fors had already tried.
To resist the full-moon whisperings, they had prayed devoutly to each of the Seven Gods, full of hope. Yet not a single deity had responded.
"I can't do it. It's too difficult." Xio explained her attempts and the scarcity of mystical items.
"Should we try my medicine?" Glaint asked softly.
Xio shook her head. "Those medicines can only condition the body, they cannot solve the problem of the full-moon whisperings."
Audrey thought for a moment, then fixed her gaze on Hastur and said with conviction: "I believe since Mr. Hastur raised such a method, there must be some way he can help."
Xio's eyes reignited with hope.
Hastur sighed lightly. "I do not know of any ancient existences personally, but I have a friend who does. If Fors ultimately makes the decision, I will help ask on her behalf."
"In the face of life, all rules and constraints lose their weight." Xio bit her lower lip, her determined eyes already making the decision for Fors.
Even if it meant believing in an evil god, so long as Fors could live, what did it matter? Wasn't the Aurora Order and the Witch Sect still quite active?
"This is something only Fors herself can decide."
Hastur gave Xio a meaningful glance. He had already offered the choice. If Fors agreed, he would guide her into becoming a follower of the Stars.
As for whether Fors would join the Tarot Club in the future, he would not interfere.
After all, the Tarot Club was full of traitors and double agents, even Miss Justice had learned to be a spy within the Psychology Alchemists.
Xio said firmly: "I believe Fors will make the wisest choice."
With the matter settled, Hastur went on to explain some simpler Beyonder knowledge, but he did not mention anything regarding the stellar anomaly of that night.
After the gathering ended, Hastur followed Xio to the place she shared with Fors.
Before boarding the carriage, Hastur reminded her specifically: no matter whom they encountered, do not stop the carriage. He did not want to see Chief Reid suddenly appear in front of him holding his child.
Xio felt puzzled but said nothing.
The carriage traveled smoothly and arrived at Xio and Fors's residence in just over twenty minutes.
The two of them lived in a place with a decent hall, a washroom, two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a small balcony for drying clothes.
The environment was average, when the windows and doors were open, it was a bit noisy.
The only convenience was that it was very close to the market.
For Xio and Fors, who cooked their own meals, this was the greatest advantage.
Xio knocked on the door first, reminding the resting Fors that guests had arrived and that she should tidy herself up a little. Once Fors gave her consent, Xio opened the door.
Hastur followed Xio inside and naturally glanced into Fors's bedroom.
The room was small, about half the size of his own study. With a bed and a wardrobe, there was not much space left.
The decoration was very simple. The small square bed had just a quilt and two pillows. On the bedside table lay dozens of books.
This matched Fors' character and profession.
At this moment, Fors lay quietly on the bed, two pillows propped together to support her upper body slightly.
Her face was pale. Though she had tidied herself a little, her hair was still somewhat messy. Her eyes were swollen, empty, and dull, as though her spirituality had been lost.
Xio sat down at the bedside, glanced at Hastur who had nowhere to sit, and apologized: "Mr. Hastur, I'm afraid you'll have to bear with it."
Hastur indicated he did not mind such a small thing and first asked about Fors' current condition.
Thankfully, though exhausted, Fors was not yet hollow or demented. Her spirit was badly injured, but with time it could recover slowly.
However, in her current state, there was no way she could survive the next full-moon whisperings.
"Xio has explained the problem to me. Now, you must make your own decision. Once you choose, you may never again have ties with the churches of the Seven Gods."
Hastur thought it best to make this clear, lest Fors regret it later.
Fors gave a bitter smile and said weakly: "I'm no longer afraid of any worse outcome."
"Good. Then I will write the prescription for you."
Hastur asked Xio to fetch pen and paper, then wrote a few lines on the small desk Fors often used for writing.
After finishing, Hastur instructed: "It must be recited in ancient Hermes for the spell to be effective. Best around eleven at night, the effect will be stronger."
"After reading, remember to burn it. It's best not to spread this, or it may bring trouble to my friend."
"And finally, my blessing: Miss Fors shall be freed from suffering."
Having done what he needed, Hastur did not stay long. Xio escorted him to the door and saw him off in the carriage.
Inside the room, Fors was staring at the words written on the paper:
"Master of Chaos and Order."
"Origin of all laws in the starry sky."
"The One who Aligns the stars into place!"