"Tch, that's just Salinger's style... shameless as ever." Medici scoffed, clearly disdainful of Salinger's tactics.
Klein, catching Bethel's meaning, frowned with a trace of worry.
"If this Death Consul is your friend, you don't need to fret too much. Salinger hasn't revived yet, which suggests your friend is relatively safe. Someone's keeping the God of the Death at bay." Bethel said, noticing Klein's concern and offering some reassurance before continuing. "If you're really worried, I might be able to help."
"Tell us more!" Klein hadn't spoken yet, but Alaric's curiosity was piqued, and he leaned in.
"You know the Door Pathway is also the Pathway of Sealing. So, as long as Salinger hasn't fully revived, I can use sealing powers to block it." Bethel said casually, yet his words underscored his unmatched strength as the foremost figure below a true god.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, then thought of something. "But you're sealed yourself right now… Can you still pull that off from a distance?"
Bethel's confidence visibly deflated. "Not at the moment, no."
"Mr. Bethel, you still haven't broken through the seal of the Goddess of the Night and the Lord of Storms?" Klein asked, recalling entries from Roselle's diary.
Bethel gave a faint smile. "I can't break it."
Can't? Did he mean he's unable, or that he could but shouldn't?
Klein's mind swirled with questions. He didn't fully understand why Mr. Door was sealed. Jack hadn't explained much, and Klein once thought it was due to enmity with the two deities. Now, it seemed there was more to the story.
After all, Lucifer wasn't at odds with the two churches, so would Mr. Door, who was clearly on good terms with Lucifer, really be in such deep conflict with them?
"Shh, don't think too hard or ask. Some things aren't kept from you because we want to, but because you can't know right now." Alaric interjected, sensing Klein's curiosity and making a hushing gesture.
Klein raised an eyebrow, not slow to catch on. "Knowing itself could cause trouble?"
"Exactly. Sharp as ever!" Alaric nodded, not denying it.
"Then why can you know?" Klein pressed, hitting the heart of the matter.
"I'm different from you. The old man must've told you... we're both vessels. I've broken free, but I still gained some perks, like immunity to certain corruptions. You don't have that." Alaric said, shrugging off the question with ease.
Klein nodded thoughtfully.
"Alright, enough gossip. Let's get back to studying!" Alaric declared with a wave of his hand, patting Klein's shoulder. "And don't worry too much about Mr. Azik. Salinger trying to revive through him isn't a quick process. By the time it becomes an issue, maybe Bethel will be free and can lend a hand!"
…
Study sessions always flew by. In the blink of an eye, the day's lessons were over. Klein tidied his notes and resumed working on the half-finished speech he'd been drafting.
For Klein, this wasn't too daunting. Back in the day, he'd aimed for a steady job, and though he didn't make it, writing a speech was well within his wheelhouse.
Medici sat nearby, watching Klein write, occasionally nitpicking or offering tips on how to make the speech more compelling.
Alaric, observing their dedication, shook his head and decided not to get involved. Instead, he organized his own notes while pondering a critical issue.
Because he'd intervened with Bethel's treatment, the latter no longer cried out "Don't save me!" during the full moon. As a result, the Abraham family likely no longer suffered from the full moon ravings.
That wasn't the main concern, though. Without those ravings, would Fors still join the Tarot Club? If she didn't, wouldn't that mean losing her chance to become an angel?
Alaric only knew two Door Pathway members: Mr. Door and Fors. With Bethel around, he technically didn't need another angel ally, but it was wise to have a backup. If he ever fell out with Bethel, it'd be a shame to lack options.
"More importantly, if Fors doesn't join the Tarot Club, will I ever get to read Gehrman and the Admiral of Disease?" Alaric mused seriously, deciding he needed to nudge things along. Without Fors, the Tarot Club would miss its gossip-writer, and the Fool's exploits wouldn't spread across the world.
That would be a travesty!
Alaric also wanted Fors to pen an entire series... think Sherlock's Puppets or Dawn of Many Hobbies. Without her, he'd hardly write them himself!
He wasn't some famous author.
"So, Fors has to join the Tarot Club." Alaric resolved, his gaze locking onto Klein with intense focus.
Klein, mid-draft, shivered and glanced back warily, catching Alaric's eager stare. A bad feeling crept up.
What's Jack up to now?
"Something up?" Klein couldn't help but ask.
"Nah, keep writing. We'll talk later." Alaric said, waving it off, clearly intent on protecting the Fool's secrets.
Klein's suspicions grew, but seeing Alaric's reluctance to elaborate, he swallowed his questions and returned to his draft, though now somewhat distracted.
"…Alright, that's enough for today. If you've got something on your mind, go deal with it. I don't tolerate half-hearted work." Medici said a few minutes later, annoyed that Klein's focus was slipping.
"Sorry, Mr. Red." Klein apologized, sheepish.
"It's fine. I've got eyes... it's not your fault. It's someone else's." Medici said, shooting Alaric a look. Alaric responded with an innocent grin.
"Tch!" Medici grimaced, as if repulsed, then grabbed a blank sheet, scribbled a few lines, and tossed it to Klein. "I don't skimp on payment. The speech isn't done, but the first half's solid. Consider this an advance."
Klein glanced at the paper and saw the formula for the Marionettist potion, along with its ritual.
***
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