Audrey was on her way to the room the rest of her family was in for safety while his father handled the news she had sprung up on him when her shoulder was tapped on gently,
Audrey whisked around and it was only due to her fully digested Spectator potion that she did not flinch or jerk away- she still had the job of keeping up appearances as the Jewel of Backlund, Audrey Hall of the Hall family.
"My Lady, may you please guide me to the dancing hall?" The man smiled in a gentlemanly manner. He had curly, soft-looking black hair, pale skin as well as well-defined cheekbones, overall his appearance was that of a handsome young man- one whom Audrey would not have forgotten if she had seen him before.
He was wearing a sharp-looking, well-fitted suit and Audrey's years of studying types of clothing nobles wore, Audrey knew they weren't any lower quality than her's or her father's. There was a mystical-looking pocket watch hanging on his hip, as well as a monocle on his right eye.
This man was indeed very suspicious.
Audrey had never seen him before- and she had done nothing but spectate during the last month or so during parties and balls like these. There was no way she could miss remembering someone like this man...
But also for some reason, she felt a strange sense of familiarity... was it the voice? Or the monocle?
Audrey was about to nicely ask the man to introduce himself when her mind became blank- a blink later, she came to be once again.
What was she about to do again?
"My lady?" The man tilted his head, his face scrunched up a little in worry- Audrey wasn't that familiar with this man to figure out whether it was a fake expression or a real face of worry.
"Right- er... sorry, just blacked out a bit." Audrey tried to hide her slip-up with some humor, "I am quite clumsy you see."
"Hm, that's interesting, you look like quite an intelligent Lady." The man pinched his monocle- an instinctual movement, a habit perhaps? Where had she seen these mannerisms before... Think Audrey- think!
"What... were you saying again Mr...?" Audrey eyed the man with an innocent expression, urging him to give up his name.
The man smiled, "I just needed someone to point me to the dancing hall."
He dodged the unspoken request for his name...
Audrey opened her mouth to ask, and nothing came out.
Huh?
What was she thinking again?
Oh right- this gentleman was asking for directions to the dancing hall, she could do that quickly and then get to her mother for safety like her father had ordered before.
"It's just down the hall," Audrey replied politely and in a dignified manner. It was rude to point in the upper society so she turned and nodded in the direction instead.
"Ah, if I may inconvenience this young lady a bit more and ask you to guide me there yourself? These corridors and turns are so confusing..." The man sighed as he shook his head in pity.
Unfamiliar with large mansions? Was it his first time anywhere this big? But the quality of his clothes as well as his mannerisms tell another tale... This was also one of the first men in the ball she had met who had not tried to steal a glance at her chest or anywhere else during the conversation. Already in love with some other lady or the possibility that he was gay...
"I... alright, it's pretty close by." Audrey smiled, she wanted to observe this man a bit more- he was definitely suspicious. Call her someone who was courting death but she also knew that she was one of the few Beyonders here, let alone from the Spectator pathway- there wasn't anyone else right now who could calibrate this man's danger level as precisely as she could. She could walk to the room with her mother and brother later.
"Thank you so much, Miss, you are such a kind young lady." The man complimented as he started following behind Audrey, making sure to be at a comfortable distance behind Audrey.
He even knows just how far he should be while walking behind a young lady to make sure she feels safe... Audrey felt strange, it was like she had encountered someone whose mannerisms were too perfect- so much so that it was eerie. Yet she did not feel an ounce of danger from that man's body language at all... whatever his goals are, those do not involve harming the young and charming Ms. Hall.
"We are here...-!" Audrey's eyes widened in shock when she saw Baron Gramir- Qilangos in disguise- only a few steps away from Duke Negan, eyeing up his bodyguards.
Duke Negan was in danger! Was her father not fast enough?!
Audrey quickly turned around to warn the man, "Em, sir-" only to see that no one was behind her.
Where did he go? Did he slip away?
Then suddenly a sudden gust of wind swept in the area above the dance floor, extinguishing the chandelier's candles.
Then a clash was heard in the darkness- and then another- and a few more.
And then a loud-
Crash-!
The crystal chandelier had fallen down. Shards of debris flew, cutting guests and leaving them screaming in pain and fear. Audrey, who was at a safe distance was left unharmed but her eyes were locked in the direction of where Duke Negan was- The Beyonder who was in charge of protecting Duke Negan suddenly let out a tragic scream and fell on the ground holding his head. He rolled around and struggled.
An attack?! Duke Negan was now completely unguarded!
With a swoosh, Qilangos's figure dashed through the darkness and charged at Duke Negan.
But Audrey noticed the way Duke Negan's figure was completely at ease- as if there was no deranged man after his life lunging at him.
Could Duke Negan also possibly be a Beyonder? Possibly a strong one at that!
As Duke Negan and Qilangos fought- Audrey quickly realized that this was a trap! Her father had listened to her!
Qilangos also seemed to have realized that as he ran quickly as hurricanes whirled around him. He smashed through one of the resting room doors before smashing through an oriel window.
Qilangos had escaped by jumping out of the window!
"Hm... what a messy situation," The familiar voice drawled beside Audrey- she turned and saw that it was the same man who had asked her for the way and had then disappeared!
The man seemed entirely uninterested and was even holding something in his hands... was that a plate filled with sweets?
"To think they had their best sweet hidden away far from the dining hall... making me run in circles, what cruel people." The man chuckled, it seemed like a genuine one too- as if this situation was giving him great comic relief.
"Qilangos even ran away faster than I anticipated... I couldn't even taste the biscuits. My lady," He turned to Audrey who was completely frozen by this strange man and his behaviors, "Could you please hold onto this for me for a while?" He handed the plate filled with sweets to Audrey who accepted by pure instinct and reflexes, "Sorry to trouble you once again, but I have a rat to catch."
Rat?
Just then, Audrey's eyes landed on the hand that was handing the plate to her- more importantly, on the ring finger and the familiar ring on there!
This was the same ring as Mr. Lover!
It was everything had snapped back into place in her mind and she could make sense of it all- the voice and mannerisms, the monocle as well as the figure and body- they were familiar because the man in front of her was Mr. Lover from Tarot Club!
"Mr. Lov-"
"Shh." A finger was placed on her lips as Mr. Lover smiled cheekily- just like how she had imagined he would beyond the gray mist that hid them all from each other.
Audrey realized the need to keep their relationship a secret as per their promise to Mr. Fool and stayed quiet- she couldn't just blurt out Mr. Lover's identity like this when there were so many people present! Thankfully it did not seem like anyone had taken notice of them yet...
Audrey watched as Mr. Lover casually fixed his embroidered suit as he started stepping toward the broken window in hurried steps as he was just strolling- no, it looked more like a predator casually haunting its prey, confident that it couldn't run away from him.
But... why was no one noticing him? No one was batting an eye at the suspicious man making his way towards the broken window as if they couldn't even see him... even the Mandated Punishers who had just arrived and were scouring around the place didn't even glance at Mr. Lover's figure.
Was this some sort of Beyonder power or a Mystical item?
Just how strong was Mr. Lover? He knew so much about mysticism and even the lost history that almost no one had access to...
The tarot Club... was really just too overpowered!
And Audrey was a part of them!
Audrey couldn't help but praise Mr. Fool in her heart as she held the plate of sweets in her hands with great seriousness- afterall, it was a mission given to her by none other than Mr. Lover!
She also filed away the information that Mr. Lover had a massive sweet tooth in her heart!
Qilangos lost his pursuers with the help of the wind after crossing a man-made lake. He surveyed his surroundings, intending to create the illusion that he had entered a ditch to escape into the Tussock River before turning to the financial center of Backlund, the Hillston Borough.
Then he suddenly paused- it was as if his entire body had frozen up for some reason- he was not even able to move his own fingers!
"You know, I usually like to play with the people I'm about to kill... unfortunately for me and fortunately for you, the gazes of those orthodox gods are much too strong in Backlund."
"W-who's there?!" Qilangos used his abilities as a wind-blessed to summon a strong gust of wind around him, acting like a shield.
"Don't you know it's rude to interrupt someone when they are talking? And here I hoped that you would be polite enough to allow me to finish my monologue... tsk tsk."
The voice came from behind him- and from in front of him- from his sides, from below, from above- it was all around him!
"Though I do like a little bit of unexpectedness in my games, or else they become too boring." The voice chuckled, and so did the crows and the squirrels, the rats, the birds, the insects, and everything alive around Qilangos. It was as if the entire forest was laughing at him- all laughing in order in the same vicious and mischievous tone. If Qilangos wasn't sure that Creeping Hunger was still in the Faceless soul he would have thought that he had accidentally used the Psychiatrist's frenzy to create an atmosphere of chaos and madness.
"I don't really want to kill you as is... nor can I play with you till your mind breaks," The voice sighed, the laughter calming down a bit but still present as an incessant buzz inside Qilangos's ears, "What to do, what to do, what to do~"
The being seemed to hum in thought before a loud and happy, "Aha~!" rang through the forest followed by excited giggles.
"Oh, I can use that..."
Qilangos attempted to struggle but he still could not move his body- nor were any of his or creeping hunger's abilities working against whatever this Beyonder was! It felt more like a monster and a creature than a Beyonder anyway-!
"Hm~ I still haven't tested its full powers and nor would it tip off those ignorant Gods... it's almost perfect!"
Then suddenly, a figure appeared in front of Qilangos- it was that of a handsome young man with curly black hair, pale skin as well as a monocle on his right eye. "He" was smiling at Qilangos, not unlike a child looking at his newest toy- a toy he would have much too much fun playing with and breaking.
"Now then... I don't know how exactly this works but-" "He" placed a hand on Qilangos shoulder with a thoughtful expression, "Hm, does this work? Or do I need direct contact? That friend of mine did not teach me at all how this works... although in his case he had never interacted with extraordinary characteristics from another pathway so I can't really blame him...
"Ha!" The 'man' cheered, "I can feel it!"
Feel what?
Pure terror filled Qilangos's mind.
"Now then... do I just do... this?" A faint glow appeared where Qilangos was being touched and then-
White-
Qilangos's eyes almost popped out of his skull with how wide he had opened them from the screeching pain. The pain wasn't from where he was being touched- no, it felt like his heart and soul itself were being wrenched out from inside him. His Beyonder powers which had become one with him over the decades of being a Beyonder- a few of them were gone. He could feel his soul screaming so loud his body and mind gave up at the feeling of it being torn from the inside.
"Interesting... it is a lot like my Marauder powers yet so completely different at the same time..."
It was- it was completely different. Qilangos had experienced some of his beyonder abilities being temporarily stolen from him during fights at the sea- none of those instances were like this one. For one, there was no pain.
It was as if his Beyonder characteristics were being ripped away from inside of him.
Qilangos was in so much pain that he almost did not notice his skin turning slimy, his limbs breaking out into more monstrous appendages thrashing around haphazardly with no rhyme or reason.
"Ah, makes sense you're going out of control with many of your characteristics missing." The 'man' chuckled darkly, "You should be glad that I'm long bored of humans going crazy over their powers that I do not find this entertaining at all- looking at all that just reminds me of the man my father is right now, not a pleasant reminder."
"Wait a second..." The 'man' hummed as he absentmindedly played with a stray crow that had landed on his shoulder, "Maybe I can use that on corruption as well...?"
Qilangos watched with half a mind as "He" extended "His" arm at his face, grabbing it like someone would to a broken and dirty doll- making sure to only touch enough to not get the filth on oneself.
"Not working... so it only works on characteristics and the 'soul'..." "His" hand receded, and a chuckled followed, "Nice to know." The crow squawked happily as its wings were once again being played with.
The 'man' watched over as more and more of Qilangos continued to deteriorate into that of a mindless monster.
"Now, now, just hold on a bit more, I'm not done with you. And there is no fun playing with something without a brain, how can I get proper information about these powers when my test subject is already long gone to fairyland where my father is?" Another round of chuckles, this man really thought that he was very funny.
A hand extended out towards the mangled body of flesh and blood-
Another faint glow-
"Ah..." An exhale. A deep breath.
The man turned half-monster now completely stopped squirming and with a loud 'SPLASH-!' his lifeless body fell onto the ground now wet with blood and bodily fluids.
Another breath.
Another exhale.
"Fuck."
The small sphere Amon had constructed around himself and Qilangos shattered into a million pieces and time returned to its normal flow.
The crow pecked at Amon's cheek.
No response.
Amon was breathing heavily- mystical creatures did not need to breathe.
CRUNCH-!
"...Amon?"
Amon turned his face towards Mr. Azik's direction and smiled, fixing the monocle on his right eye. "Good evening, Professor."
Mr. Azik noted the slurring in the voice but did not point it out, rather he was looking at what was once the body of Qilangos.
"Ah right," Amon dug his fingers into the flesh before pulling a human skin glove, the 'Creeping Hunger', "Klein would want you to have this." he threw the glove at Mr. Azik's feet who bent down and carefully picked it up, "It does need..." Was his vision a little blurry? "...some seal work though? Quite a naughty glove this man had with him..." What was his name again? Fuck, why couldn't he remember? It did not matter, the man was no more than a mangled mess of bones, flesh, and monster meat right now.
"You... are you alright?" Mr. Azik said carefully.
"Me?" Amon tilted his head in confusion, his vision still blurry and weak. Ah... was that a worm of time which had just fallen from his face? He had to pick it up and eat it again before it got lost in the forest...
The crow which had been pecking at his cheek continuously but was ignored flew up and landed right into his hands- it looked at Amon with a white tuft of feathers around its right eye, puffed out its chest and the next second dropped to the ground, shaking and quivering like it had just been electrocuted.
Amon's mind became clear again.
The clone had just stolen his madness and corruption and died.
"I'm leaving, send Klein my regards." Amon stood up and before he could forget, he pulled out a tarot card from his pocket and dropped it over the corpse, 'The Lovers' card landed on the flesh as if claiming the kill.
With a blink, he stole distance and disappeared from the forest.
Barely a minute passed when Mr. Lover appeared in front of Audrey, his clothes cleaned of all blood and human remains and his signature smile on his face as he took back the plate of sweets from Audrey's hands.
"Thank you for holding onto this for me, my lady." Mr. Lover did an overdramatic bow before popping a biscuit right into his mouth, "Mhm~ delicious!"
Watching Mr. Lover happily chew on his sweets made Audrey smile a little. Ah really, Mr. Lover was just too sweet and kind like in the Taror Gatherings!
Considering that he is back... does that mean that he dealt with Qilangos already? That was fairly quick... but I did just see him teleport and warp people's perception of him as well as his presence so I do not the full extent of his abilities...
Before Audrey knew it, the plate was now empty, and Mr. Lover was licking the crumbs from his face like a child.
Audrey felt like her soul had just been healed at the sight.
Truly Mr. Lover's fiance was someone extremely blessed to be an audience to this sight every day!
But... Audrey couldn't help but notice that Mr. Lover's body language wasn't the same as before. Before it was casual and relaxed, although even now he's still relaxed and uncaring it feels more like it's forced... maybe it's the nerves after a fight? Audrey had never been in one before so she had no idea.
"I shall be taking my leave then, sorry for the trouble." Mr. Lover smiled as he took a few steps back- Audrey noticed the slight, barely-there quiver in his steps.
Mr. Lover snapped his fingers and Audrey found herself by her mother's side, the rest of her family acting as if she had been with them for a while.
This must be another one of Mr. Lover's abilities then... Audrey was just glad that she wouldn't get into trouble with her family for going off on her own instead of listening to her father.
But...
Mr. Lover...
Was he alright?
The mannerisms he portrayed were more in line with someone who was drunk rather than an increased amount of adrenaline due to strenuous activity like a fight...
But why would Mr. Lover be drunk? Was it the side-effect of some Beyonder power? A sealed artifact?
It was at this moment Audrey cursed her complete lack of knowledge about the mysticism and Beyonder world outside of what the Tarot Gatherings had taught her.