In a certain room of a certain apartment in East borough, I, Philip Spearson was thinking about how much important money is to a beyonder (I'm only half a beyonder, but still), I was having a rather tough time considering my options to earn money..... Should I borrow some momey from someone this original Phillip knew, hmmm..... Come to think of it, this fellow had a rather good relationship with Kaspars.
Heh.... I wonder if I can get some money from him. Even if he hands me a task to complete for the exchange of money, I'm okay with it. My life (in this world) was not that good up until now, but that old geezer have helped me quite a few times, so this should be the best idea for earning money.
I pondered about it while glancing outside the window and decided to visit bravehearts bar.
After washing my face to reduce the sleepiness in my eyes, I checked the Secret supplicant beyonder characteristic I've sealed inside a metal box with the help of my 'cheat' which I named Heart of Madness. Although it depleted all my mental energy and I was dead tired, I've already recovered after some sleep and a good sweet iced tea. So I checked the remaining money I have which is less than 2 pounds and walked out of my apartment towards Iron gate street.
Sigh.... Those items might only cost me 2-3 solis but I still have to buy the utensils to make the potion and also..... I also want to improve my relationship with Kaspars, or rather the Temperance faction behind him. They can be considered a future powerful ally. I reached Iron gate street through a public carriage and entered the Bravehearts bar, in the original novel, this bar's future 'boss' Ian's 5 pounds commission costed the life of an Ambassador who was a seq 6 Conspirer and also a secret spy planted in Loen by Intis.
The bar was as lively as ever, people were drinking, bragging their stories loudly, some were enjoying the fight between to contestants and betting on on of them. Infront of the bartender was an old man who looks at least 50-years old with a big scar on his face which starts from the corner of his right eye to the side of his mouth, with a typical brandy nose the was almost red, he was sitting thier leisurely while drinking his bear.
I walked towards the bartender and asked for a half and half, it was the speciality of this bar which is made by mixing two beers which carried a bitter aroma of stout mixed with sharp edge of cheap ale. After paying for the beer, I took the mug and leaned towards Kaspars who was looking at me, I deliberated for a while before saying in a relaxed tone "hey, Mr. Kaspars, long time no see. How have you been".
Kaspars heard me and thought for a moment before he replied leisurely. " Phillip, I'm I'm almost certain that you're not in an ideal state". After sighing in helplessness, he continued in a soft tone , "You ravings are increasing aren't they? From what I can learn, you have to become a beyonder of the pathway your parents were" he paused and a hint of pity appeared on his face before he looked into my eyes and continued, " you've never told me about your speculation on what pathway is it. If you can learn about that, then I may help you search for the potion formula and resolve your current predicament".
What???.... This old geezer knows about the ravings, but how? I can't remember of any memory where original Phillip told him about it. Hmm... come to think of it, maybe those fragmented memories are responsible for this. Sigh..... Now that he know about this, it's even easier for me to become a beyonder.
I saw he noticed my strange expression but didn't asked anything more, so I decided to tell him why I'm here, " yeah, I'm not far away from becoming a complete lunatic, I know which pathway it is and I also have the formula, I just need some ingredients before concocting the potion".
His expressions turned to little shock but he soon camled down and asked me about the ingredients. I gave him the list of those supplementary ingredients along with some others ingredients so that those two powerhouses behind him can't guess what pathway is this..... Although I doubt that it's worth their notice, but one should be better safe than sorry.
I waited for an hour before Kaspars brought me the items and even gave me a cauldron.
" This is a thank you gift for the help you've provided me last time". He said with a slight smile on his face.
Uhmm.... Uncle, aren't you a little too fond of me? And I don't even know what kind of help this guy had provided you with.... I lampooned inwardly while thanking him sincerely and after I checked and paid a rather low price for the ingredients, I cautiously returned to my room.
"Heh, the amount of coincidences happening is rather absurd now, I wonder if it's really 'His' plot or some other 'big shot' is investing in me or does they have a completely different plan. Whatever it is, I've decided to take the risk and accept their investment... At least I consider it an investment and I should have a chance to survival. Yeah, being positive is sometimes helpful for our health and I also need a lot of good mental health right now".
Although I knew that something is terribly wrong with the luck I've displayed and the rate of coincidences happening around me, but I still thought of not pay any more attention to it for the time being. Afterall, I'm not even qualified to call myself a part of their world whithout becoming a beyonder.
After giving a self deprecating smile, I decided to concoct the potion tonight after resting for a while.
--
In an auspicious looking 2 storey building in Cherwood borough, a giant like 2 metres tall man was strangling a middle aged man, after the middle aged man died of suffocation, the 'giant looked at a corner of the room and said in a robust tone, " I've completed my mission, now I should be qualified to join your organisation."
"Heh heh, of course you can join us now. But before that, you have agree to burden the sins of the people around you and repent for it." I slightly maniacal voice answerd the giant man whit a mad laughter.
"I accept" as soon as the giant man said these words, his facial features contorted and his eyes widened and he fell to the ground without producing any sounds loosing all vitality and dieing on the spot. After that, a person in a black rob outlined beside him whose face was hidden.
The black robed man's heart suddenly started thumping wildly and He felt something as He looked in the direction of East borough. He then tapped on his chest four times making the sign of an upside down cross, then kneeled in an exaggerated manner and started shouting In a fanatical way, but because of some unknown factors, the voice was unable to escape the room.
"Praise be to you, the creator of all things, Praise the True Creator, the eternal lord".