After dropping off Azik at his residence, Kenley drove Amanises to the Spirit Domain.
Along the way, both of them got lost in idle chatter.
"So, he's actually the father... how unfortunate" Said Kenley, his face full of pity for the amnesiac.
"I'm sure he will be able to recover more of his memories with time, but I can't help but wonder, what put him in such a state?"
Kenley didn't answer the obviously rhetorical question as he switched to another one.
"So, what happened to the three Machinery Hivemind members?"
"He put them to sleep in a strange way, I swear they weren't moving a millimeter! After that, he took out this brooch from one of them. He told me to give it to the supervisors."
"I see, shall I wait here to drive you home?"
"Ah, no thanks." She waved him off. "I know you have to be home early, your fiancé must be getting angry!"
"Ugh! Don't remind me! I'm about to eat dirt! Shall I do a divination to see if it's safe to head home?" The Seer joked as he retreated further, waving the woman goodbye.
Amanises quickly made her way to the captain's office, where she found Leonard Mitchell, shuffling over some papers.
"Is Dunn Smith still not back?" She asked the man.
"No, not until tomorrow. I'm in charge of duties today. What happened?"
Amanises pushed her chest with pride. "I was able to recover some of Azik Egger's memories, to the point where he was able to discover something about Klein Moretti."
"Really?!" Leonard nearly jumped from his seat.
That fast???
"Yes, but first and foremost we must seal this." She held the golden brooch in her hand.
"Where'd you get that?" The poet raised an eyebrow.
"Long story. I'll tell you after we seal it."
"Sigh. Alright." He agreed with her.
With the help of the Nightmare, they found a way to deal with the item.
She wasn't exactly sure how he found a way so quickly, but nonetheless it was welcomed.
The actual way he did it was by throwing it in a dark empty room, instructing her to not approach the room until at least tomorrow.
After that, they both sat down and started discussing what had happened.
"Ancient notebook?"
She nodded. "Exactly."
"Hmmm, we need to reinvestigate Klein Moretti himself, but nothing was found in his house...
"Perhaps he hid it somewhere?" Leonard poised the question.
"It's the most logical answer, but we should still run a divination on him."
"Divination?" He was surprised, Sleepless aren't that good at divination.
"Yes, more particularly, Dream Divination! That helped me find Azik's memories, and it could perhaps help me find Klein Moretti's too!" She thought of the excuse on the spot.
"Hmm, makes sense..." He mumbled, throwing a glance at his shadow.
Seeing that it hadn't moved, Leonard gazed back at Evelyn before him.
"Alright, but I will accompany you."
"Hm? No problem, is tomorrow fine? It's already late for today..." Amanises glanced at the nearby window out of habit, noting how it was still lit up from the Spirit World's unusual colors.
"I have no objections, get some rest. You did well today." He praised the woman for her hard work then dismissed her, returning to the captain's office.
There, Leonard opened more documents, taking the photo of Klein Moretti out once again from the scattered files.
He inspected the information one more time, then put the file back inside the yellow dossier.
There's no way lady Evelyn was able to find his memories with just dream divination alone...
"What do you think?"
"Something's up. That's for sure."
The aged voice said and then refused to elaborate further, only confirming Leonard's suspicions.
***
Amanises returned to the rental house, ate some food and filled Daly in on what happened.
By the time she was done, dusk had long since disappeared, only a slither of crimson moonlight shined through the windows.
"You jumped out of bed so suddenly last night I almost jumped too!" Yelled out the Spirit Medium, although it didn't look like it, she was definitely worried for Evelyn.
"If you didn't have any enhancement during the night I would've dragged you back by the neck!"
You fell back on bed the moment I left! She wanted to retort, but was secretly glad someone still bothered to look after her.
It was a nice feeling.
"Alright, alright. I get it." She waved her off.
"Go back to sleep now."
"After you go to Klein Moretti's residence tell me what happened in an instant! I'm incredibly curious." Daly dragged the covers onto herself and fell asleep on her side.
You don't think I'll keep such an event from you, right? Amanises had a stiff smile on her face.
Instead of sleeping, she stayed in the small kitchen, nibbling on a piece of stale bread while dipping it in water.
I have to find Klein's soul inside the river. But how do I do that?
Me finding Azik was just a stroke of luck, I can't rely on it now...
Amanises needed to find a solution until tomorrow otherwise the 'divination' will provide no results!
The River must be somewhat connected to my transmigration at least.
If that's truly the case, then maybe Mr Fool can provide some insight!
Miss Justice offered three pages from Roselle's diary in exchange for the sequence 8 formula and ingredients. How expensive could some knowledge regarding the river be?
***
Tingen City branch, The Arcanists' Spirit Domain.
Amanises made her way to the Archive room in hopes to memorize some of the diary pages that she could find.
She tried a long while ago to search for them but it was fruitless, maybe today there could be any results.
But after no more than one hour of speeding through, she found absolutely nothing.
Bastard! I need those things!
She frowned heavily, thinking of starting to look again, there was still some time left before dawn.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps rang in her ears. They were light but heavy, possibly from hard leather brown Oxbloods.
She glanced at the intruder, instantly being met with a familiar face.
"What are you doing here so late, Mr Neil?" She asked politely.
"I could ask the same young lady." He fixed his glasses while replying with another question.
"I'm a Sleepless, midnight research is basically the norm, but for someone of your advanced age..." she trailed off, not wanting to belittle the old man.
"Hehe! I'm here because I've been unable to sleep lately. Looks like we're both in the same cauldron."
Since the old man was here, Amanises took the opportunity to ask.
"Old Neil, are you in possession of some pages from Roselle's secret notebook." She didn't call it a diary, since this is not common knowledge outside of the Tarot Club.
"Why, yes! I, in fact, do. You have a need for them?"
Amanises widened her eyes. "Yes! I'm trying to decipher them. Recently I spent a lot of time in the library of Khoy University, being fascinated by the history of Roselle's era. So maybe I could connect some events and decode some characters."
"Oh, we have the same idea. That's what I've been trying to do too. Unfortunately, the symbols are far too complicated to even look at them. Staring for too long can cause a headache."
"I've heard of this characteristic. I'll keep it in mind."
"Alright. They're here in the drawer of the Alchemy room. If you manage to decode anything, please inform me too. I'd like to know."
"Of course!" She hurried off to the Alchemy room, taking out three yellowish pages from the desk drawer.
She ran back to Old Neil. "I'll be taking these home for a little, if you don't mind. I'll make sure to return them by tomorrow."
"Do as you wish, my lady." He chuckled.
***
I've been making too many trips to the Domain and back...
She held her side, where she felt a sharp pain in her chest from walking for so long.
It doesn't matter, it will pass.
She grabbed one of the pages and made an effort to memorize the symbols.
They look incredibly familiar, but I can't recall from where.
After ten or so minutes—
How the fuck did Miss Justice and the others manage to memorize two whole pages?! This is impossible.
Not only did it become hard to keep each complicated stroke in mind, but Amanises found it hard to even look at them!
No wonder Old Neil warned her! This could put someone in a coma!
They're just standing still, but sometimes the characters would stretch and retract when you're not looking. It's like looking at an optical illusion!
She spent a total of 30 minutes alone memorizing one page before grasping the charm given by The Fool.
For a suitable place, away from prying eyes, Amanises chose the small pantry beside the kitchen.
She grasped the hexagonal charm between her palms and assumed a deity prayer position.
She said between her lips in Hermes The Fool.
A spiritual wall was erected beforehand, a gust of cold wind blew through it.
She knew He was listening.
"Mr Fool, I am looking to make a transaction with you." She said, keeping her position.
Suddenly, the assault of whispers was familiar again, she saw dim light through her slightly open eye lids, and found herself in her designated seat.
She gazed at the end of the long mottled table, silence stretching before them, the same like the time she first came here using the incantation.
Through the fog screen, she saw His lips curl a little. The Fool was ready to hear her out.
"I have gathered three Roselle Diary pages and memorized one. I want to exchange them for information."
"What kind of information?"
Her features turned serious. "I want to know how to locate someone on the River."
The Fool cupped his chin, and spoke. "Keep one of their personal items in your hand when you go to sleep. While walking, focus on the absent feeling of said item, and head into the direction your spiritual intuition points you to."
Amanises didn't mention what river, nor her connection to it.
As expected He knew all along!
The Fool smiled. "Three pages... I merely gave a small guide. It doesn't come close in value."
He means I can ask for more...
The origins of the River weren't useful for now.
"Can you offer me protection when I'm searching for him? I will be supervised by someone who is already weary of me. I do not want to be interrupted."
"Okay." He answered with a nod of his head.
It's better to ask for a favor like this, what if Leonard decides to join my dream? Who knows what horrors he could see, if he could even enter it that is.
She wasn't sure if a Nightmare's Dream Invasion was enough to join her on the lonely river, and she wasn't sure what would happen if it would.
It's better to take precautions, to not be caught by surprise.
"I suggest you be aware of what you see, a simple notebook wouldn't drive someone to suicide. Even if the difference was a Sequence 9 and a normal human." The Fool gave His guidance while shifting His head from one hand to another.
I shouldn't look into the contents too much.
"The more curious you are, the easier it is to get corrupted, only at a certain level, does one begin to understand the secrets of the world without backlash."
I need to reach higher Sequences to learn about my way home.
"Heheh. Only at the level of an angel is one the most safe. Allowing both a strong mind and body."
"An angel?"
"Sequence two and above."
"Yes, I'm aware what an angel is...Ahem!
"But is that the only way for me to understand?
"Not necessarily." He shook his head. "At the first demigod stage, one can also peer into secrets of the Gods, however—it is easy to get lost into curiosity that way.
"Still, once you reach that stage, you can discover more of what you seek. Advancing after that remains your choice."
So I need to reach Sequence 4 for now. That's still too far-fetched! I'm not even a Midnight Poet yet!
She was already planning to go as far as she could, stopping only when her goal was reached. But it wasn't expected for the goal to be a Demigod.
Eughhh... She sighed in her heart.
"Thank you for your insight, Mr Fool." She bent her neck to show gratitude.
"Heheh. I suggest you take a closer look around the events happening in the vicinity, take precautions if needed."
Did something happen? Or is something about to happen? She was cradled by a bad feeling all of a sudden.
"Mr Fool, why are you telling me this?" His benevolence was welcomed, but strange.
"You paid the price. And I'm bored."
Bored? Can a god get bored? Don't you have subjects you need to look after?
Well if I think about it—I am one of those subjects...
"Can I give you the diary pages now?"
The Fool nodded, so with His help she recounted the scrambled contents on a paper, which flew towards His hand.
The Fool chuckled suddenly while reading. "Hahahahaa! Did you know? Roselle deeply resented his diplomats, going as far as to call them idiots!" He fell back into his chair with laughter.
"Here, even his children get the same treatment!"
"Is this the kind of content in Roselle's diary? Is this what we are showing you in exchange for help." Amanises was so stunned that she forgot to keep her thoughts inside her head.
"As you can see, I'm looking for some entertainment, and his diaries provide a good chunk of them. The information written here is mostly what I already know."
I see, he's doing this just to get a good laugh! Amanises stopped for a second, making sure she didn't repeat the same mistake again.
She wanted to inquire more about the late Emperor but forgot her question, and the diary pages soon disappeared from The Fool's hand.
"I also suggest you be more cautious when sharing information regarding your origin and organization. As far as I'm aware, it's actively being hunted down by the Church."
"Ah, yes! I've been doing my best to not share any more than necessary!"
"Very well, zealots like the Aurora Order can hardly keep their mouths shut, if it weren't for the hidden Fallen Creator, none of them would be able to keep their heads once they've been cut-off."
He deeply resents them.
It was the first time she has ever heard a god express their feelings towards something. Granted, this was the first time she has ever spoken to one on such a simple basis.
The Fool shook his head with an audible sigh. "Well, these guys don't want to keep their head either way. As long as their deity can step into the real world, these zealots will give every fiber of their soul."
"Step into the real world?"
"Are there no records of cases from the Aurora Order? They're known for trying their best to help the Fallen to descend."
The Fool wanted to call him 'The Hanged Man' but felt it would be mixed up with Alger, so he simply referred to Him as Fallen.
"Are evil organizations always like this?"
"Most, yes. Especially those who worship a True Deity, since They cannot step into the material world however They wish."
"That goes for you too, doesn't it?" She raised her head and questioned.
"That's right. I'm stuck here for a while. That's why it's easy to get bored." He expressed with a smile.
"A while?"
"That's not something you should know at the current level."
Not something I should know? Does that mean that He is planning something? A personal Descent?!
Amanises was suddenly crippled with fear, but she soon calmed down.
What does that have to do with me? Even if He chooses me as His vessel, I'll be more than happy to oblige!
Her worries dissipated.
"You should return now and prepare for tomorrow."
Amanises got up and gave a short bow while lifting the corners of her skirt. "As you wish."
With that, the connection was severed, and she returned to the small pantry.