Amanises woke up in a cold sweat and took short, heavy breaths. Her complexion became even paler somehow, riveting that of a corpse.
There were still some after images left in the corner of her eye. Slight warmth and light remained at the corner of her eyes.
This had taken a completely different turn!
She had not expected to lose control of her body and be forced to watch as Klein committed suicide, like a sadistic spectator.
She could still feel the brain matter splattering on the walls. The sound of a gunshot is still fresh in her mind.
Amanises hadn't even realized that she was gripping the notebook so tight. Had it not been of leather cover, it might've been ripped.
Leonard, who was standing at the side, twisted his head and looked at her with concern in his eyes.
His romantic voice became laced with worry, "Lady Evelyn? What did you see?"
His mind also began racing with different possibilities, taking a look from time to time at his shadow as the woman nearly turned erratic.
"Haah! Hah!" She forced her heart to calm down, swallowing the thick knot of saliva in her throat, "There's indeed a mystical notebook.
"Welch McGovern had received it from someone for cheap because they couldn't decipher the contents. So, he invited Klein and Naya over to help.
"In the end, the powers of the notebook corrupted them greatly, causing Klein and the rest to commit suicide."
Melissa raised her head. "Notebook?! He had never mentioned any notebook?"
Amanises shook her head. "I don't think it was something that important at the time."
Melissa lowered her gaze to the floor, feeling awful for not realizing that something had gone wrong with her brother.
Amanises turned her head to Leonard. "You said Ray Bieber almost had it right? It must be the notebook."
The poet didn't say anything, opting to nod instead, with a serious expression.
"He must've received it from Klein but it could have been taken away after that."
Leonard raised his gaze. "But by who?"
Amanises stared at him with a deadpan expression, as if saying 'You think I'd know???'
"We weren't the ones that dealt with Ray Bieber, could the Machinery Hivemind have found something?"
The woman, who got up from her previous position on the bed, shrugged.
"Maybe captain can make inquiries about that..." He mumbled.
"How can Dunn Smith gather information from the Hivemind?" Amanises was suddenly puzzled. They've been able to make such investigations, yet, aside from Lamud Town visit, no official beyonders have been knocking on their door.
"Heh! You didn't know? Dunn Smith is a superintendent in Tingen's special police force!"
"No wonder he's so busy!"
Of course, it all made sense now! Captain Dunn has been working his ass off in order for The Arcanists in Tingen to not be put behind bars or exterminated like pests!
No wonder the Leader promotes members to have additional jobs!
Amanises, who was unemployed, felt pity for the man.
Hearing that, Melissa got up from her seat and approached the two. "Will you be able to find the ones who stole the notebook?"
"There's no guarantee, but we will definitely try our best!" Leonard said with a smile, looking to reassure the young lady.
But Melissa still wasn't convinced, so she switched her gaze to the older woman. "Who sold the notebook to Welch? Didn't they have at least an idea of how dangerous this thing was?"
She felt anger seep deep into her bones.
Her brother has lost his life because of a simple mishap?
The woman shook her head. "That was the explanation Welch received. Who knows? Maybe the provider was well aware of the dangers?"
Leonard fell in thought again. "Could this be targeted? I was able to connect them to the other deaths through a common point, but the reason is still unkown..." He trailed off.
"Are you saying that my brother is a victim in a grand scheme?" Melissa tried a rational approach.
"Most likely." Amanises nodded. "Not only him but the others too."
Melissa suddenly felt her heart become heavier. It was clear that she couldn't do anything to avenge her brother, but she still felt the need to try.
She raised her head with newfound confidence. "Can I help with something? I want to seek revenge for Klein!" She even raised her voice a bit, quite unlady-like, but it didn't matter anymore.
"Girl, this is dangerous!" Said Leonard with a strange smile on his face. It was like he had been long expecting her proposal.
"It's more dangerous to keep going like this. What if the next one is me? Or Benson? What can I do after that—" She wanted to continue, but Leonard interrupted.
"Alright, alright, I get it. Calm down.
"The Machinery Hivemind will be coming back here any minute now."
"What?!" Amanises was surprised. Wasn't this supposed to be a private investigation? Why are the officials involved?
"Captain Dunn will be with them. All you need to do is provide him with the necessary information. Can you do that?" He addressed the younger sister.
"What information? The one about the notebook? But how am I supposed to justify where I got the information..."
"Hehe! There's no need to think about it for too long. As his closest family member, outside your brother, Klein would 'inevitably' reveal something." He accentuated the word 'inevitably' with a smug smirk.
"Perhaps something that might only be revealed in a dream?" He nudged his coworker. Amanises, who got the clue, clapped her hands.
"That's right! Captain Dunn will pull you into a dream, where a small interrogation will occur. All you have to do is provide the information I'll give you. From there, captain will filter it out and tell it to the Hivemind."
It all suddenly clicked. But something still puzzled her. How were they so sure that Amanises would actually find the answer?
So sure that, they have already contacted the Hivemind and Dunn Smith to come here so soon?
What about the possibility of failure?
Something is clearly off with this guy! She raised her guard back up.
Although she was sure of her methods, Leonard's unquestionable trust in her made the woman incredibly weary.
Melissa, who has been listening attentively to the pale woman's explanation, nodded eagerly. "That's all I have to do?"
"Well, since Miss Melissa will be clearly affected by the notebook in some way, the Hivemind will have to keep an eye on you.
"Since they're extremely busy people, it's natural that they won't be able to. So—" He looked at Evelyn, waiting for her to finish his thought.
Amanises was still thoughtful about her own suspicions, so she didn't get the clue, until a few seconds later. "Ah! Uhm. Ahem!
"The Hivemind will take you in as civilian staff, most likely. You've displayed clear interest in machinery. With your knowledge and expertise in this field, they can find a way to include you into the church."
"So that's possible, huh..." Melissa began thinking about the possibility of being a member of the church, it wasn't unwelcome, however—
"How will I be able to protect Benson that way? And avenge Klein? And help you?"
"First you have to be admitted. The rest comes after that. Didn't I mention? Captain is a member of the police force. He will pull some strings to get you closer to us.
"There is some stuff that makes it hard for him to access, but an official member of the Hivemind will be able to provide us with.
"We count on you, Miss Melissa." He patted the girl down on her shoulder with a smile.
"Alright, we have to get going now. Remember, do not tell everything to the officials! Only trust the police officer!"
"Alright." Nodded the girl.
With that, both Arcanists bid farewell to the young lady, making their way out of the apartment building.
On the way, Leonard bumped shoulders with her. "Not bad, rookie! You're making progress!"
"Ah! No it's nothing, it was just a simple divination." She waved him off.
"No need to be so humble, you don't have to keep pretending in front of me, you know?"
Pretending?! So he knows! Suddenly, she was coupled with worry. Although The Fool kept him out of the dream, she still didn't want him to know that this wasn't a standard.
"I'm not pretending, sir." She switched to a professional tone.
"Oh come on! No need to be so humble." He got close and whispered into her ear. "We're both special here, after all."
Special? Is he calling me a special needs? Amanises had an awkward smile.
"I think we have different definitions for the word 'Special'."
No matter what she said, it didn't look like Leonard knew how to listen as he continued again using his poet-like air.
"This can even be called a meeting between two protagonists!" He said with a grin.
Protagonists?! Wait, don't tell me!
Amanises was shocked to her core. She had been so afraid of this guy only for him to turn out to be a delusional eight grader!
Are you fucking kidding me, mate?
She felt so awkward but at the same time, Amanises wanted to burst out laughing, rolling on the floor.
The terrifying feeling she saw in Klein's memories were almost washed out by this so-called protagonist instantly!
She kept her composure, with incredible effort trying her best to not even smile.
"Sir, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Alright. I get it." He winked at her. "Let's go now."
Leonard walked ahead, leaving the woman in dust.
Pfft! Protagonist my ass!
***
After a while of walking, the pair reached an intersection on Iron Cross Street.
Leonard watched as Evelyn bade farewell and turned to the street that led to her and Madam Daly's rental home.
He glanced at his shadow. "We're you able to see anything?"
An aged voice echoed in his mind. "I was intercepted."
The poet closed his eyes for a second, but then he broke into a smile.
"Well it doesn't matter." He tossed a hexagonal shape carved with countless symbols in the air a couple of times. "So, this is the key to access the one known as—The Fool."
***
Amanises arrived home and told everything to Daly, from Klein Moretti's diary, the stolen ancient notebook and his sister, Melissa.
"So, we might get a new informant within the Church of Steam."
She began speaking after listening to the retelling.
"A new one?"
Amanises was a little surprised. She was aware that one of the most important information sources was the abundant civilian informants all over the world.
But to have one within the Churches?
"We already have a few in Backlund and other regions of Loen, perhaps some in Trier too." She commented.
These capitals were the ones which housed the most Steam cathedrals.
"How far do The Arcanists stretch?"
"All around the Northern, Southern Continent and the Seas."
So there was the high possibility that the Arcanists were so prestigious, they actually received information from each of the Orthodox Churches, as well as the police force?
This was a fact that she found hard to believe, however from what Daly said, Amanises had a small question.
"Why did you mention each of them individually, instead of just saying over the whole world?"
"Hmm? Why would I? That would be a lie."
Amanises tilted her head in question.
Daly sighed and continued. "You know about the Forsaken Land of the Gods right?"
"Does it actually exist? I was pretty sure it was a legend across Epochs." Amanises put on her small thinking cap, connecting the last Tarot Club gatherings.
"I believe it exists. Somewhere out there. And not only that, but there's another rumored continent too."
The Forsaken Land of the Gods.
An abandoned land rumored to exist before the end of the Cataclysm Epoch. Could it be?
She suddenly had an epiphany.
Leaving Daly to tend to her own matters, the deep in thought woman retreated to the bedroom.
The Sun mentioned a City of Silver, he was surprised by the way the others spoke and dressed. The young lad also spoke Jotun, which was being actively translated by Mr Fool.
Could it be that Mr Fool pulled him above the gray fog from that forgotten place?
If so, The Fool might be stronger than she realized. Amanises wondered if she could ask Mr Fool this the next time they met inside the grand palace, however she remembered an old saying.
Do not pry into the secrets of the Gods.
I should not question Mr Fool for now. He has shown me kindness, I'd rather not test a god.
Amanises opened the closet and put on a new Georgian type of fancy dress, a sunhat atop her head, pair of black lace wrist gloves and headed out the door once again.
She was ready to hang out with her colleagues and attend Old Neil's mysticism classes as usual, forsaking her alone time for now.