"You're right..."
As those words resonated, Klein could clearly observe from his perspective that the figure before him was enshrouded in an indescribable veil of sorrow, visible to the naked eye in a speed akin to a somber waltz. Strangely enough, Klein felt that Lin Ruo seemed somewhat impervious to this melancholic shroud.
Lin Ruo resembled someone who cried without knowing, seemingly underestimating the intensity of emotional turmoil, while in reality, it swamped him with an uncontrollable sorrow. Klein felt an inkling of foreboding mixed with guilt. He cleared his throat softly before speaking, "I don't know if you've ever attempted this... However, I have some clues and thoughts about my journey, which is why I wish to give it a shot."
Lin Ruo, upon hearing this, quickly shook off his previous emotions. He rubbed his temples, the knowledge of the original "Lord of the Mysteries" narrative flickering through his mind.
He said, "Although I'm uncertain about your plans... I do hope you find success!"
With those words, Lin Ruo chuckled once more, feigning jest, "And now I'm connected to your fate, so if you happen to return, maybe you can pick me up along the way!"
"It would be quite a delight if that turns out to be the case." Klein smiled, and instinctively began recalling the intricacies of the transfer ritual he had performed before crossing over.
After all, the prospect of returning home was of immense importance, and Klein couldn't afford to take it lightly.
Unbeknownst to Klein, as he recollected the ritual, Lin Ruo, facing him, entertained similar thoughts. However, Lin Ruo's contemplation revolved around whether Klein, in his present spiritual state, could inadvertently pull him along if he journeyed to the Sefirah Castle.
While he lacked any personal interest in claiming the Sefirah Castle, Lin Ruo did harbor curiosity about the Tarot Club's development.
Thinking along these lines, his attention shifted to Melissa, who had returned from freshening up and entered the room.
With water, she brewed tea and joined Klein in partaking of a breakfast consisting of black bread and tea. Since Melissa still had to attend school, she departed shortly after their meal. Yet, she made a point to instruct Klein to purchase more black bread and lamb meat before she left, seemingly considering him a naive younger brother in need of assistance.
Meanwhile, Klein was growing quite popular in Melissa's company. Having changed into suitable attire, he armed himself with a revolver and prepared to head out.
During this interval, he recounted the events leading up to his crossing over to Lin Ruo. He explained his intention to conduct the ritual once more, a topic that required no secrecy. Given Lin Ruo's spiritual state, he could likely observe the entire process without the need for verbal exposition, yet sharing the truth might yield valuable insights.
"I haven't encountered the ceremony you're referring to, but it doesn't strike me as dangerous for you. If you're inclined, there's no harm in giving it a try," Lin Ruo expressed sincerely as they stepped out of their quarters.
He recognized that Klein's upcoming ritual was unlikely to return him home. Nevertheless, Lin Ruo comprehended it as the initial stride toward Klein's eventual ascent to the position of the Lord of Mysteries—an occurrence he awaited with anticipation.
"Yes." In the presence of others, Klein needed to maintain a certain level of discretion, offering an ambiguous response as he cast a fleeting glance in the direction of Lin Ruo's voice.
Though his eyes perceived naught, Lin Ruo's voice served as a reminder of the spiritual presence that remained by his side.
Given that the phenomenon of traversing worlds was already Beyonder, the presence of spiritual entities in this world didn't seem as improbable.
Thus, the duo ventured to buy provisions, with Klein acquiring brown bread, while Lin Ruo observed with keen anticipation. Unexpectedly, they encountered a clown from the circus distributing leaflets in the Municipal Plaza.
As Klein approached, a raspy voice halted him, inquiring, "Seeking divination?"
The speaker was a woman adorned in a pointed hat and black attire. Her face bore markings of red and yellow paint, her eyes a blend of grey and blue.
Almost immediately, Lin Ruo's focus centered on the woman, as speculation about her identity had been rife among readers in a previous life. The most credible conjecture, and one gaining recent traction, posited her connection to the goddess of the evernight.
After all, any fortune teller worth their salt could foresee Klein's "Fool" card or the like, a prophecy which found scant believers. Yet, for Lin Ruo, the intriguing prospect was how this related to the goddess of the evernight.
Regrettably, even though Lin Ruo remained vigilant, the woman's divination for Klein culminated not in prophecy, but rather the revelation that he was a "Fool." To Lin Ruo's surprise, the woman was ousted by an authentic diviner, who happened to be a beast tamer.
Thus, Lin Ruo followed Klein out of the divination tent, disheartened yet unwilling to relinquish the pursuit of truth. Alas, his attention was quickly captured by the sight of a "Diviner" near the tent.
Meeting the gaze of the "Diviner," Lin Ruo found himself taken aback. An impulse to react surged within him, but darkness swallowed his surroundings before he could act. This wasn't a state of unconsciousness but rather genuine, all-encompassing darkness.
In that abyss, Lin Ruo glimpsed a tapestry of stars and a crimson moon that vanished as quickly as they emerged. Suddenly, he felt something cold and unyielding in his hand, only to regain normal vision in the next instant.
Although Lin Ruo yearned to scrutinize the "Diviner," disappointment settled in. Although the figure still stood there, their gaze no longer lingered on Lin Ruo, instead wandering about in confusion.
Clearly, the connection between this figure and the goddess of the evernight had waned, rendering them a mere mortal.
Suppressing his frustration, Lin Ruo turned his attention to Klein, who was advancing toward the "Lettuce and Meat" market for leftover ingredients.
He exhaled slowly, all while maintaining control over his spiritual entity. Lin Ruo raised his hand, observing an object within it—an emblem resembling a coin, intricately fashioned from an enigmatic material reminiscent of both jade and metal. Its surface bore intricate patterns, and a striking description from the original text flitted across Lin Ruo's mind: "Deep black as the background, brightly embellished, surrounded by exactly half of the crimson moon."
Could this be the emblem of the Church of the Everevernight Goddess?
Perplexity gnawed at Lin Ruo, his mind suddenly alight with an idea. Tentatively, he infused the emblem with his spirituality, a practice ingrained from his early-morning pursuit of Beyonder powers.
In response, a potent yet imperceptible energy radiated from the emblem, enveloping Lin Ruo. Simultaneously, new knowledge flooded his awareness: this emblem, bestowed by the goddess of the evernight, harbored concealed potency. In an active state, it shielded his actions and thoughts from remote perception, providing a secret haven. This protection came at a minimal cost, as only a fraction of his spirituality could sustain i for prolonged periods. Additionally, the emblem could shroud Lin Ruo in a covert state akin to invisibility.
This newfound gift was exceedingly valuable, particularly in Lin Ruo's circumstances, shielding him from being branded evil by official Beyonders.
"Could this be... an early investment?" Lin Ruo mused, his emotions layered with complexity. He sought solace in the notion that he was at least somewhat favoured.
"Stay optimistic. After all, we might be half-favoured individuals," Lin Ruo consoled himself, while inwardly recalling the goddess of the evernight's various depictions in the original narrative.
Perhaps being watched over by the evernight wasn't such a terrible fate...
Yet, the price Lin Ruo might eventually pay for this gift remained a looming question mark.
As Lin Ruo's thoughts wandered, he arrived back home alongside Klein, who had completed his shopping. Emerging from his reverie, Lin Ruo found Klein arranging four loaves of black bread in strategic corners, in preparation for the impending transfer ritual.