Chapter 6: The Mysterious Host
Dipak blinked, his mind reeling from the sudden appearance of Audrey and Alger. The swirling grey fog around them seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, matching the rapid beating of his heart. Despite his inner turmoil, he forced his face to remain impassive. *Stay calm,* he thought. *They think you're in control. Use that.*
A notification flickered in the corner of his vision:
**[Skill Unlocked: Fog Manipulation (Level 1)]**
Dipak suppressed a smile. Every new skill was a step towards understanding this strange world he'd found himself in. He focused on the young woman as she began to speak, her voice tinged with a mixture of fear and excitement.
"Sir, where is this place?" Audrey asked, her eyes darting around nervously.
Before Dipak could formulate a response, the man's stronger, almost angry voice cut through the fog. "What are you planning to do with us?"
Dipak paused, weighing his options. A faint memory tickled the back of his mind—something about acting mysterious and powerful. Yes, that felt right. If he could make them think he was in control, maybe he could figure out what was going on.
Taking a deep breath, Dipak spoke in a calm, quiet voice that somehow seemed to fill the misty air around them. "An attempt," he said, surprised at how natural the words felt.
Audrey's eyes went wide, and she gave a small, nervous smile. "Sir, is the attempt over? Can we go back now?"
"Yes," Dipak said simply, letting the word hang in the air.
As soon as he spoke, the fog seemed to get thicker, swirling around them like it was alive. Dipak felt a strange power here, something he didn't understand but somehow knew he could use. He had to be careful, though. If he pushed too hard, he might lose control of everything.
Suddenly, Dipak felt that it was quite unbecoming of him to talk while standing. Shouldn't he be in a palace, sitting at the head of a long table, and on a mysterious high-back chair engraved with ancient patterns, while silently observing his visitors?
As soon as this thought surfaced, the grey fog started to churn, giving both Audrey and Alger a shock. In an instant, they saw a number of towering stone pillars around them. Above them was a vast dome that encapsulated them. This entire edifice looked magnificent, grand and lofty, just like a legendary palace for giants.
**[Skill Improved: Fog Manipulation (Level 2)]**
Dipak's eyes widened slightly at the notification. Had he done this? He pushed the thought aside, focusing on maintaining his mysterious demeanour.
Directly under the dome where the grey fog gathered, a long, bronze table appeared with ten high-back chairs on either side in a symmetrical arrangement. The back of each chair dazzled and shone faintly with crimson red, drawing the outlines of weird constellations that differed from reality.
Audrey and Alger sat face-to-face, sitting next to the Seat of Honor where Dipak now found himself.
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The girl looked to her sides and could not help but mumble, "How fascinating..."
*It is certainly fascinating...* Dipak thought, extending his right hand to caress the edge of the bronze table while maintaining an unperturbed expression.
Audrey, still in awe of her surroundings, turned to Dipak with a curious expression. "Sir, I've heard whispers about... Beyonders. Could you tell me more about them?"
Dipak maintained his composure, but inside, he was just as curious as Audrey. He turned his gaze to Alger, silently prompting him to answer.
Alger cleared his throat and began to explain, "Beyonders are individuals who have transcended ordinary human limitations. They gain supernatural abilities by consuming potions corresponding to different Sequences."
**[Skill Unlocked: Beyonder Knowledge (Level 1)]**
As Alger continued his explanation about Beyonders and their rarity, Dipak felt fragments of Klein's memories stirring. The "Iron Age" referred to the current epoch, the Fifth Epoch that began 1349 years ago. How did he know that? Oh klein is a history major?
Audrey sighed after Alger finished. "Mister, I know all about what you just said; I even know more than that, including the Nighthawks, the Mandated Punishers, and the Machinery Hivemind, but I don't want to lose my freedom."
Alger gave a low-sounding laugh and offered alternative paths to becoming a Beyonder, mentioning royal families, ancient noble houses, and clandestine evil organisations.
Audrey puffed her cheeks subconsciously and looked around in a fluster. After confirming that both the "mysterious man" and Alger did not notice her tic, she pressed, "Are there no other solutions?"
Alger sank into silence. About half a minute later, he turned around to look at Dipak, who was watching the two of them in silence. Realising that Dipak had no plans to make any comment, he looked back at Audrey and said with deliberation, "I have two sets of Sequence 9 Potion formulas."
*Sequence 9?* Dipak muttered to himself, filing away the term for later consideration.
Audrey leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "Which two formulas do you have, Mr. Alger?"
Alger's eyes darted briefly to Dipak before he answered, "I possess the formulas for Sequence 9 of the Sleepless and Spectator pathways."
"Could you explain them briefly?" Audrey pressed, her eyes gleaming with interest.
Alger nodded, his voice taking on a scholarly tone, though a sense of relief underpinned his words. "The Sleepless pathway begins with the Sleepless sequence. It grants enhanced perception and the ability to stay awake for extended periods. It's well-suited for those who wish to be vigilant protectors or investigators."
He paused, allowing the information to sink in before continuing, "The Spectator pathway, on the other hand, starts with the Spectator sequence. It provides heightened observation skills and some clairvoyant abilities. This pathway is ideal for those who wish to uncover hidden truths or analyse complex situations."
Audrey furrowed her brow, considering the options. "Both sound intriguing... and potentially useful." She glanced at Dipak, as if seeking his opinion, but he remained impassive.
After a moment of contemplation, Audrey's face lit up with decision. "I think... I'll choose the Spectator pathway. The ability to see hidden truths aligns well with my curiosity and desire for knowledge."
Alger nodded approvingly, in reality, Alger felt a wave of relief wash over him. He didn't actually possess the Sleepless Sequence 9 formula. He had only mentioned it to divert attention away from himself and prevent anyone from associating him with the Church of Storms. The Spectator formula was genuine, but he had hoped Audrey would choose that path. He was thankful she hadn’t chosen the Sleepless pathway, as he had no formula to give her for it.
"A wise choice. The Spectator sequence can indeed be a powerful tool for one with an inquisitive mind."
As Alger explained the intricacies of Beyonder potions and their relation to the 'Blasphemy Slate', Dipak found himself fascinated. This world was far more complex than he had initially realised.
The conversation turned to a potential trade: Ghost Shark blood for the Spectator potion formula. Dipak watched silently as Audrey and Alger negotiated, each clearly wary of the other.
Finally, Alger turned to Dipak. "Sir, the fact that you brought us here shows that you have tremendous strength unimaginable to us. Neither one of us would dare violate a promise with you as witness."
"That's right!" Audrey's eyes sparkled and agreed with excitement. She half-turned her body and looked at Dipak earnestly. "Sir, please be the witness of our trade."
Dipak felt a weight settle on his shoulders. These strangers were placing their trust in him, believing him to be some all-powerful being. He knew he had to tread carefully.
Audrey suddenly realised her oversight and asked hurriedly, "Sir, how should we address you?"
Alger nodded slightly, and echoed the same question in a serious manner, "Sir, how should we address you?"
Dipak was taken aback. He gently rubbed his fingers on the bronze table, buying time as he considered his response. The contents of an earlier divination flashed across his mind, intertwining with his newfound knowledge of this world. He leaned back, withdrew his right hand, and crossed his ten fingers, placing them below his chin. He gave the duo a faint smile.
"You can address me as…"
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Name: Klein Moretti (Dipak)
Age: 22
Date: 5th of April, 1349
Sequence: N/A
Spiritual Power: 65%
Strength: 6
Agility: 5
Constitution: 7
Intelligence: 9 (+1)
Spirituality: 5 (+2)
Luck: ?
Skills:
- Talisman Making (Novice)
- History (Intermediate)
- Occult Knowledge (Beginner)
- Fog Manipulation (Level 2) [New]
- Beyonder Knowledge (Level 1) [New]
- Acting (Level 1) [New]
Condition: Focused
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