Cigar smoke fills the room and one of the richest men in Merchant’s Rest is staring Adam in the eye. His words echo back in Adam’s mind, “Let me cut straight to the chase. How much do you know about the Black Dawn Society, boy?”
Beads of sweat form on the hairs of the back of his neck, but he manages to keep his façade of confidence in front of Sir Morgan.
“Since he didn’t try to kill me right away, then unless he is a psychopath, he still needs me and wants to get information out of me,” he thinks.
Adam replies, bluffing with a friendly smile, “I was attacked on my journey here; however, I know that the Black Dawn Society is a secret organization working to affect change in the world but because of their lofty goals they face many enemies both hidden and out in the open.”
“Wait,” Sir Morgan says blowing out a puff of smoke from his cigar.
“You were attacked on your way here?” he asks.
“Yes, Sir Morgan,” Adam replies.
“They were fierce and well-organized. I fear that the Society’s plans have been leaked by some mole in the organization,” Adam continues, spewing out lies.
“Do you have any evidence?” Sir Morgan asks squinting his eyes.
“When I was attacked, they taunted me saying that one of my compatriots sold me out,” Adam says.
“That’s it?” Sir Morgan asks.
“Yes,” Adam replies.
Sir Morgan looks at Adam directly in the eyes and frowns.
“The only ones who knew that you were traveling here are at my position or higher in the organization. Are you doubting their loyalty? Are you doubting MY loyalty?” Sir Morgan asks Adam.
“It looks like I hit one of his weak spots,” Adam thinks.
“No, Sir, I am just reporting what I have heard,” he responds.
Reclining back on his chair, Sir Morgan grumbles, “Do you even know who attacked you, boy?”
“Yes Sir, they were cultists of the Lord of Luminous Mysteries,” Adam says.
Sir Morgan stares at him with a strange look.
“Are you sure?” he asks.
“Yes, when they were attacking the caravan they would pray to the Lord of Luminous Mysteries for power,” Adam replies.
“I see,” Sir Morgan says closing his eyes, “It makes sense then. If it’s those crazies… I see. So, that’s why one of the Directors handed down the order.”
“It looks like the Black Dawn Society is keeping tabs on the Cult of Luminous Mysteries. It also looks like the two organizations are hostile to each other,” Adam thinks.
Sir Morgan looks at Adam and says, “How did you actually survive?”
“I fled for my life and came upon a squad of patrolling guards. They were the ones who saved me. Captain Jackson was able to slay the enemy leader, but the price he paid was his life,” Adam says with his head down.
“Good, there is no survivors then,” Sir Morgan says, smiling brightly.
“Yes, Sir,” Adam says looking back up at him.
Sir Morgan now looks at Adam with desire, greed can be seen in his eyes and lips.
“Huh,” Adam thinks puzzled.
“If any of those guards survived, I would have to make you ‘forget’ everything related to us and do the same to those guards. Well done in cleaning up after yourself,” Sir Morgan says.
“I lucked out,” Adam thinks.
Smiling at Adam, he continues, “You have a good head on your shoulders, and you have a strong will. You don’t even seem to be too nervous in our conversation. I approve of you, boy!”
“Approve?” Adam thinks.
“HA! HA! HAHA!” he laughs.
“Good, it seems he didn’t know the person of this body before I transmigrated. Also, it looks like the person in this body before was trying to join the Black Dawn Society. Wait…” Adam thinks before getting interrupted by Sir Morgan.
“I like you, boy. We at the Black Dawn Society strive to treat our acolytes like a baby tiger. Give them milk when they are helpless. Then, throw them out at a boar when the milk is not enough,” he says with a big smile plastered on his face. His whiskers also forming a ‘U’.
“Thank you, Sir,” Adam says in reply.
“The good news, he’s not suspicious of my identity. The bad news, I joined a secret organization whose goals are a mystery to me,” Adam thinks.
“Why must I always work for a secret organization!?!?!??!?!” Adam thinks, cursing in his mind.
“And polite as well!” Sir Morgan says.
“Come with me,” Sir Morgan continues.
He stands up.
“Yes,” Adam replies.
Sir Morgan then takes out his cane by the side of his chair and grips it tightly with his right hand. He fills it with some of his mana.
Black and blue light flashes out of it.
He taps the ground thrice.
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
A blue and black light permeates throughout the surroundings and the world seems to turn upside down.
Adam yelps and lands on his face at the ceiling.
“What…” Adam says.
His eyes widen.
He sees that the floor, desk, chairs, and bookcases are upside down above him while he and Sir Morgan are now on the marble-tiled ceiling.
“Get up, boy, and stay close behind me,” Sir Morgan says.
Adam gets up and walks to Sir Morgan.
Nodding his head, Sir Morgan starts walking toward the window.
He passes through disappearing from sight.
“What?” Adam thinks confused.
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“It’s probably magic,” Adam continues rationalizing the strange phenomenon.
Steeling himself, he walks through the window and enters a world of bright lights and moving spirits. A world devoid of matter but full of magic and spirit.
Sir Morgan says, “Welcome to the Spirit World, also known as the Sea of the Unconscious. One wrong step and your soul and life will be broken. Stay close behind me and don’t look at those whirling spirits and lights for too long or else…”
Pausing for dramatic effect, Sir Morgan says, “I can’t tell you what would happen if stared to deeply into the Spirit Sea, but you get the idea, right boy? Just stay focused on me.”
Shaking his head, Adam says, “Yes,” and follows closely behind Sir Morgan.
“It looks like he has no intention to harm me here since he gave me advice,” Adam thinks.
He stays close behind Sir Morgan and notices that he is dripping beads of sweat.
“Watch your step,” Sir Morgan says.
Adam looks down and sees levitating steps and beneath these steps are spiritual fiery snakes with wings attacking a fierce bronze woman attached to a spider.
“Focus!” Sir Morgan says.
Adam looks up and nods and ascends with him up the steps.
Sir Morgan then explains, “You will soon come in contact with an ancient, secretive power. A power hidden from the masses. Before the world was flooded by the River of Ether, the source of all mana, there was a more ancient and primal power used by the ancients to maintain control and dominion over the world. A violent power, a feral power. Unchained to order.”
The sounds of moaning spirits can be heard throughout the conversation adding a layer of unease in Adam.
Adam thinks, “Why am I getting this secret power? What have I done? Is it because of my identity? Blasted memory loss!”
He looks at Sir Morgan with a complex gaze.
Sir Morgan looks back at him and says, “You should consider yourself proud, boy, a new life is ahead of you. Thanks to you receiving a red recommendation and passing my interview you will be receiving a gift that most new acolytes can receive only after a year and if they have contributed greatly to the Black Dawn Society. Your rebirth will take place at the top of these steps.”
“Yes, Sir,” Adam says.
While he was talking, he thinks, “That red letter was a recommendation? Who recommended me? It’s quite likely my identity played a role, but I need to find out more information.”
Under sight of flashing lightning and booming thunder, they have arrived at the of the stairs on a semi-translucent platform. There are three different altars there. Each one with a potion bottle containing a liquid inside. One bottle is azure blue, another fulgin black, and another a bright yellow.
After reaching the center of the platform, Sir Morgan turns around and says to Adam, “Each of these potion bottles contain the key to the primal power I mentioned earlier. You are lucky, kid. There is only a fifty-fifty chance of all bottles appearing on these altars for a ritual.”
Adam asks, “Do I drink all of them?”
“Greedy youngster, if you did, you will either explode in a whirlwind of flesh and magic or go insane due to rampant conflicting powers within your body causing you to go mad,” Sir Morgan responds.
“…”
“You can only pick one,” Sir Morgan says breaking Adam’s awkward silence, “And depending on which bottle you pick, you will be assigned by the Society on a different mission.”
“Sir Morgan,” Adam says.
“Yes,” Sir Morgan replies.
“Will you inform me the powers each potion grants?” Adam asks.
“Sure,” Sir Morgan says, “The azure potion is related to a sequence we call the Painter sequence. The black potion is related to a sequence we call the Nightingale sequence, and the yellow potion is related to a sequence we call the Conspirator sequence.”
Adam nods his head while the spirits and lights moan and dance around the platform.
“It’s good that you are following so far,” Sir Morgan says, “I like bright lads. Anyway, the Painter sequence has a strong affinity with the real world and its connections to other realities. I myself am a painter.”
Sir Morgan then with his right hand creates an impressionist painting of a hauntingly beautiful forest. Snapping his fingers, the pictures changes to a realistic painting of the city of Merchant’s Rest.
“Wait, that looks like the same view as the one in his office,” Adam thinks in his mind.
“As you can see, these paintings are doorways to other realms,” Sir Morgan says, “Of course, I have more powers than just this, but that is for another time.”
Adam asks, “Can you go back in time?”
“HA! HA! HA!” Sir Morgan laughs.
“A powerful member of the Society attempted that before, and they became a squid. I advise you to not attempt such an experiment,” Sir Morgan replies.
“I was wondering if it would have been possible for me to travel back to my old world with this power, but it does not seem to be the case. Besides, I only have murky memories of my past world and it looks I died satisfied,” Adam thinks.
“What mission would I receive, if I became a Painter?” Adam asks.
“I believe the mission was to send you out to the northern highlands of Baudren to discover a ruin that supposedly was built during the Fourth Era,” Sir Morgan says.
Adam nods his head in agreement.
“What powers do the black potion grant, Sir Morgan?” Adam asks.
Sir Morgan coughs and says with a strained smile, “Do you really want to be those killers? I never took you as the murderous type. If you drink the black potion, you will no longer be able to sleep. It will be physically impossible for you and as you master that power, you will develop urges of bloodlust that will not stop until you kill another human person.”
“Eh,” Adam says.
“Were there any downsides to drinking the blue potion?” he asks.
“No, not really. You just start to daydream more often, but this can be overcome with practice and discipline like I have done. As you master the power of the Painter sequence, I heard there were those who could no longer differentiate reality and dreams which caused them to sexually assault some of there loved ones in public or run naked in public, but this can be overcome,” Sir Morgan says hastily.
"This man is actually quite petty," Adam thinks.
“It also looks like there is a rivalry between Painters and Nightwalkers,” Adam continues.
“What other powers does the black potion grant besides those downsides?” Adam asks.
“Huh,” Sir Morgan sighs.
“The black potion grants one the ability to turn invisible during the night and forcibly enter another person’s dream. It also heightens the senses allowing Nightwalkers to see in the dark and increases their reflexes and skill with concealed weapons,” Sir Morgan says.
He continues, “If you become a Nightwalker, you first mission will be an assassination mission.”
“I don’t think I had experience in assassinations in my past life or in this life. I don’t think the black potion suits me. The blue potion is still a live option though,” Adam thinks.
“What power does the yellow potion grant?” Adam asks.
Sir Morgan pauses for a bit and says, “The sequence related to the yellow potion is the Conspirator sequence. Although there are no apparent downsides, the only power this potion gives is that it increases the persuasive power of the user. The best that a user of this potion in the Society achieve was a mutiny in a large frigate. He succeeded but then a Baudrenese ship of the line sank the frigate along with everyone on it.”
“Increases the power of persuasion?” Adam thinks.
“How does that even work? If this is true, then this could be revolutionary. I imagine at most that the society tried instigating revolts with these conspirators but failing miserably in their results.” Adam continues.
“What mission will I receive if I become a Conspirator?” Adam asks.
“Since all of the previous Conspirators were killed by the Royal Government during an uprising they instigated, the Society has decided they will have you infiltrate the Church of Gnosis here in Merchant’s Rest by becoming one of their librarians. You will feed the Society with relevant information should they request for it. The Church of Gnosis is obsessed with knowledge, so they run the main library here in the city,” Sir Morgan answers.
“That’s actually a good mission,” Adam thinks, “I am most lacking in information and if I become librarian for this Church of Gnosis, then I will have publicly joined an organization, gain more information about this world, and undertake a mission for this Black Dawn Society. Killing three birds with one stone. Although the Painter sequence seems to have a lot of practical utility in terms of escaping from enemies, the mission I will have to undertake seems too dangerous for the current me.”
He continues, “Luckily, this organization realized that there other more effective ways to use these types of people.”
“I will choose the yellow potion, Sir Morgan,” Adam says.
“Are you sure? Don’t be too hasty. Once you drink a potion, I can guarantee you that you won’t be able to gain the powers of the other potion sequences. The powers of this potion are for life. There is no turning back. Are you certain of your decision?” Sir Morgan says.
Adam stops to think about it for a bit, and then nods his head.
“I don’t think I am suited for the missions associated with the Painter sequence. I was able to secretly control the world in my last life, I should be able to regain memories of me persuading others to my side as well as propaganda tactics,” Adam thinks.
“I have decided,” Adam says.
“Okay,” Sir Morgan says.
He takes the yellow potion from one of the altars. He then gives Adam the yellow potion and says, “Don’t drink right away. If you do, then you will either go mad or explode. I am going to perform the ritual that will help prevent that from happening. I will let you know once I finish which is when you will drink the potion. Did you understand?”
Adam nods.
“Good,” Sir Morgan says.
He then starts walking in a square around Adam chanting several lines in repetition.
“The North reveals the Way,
The South hides the Key,
The East is the beginning of all Life,
The West is the source of all Mystery,
Oh, give us strength, Oh everlasting cardinal directions,
North, South, East, and West!”
Soon, an otherworldly silence followed by a cosmic hymn played by spirits and lights rings throughout the Spirit World.
Sir Morgan says, “Drink it!”
Adam gulps down all of the liquid in the potion bottle and staggers back, dropping the bottle. Luckily, it did not shatter. He looks up. The world is blurry, and a flurry of voices racks his brain. However, the ringing sound of spirits and lights catches his attention. Focusing on this song, the voices die down and the world regains its shape. He is no longer in the Spirit World, but Sir Morgan’s office sitting on the chair in front of his desk.
“I did it,” he says.
“Well done,” Sir Morgan says while reaching out with his hand.
“Welcome to the Black Dawn Society,” Sir Morgan says, “you shall be called Severian.”