Having finally completed the mysticism courses, Amanises didn't spend much time in the Spirit Domain. But she would occasionally play cards with the present members during quiet evenings.
Texas Hold'em? When she first heard of the name, her heart stood in its place, but soon enough. Ah, Roselle…
This fellow transmigrator of hers still kept the Earth names. He didn't even bother changing them!
At least he didn't call it Roselle Hold'em.
While playing with Seeka, Royale and Kenley, she heard a knock on the door and then her name.
The mellow voice belonged to the Captain.
She left the room briefly, closing the door in a slow motion while looking at Dunn Smith.
"Captain, is there anything wrong?"
She hadn't talked much with him ever since coming to Tingen, but still held her respect and friendliness.
He smiled and sniffed his pipe. "Lady Evelyn, your advancement is finally prepared."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Already? Huh, I thought it would take longer..."
He shook his head. "It usually takes a few days more, but I suppose we had the ingredients on hand."
Is this luck? She somehow doubted that.
He turned around with his back to her and signaled. "Follow me to the office."
She nodded, even if he didn't see, and picked up the pace.
Passing through the hallways, Amanises silently spoke to herself.
I'm rather nervous…
She took a deep breath and then used Cogitation to calm herself down.
Once in Dunn's office, she saw Daly, Leonard and her own captain, Crestet Cesimir.
Once she saw him, her forehead nearly touched the ground in a greeting resembling the Japanese style. "Good evening, Captain! Pleasure seeing you here."
With only his eyes visible, he greeted her back with a slow nod, gaze moving to a suitcase on the desk.
"Here are the ingredients and formula."
Were they brought from Backlund or the Headquarters?
She moved closer to the desk, opening the heavy suitcase within two clicks.
There were two translucent glass containers each containing the two main ingredients of the potion, as well as more vials with 7 strands of thick black hair, some dirt and what seemed like a reddish wood.
There was also—wine?
Booze? First coffee and then wine? What's next? Whiskey?
She scanned the items one by one, picking up the containers and reading each label.
Crimson Moon Howler's Vocal Cords and Soul-Snaring Bell Flower. Each one of them sounds as ominous as the next.
She looked at Cesimir, "Shall I start? Is there no need for anything else?"
He shook his head. "Everything has already been taken care of. You can start."
The members present watched as Evelyn poured in the ingredients according to the given formula in a black small cauldron.
First the wine, 100 milliliters of it.
Plop, plop!
Then the hair of Crimson Moon Howler...
...
Once the supplementary ingredients were added she opened the translucent containers and was hit with a fowl odor.
Eugh! This wasn't kept normally, is it still good?
Her face scrunched up, and so did the other men's. Only Daly remained with no visible discomfort.
Heh. Weaklings. She wore a smug look on her face.
With tears in her eyes, Amanises added the main ingredients.
Instantly, the consistency changed.
Once thick, dirty and crimson—now became lakewater-like bathed in cold light, containing a faintly murmuring vortex within.
She stared at it, nearly getting lost in the spiraling currents, but forced herself to scoop up the potion in a metal cup.
It was surprising to watch the entire cauldron being swept up in a single cup.
This never fails to fascinate me. The world is so spectacular!
She picked it up and brought it to her mouth, downing the liquid in one motion.
Instantly, her vision turned pitch black, head started spinning and the familiar murmurings rang in her ears accompanied by quieter, and faint ones that faded into the background.
This time, she could discern one word.
"..... City" ..... City"
She remembered her method for Cogitation, instantly entering that blank mindscape.
"..... City" ..... City"
Louder, and louder they became. Assaulting her ears like the cry of a mad crowd.
She felt her own sense of self be attacked, doubted and shunned away, as if the potion was pushing back her consciousness—substituting it with its own.
It went for what felt like eternity, madness shifting between tranquil and turmoil—like her very soul desired peace within.
Until—silence.
She opened her eyes slowly, pitch blackness retreating from her irises.
Just like that, Amanises advanced one sequence.
"Welcome, Miss Midnight Poet."
Dunn acknowledged with a smile, his gray eyes reflecting the blank light that penetrated the curtains lost in the evershifting Spirit World.
She smiled brightly, then excused herself by bending her neck.
"I have to go stabilize my condition, if you pardon me."
"Of course." His head moved as he let her go back.
***
In one of the break rooms, Amanises clutched her forehead while controlling her breathing.
She sat spread out on a soft leather armchair while clutching her head with a pained expression. The surroundings slowly muddled into one, and then separated again causing her intense nausea.
She focused on the dark corners of the room, and then began Cogitating.
Not long after, her thoughts were occupied by her new gained abilities.
From the name of the Sequence, I can now cast Midnight Poems related to the night. They are like spells and can manifest all sorts of effects depending on the verses and intent.
Most of the effects are targeting the soul, of course. Entering either tranquil or slumber.
The poems had stages of effect depending on their length, a poem could even be one singular word but it would hardly be effective—the word "Slumber" would cause an ant to stop in place for a few seconds.
Of course, the length couldn't be infinite, however the longer it was the less convenient it became during a situation.
One couldn't just sit still while waiting for their opponent's 10 minute recital.
My physicality has also increased, along with my spiritual perception and I'm not even going to mention my might during the night.
She clenched her fist a couple of times, feeling herself becoming stronger.
What a nice feeling. Amanises
remarked.
***
The following day was spent just stabilizing her soul's condition and getting used to the new status. For some reason it didn't feel as strange as when she first became a Beyonder.
Maybe I already got used to it. As if it's in my nature...
Amanises went back to the Spirit Domain the day after, saluting Kenley, Dunn and Leonard which were already present.
Rozanne then joined too.
She checked some rooms a couple of times, then approached the running conversation. Her voice expressed undisguised worry.
"Uhm, has anyone seen Old Neil? I tasked him with bringing some documents here. I can't seem to get a hold of him lately."
Kenley looked up.
"Hasn't he been sick? Last I remember, he had some digestion problems and decided to stay home."
He did? Amanises was surprised. Old Neil never mentioned anything!
"Since when?" She inquired.
"Three or four days ago...? I think?"
"Huh? He has left since then?"
"Yes." The young man bobbed his head up and down in confirmation.
"How? Two days ago, I did my ordinary mysticism classes and he was without problem."
Leonard raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"Did he lie to you, Kenley? Tsk!"
"N-no he didn't! I remember his condition very well! His colours were dimmer than before..." His voice trailed off.
He then snapped his head towards Amanises. "He told you too, didn't he? You were present when he asked me!"
"I was?" She assumed a surprised look on her face. "I hardly remember what happened. I skipped some classes..."
This time, it was Dunn who addressed her. "What do you mean? You haven't missed one. Each day you came here diligently, by nighttime each class was done and you would head back, sometimes with Daly too."
Amanises still hasn't responded. Her empty gaze stared at the ground at her feet.
I-I don't remember. I fully believe I missed them…
But the knowledge was still in her head, as if it was muscle memory!
Her mind was spinning.
"How about we don't put pressure on the newly advanced. There might be memory gaps due to the potion." Leonard raised his hands, defending the expressionless woman.
"But the memory loss symptoms only show up after reaching Sequence 7." Remarked Rozanne. She then embarrassingly snapped to the captain by her side.
"I-I'm sorry, captain!"
He shook his head. "No worries, I get it."
Kenley then chimed in, making an observation. "Speaking of that, I don't see Leonard forgetting stuff."
"I—" He wanted to defend himself, but Amanises was faster.
"We still hadn't solved the problem with Old Neil. He's still nowhere to be seen."
"I don't believe that old man would go missing like that. Trust me, he must be at home laying his feet on a sofa. Trust me."
Continued Leonard while repeating himself in a hushed voice, grateful that Evelyn switched the conversation back on track.
"But we should still check up on him, you know old people?"
It was not even late yet, the sun still hadn't left the sky at dawn.
"Alright, let's go check up on him while it's still early."
The others nodded in unison.
***
In front of a well-off house, North Borough, Tingen City.
Amanises, Dunn, Leonard and Kenley walked through the open metal gate, slowly approaching the front door.
"Old Neil sure is pitiful, first his wife passed away then his son is busy with matters far away. No one can help him in need. Sigh." Kenley slowly murmured while walking behind them.
Suddenly Amanises stopped and raised an eyebrow. "Wife? Son?"
Kenley wanted to retort, saying that she—as someone from Backlund wouldn't know anything, when the other two turned to him too, looking confused.
He put his hands up in defense, shifting gazes between the three people. "W-what yall didn't know? Well, he only shared that with me recently. Old Neil must've not felt comfortable sharing all that."
"No? He talks a lot, and last I remember, he only had a deceased fiancé." Said Leonard.
I didn't even know he had a family! Shouted Amanises in her heart.
"Did he lie for no reason? That's not like him..." Murmured Dunn.
"Let's ask him then!" The Seer nearly raised his voice.
Clink! Clang! Clink! Clang!
The chimes sounded muffled from the other side of the door. It continued on for a while, making Amanises all the more uneasy.
"Perhaps he went to visit a doctor?" Kenley said through a stiff smile.
"No." Replied Amanises in a calm voice, making the Seer feel shivers running down his back.
He swallowed and took out a crimson pendant. "I shall divine first."
She nodded and moved back.
"There's danger in Old Neil's house..."
"There's danger in Old Neil's house..."
"..."
After the statement was repeated seven times, the pendant started spinning clockwise in a fast manner. There's incredible danger!
Damn it! Each Arcanist had the same thought.
Leonard's face scrunched up. While Dunn gave out instructions. "Each one of you, take out your guns."
Guns? As the men pulled out their revolvers, Amanises only now realized that she lacked a weapon.
Noticing this, Kenley extended his own to her. "If you don't feel safe, take mine."
She shook her head. "My aim is poor. If I were to shoot myself point blank at the temple I'd still find a way to miss."
Amanises tried to make a joke, but the situation made it feel awkward. Not only that, but her pale complexion and stiff face made it seem like a dead corpse tried to imitate a human.
She lowered her voice and stepped back.
"I'll stay behind."
As a last hope, Leonard stood right at the front door and knocked a couple of times while shouting his name.
Knock! Knock! Knock! "Old Neil!" Knock! Knock! Knock! "Old Neil, answer!"
Just as he was about to raise his fist again, he heard the sounds of squelching.
Amanises looked down at Leonard's feet, and saw that, from under the door, a stream of transparent liquid gushed out, slowly bringing dead crimson.
"Blood." She said in a calm tone.