Chapter 10: Seeking Help
"St. Wind Cathedral is just outside the subway station. Let's go there!" Xio, still recovering from her emotional turmoil, urged Enber as they ran.
Enber nodded. Neither of them were followers of the Lord of Storms, but everyone knew the Tyrant god's church was a far greater deterrent to evil forces. With their assailant hidden and unknown, the cathedral was the safest choice.
Now why did the railway from East Borough to St. George's District happen to pass by Jolwood's St. Wind Cathedral? Simple, Because subway lines always curved back toward the city's heart.
The two raced toward the exit. Though they drew a few curious glances, most passengers assumed they were simply in a hurry. Only one man, crouching near the station's control room, took true notice. Dressed in a flat cap and clutching his head, he glared in agony at Xio's retreating figure, sweat dripping down his face. By his side lay a severely cracked badge—yet strangely, no one around seemed to notice his distress.
St. Wind Cathedral loomed less than a hundred meters from the exit. Outside, Enber finally took in the view of thousand-year-old headquarters of the Church of Storms. As they reached the courtyard walls, both he and Xio breathed a sigh of relief. Unless the one who had cursed her had gone mad, they wouldn't think of creating trouble so close to the Tyrant's domain. Any attempt would likely end in a bolt of divine lightning.
Instead of entering, the two stopped at the wall to catch their breath. They were unaffiliated, "wild" Beyonders; if they stepped inside, the Justiciars might detain them on the spot. Leaning against the stone, Xio finally spoke, her voice soft.
"Thank you, Enber. Without you, I might've sunk deeper into those strange emotions and lost control..." She looked at him with genuine gratitude, her eyes steadier than before.
Enber waved it off, then asked, "Xio, who exactly did you offend to end up cursed?"
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this." Xio lowered her head before explaining. "I followed your analysis and investigated that adviser, Hick. After questioning several of Rosen's former men, I confirmed he's problematic. He excels at persuasion, at eliminating rivals, and he constantly pushes Rosen to issue high-interest loans filled with traps, ruining countless families. Worse still, he's tied to slave traders—he even arranges the abduction of bankrupt families' relatives..."
"Hearing this, Hick doesn't sound like a Swindler at all," Enber frowned. "He's more like an Instigator from the Witch pathway. Swindlers deceive with their own hands. Instigators twist others into doing their bidding. And his ties to slavers..." A realization struck Enber as fragments of the "novel" he remembered aligned with the present.
'If Hick really is an Instigator, then he's tied to the Demoness Sect. That means connections to the Loen royal family—offerings for George III's bid to become the Black Emperor. In the novel, Klein uncovered Kapin the slaver... but surely there was more than one piece to that plot. This Hick's little loan-shark empire might just be part of the periphery.' A chill ran down Enber's back. These threads were far beyond the reach of a mere Sequence 9. Thankfully, Hick himself was likely a pawn too minor to warrant the attention of higher powers.
"Did you figure something out?" Xio asked, noticing his expression.
Enber glanced at her. In the novel, she investigated this case and ended up injuring Rosen so badly she was imprisoned. But with my hints, she's dug even deeper... enough to provoke a curse. In a way, it's my meddling that drew her into this mess.
As Enber thought this he suppressed a sigh and gave her a partial truth. "I suspect Hick's an Instigator—linked either to the Demoness Sect or the Secret Order. But for now, the real issue is the curse. That demonic mark must be purified. Otherwise, he can use it to hurl you into another fit of madness."
Xio's face creased with worry. "Earlier, you dispelled the curse. Do you know what it was? And... what's with your white eyes?"
"That was the effect of a special Beyonder artifact," Enber deflected smoothly. "The curse works through emotions, which points to the Abyss pathway. Likely a Sealed Artifact." He had already reasoned this out during their frantic escape. The [Pure White Eye] hadn't lifted the curse directly, but when Xio looked at him, the caster tried to extend it through their line of sight. The Eye's higher authority rejected it, snapping the curse and likely rebounding some of the force back at the source.
'If it had been a high-ranking Beyonder, the backlash might have killed or driven them insane. But the subway station had shown no anomaly—so it was probably a Sealed Artifact being used indirectly. Even then, the assailant surely hadn't escaped unscathed.'
"Abyss pathway? I've never heard of it..." Xio murmured.
"It's commonly called the Demon pathway," Enber explained briefly. "They manipulate emotions, leading people astray." Xio nodded, absorbing the information without questioning his claim about a Sealed Artifact. Instead, she asked softly, "So... how do we remove it completely?"
'If the Fool were here, a prayer would summon His Paper Angel to resolve this in moments... but He hasn't appeared yet. We'll have to manage this ourselves.' Enber thought considering his options, replied. "It's not a particularly high-level curse. An exorcism ritual should suffice."
"An exorcism? Do you know how to perform one?" she asked, almost pleading.
'I've only been here four days—how would I know?' Enber thought, slightly exasperated. Without losing his composure, he promptly asked. "Don't you have contacts in the circles?"
"Unfortunately, the next gathering isn't for at least a week." Xio's shoulders slumped. Her experience told her the curse caster had been harmed and wouldn't act again for a few days, but they couldn't rely on that respite lasting.
Enber felt a responsibility to help, since his interference had partly drawn her into this. After some thought, he said, "I know someone who owns an artifact that might help. I'll try reaching him."
"Thank you, Enber! You really don't owe me anything," Xio said, visibly relieved.
"No need for thanks. Let's go." Enber hailed a carriage and directed it toward Iron Gate Street in the Bridge District. On the ride, Xio hesitated before speaking. "Weren't you planning to go to the Riverside Shooting Club today?"
"Today's plan is ruined. I'll try again tomorrow. Hopefully Mr. Deef won't mind." Enber chuckled wryly.
"You know," Xio said thoughtfully, "you don't need to pay for lessons. I know a secluded place for practice, free of charge. I'm a skilled shot myself, and I have rounds to spare. I could even coach you." She said, clearly not wanting to owe Enber.
Enber's eyes lit up. Looking over her knight's gear, another idea struck him. "Xio, how's your hand-to-hand combat?"
"I've trained as a knight since childhood," she replied, puzzled.
"Then here's the deal. I'll hire you as my firearms and combat instructor. Your fees will offset what I owed for that information and analysis earlier. How's that sound?"
"Deal!" Xio agreed readily, relieved not to remain indebted.
Just then, the carriage stopped at Iron Gate Street. Enber led her into the Braveheart Bar, where Kaspars greeted them with mild amusement.
"You're back already? What's the problem this time?" the man asked.
Enber smiled faintly. "Please pass a message to the old gentleman who organizes the gatherings. Tell him I've completed his study assignment, and I'd like to ask him for help. I'll pay with knowledge of Fourth Epoch secrets—preferably tonight."
(End of Chapter)