In the fog of gray mist, Audrey Hall regained her sight.
She started reckoning the situation in a state of horror and confusion when she noticed the blurry image of a woman next to her and a man on the opposite side of them doing the same as well.
Immediately after, the three of them discovered another mystery person standing not far from them who was shrouded in a gray mist.
"Sir, where is this?"
The trio were startled at first, falling silent in the process. Then, they immediately started speaking in unison.
"What are you planning on doing?"
After a moment, the mysterious man calmly spoke with a low but not heavy tone, as though he was replying to the polite greetings from the visitors, "An attempt."
An attempt? After regaining her clarity, Selina found the man's reply absurd.
She was at her room, contemplating how she could escape. At the next instance she was summoned in a space filled with fog.
How could she finish her planning if it always get interrupted!?
The woman, next to Selina, Audrey, revealed an impeccable, courteous smile. She asked in a somewhat perturbed way, "Sir, is the attempt over? Might you permit our return?"
Alger Wilson also had the intentions to probe the mysterious man in a similar fashion, but his rich experience made him statelier. He held back his impulse and only took on the role of a silent onlooker.
While Selina, have already experienced bizarre encounters that made her cautious of such situations. Minding her mannerism, she intertwined her hands below her lower abdomen, silently spectating the trio.
After a moment, the mysterious man let out a soft chuckle, replying in a languid voice. "Of course, if you make a formal request, you can return this very moment."
So you can return freely... Selina noted internally. With her conscience settled, intending to ask the mysterious man for her leave, she was abruptly interrupted by the blond lady next to her.
In an anxious, anticipative and tempted manner, Audrey said, "This is such a wonderful experience... Yes, I have always been hoping that something like this would happen. I mean—I like mysteries and supernatural miracles. No, my point is—what I mean is that, Sir, what can I do to become a Beyonder?"
Beyonder... So she's also interested in those potions? From the corner of her eye, Selina began to examine the naive and gleeful blonde lady beside her.
She appears to be a young woman, slightly shorter than her in an inch, exactly at the age of eighteen, she wore a flowing gown of pastel green, embroidered with subtle floral patterns along the hems. Appearing to be of noble background, evident of her mannerism and behavior, as well as her clothing.
Selina have also noticed that the mysterious man and the blonde woman have been conversing in a language of Loenese, the vernacular of Loen kingdom.
Are they perhaps—locals of Backlund? she pondered, hovering her gaze of the gray mist and settling them onto the man opposite of the blonde girl.
The man exhibits a deep blue seaweed-like hair, wearing a robe adorned with lightning patterns and currents, resembling a tempestuous storm amidst the sea. His calm and observant demeanor made his status equivalent to an experienced sailor.
Both are heavily cloaked in gray mist.
Skeptical of their origin, Selina added, Is this gentleman, of Loen as well?
At that moment, the surrounding gray fog started to churn, startling the trio.
In an instant, the space trembled. Towering masts of pillars began to construct from each debris of the mist. Forming a massive dome above that encapsulated them.
This entire edifice looked magnificent, grand and lofty, depicting a legendary palace, governed by giants.
Directly under the dome where the gray fog gathered, a long, bronze table was formed, 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.
The trio each occupied the available seats, Audrey next to Selina who is facing Alger.
While the mysterious man, the host of this space, was seated at the chair of honor, overseeing the entire gathering.
Alger inspected the surroundings, and after a few seconds of silence, he suddenly opened his mouth, answering Audrey's question in place of the mysterious man.
"Are you a Loen?
"If you want to become a Beyonder, join the Churches of either the Evernight Goddess, the Lord of Storms, or the God of Steam and Machinery.
"The majority of us will not meet a Beyonder our entire lives. This has caused churches, and even some clergies within some of the biggest churches, to suspect the same. While this is the case, I am certain to tell you that Beyonders still exist in courts, tribunals, and execution agencies. They are still fighting against the dangers that grow in the dark, only that their numbers are much fewer as compared to before and during the early days of the Iron Age."
Selina kept a mild impression, but deep inside, she is listening with utmost attentiveness.
Relying on the previous Selina's general knowledge, taught by her parents and instructors. The "Iron Age" refers to the current epoch, which was the Fifth Epoch that began 1349 years ago, before her ancestor's immigration, mentioned by her father.
Audrey silently listened to Alger finish his sentence before sighing.
"Mister, I know all about what you just said; I even know more than that, including the Nighthawks, the Mandated Punisher, and the Machinery Hivemind, but I don't want to lose my freedom."
There are prices for everything sweetheart—you'll learn it eventually, Selina silently mused, maintaining her role as an onlooker.
Alger gave a low-sounding laugh, and said vaguely, "You can't become a Beyonder without sacrifices. If you don't consider joining churches and accepting their given challenges, you can only seek the royal families and the few nobles with family histories of more than a thousand years. If not, you can rely on your luck to search for clandestine evil organizations."
Audrey puffed her cheeks subconsciously and looked around in a fluster. After confirming that both the "mysterious man" and the duo did not notice her tic, she pressed, "Are there no other solutions?"
Did she just pout? Selina mused once more, giggling internally before breaking from her character. "Luckily, I'm currently in possession of a Sequence 9 formula.. "
"Really? What formula?" Audrey turned her head towards Selina, eyes gleaming with excitement. She clearly knew what sequence potions and formulas are.
Quite an adorable girl, Selina teased internally, pondering if she should give an offer to the blonde lady next to her and what benefits she could obtain from it.
Noticing this, Alger shifted his attention to Selina. Quietly scrutinizing her from the gray mist.
This silver-haired lady seems to know a lot more in the world of mysticism, who is she? Alger silently mumbled, before interjecting Selina's conversation.
"I have two sets of Sequence 9 Potion formulas."
Hm?
Curious of the man's offer, Selina turned her head to Alger.
Acknowledging that the attention of the two ladies now shifted towards him, Alger leaned back slightly, and added unhurriedly, "As you know, humanity can only depend on potions to become real Beyonders, while the names of potions come from the 'Blasphemy Slate.' After constant translations into Jotun 1 , Elvish, ancient and modern Hermes, and ancient Feysac, they have undergone changes to match the day and age of that era. The essence is not in their names, but whether they portray the 'core characteristics' of the potions.
"I have a Sequence 9 Potion named 'Sailor.' It enables you to have excellent balancing capabilities. Even if you were on a boat in a rainstorm, you will be able to walk about freely as though you were on land. You will also gain immense strength and illusory scales under your skin. They will enable you to swim like a fish and be difficult to catch. You will move agilely underwater just like marine animals. Even without any equipment, you will be able to easily submerge underwater for at least ten minutes."
"Sounds great... the 'Keepers of the Seas' from the Lord of Storms?"
"It was called by that name in the past." Alger did not pause and continued.
"The second set of Sequence 9 Potions is called 'Spectator,' although I am not sure what it was called in the past. This set of potions enables you to have an exceptionally sharp mind with acute observational abilities. I believe you can understand by what 'spectator' means from watching operas and plays. Just like an audience, spectators judge the 'actors' in the secular world, catching a glimpse of the real thoughts of them through their emotions, conduct, and mantras."
At this point, Alger emphasized, "You must remember, regardless of whether you are at an extravagant banquet or a crowded street, spectators can only be spectators forever."
Audrey's eyes shone throughout the explanation. As she was about to inquire her doubts, she remembered her conversation with the silver-haired lady.
Resisting her impulse, she turned her head towards Selina, and spoke after a long time "Um... Miss, could you proceed with your earlier offer? If you wouldn't mind—I would like to see the available options I could have... "
Sailor potion from the Lord of Storms and a Spectator potion?
Jotun, Elvish, Ancient Hermes, and Modern Hermes? Selina diligently ingests the information garnered from the man opposite her, gaining a new insight into the world of beyonders.
Noticing the blonde woman's inquiries, Selina snapped from her thoughts as she replied in a soft tone, revealing a courteous smile "Oh, no need, I believe Spectator should suit you more."
After hearing the silver-haired lady's reply, Audrey felt a slight disappointment that the woman didn't disclosed another name of a potion. Nevertheless, her eyes shone with anticipation as she return her attention to Alger, "I-I think the Miss is right! The feeling—of being a 'spectator.' How can I get this potion's formula? What can I use to trade with you for it?"
Alger looked like he was already prepared as he said in a deep voice, "The blood of Ghost Sharks, at least 100 milliliters of it."
Audrey nodded her head excitedly, but subsequently asked worriedly, "If I can get it—and I'm saying if—how do I hand it to you? How can you promise me that you can give the potion's formula to me in return for the Ghost Shark's blood, as well as the authenticity of the formula?"
That's understandable... You can't validate a stranger's offer without a solid connection, Selina mused, intrigued by how the man would respond.
Alger said calmly, "I'll give you an address. I'll mail the formula to you, or tell you directly here, once I receive the blood of the Ghost Shark."
"As for promises, I think that both you and I can feel rest assured under the witness of the mysterious sir."
As he said this, he swept his eyes towards the mysterious man, who was occupying the Seat of Honor.
"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."
Him as your witness, hopefully he'll agree... Well, considering our backgrounds, he could utilized us for tasks trivial to him, Selina listed her thoughts, as she half-turned her body towards the Seat of Honor.
"That's right!" Audrey's eyes sparkled and agreed with excitement.
From her perspective, the mysterious gentleman who had unimaginable abilities was definitely an "authoritative" witness.
Audrey mirrored Selina and looked at the mysterious man earnestly.
"Sir, please be the witness of our trade."
At that moment, she then realized that she was all too impolite, having forgotten all along to ask a particular question. She asked hurriedly, "Sir, how should we address you?"
Realizing this, Selina felt ashamed that she didn't thought that their conversation was greatly dismissing an obvious mannerism, inquiring his name!
With this in mind, Selina nodded slightly along with the man opposite her, in unison, they echoed the same question, "Sir, how should we address you?"
After a moment, the mysterious man leaned back, withdrew his right hand, and crossed his ten fingers, placing them below his chin. He gave the trio a faint smile.
"You can address me as... "
He paused for a moment, before saying in amiable and calm voice.
"The Fool."