Chapter 2103: Chapter 2103

Meanwhile, Jenkins had already crossed half the city and the deserted outskirts, drawing near the Evergreen Forest under a sky of falling "snow." Just as when he had visited the Sage's Church, no one noticed his arrival as he entered the woods. His sudden appearance in the clearing beneath the great tree even startled Fini.

At the clearing's edge, Enchanters and clerics from the Orthodox Churches were bustling about, erecting a ritual barrier to seal off the area and ensure that nothing happening within would affect the outside world. The clearing itself, however, was far quieter, occupied only by Fini and the two diviners as they conducted their own ceremony.

Intricate lines, etched with a small knife, carpeted the ground before the pool of water beneath the tree, while piles of rare and expensive ritual materials awaited use at the water's edge. Though not the largest he had ever witnessed, it was by far the most complex ritual array Jenkins had ever seen. He couldn't decipher its purpose at a glance, only vaguely sensing it was related to divine arts.

Dark clouds obscured the sky, but they were mostly hidden by the giant tree's canopy, so little ash actually settled in the clearing. Of course, it was also possible that the area had been swept clean beforehand.

The area was poorly lit, with only a few dozen candles scattered across the clearing. Jenkins initially assumed they were just for illumination, but after he landed, he saw that the candles were also part of the ritual.

Like Fini, the two ladies wore floor-length, hooded robes. Miss Brolignans' was an elegant purple adorned with star patterns, while Miss Audrey and Fini wore identical white robes. From their style, Jenkins recognized them as ceremonial vestments of the Sage's Church.

"Why is Miss Audrey wearing a robe from the Sage's Church?"

The thought struck him as strange as he landed.

But Miss Audrey caught his hand before Fini could reach him:

"No, I've only just reached the third floor."

Miss Audrey and Miss Brolignans had been occupied with the ritual in the Evergreen Forest, so they were naturally unaware of the events at the base of the tower, much less the passage left by the god. Jenkins had no time for a lengthy explanation; he merely stated that he had temporarily left in his spiritual form to seek aid and would have to return shortly.

"I've run into terrible trouble," he explained, "The kind that I fear even the combined strength of the Twelve Churches can't resolve. I don't know what to do. Can you offer me some guidance?"

he asked. Miss Audrey and Fini didn't speak, but Miss Brolignans posed a question:

"What kind of trouble, specifically? Have you encountered the power of a Beast of Calamity?"

"It would be manageable if it were just its power. I suspect I've encountered the Beast of Calamity itself."

Among those present, Miss Brolignans and Miss Audrey were demigods, and Fini had an angel protecting her. Therefore, Jenkins could speak of such hidden matters without any reservations.

Miss Audrey's brow furrowed. If that was true, then seeking help from the Churches would indeed be futile.

"While I have no concrete evidence, I... I've read 'The Great Sins: Beasts of Calamity,' so I have a guess. It's the calamity of the Second Epoch: the Mythical Witch."

The Second Epoch left no written records for the people of today. All knowledge of that ancient age survives only through unreliable word-of-mouth legends.

In that most ancient of times, supernatural power manifested very differently than it does today. The people of the Second Epoch drew their strength from the tales of the First Epoch. Those primeval stories, in and of themselves, could bestow miracles upon those who read them. They were the world's genesis, the tales of its beginning, and thus symbolized the very essence of existence.

But the primordial world was not only one of light and hope; it also held darkness and corruption. By delving too deeply into the legacy of the First Epoch, humanity rediscovered stories stained by primordial sin.

And so, the sins of the Second Epoch, combined with the terrifying residual power of the First, gave birth to the Mythical Witch.

The World Tree had once said that the Beasts of Calamity from the first three epochs were integral parts of the world's fundamental laws. They could not be sealed and possessed their own intellect, so the emergence of the Mythical Witch was not surprising in the least. Even without definitive proof that she was the one pulling the strings at the puppet theater, Jenkins trusted his intuition implicitly.

As for the metal puppet, Jenkins was convinced it had nothing to do with the Difference Engine. It was merely a ploy by the master of the puppet theater, intentionally crafted to make him believe the Difference Engine was orchestrating everything in the third Mysterious Realm. After all, for an entity of that magnitude, there was no essential difference between manipulating a wooden puppet and a metal one. Follow current novᴇls on novel✶fire.net

He had discerned a hidden message in the girl puppet's chant during the fourth act of 'Magic Girl,' which particularly solidified his suspicion.

Neither Fini nor Miss Audrey knew of the Mythical Witch, but Miss Brolignans, proving herself worthy of the title of the greatest living diviner, understood exactly what Jenkins was talking about.

"You made the right decision coming to us for help."

"Is there really a way?"

Jenkins asked in surprise.

"Of course," she replied, "but success isn't guaranteed. We are in the process of trying. But before that, Jenkins, there is something you must know."

Not only was Jenkins confused, but even Miss Audrey didn't know what her teacher was about to say.

"Are you referring to the ninth emblem? I already know about it—it's The Unknown Path. Did you know all along? It's alright. I've already asked Hathaway to inform the Church and begin the search for the final slate. Don't tell me the power that can help me comes from all nine slates combined?"

A flash of inspiration hit Jenkins, but it was clearly off the mark.

Miss Brolignans shook her head, then gestured for Jenkins to look at the ground:

"We have temporarily taken over this clearing and ordered everyone to stay away, all for the sake of this ritual. Jenkins, can you discern what kind of ceremony this is?"

Although Jenkins's aptitude for divination was not particularly strong, he wasn't entirely ignorant on the subject. Besides, the array on the ground was clearly not for a divination ritual:

"Divine arts? Sacrifice? Summoning?"

He could read those meanings in the etched runes, but the ritual's design was far too archaic. It did not belong to any contemporary system of rites. Jenkins had never seen anything like it; he only knew that it was ancient. Incredibly ancient.

"Since you face a Beast of Calamity within the Mysterious Realm, ordinary power will be of no help. Only a truly great being can aid you in a situation ."

Jenkins and Miss Audrey wore identical expressions of astonishment. Fini, on the other hand, seemed unfazed; she didn't understand what was going on and simply knew to listen to whatever Jenkins said.

Jenkins asked again, but Miss Brolignans seemed unwilling to give a direct answer.

"Jenkins, our role is only to guide you, not to provide you with direct answers. Everything else, you must do yourself. Audrey, give him the items."

She nodded to the slightly bewildered Miss Audrey, who quickly handed Jenkins the All-Seeing Card - The World and a beautiful dagger.

It was not the first time Jenkins had seen the All-Seeing Card, so he didn't inspect it further. The beautiful silver dagger, however, he recognized instantly. It was the Vampire Buster, a weapon with which he shared an unusual connection.

"We are only providing you with guidance and an opportunity, Jenkins. What needs to be done is for you to decide."

With those words, Miss Brolignans retreated to the edge of the clearing. Jenkins turned to Miss Audrey, but it was clear she had no more idea what her teacher meant than he did.

"I don't understand this ritual either. All I know is that it requires three offerings to be used."

She stepped out of the ritual array, leaving Jenkins and Fini standing alone in the center of the clearing.

It wasn't that he didn't understand. He'd had his suspicions for a long time, but part of him couldn't accept it. He lowered his gaze to the dagger in his hand, his thoughts turning to its original owner—the young woman who had given him the notebook in the town square on that snowy night...

His thoughts drew forth his power. A mysterious golden light began to flow along the grooves etched into the ground, illuminating the entire ritual array. Fini glanced around with curiosity. Behind her, the little angel Louise materialized.

"Teacher, that's an angel!"

Miss Audrey could barely contain her emotions:

"But why an angel? Aren't angels... Teacher, did you know all along?"

"No, I knew nothing. But Jenkins knows now."

In the center of the ritual array were three circles, arranged in the shape of an equilateral triangle. They too had been carved into the earth with a dagger, and lines extended from their edges to connect them with the greater formation.

"I never thought I would have to rely on her power. I truly never thought... that it was really her."

Amidst the upward-drifting golden light, Fini and Louise held hands, watching as Jenkins, his expression unreadable, knelt and plunged the mithril Vampire Buster into the center of one of the circles.

The golden light within the circle swiftly crept up the blade, and then the dagger shot a brilliant beam of gold straight into the sky.

Fini whispered, not knowing why she thought it was a beacon.

Jenkins turned to face the diviners at the edge of the clearing. Miss Audrey looked more bewildered than ever, but Miss Brolignans spoke in a soft voice:

"You have inscribed the first mark, representing the first encounter."

Although her voice was soft, everyone present heard it.

"Teacher, what is this for?"

"Don't try to understand. Feel it."

Miss Brolignans said to her student, then looked at the angel behind little Fini:

"There are indeed some things that even I did not anticipate, but they do not affect the outcome. It seems destiny truly is as it is."