Chapter 364: Chapter 364

The night was deep, and the moon had finally peeked out from behind the clouds, casting its twin-hued red and blue light upon the desolate cemetery, the scene of the recent eerie events.

After the matter was dealt with so decisively, Laurel Lindsay apologized to the group once more. Then, with a few grumbles, they all boarded the carriages, ready to head back to the city.

As they left the abandoned cemetery, Jenkins lingered at the back, casting one last glance over his shoulder. He knew this place was rife with unanswered questions. A fifty-year-old soul had been summoned, and the specter was dressed as a nun—these were suspicious details. He suspected he would have to return.

Incredibly, the three Enchanters outside had remained completely oblivious to what had transpired in the groundskeeper's cottage. Jenkins breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn't help but feel a flicker of contempt for their lack of awareness.

The others inside the cottage only knew that it had grown suddenly frigid after the stove went out and that Miss Lindsay's actions tonight had been highly improper. Beyond that, they had also learned that Mr. Williams was an exceptionally traditional believer.

Though Jenkins's outburst had been rather rude, no one held it against him. Even his companion for the evening, Miss Mikhail, said nothing.

Noticing they had fallen behind the others, with the servants a good distance away, Jenkins gently touched Miss Mikhail’s arm:

"There's nothing to be sorry for."

"My behavior tonight... was it really alright?"

he asked, rubbing his nose.

"Isn't that just who you are?"

They didn't have to walk back; carriages were waiting for everyone.

He wasn't sure how the seating had been arranged, but when Jenkins climbed into his carriage, he found that of the five occupants, he was the only man.

Miss Mikhail sat beside him, pleased with how smoothly her plan was unfolding. Her main reason for inviting Jenkins tonight hadn't been the Ouija board game at all.

Although she felt it was a bit forward to be introducing girls to Mr. Williams , the image of Hathaway’s shy face steeled her resolve.

"There is no right or wrong in matters of love!"

She failed to notice, however, that not all the young women in the carriage were there just for Jenkins’s handsome face.

The path was uneven, and the carriage wheels frequently rolled over loose stones. Each time, the occupants swayed, struggling to maintain their balance.

Jenkins wearily endured the jostling from the women around him. Their sense of balance was so terrible it was almost as if they were deliberately lurching toward him.

In the cramped space, arms and shoulders inevitably brushed against each other. Jenkins, who had been feeling rather proud of resolving a tricky situation with so little effort, soon found his face flushing from the frequent 'accidents' in the carriage. He could only lower his head and pretend to fuss over the adorable Chocolate.

Miss Mikhail watched the comical scene, the corners of her lips turning up in a suppressed smile. She truly admired Mr. Williams for his integrity, talent, and kindness, but sometimes his reactions were just too... endearing.

Laurel Lindsay sat directly across from Jenkins, her eyes occasionally flicking toward his chest. She passed no judgment on the forward behavior of the other ladies. Her focus wasn't on his physique, but on the spot where the golden light had erupted—a small, exquisitely crafted brooch pinned to his coat.

"Excuse me, where did you get that brooch?"

Jenkins looked up from stroking the cat on his lap and leaned slightly closer to Miss Mikhail. "This? It was a gift from the Bishop, not something I purchased. When Bishop Parrold entered the clergy, his own mentor gave it to him, so it has quite a bit of history."

A look of understanding dawned on Laurel Lindsay's face. In her mind, an object used for years by the Bishop of a major diocese would surely possess some power to ward off evil. The scene from earlier played out just like a common trope in novels and chapbooks: an evil spirit attempts to harm a pious, unwavering believer, only to be repelled by the power of a religious artifact he carries.

Jenkins, sitting across from her, hid a smile. The truth was much simpler. The brooch was roughly shaped like a holy symbol and had a very high silver content. He often used it as a substitute during his rituals to simplify the process.

Having been frequently exposed to spirit from the same source as his abilities, it had inevitably acquired a faint spiritual aura of its own. If Jenkins were to use it continuously for a century, there was even a minuscule chance it could become a permanent, Series B Extraordinary item.

As for that malevolent spirit, despite its hideous appearance, it hadn't been particularly powerful. The brooch alone had been more than enough to handle it.

"Mr. Williams, do you believe that ghosts truly exist in this world?"

Laurel Lindsay asked tentatively. Hearing the question, Miss Mikhail sighed under her breath; she already knew exactly what Jenkins was going to say.

"Absolutely not. I do not believe any supernatural power exists in this world apart from the great gods! Only the gods are eternal, only they are noble! Praise be to the Sage!"

He explained in a low voice, but the fanatical look on his face was so intense that Miss Lindsay could hardly meet his gaze.

"Only a mortal like that could repel an evil spirit with his own conviction."

she thought to herself. From that moment on, she no longer doubted that Jenkins possessed some kind of miraculous power.

The winter countryside offered little scenery, especially at night. The view from the carriage window was nothing but a pitch-black void.

The weather was poor, with heavy clouds obscuring the stars; only the two moons were faintly visible. That reminded Jenkins—when he'd traced the origins of the Gear Disease, the earliest records mentioned only a single moon in the sky. Get full chapters from ɴovelfire.net

He planned to ask Papa Oliver about it, though he doubted the old man would know.

The other women in the carriage began to chat amongst themselves. It was clear they were still upset with Miss Lindsay, largely ignoring her.

After staring blankly out the window for a moment, she turned back to Jenkins:

"If the gods possess such great power, do you think their churches do as well?"

Miss Mikhail’s eyes sharpened.

"As long as their faith is devout, the gods will naturally share their glory with their flock!"

Jenkins had put a great deal of effort into blending into this world and had long since prepared for such questions. The answer came to him effortlessly.

Laurel Lindsay's voice held a note of disappointment. She was likely either drawn to the thrill of supernatural power... or simply terrified of attracting the attention of those dreadful spirits again.