Chapter 459: Chapter 459

My conversation with the Keeper of Secrets didn't end with the matter of the Killing Mark. Jenkins had another, far more important question, and he'd finally found the perfect excuse to ask it.

First, he feigned a look of sudden recollection. Then he deliberately furrowed his brow as if hesitant, before finally letting out a sigh that signaled his resolve:

"Oh, Mr. Smith, there's one more thing I was hoping to ask you. During my trip to Bel Diran last week, I came across a fascinating stone tablet in the capital's Tigre Museum. The strange thing was, it only depicted a single moon. The museum's owner had no idea why that might be. Do you happen to know?"

A look of surprise crossed the old man's face. "To think there would be a forbidden item... I mean, that stone tablet is certainly very interesting. As for your question..."

He hesitated for a moment, then raised his head to study Jenkins again.

"You do, in fact, need to understand some of the secrets from before this Epoch. While burdensome knowledge can hinder a soul's growth, your soul can hardly be compared to that of an ordinary mortal. But remember, always maintain humility in the face of knowledge. That is something every Scribe must never forget."

He nodded quickly, drawing the holy symbol over his chest. He had only asked on a whim, never expecting to actually receive an answer.

He thought excitedly, though he noticed the Keeper of Secrets wore a cautious expression, as if he feared something. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel•fire.net

"Before the 11th Epoch, there was indeed only one full moon in the sky—the one we now know as the red moon. Back then, however, it was called the Blood Moon, and it was a symbol of a great..."

The Keeper of Secrets had deliberately mumbled over a crucial word in that sentence, and Jenkins didn't press him. He knew there had to be a good reason for the omission.

"So the change in the number of moons occurred during the 11th Epoch."

"Yes. To be precise, it happened in the year 1304 of the 11th Epoch. In the material world, this exact date can only be found within the records of the Orthodox Churches."

Jenkins blinked and nodded slowly, thinking to himself, "So, that scene I witnessed when I was investigating the Gear Germs... it must have taken place before the 11th Epoch?"

"So what exactly caused the second moon to rise? Was it related to one of the great gods, or was there another reason?"

"The reason for the blue moon's appearance is exceedingly complex. The events involved are something no mortal below the rank of demigod should even hear. In fact, even Miss Bevanna knows only a few vague, unimportant details. This secret must be strictly kept, or a great cataclysm could occur again."

The Keeper of Secrets shook his head. "I'll never know in this lifetime, but if you're interested, you can apply to the Holy See for clearance to view the records once you reach level 8. They won't refuse you."

The conversation about the moons concluded there. The Keeper added one last reminder: in an even more distant, ancient time, long before the 11th Epoch, even the red Blood Moon hadn't been the first. If new moons could be created, they could also be destroyed. Though the Keeper revealed little, Jenkins felt certain that the primordial moon was neither of the two currently gracing the night sky.

But Mr. Smith's explanation went no further. He ignored Jenkins after that, closing his eyes and beginning to recite the Sage's proverbs before the holy symbol on the Gate of All Things.

Jenkins had long understood the moons' literal and metaphorical significance to the world. His discussion with Miss Miller about that three-part god-summoning chain ability had further cemented his understanding that the world itself was in a constant state of flux.

Therefore, changes in the number and color of the moons were to be expected. What he couldn't fathom, however, was what kind of power could possibly alter such a significant celestial phenomenon.

He returned home with this puzzle weighing on his mind, settled his weekly wages with the housekeeper, Mrs. Mahat, and began to open his mail while eating dinner.

Dinner tonight was a simple meat porridge with a few fresh cabbage leaves stirred in. To eat such fresh vegetables at this time of year was a luxury in itself, and he didn't ask for more.

Pops had collected the letters from the mailbox and brought them inside while he was away in Bel Diran.

He set aside the letters from his readers for later; he'd get to them when he was in the right mood. The pile had doubled in size this time. The bills, however, needed immediate attention. He pulled the candlestick closer and stared at the additional taxes, the small black figures feeling like a knife scraping against his heart.

"I seem to recall that the taxes are lower for a baron."

He muttered to himself, stroking the cat lying quietly beside him as he mentally calculated how much he could save each month.

Even though he was about to inherit a substantial amount of money, he couldn't let go of his frugal habits.

He spent another half hour reviewing the progress reports from the executors of Viscount Augustus's estate and writing replies to each one. Only then did he pick up the final letter.

This letter was from Shire City, sent by Old Jack, of course. Jenkins had no idea what the stationery was originally for, but he could smell the pungent aroma of herbs right through the envelope.

Chocolate, unable to stand the smell, had already fled to the living room, where he was now curled up before the fireplace, occupied with some inscrutable feline business.

The first half of the letter covered the usual topics about apprentices, but the second half contained a rather serious request.

It seemed that Old Jack, being one of the rare talents of this age who could brew potions, occasionally took on "side jobs" outside his work for the Church.

This was understandable. After all, maintaining contact with unregistered Enchanters was part of the job for field agents like Jenkins, Pops, and Old Jack.

Around the end of last month, an old client from the southern Cheslan Kingdom had sent a letter claiming to have acquired an incredibly rare supernatural plant. It was a specimen Old Jack had been searching for for a very long time, as it was the key ingredient for an exceptionally useful potion.

However, brewing the potion required the cooperation of at least two alchemists. While Old Jack knew others in his field, he was worried that the value of the potion might tempt them into greed.

In his own words from the letter:

"To an Enchanter, this potion is like... well, like a dragon in heat spotting a beautiful, elegant silver dragon lounging in an active volcano..."

The metaphor was a bit crude, but it gave Jenkins a very clear idea of just how precious this unnamed potion truly was.