Alexandria's Keeper - Lord of the Mysteries

Dunn blinked, clearly caught off guard by her swift assessment. "Oh. That was... fast."

Well, it's not like I had anything better to do while you all wrapped up an Oscar-worthy fight. The custodian shrugged mentally.

The Captain turned to Klein to ask, "Divine and see if Irina's plan would work".

She waited as he released the topaz bracelet within his sleeve, held the silver chain with his left hand, and silently recited a suitable statement.

After reciting it seven times, the dangling topaz began rotating clockwise with a decent speed.

That's a much better result than in the novel. It might be my fault for giving away the plan. She nodded in satisfaction while remembering the Novel's description.

The two shared a brief exchange before Dunn pinned the Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem to the left side of his chest, then pressed down on his hat. He briskly walked toward the steps and expertly started searching for a mechanism.

Irina also moved forward and tapped the Captain on the shoulder. He turned with a puzzled look on his face.

The custodian simply smiled as she pointed to a normal-looking brick on the lower corner of the wall. "Push that one."

Dunn did as told, triggering a heavy sputtering sound that started emanating from the staircase. He sounded mildly surprised as he addressed her, "You can also see objects that don't have spiritual energy?"

Irina shrugged, "I can categorize objects in general. That wasn't a normal brick, but also didn't have any dangerous signs, the only remaining option would be the opening mechanism for the hidden stairs."

The floor had split open, revealing a set of steps heading down. A cold and corrupted vibe emanated, seemingly condensing into something corporeal.

She turned to look at her Captain, "Yeet it."

Dunn glanced over with a confused face before turning back, removing Sealed Artifact 3-0782 from his chest and tossing it directly into the trap door. "'Yeet it'?"

Irina chuckled while Klein took it upon himself to explain, "It means 'to throw', it's a... particular word choice used in some novels."

Yeah, from our era, not his one.

After a few clanks, it was unknown where the Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem stopped.

The lingering sinister and corrupted feeling soon dissolved away, like snow meeting the sun. Warmness and purity blanketed the entrance of the trap door.

Dunn made an experienced decision, "Irina, go down with me. Frye and Klein will stay here and prevent other enemies from destroying the mechanism."

NO WAIT. Klein was supposed to go down with him, why am I GOING?!

Frye nodded, not letting his guard down while Klein didn't shrink back from his task, "Alright."

'ALRIGHT' MY ASS.

The Captain went down first, his footsteps reverberating in the silence. Irina hurried forward with two swift strides, arriving next to Dunn.

THIS IS NOT GOING ACCORDING TO THE STORY. Irina loyally followed him, making sure not to fall.

Also, why is it so damn dark?!

After taking a few steps down, Dunn suddenly turned around and looked at her. "I forgot that you don't have night vision. I'm not used to preparing objects that provide illumination..."

As expected, you all from the Sleepless Pathway have even better vision in those situations.

Irina used her fan to destroy some cobwebs that were too close to her face for her liking. "My spirit vision works just as fin—well, good enough..."

In her Spirit Vision, the darkness before her was screened by a gray film. She could see the outline of every different object, which was perfect to make out where the steps were.

The flight of steps wasn't long. It only took about fifteen steps to reach the ground. Sealed Artifact 3-0782 was lying there, releasing its purity and warmth. It also radiated a faint glow.

The slight illumination was of great help since now Irina could also make out the various information about the objects in the room. She surveyed the surroundings and noticed that it wasn't a huge basement. No longer cold and sinister, but a heavy form of dampness remained.

I just know that if I stay in here too long I'll get sick.

In the middle of the basement was a black coffin, with dark red nails driven into the lid. The lid of the coffin was slightly pushed open, and a headless corpse that was all bone lay in its interior.

Dunn looked around, then bent over to pick up the Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem. Irina observed him shortly. "The coffin was intended to prevent the dead within from becoming a zombie or a wraith."

'An ancient ritual to prevent the corpse from reanimating,' or so Klein said in the novel.

The Captain, who had worn Sealed Artifact 3-0782 again, approached the coffin and inspected it, "The deceased was probably poisoned to death."

Irina walked forward as well, "This coffin and skeleton are roughly 1300 years old."

Dunn thought for a moment before saying, "I have a deduction. This wraith didn't exist all the time and only appeared recently. It's only a fifteen-minute walk from the town to the castle. Throughout the years, troublemakers must have frequented this place, but before this incident, there were no rumors of there being a wraith in this ancient castle."

The Custodian tried her best to make sure the conversation followed the same topics the novel did before revealing her own findings. "I'd say it happened at most three months ago. There's a faint trace of energy on the neck that dates to that period."

The Captain nodded and sent her back to switch with Frye, allowing the expert on the dead to conduct further tests. Irina used the time the two had alone to recount everything that happened to the Seer.

Fifteen minutes later, as the sun was vanishing below the horizon, Dunn and Frye followed the steps and returned to the hall of the ancient palace, gave their own findings, and soon returned to Lamud Town before it got dark.

They asked for three rooms at an inn. The member that got the Sealed Artifact 3-0782 was to take this dangerous item for a stroll outside the town where no one would be, changing their shifts once every two hours, and thus only needed three rooms.

After a simple dinner, the Nighthawks immediately split up and covered all corners of the town, asking the residents who had lived in this town for more information about the castle.

The group later reunited in a room, discussing the details of the investigation and joking about all the Lamud items the townspeople tried to sell them.

Can you believe they tried to sell me jewelry?! As if it was even real, BHA!

Irina took notice of how Klein came across an oil painting of the first Baron Lamud. He brushed off how the portrayed man reminded him of his history teacher, but didn't continue on his explanation.

So he decided to not inform Dunn, which means he must have gone in Sef—above the Gray Fog and divined whether it was preferable or not...

This also means... he made contact with Little Sun~ Irina suppressed her smile, not letting her excitement show through.

Dunn looked at Klein with his deep gray eyes, "The next mission is for you, Irina, or Frye to take Sealed Artifact 3-0782 out of town to somewhere uninhabited. Otherwise, a good half of the people in this inn will become idiots blathering praises of the Sun. Are you going first, Irina, or Frye?"

Klein raised his hand slightly and smiled, "Me. It's still quite early, so I can come back and have a nice sleep later. We're doing two-hour shifts, right?"

Dunn turned to look at the two remaining Nighthawks, "Yes. Irina, Frye, go over with Klein and confirm where you'll exchange the Sealed Artifact."

The Captain had already found an opportunity to hand Sealed Artifact 3-0782 over to Frye when they split up to conduct their investigations. Otherwise, he would have been purified and started praising the Sun.

Frye took out the Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem from the inner pocket of his black windbreaker and handed it over to Klein. "Alright."

As the two made to stand up Irina spoke, "No need for me to tag along. I'll be able to see the trail of 3-0782. I'll know where to go, don't worry."

Dunn nodded while Klein inspected his revolver, charms, and cane, before walking out of the room and leaving the inn together with Frye. Irina bade the Captain goodnight and went to another room to sleep.

That idiot is going to divine the origins of that Sun Charm and stare directly at 'Him'. She silently changed into more comfortable clothes for the night before shrugging.

Oh well, as long as he survives, just like in the novel, it's not my problem. A wicked smile crept on her face as she suddenly remembered all the times Klein had stared death straight in the face.

Look directly at as many Gods as you want dear Klein~ She hummed an old lullaby as she calmly went to bed and closed her eyes.

Irina moved to the sound of a long-forgotten song, her dress flowing like liquid silk, shimmering under the soft glow of the chandeliers. 

I...

As she twirled, the skirt flared out in a cascade of fabric, creating a mesmerizing whirl of color that danced in harmony with her movements.

Why am I...

The dress hugged her figure just right, accentuating her grace and confidence in a timeless manner, making her feel as if she was gliding on air, lost in the rhythm of the music.

Wasn't I making preparations for the incident? Still, this...

She felt somewhat lost as if she was supposed to be doing something else. As the music came to a close, so did her dance. She bowed gracefully to an invisible audience before turning to the big windows of the hall.

Hm... am I dreaming?

The candles on the chandelier flickered out simultaneously, making the room succumb to darkness, the only light being that of a bright, enormous blue moon hanging up in the sky.

Oh right, Dunn started entering dreams after talking with Klein.

The once silent hall was soon filled with multiple different sounds again. Danse Macabre began to play, its haunting notes echoing from all directions, as if emerging from both everywhere and nowhere at once. Irina glided effortlessly to the classical symphony, her movements graceful and assured, even as she was enveloped in darkness.

Is this good? A blue moon and music that is not of this time. Will Dunn be fine? Also, where is he hiding?

The moon abnormally lowered itself into the sky, casting its cold light in the hall. Irina's vision got caught in a lone figure standing by the picture window. She soundlessly moved forward, grabbing the presence's arm and turning them around.

Here you are~ Staring at the blue moon, huh? I hope he won't mention it tomorrow...

The symphony echoed through the empty room, growing to a haunting crescendo. Two figures danced together, their movements fluid yet ghostly, as the dull light morphed into a chilling pink and then deepened to a blood-red glow, awakening the shadows in every corner.

Moon fixed, not sure how, but it's done... I hope it wasn't Amanises entering in my dreams...

Now, please leave Captain. I don't know what else to do!

Irina wasn't sure how long that symphony lasted, but she was sure of one thing, it was too long.

As the final notes of the song faded into silence, the two figures parted, bowing with exquisite grace. Irina spun on her heel, racing toward the once-grand window now transformed into a glass door.

With a fierce push, she flung it open, and a wild gust of wind howled through the space. Calmly, she walked to the railing, leaning against it as she gazed out at the mysterious dark forest that loomed before her.

I was supposed to practice flowy movements, not dance to some old symphony...

Wiener Blut began playing in the hall but Irina refused to go back and dance again.

Captain why did you enter my dreams?! Go and bother Klein and Frye, not me! Irina cried inwardly, hoping it would be enough to send the trespasser away.

I can't even sleep in peace now! Is this his interpretation of Nightmare?!

Irina lowered her gaze, observing her dress in its intricate yet familiar embroidery. A wave of melancholy washed over her as her mood soured. Sadness flickered across her expression, stirring old memories.

I can't believe I'm wearing this dress again, it's been so long since then...

She wasn't sure how it had happened, but at some point, she had fallen into a deep sleep once again.

The custodian unwillingly woke up at around half past five the following morning. She drank a quick coffee before hurrying out of town to take over from Dunn. She followed a warm, yellow trail in the air and soon saw the Captain sitting on a rock. 

She greeted him politely and was soon handed 3-0782. She patted the rock, making sure no insects were there, and plopped down ungracefully.

Irina started at the Sealed Artefact, studying it carefully. The metal was warm to the touch, as if hot water flowed within it.

The warm, gentle glow was like a ripple, spreading outward in waves and bringing with it a pure smell. Her spirituality was being filtered, removing all impurities and leaving it cleansed.

Hm... I can't see much with my spirituality, is it because it's made with 'His' blood? I guess I do have limits after all.

After satisfying her curiosity, she looked up at the far-away town, only to realize that Dunn Smith was still there and was currently staring at her.

Ops... why is he still here? Is it because of last night?

She stared back while tilting her head to the side, hoping to miraculously be able to read thoughts and understand what was going through the head of her Captain.

It's because of that dream, isn't it?

Dunn was the first to break eye contact. "I have a personal question if you may."

It's definitely because of that dream.

Irina smiled innocently, "Sure Cap~ In that case, I hope I'll be able to ask you how the relationship between you and Daly is going."

Ask an embarrassing question back, change his focus, and force him to run away. One out of three done.

The nightmare in front of her froze momentarily before coughing in his hand, averting her gaze. "There's nothing between me and Madam Daly, most definitely not a relationship."

Two done.

The custodian covered her growing grin with her fan, "Suuure. Whatever you say Dunn Smith, and I am the Captain of Tingen's Nighthawks team. Have you two already kis—"

"You know what, it's not important. I have to go back and organize our return." He turned and left, going back to the inn in quick strides.

Sucess! Irina cheered inwardly.

At seven in the morning, they prepared to set off back to Tingen with a very tired Irina.

It took a bit less than three hours to get back to the city, and she will never admit to having slept the majority of the journey.

It wasn't even ten when they arrived at 36 Zouteland Street. Fyre sat behind the typewriter after Dunn, the most energized of the lot, returned Sealed Artifact 3-0782 to the back of Chanis Gate. He took advantage of the fact that the clerks hadn't arrived yet so that he could write a report on the mission and the claims of the related expenditures.

Irina wrote her own report, short but concise, right after Frye. Before leaving she could clearly see the satisfaction on Klein's face at learning that all his expenses in materials would be reimbursed.

What to say, Klein will forever be Klein.

Many hours had passed and the Custodian had spent the majority of them taking a very long and much-needed nap.

Irina was sprawled inelegantly on her own bed while staring intensively at the ticking clock.

Today is Monday... later I'll enter Alexandria to make some more preparations... She couldn't help but go over her plans again.

But... for now... She smiled widely like a madwoman.

I believe it's about time~

The custodian jumped out of bed with inhuman-like agility. She rummaged through her drawers with eager hands, before finally finding the needed materials.

I can't wait~ She hummed a cheerful tune to herself.

Irina set up a wall of spirituality before preparing the altar. After completion, she took a step back to admire her work.

Looks very good to me~ She forced her smile to fade, taking slow, measured breaths.

She calmed her racing heart, fixed her hair, and took a big breath, "Here we go."

The custodian kneeled reverently in front of the altar, her head bowed, her eyes closed.

The words she wished to speak ever since first arriving in this time were finally coming out of her lips. "The Fool that doesn't belong to this era;

the Mysterious Ruler above the gray fog;

the King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck."

Irina took a small break before grinning widely, "Don't you think it's about time we have a chat in your own home?"