Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader

Did the lion figure out that Jane and I know each other? Is it testing us?

While this thought crossed Ebner's mind, he maintained a calm expression and said indifferently, "That depends on what the lady wishes."

"Enough with the pretense," the lion snorted, raising its head disdainfully. "I wasn't paying close attention before, but I can use 'Scene Retrospection.'

"Besides, I've seen Roselle pretend not to know a lady one moment and be in bed with her the next. Compared to him, your acting is pretty amateurish."

This statement left both Ebner and Jane visibly awkward. Jane swallowed the words she was about to say, while Ebner silently grumbled, Did Roselle really bring this lion along during his escapades? Wasn't he afraid of scaring people? Or did the lion hide using psychological concealment or lurk in the mirror world to spy?

At that moment, Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina's calm voice broke the tense atmosphere.

"If possible, I'd like to explore Master Daniel's labyrinth," she said, her clear blue eyes tinged with anticipation as she glanced at Jane, who wielded the large black scythe.

It didn't surprise her that Ebner and Jane knew each other—after all, as a Mystic Art Magister, she was skilled at "Retrospection" herself.

"Completing a discovery or invention that shocks the world is the ritual for advancing as a Prophet," the lion said meaningfully, looking at Edwina. "Are you aiming for your demigod promotion? Unfortunately, Daniel's treasure alone might not suffice. But if you secure the ticket to the Ghost Empire, that would certainly do it."

This lion is truly worthy of being a Sphinx, blurting out all kinds of secrets... So the Prophet advancement ritual is about completing a groundbreaking discovery or invention?

No wonder Edwina is so keen on treasure hunting—it's likely a personal interest, but also, as the lion said, tied to her ritual.

As Ebner pondered this, Edwina didn't refute the lion's words. She simply said, "Pursuing knowledge and truth is an aspiration in itself."

She then fell silent, waiting for Jane's response.

Jane, having steadied herself after the lion's earlier revelation, dropped the pretense of being a stranger. She turned to Ebner and asked, "What do you think?"

"Let's go together. We can watch each other's backs," Ebner sighed, deciding without much hesitation.

Initially, after obtaining the complete brain of the Sphinx Lion, he had planned to leave this valley, which was bound to become a hotbed of chaos. But he changed his mind for several reasons.

Firstly, he didn't trust Jane to enter Daniel's labyrinth alone with the lion. Secondly, Edwina was clearly interested in the treasure.

Most importantly, the Prophet ritual required a "world-shaking discovery or invention," and the Ghost Empire's ticket might just provide such an opportunity.

Although he wasn't even at Sequence 5 yet, knowing the characteristics needed for Sequence 4 made it prudent to start preparing for his future demigod ritual.

Hearing Ebner's response, Jane nodded decisively and said to the lion, "I choose for the three of us to go together."

The lion didn't immediately respond. It scanned the surroundings before revealing a satisfied smile. "You're in luck—the rain isn't heavy enough for the true gate of the labyrinth to open yet, but Roselle's 'thief's tunnel' in my lair should have already manifested."

With that, it scraped a paw over a puddle on the ground, transforming the water's surface into a dark, mysterious mirror that seemed to contain countless layers and hidden realms.

It had become a passage to another world.

Turning back to the trio, the lion asked, "Which one of you has mirror-traversal abilities?"

After a brief pause, Jane donned a glove adorned with a vertical eye symbol. In a flash, a figure dressed in a black tailcoat and dark red cloak materialized beside her—it was the Wraith Steve, her trophy from the "Revenge Battle of Backlund."

"Oh, a Wraith puppet. You'll be fine then—just follow me closely," the lion instructed before glancing at Ebner and Edwina. "What about you two?"

Ebner shook his head, indicating he hadn't "learned" any such abilities. As a Polymath, even with his Pure White Eye, he couldn't simulate many Sequence 5 abilities, and most were limited to the five omniscient pathways.

Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina, although having seen witches and wraiths use similar abilities, hadn't had the chance to "analyze" them thoroughly. She calmly stated, "I don't have such abilities either."

"In that case, the two of you can ride on my back. Hold on tight—if you get thrown into the gaps between the mirror worlds, don't blame me," the lion said lazily, crouching down and patting its back with a paw. "I haven't walked properly in ages because of that extra brain I grew, so things might get a little bumpy."

Ebner and Edwina exchanged a glance. After she touched a silver mirror at her side and nodded, they climbed onto the lion's back without hesitation.

Ebner sat in front, and Edwina behind him. After a brief hesitation, she placed her hands on his waist to steady herself.

Seeing this, Jane pursed her lips, suddenly regretting summoning her puppet.

Ebner, however, paid no mind. Initially, he reached for the colorful mane encircling the lion's neck, only to remember that it was essentially a collection of various charms. Heaven knows what might happen if he grabbed it, so he reluctantly withdrew his hand, muttering, "No reins or stirrups?"

"Want a saddle too?" The lion rolled its eyes. Then, as if recalling something, it sighed. "Roselle said the same thing."

Its mood shifted as quickly as it had come. Soon, it was back to a mischievous grin. The lion glanced at Jane, who was distracted by Edwina's actions, and said, "Keep up!"

With that, it leaped into the puddle, slipping into its depths without a trace.

The "water surface"—or rather, the "mirror"—revealed layers upon layers of a fantastical, shifting world before Ebner's eyes, which swiftly receded as they traversed through.

In mysticism, mirrors often symbolize passageways to other realms, frequently associated with horror and danger. Strictly speaking, however, the "mirror world" isn't a true world but more like a collection of "doors" connecting different mirrors and mystical realms. Getting lost here might result in being thrown out into any mirrored surface, whether in the depths of the Abyss or even out in the starry skies.

According to the original text, a demigod with mirror-related abilities, like Master Daniel, could use them to create a mirrored world. Perhaps Daniel's "labyrinth" was essentially a network of interconnected mirrored worlds.

In this domain, aside from witches and wraiths, high-ranking Apprentices were the most proficient—though Readers and Seers with the right knowledge could also master it.

As he pondered the intricacies of the mirror world, Ebner activated the Clown's ability to maintain balance, avoiding being thrown off.

Glancing back, he saw Edwina's deep blue eyes filled with focus as she seemingly analyzed the principles behind mirror traversal.

Ebner chose not to "freeload" off her learning. With "Temperance" now part of the Tarot Club, he figured he'd have plenty of opportunities to learn the "genuine" mirror skills later. Besides, mastering Sequence 5 abilities wasn't something he could do anytime soon.

Sensing that Ebner seemed lost in thought, the lion curiously asked, "Not seizing the chance to learn?"

The Readers it had encountered never missed such opportunities, itself included.

Am I supposed to admit I disdain knock-offs? Ebner quipped inwardly, ignoring the topic. Instead, he asked, "Do you know why the Prophet advancement ritual requires a 'world-shaking discovery or invention'?"

"Very few people bother pondering the reasons behind rituals," the lion snickered. "Usually, after the ritual is complete, as long as they don't die, they figure it out on their own."

"But I once asked Roselle the same question," it added in a cryptic tone.

Is that tone suggesting you think I'm the same kind of being as you? Ebner grumbled silently but maintained a curious front. "What did the Emperor say?"

The lion mulled it over, then mimicked a certain someone's tone, saying, "The Emperor said, 'The Prophet begins to touch upon "Fate," fundamentally altering their analytical capabilities to work in "multiple threads." However, each thread could potentially lose itself in different points along the River of Fate, leading to a loss of control. This is evident from the Prophet's incomplete mythical form.

"'Thus, the Reader pathway is one of the few requiring an "anchor" at Sequence 4 to stabilize itself.

"'The ritual itself is designed to create enough personal "anchors" for the Prophet.'"

A series of indistinct, surreal bookshelves flashed in Ebner's mind, their various sections harboring pools of black shadows that curled and stretched like eyes.

Recalling the description of the Prophet's incomplete mythical form from the original text, Ebner's thoughts churned.