Chapter 32: Farewell
In the parlor, Enber finally saw Jane, but she was completely different from the girl he once knew. Her bright, shoulder-length blonde hair had dulled, losing its luster and turning gloomy. Her skin, once fair and rosy, had become ghostly pale.
Yet these physical changes weren't what shocked Enber most. What unsettled him was her eyes—gone was their cheerful sunshine, replaced by a piercing, unyielding coldness.
Without even activating his White Eye, Enber could tell Jane had recently become a Beyonder. The potion's power overflowed from her, unstable and untamed. Judging by its intensity, her advancement must have been difficult, perhaps even dangerous.
Frowning, Enber asked, "Jane, you became a Corpse Collector? And you directly used Mr. Grant's Beyonder characteristic? That's far too dangerous. Didn't those two warn you?"
On the other side of the room, Jane's heart leapt with joy at seeing Enber. She even wanted to confide in him, to share her pain. But the lingering effects of the potion smothered her warmth. She instinctively stepped toward him, forcing her voice into a softer tone.
"Enber. So you really did know my father was a Beyonder? Back then, you pretended he was just volunteering… You're a Beyonder too, aren't you?"
Seeing her approach, pale and cold, Enber nearly stepped back to draw his weapon. But he stopped himself, realizing in time she meant no harm. A little stiffly, he reached out to support her, as he had done so many times before. Same person, same gesture, he thought, though this time her touch no longer warmed him—it felt like facing a deadly threat.
Outwardly, he pretended not to notice the change. "Jane, you need to learn to control your strength now that you're a Corpse Collector. If you charge at me the way you used to, your enhanced physique might send me flying a few meters."
"Sorry, Enber. But don't change the subject—you still haven't answered me!" Jane apologized instinctively, her tone softening a little as his steadying hand reminded her of the past. Still, her gaze stayed cold.
'At least her personality hasn't changed much.' Enber thought with relief. As long as her mind remained intact, she could eventually overcome the potion's lingering effects.
"You haven't answered me either," he replied with a chuckle. "Yes, I'm a Beyonder. And yes, I knew your father had taken that path. But he never harmed anyone, so I chose not to involve you in the dangers and madness of this world. Besides, I wasn't lying—strictly speaking, your father really was volunteering, wasn't he?"
Jane nodded trying he best to warm up to him though her emotions were cold, still her voice softened. "So, Enber, you didn't want me to become a Beyonder? But without power, I'll never have my revenge…"
"I just didn't want you in danger," Enber interjected and sighed. "But now, there's no point in arguing. I won't dissuade you. I may not share your hatred, but I understand your pain. Just remember: the path of a Beyonder is dangerous, filled with madness. You must be prepared."
"Miss Sharron and Mr. Maric already told me all this… And don't blame Maric. He warned me again and again not to directly consume a characteristic. But I had decided—I'll kill the werewolf who destroyed my family! I'll annihilate the Rose School of Thought!" Jane's pale face grew darker as the room turned colder around her.
"I only hope that after your revenge, you'll smile again like you used to," Enber said earnestly.
"Thank you, Enber." Jane's gaze softened, though deep down she doubted she would ever regain that innocence. Maturity often comes in a single moment. But its price… not many are willing to pay such steep price.
Knowing this was only a comforting hope, Enber dropped the subject. "So, what did you call me here for? When I got the message, I thought it was from Maric."
Jane tried to smile but failed, her lips twisting slightly. "Miss Sharron and Mr. Maric keep moving to avoid enemies and the authorities. They plan to send me to Emmat Harbor for now, where someone will teach me mysticism. I overheard that advancing as a Beyonder requires a lot of money for materials…"
"I could lend you some," Enber offered.
Jane shook her head. "I don't need a loan. My father once told me that if something ever happened to us, I should go to a house in St. George Borough. He hid valuables in the basement… Looking back, he must have sensed something would go wrong."
'He probably knew the risks of being a Beyonder and prepared in advance.' Enber reasoned, analyzing the situation instinctively.
Jane looked at him seriously. "Enber, I can't go out safely right now, so I want you to retrieve what my father left."
"That's not a problem, but why not ask Maric? The fewer people who know your whereabouts, the safer you'll be. The Mandated Punishers are hunting for you and Mr. Grant relentlessly."
"Because I don't fully trust Maric or Sharron. Yes, they saved me and offered help, but in the end they're still part of the Rose School of Thought. I know it's irrational, but I can't help but resenting them." She looked at him anxiously. "Do you think I'm awful?"
"Of course not. That's understandable. But I hope you'll let go of that resentment eventually since they aren't truly to blame," Enber reassured her with a smile. The truth was, whether Sharron had intervened with the Indulgence Faction or not, the werewolf would have attacked the Grant family regardless.
"I'm trying. They've been patient with me despite my attitude. But right now, Enber, you're the only one I trust—that's why I risked meeting you." She handed him a slip of paper with an address.
After weighing the risks, Enber judged the worst he'd face would be traps set by Grant. He nodded seriously. "Don't worry. I won't betray your trust."
At that Enber went silent and thought, 'Should I tell her about the acting method?' He was really worried for her safety so after much deliberation, Enber decided to ask her if she knows about the acting method. "Do you know about acting method Jane?"
Jane, paused for a moment, thinking to herself about what Maric had told her about potion digestion and acting and replied. "Yes. I know."
"Mrs. Sharron and Maric already told me about it and also gave me their experiences on the interpreted rules on acting."
Enber was visibly relieved hearing that. 'Atleast she won't be helpless moving forward with her advancement in the pathway.' He thought to himself and decided to move towards the adress given by Jane.
---
At last, Enber reached St. George Borough. With the steam metro stopped because of night, he had to walk the whole way, taking shortcuts but still arriving late.
After climbing out of the Tussock River, he straightened his hat, deactivated its abilities, and checked his gear. A joke he'd once read came to mind:
A gentleman, newly arrived in Backlund, got lost in the fog. He asked a drenched passerby, "How do I get to the Tussock River?" The man kindly replied, "Just keep walking straight—I just swam up from there."
"Although I didn't swim and my clothes are dry, I did just climb up from there," Enber muttered with a chuckle as he headed for Jane's address.
Chapel Street 16 was a small house with a garden. With rent around two pounds a week, Mr. Grant clearly hadn't spared expenses for a safehouse.
Keeping his distance, Enber circled the place several times, activating his White Eye to inspect every detail. He even used Scene Recall to check for ambushes. Once sure it was safe, he dug up the key hidden under a flowerpot and entered.
Inside, his Spirit Vision revealed a vicious ghost lunging straight at him. Anticipating it, Enber calmly whispered in ancient Hermes, "Draw!" His cane sword stretched into a longsword, and with its speed he withdrew to the doorway.
The ghost slammed against an invisible barrier at the threshold, unable to leave the house.
"So, a guardian bound to recognize Jane's aura. A mere spirit—not too difficult of an opponent." Adjusting his hat, Enber conjured wind blades that sliced the ghost, leaving faint marks.
The spirit howled in rage, clawing at the air, but its reach remained confined.
"Wind blades really aren't ideal for spirits. The Sun brooch would be better," he muttered. He bound it with wind ropes, then severed it cleanly with his blade.
His cane sword, enhanced his strength and weakened supernatural resistances like a ghost's immunity to physical attacks.
"It was just a weak spirit, after all." Satisfied, Enber restored the sword to cane form and descended into the basement. It was a modest room, no more than ten square meters, with only a single chest. Cautiously, he opened it and inventoried the contents:
500 pounds in cash
Around 300 pounds in jewelry and gemstones
Potion recipes for Sequence 9 Corpse Collector and Sequence 8 Gravedigger
A false ID from Bayam
'Wow. That's quite the treasure trove!'
Enber wondered where Mr. Grant had acquired such wealth. 'Perhaps from Mr. Beyan? But what had he done to earn such generosity from a Demigod?' But with no answers, Enber packed the items, cleaned up his traces, and returned to Jane's temporary home in Bridges Borough.
"When will you leave Backlund, Jane?" he asked as she arranged her belongings.
"This afternoon. Maric said the authorities might track me with extraordinary means, so the sooner I leave, the safer. And I want to grow stronger as soon as possible," she said quietly.
'That's for the best. Fortunately, it's the Mandated Punishers searching for you. If the Machinery Hivemind were in charge, they'd probably have used that sycophantic mirror,' Enber thought grimly.
"Will we ever meet again?" Jane's icy expression softened for the first time.
"We will. I'll come to Emmat Harbor to visit you," Enber reassured her with a smile.
That afternoon, Enber chose not to see her off, knowing it would do neither of them good. Jane, his friend, would now be far away, but she had found her path and was determined to walk it. All he could offer was his silent blessing.
With that, he threw himself back into Detective Isengard's assignments, studying and attempting to decipher 2-OSL.
A few weeks later, after helping his teacher solve several cases, Enber began gaining a reputation in the neighborhood.
On Monday, June 25, an exceptionally captivating woman stepped into the Isengard Stanton Detective Agency.
(End of Chapter)