Above the grey fog, inside the palace that looked like a giant's residence, Klein sat on the seat of honour and sent a "Prepare for the gathering" to The Sun, Derrick Berg, so he could do the necessary procedure to avoid suspicion while he was pulled into the Mysterious Space above the Grey Fog for the scheduled Tarot Club meeting.
However, as he was about to touch the shimmering red star representing The Justice and The Hanged man, Klein felt a cold shiver wrack his entire body, and sweat began to cover the back of his body, from his nape to his tailbone.
The grey fog inside the giant's castle stirred, churning like the advent of a hurricane, and then it settled down. Some of the grey fog that had enveloped Klein thinned out, and drifted towards the roof before dispersing, and flying towards the other seat-of-honour, at the foot of the mottled and bronze long table.
There, within the dense gray fog, was a person. A person!
Goosebumps rose all over his body and he bristled, like an anxious, terrified cat. He instinctively reached out for the revolver, however, alas, much to his disdain, he could not grab it.
'Who is that? How did he come here? Even my spiritual intuition didn't alert me of any kind of danger when I was coming into The Space above the Gray Fog. How...' Klein's thoughts kept raging and morphing into paranoia at the speed of a highly efficient Steam Locomotive.
Meanwhile, the figure at the foot of the long mottled, bronze table was just as puzzled. He could feel his physical body which was motionless in the real world while the dim sounds of people outside his apartment chattering was clear in this place which was detached from reality.
Moreover, the man was still reeling from the muffled, but terrifying ravings comprising of shouts, screams and manic laughter when he was suddenly pulled up.
'Where...am I?'
He thought in confusion as he clutched his pale golden hair, trying to fight the lingering effects of the ravings.
Suddenly, a voice rang through the residence of the giants.
"Identify yourself, my unannounced guest." The voice was dignified and felt somewhat heavy.
'Artificially heavy.' He noticed
Kiyotaka—Williams looked up with a pained expression, above the gray fog, his features were not visible to anyone. "Unannounced guest...?"
Klein was taken aback by the reply, and he moved his jaw, grinding his molars twice to activate his Spirit Vision. In the saturated world, he saw different colors. He saw that the area around the "guest's" liver indicated signs of damage, and other than that, he looked healthy.
As for his emotions, there was no malice in it. However, he looked like he was in some kind of pain. The colours also indicated a mix of confusion, wariness and mild aggression, but Klein assumed that the latter must've stemmed from the prior.
"I did not summon you." Klein, sitting at the head of the table, spoke in a dignified, somewhat thunderous voice. "Are you aware of the ramifications of your transgression?"
Kiyotaka looked up and held the edges of the table. He did not reply immediately but rather he normalized first, took a seat properly, and then straightened his back before replying. "I am not sure...I felt a connection and saw a mark on my hand. And when I thought something was wrong, I locked myself somewhere. Before I knew it, I was here."
He deliberately excluded where he was locked. Since he could still somewhat feel his physical body, he knew that it was his soul that was present here, now. That means that if he revealed too much, it was possible to know where he was. Or at least where his physical body was.
What calmed him a little was that the expression from the "man" at the start revealed that "he" could not control him. And that lack of control seemed to rattle the one sitting at the head of the table.
As for Klein, he was growing a little paranoid. The thousand heartbeat time was approaching awfully near.
'I can't control his summoning. Nor can I send him back. It seems to require consent on his side. He said he saw a strange symbol on his hand. Which means...no, it can't be. But I can't rule it out completely since I am in a similar situation myself. And it's not just me; Roselle was transmigrated as well.'
'Is he also someone from China who bought the Luck Enhancement Ritual's book as me and was transmigrated here? It is possible, but asking directly can hurt my image as The Fool, the mysterious ruler above the Gray Fog!'
'Besides, I feel a strange connection to him. Almost as if...no, I think I am imagining things. I need to get my disarrayed thoughts into coherence.'
'He is also exhibiting some kind of control over the Gray Fog. I can't kick him out. But he seems harmless, and he is not a Beyonder. It should be safe to not act as of now and simply observe.'
Kiyotake kept looking at Klein in a way that made him uncomfortable. After a moment of extended silence, a pair of major arcana cards flew towards him. Klein spoke in a nonchalant manner. "It seems like the place has welcomed you. Choose a codename for yourself. The meeting will soon begin. As for me..."
Klein paused deliberately to make it sound more impactful. "...you can call me The Fool."
'Codename? So, it is some kind of secret gathering. His body posture is telling me that he is trying to maintain a façade of control. However, while it is working quite well since he is being cloaked by the gray fog, I can still somehow see through it. It's a shame that his face is almost featureless. Is this some kind of private gathering where faces are rubbed out?'
Regardless, Kiyotaka looked down at the cards. He had some knowledge of the Tarot Cards, but it was limited to entirely surface level knowledge. He looked down and realized that some cards were missing, like: The Fool, The Justice, The Hanged Man and The Sun.
'Extrapolating from the fact that he called himself The Fool, I am assuming Justice, Hanged Man and Sun are the other members. Hmm...I think I need to pick something at random. I have no idea how to go back, so I should go along with it. Besides, I seem to have some kind of immunity. Otherwise, The Fool would've kicked out an "intruder" immediately. Given if he really is the Master of this...castle...? Or whatever it is.'
He looked at the deck and fell into deep thought. At first, he picked up The World. From his vague knowledge, The World is a person's victory lap. It's integration, completion, and the sense that symbolizes that one's hard-earned wisdom is finally clicking into place. To celebrate. To reflect. And then ... get ready to begin again.
'It is a good choice, but there is a problem. The one sitting at the "Head" of the table chose the first card of the deck. From his words, it seems like he's the regulator of these meetings and people would look up to him as some God. People are like that...'
Kiyotaka was about to monologue about the philosophy of human nature to worship anything that's out of their capability to comprehend, but he stopped. He didn't have the energy to do that as of now.
'If I, someone who is sitting in the second seat of honour, and at the foot of the table, takes the name of the last card in the deck, I am sure I will be attaching some kind of importance to myself as well. Clearly, I do not want that for obvious reasons. From Williams' knowledge of the Occult and Beyonders, and this bizarre scenario, I can tell that most, if not all, of the memories have some truth to it.'
'If so, then I would like to avoid people wielding the ability to turn me into some kind of blob of breathing flesh. Yes, I would like to avoid it. Unless I learn how to wield it myself. Which is an interesting prospect...'
'Point being, I should not attach a high importance to myself in a world full of horrors and Occult. Yes, I should choose something else.'
Klein rapped the edge of the long, mottled bronze table, as if waiting for Kiyotaka to choose.
"A moment, please." Kiyotaka looked up and spoke.
Klein's brow was about to twitch but his control over his features via his Clown power helped him to stay stoic.
'Hmm...what other choices do I have? The Magician? It is good but it's too flashy.'
'The High Priestess? Feminine.'
'The Empress? Feminine as well.'
'The Devil? Too evil.'
'The Hierophant? I do not know about this one.'
'The Chariot? Too valiant.'
'Strength? Too noble...or barbaric.'
'The Hermit? Too isolated.'
'The Wheel of Fortune? Too random.'
'Death? Too dramatic.'
'Temperance? Boring.'
'The Lover? Too...uncharacteristic for me.'
'The Tower? Boring.'
'The Star? Childish.'
'The Moon? Hmm...kind of cringe.'
After a few seconds of brainstorming and a very vague criteria applied to his "process of elimination," Kiyotaka was left with one card.
The Emperor.
The reason behind choosing it was simple.
While the upright "The Emperor" card means an abundance of wealth and power, the reason why Kiyotaka chose it was because it meant something close to him. A core memory from his previous life, as "Kiyotaka."
The reversed Emperor card meant: Abuse of power, excessively controlling, rigidity, stubbornness, absentee father and paternity issues.
Kiyotaka felt a little nostalgic as he tried to recall its meaning.
"The Emperor." Kiyotaka spoke out loud.
'How ostentatious.' The corner of Klein's lips curled up slightly. "The Emperor it is then."
Before Klein reached out for the stars, he looked at Kiyotaka and said: "You can benefit from these meetings. As for the mystery behind your appearance, do not mention it in front of the other members as it would endanger you, putting your physical form in jeopardy next time you come here."
Kiyotaka almost scoffed. 'Who are you kidding? You made your voice heavier while saying that part. Obviously, you are lying. Although it would be interesting to learn more about this place. I don't know how, but somehow, I do feel like I have some form of autonomy over this place.'
"Sure."
As Klein reached out for the red star representing Justice, Kiyotaka did the same. Klein's eyes widened as the stars representing Justice reacted to his touch and the one representing The Sun reacted to The Emperor's touch.
'I see...' Kiyotaka thought to himself in an amusing manner.
Not too long after, without showing any kind of surprise, Klein reached out for The Hanged Man. The bright crimson light filled the area, and three figures filled the seats in the middle of the parallel rows around the bronze table.
One of them was a young girl with beautiful, silky blonde hair with an average height.
The other was a young boy, perhaps around the girl's age, with blonde hair and a good build.
The last was a burly man with blue hair.
Kiyotaka took notice of them and then sat in the same nonchalant position as The Fool.
"Good afternoon, Mr Fool~" Audrey, the blonde girl, greeted with the formal curtsy, lifting her skirt a little from the sides and bowing before greeting the other members as well.
"Good afternoon, Mr Sun, Mr Hanged Man...Ah?!" Audrey had a gobsmacked look on her face as she suddenly noticed a person at the other seat of honour.
From first looks, he looked like an imposing figure, although not as imposing as Mr Fool.
Immediately, she started to use her enhanced Spectator powers, to observe the new person. However, the thick fog enveloping the man made it hard for her to get any detail, save for the fact that he was a slight above average heighted man and had blonde hair.
"Mr Fool..." Justice turned her attention to The Fool. The intonation of her words was questioning.
The ancient, terrifying and ever enigmatic god sitting at the head of the table rapped his fingers along the edge of the table for a long while. The silence in the wake of Justice's question left an uncomfortable silence that weighed on all three of them.
'Mr Fool is silent. Does that mean...is this Mr Fool's adorer? No, seeing as he is silent, the adorer would've definitely introduced himself. Could it be...that it is an existence on the level of Mr Fool? A guest on the same level of Godhood as Mr Fool?'
Alger Wilson—The Hanged Man—thought in a fervent manner as his head kept low but his eyes darted at a dizzying speed between the two "deities" sitting at the head and foot of the long bronze table.
'Yes, that would make sense. Only an existence on the level of Mr Fool could invite another existence and treat like an evening tea.'
Fearing that it was Mr Fool's guest, he didn't extend a question of his own towards the addition of the new existence. Meanwhile Derrick Berg—The Sun kept quiet as well, albeit not for the same reason as The Hanged Man.
After a disgustingly long silence that stretched between The Fool and The Emperor, waiting for each other to explain the situation, the three regular members felt the pressure of it.
Kiyotaka sighed after a moment. Just like The Fool, he made his voice illusory and heavier. "You may address me as Mr. Emperor."
'Mr. Emperor?'
'Mr. Emperor?!'
'Mr. Emperor?!!'
'This f*cking—did he just copy my way of talking? I am going to find this guy and dox him!'
All three of them thought in unison with a little bit of surprise.
Kiyotaka crossed his leg rudely, the bottom of his sole facing the other members.
While Audrey was deeply offended, Alger felt his body tremble.
'If "He" has the audacity to sit in such a manner like this, then my previous hypothesis is truly correct. Mr Emperor really is on the level of Mr Fool! Mr Fool is slowly spreading "His" wings and is trying to spread 'His' influence.'
'First it was by expanding 'His' circle, then spreading 'His' honorific name, followed by rituals that involve sacrificing things to 'Him' which allows 'Him' to move material things in, out and between the Material World and the Spirit World.'
'And now, 'He' has finally started to reunite with his long-lost comrades. I wonder if "He" is at the same level as Mr Fool...but seeing how audaciously impertinent "His" behaviour is in front of the honourable Mr Fool and Mr Fool's indifference to "His" attitude, it is possible that "He" might be just a little weaker than Mr Fool!'
Sitting at the high back chair of The Fool, Klein was fuming. Not only was the new person immune to Klein's administrative power of "kicking" members, but he was also able to influence The Mysterious Space above the Gray Fog. While
The Emperor's influence was quite weak, it still made Klein very paranoid.
Meanwhile Derrick had other thoughts. 'I think this could be an angel serving Mr Fool. Since he has the power to cut through the influences that separate The City of Silver from the outer world, it is natural for Mr Fool to have some angels at his disposal. Other than that...but hmm, Mr Emperor is too casual.'
'Regardless of his status as a God or an Angel, Mr Emperor is also a "He," just like Mr Fool!'
Although he couldn't read everyone's thoughts, seeing their subservient attitude made Klein realize what they were thinking. "He is an old acquaintance of mine. That is all you should know."
The Hanged Man and The Sun lowered their heads and nodded diligently.
Meanwhile, Audrey's heart was beating rapidly. 'Th-Thi-This is so exciting! Our Tarot Club is not only getting bigger, but stronger! Mr Fool's Acquaintance?! This is cool—Pui! Bad Audrey, bad! You should not cheer at something like this! What if it's rude?! Mr Fool is really benevolent but what if Mr Emperor is the total opposite?!'
'Although this should explain why even after trying so hard, I could not read anything about 'Him!' A human simply has no means to observe a deity, unless they wish to!'
Audrey was about to greet him when Alger suddenly spoke first.
"Greetings, Mr Emperor!" He greeted enthusiastically.
'This sly fox!' Audrey greeted too. "Good afternoon, Mr Emperor~"
"Good afternoon, Mr Emperor." Derrick joined in as well.
Williams merely nodded slightly and then looked away from them.
Kiyotaka had no idea how to play God, unlike The Fool.
Yes, he was pretty sure The Fool was merely playing God. So, he did what his "common sense" told him to do. A common sense that was vastly different from a common person's. Although every God is unique, so he was sure that no matter how he acted, he'll be revered just as much.
Of course, all of this was based on the assumption that The Fool was pretending. It was entirely possible that "He" was an actual God and Kiyotaka had been playing as "He" had intended.
On the other hand, Williams was satisfied with Klein's answer. 'I assume he wants to resolve the issue of my unwanted existence once this meeting is done. And I have no qualms against it. Besides, I would be able to confirm a lot using this meeting.'
'I am a little intrigued about Beyonders. How do they gain their powers? What are the prerequisites? It is quite exciting, but at the same time, extremely life-threatening.'
'Perhaps I will even take Xio's advice and settle down...hmm, all this sounds good, but I am still not aware of the reason of my transmigration. Since I can't remember myself doing anything that could lead to me being yoinked into the past, or the future, that means an external force was involved.'
'And that means I am potentially going to be involved in strange stuff sooner or later.'
'Thinking back at it, I am already involved in weird situations. Xio's commission that involves the Church of the Evernight Goddess regarding a criminal from Tingen, the appearance of the pamphlet in my hand and the invitation from the security company, the appearance of Gray Fog and this castle of giants.'
'Nothing is peaceful! Nothing is going right!
Is it the inherent low IQ of Williams or his constant drinking habit that has dulled my thinking process so much? Regardless of anything, my intelligence really has suffered a big blow! Why on earth did I even think of not becoming a Beyonder just now? What is wrong with me?'
'Come to think of it, I am repeating everything as well. I think about the same thing over and over again, as if I have not done it before... this is all just so bizarre and full of mysteries.'
Like a seed breaking out of its shell, Kiyotaka suddenly decided on becoming a Beyonder.
It was as if he had gained clarity in the blink of an eye!
The Fool heaved out an impatient breath and rapped the edges of the long table as everyone's attention shifted towards him.
Understanding what he meant, they turned their faces towards Mr Fool but made sure to not turn their backs to The Emperor, lest divine retribution shall fall on them!
Audrey wanted to start speaking, in order to impress Mr Emperor when she suddenly saw The Hanged Man gesturing to her before rushing to speak before her.
"Mr. Fool." He then turned to Kiyotaka. "Mr Emperor. I have obtained nineteen pages of Roselle's diary this time."
'You don't need to tell this weirdo! F*ck him!'
"Here, I must thank you for sending your adorer to help me get rid of Admiral Qilangos. These diary pages will be the compensation I should pay!"
'Adorer? As expected, Mr Slyboots really is an idolator. A charlatan who likes playing God. But I assume if he can summon people above this mysterious space, then he does have the right to act as such. Hmm, I assume I should do the same then...? It is obvious that he is lying. Why can't nobody else tell...?
Well, I suppose it is natural. The fear of gods has been drilled into everyone's head the moment they were born. And anyone who doesn't follow one God or the other are probably burned on a stake. Hmm, yes that would make sense why no one is doubting him. That is indeed reasonable.'
He looked at Justice and tilted his head a little. 'She is trying to observe me. I can't really tell exactly, but I have a feeling. Is this her ability? Hmm...it is possible that it is.'
Regardless, I think this "adorer" is not really an adorer but there is something else to it. How can a fake God have an adorer? I mean, yes, he sounds like a God in this place but look at me! They even think I am like him as well! It would be impossible to have the same reaction if they looked at me in real life.'
Meanwhile, Klein broke out of his state of being sour over why The Emperor knew of Roselle's diary as well. 'Although, this can confirm it! If he can read the diary, that means he is from Earth as well! Hmm, no, there is a fault in that logic. What if he is a European? Or African, or some other kind of Asian?'
'But it is worth a shot. I can do it. Although that would put my own identity in jeopardy...well, let's see and improvise.'
"That is the principle of equivalent exchange." Alger added.
The Fool merely nodded.
Upon seeing the reaction from only The Fool, Alger said humbly, "The limit of my current memory is six pages. Please allow me to give them to you on separate occasions."
"No problem." Klein, who was surrounded by thick gray fog, nodded gently.
The Sun Derrick looked at the pages that appeared before The Hanged Man and was very curious about the contents of the diary.
With his previous experiences, he believed that the items that Mr. Fool was interested in contained many mysteries.
He looked at Miss Justice and when he saw that she didn't have the impulse to ask, he cautiously maintained his silence.
Soon, the six pages of the diary were complete and came into Klein's hands. Consequently, the same happened in front of Kiyotaka.
The Fool and The Emperor both looked down.
'This...?' The word almost left Williams' mouth unknowingly.
'Simplified Chinese...? Sigh... good thing it was one of the languages that was taught to our generation. Or else I would've been completely blocked out from some vital information.'
Kiyotaka was instantly grateful to the White Room.