"Mr. Fool, I've drawn one."
Silas displayed the tarot card to The Fool.
"I understand. Then from today onwards, your code name here shall be Mr. Temperance."
Behind the gray fog, Klein worked hard to maintain his superior's bearing, speaking flatly.
In theory, the most suitable code name for Silas would of course be The Hanged Man.
Unfortunately, Alger had already claimed that code name. Klein could only settle for second best and choose a symbolic code name for him.
Temperance.
Patience, control, harmony, purification of the soul, maintaining balance between the material world and the spiritual world... these were the meanings of this tarot card.
In a certain sense, it was very fitting for Silas at this moment.
Klein wanted to use this to hint to him not to let anger cloud his mind, not to let his pain destroy his sanity.
I'm sorry, Silas. I discovered it too late...
He thought to himself.
When he discovered above the gray fog that something was wrong with Silas's situation, everything was already too late.
Before he could take any measures, Silas's prayer had already crossed reality and arrived above the gray fog.
Through the connection established by Silas's prayer, he saw the scene and learned of Silas's ordeal.
Who would have thought that the "Cecilia" he'd met was fake?
One could only say that back in Tingen, he hadn't had much contact with her and didn't understand her well enough.
His own sequence wasn't high either. Perhaps only through the gray fog could he discover her peculiarities.
Regarding this, Klein felt only infinite sympathy.
He dared not imagine what he would feel if Benson or Melissa suffered such a thing... No, for Benson and Melissa, they were already feeling exactly that.
So when Klein saw Silas so angry, so mad, he immediately brought him above the gray fog and provided him with a bit of hope.
However, becoming a deity was easier said than done. This hope was also extremely slim.
"From now on, every Monday afternoon at three o'clock, try to be alone. I will pull you here to hold a gathering."
He said this.
"Also..."
Seeing Silas nod to indicate understanding, he hurriedly added, "That illusory tidal wave within your body will resist my summoning.
Before I call you, it would be best to stop it."
He saw a hint of surprise appear on Silas's face.
"Mr. Fool, you know there's a tidal wave within my body!?" he said. "May I ask, what is the true nature of this tidal wave?"
How would I know?
Klein grumbled internally, but on the surface still maintained his lofty profundity.
He merely chuckled and said:
"You will know for yourself in the future."
"...All right."
Silas replied.
The Fool is unwilling to say... is it because of certain reasons?
He thought to himself.
"Well then, let's stop here for now."
Seeing Silas fall silent, Klein waved his hand and ended the summoning.
***
The deep crimson receded like a tide. Silas opened his eyes to darkness and cold, his back registering the rough texture of bricks.
He had returned to that dark alley in the East Borough.
I've truly established contact with Mr. Fool...
Silas thought to himself.
Moreover, I've gained qualification to participate in a divine assembly... What exactly is that Fool thinking?
Speaking of which, [The Fool] happens to be the very first tarot card, representing the beginning of everything.
There are twenty-two major arcana cards in total, and the Beyonder pathways also happen to be twenty-two.
Is there some peculiar connection between them?
Also, Mr. Fool didn't tell me the nature of that illusory tide... I don't know how to stop it.
Perhaps I can ask my other personality, that person who looks like Ma'am M...
"Meow..."
Just as Silas's mind was wandering with wild thoughts, something in his embrace suddenly squirmed and made a sound.
Looking down, he discovered it was the little black cat he'd brought back from the street corner.
The little creature was moving slightly, struggling to lift its head, looking at him with blue eyes.
Its body was very cold, with wounds on its hind legs. Blood had frozen into icy crystals, tangled with the black fur.
Need to treat it quickly...
Silas stroked the kitten's tiny head. The touch was prickly, the fur not smooth at all.
His other hand moved to its injured leg, activating flesh magic.
Soon, the ghastly terrible wound healed rapidly, leaving only bare pink skin that would need to grow fur on its own.
The kitten fluttered its hind leg, seemingly still unused to its suddenly healed limb.
His palm pressed on the little black cat's body, covering it broadly and warmly.
Before long, its body temperature recovered. The little black cat struggled to stand but still looked quite weak.
"Are you hungry? Wait a moment."
Silas said to it. The shadow beneath him quietly squirmed, leaving his body.
After a while, when it returned, the shadow was already wrapped around a glass jar of milk.
This had been taken from a nearby resident's home, conveniently leaving one soli in cash.
He took the milk jar, poured a little into his palm, and brought it before the kitten.
"Meow..."
The little thing wasn't afraid of him at all.
It directly leaned its head over, extending its barbed tongue to lap lap lap at the milk, transmitting a ticklish sensation to his palm.
Like this, after pouring milk several times, the kitten was thoroughly satisfied.
It stretched directly in his embrace, then curled up to sleep.
"Quite bold, aren't you?"
Silas looked at it in his arms, thinking to himself.
Cecilia loved cats so much. If she saw such an affectionate little creature, she would surely be delighted, wouldn't she?
A smile had just begun forming on his face when it froze.
No, she won't see it.
Cecilia was already dead.
No one would ever again carefully tend to him during his mad episodes. No one would ever again wait at home for his return.
In this world surging with crowds, at this moment there was one more lonely person like him.
Silas didn't speak for a long while, only lowering his head to stroke the little black cat.
"Meow?"
The little black cat opened its eyes in confusion.
It didn't understand why this enormous creature suddenly began trembling and dripping hot water.
The kitten didn't comprehend the complex emotions of humans. As a cat, it very much disliked water, the kind of thing that would wet its body.
However, since this enormous creature had given it food and was very warm, the kitten magnanimously forgave him.
It merely adjusted its position in his embrace, found a spot that wouldn't get wet, warm and soft, then curled up again.
"Hah..."
It yawned drowsily, closed its azure eyes, draped its tail over its nose, and quickly fell into a beautiful dream.
In its dream, it wouldn't have any pain. It could run freely in a colorful world, chasing fluttering prey.
And when it woke from this sleep, surely that big fellow would provide it with even tastier things...
Sleep peacefully. A beautiful future awaits.
Good night.
[End of Volume]