334 Clues

In the abandoned tunnel, Lumians eyes snapped open.

Unintended slumber had overtaken him, but it also served to rejuvenate his spirituality. At the very least, the pounding in his head had ebbed away, and the searing fire coursing through his veins, organs, and flesh had altogether abated.

Lumians sight plunged into unadulterated darkness. His hands groped for the lantern that had been snuffed out, and after lighting it, he noticed Jenna. Clad in the guise of a female mercenary, she sat diagonally across from him. She reclined against the tunnels wall, her gaze affixed to the dark-green canvas backpack and the five ritualistic hides splayed before her.

Sensing the corresponding motion, Jenna looked up at Lumian.

After scrutinizing him for a few seconds, she playfully jested, Finally, youre no longer as annoying.

Have the negative effects of the Decency brooch been lifted? Lumian instinctively exhaled a sigh of relief.

Jennas lips curled into a grin as she rose, hoisting the dark green canvas backpack onto her shoulder. She told Lumian, Earlier, I entertained notions of beating you up and painting your face with dog poop while you slept. But I managed to restrain myself.

Much appreciated, Lumian said, his gratitude tinged with sarcasm.

With the backpack slung casually over one shoulder, Jenna stooped to gather the five ritualistic hides. Her smile bore an air of leisure as she uttered, Youre welcome.

And with that, she strode toward the tunnels exit, a smile dancing on her lips.

Chalk it up to me treating you as a friend?

Youre mocking me again... Lumian grumbled under his breath, picking up the lantern before following suit.

Apartment 601, 3 Rue des Blouses Blanches.

Franca, now dressed in her usual attirea blouse and light-colored breechesawaited Lumian and Jennas return.

Her eyes traveled over Lumians scorched upper body, and a grin formed on her lips.

Jenna didnt take the opportunity to stab you a few times? Decencys negative effects arent as potent as Id imagined.

Jenna interjected before Lumian could respond, For the first half-hour, it was a real struggle. I had to hide outside the tunnel where he was resting. Every few minutes, I checked for potential threats from below ground, the ceiling, or behind the rock walls. But even then, I seriously contemplated collapsing the tunnel and burying him alive.

Thats not what you said just now... Lumian couldnt help but glance at Jenna.

For a moment, he couldnt tell if the Instigator was telling the truth in the abandoned tunnel or if she was telling the truth now.

Franca chuckled and gave Jenna a thumbs-up.

That couldnt have been easy. You maintained your vigilance, even in a semi-enclosed, deserted tunnel. You anticipated attacks from below, the caves ceiling, and the very walls surrounding him.

Jennas brows relaxed, and her smug smile was unmistakable.

Youre always feeding me those horror tales, remember? Like hands emerging from the earth to grab ankles, bloody heads dangling from ceilings, or figures springing from walls to embrace the protagonist.

Every nights entertainment involves retelling horror stories to Jenna? Lumian glanced at Franca, sensing that her intentions might run deeper.

See? Those stories have their uses! Franca beamed.

Then she turned her attention to Lumian.

Need a doctor?

The burns appeared quite severe.

No need. For a Pyromaniac, its merely a minor scrape. Lumian refrained from mentioning that he would be fully recovered by 6 a.m. the following morning. And if things worsen, I can always seek out Rat.

His nurtured Planter hadnt risen to the ranks of a Sequence 8 Doctor yet, so his assistance was rather limited at the moment.

Observing Lumians lack of visible discomfort, Francas concern lessened. She picked up the dark-green canvas backpack Jenna had left on the armchair and prepared to place it on the coffee table to meticulously tally their spoils.

Casually, Lumian pushed aside cups, plates, newspapers, and magazines that cluttered the table, creating enough space.

Glancing around, he noticed the magazines title: Women.

It was a widely read weekly among middle-class Intisien women, showcasing Triers latest fashion trends, lifestyle advice, and beauty tips. The Loen Kingdom had its own bootleg version, Ladies Aesthetic.

Lumian raised his head with a smile, and his gaze shifted to Franca, a playful question in his eyes:Oh, you read such magazines?

Franca pursed her lips and puffed out her chest in response: Whats wrong with me reading Women?

After their brief exchange, Franca unzipped the backpack and removed banknotes, coins, and gold bars.

Roughly 60,000 verl dor, she assessed after a moments calculation.

In a little over two months, the padre had managed to deplete 40,000 verl dor of Aurores savings. And all that without acquiring Beyonder characteristics or obtaining any mystical items... The more Lumian pondered, the more vexed he grew.

It wasnt that the padre lacked options for mystical items; rather, suitable ones were proving elusive. On the one hand, his status as a heretic warranted caution, limiting his exposure. He didnt frequent many mysticism gatherings, and thus remained ignorant about numerous aspects. On the other hand, his slew of contracted creatures came with many negative repercussions. Several mystical items would be counterproductive or perilous for him. Some might even bring about abrupt, fatal consequences.

Franca pondered for a moment before addressing Lumian and Jenna, All the gold is Ciels share. Ill take half of the remaining assets. Jenna, you and Anthony can divide the rest. Lets decide on the distribution once Anthony returns and we see what hes managed to acquire. Does that sound fair?

This arrangement would allocate around 30,000 verl dor to Lumian and 15,000 to Franca.

Im fine with that, Jenna responded with a hint of concern. But Anthony still hasnt come back. Dammit, could something have happened to him?

If it were anyone else, I might suspect trouble, but Anthony is a Psychiatrist. Hes highly skilled in reading people, so falling into a trap is unlikely for him. Plus, hes an experienced information broker. His tracking abilities are on par with mine or Ciels, Franca explained with a smile. Most importantly, while waiting for you two, I used Magic Mirror Divination to ensure his safety. Heh, it might actually be a good sign that hes taking so long. It suggests he hasnt lost his target and might have gained something.

Why do you have to explain so much instead of just saying you checked through divination? Lumian quipped, finding amusement in the situation.

Franca made a tongue-clicking sound and chuckled.

You dont get it. This is about not solely relying on divination.

She gestured toward the five ritualistic hides.

Are those the components for the Animal Creation Spell? Can we use them?

At the moment, only I can utilize them, Lumian replied, shaking his head. And I havent obtained Guillaume Benets preset incantation yet.

Francas expression showed a tinge of disappointment as she settled into her recliner.

After a few seconds, her smile returned.

By the way, Ive discreetly informed the authorities using my contacts that a wanted criminal is hiding at 50 Rue Vincent. Once Guillaume Benets death is confirmed, we should be eligible for a bounty of around 20,000. Should we stick to our initial plan for distributing that?

Entrusting this task to Jenna wasnt feasible. It could raise suspicions that Lumian Lee was among the people she associated with.

Anthony Reid, the information broker, was the most suitable choice, but his absence raised concerns. Franca worried that further delays might lead the police to uncover the situation at 50 Rue Vincent before they could claim the bounty.

Once Lumian and Jenna acknowledged the plan without objections, the trio settled in to await Anthony Reids return.

After a few minutes, the seated Lumian leaned forward, fixing his gaze on Franca and Jenna. In a measured tone, he said, Theres a matter I need your analysis on.

With Aurores affairs, he often found himself grappling with his emotions and straying from rationality. This was why he wanted to hear perspectives from Franca and Jenna.

One of them shared a connection with Aurore, yet their bond was markedly different from Lumians deep tie with Aurore. The other had no direct involvement, making their viewpoints invaluable in approaching the situation from diverse angles.

Sure, both Franca and Jenna responded in unison, adopting a professional demeanor by shifting their postures.

For the first time, Lumian recounted the events in Cordu. While he omitted certain details such as the Inevitability angel and anything related to the dreamscape, he provided an overview of the catastrophe. This encompassed Aurores unusual behavior, Louis Lund, Madame Pualis, Guillaume Benet, and the rest.

Franca had some prior knowledge, but Jenna was largely unfamiliar with this narrative. As Lumian spoke, the underground singer of Salle de Bal Brise and apprentice actress at Theatre de lAncienne Cage a Pigeons found herself transported into a world that seemed both distant and strangely familiar.

While the notion of the Animal Creation Spell was already unnerving, they werent prepared for concepts like men giving birth and babies scaling walls like birds.

It was madness, utter madness!

Francas primary concern, however, revolved around Aurores transformation. She had harbored curiosity about Muggles death in Cordu but hadnt dared to probe too deeply, fearing it might agitate Lumian.

Franca couldnt believe it when she realized the source of the problem was Aurore. This didnt match her impression of Muggle at all.

Aurores revelation that she wasnt Aurore Lee in the presence of Guillaume Benet caught Franca off guard. Her initial surprise morphed into a grave expression.

Soon, Lumian narrated the concluding sacrificial ritual. Aurores sudden awakening within the altar and her act of shoving him to safety allowed him to survive.

In response to this account, Franca abruptly rose from her seat.

Baffling Lumian and Jenna with her actions, she hurried to her bedroom, returning with a stack of papers in hand.

These were Aurores grimoires, transcribed by Lumian who harbored a suspicion that something might be awry. He had hoped Franca could offer insights.

The papers were spread across the coffee table, and Franca extracted one sheet, her expression morphing into a blend of trepidation and seriousness. She began, I think I know whats wrong.

Lumian looked over in surprise and saw that the notebook had a copy of the Warlock spell known as Soul Summoning.

A supplementary spell designed to aid spirits in separating from the flesh or to help Astral Projections find their spirits when adrift in the spirit realm.

Having previously studied the spell structure, Lumian had discerned no problematic elements. It wasnt associated with any evil god.

However, Francas words carried a weight that demanded attention. Lumian directed his gaze to the spell once more, focusing on the date and its origin.

April 1, 1357, purchased from the April Fools Gathering.