Chapter Text
Klein followed Old Neil into the armoury for his first 'official' mysticism lesson.
I can finally get my topaz pendulum and claim reinbursement! I won't have to use Leonard's necklace anymore. Klein thought happily as they descended the stairs
The elderly mystery pryer seemed to be in a rather joyful mood as he explained to Klein their lesson plan. "Today I'll be teaching you the complicated and basic knowledge. But before that, let me teach you an interesting trick.”
He pointed at the silver chain on his wrist. There was a pure moonstone hanging from the chain.
Only if you knew how well loved pendulum dowsing was for me. Klein thought with a slight melancholy sigh before catching himself. Goddess, I sound like an old man.
"Interesting trick?" Klein echoed as per his memories.
Old Neil chuckled and said, “I’ll complete my patrol of the armory, storeroom, and archives. Use the two cups on the table to make two cups of coffee. In one of the cups, put something unpleasant. As for what it is, you can decide for yourself. Use your imagination. The only request from me is to not waste too much coffee powder. Those are coffee beans grown on the Feynapotter plateau and hand ground by me!”
"Alright," Klein nodded and happily agreed as Old Neil pulled out a copper key and unlocked the armoury door.
Klein waited for Old Neil to disappear from his sight before setting down two cups. He poured hot water from a kettle into both before adding a spoonful of the coffee powder.
"If I remember correctly I used mud from my shoes and mixed it into one of them." Klein said to no one in particular before a devious thought crossed his mind. "What if I add it to both cups?"
Sigh, my humanity seems fully intact. But I admire Old Neil too much to waste his coffee powder. His frugality really rubbed off me. Klein lampooned inwardly as he crossed his right leg and took some of the mud which had stained the bottom of his leather boots and placed it in the left cup without much thought.
Suddenly, Klein froze.
Did I originally put it in the left or the righr cup? I think it was the left one. Is this a manifestation of fate? Some small things Will inevitably stay the same even without a conscious effort? Klein frowned as he pindered over his conversation with the Snake of Mercury he had in the early hours of the day.
What's classified as the 'final outcome'? Will those who died still die? Including me?
Klein was hit with a sudden deja vu. A line he hadn't thought about in years.
"Everyone will die, including me."
Klein shook his head and forcibly cleared his thoughts with Cogitation.
Regardless, I will do my best to try and prevent their deaths and my own. Even if I have to find a way to still go to Backlund in time for Sherlock Moriarty to take the stage. Besides, things are already different. I'm already a Sequence 8 Clown. I'll find a way to trade for the ingredients for Sequence 7 Magician soon.
Klein stirred the coffee with the mud until the colour was uniform before adding a spoonful of sugar into the other one.
A few minutes later, Old Neil walked out of the armory while swinging his keys. He then closed the iron gates with a clang.
“Are you done?” He turned his slightly turbid dark red eyes over and looked at Klein across the table.
“Yes,” replied Klein with a nod.
Old Neil chuckled and removed the silver chain around his wrist and sat down.
His expression quickly turned serene. He held out his chain-holding left hand and allowed it to hang over the coffee cup to his right. The moonstone nearly touched the liquid.
Amid the relaxing calmness, the moonstone trembled suddenly. It began spinning the chain in a counterclockwise manner.
“This cup is the one with the unpleasant thing,” said Old Neil surely.
Without waiting for Klein to confirm, he put away the silver chain and picked up the other cup of coffee and took a sip.
“How'd you know I prefer sweet coffee?” Old Neil mused as he looked at the coffee in pleasant surprise.
I remember you telling me that you prefer your coffee with a tablespoon of sugar and milk. Klein thought but replied with, "You didn't seem like the type to prefer bitter coffee, Mr Neil. I have a sweet tooth too."
"Oh? Do share. What's your preferred drink, Klein?" Old Neil asked with interest.
"Sweet Iced Tea!"
Old Neil was silent for a moment before bursting out in hearty laughter. "Oh Klein, you have the tastebuds of a child! I was expecting something like a latte?"
"I knew you would say that," Klein mused as if he was speaking from experience. And he was.
Old Neil dramatically wiped his non-existant tears before motioning at the other cup of coffee. "What was the unpleasant thing you put in that one?"
"A bit of mud off the bottom of my shoes," Klein smiled innocently.
Old Neil was taken aback as he suddenly clasped his mouth and roared, “Goddess, why aren’t you pouring it away yet!?”
"It's not like you'll accidentally drink it, right?" Klein said in amusement but nevertheless he took the cup and pour out its contents into the small sink the armoury had. "Mr Neil, the thing you did with the moonstone is called pendulum dowsing, correct?"
Old Neil raised his eyebrows, impressed. "I thought you were a complete beginner, Klein?"
"I did a little research into divination after I became a Seer," Klein lied. With his Clown powers, he could put on a spectacularly convincing display of sheepishness.
Even then, it wasn't all false either. He did do quite a lot of learning since he first became a Seer.
"Good, good. You are much more enthusiastic and proactive than that boy, Leonard." Old Neil nodded approvingly.
Poor Leonard is catching strays even from Old Neil. Klein lampooned. I wonder what he's doing right now. Probably in the break room using Pallez to cheat at card games.
"When can I get my own pendulum?" Klein asked, eager to get a topaz pendant of his own.
"There's no rush, young man! After this lesson you can apply for one. It's standard issue for Beyonders like us who take on a support role." Old Neil said dismissively. "But you'll have to understand the mystical knowledge first. I don't want to see you swinging a pendant at your colleague's heads!"
Old Neil... I think my mysticism knowledge might be better than yours. Just slightly better. Klein lampooned but listened to Old Neil officially begin his lesson on mystical symbolism.
By noon, Klein had finished his mysticism lessons with Old Neil and had expertly written up his application for his topaz pendant. On his way to Dunn Smith's office, he glanced into the recreation room to see Leonard taking his daily 2 hour nap on the sofa while the ladies talked in hushed voices around a table with scattered cards.
Klein was slightly surprised to see Rozanne here and not at the front desk. Even the typically reserved Royale was eagerly participating in their conversation.
Although Klein wanted to know what was so interesting, he wanted his topaz pendant a little more.
His qualms were quickly settled when the Nighthawk's resident author, Seeka Tron, sensed a curious presence and looked up.
"Oh, Mr Moretti! Hello! We were just talking about you—"
The Midnight Poet was unceremoniously cut off my Rozanne slapping a hand over Seeka's mouth.
"Nothing! We weren't talking about anything!" Rozanne made a sad attempt at lying.
Amused, Klein glanced at Leonard who managed to sleep his way through the noise and walked over. "I heard you. Talking about me? What did I do to garner the interest of you ladies?"
"Nothing, Klein!" Rozanne searched Klein's self to see if she could use anything as an excuse. "Is that an application? Shouldn't you be handing that over to Captain?"
"I will. But you've got me curious, Miss Rozanne." Klein said wth a smile.
"How is she?"
Seeka, Rozanne, and Klein all looked over at the unexpected contribution by Royale.
Rozanne looked as if the life had been sucked out from her.
"Who?" Klein tilted his head, confused by the lack of context.
"Mr Moretti is a graduate of Khoy University. Whoever can get his attention must be pretty extraordinary." said Seeka as she nudged Royale.
Even without being explictly told what they were discussing, Klein had a pretty good guess.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a girlfriend. Where did you get that idea from?" Klein asked, completely puzzled as how he managed to become a topic of conversation with his non-existent significant other.
Both Royale and Seeka turned their attention to Rozanne, while Rozanne stared straight at Leonard.
At some point, Leonard's breaths had become too controlled, as if he was focused on appearing asleep.
"Leonard?" Klein raised any eyebrow at the 'sleeping' poet.
Hearing no response, Klein lifted his foot and gently shook his dear poet with enough force that Leonard couldn't fake being asleep anymore.
"Hey! Stop that!" Leonard cried as he quickly sat up and scrambled away from Klein. "Were you always this impulsive?!"
Hm, impulsive? Maybe I really did make some of Gehrman Sparrow's traits my own. Klein lampooned as he stared down his friend.
"Where did these ladies hear of me having a girlfriend?" Klein probed, curious to see where this rumour even started from.
"I didn't say anything! Rozanne's making assumptions on her own!" Leonard tried to defend himself without much fruition.
"What?! You clearly said that he had a very close female friend! You even said that you knew this 'Audrey' through Klein!" Rozanne fired back with the same determination.
When it came to gossip, the young lady always seemed to have endless energy. Unlike when she is on duty.
"That's not wrong but that's not what I meant!" Leonard exclaimed as he turned to Klein with what was reminiscent of puppy eyes. "Klein, you know I know that you guys are just friends. We're all friends...I think. Mr...Doll-Lover and I are well acquainted at least."
"Didn't they know each other for like three days? Why are they talking like they've known each other for years?" Rozanne leaned over and whispered to Seeka and Royale who both nodded in agreement.
"I didn't know Mr Mitchell had other friends." Royale said with a blank face.
"What?! I heard that!" Leonard whipped his head back and glared at Royale who was suddenly preoccupied with the make of the window curtains.
Seeing Leonard's lost expression, Klein decided to take pity and end this misunderstanding.
Habitually, he leaned down and rapped the table scattered with playing cards with his knuckles, gaining the attention of everyone in the room.
Leonard fell exceptionally quiet seeing the small gesture.
The voice in his head couldn't be more silent either.
"Apologies for this misunderstanding, but no matter how Miss Audrey was brought up, I can assure you that we are simply good friends. Leonard was right for once in that." Klein said with an apologetic smile.
He was apologetic for prematurely ending Rozanne's gossip session, for accidentally disclosing Audrey's name, and for his own single life.
It's fine. A partner results in an even higher expenditure. I can buy more Sweet Iced Tea with all that money. Klein reassured himself.
Leonard nodded along with a smug smile before fully processing what Klein had said.
"Wait, what'd you mean by 'for once'?!"
Unfortunately for The Star of the Tarot Club, Mr Fool had already fled the scene and was heading to the office of Captain Dunn Smith of the Tingen Nighthawks to apply for a free topaz pendant.
Klein's raised fist hovered before the door to Dunn Smith's office.
It was an action he had repeated many times. But it was also an action that he couldn't help but miss.
I'm rather looking forward to hearing 'one more thing', once more. Klein balled his fist tighter as he knocked twice on the wooden door. I shouldn't be the Lord of the Mysteries if I can't even defy fate. I will make sure Captain and Madam Daly get married!
"Come in," Dunn's voice sounded from inside.
Upon invitation, Klein opened the door. "Hello, Captain."
Dunn, who was waiting for his lunch, saw the document in Klein's hands and curled his lips in amusement.
"Did Old Neil teach you this?"
"Yes." Like the first time, Klein didn't hesitate to betray Old Neil.
“I happen to be applying for funding for the months of July, August, and September from the Church and the police department. I’ll add yours in. When it’s approved, get the money from Mrs. Orianna. You can draw the spirit pendulum in the afternoon.”
“Alright,” Klein answered simply and vigorously. To him, the topaz pendant had become as much of a staple in his life as his phone once was.
Phone... What are the chances I can get into contact with the God of Steam and Machinery and request for him to make a phone? Is that considered too blasphemous? I might be able to trade another potion with Amanises with a phone...
As Klein was preoccupied with his thoughts while habitually waiting for Dunn to potentially remember another point, Dunn stayed silent in confusion.
"Is there something else?" Dunn finally broke the awkward silence.
"Are you not going to ask about my progress on the Antigonus Notebook?" Klein made up an excuse to save face.
"Oh. I suppose. How is your progress on finding the Antigonus Family Notebook, Klein? Did you find anything when scouting the area around Welch and Naya's place?" Dunn nodded, satisfied with Klein's line of thinking.
If he hadn't forgotten, Dunn would have liked to make a habit of checking in on new Nighthawks. Especially one involved in such a mysterious and horrifying case.
I should find a time to say that I found it. I'll discuss that with Leonard. But for now,
"No. I didn't manage to find it. However, I feel like there have been a lot of coincidences lately." Klein said and decided to use this chance to warn the Nighthawks of 0-08 and Ince Zangwill.
Dunn raised his brows. "Coincidences? How so?"
"For exmaple, I did some research on the Antigonus Family and it says that they are an angel family of the Seer pathway? Isn't it too coincidental that the Antigonus Notebook was supposed to kill me but I ended up as a Seer instead?" Klein lied as easily as he breathed.
Dunn nodded as he listened. He motioned for Klein to continue.
Captain, you're really making this hard for me. I can't mention any of the original coincidences since people like Lanevus and Sirius Arapis haven't been brought up to the Nighthawks yet.
And no matter what coincidences have been spun this time round, they are not at a level which I can freely disclose to you.
Thus Klein settled with something else.
"Old Neil mentioned that I would hear things sometimes. I didn't tell him but when I listened to the sounds they were such sad and intense whispers that I could almost feel my blood boiling! It was the same as when I drank the Seer potion." Klein said as he used his newly regained Clown abilities to put on a spectacular display of fright. "But I could make out these mad ravings mentioning something about The Fool."
"The Fool?" Dunn blinked. "Like the tarot card?"
"I suppose so."
Dunn nodded slowly and gently touched his receeding hairline. "I'm not qualified to know what causes such ravings but the deacons of the Church may. But it's best not to disclose this to anyone else."
"To late, I already heard what our dearest Seer said~"
Both Klein and Dunn turned in horror to the door where Madam Daly Simone was leaning languidly against the doorframe, letting her dark dress frame her curved.
Klein held a blank expression and sneaked a glance at Dunn. As an experienced Faceless, he could see the slightest hint of red on the Captain's cheeks.
"Daly, when did you get here?" Dunn asked politely.
"Oh, there was quite a commotion in the break room earlier so I thought I'd swing by to take a look. A pity it seems that I missed whatever fun they were having." Daly sighed with remorse.
However with the look she was giving Klein, it was obvious that she knew about Rozanne's gossip session.
"Anyway, I believe I can answer your question on those ravings you hear." Daly said as she walked in and closed the door behind her. "Though it's just my own opinion since I don't have enough clearance to access this sort of information either."
Klein nodded, displaying his enthusiasm to hear Daly's thoughts.
"I believe this Fool you speak of is a hidden entity. Many a time the ravings one hears is tied to a powerful entity of the pathway." Daly said.
"What makes you think that?" Dunn tilted his head slightly out of curiosity.
"Well, I don't know about the Sleepless but the Corpse Collector Pathway originates from Death. But Death has long disappeared and in many places is thought to be a mad god. That's why when ascending, I'd often also hear such mad ravings. However, it doesn't seem to be the same case for you Sleepless." Daly said.
She then turned to Klein and pursed her lips. "You shouldn't listen too hard to those ravings, Little Seer. That Fool is probably a mad hidden god of the Seer pathway."
Klein was speechless.
Is she calling me mad? If I'm mad then what about that guy hanging upside down on a cross? Klein lamented inwardly as he nodded in response to Spirit Medium. I was hoping to introduce The Fool as a new and emerging non-evil god. But it seems that Madam Daly has her own plans.
"I appreciate the warning," Klein thanked her.
"Any time, dear," Daly nodded as she glanced down at the page in Klein's hands. "An application already? You better get going then."
Seeing that he clearly wasn't wanted in the room, Klein happily left and closed the door behind him to give Dunn and Daly some privacy. Though knowing the two of them, the most progress that might happen is Dunn offering some of his lunch to her.
Nevertheless, Klein was confident that he would be attending their wedding one day.