Though it called itself a city, Moon City's overall structure and lifestyle were more tribal than urban.
There were hardly any formal trades taking place, which meant there was no such thing as commerce, no shops or businesses. Occasionally, people would barter goods, but most of the time, all essential resources were distributed and managed uniformly by the city's priesthood.
It was very different from the City of Silver, where even a "black market" still existed.
Before long, Bernadette and Lilith had circled the entire city, eventually stopping in front of a towering statue. It was a depiction of a woman, and from the bat-like wings extending from her back, it was clear she represented a member of the Vampire race.
"This is a statue of the Sanguine Ancestor, Lilith," their escort explained. "It was erected by the Sanguines who first built Moon City."
Due to the influence of Anchor-style belief systems—where the image and perception of a god directly shaped their power—the seven orthodox gods had long since done away with specific, concrete depictions of themselves.
Instead, they presented themselves as radiant divine light.
But such awareness did not exist during the First Epoch, thousands of years ago.
At that time, vampires worshipped directly through the image of their progenitor, and had built this statue as a focal point of prayer and faith.
Buzz—
At that moment, the anklet on Lilith's leg began to glow softly once again.
She looked up at the immense statue with curiosity.
"My anklet's reacting even more now."
Bernadette furrowed her brows.
With her extensive experience in the supernatural world, she knew that this sort of reaction was rarely a good sign.
"Let's stay away from here," she said at once.
"Why?" Lilith asked.
Bernadette rapped her lightly on the head.
"If you don't want to cause trouble for Edward, just listen to me."
"Oh…okay!"
Lilith obediently stopped asking questions and followed Bernadette away.
Still, halfway there, she couldn't help turning around a few more times to glance at the statue.
Sure enough, once the statue was out of sight, the anklet's glow faded and it became inert again.
"…That thing on your leg—did a normal vampire really give it to you?" Bernadette asked casually.
Lilith thought for a second. "I don't really know."
"Then why did the vampire give it to you?"
"Edward said…it was to make amends."
"Make amends?" Bernadette was genuinely surprised.
Sanguines were notoriously proud and aloof. For one of them to apologise was exceedingly rare.
Let alone to a cat.
And not just any cat—one with the same name as their own progenitor?
Wait…
Could that be the reason for the apology?
Bernadette knew very well that if a person's name coincidentally matched that of a god—or even certain angels—then that person might be chosen as a vessel for descent.
But…according to what High Priest Nim had said, the Sanguine Ancestor Lilith had already perished long ago.
"Can you tell me exactly what happened?" Bernadette asked.
Lilith instantly grew wary, her eyes narrowing. "Are you trying to trick me into talking again?"
"…"
Bernadette sighed. "This isn't a trick. If Edward weren't busy, I'd have asked him directly. This concerns both your safety and his."
Lilith blinked, hesitated for about ten seconds, and finally said, "Okay then, it happened like this—…"
———
[Moon City, Central Plaza]
Edward was still delivering his lesson about the world beyond.
"Beyond this land, there are vast oceans, continents, and islands. All across those lands exist countless different countries…These nations are made up of cities—some large, some small—just like Moon City…They each have their own cultures…histories…beliefs…"
This time, Edward went a step further: he used Transfiguration to conjure visual illustrations for his lecture—images that accompanied and brought life to his explanations.
This made the people of Moon City even more fascinated with the tranquil, orderly outside world—and increased their trust in Edward.
After finishing the lesson, he even recited a few stirring poems to uplift their spirits, temporarily taking on the role of a bard.
When the "class" came to an end, High Priest Nim approached him again with the same question from the day before:
"Lord Edward, may I ask—have you inquired with your deity about the matter of the Sun God?"
Edward looked at him deeply.
"You truly wish to know?"
Nim's pale grey pupils quivered slightly, as if something within him had already guessed the answer. But still, he gave a firm nod.
"I want to know."
"My Lord told me…that the Ancient Sun God—your deity—was betrayed by the King of Angels who once served Him."
Nim's face turned ashen. He trembled slightly, barely managing to choke out his next words, "You mean…"He" fell…because of that?"
Edward shook his head.
"Not just fell. His flesh and blood were devoured by those traitors. This land became cursed because of it."
"…So that's what it was. That's what happened."
In that moment, the High Priest seemed to age ten—maybe twenty—years.
His entire body radiated weariness and decay, the weight of sorrow settling deep in his bones.
"So it wasn't that "He" abandoned us…It was that "He"…"
Edward hesitated a moment, then added, "However…"
Nim's head snapped up. His eyes were fixed intently on Edward.
"My Lord implied that the Ancient Sun God is not truly dead. "He"…may be working together with my Lord. And with my Lord's help…"He" may one day be revived."
Edward's words were half-truth, half-fabrication.
"Is that true?" Nim asked, voice trembling.
Edward didn't answer directly.
Instead, he said, "Don't worry, High Priest. It won't be long before my Lord's envoy descends once more upon this land. When that time comes, he will lead you out of here…to the outside world, where you will begin a new life."
Nim was silent for a while, then gave a solemn nod.
"Thank you."
"Lord Edward, may I trouble you to accompany us to a place?"
"Where?"
Nim's expression was unusually serious.
"Three thousand seven hundred and twenty-one years ago, we obeyed the will of the Great Sun God—The Lord That Created Everything—and relocated here, tasked with watching over a field of grey-white mist."
"He told us: when that mist changes, it will be time for us to leave."
Edward was struck with realisation.
"So…you want me to go check whether that mist has changed?"
"Exactly."
"But I told you yesterday—I wasn't sent to lead you out of here. You'll need to wait for another envoy from my Lord. Which means—"
Nim pleaded, "I only ask that you go and see."
"…Fine."
He could only agree.
That vast expanse of greyish-white mist was the entrance to the Western Continent, a seal personally established by the previous Lord of the Mysteries. Even the Ancient Sun God had been unable to open it.
So the only one capable of eliciting any reaction from that mist was someone connected to the Lord of the Mysteries—someone like Klein.
Although Edward also carried a trace of the Sefirah Castle's mark, he figured it probably wasn't enough to trigger any real change.
"I'll go prepare. Let's set out as soon as possible."
Just then, Bernadette returned with Lilith. "Where are you going?"
Edward relayed what Nim had told him.
Bernadette gave a small nod, then explained what had happened at the statue earlier.
After hearing her account, Edward couldn't help but feel startled. He muttered inwardly, Did Lilith leave some kind of backdoor in that anklet?
Seeing his expression, Bernadette asked, "You seemed to already know that artifact wasn't simple?"
"…Something like that."
She suddenly asked, "The Progenitor of the Vampires…Lilith isn't dead, is she?"
Edward was caught off guard. "Why would you say that?"
"Just a guess," Bernadette said coolly.
"If some ordinary person gave their cat or dog the name Roselle Gustav, I'd probably chalk it up to coincidence. But if an Extraordinary did it, I'd assume it was a deliberate insult to my father."
"In that case, the only reason I wouldn't cause trouble for the pet's owner—in fact, might even become close to them—is if my father himself permitted it and asked me to act accordingly."
"If even I would think that way…how much more so for the proud Sanguines?"
Edward scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Uh…your logic does make sense."
Bernadette seemed to realize something. "No wonder the vampires were so proactive in the fog disaster. Was that your doing?"
"Huh? No, really. I had no time to intervene in the fog incident—I was snatched away by the Angel of Fate before I could even participate."
"But…" Edward recalled Akasha's reaction back then.
It seemed that Lilith had genuinely disapproved of George III becoming the Black Emperor.
But why?
Edward didn't believe it had anything to do with him. He had never once spoken to the Sanguines about anything related to that.
Just then, High Priest Nim approached with a few others. "We're ready to set out."
Nim and his companions led the way, holding torches, while Edward once again conjured over a dozen lanterns to float around them.
The group left Moon City and made their way toward a highland nearby.
——
Time passed in silence. No one spoke along the way.
Eventually, the group stopped.
By the flash of lightning streaking through the sky, Edward saw a patch of solidified grey-white mist a few hundred meters ahead.
The mist connected to the ground and extended upward, disappearing into the heavens, seemingly with no ceiling. It also spread outward on both sides, boundless and vast.
The people of Moon City turned back to Edward and said, "This is it."
Edward slowly approached and gently tossed a coin forward to test for danger. When nothing happened, he reached out and touched the mist.
At first, it felt like a layer of light moisture. But after pushing in a few more inches, his palm hit an invisible wall—completely impenetrable.
Bernadette stepped closer too. Her blue eyes grew deep and unfathomable in an instant. After only a few seconds, she staggered backwards, eyes bleeding from the corners.
Lilith, who had also been curiously reaching toward the mist, was startled and backflipped on the spot, fur puffed out in alarm.
Edward hurried to steady her and whispered, "This mist's level is extremely high…dangerously high. Don't try to analyse or comprehend it."
Bernadette wiped her eye calmly, clearly wanting to say something, but when she noticed the Moon City residents nearby, she held her tongue.
Edward then ran his fingers along the surface of the mist and shrugged toward Nim.
"See? Just as I said, no reaction. My Lord told me—it's not time yet."
Nim said nothing.
Instead, he motioned to his followers, who lit candles and began arranging spiritual materials into the structure of a ritual altar.
Then, with practised ease—as if he had done this countless times—he began the ceremony.
At the final moment, Nim bowed his head and intoned solemnly:
"Unchanging mist eternal…
Barrier that freezes time and space…
Existence that embraces all…"
Minutes passed.
The ritual concluded.
But the grey-white mist remained completely unchanged.
Still unwilling to give up, Nim restarted the entire ceremony from the beginning.
Edward knew full well: the only possible outcome of this kind of ritual was for Klein to hear the invocation of the name "The Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings" from within the mist.
And for Klein to hear that…he would likely have to already be the master of the Sefirah Castle.
As for the mist reacting—well, that required the Sefirah Castle's power too.
And Edward didn't have any of that.
It was clear now: all of this had been arranged from the start for Klein alone.
After the fifth or sixth repetition of the ceremony, Nim—the powerful demigod—was drenched in sweat, breath ragged, and clutching his throbbing head.
Seeing that Nim still wanted to try once more, Edward quickly interjected, "Wait…High Priest, I…I think I heard something. It came from within the mist."
Nim's grey eyes lit up instantly. "What did you hear?"
"Give me a moment."
Edward put on an expression of deep concentration.
—In reality, he hadn't heard squat.
Maybe I should just do what Klein used to do…tell him I heard someone praying to my Lord.
Or better yet…put on the whole performance.
With that thought, he pressed his palm against the misty wall and whispered softly:
"The Immortal Lord of Heaven and Earth for Blessings;
The Sky Lord of Heaven and Earth for Blessings;
The Exalted Thearch of Heaven and Earth for Blessings;
The Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings.…"
This was the full incantation of the Luck Enhancement ritual Klein had recited before transmigrating, the same one that acted as the password for logging into the Sefirah Castle.
In the original story, he had used this very chant to stir a reaction from the eternal grey mist.
But back then…Klein had already become the master of the Sefirah Castle.
Unsurprisingly, when Edward finished reciting the chant…
Nothing happened.
Looks like—
Just as he was about to turn and speak—
Suddenly, an endless sea of grey fog surged before his eyes.
For a brief instant, his mind went blank.
When he came to, he realised—
He was inside the grey fog.
In front of him stood a massive palace.
Within the palace sat the long table and chairs of the Tarot Club.
Only…
The bronze chair that symbolised The Fool was now completely empty.
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.