A god...?
Wanora's voice cracked through the silence like an accusation.
"Heide, that's ridiculous in a lot of ways," she said, disbelief dripping off every syllable.
I sat there, not really knowing how to respond. I mean, it was ridiculous. A god? Dressed like a priest? Trapping me in a massive underground labyrinth? And me walking out of there alive?
"You're telling me that you met a god dressed as some sort of priest there," Wanora continued, "and he trapped you in a really large basement, and you didn't die on impact?"
"Uh, I guess?"
Her eyes widened, nostrils flaring. "Not only that, you fought the god? And won?"
"Well, if you say it like that, it gets a bit more compl—"
"THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT, HEIDE."
"I know, I know," I said quickly, hands raised in peace. "But the guy was some real piece of work. He wanted to make humanity immortal… despite seeing how bad it gets."
Wanora's lips pressed into a thin line. "Well then," she said, voice low. "What about all those so-called immortal flesh? The humans who were in that basement?"
"Yeah... I think the higher-ups who follow him are covering it up, just in case. But they are showing off the giant tree since it's gotten quite popular. The believers are saying their god is back with them, considering the tree a sign."
"I see…" Wanora nodded slowly. Then, tone shifting like a knife sliding back into its sheath, she added, "Well, you don't need to tell it to the others. We can just say that as you went there, some things happened, but the contract is void." She looked at me directly. "We are not making a contract with them from our side—but you will say to the others they refused. Alright?"
"I understand," I said. "How long till they come back in, anyways?"
"In a day or two," she replied curtly.
I hesitated. "And Wanora... about my eye?"
She scanned me, eyes narrowing a bit. I told her about the Clarion of Vision I'd recently gained.
"Yeah, still—your eye becoming pink is something. Does the Clarion only work in that eye or something?" Wanora asked.
"In a sort, I guess? But I can see the whole thing."
"So that does help you construct objects out of thin air?"
"Yeah. It pairs a lot better than I expected."
My left eye—ever since that fight—had turned pink. What surprised me more than the color was how casually Wanora treated it. She'd simply said it was rare, but a decent number of people had two Clarions.
"And how is that?" I asked.
"It's not clear how people can have two Clarions," she replied, tapping her chin. "Various studies have been done. None conclusive. Historians think—of course—that you have the blood of Adam."
"Adam? Who?"
"The first human. You don't know?"
"Huh? Wait… why do I have the blood of Adam? I'm like his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson or something?"
"Not really," she said. "It's just that Adam was the only human with all five Clarions."
"All five?"
"Yes. That's how we humans got his Clarions—being descendants."
"Ouh… wait, how did he have the Clari—"
Shalap burst into the room like an alarm bell. "How long will the two of you even take?!"
"Ah, yes, sorry," Wanora smiled, patting his head gently. "You did well for the day. I'll help you." The two walked to the reception desk together, leaving me in the quiet.
Double Clarion user, huh? There were a couple of characters mentioned to have them, but still… that didn't explain anything about being descendants of Adam.
And that's something—the fact that I got Heide's Clarion.
I sighed.
Heide Atrel's… Clarion.
And since I am Heide Decimus, I had the Clarion of Touch. Heide Atrel had the Clarion of Vision. He activated it through studying daily. I activated it at nearly the same time… just by fighting. Was it some kind of body reflex? Like how muscle memory works if you practice something long enough?
…No. That still wouldn't make sense.
If I'm in the visual novel, then this is the first time I'm here. Heide Atrel is me. He couldn't have gotten the Clarion before me unless… this entire world has been repeated?
Like someone regressed? Or turned back time?
No… it does make sense. If that did happen, then some things from the other timeline could have merged into this one.
But was there really a regressor in the novel?
I scratched my head.
Thalos popped up in my mind.
Well… not like anyone can answer this. It would be weird telling someone that they're a character in a visual novel. Still, I needed to get something.
I stepped outside.
The street air felt warm, thick with evening dust. I walked until I reached Rhine Books—a bookstore, yes, but also a front for trading secrets. Information and forbidden knowledge. I'd been here a couple times.
The soft chime above the door rang as I stepped inside. A signal. I was here.
The staff member behind the counter glanced up and smiled. "Welcome back."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Ah… you remembered me?"
"It's a job," she smiled softly. "So what brings you here today? Information or some books?"
"Infor—"
She gently placed a finger to my lips.
"Then go get your books, will you?"
I stuttered. "Ah… yes," slightly embarrassed.
I wandered the aisles. Picked out three books: two black, one red. It didn't matter what was inside. In this place, books weren't for reading—they were for speaking.
I placed them on the counter. She scanned them, Then she pointed.
To the staircase at the back.
I nodded and walked up.
I entered the upper room and handed the silver book given to me by the staff member.
There, in the center of the room, amongst quiet tables and low whispers, I saw a silver sign on one of them.
I sat.
"A god was spotted recently. What's the deal with that?"
No answer at first. Then a snap. A man beside her raised both hands, and a pulse hummed around us—Clarion of Hearing. A soundproof bubble.
"Oh?" she smiled. "Well, look who is here. A pale face with beautiful black hair. One that could be recognized anywhere."
"Katherine," I muttered, surprised.
She smiled. "Little boys like you shouldn't be here, you know." She pinched my nose, still smiling.
"Well, how come you're here?"
"Part-time gig," she replied. "All I know is Joy wouldn't be happy. So I've kept it a secret. Even you will, right?" Her gaze sharpened, her eyes like knives.
I remembered. She'd once actually threatened to cut me up back at the Tower.
She smiled again. "Don't worry. I know what you're thinking. No, I'm not mad."
I wasn't thinking that. I was wondering…
"Why did you ask another man to create a sound barrier if you could just do it with your own Clarion?"
Her expression flickered. "Ah... Are you—never mind."
She leaned back. "Protocols, kid."
Then, changing the subject, "Besides, your question. I'm sure you know the answer better than anyone."
"Whatever do you mean?" I asked nervously. "Just answer what I asked."
"Listen up, kid. I already saw you. No use pretending. That's the reason I came here—expecting you to show up."
"You did?"
"No, I stalked you."
"What—"
I stared at her. Nonchalant as always.
I got up to leave.
"WAIT I WAS KIDDING." Then she sighed. "A lot of people want to know about the tree that's appeared. So I came here, learned a little, and earned a quick buck. And surprisingly—you showed up."
I sat back down. "Yeah?"
She nodded. "Yup. But of course, I know you have to hide your reasons. Not like I actually know what happened, since I wasn't there."
I hesitated, then changed the question.
"Wait, wait," she interrupted. "Boy, this is the Silver Seat," she said, pointing at the table. "I can only give information for divinities."
"Yeah, that's... my question still."
She looked at me. "Go ahead."
"Well… what's the difference between an Outer God and a normal god?"
She stared.
"Huh?" she said.
"Oh… well. It's complicated," she said. "But sure, I can tell you. It'll cost a pretty penny though." She smirked.
I sighed. "Just put it in the tabs under Taskhand."
She smiled. "Of course. Thank you for the money."
Then, finally, she explained.
"Well, it's kind of like… Outer Gods are uninvited gods."
"Hm?"
"Take it like this: you're at a party with your friends and family. Your friends and family are gods. You're the place. So they're all living there, enjoying themselves."
"Now what if some people you didn't invite showed up anyway? Strangers. Suspicious. You'd see them as weird, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, that's it. When gods from different places try to interfere with your world, they become distorted—dangerous. But the normal divinities of this world are familiar."
"Why are you calling them divinities? Why not gods?"
"Ah, yeah, about that—no. They aren't gods."
"What?" Her words were getting more confusing.
"They're considered divinities due to their immense power. But think of them as the peak of something. Because they're the peak, some can do wonders. Get it?"
"So basically, they're self-proclaimed gods?" I asked.
"Not really." She leaned back. "People called them gods on their own. And since everyone called them that, they accepted it. Soon, people respected them. And yeah—they're all dead. Except that one who's alive."
"So… is this all just rumors?" I asked.
She looked at me. "You understand it, huh? Well, yes. This is what we think of it. Since a lot of us deny gods. Outer Gods still don't have a proper explanation. Neither do the normal ones. We're just working with what we know. Don't take this as concrete knowledge."
I left not long after.
It was a lot to take in. If even a fraction of what Katherine said was true… this was going to be a problem.
But not right now.
Back home, I saw Shalap in the kitchen. I changed in my room and decided to go down for dinner.
That's when I saw it.
The key.
The key on the table that's been there for years. My grandfather's final gift. I never figured out what it opened.
But something was different now.
I could see it.
Was it my Clarion?
It was always active, in a sense.
The key—yes—it had something.
I activated the Clarion of Touch.
Tiny carvings. Minuscule inscriptions etched into its metal frame. Trying to say something.
No... this key...