In 20 Sailor Street, Haldein Province. North-West Coast of Star Highlands. Southern Continent.
Isabelle Laetitia, with her brown, smooth curled hair, was holding stacks of paper documents, books, articles and records, all wrapped tightly in her arms.
She stood in front of a wide, three-story building, adorned with cobblestone wall that took inspiration to an empire era. With a multifaceted roof, chimney that stood erect and windows in a gothic design.
A signage was posted over its entrance, etched in the vernacular of the Balam Empire, the Southernian Highlander.
It reads: "Establishment of the White Rose Corp."
Isabelle took a deep breath and entered.
Inside, she saw a rather normal lounge, furnished with flower ornaments, piano, sofas, and occasional pictures on the walls.
It had one corridor from the left of the entrance and a stairway leading to the second floor.
"You must be Isabelle Laetitia, right?" A woman not far from her age walked down the upper floor of the stairway.
She wore a plain magenta, corset dress, with a black hair styled in a cascading braid.
"Madam Plaire notified me of you... Oh! Is that?" Her eyes glint upon seeing the stacks of records being cradled by Isabelle.
"Those are historical records that can be dated back from early Fifth Epoch right!?"
The lady hastened her pace, descending the stairs. When she arrived below, she immediately walked toward Isabelle.
Upon seeing Isabelle up close, her eyes glistens as she asked. "Are you also a historian?"
This startled Isabelle, tightening both her arms in holding her documents that she had diligently amassed amidst being a member of a cult.
With a frail voice, she nodded and said. "Y-Yes... I wanted to learn the true history of the world."
The lady held her breath in high spirit, then released it before revealing a smile and greeted. "My name is Camille. Camille Drunce, a fellow historian under Madam Plaire.
"Let me introduce you into the club!"
Camille was about to grab Isabelle's arm with hers when she suddenly realized that the lady has her hands full.
With a sheepish smile she said. "Let me help you with that."
Isabelle tightened her cradle of her documents, this action subconsciously implies she doesn't want to.
"Oh." Camille was slightly taken aback. "Then follow me instead, oh and watch your steps."
Her voice still carried a polite smile, hoping for this lady to get well acquainted.
Camille gestured for the left hall and said. "This way Ms. Laetitia."
Isabelle nodded and followed the enthusiastic girl.
As they walk, Camille slowed her pace to match Isabelle, arrived parallel to her and asked. "Did you know that Emperor Roselle actually had an additional twenty-two tarot cards?"
This startled the very wary Isabelle, but nodded nonetheless, saying. "I-I know."
Camille's eyes lit up. "Wait, really? Most of the incoming members don't know this!
"Oh, and you know why it separates them from an original deck of divining cards?" Her accumulated knowledge stroked a desire to inquire, hoping the lady would know the answer.
"Is it because they hold mysterious secrets?" Isabelle restrained herself as telling more could potentially incite suspicions.
"Yes!" Camille exclaimed in excitement. "Madam Praile and I are researching about them. Did you know? Those cards actually have mysterious powers that prevents anyone from finding them, even the seven orthodox churches!"
How mystical... Isabelle murmured to herself inwardly.
Without a thought, she blurted. "How far have you guys gone?"
"Hmm?" Camille was caught unexpectedly from the lady's sudden inquiry.
She replied in a way that seems identical to a fellow groupmate discussion. "Well, so far, Madam Praile had disclosed only those common descriptions."
"However, when referring to their whereabouts..." Camille's face began to cast down. "We haven't actually gone anywhere."
The two ladies turned through the corridor, walked a few more before arriving at an area adorned with a large black board, common in university classes.
There were people scattered across the wide room. Three of which were browsing the bookshelves, five were discussing on the sofas, farther left from the entrance and two more working on documents over the desk area.
Multiple shelves were arranged across the room that house books ranging from geography, archeology, historical and more.
On the center was a wide table dressed with a designed rug atop with a fruit bowl for aesthetic.
Across the table, beside a rather large fireplace was two display case, featuring a compass and a note-bound, thin book inside another.
Camille led Isabelle to one of the cases atop of a carved placeholder, displaying a bounded thin book.
She then turned her head and said. "This is our accumulated notes of Emperor Roselle Gustav's notebook."
There are... quite many... Isabelle commended inwardly.
"This actually came from a certain sub-group of our fellow historians who came from Intis." Camille added with a hint of confidence.
"These notes sribbles gibberish words, but in actuality, presents a language. This is because of the way certain characters were reused, forming a valid system such as sentences!"
Isabelle knew this beforehand. Her grandfather have already disclosed this knowledge in a scatter, rendering her from truly comprehending the background of the notes.
Moving on to the next glass case. It displays a rather normal compass. Having a caridinal system with a pointer that directs using the electromagnetic force of nature. A prototype of this were introduced by Roselle Gustav, the emperor who pioneered the industrial steam revolution.
The compass had an iron casing as base and inside was an additional, miniature pointer that overlaps with the cardinal pointer, directing independently.
Camille gestured and said. "This is called the Last Compass.
"We don't know why it was referred that way by the seller. But our members suspect that it came from an island far inside Fog Sea."
Isabelle strained to get a closer look, her eyes glistens as she inspects the seemingly ancient object.
Camille sighed wearily and added. "But it's only just an unsupported claim.
"The only reason we brought it here for display is because of its ancient air that sparks historian vibe to the visitors." She emphasized the word 'historian' with sarcasm.
Last Compass... Isabelle couldn't help but echo the word in her mind. "D-Do you think it actually connects to something?"
Camille turned to Isabelle with a look of intrigued and said. "Hmm... Perhaps..."
She gave a sly smile and added. "Considering its antiquity, it might belong to an ancient sailor or someone clearly makes distant voyages across the seas. Do you want to conduct study about it?"
With her interest piqued, Isabelle, the very curious lady of old antiques, gave a subconscious hasty nod at Camille.
"Haha, well, that would require us clearance from Madam Plaire. Speaking of, I'm also very interest in how strange it was designed, especially that unnecessary miniature pointer by its upper left."
Camille turned to around from Isabelle and continued. "Let's go and get you a membership, Madam Praile should be expecting you at the supervisor's office."
Isabelle adjusted the cradle of her documents and nodded before following Camille.
...
Inside of an apartment, lower street of East Borough, Backlund.
A secret beyonder gathering was held, even in broad daylight.
Dylan, clad in a very concealing garment walked passed the congestion and toward the black board.
From there multiple ingredients, material, mystical items and weapons were either put on sale or raised for demand.
Dylan, beneath his robe, browsed the list of materials. Hovering at each one by one.
"Sweat glands of a Mountain Gale, Silk Gland of a Black Widow Spider, Orange-Spotted Beast's tendon..."
Then, his gaze halted at an ingredient: "Pulip Blue Raven's pair of eyes, two in stock."
Dylan looked at its price and sighed inwardly. One-hundred pounds...
He instinctively recalled how his savings for the main ingredients all went to a believer's request from the evil Child of God.
Without anything to trade, Dylan chose to stay off from the trading board.
Other than searching for a specific main ingredient, his motive also includes the meet-up of a certain official as an informant.
This was their form of connection. By joining a secret gathering on noticed whenever a Backlund Times Daily was posted.
Proceeding in a free exchange phase. Many of the cloaked individuals involved moved to their respective circles, while Dylan approached one, standing at the corner.
You're more suspicious here than sitting at the gathering... Dylan furrowed his brows.
Beneath the cloak, a voice of a woman spoke. "Anything you can share?"
She's most certainly referring to the Rose School of Thought's activities.
The woman clad in a heavy concealing garment was but three inches shorter than Dylan, peaking a golden hair strands underneath the hood.
This was his officer for the day as his original contractor for informing cult activities had left for operation in Tingen.
Due to his connections, he entrusted another person who he deemed to be trustworthy, though she might be of a little brainless, when things starts escalating, one can put their faith in her.
Although for Dylan, this was the complete opposite. He cannot trust a complete stranger out of connection!
"So?" The woman asked once more, growing more weary of the man in front of her.
Dylan could only sigh and hope that his previous contractor won't let him down. After all, he'll need his help in purchasing main ingredients for his next sequence.
...
Monday. Philip's Medical Health Company, 10 Zouteland Street, Golden Indus Region.
Selina's eyes fluttered open.
Recovering from her stupor, she saw a room furnished with multiple beds beside her. A chandelier dangling above the ceiling and veil windows casting a picturesque glow over the sight.
Where... is this place? Selina tried to lift herself.
But failed due to her lack of strength. However, afterwards, she felt soft waves of cloth embracing her delicately.
The air felt soothing added with a hint of herbal fragrances. Confused, Selina thought to herself. Am I... in a hospital?
Her eyes lit up. Did I finally wake up from the world!?
Excitement rushed through her as she attempted to stand again. Only to be eclipsed by a sudden, intense pain.
Agh!
The sensation gripped from her back. This incited the memories of the chase, her encounter with the Nighthawks, and her revenge against Deimsfel.
Right... I was in a confrontation with Deimsfel.
Selina began recalling how Deimsfel suddenly lose consciousness in front of her after she had drawn her revolver.
The moment her and the vampire flickered out of the strange world, whether it was intentional or not, they arrived at a secluded place where Deimsfel is at conveniently.
I asked him to withdraw his forces in exchange that I will follow him... Selina felt a chill run down her spine the moment she mentioned 'follow'.
Of course I don't intend to do it! It was to limit the casualties before I... She paused. Her slowly gaze cast down and her eyes gradually became vacant.
Before I end myself...
Moments later, Selina suddenly gave a self-deprecating smile and said. Maybe I've already gone mad by thinking of this even before the battle started...
Alright, enough about that. Afterwards, Deimsfel lost conscious on the spot, suddenly kneeled down before me, his eyes at that time were closed...
Of course I had to be wary of it, but when I saw him at that state, I couldn't contain my emotions, resulting in me emptying the revolver in his heart. And in the next second that I killed him, the vampire also melted into a pile...
Selina subconsciously turned her head. But... How did Deimsfel even fell asleep mid-fight?
In silence, she gaze at the chiming grand-clock, placed near the center and the wall. The short hand points slightly right at the top while the long hand directs opposite of it, indicating the time:
"2:59... I wonder how long have I been confined here."
At that moment. A crimson tide of light suddenly engulfed Selina's view.
Rendering the woman disoriented for a bit. In the next second, dense fog obscured the entire place dark and gloomy before it slowly recedes.
Selina found herself seated before a mottled bronze table, two more were occupied either beside her and across.
Seated at the head of the table was a man clad in what seems to be a gentleman's attire, being heavily concealed by the dense fog.
The Tarot Club gathering had arrived!
Miss Justice, Audrey, with her long golden hair, was the first to stand before Selina and Alger.
She looked at the man seated at the Seat of Honor with high spirit and greeted politely.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool."