Chapter 32: Formal Sprouting
Klein took a deep breath and reorganized the knowledge about the "Acting Method" that Nairn had taught him in his mind.
This was another excellent opportunity for him to establish the prestige of "The Fool."
Naturally, Klein also thought of using this opportunity to obtain Roselle's diaries.
He lightly tapped the surface of the bronze long table with his knuckles, producing a rhythmic tap, tap sound, successfully drawing the full attention of "Justice" and "The Hanged Man."
"You view the power of the potion as something external that needs to be 'mastered.' This perception is wrong from the very beginning."
Klein's voice was low and slow, as if every word contained ancient wisdom.
"Potions have 'life.' They originate from Beyonder characteristics, and every Beyonder characteristic contains a mental imprint of its source—be it a higher-sequence Beyonder or even more ancient existences."
"Consuming a potion is not, in essence, about gaining power, but about welcoming an 'it,' a foreign'spiritual body,' into your body and soul."
Hearing this, Alger's body jolted, his eyes filled with horror.
This was a concept he had never heard of before!
For a long time, whether it was the internal scriptures of the Church of Storms or the occult knowledge he had gathered from various channels, potions were always described as a 'gift' or a 'tool.'
Yet, Mr. Fool said that a potion is a living'spiritual body'?
This completely overturned his understanding! If this were true, then what was the truth behind 'losing control'?
"The danger of losing control does not stem from your inability to 'master' the power, but from being 'devoured' by the potion itself," Klein continued. "When your will is not firm enough, when your cognition becomes muddled, your personality will be polluted and assimilated by the mental imprints remaining in the potion. Ultimately, 'you' are no longer you, but have turned into another crazed Monster."
"Therefore, the true essence of the 'Acting Method' is not to 'excavate' the power of the potion, but to 'digest' it."
"What you need to do is to understand and interpret it by acting out the imagery symbolized by the potion's name. Ultimately, you make it acknowledge you, allowing you to become its master instead of letting it usurp your role."
Klein's explanation combined the theories Nairn had taught him earlier, packaged in his own words, making it seem both profound and easy to understand.
"Take 'Spectator' as an example," he turned his gaze toward Audrey. "Since its name is 'Spectator,' then you must become a true 'Spectator.'"},{
"You must calmly and objectively observe everything happening around you, observe every person, their joys and sorrows, their desires and struggles, as if you are enjoying a brilliant play. But you must remember, you are always just a Spectator; you cannot get caught up in the act, and you cannot invest your own emotions."
"Once you invest emotions, your observations will become inaccurate, and your perception of emotions will deviate. A true 'Spectator' can even smell the different'scents' secreted by people under different emotions."
Alger broke into a cold sweat as he listened from the side.
He was currently a sequence 8 'Folk of Rage.' Recalling his process of digesting the potion, he realized that it was indeed through constantly presiding over prayers, guiding storms, and feeling the ocean's moods that the sense of mental tearing slowly faded.
Wasn't that just a form of unconscious 'acting'!
So that's how it is... I see! The 'Acting Method' is the true path to becoming a Beyonder!
The value of this knowledge was simply immeasurable! It was even more precious than a sequence 7 formula!
Mr. Fool had actually told them such a core secret so easily!
Audrey was also enthralled, a light of contemplation shimmering in her azure eyes.
Only now did she understand why she was always affected or even felt exhausted when she tried to 'feel' other people's emotions before.
Because she wasn't 'observing,' but 'empathizing.' She had gotten caught up in the act.
"I understand..." Audrey said softly, her tone filled with the joy of a sudden realization.
Seeing their reactions, Klein nodded inwardly.
The effect was good.
However, he still held something back.
Regarding the most crucial point Nairn had mentioned—[Remember, you are only acting; never forget who you are]—he did not say it.
On one hand, as 'The Fool,' he needed to keep some trump cards to better establish his prestige in the future.
If they collected Roselle's diaries later and wanted to use them to ask questions, he could use the deeper mysteries of the 'Acting Method' as an exchange, so he wouldn't use up all his cards at once.
It would also prevent him from showing weakness, ensuring that even some common Beyonder knowledge wouldn't expose him.
On the other hand, he had to consider their level of acceptance when releasing too much subversive knowledge at once.
A steady stream, consolidating the cooperative relationship through multiple transactions, was clearly more beneficial and a long-term plan.
Klein calculated carefully; perhaps this way, he could exchange for even more of Roselle's diaries from them in the future.
While Audrey and Alger were still savoring the essence of the 'Acting Method,' Nairn's voice rang out again.
He didn't supplement those profound theories but spoke to Audrey in a gentle, conversational tone, as if chatting:
"Miss Justice, Mr. Fool's teachings are very important. But I also want to remind you of one thing."
Audrey immediately snapped out of it and looked at him intently.
"If the mask of a 'Spectator' is worn for too long, one can also get lost."
"Never forget that you are only acting as a 'Spectator,' while your essence is that of a young person, like the Sun at eight or nine in the morning."
This sentence was Nairn's kind warning, and it also contained his expectations for Audrey.
He thought of the famous quote said by that 'Fantasy Dog,' Susie, in the original work.
Nairn smiled and continued:
"So, in the intervals of acting, you must also remember to frequently return to your true self. You can tell yourself—"
"'I am just a kind and cute little girl.' Saying that is perfectly fine."
"I am just... a kind and cute little girl?"
Audrey silently repeated these words in her heart. Her azure eyes, like a lake surface reflecting the morning light, stared unblinkingly at Mr. Lover opposite her.
Then, the corners of Audrey's lips curled up uncontrollably. She lowered her head somewhat flusteredly and unconsciously tried to smooth out a non-existent wrinkle on her skirt.
She felt the softest part of her heart being gently touched by these words.
Yes, ever since becoming a 'Spectator,' she had constantly reminded herself to be calm, to be an onlooker, to have Insight into people's hearts, and to be as elegant and proper as a true lady.
She wore layer upon layer of masks, sometimes even forgetting who she really was beneath them.
She worked hard to play the 'Pearl of the Hall Family,' a 'qualified noble lady,' and a 'mysterious Beyonder.'
From childhood to now, she had heard countless praises. People praised her beauty, intelligence, elegance, and nobility, calling her the 'most brilliant gem of Backlund.'
But no one had ever used such simple, pure, and even somewhat doting words to describe her.
It was also the first time, while she was working hard to play a perfect 'Spectator' and a qualified noble lady, that someone gently reminded her that she didn't have to be so 'perfect' and could return to being her true self.
Mr. Nai Ya... he... he saw through all her disguises, through the calmness and detachment when she played the 'Spectator,' and through the elegance and propriety when she played Miss Hall. Yet, he alone saw the truest, even somewhat clumsy, little Audrey hidden beneath all those masks.
Moreover, he didn't mock or look down on her; instead, he told her in the gentlest way: that true you is also very good and worthy of being loved.
An indescribable warm current welled up from the bottom of her heart.
Mr. Nai Ya's wisdom was beyond doubt, as if he could see through everything in the world; yet it was also full of tenderness, like afternoon sunlight—warm but not scorching.
He wasn't a high-and-mighty, cold mentor, but a guide who truly put himself in her shoes.
This contrast and combination of strength and tenderness held a nearly irresistible attraction for a young girl in a state of budding awareness.
Audrey felt her cheeks burning. She instinctively tucked a strand of golden hair—which wasn't messy—behind her ear. With her right hand over her chest, she performed a salute that was more solemn than ever before, yet exceptionally vivid due to her sincere smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Lover."
Her voice was clear and pleasant, carrying a hint of a tremor she hadn't even noticed herself.
"This is the best 'gift' I've received... today."
When she said the word 'gift,' she paused slightly, as if carefully weighing the importance of this sentiment.
She suddenly thought of the candidates her family had scouted for her before, or those young nobles at gatherings who only valued her family background and beauty.
Before, she only felt annoyed, but now, a thought uncontrollably popped into her mind:
If... if the person by her side in the future were someone like Mr. Nai Ya, perhaps she wouldn't be so repelled?
No, that's not right.
How could there be another person in this world like Mr. Nai Ya—powerful yet gentle, mysterious yet transparent, and able to fully understand her?
Thinking of this, Audrey felt even the tips of her ears burning. She quickly composed herself, not daring to let her thoughts wander any further.
But she knew that something had already changed.
That seed named Lovers had already quietly sprouted in her heart.