The two souls who hailed from the Sea of Dreams continued their discussions well into the afternoon, whether it was about the terrors dwelling in the waters of their world or the city they were both born in—a new friendship began to flourish.
Only after the bells chimed to signal the evening call to bed did they part ways, the Angel of Humility sighing as they did so.
"You talked for quite a while, yet you didn't ask anything about your corruption. Is there a reason why?"
Eleanor could tell he was genuinely curious, a smile tugging at her lips.
"If I mentioned the corruption, he might've thought that I was simply talking to him for my own sake, something that, if you want a friendship to work, you need to avoid."
The black-haired elder nodded, understanding her meaning without much effort.
As they walked in silence throughout the opulent castle, the blonde priestess had the time to take in the architecture more than ever before.
Each arch, railing ornament, carpet, and even the wallpaper, was chosen specifically to invoke an eerie yet not unpleasant feeling of tranquility.
It was as if Death himself had taken what made him such a force and reshaped it into a living, breathing fortress of the dead.
She continued to look around until they returned to the tree where she had been first brought into Infinium, the Angel ahead of her stopping abruptly.
"This is it."
He reached down, placing his hand onto the floor and summoning a golden gateway in the shape of a trapdoor.
As Eleanor gave it a closer look, she realized it bore a striking resemblance to the same hatch she had uncovered alongside Aaron on his ship only a few weeks prior.
It was an exact replica, and not even the kind where one could shrug it off as a coincidence.
Could the one who forged his Ghostship have taken inspiration from the Holy Arts?
Crouching down, she examined the runes that covered the gateway back to Neutrality, their meaning unknown to her.
While being well-versed in Ancient Nordic, whatever this strange ethereal language was, she couldn't grasp its purpose.
Humility watched her carefully as if probing to see what she would do, her actions something of great interest to him.
After another minute of examining it, she stood up, turning around and facing the elder.
"I owe you more than you could possibly know, sir. Are you certain there is nothing I can do to repay you?"
The look in her eyes silently pleaded for him to say yes, to ask something of her, so she wouldn't feel like she was useless; however, there was nothing she could do if he didn't.
"Perhaps there is."
He surprised her with his answer, and she instantly perked up, eager to grant his wishes if circumstances allowed it.
"The graveyard that is built above the central catacombs has been acting… odd… as of late, and I've been meaning to investigate it myself; however, the perfect chance has eluded me. Would it be possible for you to help me?"
Eleanor tensed at his request, the memory of her earlier nightmare still fresh in the back of her mind.
The catacombs… It could be extremely dangerous to even go near them… Though… if the graveyard isn't inside of them, then perhaps…
Her jaw ground together, thinking long and hard about the man's words before answering him firmly.
"I'll visit tomorrow."
Hearing her response, he did not show a change in his expression; only his piercing cosmic gaze twinkled ever so slightly.
"Then you should sleep well, as there is no telling how much energy you will have to expend."
He paused, seemingly remembering something else.
"Take some of the money that Lady Prudentia gave you and spend it on some artifacts. I do not foresee danger; however, I have been wrong before."
This time, a clear emotion flickered beneath his blank gaze, one that Eleanor knew well and could detect with ease.
Regret…
She pursed her lips and nodded, as he only confirmed what she already considered a necessary precaution, feeling an overwhelming urge to follow his advice.
Smiling once more at the man, she took a step towards the square of light he had opened before them, her body beginning to vaporize.
"Thank you. I hope to see you again!"
Calling out one last time, the blonde girl faded into nothingness, returning in a flash to the bookstore she had favored.
The Angel of Humility stood alone in the now-empty courtyard, the skeletal guards on the wall all staring off into the distance.
He closed his eyes for a moment before stretching out his wings, the dim white feathers gradually peeling to reveal thick, luscious black replacements.
Sighing hard, he turned his face towards the sky, a tiny speck floating down from the heavens and onto his shoulder.
"Hooo!"
The owl cooed gently as the Angel rubbed its head, the tiny animal content to relax on his shoulder.
Then, as he opened his eyes and exhaled deeply, his form faded into a dark mist akin to shadows, which promptly seeped into the soil.
…
"Oh, it's you!"
Aurora looked down at the groggy girl who had just awoken inside her shop, her gray eyes fluttering open, a disoriented expression on her face.
"W-where…?"
She noticed the books lining the walls and the elderly woman staring down at her.
Did he choose for it to return me here?
Trying to stand up too quickly, she stumbled, catching herself on a bookshelf that in turn dropped two tomes on her head.
Owww!
Rubbing the top of her skull while simultaneously understanding what Norman Reed had felt earlier that day, she picked up the books and returned them to their place.
Aurora watched nervously, unsure how to help.
"Miss Lynn?"
A familiar voice called out from behind the bookshelf she was leaning against, Eleanor's brow furrowing as she looked through the empty patch of books to the other side.
With a cup of tea between her fingers, Madame Hick, her neighbor, stood there, a look of surprise painted across her face.
"You come here too, dear?"
The blonde-haired girl blinked, trying to gather her scattered thoughts to give a coherent reply.
"Yes, Madame."
The ancient-looking woman came around the corner, greeting the young girl quietly.
"You feel so much more angelic than you did a few nights ago! Truly divine what they can do in the Order."
Eleanor let out a weak chuckle, agreeing with the woman while keeping her thoughts to herself.
I haven't changed at all… My training won't start until this corruption within my chest is sufficiently suppressed, and I can't make any progress in that direction without—
She had a sudden realization.
"Madame, are you here alone?"
Finding it unlikely that the woman would be out this late all on her own, she posed the question while already checking their surroundings for other visitors.
"What a perceptive one!"
Letting out a laugh, Madame Hick pointed towards the corner right outside of the priestess's line of sight.
"Madame Jermaine and our other neighbor, whom you haven't met yet, Madame Ostano, hold our weekly book club here with Madame Aurora helping us choose what to read!"
Then, she suddenly clapped her hands as if a great idea just occurred to her.
"You should join as well, dear! We'd be happy to welcome a real Angel into our club!"
Eleanor frowned, recognizing the last name, but thinking that such a person was far too young to be called a Madame.
She'd be a miss like me.
Across the room, the shop owner who had been watching from afar perked up at the mention of the divine creatures, her brow shooting up.
"An Angel…?"
The young girl who had been coming into her shop for a couple of days and even met with that foul-mouthed child was an Angel?
She shook her head in disbelief, walking away in a daze before resuming her clerk-like duties.
Madame Hick stared at the young girl with expectant eyes, which prompted Eleanor to respond right away.
"I would be delighted!"
The old woman let out a happy squeal, guiding her through a winding maze of bookshelves and into a separate room that Eleanor didn't even know existed.
Sitting within the room was the plump Madame Jermaine, who appeared shocked at the priestess's appearance.
Having thrown away and disrespect she had planned to show the new guest due to her status as an Angel, she instantly beamed.
"Miss Lynn! Are you joining us for our book club?"
With her overly excited demeanor and nasal way of talking, it was no different than getting greeted by a faulting siren.
Keeping in mind to stay polite, the blonde girl simply nodded, turning her gaze to the other guest sitting nearby.
Her body instantly froze, trembling slightly as she took in the sight.
"Ah, yes! She moved in shortly before you; however, unfortunately for her, it seems like she has no memory at all of who she was before dying…"
Seated quietly, her posture reserved, a girl about Eleanor's age held a book tightly within her grasp.
She had long red hair, flaming orange eyes, and wore a black and magenta priestess dress in a style similar to the one worn by the blonde girl.
There was no mistaking it—this girl, the one who had now appeared in front of her once more, holding a book like it was a baby, was Olivia Ostano.
Madame Hick observed the incoming girl's odd expression before speaking with audible concern.
"Is something the matter?"
Olivia looked up as well, taking in the sight of her oldest friend, her eyes glazing over briefly before she shook her head as if clearing away the weird feeling and returned to guarding her book.
H-how can it be…
Eleanor's heart bubbled with emotion, her eyes watering with tears and her body trembling uncontrollably.
Madame Jermaine frowned, noticing the rather unsettling state of the young Angel.
"Hick… Take her outside. It seems she needs some fresh air."
Nodding, the ancient woman did as she was told, allowing the priestess of the Church of Depths some time alone to dry her cheeks, apart from the piercing gazes of the other book club members.
…
Ten minutes later, after completely composing herself, Eleanor returned to the book club, masking the feeling in her heart.
She had suspected Olivia would end up within Neutrality due to her very short lifespan that could not accommodate that many virtues or sins…
However, to actually run into her, and for Olivia to have forgotten her, broke the girl in a way she didn't think she would ever completely recover from.
She died before me… It only makes sense that she arrived before me as well…
Biting her lip as she sat down, she nodded mechanically, in an attempt to convey that whatever had made her break down emotionally had been settled.
As if wary of making Eleanor uncomfortable again, they simply continued their club meeting, discussing the intricate details that a certain author used to describe the protagonist's actions.
The book in question was a realistic yet fictional medieval story that took place in the Sea of Souls decades prior to Lord Droskyn's ascent.
"I-I hated what the emperor did to her in the earlier chapters…"
Eleanor listened to Olivia's clumsy words in silence, remembering how her friend was never once this introverted while still alive.
Her personality is completely different than before. What could've caused such a change?
She had a hunch it was related to the disaster in the mausoleum and the method by which she died; however, her circumstances were truly uncommon, and therefore it was impossible to tell for sure.
I died in a completely different way while Aaron lived… Adam must've survived, as he wasn't in that tribunal when I met Lady Prudentia.
Groaning, she closed her eyes, listening to their reviews of the rather long book that confused her greatly.
After another hour, when the clocks struck 8 p.m., Aurora entered with a new book, one titled Miracle of Light, which was written by Liv Spewton.
She's a member of the Council of Sages from the Church of Depths! One of the reincarnated Angels from the thirty-first century!
The four copies were distributed quickly, and the synopsis was read out by Eleanor, as she was the newest member.
"Well, ladies, I hope you'll enjoy it. It was only published a week ago in the Dimension of Waves, and an exclusive copy was provided to us from an unknown donor."
The blonde girl felt it was quite strange.
An anonymous donor? A book about Miracles written by an Angel? Are such coincidences really possible?
It was possible that someone actually worked in the background to make this happen; the only question in the girl's mind was who.
Lady Ariel? Or could it have been Prudentia? Maybe Sir Reed or Sir Twynam sought to send them?
She looked over at Madame Jermaine and Madame Hick, who studied the beautifully crafted cover diligently.
"We appreciate it, Aurora."
The elderly shopkeeper departed quickly, preparing to shut down the shop while the book club members packed their stuff.
Olivia stood first, hurrying to put the book in her bag and then immediately heading for the door.
Eleanor thought about stopping her, asking if she remembered her; however, she decided against it in case the bad memories were brought back.
They were forgotten for a reason…
Knowledge was dangerous, while curiosity was deadly; each side of the coin too risky to bet on without good balance.
As the red-haired girl vanished out the door, Eleanor was left alone with the two neighbors she had known from before.
"I hope you enjoyed your first book club. Not all meetings will be so boring to you after you read the book we are studying, so don't take this as the only emotions you'll feel here."
Jermaine snorted as she spoke, standing up and preparing to head out as well.
Reaching for the door handle, she spasmed slightly, her other hand reaching towards her head where she began to scratch.
An itch?
She looked over at Madame Hick to see if she had noticed the odd behavior; however, to her surprise, the elder was doing the same thing as the plump woman.
They didn't stop even after a few seconds, scratching, scratching, scratching, even as fresh blood appeared on their fingers; they did not stop.
W-what in the Lord's name…?
Fear instantly gripped her as she stood up, backing away in confusion, yet as she reached the wall, they suddenly stopped.
Both of their hands spasmed slightly, and then they laughed and continued packing up, not mentioning the bloody hair clinging to the backs of their skulls.
Eleanor stood there, stumped with horror as they left the store one by one, the dim candlelight all that was left as she felt the corruption in her chest bubble.
C-could they be… Corrupted?