At half pass eleven that night, Klein came to his other rented room across inns, expending a quarter soli in his stay.
Stuffed with the meal he had eaten by himself, using his own savings. Klein sat on the bed.
"I guess it's only natural Mr. Azik wouldn't have appetite after that... but regardless, my spoils today are abundant!" Klein muttered with satisfaction.
They did not left the town as per his request. This is because after having Selina into his home, he feels reluctant in performing the Luck Enhancement Ritual, less she found out and be worried.
He had to be cautious. Klein didn't want her to know The Fool is him yet. That would place heavy burden on her and would likely devastate her.
After all, she place her deep hope into The Fool's recovery, associating with returning back.
"Until I truly find a way back..." Klein sighed as he caressed the crest of his silver inlaid cane.
But since the matters of Tingen is brewing. That attempt has to be shelved for Selina's mental health and safety.
Bathed in the pallid glow of the crimson moon. A seed glistens under Klein's palm. This one had no holes and was perfectly intact.
It was Selina's seed
Prior to him scouting for the red chimney, Klein had already asked and received Selina's consent. This meant only Leonard now who can communicate with the White Maiden if he turned this into a charm.
"We only get one." Klein was concerned and conflicted.
If it's only him whom the White Maiden can't reach and protect, it's fine. But Selina is another matter.
It was through this seed did the monster Morroy failed to accomplish his objective and Selina was still alive. So depriving of her of this seed would meant compromising the White Maiden's protection.
Klein felt an ache in his head. While rubbing it, he muttered, "That poet can really get through my skin..."
He did asked Leonard about needing to use his share of the seed. But was rejected. Of course who wouldn't want protection from a Goddess if the situation is seeming turning haywire?
At that moment, Leonard's voice resounded from Klein's memory "I also need my own version of preparation."
"Sigh." Klein exhaled in resignation.
Reflected on his eyes was the seed laying on his palm. And following that was a sudden idea formed in his mind.
"I still have to make The Fool's version of the ritual. That will prove to be helpful and allow myself to request artifacts from the Tarot Club members under an alias.
"That way, I can give Selina something to use to protect herself." Klein stood up and walked to one of the windows.
He extended his hand melancholically and drew them all close. Denying the light entry into the room.
In darkness, with very dim crimson lights that are still seeping and illuminating. Klein approached a table and took out the silver sacrificial dagger, materials, and some unlit scented candles from his coat.
He had discomfort carrying these, but he had to prepare not only for the Hollowing Ritual but for his attempt at constructing The Fool's version of bestowment and sacrificial ritual.
Taking up the chair that stood next to it. Klein constructed the altar after putting up a wall of spirituality to encompass the whole room.
Using the silver dagger in his hand, a presented the seed in front of the lit altar.
...
After a grueling time of twisting the dagger and embed all the way into the seed's center. Klein was left with a hollowed turquois seed.
He wanted to have two of the seeds to contain a dream first before turning them into a charm. Thus, he refrained afterwards and placed the seed back into his pocket.
Klein then stood up, threw himself onto the bed and lied down for a couple of minutes.
Just as he was about to doze off, he carried himself back and he stretched. "Alright, for the bestowment ritual."
For what Selina had shared. The ritual uses the dualism method of altar construction. The procedural advises incenses, additional herbs and holy oil to be mandatory, that is the case to appease the deity.
Klein will be dismissing that, since it'll be just him and there's no need for formalities.
Lastly, the chants. Alongside the deity's honorific name are lines in ancient Hermes that are as follows: 'pray,' 'notice,' 'offer,' 'kingdom,' 'gates,' and 'open' for Sacrificial Ritual. 'Pray,' 'notice,' 'give,' 'kingdom,' 'gates,' 'strength,' and 'open' for Bestowment Ritual.
These are critical terms that allows for the ritual to succeed. Bestowment is also commonly used for charm making. This naturally ignited a path for Klein's own ideas, making a charm using the space above the gray fog!
And so, with the ritual's description out of his way. Klein finished the altar in less than an hour, even needing him to leave.
Under the dim lighted candles was four meals placed on each sides of the table.
He figured that if Mrs. White had a version, then perhaps it would also require The Fool's version of the ritual, using his established four-meal prayer ritual can likely accomplish this.
On one side, a honey-glazed rye bread, and a bowl of mushroom noodles. The other, lamb chops, and stir fry. Then lastly, his chosen sacrifice, his turquois seed.
However, these alone could not hold a candle to his standard of safety. Klein performed a four-steps counterclockwise motion and ascended.
...
The gray fog filled the air in its eternally unchanging manner as the illusory crimson stars hung around him at varying distances. Klein sat inside the lofty palace that looked like the home of a giant as he looked at the familiar sight before him.
After a few seconds, he looked away and made a yellowish-brown goatskin appear before him. Then, he lifted a pen to write his attempt.
"Through Selina's information of this ritual.
"Use The Fool's prayer ritual to design for a similar version.
"Sacrifice the seed from the White Maiden.
...
After scrutinizing it three times, Klein wrote a divination statement at the bottom:
"There will be danger if the ritual above is carried out outside of this world."
After scrutinizing it three times, Klein wrote a divination statement at the bottom:
"There will be danger if the ritual above is carried out outside of this world."
Phew. He let out a breath, put down the pen, took out the silver chain in his sleeve, and held it with his left hand.
The topaz pendant hung above the goatskin steadily, only a slight distance above the divination statement. He reined in his thoughts and entered a Cogitation state.
"There will be danger if the ritual above is carried out outside of this world.
"There will be danger if the ritual above is carried out outside of this world."
...
After reciting the statement seven times, Klein opened his eyes which were almost all black and looked at the topaz pendant which was spinning clockwise.
That meant a negative outcome: there would be no danger!
"I can give it a try then." Klein made the items before him disappear. He then extended his spirituality to wrap around himself and simulated the sensation of falling.
Returning to his rented room, the fragrance of the four meals entice his buds. However, he already had his fill, it didn't bothered him and merely ensured that the foods are still fresh.
Recounting the incantations he had written, considered and will be employed. Klein gazed at the altar for a moment before chanting in Hermes:
"The Fool that doesn't belong in this Era;
"The Mysterious Ruler Above the Gray Fog;
"The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck;
"Your devoted servant prays for your attention,
"I pray for you to take his offerings,
"I pray for you to open the gates to your Kingdom."
...
Just as he finished speaking, he sensed the wavering candlelight suddenly dance vigorously and produce a vortex with the surrounding fragrance. It absorbed his spirituality at an insane rate.
Klein endured the discomfort brought about from having his spirituality drained as he finished reciting the incantation.
Then, he saw the candlelight stop wavering. It was tainted with a gray luster, which extended to about the size of a palm.
"Right, I had to respond..." Klein pinched his aching forehead as he muttered.
He also noticed that unlike The White Maiden's version of the ritual. There was no added effects of carnal desires being triggered. This proved his theory and that every Deities had a unique circumstances in bestowments.
He calmed himself down, then took four steps counterclockwise before arriving above the gray fog again. He saw that there was a rippling light above the seat of honor at the ancient table.
However, it didn't seem to have a form and is visibly contorting, unstable.
"This could mean something?" Klein scrutinized and felt as if there should be a missing piece to allow the light to be uniformed.
Regardless, even after performing another divination. The danger resulted in a negative counterclockwise motion.
Thus, with cautious, extend his hand to reach for it and he immediately heard, "The Fool that doesn't belong in this Era; The Mysterious Ruler Above the Gray Fog; The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck; Your devoted servant prays for your attention, I pray for you to take his offerings, I pray for you to open the gates to your Kingdom."
Then, he saw surging spirituality combined with a rippling light that formed into an illusory yet shapeless door.
The door shook as though it wanted to be opened. Klein immediately felt inspired and strongly willed for it to be pushed open.
Almost instantly, the boundless fog and lofty palace was drawn forward. There were a few barely noticeable ripples.
The ripples surged towards the illusory yet shapeless door.
But, no matter how much Klein pushed it, the door couldn't be pushed open. Every movement resulted in dead silence.
"The Door of Summoning has yet to take shape?" Klein reined in his will and creased his eyebrows when he analyzed the reason why he had failed.
He had casually named the door "the Door of Summoning."
"Perhaps it's because the form of the light is distorted? It had nothing to accommodate into? Hmm, I'm also lacking spirituality so is that another reason I can't form a complete Door of Summoning?" Klein was a bit perplexed and he wanted to ensure one of the two are the reasons.
He made a two yellow-brown goatskin parchment appear in his palm and wrote one lined sentences in each: "The blank form of the light should have a proper form" and "The lack of my spirituality is why I can't open the Door of Summoning."
Both resulted in a positive clockwise motion.
Klein was stumped. It took a short moment to sort his thoughts before muttering, "For the former issue, I'll have to ask the experts. Madam Daly and Mr. Azik again. No, I'll write to Madam Daly first.
"As for the latter, when I advance to Sequence 8 Clown and pass through the initial dangerous stage, I can give it another try. Maybe it won't be a problem by then..." Klein nodded lightly.
Although it failed, producing one more to be solved. This experiment gave him a confidence boost, he felt heartened as this was the first time that he received some sort of response from the mysterious space above the gray fog — other than the incident where he divined about Eternal Blazing Sun!
There will come a day when I'll understand all the secrets here! Klein declared in his heart. He then made a rapid descent into the boundless fog after he wrapped himself up with spirituality.
...
The break of dawn rose in the horizons, accompanied by the chirping of birds and fading crickets. The town's dilemma for the day never ceased with the folk already on the toil.
After freshening up and securing the insect repellents he bought and used. Klein looked momentarily at a retail store and back on the inn's entrance.
He saw Azik with his bronze skin and top hat walk out.
The trackless carriage he had rented was next to the sidewalk. Klein sidestepped to allow Azik entry before he himself boarded.
The coachman gripped the reigns of the horse, bent his arms back and finally.
"Hiya!"
The horse started galloping.