Lord of the Mysteries

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 amended incantation for the summoning ritual.

“Light a candle to represent myself.

“Use a spiritual wall to create a holy environment.

“Drip a drop of Full Moon Essence Oil in the flame, Chamomile Pure Dew, Slumber Flower Powder, and other ingredients. (Note: There’s no need to be too particular in this step because it’s summoning oneself).

“Recite the incantation below.

“I! (In ancient Hermes, Jotun, Dragonese, or Elfish. It must be a deep shout)

“I summon in my name (Hermes),

“The Fool that doesn’t belong to this era, the mysterious ruler above the gray fog; the King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck.”

…

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 counterclockwise.

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.

When he returned to his bedroom, due to the fact that he had sealed the entire room with a spiritual wall, Klein immediately cleared his desk and put out a mint-scented candle right in the middle.

He pressed slightly on the candle wick, rubbing it with spirituality to cause friction and ignite the candle.

Under the flickering dim light, Klein dripped the corresponding essential oils, extracts, and herb powder onto the flame.

and the room alternated

candle that represented himself and

he switched to Hermes, “I

this era, the mysterious ruler above the gray fog; the King of Yellow and

he sensed the wavering candlelight suddenly dance vigorously and produce a vortex with the surrounding fragrance. It absorbed his spirituality at an

powers to my incantation…” Klein endured the discomfort brought about from having his spirituality drained as he finished reciting the

stop wavering. It was tainted with a

didn’t summon anything… Oh right, perhaps I’ll need to respond to it above the gray fog? It’s

himself down, then took four steps counterclockwise before arriving above the gray fog again. He saw that there was a rippling light

corresponding chair. The strange symbol that was made up of a Pupil-less Eye, a symbol representing secrecy, and contorted lines that

ruler above the gray fog; the King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck.” Then, he saw surging spirituality combined with a rippling

wanted to be opened. Klein immediately felt inspired and strongly willed for it to be pushed

fog and lofty palace was drawn forward. There were a few

ripples surged towards the illusory yet

the door

his will and creased his

casually named the door “the

When I advance to Sequence 8 Clown and pass through the initial dangerous stage, I

the first time that he received some sort of response from the mysterious space above the gray fog — other than the incident where

day when I’ll understand all the secrets here! Klein excitedly declared in his heart. He then made a rapid descent into the boundless fog after he

…

to his bedroom. He ended the

gust of wind suddenly blew as he yawned. He collapsed into the

followed, Klein woke up abruptly and realized that he was sitting in the living room of his home and was

tell me Captain is here again? He was stunned at first as he looked outside the oriel

slowly, wearing his black windbreaker that went beyond his knees and held

wearing his black top hat, and underneath it were his

living room and sat on the single seat sofa. He leisurely crossed his right leg

He sat there quietly and looked at Klein as though he was

to

expose that he knew that it was a dream, he pretended to not be affected by it and continued to

He lifted his head to look at Dunn who sat opposite him. He found out that the Captain was still sitting

minutes. Klein flipped through the newspaper back and forth multiple times, looking at Dunn from the corner

folded the newspaper and put it aside. He nodded and smiled at Dunn. Then, he

look, my dream is so simple, so ordinary, so boring. There’s nothing worth observing. Hurry up and leave! Why don’t you pretend to be a ghost and I’ll pretend to be frightened, then you can complete your achievement as a Nightmare! He prayed in silence and lifted his head, but all he saw was Dunn’s deep gray eyes that were still

Klein wiped all the furniture

most was Dunn Smith, who was watching

made himself busy until he finally saw his Captain uncross his legs and stand up. Then, he took his

breath and watched Dunn

help but lift his right hand to

Klein let out a