Lord Of The Mysteries モ横映

Chapter 6:The Fool

... In the Loen Kingdom's capital, Backlund, inside a luxurious villa nestled within the royal district, Audrey Hall sat before an antique dresser. The dresser's markings were ancient, etched with intricate designs that spoke of a long-forgotten era. Resting on its surface was a cracked bronze mirror, its reflective surface dulled by time.

Audrey, a young woman with an aura of elegance, stared intently at the mirror, her green eyes filled with determination and curiosity. She took a deep breath and began her incantation, her voice soft yet commanding.

"Mirror, mirror, awaken... In the name of the Hall family, I command you to awaken!"

She repeated the phrase, switching between different variations, each one more desperate than the last. Her voice grew softer, tinged with frustration and a hint of despair. More than ten minutes passed, and the mirror remained unchanged, its surface as lifeless as ever. Audrey's shoulders slumped, and she pouted her lips in grievance.

"Father was indeed lying to me," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "He always tells me that this mirror was the treasure of the Roman Empire's Dark Emperor, and that it is an extraordinary item..."

As her voice trailed off, a soft, almost imperceptible hum emanated from the mirror. Audrey's eyes widened in surprise as the bronze surface began to glow with a faint crimson light. The light intensified, enveloping her completely. Her heart pounded in her chest as she felt a strange warmth spread through her body, the mirror's ancient power awakening at last.

... In the churning waters of the Sonia Sea, a three-masted sailboat, a relic from a bygone age, battled against the fury of a relentless storm. The ship's timbers creaked and groaned, the sails billowing violently as the vessel pitched and rolled with the waves.

Alger Wilson stood resolutely on deck, his body swaying in perfect harmony with the sea's tempestuous rhythm. He wore a robe embroidered with intricate lightning patterns, and in his hand, he held a quirky-shaped glass bottle. The bottle was a miniature tempest in itself, with bubbles billowing, frost turning to snow, and gusts of wind swirling within its confines.

"We're still short on the Ghost Shark's blood..." Alger murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the roar of the storm. He furrowed his brow, deep in thought, when suddenly, a crimson burst of light appeared between the glass bottle and the surface of his palm.

The light expanded rapidly, enveloping Alger and the surrounding area. He felt a strange sensation, as if the very fabric of reality was shifting around him. His grip tightened on the bottle, his heart racing with a mix of fear and anticipation. The storm seemed to recede into the background, replaced by the overwhelming presence of the crimson light.

—

As the crimson light receded, Shin Everhart blinked rapidly, trying to reorient herself. The oppressive gray mist that surrounded her was thick and disorienting. Her right hand, which had held the revolver moments ago, now felt light and empty. The weapon had vanished along with the mysterious glow. A cold sweat trickled down her back, a visceral reaction to the disorienting and unnerving situation she found herself in.

"What the hell... where am I?" Shin muttered to herself, the disbelief and frustration evident in her voice. Her mind raced with thoughts about the enigmatic clock the angel had given her. The situation had spiraled from strange to absurd, and she couldn't help but feel exasperated. "Why does something absurd have to happen every time? Can't I catch a break?"

The gray mist that enveloped her was thick and swirling, obscuring her view of everything but the vaguest outlines. As her eyes adjusted, Shin noticed that there were three other figures nearby, though their identities remained shrouded in the mist. To her right, a tall girl with long hair was shaking her head, her posture indicating both confusion and an eagerness to understand the situation. Slightly further away, a man of medium build with messy short hair seemed to be scrutinizing the surroundings, his gaze sharp and focused.