The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 60: Summoning

Lumian nodded and then asked, "You said your intuition is strong?"

Auster seemed momentarily dazed, then gradually displayed a look of fear and dread.

After a while, he finally managed to speak. "This must be one of the characteristics of a 'Secret Supplicant.' I can sense those unknown creatures lurking in the depths of darkness, and I can also perceive that the real world is surrounded by a thick veil, behind which are eyes staring at us—emotionless eyes..."

As he said this, Auster began to breathe heavily.

Lumian didn't rush him and waited for the fake sorcerer to calm down on his own.

After nearly a minute, Auster let out a long breath and said, "It's fine in the Market District and the Observatory District, but in the underground of Trier, I often feel that at the end of certain paths, in places where my eyes can't see, there's some kind of creature calling me, beckoning me to come closer.

"I don't know what will happen to me if I really step into those dark places."

A good mysticism detector... Lumian thought to himself, mocking his own "Hunter's" spirit vision, while also realizing that the "Secret Supplicant" might not be as useless as Auster claimed.

Auster continued, "Sometimes, when I see those tourists holding white candles as they enter the catacombs, I get almost delusional thoughts, thinking it's some kind of ritual, forming a mystical connection with a hidden entity to help the tourists avoid being swallowed by the darkness or taken by the dead."

Lumian was quite surprised and couldn't help but marvel inwardly, "In a mystical sense, the 'Secret Supplicant' is quite powerful... just not good at combat..."

Based on Auster's description, Lumian suspected that the requirement to carry a lit white candle to enter the catacombs was indeed a ritual, meant to help the tourists avoid the hidden dangers there.

The tomb keepers were probably well aware of this, but to make money, they said nothing and even encouraged the authorities to promote the catacombs as a tourist attraction.

Thinking about this, Lumian recalled his sister Aurore often lamenting about "the corruption of people by money."

He wondered, at lower levels, which corrupts a person more: potions, blessings, or money? With a mocking attitude, Lumian muttered silently to himself.

He then asked Auster, "In the Market District, did you sense any places hiding dangers in the darkness?"

Auster's expression changed a few times, and in a low voice, he said, "I dare not approach the burnt-down house in the Honest Man's Market."

At the edge of the Honest Man's Market, near Whitecoat Street, there was a building that had been charred and uninhabited after a fire. Local councilors had long called for it to be demolished and turned into a commercial building, but for some reason, the proposal had never been taken seriously by the city council. As a result, after more than ten years, the six-story building, like a scar on the city, still stood there.

I didn't feel anything when I passed by this morning... Lumian turned and headed for the door, saying, "I'll visit you again. Don't disappoint me."

Auster, who had already bandaged his shoulder wound, smiled and said, "No matter what, I'll give you an answer."

After leaving Auster's room, Lumian suddenly quickened his pace, his body flashing as he crouched in the shadows of the stairs leading to the rooftop, silently watching the closed wooden door.

After nearly half an hour, confirming that there was no movement from inside, he leisurely descended the stairs with a copy of *The Little Trier News* in hand.