"This is where you fill in your name…"
"And these are the school documents you'll need later…"
Klein Moretti pointed at the forms, organizing Melissa's documents neatly and stacking them carefully. Knowing Melissa's habit of keeping things tidy, he pulled a folder from under his desk, placing all the files and documents inside with care.
After calming down, a slight silence settled in the office. Klein looked at Melissa, placing the folder before her. Melissa frowned, eyeing Klein, and suddenly said, "You're just going to stay silent like this? Nothing to say to me?"
"Pro-fes-sor Mo-ri-ar-ty?"
With a hint of venting her grief, Melissa's words came out almost gritted through her teeth. The memory of Klein's charred three fingers, brought home by a police officer, choked her heart.
After learning Klein was alive, sorrow and the joy of reunion intertwined, creating a complex mix of emotions.
Klein cleared his throat, pulling a silver dagger from his coat to set up a Wall of Spirituality.
Seeing this, Melissa began setting up her own Wall of Spirituality on the other side. Her movements were surprisingly adept, not at all like a new Beyonder. Klein locked the door and patted the seat across from him: "Sit, Melissa."
Melissa bit her lower lip and sat. Her large, expressive eyes fixed on Klein. When he didn't speak, she asked, "Was it Mr. Abraham who saved you?"
"Yes…" Klein nodded, a touch of shame in his eyes, avoiding Melissa's gaze. Reflecting, he realized he'd rushed into the Chanis Gate intending to perish with the evil god's spawn. Had the spawn self-destructed in Tingen, few would have survived the corruption.
Including Benson and Melissa.
"We owe Mr. Abraham a huge debt. He saved your life," Melissa said, taking a deep breath. "Thank goodness you're alive…"
"Sorry," Klein said bitterly, unsure how to face his brother and sister now. Steeling himself, he activated his Spirit Vision, noting Melissa's stable spiritual integration as a Beyonder.
"You chose to become a Beyonder too… Sigh," Klein said to his sister. "Did Adrian give you the potion?"
"Yes," Melissa nodded. "Mr. Abraham told us you were a Beyonder. We wanted to understand what happened to you, so we took the potions."
A brief silence followed.
Klein sighed deeply. "Melissa, this path isn't easy… After becoming a Beyonder, I realized how mad and dark this road is."
"I know. Mr. Abraham explained all the dangers. He also taught us the Acting Method," Melissa said stubbornly. "But Klein, you nearly died this time, and Mr. Abraham saved you! If you died, what would we do? Are you going to do this again next time…?"
"Mr. Abraham said you're a gifted Beyonder, that you might advance quickly."
"But by taking the potions, we can at least help you in some ways! We can share what you're going through, not stay ignorant like before. You… you won't be too alone. With us here, you still have a home waiting for you!"
Klein opened his mouth, feeling helpless. He sighed, saying slowly, "Alright…"
…
In the God-Abandoned Land, Adrian Abraham, the High-Dimensional Overseer, controlled his avatar, sitting uneasily on an ancient chair. Across from him, the True Creator and Evernight Goddess watched his specially crafted avatar in silence.
"I've prepared this avatar. You can infuse it with your Beyonder characteristics anytime to descend in Backlund," Adrian said bluntly to the True Creator, unconcerned by the Evernight Goddess, a Loen deity, listening quietly without reaction.
The True Creator, eyes steeped in darkness, sat on His throne, seemingly deep in thought. He looked at Adrian and asked, "When do you plan… to act?"
"Your divine half is negotiating the Backlund Great Smog with Loen's king," Adrian said. "I've arranged for your Aurora Order to feign cooperation with the Demoness Sect, who plan to use this event to help Primordial Demoness Cheek recover some strength. When the event erupts, you can descend."
"Evernight, will you… intervene?" the True Creator asked haltingly.
"Not yet," the Evernight Goddess shook her head. "I have an agreement with Adam. I must remain neutral in this matter. He needs a war, and this event is crucial for what follows."
For the Evernight Goddess, this was a vital step toward claiming the War God's authority. She needed a full-scale war between Loen and Feysac. Only then could She and Lilith kill the God of War and absorb the Eternal Darkness's authority.
Without absorbing the Demoness and Hunter, the Fourth Pillar wouldn't form, yet the Eternal Darkness could easily slay the Primordial Demoness and Red Priest, deterring outer gods beyond the barrier.
"Then I won't meddle in your affairs," Adrian nodded. "I need you to temporarily open the ports after the Backlund Great Smog. I'll take some people from Backlund to live in the God-Abandoned Land. In exchange, I'll gradually guide them to worship you, True, and the yet-to-form Fool."
"This gives you a stable anchor base."
"Agreed," the Evernight Goddess nodded serenely, fading into the night. Adrian turned to the True Creator, a smile on his faceless visage: "True, ready to transfer your characteristics? I'll grant you control of this avatar's permissions to handle the divine descent vessel later."
"In exchange, support my avatar's rise to White Tower's high sequences. This vessel is my show of sincerity."
"Foul-Tongued… Elder."
The True Creator felt His sanity slipping, urgently needing to split a Sequence 2 characteristic for His descent vessel. This would separate His madness and reason into two vessels, allowing a rational self to emerge in the South Continent.
With His main body buffering the rational and the madness on avatar, the True Creator could better balance Himself. Then, He might absorb Adam, taking dominance.
Adrian gazed into the pitch-black starry sky, his sight extending to his true form.
In the cosmos, the High-Dimensional Overseer stirred silently, inching toward the Supernova Dominator's domain. As the Supernova Dominator grew wary of this Sefirot-shrouded entity, Adrian spoke slowly: "Supernova Dominator, I've got a good deal. You in?"
(End of Chapter)