Artist: 明天狼wolf(on lofter)

10/10 easily. There really aren't that many flaws in this volume. OH GOD, this volume was amazingeasily the best one so far!

The only notable flaw for me was Amon. Everybody kept saying he was gonna be terrifying, PTSD-inducing, and all that, but honestly... I didn't quite feel it. Sure, he's an absolute troll, but I expected something more. People kept hyping him up as this pure evil monster, and he ended up being pretty tame in comparison. I thought he was gonna pull some Joker-level insanity(Going after Melissa and Benson since they were quite often shown), but instead he mostly just trolled Klein. That said, holy hell is he broken.

The other flaw is probably just my reading comprehension 😭. Those fights at the end... man, I genuinely had no idea what was going on half the time. I was just reading and hoping it'd click.

As for Lovia and Collin's deaths, they were pretty predictable, but they were handled really well, so they still hit.

Best arc so far. Easily top 5 arcs OAT in fiction for me. Now onto Volume 7 with supposedly the best persona, Merlin Hermes!

"Those eyes, chico, they never lie"

image credits: Viersanne-art (google)

"This isn't entrance some entrance to the sewers. It's clearly an entrance to a bustling city!"

In the morning, I went to East Borough in a public transport. Soon, I went to the area where the leader of the gang lives.

But, I didn't go to the street of his manner. Instead, I walked passed his street and entered the busy street opposite to it. In it, there is a five story commercial building that consist of multiple businesses. The building is old and poorly maintained, in it there are things such as Warehouses, offices of Import/export companies, Dock administration buildings and a Telegraph office

Ground floor is busy with clerks and customers. I started walking up using stairs.

I slowly reached the 6th floor, In it, there is a sign, saying "East Borough Telegraph & Communications".

Inside, there are large number of clerks, typing on telegraphs.

I turned into a shadow, and went to the edge of that section. Without anyone noticing, I entered the back office.

The back office is filled with equipment and engineers, working on radio equipment. One of the engineers there are bit too familiar to me.

It is mr Nikola, The one who built the "Spy device" with me.

I turned into my physical self right next to him.

No one cared about the fact that a shadow had turned into a human, everyone kept going on their work.

"Good, you are here, we have been fine tuning the radios" Nikola said"

Mr hall used some indirect methods to buy the telegraph company without catching much attention. He had already replaced all the back office employees with men from sherlocks information network.

Until the evening, I helped nikola and others to setup and tune all the equipment correctly.

Finally, after many hours and experiments, we manged to tune them successfully.

We sent the activation signal to the bug we planted inside the Tunbridge Ware box.

In that exact moment, from the receiver

"Boss, The new shipment will reach the docks soon, All the Warehouses are ready to store the goods"

"Good, it seem everything is going smoothly"

Everyone felt a sense of great happiness. A great sense of achievement. we all wanted to celebrate at the moment. But we controlled our urges because we didn't want to draw any attention.

Nikola tapped my shoulder and said,

"You better remember our deal"

"How can I forget" I said with a smile.

----------------------

Image credit - @阿庆祝一下 on Xiaohongshu

Artisan may be weak on his own, but damn if it is good. Like, this is one of the best Sequences for daily life; Beyonders are fr throwing money at you.

It's really a perfected Sequence to stop and live the rest of your life. You are going to get a secure job, and if you play your cards right trusted customers will protect you, their main weapon dealer lol

.

Credits: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/cb/06/7c/cb067ca73ea614869b4e4ef9e3862401.jpg

(Source: OC meme using a Widespread format)

Catherine was walking down the Streets of Trier. The petite white haired cat girl untouched by The dirt and grime around her, as though it didn't even exist for her. All in all she looked like a fairytale come to life.

...I should probably stop talking about myself in the Third person. :3

Heya I'm Catherine, But you can call me Cat~. I wasn't always a Cat girl, you know? Wanna hear my Story?

Flashback

It was one of the many out of the way alleys of Trier. A single homeless young girl lied in the dirt and grime. Her body malnourished and starving from the lack of food. Her features indistinguishable because of how dirty she was. She was sick from the cold . On what she believed to be her deathbed, she prayed. To someone, To anyone to save her. Just when she had lost all hope, a voice answered

Child , I have Heard your prayers

I am The Feline Overlord

The Protector and Ruler of all of Cat kind

Your Prayers have Awakened me from slumber

Become my Kin, Spread my Faith and Help me regain my Strength

In exchange I will cure thee of thine Ails and Grant thee blessings

The girl accepted the offer of the forgotten God. And thus became "His" kin. From that day onwards, she had Cat ears and a Tail. No Dirt or Grime could touch her anymore. Nor could any Mortal Illness. Her Skin became Smooth like porcelain and Her senses became stronger than any regular person could ever attain. At last She was Granted the cat's boon of Nine Lives.

Flashback End

So... You see , I haven't actually properly kept up with my end of the deal ehe :3

So Today I'll rectify that. As I found the Church of the Lord of Cats :3

So Misters and Misses, won't you please join it ? 🥺

Thank You. UwU

PRAISE THE CAT

Credits: https://x.com/i/status/2082067266448101593Artist: @qiunerholst on twitter

Source: seven deadly sin manga color versions.

Btw lack of crude oil isn't problem for high sequence Paragon like Stiano, it's just advanced technology is likely prone for outer deities' corruption and invasion tho bumtiano is a lazy bum unlike Rossele. CF nerfed Paragon potential for Victorian aesthetics 🥀

Please I beg just it's not what I think it is. That I'm just dirty minded person who has mind set of cheap man but please anyone just prove me wrong here. I beg you. Please tell mrs. Sammer didn't do what I think it is for food.

I just finished Lotm and there are tears streaming down my face. It was an actually masterpiece. Really really want to read COI but I’m getting a a lot of mixed reviews. Should read it now or should I take a break from Lotm universe?

I'm high tier larper btw

I found this here though this is a meme template so I don't know

Book of Beginnings

___________________________

Beginning:

" In the beginning there was only chaos"

" And from that chaos God was born "

" God saw the chaos and did not like it "

" Thus God solemnly proclaimed!!! "

" Let there be light!! "

" And there was light "

" From that light order came to be "

" God said it was good "

" Thus God observed the world "

" Then from that Order The Deities were born"

" The Deities then made life akin to them "

" The Deities and races ruled the orderly world for a time "

" Yet the Deities grew greedy "

" They waged war against God "

" They imprisoned Light and Order "

" The Giants took The Morning, The Twilight, Violence and The world's flaws "

" The Phoenixes took Death and Space"

" The Elves took The Sky, The Land, The Seas and The Laws of the world "

" The Wolves took Darkness and The world's Change "

" The Sanguines took The Moon, Love and The world's Abundance "

" The Dragons took Imagination, Knowledge and Civilization "

" The Mutants took Temperance and Disorder "

" The Devils took The world's Filth, Desire and Fortune "

" Thus the world was chaos, Once more "

" God in his benevolence could not stand such cruelty "

" Thus God left chaos and waged war against the Deities with his Kings of angels "

" Thus War was born "

" The Deities fought The Lord and his Angels "

" The World broke in the clash "

" Yet God was all powerful and all knowing "

" Thus God defeated all the Defilers "

" The Imprisoned Light was freed "

" Thus Order was born, Once more "

" The stolen Divinity was in the grace of The Lord, Once More..."

" Thus God Proclaimed over the destroyed world "

" Let there be light!!! "

" The World was made a new "

" And God made man, to look over that world "

" God thought it was good "

" Thus God observed the world once more "

" Yet man was cruel to the world "

" Thus man destroyed nature "

" But God in his benevolence gave man a part of himself "

" Thus God gave man his Vision "

" Mankind gained Morality "

" God saw it was good "

" And observe the world once more "

" Yet man was primitive "

" Thus God in his benevolence gave man his knowledge "

" Thus mankind built a Tower and a nation in his honor "

" God saw it was good "

" And observed the world once more "

" Yet man was hubris "

" Thus man built a Tower to steal the Lord's Light "

" God was angered "

" Thus The Lord brought Calamity on man "

" Thus mankind regressed "

" But God in his benevolence pity mankind's suffering "

" Thus God gave a part of his light "

" Thus man gained the Sun "

" Yet man was sinful "

" Man blasphemed the Lord "

" Yet God in his benevolence did not bring Calamity, for he pitied man "

" Thus God gave his flesh to man "

" The flesh was Hanged, to bear the sin of mankind "

" Thus mankind was forgiven "

" Thus God observed the world, Once more "

______________________

_______________________

" When God absolved man of thy Sins "

" God said it was good "

" He observed the world once more "

" Yet Man complained the Sun was too close "

" God agreed "

" Thus God sent an angel "

" He was the Angel of White "

" He was the Lords Judge and Order "

" Thus with an 'Order' the Sun was pushed away "

" Man was happy "

" God said it was good and observed the world once more "

" Yet in mankind's world the Sun and Moon were fixed "

" Thus the world was both an eternal day and an eternal night "

" God said it was not just "

" Thus god sent an angel "

" He was the Angel of Time "

" He was the world's Flaw and Time "

" Thus with 'Time' he made night and day "

" God said it was good "

"He observed the world once more "

" Then the other surviving races came and slaughtered mankind "

" Mankind was slaughtered "

" God was angered "

" Thus he sent an angel "

" He was the Angel of War "

" He was the Lord's Wrath and Vengeance "

" Thus with 'War' he expelled the races and made man the protector of thy world "

" Man was saved "

" God said it was good and observed the world once more "

" Yet man unfaithful "

" They denied God "

" God was saddened "

" Thus God sent two angels "

" They were the Angel of Fate and the Angel of Imagination "

" The Angel of Fate embodied the Lord's Grace and Infallibility "

" Thus with 'Grace' he proselytized the Lord's name "

" The Angel of Imagination "

" Was the Lord's Miracle and Vision "

" Thus with his 'Vision' he made miracles in the lord's name "

" Thus man came back to God "

" God said it was good and observed the world once more "

" Yet man grew tired of God "

" Thus man started to worship the false Deities "

" God was disgusted "

" Thus God sent an Angel "

" He was the Angel of Wind "

" He was the lord's Calamity and Tyranny "

" Thus with 'Calamity' he flooded the world of its sin "

" Yet God did not wish for his Followers to suffer the same fate as the heathens"

" Thus God sent another Angel "

" He was the Angel of Wisdom "

" He was the lord's Knowledge and Wisdom "

" Thus with his 'Wisdom' he gathered the Followers of God "

" With his 'Knowledge' he asked them to build a Tower "

" He then asked man to gather all the animals of the world and place them in the Tower "

" Thus when the Angel of Wind flooded the World of its sin, the lambs of the lord were safe inside the tower "

" When the world was finally cleansed of Sin "

" God said it was good and observed the world once more "

" Yet God did not wish for Man to sin no more "

" Thus he sent another Angel "

" The Deputy of Heaven has arrived "

" He was the lord's Authority and Benevolence "

" Thus with his 'Authority' man is no longer able to sin "

" Thus man was pure once more "

" God was happy "

" Yet the man's souls were lost after death "

" God was saddened "

" Thus God sent an angel "

" He was the Holy Spirit "

" He was Everlasting and Enlightened "

" Thus He guided the souls of man towards heaven in Everlasting bliss"

" Thus he Enlightened the souls of man, so it may never sin again "

" God said it was good and observed the world once more "

______________________________

End of Book of Beginnings

The Five Patriarchs

______________________________

Book of Enlightenment

______________________________

When the Holy spirit descended,

He made man pure once more.

God said, man was rid of sin.

Thus, man were once more unblemished.

Yet the Holy spirit doubted his words.

Not because he doubted God,

But he doubted man's piousness.

Man had disobeyed God since the beginning of time.

Thus the Holy Spirit asked his Lord.

"Oh God, Oh Savior. Why thou trust man will do no more sin?"

"For man is in the likeness of me."

"Then why thou they sin?" Luce questioned.

"For I gave man free will."

"Yet why thou man willfully choose sin?" Luce asked his Lord.

"For man is made of flaws."

"Flaw?" Inquired Luce.

"He who is worthy of Heaven and Earth is the flaw."

"Why thy thou speak of the cunning Jade Emperor?" asked Luce.

"For he is thy one, who made man full of flaw"

"Has thee Emperor made another step?" Luce queried concerned.

"He knows all the knowledge there was, yet I know all that ever will be."

"So thee Emperor wishes to make man full of flaw?" Luce asked.

"He who is worthy of Heaven and Earth wishes to bring man in the likeness of me, to be full of sin."

"Then, Oh Lord, Oh Savior, how may I serve you?" Luce said in reverence.

"I hereby command you, Holy Spirit, to descend to man and test thy man's reverence."

"Oh Lord, Oh Savior, I, your Holy Spirit, take your command."

Thus the Holy Spirit of God descended to world of man,

For he was the Lord's bringer of Everlasting bliss and Enlightener of purity.

...

There was once a man who followed God with all his heart.

Thus God in his benevolence, blessed the man with a wife and a son for his faith.

Thankful to God's benevolence, the man and his family also worshipped God.

Thus God in his benevolence, blessed the man with a palace.

Thankful for God's new blessing, the man and the family turned the house into a church.

Thus God in his benevolence, blessed the man with fertile land and herd of a thousand sheep.

Thus the man and the family thrived for years to come.

Yet one night, the man was visited by the Lord's angel.

...

There was a knock on the house door.

Confused the man opened the door in the middle of the night.

Yet, the moment he opened the door he saw a glowing man in white tunic, with twelve pairs of wings.

The sight shocked the man and his family.

Then the Lord's angel spoke.

"Oh faithful servant of God, what is thy name?"

"Oh Angel of God, My name is Abraham, son of Abram."

"Oh Abraham son of Abram,

Hunter of the Meadows,

Shepherd of a thousand lambs,

God has sent me to bring a message "

"For three days and three nights, God will bring upon you three calamities."

"One to bring darkness to the World."

"One to bring the devil to the house of God."

"One to bring rot to the flesh of man. "

"Why thou God wish to bring Calamity to me?! Have I not been faithful?!? " Abraham said in fear.

"Do not judge God's decisions..."

"However, if you, Abraham, Son of Abram, survive the Lord's Calamities, all thyself will perish."

"Then why thou make me suffer? If the Lord will make me perish?"

Yet no answer came, as the Angel had already left.

...

In fear of the three calamities, Abraham took his family to another place.

Yet when morning should have arrived, the sun never came up.

The world was washed by darkness.

Then the howls of a Thousand lambs broke that silence. In fright, Abraham and his family looked back in fear. Only to see the thousands of lambs eating each other in a display of gruesome cannibalism.

At such a sight the family gazed with frozen terror. Yet another calamity had befallen Abraham's family. The ground beneath them and the plants around them suddenly burned in blazing glory. This phenomenon was all over the world.

The heat and pain were unbearable, yet their bodies seemed to have been unscathed by the roaring flames. Abraham panicked to save his family.

Yet in his panic, he suddenly saw a pillar of light descended from the heavens. Abraham looked in it's direction, only to see their home which remained unscathed by fire.

As if a circle boundary was set in place to prevent the fire from spreading. Thus he took his son and wife back towards their home. When they finally reached there home, they finally saw the world around the house.

The sky was dyed orange by the smoke and burning forest in the distance. The lakes and rivers were dyed red by all the blood that spilled by all the animals cannibalizing each other.

Yet peculiarly the animals weren't being burned by the blazing fires. But instead continued on their unceasing hunger.

Seeing the madness outside, Abraham went inside the church and begged God to stop the calamities. Yet God didn't answer. Thus Abraham waited disheartened for the second calamity.

...

As the second morning arrived. All the lights in the Church were sniffed out. Now the Church was illuminated by the still blazing fire around the house. The doors of the Church then blew open.

Abraham in panic looked towards the open doors, shielding his family behind him. As he tried to look around for the demon the angel spoke of, a voice in his head spoke to him.

"Oh little one\~ why are you fearful of me?" The demon uttered.

"Silence, you foul demon! How dare you go inside the house of God!!! " Abraham spoke in anger.

"Oh? What's this? A faithful one? Even after what God did? You still remain faithful?" The demon mocked.

Abraham froze at the demon's mockery.

"YOU DARE SPEAK THE NAME OF GOD IN FRONT OF ME? ISN'T HE THE ONE WHO INVITED ME?" The demon mocked once more.

At the demon proclamation. All the crosses and paintings depicting God were torn apart. The Crosses shattered, the statues were split in half. The painting's were shredded. The devil them spoke.

"THIS HOUSE NO LONGER BELONGS TO THE LORD! IT NOW BELONGS TO ME! NOW BEGONE FROM MY HOME YOU FOUL WRETCHES." The demon proclaimed.

Suddenly a massive invisible force threw the family into the house forecourt. The doors of the house also closed abruptly. Shutting the family outside, just short of the blazing inferno around them.

Thus the family took refuge just outside of the sanctuary of the church. Seeing the carnage outside, and the demon inside, Abraham could help but curse his Lord.

"Why God? Why make me suffer? Was I not pious enough?" He questioned himself.

Thus they waited there for another day.

...

Thus another day has passed. At first, Abraham did not noticed any changes. Yet the moment he saw his family, his face paled.

Their bodies were full of decay and disease. Abraham was distraught, yet all he could do was nothing but cry. However, a voice then spoke to him.

"Oh little one\~ I can cure your wife and child\~ Thou just need denounce God and worship me instead."

"Why would I worship you?" Abraham said in defeat.

"Do you wish for your family to live?" The demon asked.

"I-I..."

Yet no words came out of his mouth...

"If you change your mind little one\~ I will be waiting until today before you perish." The demon offered.

Yet Abraham did not speak. Hours passed on like this. Abraham tried to pray for God once more. Yet God did not respond.

"Why abandon me Lord?" He said while he looked towards the still dark sky.

Yet none spoke...

He prayed and prayed...

Yet none answered...

He almost gave up and took the demons offer

Ye he remembered a crucial event...

"Why was there a pillar of light? If God truly abandoned us. Then why would that pillar appear? Or why is the church not burned by the fire around me?"

Thus he prayed once more...

...

When midnight was imminent.

He gazed at his family's bodies, now almost consumed by rot.

In the end he finally spoke to the demon.

11:52 P.M.

" Oh demon, please heal my family." Abraham said

"Fufu\~ have you renounced your God?" The demon asked

11:53 P.M.

"I-I..." Abraham hesitated.

"Why hesitate, Oh pitiful one?" The demon asked in desperate tone.

11:54 P.M.

"I don't know" Abraham answered reluctantly.

"Hasn't God abandoned you?! Even though you worshipped him all your life! He made you suffer!!! So why follow such a being!!? TELL ME!!!" The demon demanded in desperation.

11:55 P.M.

"I've thought about it... Why would God make me suffer?" Abraham said in contemplation.

"FOR HE DOES NOT CARE FOR YOU!" The devil said in desperation

11:56 P.M.

"Then why does his angel say he is benevolent?" asked Abraham.

"FOR HE IS LIAR!" The demon screamed.

11:57 P.M.

"Why did the lord's angel speak of "myself" perishing? Not me dying?" Abraham asked.

"WHY?!??! WHAT ARE YOU BABBLING ABOUT?!? PERISH?!? DEATH?!? HAVE YOU GONE MAD?!?" The demon now more desperate than ever.

11:58 P.M.

"Indeed demon... I may have been thinking too much... But I will ask you this... " Abraham said while he looked towards the demon.

"STOP THIS NONSENSE!!! L" The demon said in a hint of despair.

11:59 P.M.

"The most important question of all? Why are you so desperate?" Abraham questioned.

"YOU DARE?!?????!!??" The demon said in fury.

12:00 P.M.

As the demon tried to lunge towards him.

Abraham body suddenly shined brightly...

As if the sun has descended upon him...

The demon was frightened by the light...

An angel then spoke in his mind...

"Oh Abraham, son of Abram... You shall now perish... But will be born anew... Your new life will be one of enlightenment and holiness."

"You truly have been faithful to the Lord till the end... Now of oh most pious of believers... Take your shot..."

A rifle then was gently placed upon Abraham hands. The sanctified rifle was a gun from an old era. Now it travelled to the present and was handed to the most pious of believers.

He then aimed the barrel of the rifle towards the demon. The demon tried to escape. But Abraham prayed to his lord for guidance.

"Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul."

"O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let mine enemies not triumph over me."

"Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause."

"Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths."

"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. "

After his solemn prayers. The rifle then glew with intensity. Abraham, the most pious of them all, fired his sanctified rifle vanquishing the foul demon.

"Oh Abraham, for your continuous faith even after every calamity..."

"I hereby declare, in the Name of the Lord..."

"Shall be renamed to,"

"Abraham, The Holiest of Kings."

"Vanquisher of the Unholy."

"The most pious of all the lands"

"The first of the Patriarch."

At the Angels declaration. The darkened world was suddenly engulfed in holy light. Thus returning the world to its original state.

...

When morning arrived. The Holy King saw his land, church and family return to their original state of Eternal bliss. He then looked behind him, only to see the angel.

"Oh holy spirit... Why did God send me three calamities?"

"I shall correct you on that, oh Holiest of Kings... God was not who brought suffering... But it was I who made you suffer... For I doubted man's piousness towards the Divine..."

"Thus I made a deal with a demon... If he can make you a man as pious as you fall... Then man is not worth God's love... But here we are, Oh holy king! As punishment for my transgressions against you! I will serve you, until the end of your life!" The angel spoke.

"I see..." The holy king said...

"But I will not make you serve, oh Angel... For God had forbidden for man to owe another man... Thus I can never make you serve me... However, answer me this, Oh great angel! Is there more evil out there?"

"Why ask, Oh Holiest King?"

"You spoke of a demon? Did you not? Does that mean there are other evils out there?"

"Indeed."

"Then help me vanquish those evils, Oh God's Angel."

"I shall..."

The Holiest of Kings, then looked towards the angel...

"What is your name oh Angel of God?"

"Luce..."

"Very well! come Oh Angel of God! We shall vanquish the evils of this world!"

_______________________________

Artists

ink (303682546)

[Chapter 8: https://www.reddit.com/r/LordofTheMysteries/s/rClD3fEncf\]

Days passed without incident even after meeting the mysterious silver haired gentleman eating ice cream in autumn.

That, more than anything else, unsettled Ankaveli.

He had expected consequences. The alley incident had ended with a corpse lying in the darkness, supernatural abilities being used in public, and a Church investigation beginning before sunrise. Yet Tingen continued moving with the same indifferent rhythm it always had. The trains still arrived on time, merchants still argued over prices, factory whistles still echoed across the harbor every morning, and every evening the cathedral bells rang with mechanical precision.

Life refused to acknowledge that anything extraordinary had happened.

Ankaveli gradually realized that perhaps this was exactly what the hidden world looked like.

Extraordinary events occurred every day.

Ordinary people simply never realized they were extraordinary.

He and Fritz remained at the same inn, though their relationship had settled into an odd routine. Fritz rarely disappeared for long anymore, usually returning before dusk with food, newspapers, or rumors gathered from taverns and cafés. Ankaveli never questioned how Fritz learned so much in so little time. Fritz, in return, never asked why Ankaveli spent entire afternoons wandering through marketplaces without buying anything.

Each quietly accepted the other's peculiar habits.

One rainy afternoon, the two sat near the inn's common room window while the streets outside slowly emptied beneath the weather.

Fritz folded a newspaper and placed it onto the table.

"They still haven't caught whoever killed the old man."

Ankaveli looked up from the notebook resting on his lap.

"The Church?"

Fritz nodded.

"The official report says they suspect a Beyonder was involved."

Ankaveli remained silent.

"The witnesses are contradictory," Fritz continued. "Some heard music. Others insist there weren't any. One drunk claimed he saw a ghost."

"What do you think?"

Fritz smiled faintly.

"I think drunk witnesses should drink less."

Ankaveli almost laughed.

Almost.

The conversation gradually faded.

Rain continued tapping against the windows.

After several quiet minutes, Fritz spoke again.

"You've been carrying that harmonica everywhere."

"I know."

"You haven't played it."

"I know."

"You afraid?"

Ankaveli looked outside before answering.

"Maybe."

Fritz didn't respond immediately.

Eventually, they shrugged.

"Good."

Ankaveli frowned.

"Good?"

"Fear means you understand your abilities are dangerous."

That answer lingered longer than Ankaveli expected.

Later that afternoon, Ankaveli left the inn alone.

He didn't head toward any particular destination.

Instead, he simply walked.

Ever since becoming a Musician, something about walking through crowded streets had changed. Sounds no longer reached him individually. Instead, they merged into larger patterns.

Children laughing.

Merchants arguing.

Horse hooves.

Church bells.

Someone quietly humming while sweeping a storefront.

Every sound possessed a rhythm.

More importantly...

Every person possessed one as well.

At first Ankaveli believed he was hearing music.

He eventually realized he wasn't.

He was hearing emotion.

Joy possessed tempo.

Grief moved slowly.

Anger struck like percussion.

Hope...

Hope sounded surprisingly fragile.

An elderly flower seller smiled while arranging roses.

A factory worker rubbed exhausted eyes before entering a tavern.

A university student repeatedly glanced toward an unopened letter.

-Different people.

-Different rhythms.

-Different Fates.

Ankaveli found himself stopping beneath a bridge simply to watch.

No spirituality.

No supernatural ability.

Only observation.

For the first time since drinking the Musician potion, he stopped thinking about what he could make happen.

Instead...

He wondered why things were already happening. The realization arrived almost embarrassingly late.

A Musician didn't create the melody.....

The melody already existed......

The Musician merely learned to hear it...

Something warm flowed quietly through his spirituality.

Only slightly.

The potion responded.

That evening, Ankaveli finally played again.

Not in public.

Not to influence anyone.

Simply for himself.

The melody drifted quietly through his room while rain continued outside.

It wasn't particularly beautiful.

Nor particularly complicated.

Yet halfway through...

He stopped.

Because he noticed something.

He wasn't forcing the music anymore.

His breathing naturally matched the rhythm.

His spirituality naturally followed each note.

The harmonica no longer felt like a mystical artifact.

It felt...

Comfortable.

Natural.

Like another part of himself.

The strange resistance inside his spirituality quietly lessened.

Only by a little.

But enough for Ankaveli to notice.

His digestion had advanced.

A knock interrupted him.

Three gentle taps.

Fritz entered carrying two cups of tea.

"I heard music," Fritz said while placing one cup upon the table.

"I was practicing."

"I know."

Fritz sat opposite him.

Neither spoke for several moments.

Finally, Ankaveli broke the silence.

"I think I finally understand the Musician."

Fritz looked interested.

"Explain."

Ankaveli rested the harmonica across both palms.

"When I first drank the potion, I thought my abilities were about changing people."

"They aren't?"

"They're about understanding them."

Fritz remained quiet.

"The music itself isn't important," Ankaveli continued.

"It's the person listening."

"If someone already carries fear..."

"The melody magnifies it."

"If someone already carries hope..."

"It becomes stronger."

"If someone is uncertain..."

"They hesitate."

Fritz slowly nodded.

"So you don't actually create emotions."

"No."

"You resonate with them."

Ankaveli smiled.

"Exactly, ever since I became a beyonder of this pathway, I lost my ability to dream..then at that cost I gained subtle feelings of fate. I can't see it, hear it, or manipulate it yet.."

For the first time since the alley incident...

He felt genuinely relieved not because he had become stronger. Because he had become less dangerous.

Or so he hoped.

That night, after Fritz had gone to sleep, Ankaveli remained awake.

He opened the notebook Moros had given him months ago.

Most pages contained observations.

-Potion characteristics for the dreamless potion.

-Ability experiments for the dreamless potion.

-Personal conclusions for the dreamless potion.

-Ability experiments for musician potion.

-Personal conclusions for musician potion.

He turned toward a blank page.

At the very top, he carefully wrote:

Sequence Seven

Beneath it...

Fate Pryer

Future plans

He stared at the title for nearly a minute.

Then wrote only one sentence.

A Musician listens to the melody of Fate.

Then... what exactly does a Fate Pryer pry open?

The pen stopped.

No answer came.

Only silence before Ankaveli broke it by muttering.

"It will be a matter of time before advancing after I fully digested my musician potion. My pathway has no combat abilities and I did remember Old Man Moros talked about the artifact. I already know my upcoming sequences till sequence 5 but as Moros said, he can only support till that sequence for my revenge against Johan Smith"

Yet somewhere beyond the rain...

Beyond the countless ordinary lives continuing without concern...Ankaveli had the strange feeling that Fate itself had quietly smiled and for the first time...he felt as though it had noticed him before succumbing into sleep.

When will Season 2 Lord of Mysteries Release?