Babbling continued: "Well? How does it feel? Are you tempted? Do you want to learn? If you also want to master Ancient Magic as powerful as mine — or even more extraordinary — I and these Professors can all guide you."
She pivoted: "All you need to do is—"
Bernadette's expression didn't change: "Not interested."
"Then perhaps in the future — wait, what?"
She was already turning back the way they had come. "I need to get back to studying Ancient Runes."
In the Realm of Chaos.
"Ancient Magic?"
Vincent couldn't help but exclaim: "I thought it was just Ancient Runes. How did Ancient Magic suddenly come into the picture?"
He was completely lost after hearing Bernadette's calm account.
But then the penny dropped: that room beneath Hogwarts, with its four enormous enchanted portraits — that was obviously the Map Chamber. And the Map Chamber was a location from Hogwarts Legacy.
So the world I've been living in all this time is a fusion of both universes.
Which means Babbling's identity deserves some serious thought. Could she be the transfer student from over a hundred years ago? The one who cut through anyone and everything in her path — killing more people in a single day than Voldemort managed in a lifetime? The genuine article?
She could still be alive — that wasn't surprising. But how was she still so young?
The Philosopher's Stone? That could only extend a life, not stop ageing. So she was genuinely this young. Which meant she might actually be some kind of long-lived being.
Vincent suddenly felt a touch of unfamiliarity toward the world he had been living in for years.
"You seem rather shocked that Babbling can use Ancient Magic," Bernadette said.
"...Yes. As far as I know, the last holder of Ancient Magic was active over a hundred years ago. But Professor Babbling—"
Bernadette raised the question herself: "I spotted Nicolas Flamel's card on the Hogwarts Express. His entry said he used the Philosopher's Stone to survive more than six hundred years."
"But the Philosopher's Stone only grants longevity — not youth. Nicolas Flamel is a very old man, his body failing and his bones so brittle that the slightest exertion risks fracturing them." Vincent thought it through. "Of course — it's equally possible that Professor Babbling is not the same person from a hundred years ago."
"If there's nothing else," Bernadette said with a soft 'mm', "I'll head back now."
She paused. "Oh — has the other me asked you to translate the diary yet?"
"No."
"Good."
Vincent returned to reality and relayed everything to Bernadette on this side.
"Ancient Magic?" Her reaction was much the same. "I can understand why she's not interested..."
Bernadette had wanted to study magic specifically to investigate its underlying principles, with the goal of eventually replicating something similar in her own world. The moment she learned Ancient Runes existed, that ambition only intensified.
As for the "Ancient Magic" Babbling was talking about — powerful as it might be by the standards of this world, it wasn't particularly meaningful to her.
"Better to spend the time on Ancient Runes research," she concluded.
"That may be true for you, but not for me," Vincent said immediately. "Have you forgotten that my world isn't exactly safe either? Being able to use Ancient Magic — having real power — that's appealing."
Bernadette gave an unimpressed hum. "And what does that have to do with me? Go and talk to her yourself."
"..."
In the world of Lord of the Mysteries.
A few minutes before three o'clock that afternoon, Klein had already gone above the grey fog and settled in early to prepare for the meeting.
The previous day, after returning to the Company, Melissa had woken up. As her brother, Klein had taken it upon himself to explain everything — to draw back the curtain on this other side of the world she hadn't known existed.
At first Melissa was sceptical. That changed when Klein demonstrated a few divination abilities in front of her. Then the pieces clicked into place: why he had suddenly joined a "security company," why his salary was so generous.
Her eyes had gone wide. "So — you're saying that now I can be like you? Become a Beyonder, join the Company, and earn good money?"
Klein said firmly: "The important part is the Beyonder abilities, and the danger behind them — not the pay."
"But the way you put it, I don't really have another choice, do I?"
"Well... that's also true."
And you accepted that rather quickly, didn't you?
"What happened to the old gentleman..."
"Old Neil?"
Klein sighed. "He kept his life. There's no longer any risk of losing control. But he's... deflated. Like something essential was hollowed out of him. He aged visibly overnight."
"Poor man."
"You're not angry with him?"
"You said he was manipulated by an evil god — he couldn't help it. And honestly — if it weren't for him, I might not have found out for ages. And I certainly wouldn't have had the chance to step into the world of Beyonders."
Melissa paused and shrank her shoulders slightly. "I used to hear people talk about evil gods and monsters. I never imagined they were actually real."
They are very real. And one of them may soon have its eyes on you again.
But that, Klein had not said aloud yet. She was about to drink a potion. Better to let her face it with a calmer mind.
After a conversation with Dunn, Melissa drank the Mystery Pryer potion and became a Beyonder. The whole process was remarkably smooth. No suffering, no struggle — nothing like the difficulty Klein had experienced when he'd first taken his own potion.
As if she'd been born to it.
Which, given that an evil god had personally shepherded her toward this path, she rather had been.
Klein leaned against the bronze armchair with a grave expression, pressing his fingers to his temple. Becoming a Mystery Pryer is only the beginning. What comes next for her — that's anyone's guess.
Particularly now that the situation had forced Dunn's hand. He'd had no choice but to report everything to Backlund, and the Church had responded: a high-ranking official would be arriving soon to handle matters.
This official — known as the "Sword of the Goddess" — had originally been dispatched to assess Klein. Everything else was incidental.
"This is a mess. I used to feel fairly confident I'd pass the assessment. After these two incidents... honestly, I'm not so sure anymore."
What would failure mean? Being expelled from the Church? Being monitored, and having his freedom curtailed?
And what of Melissa?
The more he thought about it, the more restless he became — until he remembered it was nearly three o'clock, and had to consciously slow his breathing and bring his focus back to calm. He reached out his spirituality toward the three crimson stars representing the Tarot Club members.
In an instant, three blurred silhouettes took shape on either side of the ancient, worn bronze table.
Vincent looked down at himself first — then quickly glanced around to confirm Bernadette hadn't followed him up.
Slightly disappointing, honestly.
Going from male to female had already been fascinating. If one had turned into two—
He pushed the thought aside.
"Hmm?"
He had just noticed something: Audrey, the perpetual social engine of the group who normally greeted everyone cheerfully the moment the meeting began, hadn't said a word.
As if on cue, Audrey suddenly straightened, looking puzzled and confused. "Esteemed Mr Fool — Mr Hanged Man — Mr Lovers. I have a question I'd like to ask. A pet who has developed extraordinary powers — what role might it play for its owner? To put it plainly: what practical use could it have?"
Ah. So she's discovered Susie can talk.
Alger graciously provided an answer. Audrey listened with dawning understanding — and a touch of embarrassment. Was everyone going to figure out what she'd stumbled into?
They probably already have. I've always been the least trusted member. I'm only going to be treated with even less respect going forward.
She shook it off and sat up straight. "Mr Fool — I've found another page of Emperor Roselle's diary."
"I have two pages as well," Vincent followed.
"Good."
Klein gave a mild nod. Reading the diary of Emperor Roselle was one of the most important rituals of his weekly Tarot Club meetings. Not only did it yield invaluable Beyonder knowledge, it offered glimpses into the Emperor's remarkable and often baffling life.
He read Justice's page first. It described the Emperor discovering this world had no petroleum, and then mentioned his intention to join a "certain ancient, secretive organisation that influenced the world's affairs from the shadows." What organisation — unspecified.
Klein felt an itch of frustration he had no way to scratch. The Emperor had been dead for over a century. There was no point hunting for the next instalment.
He turned to the Lovers's pages.
January 17th. I dreamed of the homeland I'm nearly forgetting.
To be continued…
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