Man and cat shot through the sky. Jenkins cradled Chocolate in one arm, the little cat's paws toying with a cherry. While Jenkins himself didn't need to eat, he made sure Chocolate always had a snack. He was exceptionally protective of the cat he'd almost lost, cherishing it more than ever.
The unicorn soared across the city, swiftly arriving near the Hersha estate. Jenkins landed, reverting to his usual form. He smoothed out his wind-rumpled clothes and, like any ordinary visitor, rang the bell at the front gate. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novｅlfire.net
As luck would have it, Hathaway was home. She met with Jenkins in the estate's parlor, where he gave her a brief account of what had transpired, leaving out the more sensitive details and focusing on the soul's appearance.
"The key keeper, Coro Audley?"
Hathaway was taken aback by the news, but her attention was drawn to Jenkins's behavior. He was clutching Chocolate so tightly she worried the poor cat might suffocate.
"Yes. Now that he knows I'm an Enchanter, he's less likely to come after me for revenge. But you need to be careful. That madman is capable of anything."
With that, Jenkins stood to leave. He still needed to check on Briny's safety. Hathaway insisted on coming along—not because she doubted Jenkins's abilities, but out of concern for her dear friend.
Before they left, Lady Hersha insisted he stay for dinner. It was only when Hathaway announced they were going out on a date that the pleasantly plump noblewoman broke into a knowing, enigmatic smile. It was, admittedly, a brilliant excuse. Now, no matter how late she returned, she could simply say she had been out with Jenkins.
After bidding Lady Hersha farewell, Jenkins and Hathaway made a show of taking a carriage to a restaurant several streets away, only to slip out the back door moments after arriving.
Walking through the alley, Jenkins was deeply worried. He clutched his cat, following behind Hathaway, unsure how he was going to explain any of this to the other blonde girl.
"No. I'll never tell Briny about these dangers. Not as long as I live."
Hathaway shook her head. She'd already changed out of her high heels and cumbersome dress; the restaurant owner had graciously provided them with a private room.
"She deserves a peaceful, happy life. I will shield her from every storm."
There's a theory that once ordinary people learn about the supernatural, they begin to attract it. A person might live their whole life untouched by the arcane and the terrifying, but the moment they learn the world's truth, they find themselves constantly stumbling into it.
Jenkins understood why Hathaway wanted to keep Briny in the dark about Enchanters. But it was hard to say if it was the right choice. As long as Hathaway remained in Briny's life, the truth was bound to come out eventually.
But it wasn't his place to say anything; he was just their friend. Still, Jenkins swore to himself that he would do everything in his power to protect his friends. He swore it.
Briny had been with Hathaway at their club earlier that day. In the evening, she'd mentioned she was going to meet a friend outside the city. Hathaway, meanwhile, had to return home to discuss plans for her aunt's birthday with her mother, so they had parted ways.
To be safe, Jenkins and Hathaway set out for the edge of the city at once, despite the late hour. As their carriage carried them farther from the city's heart, Jenkins once again took note of the unnatural fog.
Even up close, Jenkins couldn't detect any spiritual aura within it. Yet the mist was undeniably abnormal. The Orthodox Church had noticed it too but had been unable to determine its source.
A dense layer of fog was gradually enveloping the city from the outside in. From high above, Nolan must have looked like a small stage, its boundaries defined by the mist. The only problem was, no one could predict what drama was about to unfold.
To pass the time in the carriage, Jenkins shared the extra information he'd recently learned from Bevanna about the ability known as [The Player]. As he'd suspected, most of it was new to Hathaway, though she was familiar with several of the chain abilities connected to it.
The one she considered most valuable was [The Stage], one of the few mind-locks that could be activated instantly, without any need for special preparations or terrain.
"Your friend seems to be remarkably well-informed. From what I understand, this rare chain ability was thought to be lost to time. I was sure no one outside of my own sect knew anything about it."
"Yes. And even if it weren't, I doubt anyone could ever acquire all the necessary abilities."
She took a deep breath and recited a short verse, her voice lilting as if she were singing:
"[The Player] sings high and low, Welcoming the [Storyteller]'s seasoned flow.
The curtain rises by the [String-puller]'s art, The [Performer] steps forward to play their part.
The lights [Construct the Stage] in a brilliant ray, As Destiny weaves the end of the play."
Hathaway's voice was enchanting, but Jenkins had grown to despise these cryptic little verses, especially after his encounters with the Doomsday Slates.
"It's a clue. The method for constructing [The Stage] mind-lock. It requires five abilities: [The Player], which is White Basic; [Storyteller], a Golden Divine art; [String-puller], a Blue Exotic ability; [Performer], a Red Martial ability; and [Construct Stage], a Yellow Spell. Together, they form [The Stage] mind-lock."
Hathaway explained patiently.
"Hmm... what exactly is a [String-puller]?"
"It refers to the stagehands. That makes sense, doesn't it?"
Hathaway arched an eyebrow and summarized,
"All five of these abilities are exceedingly rare. [Storyteller] is a high-level divine art from the Church of Knowledge and Books. [The Player] and [Performer] are the kind you can only stumble upon by chance. [String-puller] seems to be related to some sort of exotic being, and [Construct Stage]... well, it hasn't appeared even once in this entire epoch. I imagine the only information about it exists on tablets in ancient ruins."
"So, basically, it's impossible for anyone to master that mind-lock anymore."
Jenkins said, nodding in agreement. But he already knew of two of the five abilities—and the ritual to acquire [Construct Stage] was in the hands of Magic Miss.
Hathaway nodded firmly. "If you want to build a chain ability centered on [The Player], you should consider other options. I can help with that. My sect has numerous chain rituals that use [The Player] as their core, and..."
Her voice dropped suddenly, a clear sign that she was uncertain about what she was going to say next.