Exorcism

Kaspars looked Ebner over, his curiosity clear as he asked, "How did you know I could get in touch with that organizer?"

It's pretty obvious, isn't it? If you weren't close, would you have the guts to bring people to his gathering?

Holding his inner snark in check, Ebner confidently replied, "I trust in your… professionalism!"

Professional as a middleman, huh? This kid really doesn't know how to give a compliment! Kaspars muttered internally, though he shot a glance at Xio standing behind Ebner and quickly recognized her as the "Arbiter" with a reputation in East Borough.

After a moment's consideration, he nodded at Ebner and said, "I can pass on a message for you, but no matter the outcome, you owe me a 3-pound contact fee!"

"Agreed!" Ebner agreed without hesitation. After all, Xio would be the one footing the bill.

"Wait here." Kaspars hobbled into a nearby room.

From his tone, it seemed he had a reliable means of reaching "The Eye of Wisdom." Could it be some mystical item? A messenger service? Or even a telegraph?

As Ebner pondered these possibilities, Xio tugged on his sleeve and whispered, "What rank is this organizer?"

"He's a Sequence 7 Beyonder. But he also wields a powerful Sealed Artifact, so he's closer in combat power to a Sequence 6." Ebner explained briefly.

"A Sequence 7?" Xio looked slightly taken aback. In their current time, this was already considered a mid-tier rank.

Their conversation was cut short as Kaspars returned and, limping toward them, announced, "The gentleman says he'll see you tonight at the same place the gathering was held. Use the same signal as before."

Kaspars then gave Ebner a long, appraising look. "When did you become that old man's student?"

"Huh?" Ebner was just as surprised as he stared back, confused.

"He called you his 'future student' in his reply," Kaspars explained.

Wait—so passing his test already makes me his student? Isn't he forbidden from proselytizing in Ruen? Oh, that's right; taking on students doesn't count as proselytizing... But isn't this a bit sudden?

Suppressing his irritation, Ebner accepted the relationship; becoming a student would make climbing further up the ladder easier. And why wouldn't he grab onto the leg of someone willing to extend it?

As for any ulterior motives, Ebner wasn't overly worried. Aside from the old man's generally decent character, it was possible "future student" was just a friendly joke or a gesture of goodwill. Even if there was some hidden agenda, Ebner felt confident he'd be strong enough to handle it soon enough. Given his current rate of digesting the potion, he might not have to wait long.

Once Xio had paid the "contact fee," they left the bar. It was still only noon, and waiting there until evening wasn't an option.

"So, where to now?" Xio asked, looking a little lost.

"I'm going to grab lunch, then head home for some study time this afternoon." Ebner replied straightforwardly. Although he'd told Kaspars to inform The Eye of Wisdom that he'd finished studying, he was still behind. He'd use the afternoon to catch up with the Pure White Eye's help.

Xio was momentarily speechless. "Studying...?"

"There's no need for you to follow me. You can rest up, and we'll meet back at Braveheart this evening. I doubt that attacker will try cursing you again so soon." Ebner suggested tactfully.

After a brief pause, Xio shook her head. "I'm not going home; I don't want to risk endangering my friends. And, Ebner, your Sequence isn't exactly suited for combat, is it? I'll stick around to protect you. After all, it's because of me that you're in this mess."

So we're both feeling guilty about this? I think it's my meddling that got you involved in danger, and you think your situation has dragged me into it. Ebner stroked his chin thoughtfully but ultimately decided against clarifying things. How would he even explain that he knew the whole plot?

"Alright, let's go."

After a quick lunch, the two returned to Ebner's rented apartment in East Borough.

Xio glanced around the sparse room and took note of Ebner, who had already set about studying. Observing the spartan one-bedroom flat, she thought to herself, "This place is even worse than the one Fors and I share. He's really frugal… but he doesn't act like a poor person. Could it be he's hiding his identity?" Her curiosity grew, but considering Ebner a friend, she didn't intend to pry. Everyone has their own secrets.

Ebner spent the afternoon alternating between brief sessions of activating his Pure White Eye to study Feysac for ten seconds and two hours of review and rest. Since Xio had already seen him use the Pure White Eye, he didn't bother hiding it and simply explained it as an effect of a mystical item.

After dinner, the two returned to Braveheart Bar around 7:30. This time, without needing Kaspars' help, Ebner found the familiar gathering place himself. After a quick disguise with hoods and masks, he knocked out the same signal as before.

Soon, the small wooden panel on the door opened, and a pair of eyes appeared—those of The Eye of Wisdom's assistant.

Following a similar process as before, they were led to the familiar parlor room. By the dim light of a flickering candle, they saw the elderly figure seated on a single sofa.

The Eye of Wisdom glanced over the pair and smiled, "Looks like it's this young lady who needs assistance."

"Your insight is remarkable, sir!" Ebner complimented, mentally thanking Roselle for popularizing so many convenient idioms.

"No need for flattery. Let's complete the transaction first, and then I'll see if you've truly mastered half of those materials in less than a day." The Eye of Wisdom turned to Xio and observed, "This young lady is under a Coldblooded Whisper Curse. But it's already weakened; only traces of corruption remain. One cleansing with the Sun Brooch should suffice."

Xio looked at him with a mixture of respect and hope. "You're absolutely correct, sir. I would be very grateful if you could help."

The Eye of Wisdom nodded and, with a "One moment," he rose and went into the inner room. A short while later, he returned with a dark gold brooch shaped like a sunbird. A light sheen of sweat glistened on his face.

Noticing their curious gazes, he explained with a smile, "This is the Sun Brooch. It grants its user the ability to exorcise, purify, and even use some spells from the domain of the sun. Its drawback, however, is that while wearing it, one can never feel cool; it's always as hot as the peak of summer."

You just can't resist showing off, can you? Ebner mused, though his thoughts were interrupted as the Sun Brooch emitted a bright, pure, warm light.

The golden glow spread steadily, engulfing Ebner and Xio like waves of light, washing over them completely.

After about a minute, the light faded. Both Ebner and Xio felt warmed through, as if they had taken a refreshing dip in a hot spring or basked in the sun.

During the process, Ebner discreetly activated the Pure White Eye. He saw the black mark on Xio's forehead dissolve under the radiant glow like snow in boiling water, vanishing without a trace.

"All done," the old man said, returning the brooch to the inner room. "Now, about my payment. I trust that little piece of Fourth Epoch lore you mentioned will be worth my time."

"Thank you so much for your help!" Xio expressed her sincere gratitude with a respectful bow.

"No need for thanks; it's just a business transaction, after all," the Eye of Wisdom replied, waving her off before fixing his gaze on Ebner.

Ebner cleared his throat, not daring to waste time. He began to recount a piece of history he'd read in Lord of Mysteries—how, after the collapse of the Solomon Empire, the Tudor-Trunsoest United Empire rose and eventually fell. He even revealed that the capital of this union was none other than Backlund. Naturally, he avoided any mention of gods and angels—that would be asking for trouble.

The story intrigued Xio, but The Eye of Wisdom, a man well-versed in history, leaned forward, clearly captivated.

"A double consul period after the fall of Solomon's empire? That would explain a lot… But it doesn't align with the Four Emperors' War… And how exactly did this union fall apart?" The Eye of Wisdom frowned, apparently struggling to reconcile the details.

Ebner hesitated briefly before cryptically hinting, "It was because the Black Emperor of the Solomon Empire was resurrected!" Sensing the risk of attracting unwanted attention, he stopped there; after all, they weren't in the safety of the Gray Fog.

"The Black Emperor… resurrected…" The Eye of Wisdom nodded slowly, a thoughtful look on his face. He sensed there was more to the title than mere symbolism, though his knowledge of the subject fell short.

Xio listened intently, though much of it went over her head. Still, she committed the information to memory, mentally filing it away as useful knowledge. Unbeknownst to her, Ebner had subtly chosen that topic to provide her with a warning; after all, George III was also vying for the Black Emperor Sequence 0.

The Eye of Wisdom eventually leaned back in his seat, visibly pleased. "This knowledge greatly enriches my understanding of the Fourth Epoch and brings me one step closer to the truth. Praise the God of Knowledge and Wisdom!"

Satisfied, he waved for Xio to step outside temporarily before turning to Ebner with a grin.

"Now, young man, let's see if you've truly completed your assignment!"