Sequence 8

The melody reverberated in the alchemy room and gradually lost its harmony and went out of tune .

Squeak! Scratch! Zing! Klein heard the noise akin to the scratching of blackboards with nails, the sound of bubble wrap rubbing against each other, electric drills drilling, and various other annoying noises .

The noises intensified and turned more and more chaotic . They made him want to vent his frustrations and cause destruction .

But Klein, who frequently experienced the mad ravings and terrifying screams, restrained his urges very quickly .

He displayed annoyance, tension, frustration, and insecurity at appropriate times .

Being in too perfect of a state would end up being a problem!

It was unknown when Crestet Cesimir had stopped singing . The noises in the alchemy room disappeared and room the was awash with tranquility and silence .

Silence sure is great! Klein exclaimed in his head .

"Very good, excellent . There are no latent problems in your soul . Of course, if you wanted to beat me up or stuff my mouth with something, that's only normal . " Crestet's mouth was blocked by his collar so Klein could only determine his emotions through his tone .

"No, I wouldn't dare," Klein admitted honestly .

Crestet smiled and said, "Congratulations, you have passed all the tests . Now it's time for the question and answer session . "

His green eyes suddenly darkened . His gaze was deep, as though he could see through flesh, and looked directly at the spirit .

"Go ahead," Klein replied, sitting straight .

Crestet maintained his earlier posture and casually asked, "You said that your experience in the Divination Club allowed you to quickly master the potion?"

"Yes," Klein answered frankly but didn't describe further .

Crestet nodded slightly and said, "And you said that your inspiration came from the maxim of the Mystery Pryers and also Daly's example?"

"Yes . " Klein confirmed this first before explaining in detail, "I found out from one of my teammates who was a Mystery Pryer that those who abide by the maxim of the Mystery Pryers have a lower probability of losing control than normal . After that, I heard that Madam Daly once said that she wanted to be a real Spirit Medium and that she is a genius that leveled up to Sequence 7 within two years .

"After noticing both situations, I thought I could give it a try, I attempted to be a real Seer and outlined some principles for a Seer . The outcome was better than I expected . I mastered the potion very quickly . Your Grace, I'm not sure if you have had a similar experience . When I fully mastered the potion, there was a very special, very magical feeling…" Klein described his experience as if he only vaguely understood the "acting method . "

" I am very sincere man." Klein said in mind.

Ever since he transmigrated to the current world, he had lied so much that he was used to it . He could do it flawlessly .

The darkness in Crestet's eyes disappeared, and his gaze returned to normal . He smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's not an illusion . "

From his answer, Klein couldn't see any doubt or scrutiny, so he felt at ease .

"Dunn endorsed your experience . I believe that you really are a genius, with a logical mind and sharp senses," Crestet complimented . He then asked, "Did you share your experience with your teammates?"

"Of course," Klein admitted frankly . "I hope that I can help them lower the risk of losing control . We're teammates, comrades that face danger together . I don't have any reason to hide the truth . But for the same reason, I didn't tell the clerks . "

Crestet uncrossed his right leg and sat up straight . His thin lips were exposed from the shadow of his collar .

He lifted the corner of his lips and said, "Although you haven't even been with the Nighthawks for long time, I believe that your understanding of partners is much better than many others .

"Hmm, I plan to share more information with you, but according to the Holy Cathedral's rules, you have to swear to the Goddess that you won't reveal the contents of our conversation to anyone that doesn't know about this .

"That should be fine, right?"

I passed the test? Klein was delighted . He nodded without hesitation .

"No problem!"

"Alright . " Crestet Cesimir nodded . He leaned forward . "Then swear upon the Holy Artifact . "

As he was saying this, he bent down to lift the silver suitcase by his foot .

Holy Artifact? The Holy Artifact that earned you the title of the Goddess's Sword? 

Crestet placed the suitcase on his knees, his dark green eyes instantly turning black .

He lifted his hand then pressed down . The cover of the silver suitcase which resembled a violin case suddenly dissolved and receded like the tide .

At the same time, Klein felt that the light around him was being drawn forward as if it was being absorbed by the suitcase .

WIth a crisp snapping sound, Crestet Cesimir opened the suitcase, revealing the pure white bone sword that lay within .

Yes, a bone sword . The moment Klein saw the sword, he knew instinctively that it was mainly made out of bone!

The short sword silently released a pure white glow in the pitch dark alchemy room, as if it were a moon hanging high in the night sky, or a lighthouse in the middle of a storm .

Crestet lifted the suitcase, moving the sword away from its original position .

Klein instantly snapped out of his trance and finally freed himself from the nightmare he couldn't escape before .

He cast his gaze to the side and asked gravely, "Your Grace, do you need me to put my hand on the holy sword?"

"Yes, come over . " Crestet's voice was melodious as if he was singing a lullaby .

Klein stood up, still looking to the side as he took small steps forward . As it was dark, he couldn't see where the legs of the deacon were, nor his old leather boots .

"Stop," Crestet spoke calmly .

With that mere glance, he bent down and extended his right hand, accurately placing it atop the holy sword .

A cold feeling swept through his skin and into his mind . The distracting thoughts and feelings of worry instantly eased, as if he was sitting on a roof in a noisy village, smelling the scent of the harvest and admiring the starry night sky .

"Recite after me," Crestet said solemnly .

"Alright . " Klein nodded .

He then heard the deacon speak in Hermes .

"Oh Evernight Goddess, nobler than the stars and more eternal than eternity .

"I swear to you in my real name and my spirituality .

"I, Klein, will never reveal the details of the 'acting method' to those who do not know of it from this moment forth .

"If I go against this, I shall accept any punishment you deem fit .

"Please witness my oath . "

Klein collected himself and made the oath in Hermes, following Deacon Cesimir's lead .

He had the faint feeling that a connection has been established between him and a faraway being through the pure white bone sword .

After retracting his right hand, he drew a crimson moon on his chest .

"Praise the Lady!"

"Praise the Lady!" Crestet smiled and bowed in response .

Immediately, he closed the cover of the suitcase and pressed down heavily with his right hand .

The darkness was instantly lit up as the light from the lamp once again filled the entire room .

Crestet cleared his throat . Without answering the question directly, he instead smiled and said, "You might feel a little confused and not understand what I'm about to tell you, but I cannot explain why that is so, for that involves the secrets of the Church . "

You will only have the right to know after you become an archbishop or a high-ranking deacon… Klein looked at Cesimir and added inwardly before Cesimir could say it .

"You will only be permitted to know after you become a core member of the Church, such as an archbishop or a high-ranking deacon," Crestet emphasized .

Klein nodded sternly .

Crestet placed the silver suitcase back beside his foot and crossed his legs .

"In the long history of time, the Church has had generations upon generations of genius Beyonders slowly figuring out a way to avoid losing control .

"And the core to this method is the name of the potion . It's not only critical; it's also the key . "

After looking at Klein's thoughtful expression, Crestet continued, "We have realized that the names of the potions all point to a certain group, and this group has their own approach and operates in unique ways . In simpler terms, there are a set of rules that come with the name of the potion, different rules for different potions . When we follow these rules strictly, the risk of losing control is reduced to a minimum . "

"Similar to my set of Seer principles?" Klein took the opportunity to ask .

"Yes . " Crestet gave an affirmative answer . "When we follow the rules of the potion, we become more and more like the group described by the name of the potion . In other words, we are acting as the job that the name of the potion points us toward . That is the 'acting method . ' You must remember, the spirituality of every individual is special, unique . Even though the core rules must be followed by the people who consume the same potion, there are always certain variations to the rules that are unique to the individual . Thus, the experiences of others can only serve as a guide . "

Klein said sincerely, "Thank you for informing me . I will remember that . "

"Alright, return upstairs and tell the rest of the Nighthawks to come down one at a time . I have to carry out the final step of the examination . "

That's to keep Frye and the others from divulging the 'acting method'? Klein thought as he stood up, he then bade farewell, following the Nighthawks' etiquette .

He made his way past the corridor and up the stairs, returning to the Blackthorn Security Company . He saw Dunn smoking his pipe near the entrance of the basement .

With a smile, Klein took the initiative to say, "There shouldn't be any more problems; His Grace wants me to inform Frye and the others to head down for a conversation with him . "

"Yes, that is the last step . That means that there were no problems . " Dunn put away his pipe and headed to the recreation room to tell the rest .

After that everyone follows one by one.

…

An hour and a half passed . As Kenley walked out of the alchemy room, his expression full of puzzlement, Klein was once again called downstairs . He met the high-ranking deacon once again, the Goddess's Sword, Crestet Cesimir, a second time .

This time, the golden-brown-haired and blackish-green-eyed deacon wasn't seated . He stood there, allowing the breeze in the basement to blow at his black windbreaker .

Crestet's collars stood tall, hiding his chin in the shadows .

He looked at Klein and smiled .

"Nighthawk Klein Moretti, I announce in the name of the Goddess that you have passed the examination of the Holy Cathedral .

"Congratulations . With your contributions, you can immediately advance to become a Sequence 8 Beyonder!"