Around midnight.
As the serene cityscape of Tingen begins to reach its peak nocturnal hour. Selina sat on the edge of the bed and noticed a silhouette coming from the window.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
It was Falacy.
After undoing the latches. She saw the black feline pounced from the silo and onto the bed. It stretched itself first before going onto her lap.
How do you always know where to find me? Selina wondered with a contemplative look.
This fur friend had always been on the move wherever she goes!
"Hello again Falacy. I've brought leftovers for you... just in case you find me. It's at the dresser."
Caressing the cat, Selina added softly, "Sorry I couldn't cook anything fresh because Klein and his siblings might notice. I can't predict their thoughts of having a cat around."
The cat strolled from her lap and subsequently leaped onto the dresser. While watching it dine its midnight snack, she explained, "It's a lamp chop. Hope it suits your taste the same as fish."
Meow~
Selina curled her lips slightly before collapsing onto the cold, soft bed.
She stretched all her limbs of the extremities before releasing a sounding sigh.
"Klein's original identity have a loving family. I wonder why there's only three of them? Where's their parents? Well, I think it's not worth paying too much on such matters. Zhou would definitely prefer introducing his real parents..." Selina muttered only to realized something.
"Introducing his real parents? Why am I thinking of this? Sigh, I guess I'm starting to miss my own family..."
Over her brooding, Morroy's notes naturally crossed her mind. Within depicts multi-dimensions, but Klein's thoughts about it is negative.
The Single Eye is a not known deity. Anything outside of the Orthodox Churches or Mr. Fool will likely not result in their return.
Selina shook her thoughts off of her head. She turned over, faced the wall and resumed muttering.
"Hmm... the case today is about Instigator Tris. I'll ask Klein about it. Also, speaking of cases, Halzter Van actually had many associates."
There's Galopin, the man who was also one of the people that entered the Ivory manor based on Klein's divination. He saw Selina, but what mattered is that Art, who is actually a newcomer months ago before Milo's destruction, was coerced into a promising privilege at the Red Light Street.
The very same promised privilege that made Galopin went out to excrete the temptation. It was also his vulnerability that allowed Klein to put him into slumber with a Slumber Charm.
Art on the other hand, was brought along in the trip to Milo as a unloader. Unlike Galopin, he does not have close relations with the director yet.
"So far, Old Neil and Kenley's investigation seemed to be reaching another dead-end with the Red Light Street.
"There's a lack of solid evidence that the vampire uhh... let's say number 4 since he's the most recent vampire they identified in the city, had ever been into the district."
Vampire number 4 was a drug dealer. He specialized in aphrodisiac compounds and sexual performance sedatives.
"Drug dealer..." Selina felt a tug on her right lips. She naturally thought of doing it once before becoming an official!
"Thank god I didn't become like him.
"Anyway, it seems now is a good chance to take on the case as Klein suggested. I'll wait until there's a lodged report."
At the moment of her relaxation. She started to hear distant murmurs, overlapping around her ear.
The tone was familiar but was difficult to ascertain.
"Maybe it's Yesir again? Praying before going to sleep?" Cautious about her voice. Selina closed both of her eyes and tried to recall hugging her parents.
Instantly, she felt her body relaxed. Something beyond was pulling her.
...
In the wide pasture of Milo with tall grass and a willow-like tree.
Selina was reformed from the soil. She had her golden-silver hair cascading down while a pure white gown coiled her waist.
She was back in the dreamworld.
There was nothing much to do now except to respond to prayers. The documents Yesir gave her was already committed into her memory and her capabilities was practically limited due to the hidden dangers.
However, as time passed, her stay was slowly taking longer and longer. She deduced that although each time it depletes her reserve of spirituality. The cause of waking up in the morning was actually her body's reaction to the impact.
If Selina overstayed, she'll sleep until morning. Otherwise, she'll wake up hours before dawn.
After sweeping the plain for any anomaly. She saw that a vine was bulging with specks swarming it.
"It's Klein!" Selina recognized the segment that gave Klein the seed. She quickly reached to it.
...
In his room. Klein made another ritual.
It was just like the sacrificial and bestowal setup meant for Mrs. White. However, this is designed to pray to Her.
Feeling proud that he contributed to this deity's communication with mortals. Klein plunged the cross made up of bundled twigs.
Unlike the placement of the wreathe where it acted as a portal. It instead was laid to the soil as the cross protruded on the mount.
It was actually simple because of the sacrifice/bestowment ritual and the presence of an object that directly points to the goddess.
Upon lighting the candles and letting the altar reflects the dim light of the three candles. Klein used his own spirituality to construct a wall of spirituality.
Whooosh!
The noises around the room and outside became still and tuned out.
Klein exhaled and finally placed the thumb-size seed over the altar and lit the tip. This is what he meant by an object's direct relation.
When it was scorched with burning plume. Strangely, it didn't get consumed or turned to ashes.
With his thoughts about this act finally get confirmed. He chanted solemnly at the altar.
"The White Maiden from a distant time...
"The Reborn Daughter of a mysterious dreamworld...
"Beginning and the End of the extending vines...
...
After chanting. Klein tidied up the altar and any sort of sediments left from keeping the soil around.
He still recall Miss Lover's advice and Selina's analogy of experiencing meeting the Goddess. It certainly made the honorific title's second line meaningful.
"Reborn daughter... mysterious dreamworld..." Klein muttered as he walked to the edge of his bed. He bent down and sat.
While massaging his temples. before he embraced the mattress, along with the covers and pillows that comes with it.
He felt his eyelids grew heavy. Moments later, his thoughts drifted to sleep.
...
Somewhere in the dark world.
Klein, in his unkept linen, felt something corporeal left his body. It was powerful and terrifying, yet gentle and serene.
The moment it vanished, he a faint single point of light in the distant.
It started to proliferate and engulf the surrounding. Like a painting, it showed Klein in real-time how the world forms.
He's now in the pasture, green and ever stretching into infinite miles.
However, there was a mist. He closed both his hands and felt chilly.
"Is this the dreamworld?" said Klein to himself as he scanned the surrounding.
At this moment. Mounds of dirt made the land trembled. His body vibrated, swinging along the turmoil of the ground.
Klein almost tumbled and when he lifted his head. Dense forest, peak mountains and silent rivers appeared.
That implies it... while silently marveling the terraformed land. Klein heard his own thoughts echoed.
"That implies it..."
Sh*t!
"Sh*t!" the world swirled with his voice.
"You have quite the language..." a mysterious and majestic voice of a lady followed the resounding thought.
Klein turned and saw a woman clad in a pure white, intricate gown. There was a divine light cloaking Her face.
Instantly, he felt penitent. He bent his waist forward and said apologetically, "I'm very sorry your grace."
Soft voice echoed, "You're free to state your thoughts."
Literally... Selina was intrigued seeing her close companion in a different perspective.
Considering the Goddess's attention. Klein didn't idled, instead he went ahead and explained. He was cautious not to appear irreverent.
"Your grace, I came to tell you I'm grateful for the bestowed item and to console regarding Selina."
Selina, covered in divine light, lifted a brow. Regarding me?
"Selina mentioned the Sealed Artifact 3-104 Dreamcatcher that was in the city's Selene Church." Klein fixed his posture. "I think she's going to attempt at uncovering the dreams or nightmares stored in the artifact."
Klein... it's quite scary how fast you learned that. I didn't even emphasized it last time! Selina smiled even though it's futile amidst the radiant.
"She's going to be alright." The zephyr reverberated into a fixed voice. "She have my blessing."
Must be nice to have a 'real' Goddess's blessing... Klein felt a bit envious and relieved. Wait no!
The world will echo his thoughts again!
"Do aid her in accessing the sealed artifact. Throughout the process, you'll have my blessing."
Klein froze. He fell into a daze because just now, it's not his voice!
"Don't worry." The world said majestically. "Your thoughts will no longer be mimicked."
Klein sighed in relief. While he doesn't know how to properly give a gesture, much like to the Evernight Goddess. He instead bowed.
"Thank you." then he lampooned in his heart. If it's my time, I'll ask for your blessings myself...
He still recalls what a tiny seed can incur to his whole body and the surrounding. Considering the Selina is a blessed, it'll likely be alright for her.
Knowing that he can stay lucid in dreams. Klein figured that it would be the same for Selina. That's one danger mitigated but it's uncertain whether it would bypass any seals in the artifact.
If Mrs. White, who is "The Reborn Daughter of a mysterious dreamworld." Then She can likely pull Selina out of any nightmare and into this dream.
Can Mrs. White also pull me out if I attempt it? Klein was struck by a realization. If it can get Ms. Roy out of any harm, he will consider tributing himself.
...Let's just see...
"Mrs. White, can I ask if there's a way to enter the dream at the same time as Selina's?"
Klein's worried... Behind the divine light. Selina gathered what she knows about the dreamworld so far.
"Unfortunately, my current state cannot withhold multiple mortals into my presence." the world's tone was melancholic.
One vine only leads to one person.
Klein thought about it carefully and said "Alright. One last thing Mrs. White."
Selina paid close attention.
"Can a charm be able to siphon nightmares to be used as its power?"
Selina quickly recalled the documents she have read, which also records the Primordial Moon believer's methods of making charms.
After deliberating her words, she let the world say, "Yes, a nightmare can be used to power a charm, but not in the manner where its elements will materialize. It can only be stored and transferred. Either to siphon the energy or apply corruption."
This was in page 32, acts made by the Primordial Moon believers.
When skimmed onto the items they've used. One stood as a counter against dream-based divinations and abilities often utilized by the Nighthawks and the Church of Evernight Goddess. Not only that, they have measures for every orthodox churches in cases of confrontations.
Sentient Dream is a charm used by the upper echelons and figures of the Primordial Moon. It doesn't allow the dream within to appear but instead transferred, allowing for a deep slumber and astral disfigurement of the foe...
Similarly in the name. The dream is birthed with life, the practitioner's abdomen bloats regardless of gender, allowing for the user to control the other... Selina felt a crawl under her skin just thinking about it. As a woman, she detest having a child without knowing the father.
Klein understood and nodded without complaint. "Thank you again Mrs. White."
He already figured out two ways as a contingency for Selina's pursuit.
...
The first town that the Tussock River passed by after it flowed through Tingen City was called Wienia. It was also the first stop from Tingen to Backlund for the steam locomotive.
On the platform, Trissy changed into a long beige dress and put on a woman's circular hat. Fine fishnet gauze hung down from the edge of her hat, covering half her face. Her appearance became blurry and indiscernible.
She had already sent a telegram to her partner in Tingen, to remind the other person to be careful. She told them that she had used money she burgled to buy a steam locomotive ticket to Backlund.
The reason Trissy didn't get on the train from Tingen but went downstream to Wienia was because she still had her instinct and rich experience as an assassin.
Woo!
A train let out a long and sharp whistle as the long metal behemoth chugged to a stop next to the platform while spurting smoke and sparks.
Trissy didn't carry any luggage and entered the first cabin. At the same time, she decided to get off the train after three stations and enter Backlund through other methods.
...
In the lounge. 36 Zouteland Street.
After visiting the Heath family and going back to work. Selina lowered her head and as if contemplating, pinched her glabella twice.
Myriad of colors illuminated her vision. Through this lens she lifted her gaze and checked the vitality of the patient.
"Patient" has become a key term she used, even though it didn't correspond to their department.
As a commissioning company. How did it turned into a part pharmacy?
After analyzing the gentleman. Selina noted the gray areas as issues. Telling him.
"Mr. Marvik, did you say you're always fatigue and colorless? Well, it seems you have a blood problem.
"Fortunately, I can prescribe you a ginseng to brew alongside these herbs."
Marvik replied. "Oh thank you. Thank you thank you, thank you!"
He repeated. So much for exaggeration, Selina smiled and withdrew her hand from being grabbed by her client.
"I'll be back."
Rozanne is always present whenever there's clients as part of being the receptionist. She took Selina's seat and began conversing with Marvik about his experiences.
On the way to the alchemy room. Selina came across Kenley in a grayish-blue vest.
"Good afternoon." she greeted. "Is there another case?"
Kenley returned the gesture first before affirming. "We're resuming on the identities of the eight vampires that have chased you in the past.
"Contrary to the case's progress. Our lead reached another stop. Klein petitioned his help. Also Captain will be waiting for you at the office."
"I see... very well." Selina smiled softly.
After the exchange. She quickly went into the alchemy room.
Her notes of the vials and herbs were laid out in the open. Just as she finish writing the customer's report of their condition. Selina suddenly felt something corporeal stirring within her.
A familiar sensation of something breaking down upon seeing the Marvik's elated face.
Just a bit more before I can finally digest my potion...