"…Do you have to be so cheeky?" Klein said tactfully.
He was familiar with the "send me fifty" jest and knew what the Lord of Mysteries was, given it wasn't as dangerous as an Outer Deity. While Alaric hadn't explicitly told him, he hadn't hidden it either. Over time, Klein had pieced together that the Lord of Mysteries was the Celestial Worthy.
"Of course! It's fun to be cheeky!" Alaric nodded matter-of-factly, grinning. "And though I'm joking, anyone with discernment can see the weight in those words. The Lord of Mysteries, The Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings, The Ancient Sun God... these aren't names just anyone would know."
"As long as you're happy," Klein said, shaking his head, unable to argue. He silently hoped the Celestial Master wouldn't mistake Jack for a fraud.
In theory, that shouldn't happen, given Cohinem's introduction.
Klein also admitted he was deeply curious about the Western Continent.
Unfortunately, whether due to no one being on the other end or a delayed connection, there was no immediate reply.
Alaric didn't mind. He tucked the bamboo slip away and got back to business.
That evening, as Alaric, Klein, Lil' Amon, Anderson, and others held a barbecue on the deck of The Future, a response finally arrived:
[Greetings, Friend Jack.]
[What does 'send me fifty' mean? Please enlighten me. If it's within my power, I'll certainly try.]
Alaric raised an eyebrow, sighing. "What a pity. Looks like the Celestial Master doesn't surf the net!"
Klein, standing nearby, saw the reply and gave Alaric a peculiar look. "Jack, maybe write something serious next time," He couldn't help but say.
"Serious? This is totally serious!" Alaric retorted, feigning indignation. He grabbed the carving knife, thought for a moment, and wrote:
[No need to mind. I was just joking.]
The other side went silent... perhaps stunned, perhaps delayed by a bad connection. After about ten minutes, a reply came:
[Quite the humorous friend, aren't you!]
"Is that a compliment or a jab?" Alaric chuckled, unbothered, and continued carving:
[You flatter me.]
[My mentor Lucifer also a remnant of the Pre-Epoch, he helped Mr. Door resolve his corruption issues. Perhaps you know of Mr. Door.]
This time, the response was almost immediate:
[I know of Mr. Door, a remarkable figure. Is he well? That's truly reassuring.]
Alaric wrote back:
[My mentor possesses unique powers and has briefly brought the Ancient Sun God back to this era, though not fully revived. I believe, before the apocalypse arrives, the Ancient Sun God will return to this world.]
The reply came:
[Your mentor is truly admirable. If a new Lord of Mysteries emerges and the Ancient Sun God is revived, the apocalypse's threat could be resolved. Your mentor would be a savior of all.]
Alaric smiled at the praise, knowing the Celestial Master might not fully believe him... seeing is believing, after all. But since they were willing to play along, he continued:
[Additionally, my mentor suppressed part of the City of Calamity, severing it from the main body. How is the City of Calamity faring on there?]
After a brief pause, the reply came:
[Was your mentor's suppression of the Malevolent Dragon's avatar ten days ago?]
'So, after I severed the smaller calamity, the main City of Calamity wasn't unaffected…' Alaric raised an eyebrow, unsurprised, and wrote:
[Yes.]
The other side seemed to process this, responding after a moment:
[Your mentor possesses immense power!]
Severing a Sefirot wasn't something just anyone could do. The last to achieve it was the Oldest One.
"Heh!" Alaric chuckled, writing unhurriedly:
[So, do you believe what I said earlier?]
The Celestial Master likely hadn't expected Alaric to address the matter so directly. After a few minutes, they replied:
[Don't take offense, friend. The matter is too significant, and your claims are extraordinary. Without evidence, we cannot take your word alone.]
[No worries, I understand.]
Alaric wrote, pausing before adding:
[I've shared my side. Would you mind telling me about yours?]
The response came promptly:
[What would you like to know? If it's not confidential, I'll share everything I can.]
"That's a candid answer," Alaric said, rubbing his chin. He wasn't after secrets but rather the history of the Western Continent.
The outside world's millennia of colorful figures and dramatic tales were fascinating, and Alaric was curious about the stories of the Western Continent, home to most of the Sefirot.
So he wrote plainly:
[I'm not interested in secrets. I'm curious about your history... or rather, the people. I love compelling stories, especially true ones.]
[I know some may involve sensitive matters, and you don't need to share those. I just want the most widely known historical tales and legends.]
Alaric made it clear he knew his boundaries. He'd probe for deeper secrets later; for now, a general overview would do.
After another pause, likely to weigh the request or organize thoughts, the reply came:
[I can share a few stories. They may not be entirely true and might include embellishments, but they are indeed the most widely known.]
…
Alaric and the Celestial Master had an enjoyable chat.
Though neither fully trusted the other, unsure of how much truth lay in their words, the Celestial Master's stories were undeniably captivating.
As Alaric occasionally exchanged messages with the Celestial Master while adventuring across the seas with Amon and Klein, time passed day by day.
Soon, the New Year was approaching.
It marked the end of the old year, the start of a new one, and the day Alaric and his group had chosen to launch their revolution.
As that day neared, Klein and the others halted their sea journey and returned to Backlund to prepare for the coming changes.
***
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