Klein was stunned at the information, but more so by the Captain.
How could you forget something like that?
"No, I haven't, why?"
What did he mean by an ominous temple? Why hasn't anyone reported it to the authorities yet?
Dunn shook his head with a dark expression and sighed.
"That's what I figured, regular people like you are completely oblivious to it. We've seen countless people not acknowledge it over the past few days, as if it didn't exist. Only beyonders like me can see it for some reason. At first, I suspected that someone was casting an illusion over it, but if that were the case, we wouldn't be able to see it at all, or at least it wouldn't be easy to see. Only someone from the seer pathway would, as they can see past illusions, and we don't have any beyonders in that pathway. Unless whoever's doing it wants us to see it and is playing some game with us."
"Who could it be?" Klein asked, leaning forward in his chair.
"It could be this Asterion character; he could be the cause of it. It showed up around the same time the name began popping up along with the sighting of the man." Dunn suggested with a shrug,
"How much does the unnatural darkness cover?"
Dunn stared at him for a long time before taking a deep breath.
"70 kilometers,"
"What?" Klein's eyes widened,
Seventy kilometers and not a single person noticed?
"We think it's the headquarters for this new cult, but we don't know, as we haven't gone inside the temple yet, because we sensed multiple powerful presences in there of who we think are mid-sequence beyonders."
"So that's why we haven't gone in there yet: we have no intel and therefore no idea what to expect or how many more there could be, and we didn't want to cause a panic over something ordinary humans couldn't see. Especially since we don't want civilians finding out about the existence of Beyonders."
Multiple Powerful presences, Klein repeated in his head, but stopped when Dunn said something that caught his interest.
"The unnatural darkness makes it so that the area it's covering is perpetual nighttime, so the Nighthawks who are in the darkness pathway, like me, are exponentially more powerful within it. So we could take down whoever is there without any problems, but it's only a matter of figuring out who's a part of the cult. As I said, we don't know how many there are or what exact sequence and pathway they're in," Dunn said with a distant tone, paused as if contemplating something, then spoke again after a moment.
"In fact, I believe I know who the presences belonged to: the seven people we encountered last night. I didn't say anything, but they had overwhelming presences that were enough to make me nauseous."
"You're saying they could be a part of this cult?" Klein asked nervously and excitedly, adjusting his hat at the information.
"I don't know, but they're not out of my sight either. Right now, the primary suspect is Sunless, the man you mentioned earlier. You told me he said the name Asterion by accident, as if it were normal. Did he say anything else?" Dunn leaned forward and clasped his hands together with a stoic expression.
"Yes, when I came into Smyrin's bakery, he looked downright terrified. I asked him if he was alright, and he was just surprised to see someone he didn't expect to see. Could he have been talking about this Asterion?" Klein asked
"Perhaps. Still, whatever the case, I'll bring him to Daly, and we will find out the truth one way or the other. I will have to approach this carefully, as I have no idea whether he's a beyonder, what he can do if he is one, or what sequence he is, or whether he's a friend or an enemy."
"If he is a part of the cult, then he will likely refuse to talk. Will you invade his dreams as you did mine and try to get the truth from him?" Klein asked, curious about how Dunn would approach this situation he had likely handled many times. Well, at least the cult part, not the strange temple and the darkness surrounding it.
"Yes, I will approach him and talk to him normally, then go on from there. When I bring him here, make sure you're here, as it will be an experience for a novice like you, but keep back, as you aren't a beyonder. If he is a member of this cult, then he would rather die than give anything up, even if that means he has to do it himself. Anyway, I'm sure you have questions and concerns about us."
"Yes, I do," Klein forced a smile and cleared his throat.
"Go on," Dunn nodded with a serious look.
Klein nodded and gathered his thoughts before asking the question that had nagged him ever since he had heard. "What did you mean by beyonders losing control? Why does it happen?"
****
Sunny leisurely strolled down the street with a thoughtful expression. After Mordret revealed that Asterion was here, it threw those who knew about him in the temple into a silent panic. This was hours ago, and they were still discussing it at this very moment.
So quickly becoming bored with it, Sunny secretly sent Gloomy away from the temple and out into the street, then manifested an avatar and decided to take a walk down Iron Cross Street. As he walked, he admired the crimson moon to help clear his thoughts.
He was also waiting until everyone calmed down, and because he couldn't stand being in the same room as Mordret for more than a few hours.
Everything was moving far too fast for him, and he couldn't keep up, well, at least until— huh? He stopped when he saw a woman suddenly appear out of the corner of his eye and was currently smiling at him. How long had she been standing there? How did he not notice her?
"I've heard that new people have arrived here; you must be one of them, hm?" the woman asked with a gentle smile. She had dark hair, a bright smile, and wore a purple dress along with black heels and a black handbag.
"Yes, it's my third day here, and my second day at work. My name is Sunless." Sunny turned to face her fully and held out his hand to the woman, who shook it.
"I know who you are, in fact, my 'friends' and I have been watching you since you arrived. I've found it impossibly funny seeing you and your friends trying to figure this place out."
"I didn't want to spoil your experience by meeting you so soon; in fact, I think it's a little premature, but I was so curious about you all that I had to come and see for myself. I hope you know that more people are aware of your presence than you think. In fact, your arrival here has caused quite the stir. But, as you humans would say, the show must go on." The woman softly laughed and let go of Sunny's hand, then stared at him for a long while, giving him a look up and down.
"Yes, it's honestly hilarious how you thought no one would notice. Oh well, you'll have to deal with that now or in the future. Either way, it'll be fun to watch."
Why was that last part so ominous, and why was this woman being so strange?
"I don't, it's been an unusual experience so far, but I'm slowly learning this kingdom, especially the currency. I didn't realize I already had a secret admirer." Sunny shook his head with a forced smile.
'Is she a stalker? She didn't even tell me her name yet.'
"Oh, with your looks, I'm sure you already have plenty of them who are just too shy to introduce themselves."
"I know you said we would see each other again soon, but I didn't think you would show up again so soon, Dreamspawn." Sunny curled his lips upward into a cruel smile, but stopped when the woman looked genuinely perplexed.
"Hm? I haven't the slightest clue as to what a Dreamspawn is, but I'm honestly offended you think you mistook me for someone else, Sunless. I am not that man. Trust me, this Asterion is simply a child playing god when compared to all the other things in this world." The woman stifled a laugh, even though Sunny didn't find the conversation humorous in the slightest.
"Well, I'll see you again, Sunless. Ah, and don't worry, next time we meet, I will properly introduce myself. In the meantime, here's something to remember me by. We won't see each other for a while, but I will definitely keep an eye on you. Anyway, show my gift to your friends, wear it at work, or wear it all the time." The woman reached into her handbag, then placed a small black silk box in his hand and closed his fist around it.
"What is it?" Sunny asked, his brows furrowing in curiosity. He wasn't afraid that it was something that could harm him, as he was a saint, but that didn't mean he would let his guard down just because Asterion said that Beyonders were weaker than awakened and could die from a firearm.
Even then, Sunny didn't fully trust the dreamspawn's words, as if these beyonders had a ladder to climb in divinity, then Sunny and his companions would slowly begin to meet their matches; it may not have been in strength, but more so in abilities and how hard they were to kill.
"Don't open it until I'm gone, and once you see it, don't fret about it, as I have plenty more where that came from." The woman smiled, reached into her bag again, and placed a crystal monocle on her right eye, then began walking away, humming to herself, before Sunny could get a word out.
Sunny stared in confusion at the interaction and looked at her retreating form blend into the night on the sidewalks.
What did she mean next time? Why was she watching him? Was it Mordret in disguise? No, the bastard would have said something by now.
Sunny pushed these thoughts aside and let out a long sigh, and began walking to Smyrin's bakery. As he made his way there, he opened the box. His gaze became blank when he saw what was in the box.
'What the hell, is this some kind of joke? There's no way I'm wearing this thing.'
Well, actually, he recalled that Mordret didn't like these things, so he would wear them just to annoy the bastard.
So, with that in mind, Sunny took it out of the box, held it in the moonlight, then placed it on his right eye and adjusted it, before putting it back in the box with a nod. What gift did the woman give him? Strangely enough, it was an identical crystal monocle.
I wonder who that was? What a strange interaction. Oh well, see you all next chapter.
Speaking of chapters, there won't be one for a while since I'll be using that time to read a lot of Lord of the Mysteries, possibly finishing it before continuing this fanfic. Don't worry, it is NOT dropped.
I will be back to this fanfic eventually, but while you're waiting, try reading my other fics, especially A Shadow's Song :) I'll see you all later!