"Why is the moon in this painting white?"
When Audrey Hall blurted this out, others noticed the painting's oddity, growing curious about the design choice. In the Loen Kingdom, the "crimson moon" symbolized the Evernight Goddess. Painting it white struck everyone as jarring.
Some Evernight Goddess devotees felt mild displeasure but restrained themselves—after all, no other evil gods were tied to the moon, right?
"Ahem, I suppose this painter isn't a follower of the Evernight Goddess," a minor noble joked. "But he's certainly brimming with artistic flair."
"You're too kind. While I'm not a devotee of the Evernight Goddess, I deeply respect Her," a gentle voice interjected. The crowd turned to see Adrian, monocle gleaming, approaching with a warm smile. "In my creative process, I chose white to evoke a tranquil, serene atmosphere, aligning with the gentle impression the Evernight Goddess imparts to Her followers. This was my inspiration while painting in Desi Bay."
Viscount Glaint chimed in to affirm Adrian's status: "This painting is a gift from this esteemed artist. I assure you, Mr. Abraham's artistry ranks among Backlund's finest."
Before the gathered crowd, Adrian adjusted his monocle, lips curving upward. "Indeed, it's merely a painting technique…"
Something's off. Audrey's Spectator instincts flared. Adrian's spirit body and demeanor were flawless, yet she sensed a subtle discord—like a drop of oil in water. He seemed to deliberately project this unease.
But where was the discord?
No… wait! Audrey realized it was too perfect. Adrian's spirit body was unnaturally calm, unlike his outward persona. Even the most composed person would show some spiritual fluctuation when sharing creative insights with a crowd. He was unchanged—purely "performing." This was a flaw meant for Beyonders to notice. He knew Beyonders were present and was flaunting his pathway!
*But what pathway grants such perfect "performance"? I'll ask Mr. Fool at the next Tarot Club. Audrey touched her smooth chin, pensive. As the dance music swelled and the crowd dispersed, she realized she'd been lost in thought too long. With her maid's help, she regained composure, entering Spectator mode to engage with other guests.
Introduced by Viscount Glaint, Audrey exchanged brief pleasantries with Fors Wall, avoiding sensitive topics in public.
Watching Fors head for a cream-coated cake, Audrey followed Glaint to the drawing room. She recalled details from her chat with Fors, analyzing her intentions to gain an edge in future interactions.
Stepping forward in her cool, neutral Spectator state, Audrey caught her trailing gown, stumbling. Before her maid Annie could catch her, a strong hand steadied her.
"Careful, miss," a cold male voice said. Audrey's ears twitched, detecting a faintly sinister undertone in the stern tone. Without overthinking, she stood, a pretty blush on her cheeks.
She saw a handsome man dressed as a musician offer a flawless smile, retreating with gentlemanly grace. Turning, Audrey sensed a Beyonder aura from him.
He came with Mr. Abraham, his companion… Both Beyonders, aiming to contact me or Viscount Glaint? No, Glaint would've warned me. From my observations, this unnamed gentleman seems well-bred…
Musing, Audrey mingled with the crowd, unaware of Mr. A's complex inner turmoil.
Mr. A admitted he needed to repent.
As the Lord's shepherd, he hadn't fully aligned his thoughts with the True Creator*'s current scriptures. His smile was a flesh-magic construct, barely maintained. As an Aurora Order divine envoy, he nearly unleashed a flesh-explosion-corrosion-split combo on Audrey upon sensing her Beyonder status. Thanks to his strong self-control, he narrowly averted a brutal murder.
Repenting to the Lord in his heart, he diligently pursued Adrian's assigned tasks.
Adrian sighed silently, having glimpsed Mr. A's entire mental struggle through his cosmic perspective. He nearly used his Ranger speed to stop Mr. A's frenzy. While fending off nobles and writers requesting portraits, Adrian swiftly raided the buffet, sweeping through the banquet's dishes.
Mr. A's faith in the True Creator was devout, or he wouldn't have resisted that killing urge. Can't let him kill Miss Justice—if the Tarot Club's wallet dies, Klein's in trouble. Hmm, this cake's nice. Maybe I'll send some to my dear colleague to boost His humanity… In the Forsaken Land of the Gods, the High-Dimensional Overseer's avatar tapped the True Creator with a tentacle.
Nope, the True Creator ignored Him. No extra meal for True Creator.
With his main goal at the banquet achieved, Adrian relaxed. Audrey had noticed the painting as planned; with slight nudging, she'd mention it to Klein at the Tarot Club as a curiosity. Forking a steak into his mouth, Adrian savored its flavor, strolling leisurely through the banquet, observing the guests' performances. This was a perfect aristocratic drama, each person chasing desires, freely showcasing talents and radiating unique brilliance. Yet, bound by rules, they were soulless marionettes.
Adrian watched coldly, feeling immense pleasure. Slicing his steak, he imagined carving the Writer characteristic he'd secured but couldn't consume. Following his pollution's trail, the High-Dimensional Overseer manipulated the tainted Ince Zangwill, lulling him into a stupor, then controlled his body to grip the listless *0-08* and write in a notebook:
After seeing the white moon in the painting, Audrey Hall couldn't suppress her curiosity, planning to ask the omniscient "Fool" about it at the next Tarot Club.
Ince Zangwill, eyes closed, moved stiffly like a puppet, tearing out the page. Muttering the High-Dimensional Overseer's honorific name, he offered the paper. The High-Dimensional Overseer smiled, tapping the page with an oddly shaped limb.
The text flowed off the paper, floating in the air, aligning before Him. With a gentle spatial nudge, the words collapsed into a one-dimensional data stream, piercing a flaw in the Astral World barrier. Reassembling as text, they flickered onto an inconspicuous corner of Audrey's sleeve.
Audrey Hall faltered briefly, then continued forward, expression unchanged.
Adrian watched her, swirling his wine glass. He observed Mr. A tirelessly mingling, leveraging his striking looks and book-learned manners to befriend artists and minor nobles seeking fresh connections. At some artists' requests, he sang hymns praising the Ancient Sun God. An Intis musician, moved to tears, gave Mr. A glowing praise.
Humans are fascinating. The once-despised Aurora Order envoy, slightly disguised, earns such adulation. Adrian sipped his wine, lounging boredly, analyzing each guest's psyche. His Outer God mind, so potent, quickly pierced their desires, leaving him bored again. He kneaded the Hidden Sage in his cosmic hands, shaping it, while watching lives on this fate-bound planet end in dramatic destinies.
Thus, Adrian passed the time, waiting for Fors and Audrey to finish talking and emerge.
As Viscount Glaint exited, guests left in cheerful clusters, their faces showing rich gains. Adrian even saw Eternal Blazing Sun devotees bonding with Mr. A, inviting him to their next gathering.
Adrian thought those Sun followers were nuts. He could already picture Mr. A's next visit, dimensionally crushing them, converting them into Ancient Sun God devotees. Intrigued, he had his cosmic self cast a gaze at Mr. A.
"I've always wanted to see devotees betrayed by their faith," one of the High-Dimensional Overseer's thoughts said to another on a different "timeline."
"What would they think, learning their 'just Sun' stems from betrayal?"
"Human minds shift in an instant," his future self replied. "If Mr. A performs, they'll swiftly turn from fervent faith to fervent hate. It's a scene worth watching."
The lively banquet cooled, leaving only Adrian and Mr. A. Viscount Glaint frowned, puzzled by their lingering. Audrey, anticipating this, thought: Viscount Glaint… I hate to say it, but you're the only non-Beyonder here.
"Apologies, Viscount Glaint. I have business with Miss Fors Wall. May I borrow a room?" Adrian asked. Glaint, unsure—did they know each other?—glanced at Fors, who nodded slightly.
Since Fors, a Beyonder, agreed, Glaint arranged for a servant to lead them to a side room. As he sat to chat with Audrey, Mr. A said casually, "I heard a rumor—Viscount Glaint wants to become a Beyonder? Is it true?"
Glaint's pupils constricted. Dismissing his servant, he eagerly engaged Mr. A. Audrey sighed, entering Spectator mode to observe. She noted Mr. A's gaze sweep over her, offering a polite smile.
...
Ince Zangwill stared at the glittering starry sky, face grim. He glared at the quill entwined with dark threads, tempted to smash it. Scattered papers and splattered ink surrounded him. A throbbing pain in his brow suggested severe spiritual damage.
Clenching his left fist, he slammed it on the newly repaired desk. Bloodshot veins crept into his turbid eyes.
(End of Chapter)