Lord of Mysteries: The Lord of Power

Suppressing his urge to dwell on troubling thoughts that could destabilize his mind and potentially lead to meaningless death, Furen turned to the final pages of the notebook. Even a naive youth could easily discern the significance of the calendar dates marked by Martin—the full moons and blood moons of the coming years. Perhaps it was this calendar, forged from a father's love, that helped Furen survive countless near-catastrophes over the years, shielding him from the omnipresent dangers that might have easily claimed his life.

As Furen examined the calendar, he closed his eyes with a sigh. July 6, 1183, marked the full moon of the month. On this day, Bethel's voice would pierce through dimensions, inflicting unimaginable pain on all descendants of the Abraham family.

After a moment of sorrow, Furen pulled himself together. Though he felt the weight of his father's and his own suffering, he knew revenge was far beyond his reach. Plans, let alone thoughts of vengeance, were an unattainable luxury.

Resolute, Furen carried the notebook to his bedroom. Following its instructions, he retrieved the 1184 and 1185 calendars from his collection and meticulously marked all the full moon and blood moon dates for the next three years.

Although eager to delve into the notebook's astrological knowledge, Furen reminded himself that his priority was not acquiring knowledge at this moment. After receiving Raymond's notice, his sense of urgency to advance to the next level had intensified. With the possibility of losing all ties to the Abraham family looming, Furen needed to prepare for his progression into the mysterious world of the supernatural entirely on his own.

As for how to enter this wild and enigmatic world, Furen was unsure. However, his father had left behind a record of the knowledge his own father had taught him, preserved in a specific notebook.

The name of this notebook, etched into Furen's memory, was stored in the secret study's lower-right corner. The title on the cover, written in faded ink, read: The Rise of a Genius—Martin Abraham's Path to the Divine.

It seemed to be the unfulfilled wish of the Abrahams to bring their family back to prominence. In his youth, Martin was also inspired by his father's aspirations and dreamed of leading the family to greatness. Similarly, Furen now picked up this long-abandoned dream from the aging, yellowed pages of the notebook.

Martin's entry into the world of mysticism occurred when he had just consumed the apprentice potion at the age of fifteen. During this curious and adventurous phase, his father introduced him to the "Flaming Axe Tavern" in the Winston District—a small pub that became Martin's gateway into the supernatural.

The Flaming Axe Tavern hosted a small gathering of mystics organized by an unknown but undoubtedly powerful secret society. This smaller gathering was a branch of a larger mystic congregation. To join this larger congregation, one had to first enter through the tavern's smaller gatherings, which were by invitation only, granted by the tavern's owner.

Over the past decade, the mystic gatherings at the Flaming Axe Tavern had gained significant traction among mystics in Trier. Though small, the gatherings occasionally traded items as rare as Sequence 6 main ingredients or even Sequence 5 auxiliary materials. Martin never worried about being deceived, as each gathering was overseen by a "Notary," a Sequence 6 mystic of the Sun pathway.

The "Notary" always wore an iron mask, and rumors suggested there were multiple notaries, as individuals had witnessed simultaneous appearances at different gatherings. This hinted at the sheer power and influence of the secret organization behind these gatherings.

Under his father's guidance, Martin gained invaluable knowledge and experiences at these mystic gatherings, narrowly escaping crises while advancing through the Sequences. He regarded the Flaming Axe Tavern as a symbol of his initiation into the mystic world, a place where dangers and opportunities coexisted.

Even years later, Furen could sense Martin's joy during that time.

Aside from the tavern gatherings, Martin noted methods for accessing other mystic congregations in his journal. In the world of mysticism, the most likely candidates for entry were the minor nobles and wealthy merchants. The great nobles had no need for such gatherings, while those below the merchant class could seldom access them.

Martin described how one could subtly hint at their interest in the mystic world during social gatherings with minor nobles and merchants. By inquiring persistently and networking broadly, one could uncover pathways into the mystic world.

Martin himself utilized this approach to access additional gatherings. While these were less prominent than the Flaming Axe Tavern's gatherings, having multiple avenues to the mystic world was always advantageous.

Another method, though far less reliable, was to become a mercenary and search for mystic gatherings in taverns within the civilian and slum districts. This approach was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and often fruitless—finding a guide into the mystic world was no simple task.

After rereading this notebook, which remained vivid in his memory, Furen decided not to hesitate any longer. He resolved to head to the mystic gathering described in the notes. Although these gatherings were typically held at night, it was better to inform the tavern owner of his intentions in advance than to arrive unprepared.

Carefully considering what to bring and conducting a thorough check of his belongings, Furen finally stepped out of his house.

As he waited on the wide street, Furen turned back to check his mailbox. Using the mailbox key he should have used yesterday, he decided to see if any letters had arrived this morning.

To his surprise, the mailbox contained a white envelope sealed with blue wax. The seal bore the sender's name: Quevedo Heimer.

Furen was astonished. He had only reunited with Quevedo yesterday, yet today he already received a letter from him. This unexpected enthusiasm left Furen with a deeper impression of his new friend's character.

Hearing the ringing of a carriage bell, Furen refrained from opening the letter. Instead, he tucked it into his large pocket and waved to the approaching carriage. Once it stopped, Furen stated his destination.

With thoughts of the letter's contents swirling in his mind, Furen climbed into the carriage, which slowly disappeared down Corsoen Street.