"Alexia has gone underground to see that machine for now. Before she left, she told to notify the Church and have them take Finney to the Evergreen Forest. Alexia hasn't returned, but she must have had her reasons. She probably found out sothing... a few hours ago at dinner, she was saying the strangest things."
Hathaway laid out her theory, growing more certain of it as she spoke.
"So, she must have been prepared well in advance."
"Alright," Jenkins replied. "Then I'll head to the Evergreen Forest now."
Jenkins couldn't stay away from the tower for too long. The gateway was only open for a short ti, and if it closed, his soul would have to re-enter from the first floor. Although he was fairly certain the Star Spirit and Mr. Augustus had already dealt with the first and second levels, he wasn't keen on testing that theory himself.
He reached out and embraced Hathaway, then gently lifted Chocolate by the waist and placed the cat back on top of her head.
"I'll be back soon. Please, don't worry."
"I know."
Hathaway bit her lip and nodded, saying nothing more. Chocolate, however, clearly didn't want to be separated from Jenkins, but it was obvious he had no intention of bringing the cat along.
"Destiny will guide my way, Hathaway," he said softly. "While I can't rely on the power of fate to defeat my enemies, it always shows the way when I'm at a loss."
He was referring both to the events that had transpired so far and to his ability, The Unknown Path.
"I know," Hathaway murmured, her smile a little strained. "That was your first power."
"The first power... and the first destiny."
"Yes, the first... destiny?"
Jenkins's brow furrowed. It was as if a bolt of lightning had shot through his mind, as if the glimpse of "destiny" he'd witnessed just minutes ago had truly guided his fate. In an instant, a thought connected everything. The chaotic fragnts of a puzzle snapped together, finally forming the truth.
"Could it be? I've been such a fool, thinking about it for so long..."
"What did you figure out?"
"Miss Audrey knew all along!"
He could no longer control the volu of his voice. Standing close, Hathaway noticed a faint purple light flicker across the surface of Jenkins's soul. It was gone in a flash, but it had definitely been there.
"Everything begins with destiny, and everything ends with destiny. The nine emblems aren't a line at all—they're a circle. The first destiny is the final destiny! Does it an... If that's true, then my very essence is..."
It was clear that in that mont, he had understood far more than just the nature of the ninth emblem.
"What did you think of?" Hathaway asked again.
"I'm such an idiot!"
He repeated himself, rapping his knuckles against his own head before turning back to Hathaway.
"I'm going to the Evergreen Forest now. I need you to do sothing for ."
"Of course. What is it?"
"Tell the Church I know the location of the ninth Doomsday Docunt."
"You an..."
Hathaway understood imdiately.
"You've had it all along? It's *that*?"
"Yes, it's that one."
He nodded firmly.
"I've told you about how I beca an Enchanter, about that alley and that wall. I beca an Enchanter the mont I entered the Mysterious Realm, and the Doomsday Docunt obviously couldn't have been inside the realm. That ans the slate is either near the wall where Mr. Barnard and I entered the Mysterious Realm, or in the alley where I t Mr. Hood and the rest of you after I left."
He had shared the story of how he beca an Enchanter with Hathaway before, so she knew the exact locations of those events. And since she was present at the gathering shortly after he had left the Mysterious Realm, she knew where he'd t Mr. Hood.
"The Church might find the ninth Doomsday Docunt while I'm back inside the tower, but they have to find it. I have a gut feeling that gathering all nine slates will have an extraordinary significance."
"Don't worry," Hathaway promised resolutely. "I'll lead the Church to it."
Jenkins embraced her again. He was about to leave when a voice stopped him.
"Mr. Williatte."
It was Miss Harms, the "Composer of the Score," who had called out to him. She looked at Jenkins directly.
"May I have a few seconds of your ti? This is a gift for you from the Music Cult."
With that, she took a rolled-up scroll of parchnt from a small bag on the table and handed it to Jenkins. It looked incredibly ancient and radiated a powerful golden spiritual aura—it was undoubtedly a numbered item.
He unrolled it to find a musical score written in blue ink, though the writing was already faded and mottled with age.
"It's a loan," Miss Harms added with a smile.
"Wait, isn't that..."
Miss Bernreuter started to object but cut herself off mid-sentence, a look of sudden understanding dawning on her face. She imdiately changed her tune.
"Yes, it's on loan to you."
"But I can't take this into the Mysterious Realm. I can only bring items that I've been in contact with for the past month. Thank you for your kindness, but..."
Jenkins shook his head, trying to refuse, but Miss Harms showed no intention of taking the score back.
"Aren't you going to the Evergreen Forest? Perhaps this score will be of so use there."
Hearing this, Jenkins decided to accept the score for the ti being. After bidding farewell to the three ladies and his cat, he dissolved into a beam of golden light and vanished. In his soul state, he could fly with ease, a feat his physical form could not manage. It was for this reason that Jenkins had always considered his body a kind of limiter.
Once Jenkins was gone, Hathaway didn't imdiately go to find Miss Bevanna. Instead, she looked suspiciously at Miss Bernreuter and Miss Harms.
"Are you two hiding sothing from ?"
"Of course not," they said in unison.
"Then what was that score just now? Is it the property of the cult? How co I've never heard of it?"
Miss Bernreuter quickly interjected, "Let Briley answer you."
She smiled smugly and went back to shelling the remaining sunflower seeds. Miss Harms shot Miss Bernreuter a venomous glare before turning to answer Hathaway's question.
"It is an item that only the 'Composer of the Score' of each generation is permitted to possess. According to the rules, I cannot reveal its existence to anyone."
"Why not?" Hathaway asked, but before Miss Harms could reply, her expression changed. She knew about the unique responsibilities of the "Composer of the Score" and could guess what kind of item could only be held by its bearer.
"See? Hathaway figured it out," Miss Bernreuter chuckled as she shelled her seeds.
"She certainly hasn't figured it all out, but she must be on the verge of the truth," Miss Harms said, propping her chin on her hand as she looked at Hathaway, whose cat was perched on her head.
"She probably understands less than that cute little cat... Hathaway, if you don't leave soon, you're going to hold things up. Also, didn't you say you were going to tell His Majesty the King that his friend ca to visit? It seems you've forgotten about that, too."
Reviews
All reviews (0)