The two arrived at the reception area after entering through the grand oak-paneled entryway.
Gazing at the polished marble flooring, the ornate chandelier, and the portraits of different n hanging on the wall, Abel couldn't help but marvel at it.
These must be the previous presidents of the Club, he wondered.
Beside the reception desk, stood a finely dressed, lanky old man with neatly combed white hair, reading the entry ledger through his brass-rimd eyeglasses.
"Billy, issue a mbership card for this young man," Honoria called out to him.
The Club Steward, Billy Tate, turned to the old woman and respectfully greeted her with a slight bow, "A most pleasant morning to you, Madam Whitmore."
He then gazed at Abel, his eyes involuntarily darting towards the type of clothes he was wearing. He asked curiously, "Madam, is he..."
"Yes, Billy." Honoria nodded with a flat expression. "He is."
With that said, she headed towards the main hall, leaving behind her parting words, "Ensure that his mbership card is prepared by the ti he leaves."
Abel nodded at the steward before following the old lady. The next mont, Billy called out to him, "Sir, might I have the honor of knowing your na?"
"The na's Bishop." The youth turned around and gazed at the old man, coolly stating his na, "Abel Bishop."
If I am an agent of the crown, then I should behave like an agent of the crown, hehe, he thought to himself in amusent before following behind Honoria.
The main hall was an expansive and lavishly decorated hall, filled with leather armchairs, mahogany tables, and a roaring fireplace.
Abel saw a few mbers dressed in fine clothes, smoking cigars, and discussing scientific and philosophical matters. By the way they carried themselves, he could tell they were wealthy and influential people.
He hardly had any ti to explore the ground floor as Honoria had already climbed the staircase to the first floor where the grand library was located.
It was a vast collection of books on natural philosophy, science, and dicine. The library looked far more fancy than the ones he visited at his university.
Honoria Whitmore navigated with great familiarity through the maze-like floor filled with dozens of bookshelves.
Finally, she arrived before an unassuming bookshelf and pulled a specific red hardcover book on the fifth row from the bottom.
Under Abel's stunned gaze, the entire bookshelf rumbled ever so slightly before sliding to the side, revealing a secret passageway.
Honoria turned around and looked at the youth's shocked expression with a smirk, "These are the restricted archives, accessible only to the agents of the Ministry."
"So cool!" Abel couldn't help himself. Speech mannerisms be damned!
Upon entering the dimly lit passageway, the pair arrived at a small room, perhaps only a quarter of the size of the actual library.
There were only two large bookshelves containing books related to the occult arts. Other than that, there was a seating area and also a small fireplace.
"Though this is officially designated as one of the three containnt sites in Newport," said the old woman, "it is not truly so. That is to say, it holds neither anomalous objects nor anomalous beings."
When the old lady ntioned anomalous beings, the first thing that ca to Abel's mind was the naless monster that he faced in the First Trial of Ascension within the Spirit Crucible!
Honoria Whitmore set down her leather bag on the table before her and made herself comfortable on the leather sofa.
Only after she'd taken her seat did Abel sit on the high-back armchair across from her. "Madam Whitmore, does the East Newport Shipping & Customs House contain these anomalous objects and beings you speak of?"
The old lady shook her head. "No, the customs warehouse is solely for the sealing and safeguarding of Anomalous Objects. Anomalous Beings, on the other hand, are confined within the third containnt site."
She took out a small, yet long elegant smoking pipe from her bag and a pouch filled with finely cut tobacco.
Seeing her actions, Abel's lips started to twitch incessantly as he thought to himself, What the hell? Even she smokes? I thought it was only a guy thing...
Fuckin' hell, always being in the company of smokers is no different than being one!
As she exhaled the puff of smoke, she continued with her explanation. "The third containnt site in Newport lies on the outskirts of the city. Tell , have you heard of St. Bartholow's Hospital?"
Abel's eyes widened in disbelief. "You an that asylum?! That's actually a containnt site for the Ministry?!"
Honoria nodded, setting down the pipe on the table. "Yes, it is both a containnt and a research facility where Anomalous Beings are studied."
Before Abel could press for further information, she continued, "Now, I have no doubt that you are quite fascinated by the Anomalous Beings and the containnt sites, but I must remind you that is not why we are here."
Her expression turned stern as she added, "You are here to study the occult, not to concern yourself with the anomalous. My ti with you is limited, and I would much prefer that you focus strictly on your studies. Nothing else."
Abel swallowed his words. He nodded with a serious expression, "Yes, ma'am." He paused for a mont before asking, "By the way, how much ti are we talking about?"
"Monday to Friday, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm."
"I understand." Abel nodded, thinking to himself, Two hours, five days a week isn't that bad. It's manageable.
Honoria picked up the pipe after putting fresh tobacco leaves in the bowl. She struck a match and inhaled the smoke, savoring the fine taste of imported tobacco.
"The three pillars of the occult are alchemy, astrology, and the ritual arts," The elderly woman finally began.
"Alchemy seeks to transmute one substance into another. Astrology is the study of the celestial influences on worldly affairs and events. Lastly, the ritual arts encompass ceremonies, incantations, and symbolic actions to shape and influence the world around us."
Abel tried his best to contain the excitent bubbling inside of his heart and pay attention to Honoria's words.
Finally, he was going to delve into the mysteries of the occult!
Honoria Whitmore then stretched her free hand forward. The next mont, the air around her changed again, turning mysterious.
She drew a supernatural power from deep within her and coated her right hand with it. A mystical aura enveloped her hand, shining with a faint blue light.
"If alchemy, astrology, and ritual arts form the three pillars of the occult then this—"Honoria stated with a faint smile, "—is their very foundation."
As the faint blue aura glowed around the old woman's hand, Abel instinctively understood.
"Spirit energy!"
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