Mystery: The Undead Don't Die from Linking the Fire

Chapter 124 Only Fire Can Purify the World

"Unsolicited kindness is either a treacherous act or a theft!"

Fors was inexplicably reminded of a famous quote by Emperor Roselle, and a sense of unease crept into his heart.

It seemed reasonable to reward her in gratitude. But Fors felt that her contributions were not enough to make Dorian, a stranger, open his heart to her.

Mrs. Anlisa guided her onto the path of the extraordinary because she had cared for Mrs. Anlisa for a long time. And Mr. Lawrence's willingness to show her trust and sincerity was also explained by his discovery of her identity on his deathbed.

But Dorian was different; they had only just met.

"No, no need."

Fors decisively refused, carefully considering her words before hesitatingly extending her right hand. She lifted her sleeve, revealing her fair wrist, hidden by the lotus leaf-like fabric of the cuff, and a string of silver stone bracelets.

Fors carefully chose his words and said softly, "This was a gift from Mrs. Anlisa, including her extraordinary qualities."

Dorian's eyes widened in surprise, before he fell silent.

The term "extraordinary ability" is something that only those "inside the circle" would understand. In other words, Fors is already an extraordinary being, using Anlisa's extraordinary ability and inheriting everything from her.

Ash Black, standing beside her, was clearly an extraordinary individual as well.

Furthermore, he is definitely a powerful extraordinary being.

But this did not make Dorian give up; on the contrary, it strengthened his suspicions!

"Ms. Wall."

Dorian took a deep breath and slowly asked, "Did Anlisa tell you which family she comes from?"

"no."

Fors shook his head slightly and replied frankly, "Anlisa seems to have some dissatisfaction with Mr. Lauborough's relatives."

Dorian Muran, Lauborough, Anlissa's husband, was also a member of the Abraham family.

"Ms. Wall."

Dorian looked up and said earnestly, "Would you like to hear a story from me?"

"..."

Fors remained silent for a long time, then subconsciously looked at Ember beside him.

Seeing the girl's thoughts, Yu Jin slowly said, "I just came with you."

"Hmm~"

Fors puffed out her cheeks; wasn't this just kicking the ball back to her again?

"Alright, Mr. Dorian."

After thinking for a moment, Forl said with some helplessness, "But could you please tell this story as briefly as possible?"

"certainly."

Dorian breathed a sigh of relief. He opened his mouth but no sound came out, as if he didn't know where to begin.

But after hesitating for a long time, he slowly spoke:

"During the reign of Solomon in the Quaternary period, there was once an incredibly glorious family called the Abraham family."

"That was a powerful angelic family that could be compared with the Solomon family at that time, and the Tuldor family that later ruled the Kingdom of Tuldor."

"In the subsequent Tudor dynasty, the Abrahamic family was also one of the five great angelic families, alongside Ammon, Antigonus, Jacob, and Tamara. Yes, just as you might have guessed. This family once had angels, more than one."

Dorian paused for a moment, then explained solemnly.

"No, I already knew."

Fors muttered to himself, but on the surface, he put on a surprised expression.

After all, it was Ember who told her all this, and neither Mrs. Anlisa nor Mr. Lawrence had told her these things. Well, of course, Ember's account of history inevitably lacked detail and was not as comprehensive as Dorian's.

"But one day, the ancestor of Abraham's family suddenly disappeared."

"After that, all members of the family were burdened with an unknown curse. This curse made the Abrahams far more prone to losing control than ordinary extraordinary beings, and also made it almost impossible for them to become powerful extraordinary beings."

"The once powerful angel family fell apart in an instant."

While Fors listened attentively, nodding occasionally, he thought to himself:

"Isn't betrayal the next step?"

What followed was nothing more than the Abrahams being betrayed by their apprentices, and their family being wiped out. She had heard this story before, and although it was indeed a tragedy, the more times she heard it, the less emotionally invested she became. Fors had even once considered writing this experience into a book—

For example, the female protagonist, Miss Sissi, taught an outstanding apprentice, but in the end, this apprentice chose to betray his master and ancestors.

However, to Fors's surprise, the story Dorian told next was completely unexpected.

Dorian's expression suddenly turned solemn, and his voice, both ethereal and resonant, seemed to be recounting an epic:

"When the curse spread within the family, there were still a few demigods left, all of whom were Beyonders of Sequence 4 or higher. They tried every possible method to stop the spread of the curse, but all of them ultimately failed."

"Gradually, even these demigods perished one by one in their constant toil. That was the most desperate time for Abrahams. When all the demigods died, there would be no one left to protect this once-powerful family of angels."

"But at this most desperate moment, the Abrahams saw hope!"

"hope?"

Fors blinked, her emotions stirred as well.

Because this part of the story is one that Ember has not told, or rather, one that even Ember does not know.

"Yes, I hope so!"

Dorian's expression turned serious. He took a deep breath and said, "In their most desperate moment, the Abrahams received a prophecy:"

"Only fire and the fool can save Abraham!"

"The Fool and the Flame..."

Fors's expression immediately tensed up. She wasn't a spectator or a clown, so she quickly lowered her head to hide her emotional change. She didn't want anyone to know that she saw Mr. Fool at the Tarot meeting every Monday.

So, the reason Dorian said these things was because he knew that he and Ember were "believing" in Mr. Fool?

"Yes, fire and the fool."

Dorian nodded solemnly, then added with a self-deprecating laugh, "But within the family, many have already abandoned this prophecy, believing it's merely a way to fool future generations. The prophecy obtained through the sacrifice of the family's last demigod is seen by them as nothing more than a way to fool them—isn't that ridiculous?"

"So, Mr. Dorian, you've always believed in this prophecy?"

Fors hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked.

"certainly."

Dorian readily admitted his identity as Abraham, and solemnly declared, "I firmly believe in the prophecy passed down by our ancestors at the cost of their lives: only fire and the fool can save Abraham!"

Fors felt her mind was in turmoil and hesitantly asked, "So... Mr. Dorian, you think we're connected to the Fool?"

She didn't know what flames were, but she knew the word "Fool," and subconsciously assumed that the other person was referring to Mr. Fool.

"No."

Dorian shook his head and said, "On the contrary, the Abrahams knew who the Fool was; he was the pinnacle of the 'diviner' path held by the Antigonus family. However, like our ancestors, the ancestors of the Antigonus family have also long since disappeared."

"The Fool is an illusion; for us, fire is the only salvation! Yet for thousands of years, we have never found any clues or information related to 'fire.' It's as if it were just a phantom dream!"

"Until today."

Dorian suddenly changed the subject, his eyes filled with a hint of fanaticism.

"today?"

Fors immediately realized he was referring to their arrival, but he was certain he had nothing to do with the so-called flames. Considering the glances Dorian kept making at Ember, the answer was obvious:

The so-called flames refer to the embers!

Fors looked up at Ember, only to find him staring blankly at the somewhat fanatical Dorian, and said calmly:

"So, you want me to help you? Or, to help Abraham?"

"Yes!"

Dorian nodded without hesitation and said in a deep voice, "I don't know what your relationship with fire is, Mr. Black, but in thousands of years, you are the only person I have encountered who has the potential to break the curse we bear."

"How can you be so sure?"

Fors suddenly felt a little uneasy and asked in return.

"I am a Sequence 7 astrologer, possessing the ability to divine and predict. Moreover..."

Dorian paused, looked at Fors beside him, and suddenly laughed, "I think you've confirmed my guess, haven't you, Ms. Wall? Because of using that bracelet, you're also suffering from the curse, aren't you?"

"It was this Mr. Blake who resolved, or at least suppressed, your curse, wasn't it?"

"What curse?"

Faced with Dorian's question, Fors tried his best to control his expression and asked back.

Unfortunately, although she tried her best not to reveal any flaws, she was, after all, just a magician, and could not perform as seamlessly as the audience or a clown.

Dorian chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Miss Wall, perhaps you lack talent in acting."

"I……"

Forl wanted to refute, but quickly lost his nerve and pursed his lips.

Dorian turned his hopeful gaze back to Ember, hoping to get an answer from him.

"I can help you."

Ember tapped the table lightly with his fingers and said slowly, "But the question is, what kind of reward can you offer?"

"Any compensation!"

Upon hearing this, Dorian not only didn't find anything wrong with it, but replied without the slightest hesitation, "Abraham is willing to pay any price as long as you are willing to provide help!"

After a moment of hesitation, Yu Jin said calmly, "If that's the case, I can give it a try."

He needed to obtain potion recipes of Sequence 5 or higher from Abraham, and even more than just potion recipes. This family, which had been passed down for thousands of years, even though it had declined, still possessed a rich heritage; otherwise, it would not have been able to continue to this day.

Perhaps their "family treasury" contains not only potion recipes, but also the corresponding main ingredients—

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to train so many apprentices in such a short time.

Unfortunately, these apprentices eventually betrayed Abraham and his followers.

"good!"

When Dorian saw Ember finally nod, his face lit up with ecstatic joy, and his voice trembled slightly. "If possible, I'd like to contact the other members of the family now. At the very least, let them meet with you, Mr. Black."

"Can."

Yu Jin nodded slightly, and Dorian, having received the answer, seemed eager to enter the bridal chamber. He apologized and hurriedly left the private room.

"ember."

Fors absentmindedly turned the grilled fish on her plate with her fork, and asked in a low voice, "Are you really going to say yes to him?"

"Anyway, there's no harm in it, right?"

Yu Jin nodded and said with a smile.

"That's one thing..."

Fors hesitated, then said tentatively, "But if that's the case, won't we be unable to return to Backlund tonight? Hmm, should I send a telegram to Hugh beforehand?"

"No need for that."

Ember shook his head, and amidst the girl's puzzled expression, calmly said, "You could simply pray to 'The Fool' and ask Him to pass on the message, couldn't you?"

"..."

Fors opened his mouth, wanting to speak but then stopped, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.

Is that how you use the name "The Fool"?! That's a god who's being resurrected! And according to Mr. Dorian, this "The Fool" might actually be the ancestor of that Antigonus family.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Ember seemed to see right through Fors's thoughts and said leisurely, "You can tell Mr. 'Fool' about your conversation with Dorian. After all, this information must be of great value to Mr. 'Fool.' And as payment, having Him relay the message isn't an unreasonable request, is it?"

Fors hesitated for two seconds, his expression softening as if he had been persuaded by Ember.

Finally, the girl nodded silently, tidied herself up a bit, and then whispered:

"A fool who doesn't belong to this era;"

"The Mysterious Ruler Above the Gray Fog;"

"The King of Yellow and Black, who holds the key to good fortune."

"I want to pray to you and tell you what happened to me today..."

……

Inside the cafeteria of the Klag Club in Backlund.

Klein was getting food with Dr. Allen and the others, not because he wanted to save money on a meal, but simply because he happened to be passing by the Kragg Club that day. Since they were already there, why not eat?

But just then, he heard once again the illusory, layered voices of supplication, faintly emanating from a woman.

Klein's expression shifted slightly, but he continued getting his food without making a sound, and he and Dr. Allen found a place to sit down nearby.

After setting down his plate, Klein quickly said:

I'm going to the restroom.

"Um?

Dr. Allen looked at Klein with some surprise and oddness, but Klein had already turned and strode towards the restroom after saying those words, completely unaware of Dr. Allen's gaze.

Upon entering the washroom, Klein locked the door and skillfully took four steps in reverse to ascend above the gray fog.

Gazing at the ever-expanding and contracting crimson star, he felt a surge of spirituality and chose to listen.

"Dorian Gray, the Abraham family..."

"The Abrahams are burdened with a curse, a demigod's prophecy, and only fire and a fool can save them."

"The pinnacle of the diviner's path is the Fool, and the Abrahams suspect that the 'Follower Fool' is the ancestor of the Antigonus family..."

Klein was initially confused, but his expression changed quickly because of Fors's information. Even the Joker's abilities almost made him lose control of his expression.

A series of thunderclaps exploded in Klein's mind, throwing him into disarray and giving him a sense of destiny:

"I'm so stupid, really!"

"I only knew that the sequence controlled by the Antigonus family was the Diviner's Path, but I never thought that the 'Sequence 0' of the Diviner's Path could very well be the 'Fool'."

"The notes that caused the original owner's death and indirectly helped me transmigrate came from the Antigonus family, who had mastered the methods of diviners."

"What ultimately led me to choose the Diviner's Potion was the diary of Emperor Roselle."

"And why do I call myself 'The Fool'? Is it because of that fortune teller?"

"But if that 'Fool' of the Antigonus family is still alive, wouldn't my actions be like a cuckoo usurping someone else's place?"

At this moment, Klein's thoughts were incredibly complicated, as if two little people were fighting inside his heart.

One said: You're finished! When the Fool returns, you'll be the first one he'll settle scores with!

Another said: Impossible, he's long dead, I'm the real 'fool'!

He tried hard to recall the face of the fortune teller from back then, but found that he couldn't remember it no matter what he did.

He remembered meeting her in front of a low tent; he remembered her wearing a pointed hat and a long black dress, her face painted with red and yellow rouge, and her deep gray-blue eyes. He remembered that she was chased away by the real fortune teller halfway through the reading, and that the one who had been telling his own fortune was actually just an animal trainer.

But what about the face?

What does she actually look like?

"It's like fate has woven a suffocating net!"

"But what exactly is hidden behind all of this?"

Klein rubbed his temples, trying to calm himself down, while pulling the magician above the gray mist.

Suddenly, Fors opened his eyes and saw an endless gray-white mist below him, towering stone pillars supporting a magnificent palace, and an ancient, mottled bronze table in front of him.

At the very top of the bronze table stood a mysterious figure shrouded in thick gray mist, seemingly looking down upon everything.

Fors rose slightly and bowed respectfully, saying:

"Mr. Fool".

"The Fool" Klein smiled and nodded:

"Your intelligence is very valuable. What kind of reward do you require?"

"No, no payment is required."

Fors waved his hand, thought for a moment, and then whispered:

"Mr. Fool, if possible, I would like to ask you to convey to... to Miss Judgment that we may not be able to return to Backlund for some time."

After speaking, Fors seemed somewhat uneasy.

This is Mr. Fool, is it really okay to bother him with such a small matter?

"This is wonderful!"

Klein breathed a sigh of relief; he was afraid Fors would make a request he couldn't fulfill. But delivering a message was a trivial matter, far too easy for him.

However, to maintain the "aloofness" of the Fool, Klein simply smiled and nodded:

"Can."

"Thank you for your generosity."

Fors breathed a sigh of relief, but hesitated for a moment before asking somewhat tentatively, "Mr. Fool, I have a question..."

Fors looked up at the 'Fool' and found him looking at her encouragingly, so she mustered her courage and said:

"I'd like to know, what is Mr. 'Lover''s' connection to flames?"

Ember hadn't told her to ask the question, but Fors still asked it out of her own volition.

"Good question."

Klein raised an eyebrow slightly, quite pleased with Fors' question; he had actually wanted to answer it for a long time.

Klein raised his hand and pointed to a certain spot.

Following the direction pointed out by Mr. Fool, Fors looked and saw the gray mist flowing like water, dotted with one after another deep red illusory "stars". Some of them were large, some were tiny, some were hidden deep inside, and some floated on the surface.

"This is you."

Klein pointed to one of the bright, deep red stars and said.

"I?"

Fors was somewhat taken aback, but Klein quickly pointed to other stars:

"This is Miss Judge."

"This is Miss Justice."

"This is Mr. Hanged Man..."

Klein introduced several stars, but Fors suddenly felt uneasy because Mr. Fool had not introduced "The Lovers"!

But soon, after introducing the other members, Klein pointed to a certain spot and slowly said:

"They are lovers."

Following the direction the Fool pointed, Fors finally found a red star that was much larger than the others.

"Is this embers?"

Fors thought about it subconsciously, but she quickly realized her mistake.

When she looked closely, she discovered that behind the red star, there was actually a small cluster of flames hidden!

The flame was small, emitting a bright yellow light.

But its light was so faint, overlapping with the deep red stars, that it was almost imperceptible. If Mr. Fool hadn't specifically pointed it out to her, she would never have noticed the existence of that tiny flame!

Fors remained silent for a long time, then asked in a low voice, "That flame, is it the embers?"

"Yes."

Mr. Fool nodded slightly and sighed leisurely:

"The flames are his past, and also his curse. But whatever they are, they have long since become one with him."

If Miss Fors hadn't mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten that what represented the embers was a small flame. And this small flame actually confirmed some of his suspicions—

Yu Jin must have either usurped the fire or seized it, otherwise it would be impossible to explain why his 'soul' was represented by a single flame!

But this only made Klein even more puzzled.

How could someone who is capable of committing such heinous acts as usurping or seizing the fire possibly be thinking about passing on the fire all day long?

Is that a beaver?

But is it true that "only fire and the fool can save Abraham"?

That doesn't seem to be a problem, after all, the curse of the Abraham family was the babbling of the full moon.

The Embers could easily solve this problem for the Abraham family, as demonstrated well by Fors. As for the Fool…

"Wait a minute, I guess I could do that too?"

Klein's expression suddenly became somewhat strange. After thinking about it carefully, he wondered if it was possible for him to break their curse.

He would provide protection on the night of the full moon as long as the members of Abraham's family recited his name.

So it seems that the fool was actually referring to himself?

Is this prediction really that accurate?

Klein smiled with satisfaction, which meant that he was the only fool, which was a good thing.

But then, as if he had thought of something, Klein's expression suddenly stiffened.

If—and he meant if—he were to step in and help the Abraham family, what would he gain?

First of all, as the saying goes, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Since the Abraham family was once an angelic family, it must have at least one Sequence 2 or even Sequence 1 extraordinary individual. Even if such a family has declined and suffered betrayal, its foundation is far beyond that of ordinary secret organizations.

If the "Fool" successfully helps them, he will surely gain Abraham's friendship and might even convert them into his followers. Then, when this "deity" sends his followers to demand extraordinary materials or potion recipes, will they refuse? If he can subdue this ancient but declining family, wouldn't that mean his future path will be smooth sailing?!

Doesn't this mean I've missed another opportunity?!

Thinking of the potential reward for Ember, 'The Fool' forced a stiff smile.

No, it's not a loss.

At least once Ember obtains these items, he shouldn't hesitate to sell them to 'The World' or 'Klein'. Rounding down, isn't that practically the same as selling them to 'Klein'?

Well, it just requires a small price to pay, which is gold pounds.

Moreover, it might not be a good thing for all Abrahams to believe in me. For example, I can't respond to them all individually, nor can I guarantee to provide shelter for everyone; my spirituality isn't sufficient to support me in doing so. So, this is actually a good thing!

Yes, that's right, that's it!

Klein kept trying to comfort and reassure himself, attempting to convince his heart, which was screaming, "I feel so sore!"

……

"What does 'The Fool' mean?"

Inside the restaurant's private room, Yu Jin looked at the girl who seemed to still be in a daze and asked her a question.

"Mr. Fool agreed."

Fors didn't look at him, but instead stared at the plate on the table. As if starving, she picked up a piece of fried fish fillet and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling, "So, don't make me do this kind of thing again. Making Mr. 'Fool' a mouthpiece—don't you think that's going too far?"

Yu Jin shrugged and didn't reply.

He also looked down at the fried fish fillet on his plate. The two bulging eyes on the fish head were staring at Yu Jin, seemingly expressing their resentment at death. Even Yu Jin felt a little uncomfortable and picked up the fish head, throwing it into the trash can.

"Bang! Bang!"

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

After receiving a response from inside the private room, Dorian pushed open the door and entered. His expression no longer seemed as distressed as before, as if he had let go of many burdens and felt much more relaxed.

Dorian smiled and said:

"I have already sent telegrams to other family members, and some have responded. As agreed, we will meet in Duceyshire in a few days."

Dorian, fearing that Ember might find it troublesome, quickly added, "Mr. Black, it takes almost three days to get from Pulitzer Port to Ducey County, even by steam train."

Contrary to Dorian's expectations, Ember did not show any impatience; instead, he calmly asked:

"When are we leaving?"

"How about tomorrow?"

Dorian asked cautiously, "I need to wait for the other family members' reply, so it would be best to wait until tomorrow morning before taking the cruise ship or steam train to Ducey County."

Fors asked, somewhat puzzled, "Doesn't that mean we have to stay in Pulitzer Harbor for another day? We'll have to find a hotel this afternoon..."

"That's not necessary."

Dorian smiled and said, "I have a villa in the suburbs of Pulitzer Bay. Although I don't live there, I always have maids to clean it. If you don't mind, you can go there to rest for the night."

"..."

Fors didn't want to speak. Should he say that this was indeed an ancient family with a history of thousands of years? Even though it had declined, its wealth was still an astronomical figure for ordinary people.

They bought a villa but didn't live in it, and even hired a maid to clean it. It's as if they bought a villa specifically for the maid and still have to pay her a salary.

"Oh, and this too."

Dorian seemed to have thought of something and suddenly took out a notebook.

"This is……"

Fors glanced at it; it was the notebook Mr. Lawrence had given her.

Dori stroked the cover of the notebook and whispered:

"It's called Lemanor's Travel Notes, but we prefer to call it Lemanor's Magic Book."

"This magic book allows you to witness and record an extraordinary ability."

"This will be permanently attached to one page of the notebook, and you can use it whenever you need it. But after you use it once, the corresponding page will become blank again, waiting for you to record something again."

"shepherd?"

Yu Jin asked thoughtfully.

"Very similar."

Dorian nodded and explained, "This corresponds to the extraordinary abilities of Sequence 6, 'Recorder,' in our Apprentice Path. In some ways, it can even be said to be stronger than 'Shepherd'! Because Shepherd can only control one soul at a time, while Recorder can use multiple abilities simultaneously!"

Yu Jin remained noncommittal, neither refuting nor affirming.

Although Dorian comes from an ancient family and possesses many secrets, he is only Sequence 7, so even if he sees the descriptions, he cannot truly imagine many things. Because he follows the apprentice path, coupled with the past glory of the Abraham family, he naturally has the illusion that "the path I've taken is the best in the world."

In reality, both the recorder and the shepherd had their advantages and disadvantages.

The former can use multiple abilities simultaneously, but each ability can only be used once, and the number of each ability is limited.

While the latter requires switching the soul being controlled to unleash the extraordinary abilities corresponding to that soul, this process can be changed instantly, and the shepherd can also control the soul of the 'recorder,' as Mr. A has done.

"It can record 3 demigod-level extraordinary abilities, 10 sequence 5 and sequence 6 extraordinary abilities, and 25 extraordinary abilities below sequence 6. However, the higher the sequence, the greater the chance of failure, so it often takes several or even a dozen attempts to succeed."

"Furthermore, the higher the sequence, the worse the effect. Sequences 4 and above may only have half the original effect, and even sequence 5 may only have 80% of the original effect."

"Besides, like other magical items, it has powerful negative effects. Every time you use it, it will make you lose your way, leading to various dangers, even death! You must draw your own blood after use and smear it evenly on the cover to eliminate this effect."

Fors nodded repeatedly, but then asked with some doubt:

"Mr. Dorian, why are you telling us all this?"

"Abraham always repays kindness."

Dorian seemed to have anticipated her question, smiling as he handed the notebook to Fors, and said seriously, "Whether you can break the curse we bear or not, this notebook will serve as compensation for your efforts!"

"Compensation? That's quite a bold move."

Fors took the notebook and sighed softly to himself.

He got a magical item for free without doing anything; the Abraham family's resources are truly abundant. But perhaps Mr. Dorian's actions were also a way of proving to them that the Abraham family could indeed provide sufficient compensation?

But is this really necessary?

It was merely an unproven prophecy; they couldn't even ascertain the identity of the Ember, yet they were willing to pay such a high price. Did they truly believe in that so-called prophecy? Or was it a case of desperation leading to hasty decisions? Or perhaps some other reason?

Fors handed the notebook to Ember, and looking at Ember's profile, a question arose in her mind.

Ultimately, what exactly is 'flame'? What is the relationship between embers and flames? Is the reason he has no heartbeat also related to flames?

Seeing that Ember and the other person had accepted the magical item, Dorian breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile:

"I have some things to take care of, so I won't disturb your meal any longer. If you would like any additional food, you can ask Chef Sergei in the kitchen. If you need to find me, I'll be in my study upstairs."

"By the way, here is the address and key to the villa."

Dorian placed a note and the key on the table, then backed away from the private room, even thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

"Isn't he worried that we'll just take the stuff and run?"

Fors muttered a complaint, then turned around to find Ember staring blankly at his notebook. She asked in a low voice, somewhat puzzled, "What are you thinking about?"

Ember hesitated for two seconds, then suddenly asked:

"I'm wondering, is this notebook only for recording extraordinary abilities?"

Fors was stunned for a moment, unable to react immediately, and instinctively asked:

"Besides extraordinary abilities, what else does he have?"

Ember thought for a moment, then replied seriously, "Magic, spells, miracles, um, and combat skills, prayers..."

"..."

Fors hesitated, then asked, "Are you sure these aren't the same things? Or should they all be categorized as extraordinary abilities? What's the difference?"

……

Dorian left the restaurant and returned to his office on the second floor, closing the door behind him. The curtains had been drawn sometime earlier, making the room unusually dark. Dorian, clearly used to this, simply walked silently to his desk and sat down.

Ugh!

A sudden gust of wind swept through the office, carrying with it the trembling sound of weeping.

Rings of light spread out rapidly, seemingly forming a door beyond the realm of normal understanding.

A semi-illusory, semi-real spherical object flew out from the "bottom" of the aperture. It was milky white and had no eyes, nose, arms, legs, or feet. Only a crack resembling a mouth appeared on its surface.

Dorian smiled broadly, opened his mouth, and began to hum a folk-style lullaby.

The 'sphere' immediately began to sway from side to side, appearing extremely comfortable.

After humming the tune, Dorian reached out his hand.

The 'sphere' bounced up and down, its body suddenly swelled up, and its 'mouth' opened wide.

Then, it spat out a letter.

"Well done, Malmos."

Dorian took the letter and praised "Roundball" as he did so, making "Roundball" sway happily once again. However, when Dorian opened the letter and quickly scanned it with great anticipation, his eyes visibly turned to disappointment and dejection.

He lied; he didn't receive a response from his family as he had told Ember, nor did he agree to meet in Desishire a few days later.

In fact, he did not use telegrams to communicate with others, but was a 'messenger', which is rare even among extraordinary individuals.

The messenger allowed him to contact members of the Abraham family living around the world more quickly and easily, and ensured that the letters were received by them personally.

Unfortunately, among all the people he contacted, not a single one offered any encouragement or support!

Dorian's face was full of bitterness. Over the centuries, only a minority of Abraham's family remained willing to believe in the prophecy. Especially after the betrayal, their wariness and rejection of outsiders grew day by day.

His statement that they would meet in Dixie County in four days was merely a delaying tactic.

He pinned his hopes on writing to as many family members as possible within those four days, trying to persuade them as much as possible. Although he didn't know exactly how many people would go, it was still a hope, no matter how elusive and unreal it seemed, as unattainable as a mirage.

But no matter what, only by reaching out can one possibly grasp that fleeting miracle!

"But was it all worth it?"

Dorian sat at the table, staring at the last sentence of the letter. His fingers, white with tension, gripped the edge of the paper tightly, and he remained silent for a long time. In the end, however, it all culminated in a long sigh. And his gaze, at that moment, became more resolute than ever before.

He picked up a pen and took out a clean letter.

"worth!"

"Nothing is more worth fighting for than this! My parents, my brothers, my sisters, my children, and countless ancestors from thousands of years ago—too many people paid the ultimate price because of this curse!"

"If there's hope of breaking the curse in my generation, what reason do we have not to do it?!"

"Even if not for ourselves, we should at least try for our children... for your children, shouldn't we at least make an effort?"

Dorian folded the letter and handed it to his messenger, Malmos, then took out another clean letter. The members of the Abraham family were scattered throughout the world, and Dorian needed to use different tones for different people.

This time, however, he wrote only a short sentence:

"Make Abraham great again!"

P.S.: A promising work, worth reading, I'll recommend it again.

(End of this chapter)