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Klein did not immediately leave the grey fog after he sent everyone back. He knows he gave them some high level knowledge he learned from Adam, but his spirituality didn't give him any warnings so he trusts it will be ok. Besides, he did give Adam the task to make sure no-one is at risk of losing control, and let the others know that He can help them.
He does feel a bit bad about Danitz though. He told him that joining would be a reward but… Bullying him like this can't be considered a reward. With that thought in mind, Klein summons over a paper figurine and Danitz's start.
~~
“Dogshit, what did I get myself into?!”
Danitz had just returned from his first meeting, and he doesn't know what's going on. What's that talk about Yin and Yang, what are Kings of Angels, how is Mr. Fool a mother when he's a man… Was that last thought blasphemy? At this point Danitz couldn't care, especially not with the growing headache.
Before he could think further his eyes saw the fog, and above it Mr. Fool. Before he could even consider that he might die for blasphemous thoughts he saw a multi winged angel descend and wrap around him. He felt calm, at peace…
~~
With that done, Klein felt a little better. Just as he was about to check up on everyone else as well, he heard a prayer. “It seems someone is awake…” Klein couldn't help but smile.
Ever since the resurrection project began, Grisha would wake up from time to time. And after the first time, he would speak Klein’s honorific name to let him know he's woken up.
~~
Klein was finishing packing before his trip back to Buckland, when Adam suddenly arrived in a panic.
“Mother! Something, something is wrong! I found a vessel the Aurora order was preparing for the True Creator, and used it as a base for the resurrection plan you came up with. It was going well, Father's divinity quickly latched onto it, and I was able to force the vessel to sleep, but now, But Now! Father's Divinity is awake and I can't put it to sleep again! I'm doing all I can to keep Him in the Cathedral but He's trying to escape and this plan is failing all because I couldn't keep him asleep and now-and now!..”
Klein quickly grabbed Adam's shoulders, trying to ground him. He doesn't have a lot of experience with panicking people, let alone when said person is apparently his son.
“Adam, placate yourself, calm down.”
Listening to his Mother's words, Adam did just that. He was so focused on the resurrection that he completely forgot to monitor his own mental state. Slowly he starts to calm down and breathe more easily.
“That’s it, just calm down. Now, tell me, slowly, what happened.” Klein couldn't make out a lot in the panicked rambling, but it sounded like it had something to do with Grisha.
“I found an Aurora order member that had gone through rituals to become a vessel for the True Creator. I had taken him, wiped his mind and transferred Father's divinity into it two days ago. I have been keeping this vessel asleep to force the divinity to interact with the True Creator, when suddenly it woke up. I-I…”
Could this be like how the divinity tried to take over Adam when I called him Grisha? “Is the vessel still in the Cathedral?”
“Yes Mother.” It is taking all of Adam's strength and control over the Corps Cathedral to keep the vessel contained, but he has succeeded so far.
Klein took out a gold coin, doing a divination about if going to the cathedral with Adam is a good idea. It was heads, and his spiritual intuition fully agreed. “Ok, take me to the Cathedral.”
Adam didn't want his Mother to be injured, especially after just finding him, but also did not want to disobey him. He gently grabbed Klein's shoulder and transported them into the cathedral, in a different room than the one the vessel is in.
“The vessel is through there, Mother… please be careful? I know not how Father's divinity would react to seeing you…”
Klein nodded to Adam, he too, wasn't sure if this would work. Before entering the room, he shifted his appearance to that of Zhou Mingrui.
In the room was a lean man, a bit taller than himself, but shorter than what Grisha is… was? He also had very short brown hair. It did not take long for himself to be noticed.
“RuiRui?”
Before Klein couldn't answer, he had arms wrapped around him pulling him into a tight hug, head pressed against his shoulder.
“You're here, you really are here…”
“Grisha.” Klein hugged back just as hard. It didn't matter if it was a different body, this was still his Grisha. “I'm here you big bafoon, I'm awake and here…” it took all the control of his clown position to keep himself from crying, he was not so alone anymore. His spirituality was thrumming happily under his skin.
And as much as he was trying not to cry, he could feel Grisha starting to shake in his arms, feel tears starting to soak his shoulder.
“My Eve, my beautiful Fairy… I missed you so much… it was so hard…”
“Sshhh, shh. It's ok now, I'm here, I'm not going anywhere, I promise.”
It took a while to get Grisha calmed down, to get them both calmed down. Eventually he got Grisha to lay down and go to sleep, but not without copious amounts of promises that he really is awake and that he'll be there when Grisha wakes up again.
Adam was waiting anxiously outside the room, hoping to give his parents some privacy, while staying close enough to be able to protect his Mother should something go wrong.
Eventually he came out, his clothes a bit rumpled, one shoulder wet with what he assumes to be tears and sees the tears still clinging to his Mother's eyes.
“He's asleep now, but knowing your father the way I do, he's bound to wake up again. I've told him my honourific name, and said he can pray to me whenever he wakes up and I come. But only if he sleeps and gets better.”
Klein was tired, yes he’s happy Grisha, at least in part, is back. But seeing him now only really drove home the situation.
“I'm glad Mother. Let me just check to make sure Father is properly asleep, then I will take you back. I'll also create an magical artifact that would allow you to come to the Cathedral without my help.”
~~
After hearing the prayer, Klein quickly descended back to his body. He made sure to check if everything is still ok, before switching his appearance to Zhou Mingrui and used the artifact, a small silver pendant in the shape of a cross, to get to the Cathedral.
Once there, he slowly walked to Grisha room, and lazily leaned against the open door. “ Hello Sleepy Beauty.” Klein could easily tell he's grinning like a loon, he makes sure not to use his abilities to control his expression around Grisha, and that means his clown smile is out in full force.
Grisha’s vessel looks different now compared to the beginning. The hair that was once short and brown, turned completely black and started growing longer. Recently the new growth had become golden blond, looking much like the ghost root trend from before. The facial features themselves had slowly shifted and changed to resemble Grisha more too.
“You really did come.” There was awe in his voice and a happy smile on his lips. He was still sitting in bed but wasn't making an attempt to get out just yet.
“Of course I did, just like the other few times you woke up, and I will continue to do so. I'm here, awake and real.” As he said this, Klein walked to the bed, sitting on the edge looking at his simp.
With Klein in arms reach, Grisha lifted his hand to hold Klein’s cheek. And Klein, he couldn't help but nuzzling his face into the hand, placing a kiss on palm. He brought up his own hand to keep Grisha's hand against his face. He always loved it when Grisha held his face like this, but he loves it more now for another reason.
Adam has been feeding Grisha's vessel Spectator and Sun characteristics to help the divinity overcome the corruption of the Hanged Man pathway. This has caused Grisha's body temperature to become much higher than a normal person’s. It's different to his own. Ever since he became a faceless, Klein noticed his body was colder than usual, and after becoming a demigod, he's become cold blooded. A side effect of his mythical form being what can best be described as a tentacle monster, and octopuses and squids are cold blooded after all. So when he finds a source of heat like Grisha’s hand…
“Whenever I wake up, I cannot help but fear you being awake is little more than a cruel trick played on me by my own shattered mind.” Slowly he leans in closer to Klein.
“And yet, you still pray to me every time you wake up.”
“A man can hope can't he?” He rests his forehead again his Fairy's, “Besides, you always come when I do.”
“That I do, I did promise I would.” Klein was in attention and small touches, “ Though I distinctly remember a certain bastard agreeing he would sleep and focus on recovering.”
Grisha brought his other hand up to Klein's other cheek, bringing the seer’s face even closer to his own. He knows his Eve enjoys being held, especially after becoming cold blooded. He feels how he relaxes in his hold, and gently he tilts the head up. The kiss was nothing more than a gentle touch of the lips, a show of love, affection and longing instead of desire.
“Mmmhhh, so I get kissed when calling you a bastard, should I start thinking of other things to call you?” Klein couldn't help but tease. He knows Grisha would give him all the kisses he wants, and more.
Grisha leans back just slightly, a lazy smile on his lips, “I'll have you know, my parents were happy married, so that statement is wholly inaccurate.”
With a sigh, he leans completely back against the headboard, dragging Klein with him into a cuddle. “I am making good progress reuniting with my humanity. The effects of the Sun counteracts the corruption of the Shepard, while I use the spectator to treat my mental corruption. It has gotten to the point where I have enough strength to…”
“No Grisha,” as much as he hated to, he sat back up straight to more easily look Grisha in the eyes. “We've been over this, use that strength to heal yourself, don't go do some silly thing like sending out blessings or oracles.” This was not the first time he's brought this up.
“Just one oracle, nothing more, I promise. It'll be a simple one, but it's to help you. Please A’Rui? I'll only send a short universal oracle, it won't take too much strength, just… please let me do something to help you? It's hard enough to know I can't do more, but would you please let me do this one thing my dear Fairy?”
Klein didn't know how to say no to that, not with how desperate Grisha sounded, not with how broken he looked. Does not being able to help me or be by my side really effect him this much?
“First tell me what the oracle is you want to send out. Word for word.” Before he's going to let Grisha deliver the Oracle, he's going to do a divination about the results.
Grisha smiled, knowing his little seer’s plan, “Find and Protect the followers of my beloved Fool.”
Klein blushed a bit at that. This simp! Clearly revealing the connection between The Fool and True Creator like that! But didn't he just do the same in the meeting earlier? Telling them about his relationship with Grisha?
Taking his pendant, he held it in his hand, silently doing a divination about if the results of the oracle will be beneficial or not. Soon the pendulum starts swinging widely clockwise at a rather fast pace, the oracle will be very beneficial in the future.
With a sigh Klein looks to Grisha, who has a very wide and satisfied smile on his face, like a cat who caught the canary. He was holding his arms open invite Klein to cuddle again.
“Ok, fine you glorified Ken doll, you can send out the oracle.” Klein layed down on top of Grisha, trying to get as much of that glorious body heat as possible.
~~
Colin was keeping watching over Derrick as he attended that meeting. As the young man regained consciousness, he very quickly paled. Seeing things reaction, Colin quickly followed through the preparations he's made earlier, activating a barrier and preparing for the worst. Had that being finally shown his true colours.
Derrick quickly went through a series of breathing exercises and cognated to regain his bearings after that meeting. When he was ready he looked up at the Chief. “I'm okay now Chief. It was just an intense meeting, a good one!”
Seeing that Derrick looked fine, Colin sheaved his blades, but he kept the barrier up. “What happened, what are you allowed to tell me?”
Derrick took a deep breath steadying himself. “There were 4 new members that joined this week, but two of… they are the Lord's angels, his sons, the Angel of Imagination and the Angel of Time. After they were introduced, the Angel of Time, He called Mr. Fool Mom! Everyone was shocked. Mr. Fool then explained how he was actually the Creator’s wife and that he really was those two angels’ Mother. Before the meeting ended, Mr. Fool asked the Angel of Imagination to help anyone suffering from psychological problems and He also called Mr. Fool Mother! This must be why Mr. Fool is so interested in helping us after waking up, it's because we are still loyal to His Husband even after living in darkness all there years!”
The more Derrick spoke, the more excited he became. Colin himself was shocked at what he was hearing. The self proclaimed God Derrick has been following, is their Lord's Wife? “If the relationship is true, then why don't we have any records?” That was bothering him the most. It's one thing to claim something and another to have evidence to back it up.
“I asked the same thing. The Angels said that murals exist, murals our Lord commissioned the Angel of Fate to create. Apparently they were the Lord's way to show His Sons what Their Mother looked like, because Mr. Fool was already asleep. They said the murals can be found in places called the Corpse Cathedral and Chaos Sea. Oh! Mr. Fool also explained that where the Lord is the God of Creation, He is the God of Change!”
The Fool is the God of Change? And murals exist that shows his relationship with the Lord? Colin will have to think a lot about this. Luckily he has time till they reach City of Silver to think of what to tell the elder council about this. Just as he was about to question Derrick further, there was a knock on the door.
“Chief, are you still in here? Elder Lovia is requesting your presence urgently. She said something about it being too quiet.”
Colin and Derrick looked at each other, that did not sound good. Without further delay, Colin brought down the barrier and headed out. He gave Derrick a signal to follow.
Together, they quickly approached the house Lovia is staying in. Colin knocked on the door, tense, ready for anything to happen, “Lovia, it's Colin. Derrick is here as well.”
“The doors open, you can come in. Derrick too, he needs to be here I think.” Lovia did sound as though she's losing control, but looks and sounds can be deceiving.
Slowly both of them enter, closing the door behind them. The room had several burning candles giving ample light for them to see. Lovia was sitting in the middle of the main room on the floor, her fingers bloodied, and a bloody message written on the floor.
“It's so quiet. God’s revelations are usually painful and bloody and loud. But this time it was quiet, and easy to hear. It was so clear…”
Colin and Derrick shared a look. This didn't sound so good. “What was the oracle of the True Creator Lovia?” Colin was asking very carefully as he started preparing the potions needed fight against corruption.
Slowly Lovia looked up at them, or more specifically, at Derrick. “ He told me to help you.” “What?” Derrick was shocked, why would…?
“What do you mean He told you to help Derrick?” Now Colin was truly on edge, why would Lovia be getting a revelation like that after what Derrick had learned?
“I wrote it down here in blood, but clear as day, my Lord said to find and protect the followers of His Beloved Fool. The Fool is the God Derrick follows.”
~~
All over the world, members of the Aurora ordered and beyonders of the Shepherd pathway received the same revelation.
Cattleya was in her cabin cognating and focusing on all she learned when Heath asked to speak with her, telling the same revelation.
Official beyonders tracking Aurora members saw disturbing sightings as their targets started fanatically praising the True Creator, asking forgiveness about misunderstanding the previous revelation of finding the followers of the Fool, boldly shouting they would protect the Holy Beloved’s worshippers.
Ouroboros, who was at His Lord's feet could not help but become excited as this meant the Sacred Lady is awake. He started making plans to find Him and assist Him as best he could, just as His Lord commanded.
Medici was shocked when he heard the revelation, so were Sauron and Einhorn, afterall, what one hears, they all three hear. “So the brats’ Mother is awake, huh?” When he thought of where His Lord's beloved might be, he for some unknown reason suddenly thought of the little seer he met a while back. Trusting his instincts as the former Red Angel, he decided to track down that seer.
~~
It was a few days since the Tarot Club meeting, and Alger was called to Bayan to discuss the latest strange activity of the Aurora order. When he docked at the resistance docks, he noticed that the Golden Dream was also there. This means he'll hopefully have an opportunity to speak with Danitz.
That night, after going to the Storm cathedral and getting the shocking news of the latest oracle the True Creator sent the Aurora order, something to be discussed in the next tarot meeting, he went out to find Danitz.
It didn't take long, Alger found him at the second bar he checked. When Danitz saw him, he tossed some coins on the bar and quickly got up to meet with Alger. Except he grabbed Alger by the shirt and proceeded to drag him out of the bar and into the alley next to the building.
“Dogshit. Sorry for that, look I've got a room at the Windrest inn, can we go talk there?”
Seeing how uneasy Danitz is, Alger agreed. He knew the inn, have previously stayed there himself, it was close and convenient. It would also offer some privacy for the upcoming chat.
Once in Danitz's room, Alger decided to test the waters. If he was wrong, he could just kill Danitz and claim his bounty. “Comfy place Mr. Strength.”
Danitz relaxed at that. He fell on one of the armchairs, making himself comfortable, “ You're welcome to take a seat Mr. Hanged Man. Seriously though, why that name? Just unlucky enough to draw it?”
Alger took Danitz up on the offer and sat in the chair across from him, “I chose it when we, Mr. Fool, Miss Justice and myself created the gathering. As for why, I don't feel like sharing.”
“Fair, fair… now I just got more questions like aren't you loyal to the Storm church and what do you mean you are a founder?! Dogshit, this is a mess…”
It seemed like Danitz doesn't now a lot, this could be a good opportunity to earn a favour or two from him. “Alright, then how about you ask what you want to know and I'll answer?”
Danitz sat forward, clearly think hard. “ Okay, okay….uh… oh I know! Is it normal for Mr Fool to send an angel down to you after the meeting?”
Wait…what? Alger was preparing for questions like how he joined or Kings of Angels…”Explain.” He watched Danitz closely.
“Huh? Well after the meeting I was still in my cabin on the ship when suddenly I saw the grey fog and Mr. Fool sitting above it. There was an angel made of light with like 10 or 12 wings next to Him that came down and wrapped it's wings around me…”
Angel of light with a dozen wings… that sounds like Angel’s Embrace! Mr. Fool's Blessing! “Did you pray to Mr. Fool after the meeting? Did you ask him to give you blessings?!”
Now Danitz is getting more confused. He thought it was something that happened to everyone…” No. I was just sitting on my bed still trying to figure out what was going on. I was planning on sending a letter to Gehrman to ask him about it.”
He didn't ask or pray? Mr. Fool just sent him a blessing? “Blazing, what is your relationship with Mr. Fool? He doesn't just send the rest of us blessings. Only when we pray for them. What you're describing isn't normal as far as I'm aware, and I've been following Mr Fool for just over a year now.”
“Uhhh… I've been piously praying twice a day and help Gehrman Sparrow with tasks? I mean that's the reason why Mr. Fool offered me to join this… club? I guess.”
Now Alger was getting more confused. This didn't quite make sense. “Just that? He hasn't given you any titles, orders or anything?”
Danitz couldn't understand what Alger was getting so worked up about. He's never piously worshipped any there Gods, so he doesn't have any experience in this regard. “ I'm telling you Alger, I pray once in the morning, once at night, everyday, and help Gehrman Sparrow. Usually he'd tell me himself what he wants, but since he's left the sea, Mr. Fool usually passes along the instructions.”
Mr. Fool does pass along the messages between the members of the Tarot Club, but Danitz has only just joined… Doesn't this fall under the category of a divine rev… No, it couldn't possibly be, could it? Alger sat upright, looking at Danitz, truly looking at him. Perhaps the Ancient God sees more in Danitz than anyone else? Is there something special about the hunter no-one knows about?
“Danitz… Mr Fool does send message like that between the Tarot members, key being Tarot Members. You, you only joined for the first time this week… Those were divine revelations.” The more he thought about it, the clearer it became. He's been with the church his entire life, he knows about Oracles, more than the common people at least, because everyone has heard about Divine Oracles at least once, the Divine Messengers of the Gods. And with Me. Fool only awakening now, he would have needed to choose new Oracles.
“ What do you mean they're divine revelations? It was just passing on Gehrman's instructions wasn't it?”
“Danitz, Gehrman has a spirit messenger, so why would he have Mr. Fool, an Ancient God, send you, a random worshipper, those messages? Those weren't some random instructions, they were revelations. Danitz, you don't realise this, but from what you've just told me, you are Mr. Fool's Divine Oracle, one of His mortal messengers.”
It took a few minutes for this to sink in for Danitz. He's heard stories about Divine Oracles, about how they stand equal to the churchs’ Popes because they are the voices of the Gods they follow… And Alger just said that he is one. “I'M A WHAT?!”
~~
Adam knew not everyone would take up the offer to call on him for aid, but he still sent virtual personas to watch over everyone. There is one though that he intends to visit personally. After returning Amon made an excuse about visiting a certain Poet and left without further ado, so Adam had time to do as he liked.
It was later that evening when Audrey retired to her room. Her afternoon had been interesting and chaotic. Luckily after returning Susie was there to talk with, even though she couldn't share the details.
As she was removing her jewellery, she heard a sudden voice behind her. One she instantly recognised.
“Good evening Miss Audrey. I hope I'm not intruding?”
After a quick placate on herself, Audrey turned around to greet her uninvited guest.
“Good evening Adam. I wasn't expecting a visit from you like this. It is rather rude to enter a Lady's room uninvited at this hour.”
From what she saw during the meeting, Both Adam and Amon place a lot of importance on Mr. Fool, and because she followed Mr. Fool herself, she was certainly she had a measure of safety when dealing with the brother.
“ I apologize for that, this was merely the most opportune time. You are correct in your judgement of how important Mother is to us both, and with you being one of Mother's anchors, we will do what we can to insure your safety.”
Even with that said, Audrey still kept her guard up, carefully observing both the angel in front of her and her own mindscape.
“You have quite the strong affinity for being a spectator, one rarely seen, Little Dragon. Tell me, how would you like to learn from me? To study the working of the mind and learn the techniques I've been mastering for millenia?”
To learn the art of being a spectator from The Spectator? “I would be honoured! Perhaps we can discuss the details at a later date? Perhaps above the grey fog?”
Just because this is the opportunity of a lifetime doesn't mean she's going to be reckless about it. Above the grey fog, Mr. Fool would be able to witness the arrangement and ensure all goes well.
Adam couldn't help but praise the young lady, making reasonable suggestions that turn the arrangement in her favour, she will go far. “A reasonable suggestion. I am available at any time, once you are ready, we can meet in Mother's Castle. I bid you a good evening Miss Audrey.”
~~
During the meeting, Amon had realised that Leonard is a chaos lover much like himself, and so after the meeting he decided to go torment him. He was currently sitting across a grinning Leonard, adjusting his monocle. He has been observing everything that's been happening through his avatars across the world, and couldn't help but think that things are starting to get interesting…