Chapter Summaries

Ronan discovered a hidden study beneath his villa and subdued the black Raccoon Dog Spirit Body that had caused the strange incidents there. He left the spirit waiting in the study, then bought a lynx-like wildcat at the market and returned to the villa.

• Ronan used his Psionic Power to uncover a concealed floor panel and descend into a second basement filled with books.
• Ronan found a mass of negative energy beside a floor lamp and dissolved it until it became a black Raccoon Dog Spirit Body.
• The Raccoon Dog Spirit Body submitted to Ronan, who placed a Psionic Power mark inside it and told it to wait on the desk.
• Ronan rode to an open-air market outside Rand City and bought a caged lynx-like wildcat from a hunter for three silver coins.
• Ronan rode back to the villa with the wildcat.

Ronan fused the Raccoon Dog Spirit Body with a wildcat, creating a loyal beast pet named Little Black. After discovering the villa’s secrets and burying Little Black’s former owner, he moved into Sea Cliff Villa and set out to explore the Blood Moon Realm.

• Ronan fused the Raccoon Dog Spirit Body with a wildcat and named the resulting beast pet Little Black.
• Little Black revealed a hidden chamber behind a bookshelf, where Ronan found the remains of her former owner, the first owner of Sea Cliff Villa.
• Ronan discovered a concealed passage from the chamber to a cave by the sea, then buried the former owner’s remains beneath a tree outside the villa.
• After the burial strengthened their soul compatibility, Ronan and Little Black climbed a nearby peak, where Ronan felt increasingly at home in the Blood Moon Realm.
• Ronan bought supplies in Rand City and moved into Sea Cliff Villa without hiring servants.

Ronan received a letter summoning him to Raymond Manor for his sister Jenny Raymond’s engagement and decided to return to settle his complicated ties with his family. On the train to Frey Town, he met Audrey Norton, an Extraordinary traveling alone, and noticed her reaction to his handwritten address.

• Old Jack gave Ronan a letter from the Raymond family inviting him to Jenny Raymond’s engagement and asking him to discuss an important matter.
• Ronan completed his move-out, received a week of leave from Deputy Chief Sean, and decided to return to Raymond Manor to resolve his family ties.
• Ronan boarded a first-class train to Frey Town and met Audrey Norton, whom he helped with her suitcase.
• Ronan sensed that Audrey was an Extraordinary, and the two chatted during the journey and exchanged contact addresses.
• Audrey’s expression changed when she saw the address Ronan had written.

Ronan returned to Raymond Manor after three years away and reunited with the household before Jenny’s engagement ceremony. He greeted his younger half-sister Alice, who ran into his arms.

• Ronan declined Audrey Norton’s offer of a ride and parted from her at Frey Town’s station.
• Ronan walked to Raymond Manor, where Old Jim recognized him and remarked on how much he had changed.
• Connolly Kidd told Ronan that Malcolm Raymond and his wife were waiting in the study, then stepped aside as Ronan entered the villa.
• Ronan greeted his younger sister Alice, who rushed over and embraced him.

Ronan returned to the Raymond manor, met with Baron Malcolm and the Baroness, and learned they still expected him to follow their plans. After Alvin took Alice’s doll and hurt her, Ronan confronted him and warned him not to bully her again.

• Ronan gave Alice a Winnie Doll, then went to meet Baron Malcolm and the Baroness in the study.
• Malcolm asked whether Ronan had become a full officer, and Ronan confirmed that he had.
• Malcolm sent Ronan to a guest room, while the Baroness worried that Ronan would no longer obey their arrangements.
• Alice ran to Ronan in tears and told him that Alvin had taken her doll and pinched her hand.
• Ronan took the doll back from Alvin, slapped him, and warned him not to bully Alice again.

Ronan defended Alice from Alvin, then continued experimenting with Psionic ammunition. Malcolm invited Ronan to dine at the main table, but Ronan refused and returned to his guest room.

• Ronan slapped Alvin after Alvin bullied Alice, and Alvin fainted in terror when Ronan looked at him.
• Ronan took Alice upstairs, then began engraving Psionic runes on bullets and tested whether they could hold Psionic Power.
• Ronan stopped experimenting when a maid announced dinner and went downstairs.
• Malcolm invited Ronan to sit at the main table, but Ronan declined and ate at the secondary table.
• Ronan finished dinner and returned to the guest room.

Ronan attended Jenny Raymond's engagement ceremony, then rejected Baron Malcolm's attempt to marry him to a wealthy widow and offered two hundred gold pounds to sever his ties with the Raymond Family. After Captain Abel attacked him, Ronan incapacitated him and pressed Malcolm to honor their agreement.

• Jenny Raymond celebrated her engagement to Herman Grantham at the Raymond manor.
• Baron Malcolm proposed that Ronan marry the wealthy widow Madam Melissa, but Ronan refused.
• Malcolm demanded two hundred gold pounds in exchange for cutting ties with Ronan, and Ronan paid with two Royal Bank checks.
• Malcolm protested that he was Ronan's father, and Captain Abel tried to strike Ronan.
• Ronan twisted Abel's arm until he fainted, then revealed that he was a detective and pushed a contract toward Malcolm with his revolver.

Ronan severed his ties with Baron Malcolm, said goodbye to Alice, and left Raymond Manor. As his Divine Soul broke through to Five Rings, a vampire attacked him on the road to Frey Town.

• Baron Malcolm sealed the contract ending his kinship with Ronan, and Ronan left him money and instructions to care for Alice.
• Ronan said farewell to Alice, watched her fall asleep, and left Raymond Manor during the night.
• As Ronan walked toward Frey Town, his Divine Soul merged with a lingering will and his Psionic Energy advanced him to Five Rings.
• A vampire charged at Ronan, who halted its attack with six shots from his revolver.
• Ronan quickly reloaded and fired again, striking the vampire as another figure pursued it.

Ronan and Audrey Norton joined forces to defeat a powerful vampire, revealing Ronan’s extraordinary strength and his lack of knowledge about the supernatural world. After the vampire was consumed by Audrey’s summoned vines, Audrey offered to guide Ronan as he continued learning about his new abilities.

• The vampire’s Sonic Impact failed to incapacitate Ronan, who shot it while Audrey Norton bound it with thorny vines.
• Ronan’s bullets wounded the vampire but could not kill it, so he drew his sword as Audrey’s magic drove spikes into its body.
• The vampire broke free, transformed, and attacked Ronan, but his Psionic Power-enhanced sword cut through it and he beheaded it as it began regenerating.
• Audrey summoned three carnivorous vines that consumed the vampire’s head and body.
• Ronan greeted Audrey, who revealed her Witch Book and offered to answer his questions about the extraordinary world.

Audrey explained the supernatural ranks and communities to Ronan, then invited him to stay at her house in Frey Town before taking him to a gathering. Ronan woke the next morning after dreaming vividly of memories from his previous life.

• Audrey explained the three supernatural categories, their ranks, and how Ronan had entered the path as an unranked warrior.
• Audrey offered Ronan one of the vampire’s Blood Fangs, and he accepted it as his share of their spoils.
• Audrey invited Ronan to stay at her rented house in Frey Town and promised to take him to a secret gathering in two days.
• Audrey led Ronan to her flower-filled villa and showed him to a guest room for the night.
• Ronan slept deeply and woke after dreaming vividly of memories from his previous life.

Ronan learned from Audrey that alchemy might help him understand how to empower weapons with his Psionic Power, and she gave him a lead to an alchemy enthusiast in Ceres. They attended a supernatural gathering in Frey Town, where the arbiter began the exchange.

• Ronan discussed alchemy with Audrey and learned that it was difficult, costly, and limited to spellcasters.
• Audrey gave Ronan a silver coin and told him to find Old Jack at the Blue Whale Tavern in Ceres for guidance.
• Ronan and Audrey dressed in robes and masks, then traveled by carriage to a secluded villa outside Frey Town.
• Ronan observed the gathering’s varied supernatural attendees and learned about the conflict between darkness-aligned and light-aligned beings.
• Edward Colin introduced himself as the arbiter, dimmed the lights, and summoned a ring of light around himself.

After parting from Audrey, Ronan returned to Rand City and received an order to study at the Royal Higher Police Academy in Ceres. With rail travel disrupted by flooding, he boarded the Blue Star passenger liner with Little Black to begin the journey.

• Ronan watched Audrey's train depart, then traveled back to Rand City with a vampire fang that might be worth several hundred gold pounds.
• Ronan went home, reunited with Little Black, and rode back to the city after promising not to leave it alone again.
• Deputy Chief Shaun Alcott gave Ronan a transfer order requiring him to study at the Royal Higher Police Academy and then intern in Ceres.
• Ronan celebrated with his colleagues at a tavern and paid for the gathering, worsening his tight finances.
• With the railway to Ceres blocked by flooding, Ronan secured a first-class ticket aboard the Blue Star and boarded with Little Black.

Ronan sailed aboard the Blue Star toward Ceres, gambling in the first-class casino until Baron Bradley’s accusation and a duel challenge ended his winnings. Back in his cabin, Ronan considered how to earn more money before an alarm suddenly rang aboard the ship.

• Ronan played Black Forest Cards aboard the Blue Star and won more than seven hundred gold pounds from Baron Bradley in one hand.
• After losing over seven hundred gold pounds, Baron Bradley accused Ronan of cheating and insulted him.
• Ronan challenged Baron Bradley to a duel and demonstrated his transcendent ability by pulling a glove through the air.
• Baron Bradley apologized and paid Ronan compensation, and Ronan left the casino with more than three thousand seven hundred gold pounds in winnings.
• Ronan returned to his cabin and thought about reorganizing his plans to earn money in Ceres, where he would study at the Royal Higher Police Academy and research alchemy.
• A piercing alarm suddenly rang inside the Blue Star.

Ronan joined the Blue Star’s armed sailors as pirate ships attacked the passenger liner. After proving his skill with a rifle, he faced a one-eyed Transcendent pirate who boarded the ship.

• Ronan showed his Police Badge and joined the sailors defending the Blue Star from pursuing pirate ships.
• The pirates fired anchor-chain shots that linked several ships to the Blue Star and began boarding.
• Ronan shot pirates with remarkable accuracy while the sailors opened fire on the attackers.
• A one-eyed pirate blocked Ronan’s shot with his shield and leapt onto an anchor chain.
• The one-eyed Transcendent evaded the sailors’ fire and landed on the Blue Star’s deck.

Ronan killed the one-eyed pirate and fought across the Blue Star’s deck as seven pirate ships attacked the liner. After he cut down more pirates and rescued armed sailors, a bounty drew another group against him, and he slaughtered them before their leader opened fire.

• The one-eyed pirate attacked Ronan, who caught his shield, blocked his axe strike, and killed him with a Psionic Power-infused kick.
• Ronan picked up his rifle and shot down pirates boarding the Blue Star, but the crew’s casualties continued to mount.
• Ronan drew his cross sword and cut through the pirates, rescuing armed sailors and helping them rally against the attackers.
• A pirate leader offered ten thousand Pound Sterling for Ronan’s death, and Ronan killed more than a dozen pirates who charged him.
• The pirate leader fired a silver-bright revolver at Ronan.

Ronan helped the Blue Star’s sailors defeat the pirates who had boarded the passenger liner, then the Invia Royal Navy arrived and drove off the remaining pirate ships. The naval battle continued as the frigates pursued the fleeing vessels, while two approached the battered Blue Star.

• Ronan deflected the pirate leader’s bullets with a psionic shield, shot him with the bullets, and killed him with a sword strike as he fell toward the sea.
• Ronan cut the pirates’ anchor chains with a battle axe, scattering the attackers and rallying the Blue Star’s sailors to reclaim the deck.
• The Blue Star’s crew defeated the boarding party and protected the passengers, but the pirate ships began bombarding the liner with solid shot.
• Invia’s Royal Navy arrived with three frigates, prompting the pirate ships to flee as the frigates opened fire.
• The frigates sank one pirate ship, and two of them drew close to the battered Blue Star.

After the Blue Star survived the pirate attack, Ronan received thanks and recognition for his role in defeating the attackers. He declined an offer to join the Royal Navy, accepted a military merit certificate and a large reward, and the ship resumed its voyage.

• The Blue Star’s crew cleaned up after the battle, and the ship set sail again after the two pursuing Royal Navy frigates returned.
• The captain thanked Ronan for killing dozens of pirates and helping save the ship and its passengers.
• Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Wardhouse offered to sponsor Ronan into the Royal Navy, but Ronan declined because he planned to study at the Royal Higher Police Academy.
• Gordon gave Ronan a military merit certificate confirming he had killed pirate leaders Quinn Effie and Vito Harold, which qualified him to claim a bounty in Ceres.
• The captain delivered a wax-sealed envelope of checks from passengers, and Ronan found that they totaled more than 3,000 gold pounds.

Ronan arrived in Ceres, completed his transfer formalities at the Supreme Police Department, and enrolled at the Royal Higher Police Academy. With classes delayed and no academy housing available, he spent the night at an expensive inn and let Little Black out to hunt.

• Ronan left the crowded docks alone and took a horse-drawn cab to the Supreme Police Department.
• After showing his transfer order and Police Badge, Ronan received a new identity document, Police Badge, and enrollment certificate.
• Ronan reported to the Royal Higher Police Academy and learned that term would not begin until the month after next and that he had to find his own accommodation.
• Ronan checked into an inn near the academy, where a single room cost one gold pound for the night.
• Ronan let Little Black out through the window, and the cat went hunting for fresh prey.

Ronan settled into a rented apartment in Ceres and met his young neighbor Janice Tolan after discovering she was home alone and hungry. Janice’s mother returned and confronted Ronan, but Janice explained that he was her new neighbor and had offered her food.

• Ronan rented a furnished apartment near the Royal Higher Police Academy and moved in with Little Black.
• Ronan explored the neighborhood, bought food and cigarettes, and gave a pack to the apartment manager.
• Ronan sensed someone watching him and discovered Janice Tolan peeking from the neighboring apartment.
• Ronan learned Janice was home alone and offered to share his sandwiches and grilled sausages with her.
• Janice’s mother rushed home and angrily ordered Ronan to stay away, but Janice told her he was a good person and her new neighbor.

Ronan returned to his new apartment and met his neighbor, Dolores Torlan, after her daughter Janice vouched for him. While they shared tea, Dolores told him that young girls had recently gone missing in Ceres, leaving Ronan surprised and offering to help if she faced trouble.

• Janice calmed Dolores after she mistakenly confronted Ronan, and Dolores apologized and introduced herself.
• Ronan returned to his room, and Dolores later brought him homemade pastries to make amends and build a friendly relationship.
• Little Black warmed to Dolores while Ronan brewed tea, and the two neighbors talked about their lives.
• Dolores told Ronan that her husband had died, she worked at a women's clothing store, and she was raising Janice on her own.
• Dolores revealed that several young girls had recently disappeared in Ceres, and Ronan offered to protect her if she needed help.