"Adele."
After letting out a long breath, Shade thought of something else because of the Words of Sublimation:
"Since I've already advanced to the eighth ring, the Mid-Ring Words of Sublimation, 'The Silver Moon's Shadow, Guides the Final Direction,' should also be completed. All that remains now is the direction. I wonder what effect these Mid-Ring Words of Sublimation will have?
"If the Silver Moon's Shadow refers to me, then what does the 'final' direction mean? Could these Words of Sublimation actually be a large-scale Divination Ritual that lets me learn the cause of the apocalypse?"
Perhaps he could make an even more exaggerated guess.
Unable to figure it out, Shade noticed God's Gift Box on the floor again. The Sunday that had just passed had been so extraordinarily long that he felt as though the last time he opened this box had been a month ago.
Last time, he had received a bottle of perfume. He had given it to Dorothy Louisa and, because of it, spent a pleasant morning in the study.
"She" helped Shade recall it. He supported the little cat's bottom on his shoulder to keep it from falling, then bent down, opened the lid, and reached inside:
"Though I'm not expecting anything useful, every time I face an unknown gift, I still get excited. Hmm?"
What he touched was a smooth, cool crystal the size of a goose egg. It was white and translucent, uneven within and filled with wispy inclusions. Its surface was not entirely smooth either, but composed of tiny white pentagonal facets.
Shade naturally knew what it was:
"White Stone Crystal?"
"Meow~"
Seeing that it was not food, the cat lost interest. Shade turned in surprise toward the Old Gods Statue behind him:
"This can't be some revelation telling me to set