In the early morning, half asleep, Cyril felt gray mist roiling before his eyes. The Fool sat high above the Gray Fog, looking down at him.
"The deal for the Scarlet Lunar Corona has been completed. You can come and collect the Mystical Item containing the Gatekeeper characteristic whenever you like, or receive it through a ritual of sacrifice and bestowal."
"Also, here is the exact location of the ruins outside Backlund."
"I don't have any detailed information. I only know it's very dangerous. None of the Beyonders who discovered and explored the ruins before made it out alive."
As he spoke, red light rose within the gray mist, finally coalescing into a finely detailed map of Backlund. A red dot appeared in the suburbs, downstream along the Tussock River, and zoomed in.
Cyril rubbed his eyes and forced himself to stay awake. "...I understand."
Above the Gray Fog, Klein had established a connection with Cyril through the corresponding crimson star. Seeing the scene, he seemed to catch the other man's drowsiness and couldn't help yawning too.
"Yawn... Miss Sharron came a little too early. It's only just dawn. I'll lie back down and sleep a while longer, too."
After muttering to himself, he cut off the connection established through the crimson star, then left the space above the Gray Fog.
Once the gray mist before his eyes faded, Cyril rolled over in bed and went back to sleep.
He slept until the dim gray morning outside his window had given way to bright sunshine. Only then did he get up, yawning.
From the painting hanging on the wall beside his desk, the distorted figure spoke obsequiously:
"Great Master, while you were in Slumber, someone broke into your home. But I, who would defend your sleep with my life, quietly