Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril uses his powers to help Luciano escape from the Mandated Punishers, using an illusory crystal ball to disrupt divination and tracking, and then creating a Screaming Painting to incapacitate the Punishers.
• Cyril and Luciano escape through a Mirror World door, leaving the Punishers unable to remember Cyril's appearance.
• Klein meets Emlyn White at the Harvest Cathedral, intending to buy a Thousand-Faced Hunter's pituitary gland through the Sanguine's channels. He learns that Emlyn is now a devout believer of Mother Earth.

Character Developments

• Cyril demonstrates his powerful abilities and his willingness to help others, despite being short on manpower.
• Emlyn White, once an arrogant vampire, is now a devout believer of Mother Earth, showing a significant change in his character.
• Klein shows restraint and caution in his interactions with Emlyn, aware of the potential dangers of dealing with a vampire.

Significant Themes

• The power of Beyonders and the different abilities they possess.
• The influence of the churches on individuals, both positive (like Emlyn's conversion) and negative (like the potential horror story of the churches' proselytizing).
• The theme of money and its influence on people's actions and decisions.

Character Interactions

• Cyril helps Luciano escape, showing a willingness to assist others in need.
• Klein interacts with Emlyn, trying to navigate the potential dangers of dealing with a vampire while attempting to purchase a Beyonder ingredient.
• The Mandated Punishers interact with Cyril, demonstrating their power and the threat they pose to Beyonders.

Chapter Summary: Compass of Never-Ending

Key Plot Points and Events

• Klein negotiates with Emlyn White at Harvest Cathedral. He asks Emlyn to help locate Beyonder materials for an unnamed “friend,” specifically a mutated Thousand-Faced Hunter pituitary gland, 100 milliliters of its blood, and five strands of Deep Sea Naga hair.
• In exchange, Klein offers to connect Emlyn with potential clients for custom dolls, exploiting Emlyn’s expensive hobby and lack of funds. Emlyn agrees to search for the materials, with the costs set at a minimum of £100 plus additional fees.
• Emlyn asks whether Klein knows any powerful Beyonders or Blessed willing to oppose a dangerous Blessed. Klein denies knowing anyone, though he privately recognizes that possible candidates would likely serve evil gods or hidden entities.
• Later, Bernadette visits Cyril in a room transformed by her mystical vines. She presents him with the Compass of Never-Ending, a Sealed Artifact created when the Beyonder Characteristic of a former member of Roselle’s fleet fused with a compass.
• The compass corresponds to the Sequence 5 Traveler of the Apprentice Pathway, but its severe contamination and negative effects make it extremely dangerous. It creates unstable doors and can randomly teleport its holder to lethal locations.
• The artifact’s second negative effect is that repeated random teleportations attract the attention of unknown entities. Bernadette seals it in amber-like starlight, giving Cyril roughly half a month before the seal weakens.
• Cyril chooses to keep the compass, planning to have it resealed or eventually purified. He considers asking the Angel Edefana to help contain it and possibly using the purified characteristic to concoct a potion after Bernadette advances to the Sage level.
• Cyril successfully records Bernadette’s Mystical Reenactment of Ugly Duckling again. He then translates another page of Roselle’s diary and teaches Bernadette several Chinese characters.
• Before Bernadette leaves, Cyril asks her to recommend an Artisan who can create a mystical item for summoning a messenger. She agrees to help and asks for the summoning incantation.

Character Developments

• Klein demonstrates his usual strategic manipulation and composure, using Emlyn’s obsession with dolls to secure cooperation while maintaining the fiction that the materials are for a “friend.”
• Emlyn remains proud and socially awkward, but his financial limitations force him to lower his arrogance and accept Klein’s terms. His concern about powerful Blessed suggests he is still dealing with a serious threat.
• Bernadette appears knowledgeable, capable, and cautious. She understands the Compass of Never-Ending’s dangers and takes responsibility for sealing it, while also continuing to investigate Roselle’s legacy.
• Cyril shows increasing independence and resourcefulness. Although alarmed by the compass, he accepts the risk and immediately begins planning ways to control or exploit it. His request for a messenger artifact also reflects his growing need for reliable supernatural communication.

Significant Themes

• Power and danger are inseparable: The compass offers extraordinary abilities but carries catastrophic risks, emphasizing that mystical power always demands a price.
• Negotiation and manipulation: Klein gains Emlyn’s cooperation through financial leverage and carefully constructed wording rather than force.
• Contamination and control: The characters repeatedly seek ways to seal, purify, or redirect dangerous mystical forces instead of simply destroying them.
• The burden of legacy: Roselle’s influence persists through his diary, fleet, artifacts, and unexplained mysteries, linking the present characters to unresolved events of the past.
• Knowledge as currency: Information, translations, mystical techniques, and access to specialists are exchanged just as readily as money or materials.

Character Interactions

• Klein and Emlyn engage in a tense but humorous negotiation, with Klein privately mocking Emlyn’s transparent “my friend” excuse while exploiting his vanity.
• Emlyn’s request for help against a powerful Blessed reveals vulnerability beneath his arrogance, though Klein refuses to expose his own connections.
• Bernadette and Cyril interact as cautious collaborators. She entrusts him with the dangerous compass, while he relies on her expertise for sealing, recording mystical abilities, and finding an Artisan.
• Their exchange also mixes serious supernatural business with scholarly cooperation: Cyril translates Roselle’s diary and teaches Bernadette Chinese characters, strengthening their connection through shared knowledge.

Amon’s Mausoleum — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bernadette gives Cyril an incantation for summoning a messenger and tells him it will take a week. She refuses his prepared deposit.
• Cyril returns home and discusses business and Beyonder matters with his brother, Haven. Their bicycle venture is nearing its official launch and should soon become profitable.
• Haven admits that he has made little progress digesting the Savant potion, though he believes it is nearly complete and only needs further study and invention.
• Cyril tells Haven that he has advanced to the Scribe sequence. To digest the potion, he must travel and record different regions, cultures, and Beyonder abilities. He plans to sail overseas, reassuring Haven that he can escape using Teleportation.
• After Haven falls asleep, Cyril gathers several weapons and artifacts, including the Screaming Painting, Peacebringer, and Interrogator Ring, then enters the Mirror World.
• He emerges near the Tussock River outside Backlund and prays to Klein, the Fool, for help locating the entrance to Amon’s Mausoleum.
• Klein enters above the Gray Fog, confirms that no Amon avatars are nearby, and identifies a hidden mountain crevice as the entrance. He warns Cyril that Worms of Time may be present and offers to use the Paper Angel to remove negative effects.
• Cyril enters the underground complex, using his enhanced Flash ability, Illumination, to light the way. He encounters bats, snakes, and an already-open bronze door.
• Inside the mausoleum, a Skin Shadow disguised as Cyril attacks him. Cyril’s Dawn armor burns the creature, after which he destroys it with a conjured Sword of Dawn and unleashes Storm of Light throughout the passage.

Character Development

• Cyril demonstrates increasing confidence and preparation. He has advanced to the Scribe sequence and is deliberately seeking new experiences to complete his acting requirements.
• He is cautious but proactive, using divination, Illumination, Teleportation, the Mirror World, and powerful Dawn abilities to minimize danger.
• Cyril also shows concern for Haven, choosing to reassure him rather than reveal the full risks of his journey.
• Haven is progressing slowly as a Savant but remains invested in his inventions and the bicycle business. His concern for Cyril reveals strong fraternal affection, despite his joking warning about appearing on wanted posters.
• Klein continues acting as Cyril’s remote supporter through the Fool identity. He carefully limits his involvement, recognizing the danger of attracting Amon’s attention.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus danger: Cyril enters the mausoleum only after gathering tools, confirming the route, performing divination, and securing Klein’s assistance.
• Trust and cooperation: Cyril relies on Klein’s guidance, while Klein respects Cyril’s judgment and warns him without taking control of the mission.
• Progress through acting and experience: Cyril’s voyage is not merely travel but a necessary part of digesting the Scribe potion.
• Family and responsibility: Cyril balances his dangerous Beyonder activities with protecting and reassuring Haven.
• Identity and deception: The Skin Shadow’s imitation of Cyril foreshadows the hazards of disguise and stolen identity associated with Amon and his followers.

Character Interactions

• Cyril and Haven discuss the bicycle business, potion digestion, future advancement, and Cyril’s upcoming sea voyage. Their exchange combines sibling concern, teasing, and mutual trust.
• Cyril communicates with Klein through prayer. Klein locates the mausoleum, verifies the area’s safety, and offers limited assistance while warning Cyril not to draw unnecessary attention.
• Cyril’s first encounter within the mausoleum is hostile: the Skin Shadow attempts to suffocate him by disguising itself as him, but Cyril’s armor and light-based powers allow him to destroy it swiftly.

Chapter Summary: “Stone Giant”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril uses his Storm of Light to sweep through an entire corridor, shredding spectral creatures and other hidden monsters.
• After confirming that the passage has already been partially cleared—likely by the Beyonder gathering associated with Maric—Cyril summons the Screaming Painting to collect the supernatural materials left behind.
• Because the painting cannot move independently, Cyril draws a crude Zombie-like Living Household using the blood and spirituality of the dead creatures. The painting’s distorted figure possesses and controls it.
• Cyril and the possessed Zombie proceed into a large, ruined hall filled with boulders and faded murals.
• A wounded Stone Giant emerges from a hole it appears to have dug through the mausoleum wall. It attacks Cyril, apparently mistaking him for one of the explorers who previously injured it.
• Cyril incapacitates the giant with Mental Piercing and Whip of Affliction.
• He orders the Screaming Painting to finish the creature. Its Wraith Scream overwhelms the Stone Giant’s spirit, knocking it unconscious rather than killing it.
• Cyril observes that, despite the giant’s immense physical durability, its soul is unexpectedly vulnerable.

2. Character Developments

• Cyril demonstrates overwhelming combat ability, efficiently destroying hidden enemies and controlling the battlefield with light- and mind-based powers.
• He continues to make practical use of the Screaming Painting, treating it as a servant and tool for gathering materials.
• Cyril experiments with his Fantasy ability by creating a Living Household, realizing that such creations are not automatically refined or aesthetically complete. His embarrassment over the crude Zombie reveals a humorous, self-critical side.
• His investigation of the Stone Giant shows his growing ability to analyze supernatural creatures, infer their motives, and exploit their weaknesses.
• The Screaming Painting’s distorted figure becomes more cooperative and enthusiastic, repeatedly calling Cyril its “Master” and taking pleasure in carrying out his commands.
• The Stone Giant is revealed to be less an intentional enemy than a wounded creature acting defensively after being attacked by earlier explorers.

3. Significant Themes

• Power versus vulnerability: The Stone Giant possesses extraordinary physical strength and defense but is highly susceptible to spiritual attacks, emphasizing that supernatural strength often comes with specific weaknesses.
• Improvisation and resourcefulness: Cyril turns battlefield remains into a functional servant and uses the Screaming Painting in unconventional ways.
• Control and servitude: The painting, Living Household, and Stone Giant all illustrate different forms of domination—possession, creation, and mental/spiritual suppression.
• Exploration and misunderstanding: The Stone Giant attacks because of mistaken identity, showing how danger in the mausoleum can arise from confusion rather than deliberate hostility.
• Dark humor amid horror: The gruesome setting and violent powers are contrasted with Cyril’s dry observations about his badly drawn Zombie and the painting’s exaggerated appearance.

4. Character Interactions

• Cyril commands the Screaming Painting, which responds with exaggerated loyalty and flattery.
• He negotiates with the painting about collecting materials and solves its mobility problem by creating a Zombie for it to control.
• The possessed Living Household serves as an intermediary between Cyril and the painting, collecting the remains of the destroyed creatures.
• Cyril confronts the Stone Giant directly, first disabling it through mental pain and then allowing the painting to attack its spirit.
• The final interaction underscores the contrast between Cyril’s calm tactical control and the Stone Giant’s confused, instinctive aggression.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril considers turning the Stone Giant into a Zombie for durability.
• The Stone Giant is successfully zombified but shows signs of decay.
• They reach a narrow passage leading to the main tomb chamber, filled with dangerous traps.
• Cyril decides to use the Screaming Painting to disable the traps.

Character Developments

• Cyril demonstrates curiosity and caution in exploring the tomb.
• The Screaming Painting's entity, now named Steve, shows eagerness to please and gain Cyril's favor.

Significant Themes

• The power of death and decay, as seen in the zombified Stone Giant.
• The theme of names and identity, with Steve requesting a name.

Character Interactions

• Cyril and Steve's interaction shows a power dynamic, with Steve eager to please Cyril.
• Cyril and the Stone Giant have no interaction as the latter is now a mindless Zombie.

Chapter Summary: “He Really Deserved to Die!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A portrait of Amon falls from the wall, causing the lingering danger in the passage to disappear. At the same time, Steve’s projected body and Spirit Body are sucked into another portrait, where it becomes trapped and loses its powers.
• With Steve imprisoned, the zombified version of Cyril and the Stone Giant collapse. The Stone Giant reverts to a corpse, leaving behind valuable Beyonder materials, including a damaged grey-white heart.
• Cyril rests and meditates to restore his depleted spirituality. After confirming through divination that the passage is safe, he retrieves Steve’s Screaming Painting and frees Steve by creating a spiritual “door” in the frame.
• Amon then manifests through a Worm of Time and confronts Cyril. He identifies Cyril’s special, winged form as a form of Mystical Reenactment and mocks him for being only a Sequence 6 Beyonder.
• Cyril remains calm and refuses to retreat. Amon admits that he cannot directly attack Cyril because of his agreement with Adam, while his current avatar lacks enough strength to deal with Cyril’s contamination. He therefore abandons the portrait, claiming that Cyril may keep it temporarily.
• Cyril finds and briefly extracts a Worm of Time from the painting, but Amon remotely retrieves it. Cyril suspects Amon is avoiding a costly battle that might attract the Lord of Storms or Adam, though he remains wary of a hidden scheme.
• Amon later returns and steals all the magical items and Beyonder Characteristics left behind by previous explorers. Cyril arrives too late and is left with only the scattered Beyonder materials.
• Frustrated, Cyril curses Amon and the Marauder Pathway but accepts that he has not lost everything. He brings Steve out of its Painting Scroll and orders it to collect the remaining materials.
• The chapter ends with Cyril invoking the honorific of the Fool and preparing to divine whether Amon has truly departed.

Character Developments

• Cyril: Demonstrates increasing confidence and composure in facing Amon. Though severely drained and enraged by Amon’s theft, he continues to think strategically, using divination and carefully weighing Amon’s motives. His winged mystical form reveals the power and danger of his recorded abilities, though Amon reminds him of the limitations imposed by his Sequence.
• Amon: Appears playful, manipulative, and cautious rather than openly aggressive. He toys with Cyril, abandons the portrait when direct combat is inconvenient, steals the remaining relics afterward, and leaves Cyril uncertain about his true intentions. His actions emphasize his opportunism and mastery of theft and deception.
• Steve: Changes from a dangerous summoned entity into a visibly strange but obedient servant. It is frightened when trapped, grateful when freed, and readily follows Cyril’s commands. Its inability to recreate the Stone Giant shows the limits of its current abilities.
• The Stone Giant and Cyril’s zombie projection: Both lose their supernatural support and collapse once the controlling influence disappears, reinforcing that they were temporary constructs rather than independent beings.

Significant Themes

• Power versus caution: Although Cyril can resist Amon and display formidable abilities, he recognizes that confronting a higher-level enemy directly could be disastrous.
• Deception and uncertainty: Amon’s behavior leaves Cyril unsure whether he has truly withdrawn or is setting up another scheme. The chapter repeatedly stresses that apparent retreats may conceal ulterior motives.
• The frustration of theft and loss: Cyril wins a partial victory but loses the most valuable spoils to Amon, highlighting how the Marauder Pathway can undermine even careful planning.
• Identity and artistic creation: Steve’s bizarre appearance outside its painting prompts Cyril to reflect humorously on his own artistic abilities and the relationship between creation, aesthetics, and reality.
• Persistence after defeat: Despite losing the relics, Cyril salvages the remaining materials and continues investigating instead of allowing anger to control him.

Important Character Interactions

• Cyril and Steve: Cyril frees Steve from Amon’s portrait, reassures it, and later orders it to gather materials. Their master-servant relationship becomes more established, with Steve displaying exaggerated loyalty and Cyril treating it as a useful but limited subordinate.
• Cyril and Amon: Their confrontation is controlled and psychological rather than a full battle. Cyril refuses to show fear, while Amon alternates between mockery, apparent generosity, and theft. Their exchange establishes mutual wariness and suggests that both understand the risks of escalation.
• Cyril and Amon’s stolen relics: Amon’s final theft humiliates Cyril and provokes a comical but genuine outburst, reinforcing the personal irritation between them.
• Cyril and the Fool: By preparing to invoke the Fool and divine Amon’s whereabouts, Cyril turns to a higher source of information and signals that the conflict may extend beyond the immediate tomb.

Chapter Summary: “Amon’s Maneuvers”

Plot Points and Events

• Cyril confirms that Amon has apparently left, though Klein warns that Amon may still be hiding inside the main tomb chamber.
• Cyril opens the massive black stone door with ease using his Apprentice abilities, bypassing the clock-like emblem lock associated with the Amon family.
• The tomb chamber appears empty except for:
  • A black coffin on a raised platform
  • Burning wall candles
  • Numerous decaying corpses stripped of their Beyonder characteristics and magical items
  • Two picture frames, one of which is lying face-down near the coffin
• Cyril notices that the chamber’s previous time-based danger has disappeared. Klein’s divination still detects a relatively minor threat.
• Cyril sends Steve into the chamber to scout, deceptively claiming that he has divined that the picture frame is safe.
• Steve picks up the face-down frame, revealing a sinister castle scene. The image comes alive, and Steve’s spirit is pulled into it; his physical body begins to vanish.
• The frame is revealed to be the dangerous Ghost Portrait Frame, which attempts to extract Cyril’s spirit as well.
• Klein summons a powerful, twelve-winged armored angel from above the Gray Fog to protect Cyril. The frame’s suction is redirected, allowing Cyril to cover it with a piece of the Black Curtain and neutralize its immediate threat.
• Cyril speculates that Amon deliberately switched the positions of the Ghost Portrait Frame and the frame containing stolen time. He suspects the arrangement may conceal a deeper conspiracy rather than being merely a prank.
• Cyril chooses not to immediately rescue Steve, reasoning that the Sealed Artifact may be able to survive—or even conquer—the Ghost Portrait Frame from within.
• He considers giving the dangerous frames to the Church or to an acquaintance familiar with Amon, clearly hinting at a mischievous plan.
• Cyril ultimately takes the abandoned sarcophagus, lamenting that Amon has already removed the tomb’s most valuable Beyonder characteristics and Sealed Artifacts.

Character Developments

• Cyril demonstrates confidence, resourcefulness, and his Apprentice abilities by opening the sealed door effortlessly and responding quickly to the Ghost Portrait Frame.
• His cautious nature is balanced by a playful and deceptive streak, particularly in sending Steve into danger under the pretense of a nonexistent divination.
• Cyril also shows a growing willingness to treat supernatural dangers strategically rather than react impulsively, choosing to contain the frame instead of immediately attempting to retrieve Steve.
• Klein continues acting as Cyril’s remote observer, providing warnings, divination, and emergency protection. His angelic intervention reveals the extent of his power and his readiness to shield Cyril.
• Steve remains fearful but obedient. Despite his dread, he follows Cyril’s commands and becomes trapped inside the Ghost Portrait Frame.
• Amon never appears directly, but his influence dominates the chapter. His deliberate rearrangement of the artifacts portrays him as calculating, playful, and possibly preparing a hidden scheme.

Significant Themes

• Uncertainty and hidden schemes: Even after Amon departs, his traps and arrangements continue to shape events, emphasizing that his absence does not mean safety.
• Trust and manipulation: Cyril manipulates Steve through false reassurance, while both Cyril and Klein question whether Amon has manipulated them through the swapped paintings.
• Danger concealed by appearances: The tomb looks inactive and harmless, but the seemingly ordinary picture frame contains a powerful supernatural threat.
• Humor amid danger: Cyril’s casual attitude, his “white lie” to Steve, and his joking thoughts about gifting the paintings or burying a Worm of Time contrast with the serious risks involved.
• Power and containment: The Black Curtain, the angel’s protection, and the Sealed Artifact illustrate the need to neutralize supernatural threats rather than simply destroy them.
• Amon’s lingering presence: Though absent physically, Amon’s personality—mischievous, strategic, and disruptive—is evident in every unexplained detail.

Character Interactions

• Cyril and Klein maintain a constant exchange, with Klein offering warnings and analysis while Cyril makes decisions and occasionally conceals the truth from him.
• Cyril orders Steve to explore the tomb and deliberately boosts its confidence with a false promise of safety.
• Steve’s obedience and fear create a comic contrast with Cyril’s calm manipulation.
• Klein challenges Cyril’s priorities by asking why he does not immediately save Steve, while Cyril defends his decision through practical reasoning.
• Their conversation about the swapped frames reflects their shared suspicion of Amon and their differing approaches: Klein is cautious and analytical, while Cyril is more playful and opportunistic.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril uses a scroll to make Amon's coffin disappear.
• He summons a Paper Angel to protect himself.
• He empties the Ghost Portrait Frame of its spirits, which Steve leads out.
• Cyril shows Klein a mural depicting Amon and his brother as infants, held by angels.
• Klein sees a sinister stone door and encounters a terrifying, corrupting presence, causing the gray fog to surge violently.

Character Developments

• Cyril demonstrates his power and resourcefulness, using scrolls and summoning a Paper Angel.
• Klein shows curiosity and bravery, but also caution and quick thinking when faced with danger.

Significant Themes

• The power of magical items and scrolls.
• The dangers of the Abyss and corrupting influences.
• The importance of caution and preparation in magical activities.

Character Interactions

• Klein and Cyril continue their exploration and conversation, with Klein learning more about Cyril's abilities and the history of Amon.
• Klein warns Cyril about the dangers of the Abyss and the stone door.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril and Klein explore Amon's Mausoleum, discovering a 'door' leading to the Abyss.
• Cyril records 'Teleport' abilities from Verdu to facilitate travel between Backlund and the sea.
• Cyril visits Medici, an evil spirit, to give him Amon's Ghost Portrait Frame as a gift and to learn provocation techniques.

Character Developments

• Cyril demonstrates his calm and collected demeanor, even when facing the Abyss or Medici.
• Medici reveals his arrogance and disdain for others, but also his cunning, as he sees through Cyril's initial attempt to trick him.

Significant Themes

• The dangers and allure of the Abyss.
• The power dynamics and manipulation between Beyonders.
• The value of knowledge and abilities in the world of Beyonders.

Character Interactions

• Klein and Cyril discuss the risks of taking the Abyss 'door' with them, highlighting their mutual respect and caution.
• Cyril interacts with Medici, showing neither fear nor deference, and engaging in a power play with the evil spirit.
• Lawrence and Cyril discuss organizing Beyonder gatherings and Cyril's plans to act as a Recorder at sea.

Chapter Summary: “Red Priest Card”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril offers Medici a Ghost Portrait Frame containing a mixed Gatekeeper Beyonder characteristic. The frame could allow Medici’s Wraith form to leave the underground ruins if he finds an ordinary person to enter and become a substitute.
• Medici’s split personalities—Sauron and Einhorn—immediately suspect a conspiracy involving Amon and Adam, but Medici remains interested in the bargain.
• To negotiate, Medici displays a terrifying demigod-level ability, transforming the ruins with flames, lightning, frost, mist, and hostile shadows. Cyril secretly records the ability using his Record power.
• Cyril gives Medici the Ghost Portrait Frame but asks for an additional item: Roselle’s Red Priest Blasphemy Card, which contains information related to the Sequence 0 Red Priest pathway.
• Medici initially refuses and mocks Cyril, but agrees after Cyril reveals that the Loen Royal Family and the Demoness Sect are involved in a transaction concerning a Conqueror characteristic. Interfering could allow Medici to advance directly to Sequence 1, an Angel.
• Medici gives Cyril the Red Priest Card, explaining that its formula, ritual, and material-sensing ability are of little use to him.
• When Cyril jokingly asks for additional Beyonder characteristics, all three personalities unite in angrily rejecting him. Cyril uses his recorded ability to defend himself and departs safely.
• After Cyril leaves, Medici, Sauron, and Einhorn analyze the situation. They realize Cyril is attempting to use them to disrupt the Loen–Demoness transaction and worry about the possible involvement of Adam and Amon.
• Although Sauron and Einhorn emphasize the danger of another conspiracy and Medici’s limited time outside the ruins, all three ultimately agree that they must leave. Medici mocks them for needing so much deliberation to reach that conclusion.

Character Developments

• Cyril demonstrates increasing cunning and confidence. He successfully manipulates Medici into accepting the Ghost Portrait Frame, records a powerful demigod ability, and acquires the Red Priest Card through carefully chosen information.
• Medici remains arrogant, provocative, and calculating, but his desire to regain power and escape the ruins outweighs his suspicion. The possibility of advancing to Angel status gives him a strong incentive to act.
• Sauron and Einhorn display greater caution than Medici. Their shared memories of past betrayal make them deeply wary of conspiracies, though they ultimately support leaving the ruins.
• The three personalities continue to bicker, but their unified anger and eventual agreement reveal that they can cooperate when survival or advancement is at stake.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and mutual exploitation: Cyril and Medici both understand that their exchange is not a simple gift but a calculated transaction in which each party uses the other.
• Suspicion and conspiracy: The characters constantly question whether Amon, Adam, or other forces have planted hidden schemes, reflecting the dangerous political and supernatural environment.
• Freedom versus safety: Medici’s group must choose between remaining in the ruins, where they are constrained but relatively secure, and leaving to pursue power despite the risks.
• Power and advancement: The Red Priest Card and the Conqueror characteristic represent the characters’ pursuit of higher Sequence levels and greater influence.
• Fragmented identity and cooperation: Medici, Sauron, and Einhorn’s internal conflict illustrates the tension between individual personalities, while their shared goals force them to work together.

Important Character Interactions

• Cyril and Medici engage in a battle of insults, bargaining, and concealed motives, with Cyril maintaining a polite surface while carefully exploiting Medici’s ambitions.
• Medici’s two secondary personalities repeatedly challenge and insult both Cyril and Medici himself, creating constant internal conflict.
• Cyril and Medici exchange supernatural abilities and information as bargaining chips: Cyril provides the Ghost Portrait Frame and intelligence, while Medici supplies the Red Priest Card.
• After Cyril departs, Medici, Sauron, and Einhorn debate whether leaving the ruins is wise, ultimately agreeing to act despite their fears.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril begins his journey, first to Bansi, disguised as a tourist on a passenger ship.
• He receives a letter from Bernadette's messenger and encounters the ship's captain who senses an unusual presence.
• At 3 pm, Cyril is delayed from joining the Tarot Club meeting due to interference.
• Cyril offers to exchange information about the Red Priest Blasphemy Card for powerful assistance from The Fool.

Character Developments

• Cyril shows caution and adaptability in his journey, using a disguise and keeping a low profile.
• The ship's captain demonstrates intuition and caution, sensing an intruder but choosing not to act immediately.
• Cyril reveals his possession of a Blasphemy Card and seeks assistance from The Fool.

Significant Themes

• Caution and adaptability in the face of danger (Cyril's journey, the captain's actions).
• The exchange of knowledge and assistance (Cyril's offer to The Fool).

Character Interactions

• Cyril interacts with the ship's captain, showing awareness of the captain's actions and respect for his caution.
• Cyril interacts with The Fool, seeking assistance and offering a Blasphemy Card in exchange.
• The Tarot Club members interact with each other, expressing confusion and curiosity about the Red Priest card.

Chapter Summary: “Characteristics of a Hunter”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril discusses his plan to digest the Recorder potion by investigating the “hidden side” of the world, acknowledging the dangers involved. He has prepared recorded abilities such as Flash and Teleport to escape if the Spirit World is sealed.
• He agrees to sacrifice a Red Priest Blasphemy Card to Klein after the gathering, once he collects the necessary ritual materials aboard his ship.
• Cyril reveals that the Red Priest card belongs to the Hunter pathway, whose Sequence 9 is associated with the Hunter characteristics. He explains that reaching Sequence 4 causes Beyonders to become male, regardless of their original sex.
• He explains that the Hunter pathway is adjacent to the Assassin pathway, allowing Demonesses to switch into the Hunter pathway and become male again, while male Reapers can advance into the Demoness pathway.
• The discussion turns to why Beyonders rarely switch pathways: demigod-level formulas and materials are difficult to obtain, and potion influence causes people to psychologically identify with their current pathway and transformed identity.
• Cyril reveals that the Demoness Sect’s obsession with cultivating male Assassins may be connected to their desire to make others experience the suffering they endured.
• He explains that he obtained the Red Priest card by trading a magical item to an ancient evil spirit occupying a Fourth Epoch ruin beneath William Street in Backlund. The item allows the spirit to leave the ruin, though it must still gather potion ingredients and leave Backlund to stabilize itself.
• Alger asks about the secret behind Bansi Island, recognizing its potential importance to the Church of Storms and sea trade. Cyril offers the information for an Arcane Scholar Beyonder characteristic, though he is willing to accept valuable information instead.
• Cyril requests detailed information about the scenery and customs of various sea regions, as well as information concerning the Ghost Empire.

Character Developments

• Cyril presents himself as knowledgeable, pragmatic, and willing to take calculated risks. He continues building his value within the Tarot Club by offering rare information while maintaining control over what he reveals.
• Klein remains cautious and detached as The Fool, but privately recognizes the danger of Cyril’s plan and connects Cyril’s information about the Backlund ruin to his own abandoned expedition with Sharron.
• Audrey demonstrates her usual curiosity and deductive ability, linking the Hunter pathway’s gender transformation to the male-dominated elites of Intis and Feynapotter. She is also concerned about the potential threat posed by the evil spirit.
• Fors reacts humorously to the revelation about gender transformation and realizes that some noble couples may consist of people whose original sexes differed from their current identities. She is also relieved that the evil spirit is likely to leave Backlund.
• Alger shows practical ambition and caution. He recognizes that information about Bansi Island could earn him significant merit with the Church of Storms, but cannot afford Cyril’s initial price and tries to negotiate through information gathering.

Significant Themes

• Identity and transformation: The Hunter and Assassin pathways raise questions about whether physical and potion-induced changes eventually reshape a person’s self-perception and identity.
• The dangers of supernatural advancement: Becoming stronger requires dangerous investigations, rare materials, and exposure to hidden forces that may threaten the Beyonder’s sanity or life.
• Information as power and currency: Cyril treats knowledge about Bansi Island, the Ghost Empire, and supernatural pathways as valuable commodities, emphasizing the political and economic importance of secrets.
• The influence of pathways on society: The Hunter pathway’s gender transformation helps explain the male-dominated leadership of certain nations and institutions.
• Moral ambiguity and unintended consequences: Cyril’s deal may free an ancient evil spirit, but he rationalizes that it will leave Backlund and must still overcome significant limitations. The transaction nevertheless creates potential future danger.

Character Interactions

• Cyril and Klein negotiate the sacrifice of the Red Priest card, with Klein maintaining The Fool’s detached authority.
• Audrey questions Cyril about the Hunter pathway, leading to a broader discussion involving Fors, Alger, and the others about gender, identity, and pathway switching.
• Klein’s World persona asks about the evil spirit’s freedom, prompting Cyril to clarify the limits and consequences of the trade.
• Audrey and Fors react with concern to the Backlund threat, though both are reassured that the evil spirit will probably depart.
• Alger directly bargains with Cyril over Bansi Island, revealing his interest in Church-related merit and establishing an information-for-information negotiation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Alger and Cyril discuss the validity of sea treasure rumors.
• Alger and Fors discuss trading the Deep Sea Spearfish blood and the Spirit Eater's stomach pouch.
• Klein, as "The World," requests the Skin Shadow characteristic from Cyril.
• The members of the Tarot Club share their recent experiences and information.
• Derrick shares the recent purge of the exploration team corrupted by the True Creator in the City of Silver.
• Cyril discusses the True Creator's connection to the Lord worshipped in the City of Silver.
• The World learns that the Reader pathway represents 'Omniscience.'

Character Developments

• Alger: Shows knowledge of sea customs and remains skeptical of the True Creator's connection to the Lord.
• Cyril: Acts as a middleman, facilitating trades and sharing information about the True Creator and its pathways.
• Derrick: Struggles with the possibility that the Lord he worships is connected to a mad evil god.
• Klein/The World: Learns about the Reader pathway and its connection to 'Omniscience,' and speculates about the Lord's mastery of multiple pathways.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of knowledge and truth (Omniscience).
• The consequences of power and corruption (Omnipotence).
• The struggle between faith and reality.
• The importance of critical thinking and skepticism.

Character Interactions

• Alger and Cyril discuss trade and share information.
• Klein/The World interacts with Cyril to learn about the Reader pathway.
• Derrick shares his experiences and struggles with the other members of the Tarot Club.
• The members of the Tarot Club listen and react to each other's shared experiences and information.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Tarot Club discusses the City of Silver's situation and the Chief's intentions.
• Klein advises Derrick to focus on self-improvement and not worry about the City of Silver's external threats.
• Cyril retrieves the Skin Shadow characteristic and the "Red Priest" Blasphemy Card from the World in the Painting and sends them to Klein.
• Klein performs divination on the "Red Priest" card and learns about its advancement rituals.
• Cyril attempts to record his experiences as a "Recorder" by painting on the ship's deck, attracting a crowd.

Character Developments

• Klein demonstrates his wisdom and guidance as "The Fool," advising Derrick on how to handle the City of Silver's situation.
• Cyril shows his dedication to his role as a "Recorder" by attempting to capture his experiences on paper.
• Audrey expresses her mixed feelings about the Chief's actions, showing her loyalty to the Tarot Club and her understanding of the City of Silver's political situation.

Significant Themes

• Trust and suspicion among different factions, as seen in the Chief's actions towards the City of Silver and the Tarot Club.
• The importance of self-improvement and personal growth, as emphasized by Klein to Derrick.
• The consequences of curiosity and exploration, as seen in Cyril's encounter with the evil spirit in the underground ruins.

Character Interactions

• Klein interacts with Derrick, providing guidance and advice on the City of Silver's situation.
• Audrey and Alger discuss the Chief's intentions and express their thoughts on the matter.
• Cyril interacts with a crowd of passengers on the ship, attracting their attention and appreciation for his painting.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril, a painter and a Beyonder of the Recorder path, draws a seascape that impresses the passengers.
• He is approached by passengers who want to buy or commission paintings, including a middle-aged gentleman named Lowen Richie and a blonde girl named Elena.
• Cyril agrees to paint Lowen and Elena, but declines others to focus on his potion digestion.
• He finishes Lowen's portrait and is invited to dinner, but declines to prepare for Elena's painting.
• The ship's captain, Elland Cagg, warns Cyril not to use his powers to disrupt the ship's order.

Character Developments

• Cyril demonstrates his artistic prowess and his ability to create immersive experiences through his paintings.
• He shows restraint in accepting commissions to maintain his focus on his potion digestion.
• Lowen Richie is revealed to be an art enthusiast and a wealthy merchant.
• Elena is introduced as a young woman who appreciates art and is willing to pay for a painting.
• Elland Cagg is established as the captain of the White Agate, a low-sequence Beyonder, and concerned about maintaining order on the ship.

Significant Themes

• The power of art to immerse and influence people.
• The responsibility of Beyonders to use their powers wisely.
• The tension between personal goals (Cyril's potion digestion) and external demands (passengers' requests for paintings).

Character Interactions

• Cyril interacts with various passengers, impressing them with his art and declining their requests.
• He has a polite exchange with Lowen Richie, accepting his commission and invitation to dinner.
• Cyril has a brief, tense conversation with Captain Elland Cagg, who warns him about using his powers on the ship.
• There's a hint of sibling dynamics between Elena and the young boy tugging at her skirt.

Chapter Summary: “Elland’s Probe”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Captain Elland questions Cyril about the unusual paintings he has been creating, particularly those capable of seduction, suggestion, or hypnosis.
• Elland explains that the seven orthodox churches and Northern Continent governments prohibit Beyonders from using supernatural abilities to manipulate ordinary people. He warns Cyril to be more cautious in cities and on land, where official Beyonders exercise stricter control.
• Although Elland’s initial attitude seems like an interrogation, he ultimately presents himself as a responsible captain rather than an official investigator. He invites Cyril to consult him about mysticism or anything suspicious aboard the ship.
• Cyril returns to his room, restores it to its original condition, changes his disguise, and goes to dinner. He analyzes Elland’s behavior and suspects that the captain may belong to the Arbiter or Lawyer Pathway, most likely as a Sheriff or Interrogator.
• Cyril concludes that Elland was probably testing whether he was a legitimate passenger and may have identified him through his exceptional memory. Cyril is relieved that his disguise prevented Elland from confirming his identity.
• Elena returns with her companions to commission another painting. She and her relatives ask Cyril to paint a family portrait, which he agrees to do after dinner.
• Meanwhile, in Backlund, Clarice visits Haven’s home while Cyril is away. She expresses sadness that Cyril left without saying goodbye and wonders whether he dislikes or avoids her.
• Haven attempts to reassure her and offers to relay messages between them. Clarice playfully manipulates him with her charm, leaving him briefly overwhelmed by romantic feelings.
• When Clarice notices a strange flying pumpkin carriage outside, she abruptly retreats through the reflective surface of the window and disappears. Haven quickly suppresses the lingering effects of her charm and rushes upstairs.

Character Developments

• Cyril remains cautious and analytical. He recognizes the danger of official scrutiny, maintains his disguise, and carefully evaluates Elland’s motives and possible Pathway.
• Captain Elland is established as strict but fair. He emphasizes law and responsibility while showing concern for Cyril’s safety rather than immediately treating him as a criminal.
• Elena and her family develop a growing admiration for Cyril’s art and trust him enough to commission a family portrait.
• Haven shows loyalty toward Cyril by defending him to Clarice, but he is also vulnerable to Clarice’s supernatural charm. He demonstrates self-control by resisting its influence through reason.
• Clarice appears emotionally attached to Cyril, or at least enjoys provoking emotional reactions in others. Her sorrow may be genuine, exaggerated, or part of her manipulative behavior. Her sudden alarm at the flying carriage reveals heightened awareness and possible involvement in supernatural affairs.

Significant Themes

• Concealment and identity: Cyril’s disguise, Elland’s investigation, and the rules requiring Beyonders to hide themselves emphasize the danger of exposure.
• Authority versus independence: The chapter contrasts official control on land with the looser regulation of Beyonders at sea.
• Supernatural influence and ethical boundaries: Cyril’s paintings and Clarice’s charm both raise questions about manipulating ordinary people’s emotions and actions.
• Suspicion and deduction: Cyril constantly interprets others’ motives, while Elland quietly tests him, creating a tense exchange beneath their polite conversation.
• Emotional manipulation: Clarice’s interaction with Haven demonstrates how charm and supernatural abilities can blur the line between genuine affection and imposed feelings.
• Cultural and social observation: The family portrait discussion provides a lighter moment while reflecting differences in customs and Cyril’s cynical humor.

Character Interactions

• Cyril and Elland: A polite but probing conversation in which Elland warns Cyril about supernatural laws while subtly assessing him. Cyril responds cooperatively but remains suspicious.
• Cyril and Elena’s group: A friendly business interaction centered on art, with Elena and her relatives showing admiration and commissioning a family portrait.
• Clarice and Haven: Clarice uses vulnerability and charm to unsettle Haven, while Haven tries to protect Cyril and resist her influence.
• Clarice and the outside threat: Her sudden disappearance upon seeing the flying pumpkin carriage hints at a new supernatural development or danger beyond the immediate conversation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Haven performs a ritual to summon a messenger from the Spirit World, but an old man named Edfana appears instead.
• Edfana is a messenger from the Spirit World and takes a letter from Haven to deliver to Cyril.
• Clarice, trapped in the Dream Labyrinth, prays to the Primordial Demoness, who helps her escape.
• Edfana delivers the letter to Cyril and shares information about the Primordial Demoness and her connection to the Demoness of Apocalypse.
• Cyril and Edfana discuss payment for the letter delivery, and Edfana suggests accumulating it until Cyril becomes a demigod.

Character Developments

• Haven: Shows curiosity and nervousness during the ritual and is initially bewildered by Edfana's appearance. He later expresses concern for Cyril's safety regarding Clarice.
• Edfana: Reveals himself to be a messenger from the Spirit World with a mysterious past. He shares knowledge about the Primordial Demoness and her connection to the Demoness of Apocalypse, hinting at his wisdom and experience.
• Cyril: Shows curiosity about Edfana and the Primordial Demoness. He remains calm and collected upon learning about Clarice's actions and Edfana's presence.
• Clarice: Trapped in the Dream Labyrinth, she prays to the Primordial Demoness for help, showing her desperation and faith in the Demoness.

Significant Themes

• Mysticism and the supernatural: The ritual, the Spirit World, the Primordial Demoness, and the Dream Labyrinth all contribute to the theme of mysticism and the supernatural.
• Knowledge and wisdom: Edfana's sharing of information about the Primordial Demoness highlights the theme of knowledge and wisdom, suggesting that he possesses extensive knowledge about the supernatural world.
• Power and influence: The Primordial Demoness's ability to help Clarice escape the Dream Labyrinth demonstrates her power and influence, while Cyril's calm demeanor suggests his own power and influence.

Character Interactions

• Haven and Edfana: Haven is initially confused and bewildered by Edfana's appearance but later expresses concern for Cyril's safety.
• Edfana and Cyril: Edfana shares information about the Primordial Demoness with Cyril, hinting at their shared knowledge and experience. They discuss payment for the letter delivery, showing a friendly and casual interaction.
• Clarice and the Primordial Demoness: Clarice's prayer to the Primordial Demoness for help demonstrates their connection and the Demoness's power and influence.

Chapter Summary: “Bansi Port”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The White Agate arrives at Bansi Port ahead of schedule, allowing Cyril to disembark earlier than expected.
• Cyril says goodbye to Elena and her family, who are visiting the island briefly. Elena’s youngest son, Peer, has become attached to Cyril and hopes he will paint him a moving picture someday.
• Cyril checks into a prominent hotel and eats at a local restaurant known for its traditional Bansi cuisine.
• While eating a dish resembling Mao Xue Wang, Cyril contacts Klein/The Fool above the gray fog to share the meal and explain its connection to the ancient elves of Bansi.
• Cyril explains that the elves of the Second Epoch worshiped the Elven King Soniathrym and were associated with the Storm pathway. He speculates that transmigrators may once have existed among them, though he has no proof.
• Cyril records the meal in his sketchbook after dinner.
• Meanwhile, Captain Elland attempts to report Cyril’s abnormalities. Every portrait drawn from memory mysteriously burns itself to ash. Elland concludes that Cyril may be far more dangerous than expected and decides to have local Mandated Punishers monitor him rather than report the matter immediately.
• Cyril senses Elland’s attempt and remotely causes the portrait to self-destruct. He realizes that even a disguised image can maintain a faint connection to him, though manipulating it requires him to act from above the dimensions and becomes more difficult with distance.
• On his way back to the hotel, Cyril encounters a Mystery Pryer who appears to spy on him. The man’s eyes suddenly explode, apparently due to the backlash of his own power or Cyril’s defensive influence.
• Two armed police officers arrive. Cyril pretends to be an innocent tourist and claims the injured man may have been trying to extort him.
• The officers identify the Mystery Pryer as a dangerous fugitive and escort Cyril to the police station for questioning.

Character Developments

• Cyril continues to maintain his painter persona while carefully concealing his true abilities. He is sociable with Elena’s family but deliberately avoids revealing the location of his belongings or his plans.
• His interaction with Klein shows a playful, familiar side. Cyril enjoys sharing mundane discoveries with him, even when Klein finds the interruption irritating.
• Cyril demonstrates increasing awareness of the mechanics and limits of his supernatural connections, particularly through the self-destructing portrait.
• He reacts quickly and convincingly under pressure, successfully disguising his role in the Mystery Pryer’s injury and presenting himself as a frightened bystander.
• Klein responds with exasperated humor but is genuinely interested in the dish’s possible connection to Roselle and the ancient elves.
• Captain Elland grows more cautious and fearful of Cyril. Rather than acting rashly, he prioritizes the White Agate’s safety and plans to involve local authorities.
• Peer becomes emotionally attached to Cyril after only a brief acquaintance, treating him as a friend and admiring his artistic identity.
• The Mystery Pryer is established as a hostile or suspicious supernatural figure whose attempt to observe or target Cyril ends disastrously.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and concealed power: Cyril’s harmless “painter” identity contrasts sharply with his vast supernatural abilities.
• The danger of investigation: Elland’s efforts to investigate Cyril and the Mystery Pryer’s attempt to spy on him both lead to dangerous consequences.
• Connections across time and history: The Bansi cuisine connects the present to the ancient elves and the Second Epoch, while also raising the possibility of forgotten transmigrators.
• Friendship and shared experience: Cyril’s conversation with Klein shows how ordinary experiences—such as food—can maintain companionship across extraordinary distances.
• The limits of supernatural influence: Cyril reflects on how distance, clarity of identification, and dimensional position affect his ability to interfere with objects connected to him.
• Performance and deception: Cyril repeatedly performs innocence, fear, and ignorance to manipulate how others perceive him.

Important Character Interactions

• Cyril and Elena’s family: They exchange farewells before Cyril declines their invitations and leaves alone. Peer expresses disappointment at losing contact with him.
• Cyril and Klein: Cyril contacts Klein through The Fool to discuss the elven origins of Bansi’s food. Their conversation is affectionate but teasing, with Klein accusing Cyril of showing off.
• Elland and his first mate: They discuss the impossible self-combustion of Cyril’s portraits and decide to postpone a formal report until reaching Bayam.
• Cyril and the Mystery Pryer: The Pryer bumps into Cyril while apparently spying on him; his eyes then explode, revealing the danger of the encounter.
• Cyril and the police officers: Cyril adopts the role of an uninvolved tourist, while the officers treat him as a witness and escort him to the station for questioning.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril is arrested by the Church of Storms and bailed out by Captain Elland.
• Sheriff Nicolo, suspected to be a Mandated Punisher, asks Cyril for cooperation in an investigation.
• Nicolo and his squad attempt to arrest Cyril, but he disappears.
• Two Mandated Punishers investigate Cyril's inn, and one of them is attacked by Cyril's painting.

Character Developments

• Cyril: He remains polite and calm throughout the situation, hinting at his mysterious and powerful nature.
• Captain Elland: He shows concern for his passengers' safety and tries to mediate the situation between Cyril and the Church of Storms.
• Sheriff Nicolo: He is revealed to be a Mandated Punisher and acts on Bishop Miller's orders, but he seems unaware of Cyril's true power.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: The Church of Storms attempts to assert its authority over Cyril, but his mysterious power challenges their control.
• Trust and Betrayal: Elland's trust in Bishop Miller is shaken when he learns that Miller did not inform Nicolo about Cyril's true nature.
• The Unknown: Cyril's abstract painting and his ability to disappear highlight the unknown and unpredictable aspects of the story.

Character Interactions

• Cyril and Elland: They have a tense but polite interaction, with Elland trying to protect Cyril while also being wary of his power.
• Elland and Nicolo: They have a strained conversation, with Elland expressing his displeasure at Nicolo's actions and questioning Bishop Miller's motives.
• Cyril and the Mandated Punishers: Cyril demonstrates his power by attacking one of the Mandated Punishers who investigate his inn, showing his willingness to defend himself against the Church of Storms.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyril discovers he can't influence people unseen, leading to a change of location and identities.
• Cyril enters the Cathedral of Bones through a magical door and meets Adam, Hermes, and Baros Hopkins.
• Adam assigns Cyril a task related to the City of Cataclysm, promising a script in return.
• Cyril has a dream-like encounter with Hermes, who offers assistance and explains Adam's psychological suggestion.
• Elland, who had tried to arrest Cyril, returns to his ship with no memory of the events.

Character Developments

• Cyril: Discovers his limitations, accepts a new task, and gains access to Hermes' assistance.
• Adam: Shows his influence and control, assigning tasks and manipulating memories.
• Hermes: Reveals himself as a member of the Twilight Hermit Order, offering guidance and support to Cyril.
• Elland: Suffers from memory loss due to Adam's psychological suggestion.

Significant Themes

• The power of influence and manipulation, both by Cyril and Adam.
• The consequences of memory alteration and loss.
• The interconnectedness of the characters through the Twilight Hermit Order.

Character Interactions

• Cyril and Adam: Adam assigns Cyril a task and manipulates his memory.
• Cyril and Hermes: Hermes offers guidance and support to Cyril.
• Elland and his first mate: Elland returns to the ship with no memory of his encounter with Cyril.