The next day.
Aaron wore a formal suit and a bowler hat. He hired a carriage and had it stop in front of a pretty little villa on Sycamore Street.
He rang the doorbell. Before long, a manservant opened the door.
"I'm Aaron Yugus. I have an appointment to visit Mr. Dass."
Aaron straightened his collar and spoke.
"Please come in. The master is waiting for you."
Since they had arranged the visit in advance, the manservant immediately opened the door and invited Aaron to cross the garden and enter the sitting room. He also served him black tea and soufflé pancakes.
Before long, Clark Dass entered the sitting room, dressed rather formally and puffing on a pipe. "Welcome, my friend! I received your hidden message..."
He winked, sent the servants away, and closed the door. A faint smile appeared on his face. "A young practitioner of the occult arts..."
Aaron had arranged the visit through Sylvia after purifying her. It had been a way of declaring his intentions and testing the waters.
At the same time, it was a show of sincerity.
Aaron let a little nervousness and expectation show. "I... I only obtained some incomplete notes left behind by my ancestors... I learned of the occult world, but I'm lacking a lot of basic knowledge. I need a guide, and I believe you're the one!"
"The mysterious world is vast and full of danger. A beginner certainly needs a teacher to guide him..."
Clark Dass smiled, and even the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out. "But you were too rash and not cautious enough. That could put you in danger, young man of unknown origins... Revealing our identities so carelessly is very dangerous."
"You investigated me?"
Aaron looked startled, but inwardly he scoffed. *If I weren't