Backlund, Bridge South Borough, Harvest Church.
While Emlyn was away filming with Helene, Hazel lit a candle in the room behind the church, set out a mirror, and drew the symbol representing Arrodes. She also invited Bishop Utravsky to observe.
Once she had completed every preparation for the Secret Art, she recited the incantation to summon the power of Sealed Artifact 2-111.
At first, everything went smoothly. But just as the candle flame surged and the mirror's surface began to ripple, it abruptly stopped.
The candle went out, and the mirror returned to normal.
"How could this happen?" Hazel looked utterly confused, unable to tell what had gone wrong.
Bishop Utravsky lowered his head and said thoughtfully, "Perhaps it's because we're behind the Mother Goddess's church."
"Is that so?" Hazel pressed her lips together, then sighed and began putting away the ritual supplies.
She had used this Secret Art mainly to learn how she could grow stronger. After all, at Sequence 8, she was still too weak. Even with the Metal Arm, she couldn't help much...
She didn't yet know that Abner had already used Analysis to derive the formula from the Beyonder Characteristic of the Mystery Pryer who had attacked Fanny. Before leaving Backlund, he planned to give her both the formula and the characteristic as payment. Of course, in return, she would have to keep helping run the Film Company's Loen branch...
Seeing her expression, Bishop Utravsky smiled. "Child, don't be impatient. Growth takes time. Foreseeing fate may keep you from the outcome you want. Trust that the merciful Mother will make arrangements."
"I understand, Father... Praise the merciful Mother." Hazel crossed her hands in the gesture of cradling an infant.
In the church basement, the eerily beautiful man standing in the corner opened his eyes again. He