Arc 9The God of Winter in Backlund
Neph helped Klein navigate threats from the Jacob Family, the Rose School, and the Churches while her ties to the God of Winter drew growing attention. The arc ended with Klein preparing to enter Saint Samuel Church’s underground area, Neph agreeing to hear about Danitz’s Tarot Club debut, and Hazel beginning her formal education in the Beyonder world.
- Neph met Leonard, confirmed Klein was the Goddess’s Blessed, and called herself the God of Winter before telling Adam about her memories of a book depicting Klein.
- Neph warned Klein that factory infrasound had caused Old Kohler’s death, then intervened in Hazel Macht’s dealings with Flora Jacob and destroyed the Black Skull Gang’s headquarters.
- Leonard discovered that Dwayne Dantès was Klein, while Arianna visited Neph and conveyed the Evernight Goddess’s invitation to Winter County.
- Neph and Klein questioned Trissy about Prince Edessak’s death, learned Viscount Stratford had ordered William Sykes’s actions, and discovered a hidden Jacob Family passage that might contain an Amon avatar.
- Neph gave Edwina the Demoness of Despair formula, revealed what little she knew about her mother, and recited the Fool’s honorific name to Danitz and Anderson.
- Neph turned Flora Jacob into a memoryless white rat named Ais, reported Hazel as an unaffiliated Beyonder, and later learned Hazel was becoming a Sequence 8 Swindler and entering an Evernight Church school.
- Neph helped Klein assess the Rose School’s plan to reclaim Tutanssess II’s mummy, warned him about possible angelic involvement, and explained the Chained God’s connection to the Mother Tree of Desire.
- Klein invited Danitz to join the Tarot Club as the Empress, then asked Leonard for the Chanis Gate schedule while Neph declined to enter Saint Samuel Church’s underground area.