Chapter Summaries

Edward reunited with Lilith and prepared for his plans in the Lord of Mysteries World, while Audrey introduced her family to gifts from his hometown and her father invited him to a banquet. The chapter left Edward readying himself for advancement, Backlund’s predicted catastrophe, and the mystery behind the push to rescue Mr. Door.

• Edward sacrificed the Black Emperor and Red Priest Cards to Klein, then comforted Lilith when she wondered whether people who lied were bad.
• Audrey gave gifts to Earl Hall, Mrs. Hall, Annie, and Hibbert, and admitted she had visited Edward’s hometown.
• Earl Hall invited Edward to a weekend banquet, while Audrey worried that people in Backlund might target him.
• Edward listed the ingredients and coordinates he needed to advance to Sequence 5 and considered asking Miss Exeggutor, the Sanguine, Mr. A, or Bernadette for help.
• Edward planned for Backlund’s coming catastrophe and considered investigating why he was being guided to rescue Mr. Door.
• Lilith asked why Edward burned his notes, and Edward explained that destroying them could prevent trouble when dealing with bad people.

Edward prepared for the Hall family dinner party and helped Audrey consider how to obtain her next potion formula. The Messenger Bird then brought him into the Spirit World, where he saw Calderón City and what appeared to be a dried tributary of the River of Eternal Darkness.

• Audrey told Edward that Earl Hall had invited him to the Hall family dinner party and offered to teach him to dance before the event.
• Audrey said she was visiting a mental hospital to digest the last of her Psychiatrist potion, and Edward promised to seek a Sequence 6 formula for her.
• After Audrey left, Edward summoned the Messenger Bird and asked about Spirit World Traversal-ers and whether the Headless Friend could catch one.
• The Messenger Bird carried Edward through the Spirit World toward a vast city, and Edward recognized it as Calderón City.
• Flying above Calderón City, Edward saw dead souls wandering along an almost dried-up river and suspected it was a tributary of the River of Eternal Darkness.
• The Messenger Bird returned Edward to the collapsed wall, where Edward asked it about the river.

Edward set Spirit World coordinates, named the Messenger Bird Phoenix, and sent her to deliver a letter to Edwina. He then went to the Harvest Church to ask Emlyn about a potion ingredient, while Klein discovered that the church’s Apothecary commission had already been resolved.

• Edward learned that the Messenger Bird could not remember when she had seen the dried-up river, set Spirit World coordinates, and asked her to return him home.
• Edward named the Messenger Bird Phoenix, asked her to inquire about obtaining Spirit World Traverser bodily fluid, and sent a letter for Edwina through her.
• Edward found that coordinates had already been set in the Mysteries world and decided to test other possible worlds before seeking Emlyn’s help buying a Thousand-Faced Hunter’s residual spirituality.
• Klein visited the Harvest Church to pursue its Apothecary-formula commission, but Emlyn told him that Bishop Utravsky had already resolved the problem and withdrawn the need for help.

Klein failed to buy the Apothecary formula from Father Utravsky, but Emlyn agreed to seek one out. Edward met with Emlyn and then Sharron, who asked him to hold off a Rose School demigod while she and Maric faced their pursuers.

• Klein asked Father Utravsky to sell him the Apothecary formula, and Emlyn offered to look for one and asked him to return on the weekend.
• Father Utravsky called Klein an honored guest, while Emlyn complained about being treated as a sinner and then returned to his work.
• Edward gave Emlyn the Apothecary formula and asked him to find residual spirituality from a Thousand-Faced Hunter; Emlyn agreed to ask around.
• Emlyn told Edward that Danitz had secretly watched him at the church and suspected Danitz had romantic feelings for him.
• Reinette sent Edward to find Sharron at the Bravehearts Bar, where Sharron said the Rose School was preparing to attack her and Maric.
• Sharron explained that she and Maric had found a partner to help them fight their pursuers, but asked Edward to hold off the Rose School demigod if he was still in Backlund.

Edward agreed to help Sharron and Maric lure away a Rose School Half-God, and he offered them a Wraith Beyonder Characteristic and a powerful mummy that could aid Sharron's advancement. On her way home from a psychiatric hospital, Audrey's carriage came under attack.

• Edward agreed to help Sharron and Maric distract the Half-God in exchange for payment and future help from Sharron's Teacher.
• Edward offered Maric a Wraith Beyonder Characteristic for six thousand Pounds, and Maric and Sharron accepted the arrangement.
• Edward showed Sharron a mummy that she said could support her advancement to Half-God, but she needed to consult her Teacher about its value.
• Audrey reflected on empathy and the Spectator pathway during the ride home after visiting psychiatric patients with Susie and Lilith.
• A frightened neigh stopped Audrey's carriage, a heavy impact struck its roof, and the horses bolted as Annie opened the window and screamed.

Audrey and her companions survived an attack by a Devil Dog, while Jason used the distraction to kill Duke Negan and obtain an Abyss Card. Edward learned of the attack and wondered whether events surrounding the Devil Dog and Klein had changed.

• Audrey used her Beyonder abilities and spells to protect Annie, Lilith, and Susie from the Devil Dog until Leonard and the official Beyonders arrived and killed it.
• Leonard realized the Devil Dog had been used as a distraction, and Soest discovered that Jason had escaped while Duke Negan was being attacked.
• Jason killed Duke Negan, escaped through the sewers, exchanged suitcases in the subway, and found an Abyss Card in his case.
• Lilith told Edward that Audrey had encountered the Devil Dog, and Edward Apparated to check on Audrey.
• Audrey explained what had happened, and Edward wondered whether the Devil Dog's appearance meant that events involving Klein had changed.

After Audrey was shaken by a Church of Evernight Sealed Artifact, Edward warned that the Devil Dog’s master might have assassinated Duke Negan and could target her next. The Church of Evernight arrived to question Audrey about what she had seen.

• Audrey told Edward that the Silver Armor had filled her with terror, and he identified it as a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact stained with an ancient god’s blood.
• Edward suspected the Devil Dog’s master had used the creature to distract the Silver Armor and kill Duke Negan, and he warned Audrey that the murderer might seek revenge.
• Edward urged Audrey to tell her father what had happened and ask the Church for help, while Audrey asked him to teach her Apparition.
• Lilith and Susie reported that Duke Negan was dead and Church of Evernight members had arrived at the Hall residence.
• Audrey changed and met three Church of Evernight Beyonders, who had come to ask her about the incident.

Audrey was questioned by Soest and Leonard about her encounter with the Devil Dog, while Daly covered for her and the Red Gloves warned her about the creature’s master. After they left, Audrey thanked Daly and asked about her relationship with Dunn.

• Soest questioned Audrey about her visit to the mental hospital, her encounter with the Devil Dog, and how she became a Beyonder.
• Daly claimed she had sold Audrey her potion, and Soest accepted the explanation while warning Audrey that the Devil Dog’s vengeful master might retaliate.
• Soest explained to Leonard that the visit had been meant to warn the Hall family, and told him to meet the Machinery Hivemind the next morning.
• Audrey thanked Daly after the Red Gloves left and teased her about her relationship with Dunn.
• Daly looked around and called for Mr. Edward to come out.

Daly discussed her fears about confessing her feelings to Dunn, and Audrey offered to help her as a psychiatrist. Edward warned Daly that a powerful Demoness might be behind Trissy, then went to the Church of Steam and Machinery to borrow Arrodes and ask Horamick about a demigod-level Beyonder Characteristic.

• Daly told Edward and Audrey that her past made her afraid and insecure about taking the next step with Dunn, and Audrey offered to treat her.
• Edward learned that Dunn had resumed watching Trissy and warned Daly that someone powerful might be directing her; Daly agreed to tell Dunn to stop investigating and report to the Church.
• Daly explained that Trissy had hired Klein to investigate Prince Edessak and the woman beside him, before Dunn recognized her and began watching her.
• Edward visited Horamick at Saint Hillan Church, handed over three Suitcases, and asked to borrow Arrodes to investigate the Devil Dog attack on Audrey.
• Horamick agreed to consider obtaining a suitable demigod-level Beyonder Characteristic for Edward and sent Bornova Gustav to show him the way to Arrodes.

Edward questioned Arrodes about the Desire Apostle Beria, the artifact’s misleading report, and the location of high-sequence Apprentice Pathway formulas. Arrodes revealed the Sunken Laurel as a lead, while Lilith asked whether she would become human after advancing to Sequence 7 and then struggled to answer its question.

• Edward discovered that Bornova had apparently spoken through Dirac Odom, though Dirac knew nothing about it.
• Edward entered Arrodes’s room and learned that the artifact had exhausted its energy while pursuing Beria, a Desire Apostle.
• Arrodes said Beria sought a chance to become a demigod by pursuing family legacies at sea or seeking help from the Nois Family.
• Arrodes admitted it had lied to the Machinery Hivemind after someone influenced it, and Edward agreed to arrange a chance for it to meet Klein.
• Arrodes showed Edward the Sunken Laurel when asked about formulas for Sequence 3 and above of the Apprentice Pathway.
• Lilith asked Arrodes whether she would become human after advancing to Sequence 7, then struggled to answer its arithmetic question.

Edward completed his inquiry with Arrodes, while Klein considered taking a dangerous commission to earn 1,000 Pounds. Bernadette explained that she was waiting in Backlund for a chance to advance and had sent Bornova to Edward in hopes of awakening his humanity.

• Lilith retrieved her lost pendant, then asked Arrodes whether Chrismona truly meant her well and why.
• Alger asked Mr. Fool to tell Edward that he could obtain a protective Beyonder Characteristic and needed 7,500 Pounds paid in advance; Edward agreed to provide the money.
• Klein weighed the dangers of Prince Edessak’s commission to find a missing maid and investigate Talim’s death, then decided to try it for the 1,000-Pound reward.
• Edward reflected that Beria had fled Backlund for the sea and hoped the churches would stop him if he returned after advancing to Sequence 4.
• Bernadette told Edward she was waiting in Backlund for a chance to advance to Sequence 2 and had sent Bornova to him to help awaken his humanity.

Edward told Bernadette the story of Little Red Riding Hood and arranged to record some of her abilities, while learning that Bornova would soon seek him out. Emlyn searched for Thousand-Faced Hunter residual spirituality, and Audrey arrived at Edward’s villa to teach him to dance.

• Bernadette told Edward that Bornova would come from Intis to Backlund and agreed to meet him again when Bornova arrived.
• Edward told Bernadette Little Red Riding Hood, then asked to record some of her abilities to help deal with a Rose School demigod.
• Edward joked with Lilith about an eight-legged wolf, then hurriedly said he would ask about it at Hornacis.
• Emlyn asked Viscount Ernes to check whether he had Thousand-Faced Hunter residual spirituality, and Ernes agreed to confirm the next day.
• Audrey visited Edward in formal clothes to teach him to dance, and corrected his attempt to invite her.

Edward continued learning social dancing from Audrey and told her that the Devil Dog’s master had left Backlund to seek advancement to a Half-God. Bernadette arrived to help Edward Record powerful abilities for the coming fight, then said her younger brother Bornova would visit him soon.

• Audrey taught Edward the rules and basic steps of partner dancing until the evening, while Lilith grew bored and left to play.
• Edward told Audrey that the Devil Dog’s master had left Backlund and explained the danger posed by a Half-God of the Abyss Pathway.
• Bernadette arrived, met Audrey, and took them into Peach Blossom Spring to help Edward Record abilities suited to opponents from the Rose School and Marauder Pathways.
• Edward Recorded two instances of The Emperor’s New Clothes, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Spear of Longinus, and several lower-Sequence abilities.
• Bernadette left after saying she would bring Edward diary pages to translate, and Edward told Audrey that her brother Bornova, a Sequence 2 Angel, would visit him.

Audrey used her Psychiatrist abilities to overcome her fear and learn Apparition, while Alger endured more misfortune on the Azure Avenger because of Roy King’s curse. After returning home, Edward was summoned to the gray fog, where Mr. Fool said the Hanged Man wanted to speak with him.

• Edward suggested that Audrey use Soothing and Psychological Suggestion to overcome her fear of Apparition, and she successfully Apparated several times.
• Audrey’s Apparition disturbed her bedroom and spilled the dinner she brought, so she took Edward out to eat instead.
• Alger recalled how Roy King’s curse had brought misfortune and brief good luck to the Azure Avenger, then complained that the ship had been robbed and his crew injured.
• Roy went to treat the crew while Alger entered the ship’s hold and prayed to Mr. Fool.
• Edward returned home with steak for Lilith, then was summoned to the gray fog, where Mr. Fool told him the Hanged Man wished to speak with him.

After Alger lost the Beyonder Characteristic he had bought for Edward, the Tarot Club member promised to repay him, while Tracy offered to help recover it. Meanwhile, Klein, Edward, Sharron, and Maric began their operation against the Rose School, but Steve possessed Maric as Sharron’s ritual gate seized Jason.

• Alger told Edward that the Beyonder Characteristic had been stolen and promised to repay the 7,500 Pounds; Edward declined to help investigate.
• Roy King’s Dice of Probability changed from one to six, drawing fish onto the Blue Revenge’s deck, and Alger prepared for battle when the Black Death approached.
• Tracy offered to help Alger because she owed Gehrman Sparrow favors.
• Klein received a note summoning him to the operation, while Edward and Ernes separately learned it would begin that night.
• Klein, Sharron, and Maric set an ambush in the abandoned West Balam Dock Warehouse Area; Edward secretly stole Tiel’s Scarlet Lunar Corona with [Amplification] and [Theft].
• Sharron’s ritual gate began pulling Jason in, but Steve possessed Maric and made him drag Jason away from it.

Edward battled Zatwen, a Rose School Half-God, while Lilith escaped two Sanguine who came looking for her. Edward ultimately trapped Zatwen in amber and unleashed a barrage of attacks, though the chapter ended before revealing the result.

• Klein freed Maric from Steve's control, and Maric kicked Jason toward the bronze gate before a Purification Bullet sent Jason into it.
• Edward intercepted Zatwen and drew him away from the Warehouse Borough, trading spells and abilities with him across the rooftops.
• Zatwen stole Edward's abilities and thoughts, but Edward amplified the negative effects of Zatwen's Sealed Artifact and used the Spear of Longinus to pursue him.
• Lilith practiced magic at home, then fled when two Sanguine arrived and searched for her; she escaped into a sewer.
• Edward trapped Zatwen in transparent amber, reversed a coin-flip drawback, and attacked him with spells and Beyonder Abilities.

Edward and Zatwen fought to a standstill before both fled, leaving the Machinery Hivemind to find a scene covered in Tarot cards. Lilith was captured and brought to Nibais, who asked the Progenitor what to do next.

• Zatwen used Source of Curses against Edward, but Edward weakened mysticism and strengthened reality, forcing Zatwen to suffer his own attack.
• Zatwen’s Sealed Artifact stole Edward’s abilities at the cost of Zatwen’s own, so Zatwen and Edward Apparated away in opposite directions.
• A Machinery Hivemind squad arrived at the warehouses and found Tarot cards scattered throughout the damaged area.
• Ernes and Rallard captured Lilith in the sewers and took her to Olad Villa, where Cosmi brought her before Nibais.
• Nibais dismissed the Sanguine and asked the Progenitor for further instructions while Lilith searched for an escape.

Lilith escaped her captors but was caught in a sewer by a strange girl whose mind was invaded by another consciousness. As Lilith began to lose control and feared she would die, Edward found her and drove the intruder away.

• Nibais mistook Lilith for the Progenitor’s Descent Vessel, but a revelation instructed him to send her away immediately.
• Krismona asked the Earth Mother for help after one of her people had been captured, and the Mother agreed to help her once.
• Lilith escaped into the sewer, then followed a girl with dark green hair who carried her underground; when the girl’s mind seemed controlled, Lilith bit her and fled.
• An unknown consciousness began forcing its way into Lilith’s mind, and she collapsed at a sewer fork as her consciousness faded.
• Edward used a spell to weaken mysticism and strengthen reality, forcing the intruder to retreat, then apologized to Lilith for arriving late.
• Edward’s search had begun after he found Lilith’s ink paw prints and a note asking someone to help her, then divined that her life was in danger.

Edward rescued Lilith from Hazel and a Marauder Half-God’s attempted parasitism, then learned that Sanguine had taken Lilith to a coffin-bearing house before she escaped. The next morning, the Evernight Goddess declined to intervene, and Edward visited Emlyn at Harvest Church.

• Edward followed a tracking charm to Lilith, rescued her from Hazel, and prohibited the Marauder Half-God from parasitizing her before retreating.
• Hazel’s teacher told her to dig through a wall, while Edward took Lilith home and confirmed that no hidden trick had been left on her.
• Lilith told Edward that two Sanguine had taken her to a house with a coffin, where its occupant became excited after hearing her name before she slipped away.
• At Harvest Church, Rallard visited Emlyn to offer the residual spirituality of a Thousand-Faced Hunter.
• The Evernight Goddess told Edward that the Gods would not interfere and that the Sanguine were not enemies, after which Edward visited Emlyn.

Edward received a powerful Sanguine ring as compensation and gave it to Lilith, then traded two items to Sharron for her teacher’s future help while negotiating a Half-God Beyonder characteristic for a Mummy. He planned to seek out Pallez with Dunn and Klein, but Audrey arrived and hurried him off to practice for the banquet that night.

• Emlyn delivered the Thousand-Faced Hunter’s residual spirituality and a blood-red Sealed Artifact to Edward, who recognized its abilities and negative effect as the Sanguine’s apology.
• Edward gave the ring to Lilith, who discovered she could fly, blink, and turn into moonlight, then forgave the Sanguine and named it Lilith’s Leg Ring.
• Sharron thanked Edward for helping the previous night and traded the Scarlet Lunar Corona and Wraith Beyonder characteristic for her teacher’s assistance, while asking to exchange a Mummy for a Half-God Beyonder characteristic.
• Sharron told Edward that she and her companions had exposed the Bravehearts Bar to lure Steve and the others, so they would not return there for a while.
• Edward considered taking Dunn and Klein to find Pallez and help Klein reunite with his family, but Audrey suddenly appeared and told him to practice for the banquet that night.