(The previous chapter felt a little too outrageous, so here are a few patches.)
Following that strange guidance and his curiosity, Horace accepted the "divine blood," steadied himself, and decided to strike while the iron was hot.
As though making casual conversation, he asked the gradually fading Formless Mother:
[By the way, "Mother," have you... noticed any other "gods" in the Lands Between, or any watching this place? Of course, I don't mean Marika...]
He did not mention the "Moon" directly, though that sense of guidance just now had all but confirmed its involvement.
The result was this jar of divine blood, as dangerous as it was tempting.
Since he had arrived in the Lands Between, the "Moon" had indeed helped him a great deal: finding the Moon Boat without trouble, obtaining Nokstella's Moon, and even subtly inspiring his research into the blood moon.
But Horace had never believed in free lunches, especially ones offered by a god.
The "Moon" surely wanted something from him. But what that "something" was, and how it would be obtained, were things Horace had yet to see in full.
What did the "Moon" intend by guiding him to obtain Marika's divine blood this time?
To bind him more deeply to some plan with this thing steeped in blasphemy and power? Or to use his hands to do something with this divine blood?
Before deciding to accept the divine blood, Horace had actually sneaked another appeal to his most trusted "cheat"—the Gate of Myriad Laws.
He had paid a considerable price (using what he had just squeezed out of the Formless Mother) to ask two crucial questions:
"Is what the 'Moon' wants from me good or bad for me personally?"
The gate's answer had been brief and vague: [Neither good nor bad.]
"What about for