Chapter Summaries

Klein, Leonard, and Kenley investigated suspected hauntings in Morse Town, using the Mutated Holy Emblem of the Sun to purify the affected homes. Klein’s divination pointed to an inverted Southern Continent mausoleum, and the team returned to the church to take turns keeping watch.

• Leonard chose to investigate Noah’s house first because it was closest to the church, and the three Nighthawks found traces of a weak ghost there.
• Klein performed a public purification ritual with holy water, garlic, and the Sacred Emblem of Darkness, while the Mutated Holy Emblem of the Sun dispelled the sinister aura.
• Klein divined the cause of the haunting and saw an inverted pyramid-shaped mausoleum buried in the ground; Leonard identified it as a Southern Continent symbol associated with Death and its descendants.
• The three Nighthawks purified the other two haunted locations but found no source, and townspeople reported that no strangers had recently arrived.
• Back at Morse Cathedral, Klein proposed a complicated equation for organizing the watch rotation, frightening Leonard into agreeing that one person should keep watch while the other two guarded outside.

Klein used Sealed Artifact 3-0782 to create two Solar Flare Charms, then returned to Tingen and learned that Old Neil was sick. The chapter ended with Rozanne questioning Klein’s claim that Old Neil had once been married.

• Klein performed a ritual with Sealed Artifact 3-0782 and created two powerful Solar Flare Charms despite being engulfed by fierce heat.
• Leonard noticed the sunlight intensify outside the cathedral, then took over guarding the artifact after Klein finished the ritual.
• Klein and the other Nighthawks returned to Tingen, handed in Sealed Artifact 3-0782, and instructed Priest Smeyer to report any further hauntings.
• Klein met Bella, the maid-of-all-work Benson and Melissa had chosen, and joked with Benson about his salary and household finances.
• Rozanne told Klein that Old Neil was sick, and Klein suggested they visit him before remarking that he had once been married.
• Rozanne asked Klein in surprise when Old Neil had ever been married.

Klein discovered signs that Old Neil’s condition was deteriorating and joined Dunn and Loyao in going to his house with Sealed Artifact 3-0611, hoping to stabilize him. They found the house silent, but a piano began playing inside as blood-red water flowed from beneath the door.

• Rozanne told Klein that Old Neil had once said he had never met someone he wanted to marry, contradicting his later claim that his late wife loved music.
• Klein divined that something was wrong with Old Neil and recalled seeing eerie eyes and a figure near him, along with Old Neil’s violent coughing when Klein used Spirit Vision.
• Klein reported his concerns to Dunn, who agreed that Old Neil might be close to losing control and prepared to visit him with Sealed Artifact 3-0611.
• Klein recruited Loyao, and Dunn explained that Old Neil’s former fiancée had died despite his attempt to save her with Ritualistic Magic.
• Dunn, Klein, and Loyao reached Old Neil’s house and received no answer at the door; then a piano played inside and crimson water began pouring beneath the door.

Dunn, Klein, and Loyao confronted Old Neil after discovering that he was trying to resurrect Céleste through rituals taught to him by the Hidden Sage. Old Neil became a monster, and the Nighthawks killed him, leaving Klein stunned by the loss of his mentor.

• Dunn, Klein, and Loyao visited Old Neil after blood seeped from beneath his door, and Old Neil admitted he was trying to resurrect Céleste.
• Old Neil revealed that the Hidden Sage had taught him Life Refinement and resurrection rituals, then realized he had become a monster.
• Old Neil attacked the Nighthawks, but Dunn used Sealed Artifact 3-0611 to quiet him and weaken his assault.
• Old Neil pleaded with Dunn, Loyao, and Klein by recalling their past together, but Klein and another Nighthawk shot him with silver Demon Hunting Bullets.
• Dunn watched Old Neil's remains and said that the Nighthawks were guardians and wretches fighting danger and madness.

Klein and the Nighthawks buried Old Neil after his loss of control, and Klein found notes showing Neil had considered using his own blood for a ritual. Still grieving and angry about the concealed Acting Method, Klein continued his training until Dunn told him that people from the Holy Cathedral had arrived to assess him.

• Dunn covered Old Neil's eyes, and Klein noticed a spirit fading near the piano before the team searched the house.
• Klein found Old Neil's ritual notes, including a plan to draw and preserve his own blood for the Life Refinement ritual.
• Klein, Dunn, and the others buried Old Neil in Raphael Cemetery, where his epitaph read, "If I cannot save her, then I shall go and keep her company."
• Klein collected ammunition, fired at the target, and pushed himself through combat exercises until Gawain told him about losing 325 friends in five minutes.
• Dunn summoned Klein from the recreation room and told him that people from the Holy Cathedral had arrived.

Klein underwent an examination by Crestet Cesimir to determine whether he had mastered the Seer potion and suffered any lingering problems. After passing, he answered questions about how he learned to act as a Seer, and Crestet prepared to share restricted knowledge with him.

• Dunn told Klein that high-ranking deacon Crestet Cesimir would examine him and directed him to the potion alchemy room.
• Crestet tested Klein's potion mastery by subjecting him to darkness and exhaustion, then confirmed that his knowledge was excellent.
• Crestet chanted a discordant melody to test Klein's body, mind, and spirit, and Klein suppressed his destructive impulses while displaying some agitation.
• Crestet questioned Klein about how he mastered the potion, and Klein described his inspiration from Mystery Pryers and Daly while vaguely recounting the Acting Method.
• Crestet praised Klein's understanding of companionship, then asked him to swear not to reveal their conversation before sharing restricted experiences.

Klein Moretti swore on the Church’s holy relic not to reveal the Acting Method to anyone who did not know it, then learned how acting by a potion’s name could reduce the risk of losing control and help digest a potion. After the remaining Nighthawks underwent their examinations, Crestet Cesimir told Klein he had passed and could become a Sequence 8 Beyonder.

• Crestet Cesimir opened the silver-white case and had Klein swear upon the holy bone sword to keep the Acting Method secret.
• Crestet explained that Beyonders could reduce the risk of losing control and digest their potions by acting according to the rules implied by their potion names.
• Klein asked how potion names were discovered and why the Church kept the Acting Method secret, and Crestet said the topic was restricted to the Church’s core.
• Crestet sent Klein back to tell the other Nighthawks to meet him one at a time for the final examination, and Klein reminded Dunn about Loyao, Leonard, and Kenley.
• After an hour and a half, Crestet summoned Klein and announced that he had passed the Holy Cathedral’s examination and could be promoted to Sequence 8.

Klein passed Crestet Cesimir’s examination, received the Clown potion formula and ingredients, and brewed and drank the potion. He successfully advanced to Sequence 8, though the familiar murmurs of Hornacis and Flegrea returned.

• Crestet Cesimir approved Klein’s advancement and warned him that acting, emotional imbalance, and temptation could lead to losing control.
• Crestet gave Klein the Clown potion formula and ingredients, including a Hornacis Gray Goat’s single-horn crystal and a human-faced rose.
• Klein prepared the supplementary ingredients, added the two main ingredients, and brewed the gold, yellow, and red potion.
• Klein used his Spirit Pendulum Method to confirm that the potion was only slightly harmful, then drank it.
• Klein endured the potion’s transformation, regained control of his spirituality through meditation, and recognized that he had become a Sequence 8 Clown.

After advancing to Clown, Klein tested his new physical abilities and learned from Crestet Cesimir about the dangers of powerful Beyonders’ murmurs and how to approach acting. He discovered he could sometimes intuit another person’s next action, then returned to the Blackthorn Security Company still grieving Old Neil.

• Klein tested his Clown-enhanced coordination, balance, strength, agility, and speed, finding that he could control his body with remarkable precision.
• Klein told Crestet Cesimir that he had heard someone murmur “Hornacis,” and Crestet warned him that powerful Beyonders could influence those on the same pathway with malicious messages.
• Klein asked Crestet how to act as a Clown, and Crestet explained that he should grasp the potion’s essence rather than imitate a profession literally.
• Klein foresaw Crestet stepping forward with his left foot and realized the Clown potion gave him fleeting intuitive premonitions.
• Klein tested his ability by throwing the Clown formula paper through a wall, then cleaned the alchemy room and burned the formula.
• Klein returned to the Blackthorn Security Company, thinking of Old Neil and the Nighthawks’ need for another support member.

After Old Neil’s death, Klein learned more about the Nighthawks’ grim practices and sought guidance from Azik about corrupted souls and a mausoleum connected to Death. Azik gave Klein a copper whistle for contacting him before leaving Tingen for Backlund, where Alger arrived as a passenger.

• Dunn told Klein that Cesimir had taken Old Neil’s red eyes to be kept elsewhere, and Klein recoiled at the possibility that remains from lost Nighthawks could be used as Beyonder ingredients.
• Klein told Dunn he wanted to learn tracking and surveillance, and Dunn approved his request.
• Klein visited Azik, who confirmed that a person who lost control had a corrupted soul and warned Klein against spirit channeling when evil gods or devils were involved.
• Klein described his divination of the inverted pyramid mausoleum, and Azik said it felt familiar but did not restore his memories.
• Azik told Klein he planned to leave Tingen for Backlund and gave him a copper whistle that summoned his enormous skeletal messenger.
• Alger Wilson disembarked at Backlund’s docks in the robes of a Church of Storms priest.

After advancing to Sequence 8, Klein adjusted to life at home, continued his training, and learned that his promotion raised his weekly salary to ten pounds. The chapter leaves him being called to help investigate city councilor Mr. Maynard’s murder through Spirit Channeling.

• Klein reassured Bella that she could read newspapers in her free time and told her to serve Sibe black tea and white bread as his everyday meal.
• Klein meditated to control the potion’s power, reflecting on Old Neil’s death and the danger of losing control.
• During combat training, Gawain said Klein could take part in actual combat in two or three days, though becoming proficient would take longer.
• Dunn told Klein that his police rank had changed to inspector and raised his weekly salary from six pounds to ten.
• Dunn asked Klein to use Spirit Channeling to help the police identify the murderer of city councilor Mr. Maynard.

Klein joined Inspector Tolle to investigate Councilor Maynard’s death and used Spirit Channeling to witness the councilor dying during an affair. After Klein drew the woman from his vision, Maynard’s corpse suddenly sat up.

• Klein changed into his upgraded police uniform and met Inspector Tolle, who took him to Maynard’s home.
• Tolle explained that Maynard had been found naked in an unused guest room after hosting a gathering, and that his politically connected family suspected foul play.
• Klein performed Spirit Channeling and saw Maynard having sex with a woman before clutching his chest and collapsing.
• Klein drew the woman he had seen in his vision and packed away his ritual materials.
• Maynard’s corpse clutched the sheets, sat up, and stared vacantly at Klein.

Klein subdued and purified Councilor Maynard after the corpse unexpectedly became a Living Corpse, then discovered that Azik’s copper whistle had likely caused the transformation. He left the investigation to Inspector Tolle, revealing that Maynard had died while with Madam Shermane.

• Maynard’s corpse lunged at Klein, who dodged and used a Requiem Charm before stopping it with a Sleeping Charm.
• Klein performed a ritual to purify Maynard and confirmed that the corpse would not awaken again.
• Klein realized the copper whistle in his left pocket had likely turned Maynard into a Living Corpse and resolved to keep it away from places with many corpses.
• Klein moved Maynard back onto the bed, concealed the mark from his cane, and told Tolle that the corpse had risen and been purified.
• Klein told Tolle that Maynard had died while intimate with the woman in the portrait, and Tolle identified her as the influential Madam Shermane.

Klein rested after investigating Councilor Maynard’s death, then returned to duty and met Duster Guderian to discuss the asylum patient Hood Eugen. Duster revealed that a visitor who used the alias El was really named Lanarvus.

• Tolle told Klein that Madam Shermane had admitted being with Maynard, but the police lacked grounds to charge her and were awaiting autopsy results.
• Klein used Spirit Vision and saw that Shermane’s calm emotional colors contradicted her frightened behavior, while Madam Maynard angrily demanded an arrest.
• Klein returned to Zouteland Street, guarded Chanis Gate through the night, and arranged reimbursement for his expenses.
• At the shooting club, Klein asked Duster about Hood Eugen, and Duster confirmed that Eugen had truly gone mad.
• Duster said that El had visited Hood Eugen three times and revealed that El’s real name was Lanarvus.

Klein investigated Hood Eugen’s connection to the fugitive swindler Lanarvus and planned to seek Madam Daly’s advice on communicating with the mad psychiatrist. Back home, he told Melissa and Benson that his salary had doubled, then prepared to summon a messenger that night.

• Klein questioned Duster Guderian about Lanarvus’s visits to Hood Eugen and learned that the Psychology Alchemists had not responded after Duster reported Hood Eugen’s madness.
• Klein asked Duster to monitor Hood Eugen, press the Psychology Alchemists to help him, and watch for signs that he might lose control.
• Klein returned home and found Melissa dazed after Bella made breakfast from leftovers; Benson emerged from the bathroom and offered Klein some.
• Klein announced that his weekly salary had doubled, and Melissa calculated how long it would take him to save enough money to marry.
• Klein slept, resumed searching for houses with red chimneys, and later sealed his bedroom to try the messenger-summoning ritual.

Klein used ritual magic to send a letter to Daly Simone, while Xio and Fors exchanged investigation reports with Audrey through Susie. Audrey found no firm leads on the missing homeless people and replied to her brother Alfred, asking him to look for Rainbow Salamanders.

• Klein summoned Daly Simone’s messenger and sent it a letter, reflecting on the messenger’s appearance and Mr. Azik’s power.
• Susie delivered Audrey’s message to Xio Derecha and Fors Wall, who gave her their report on missing homeless people in the Backlund Bridge Area.
• Audrey read the report, found no confirmed results, and sent Xio and Fors a reply through Susie.
• Audrey read a letter from Alfred describing life in the Balam Empire and inviting her to visit.
• Audrey wrote back to Alfred that she was interested in biology and asked him to look for Rainbow Salamanders or their preserved corpses.

Audrey explained how the repeal of the Corn Laws hurt landowning nobles, weakened their political influence, and drove some to sell land or seek wealthy marriage partners. Xio and Fors went to investigate Darkholme, found him murdered, and escaped an ambush by Admiral Hurricane Qilangos through Fors's bracelet; they decided to notify Miss Audrey and call the police.

• Audrey wrote Alfred about falling rents, nobles' financial troubles, political changes, and the effects of the Corn Laws on workers.
• Xio and Fors traveled to Darkholme's home in the East Borough after he failed to report his latest findings.
• Xio and Fors found Darkholme dismembered and suspected Admiral Hurricane Qilangos had killed him for investigating missing vagrants.
• Qilangos waited nearby and prepared to attack, but Fors used a stone from her bracelet to take herself and Xio through the Spirit World to a cemetery.
• Xio and Fors decided to notify Miss Audrey and call the police.

Xio and Fors planned to use the authorities to help locate Qilangos after he killed Darkholme, then informed Audrey of their discovery. At the Tarot Club meeting, Audrey briefed Alger, who received permission from Mr. Fool to report Qilangos’s purpose and the mystical item he sought.

• Xio proposed reporting Darkholme’s death to the police and leaking information that Qilangos was the murderer so Beyonders could help track him.
• Fors suggested investigating why Qilangos had come to Backlund, and she and Xio decided to tell Audrey before contacting the authorities.
• Xio and Fors waited outside Earl Hall, used Susie’s walk to arrange contact, and sent Audrey their findings.
• Audrey considered the danger to Xio and Fors, then raised Qilangos’s trail with Alger at the Tarot Club meeting.
• Alger asked permission to inform Mr. Fool through a ritual if he learned Qilangos’s purpose and the mystical item he sought, and Mr. Fool agreed.

Klein listened as Alger planned to pursue Qilangos in Backlund, while Audrey and Alger discussed a rare potion ingredient and the primitive islands where it could be found. He then questioned Derrick about the City of Silver’s faith, beginning an inquiry into ritual practices.

• Alger promised to bring The Fool pages from Roselle’s diary and said he would seek Qilangos in Backlund.
• Audrey asked permission to contact The Fool with urgent information through a ritual, and he granted permission to her and Derrick.
• Audrey requested a complete Rainbow Salamander pituitary gland, and Alger offered to obtain one if she helped find Qilangos and settle his debt to her.
• Alger said the nearly extinct Rainbow Salamanders lived on a few primitive islands and hinted that substitute ingredients for the Spectator pathway might be known to the Psychology Alchemists.
• Klein asked whether the City of Silver still believed in deities, and Derrick affirmed its faith in the omniscient and omnipotent Creator.

At the Tarot Club, The Sun described the City of Silver’s worship of the abandoned Creator and its sacrificial rites, revealing to The Hanged Man that the city likely lay in the Forsaken Land of the Gods. After the gathering, Klein prepared to attempt a ritual summoning himself.

• Audrey listened as The Sun explained that the City of Silver worshipped the Creator, while The Fool asked whether the Creator had abandoned them.
• The Hanged Man connected The Sun’s homeland to the Forsaken Land of the Gods and was startled that The Fool seemed to know how to reach it.
• The Sun described the City of Silver’s history under the Giant King Ormir and detailed its sacrifices, prayers, and rituals to the unresponsive Creator.
• Klein analyzed the sacrificial process and learned that the City of Silver recited its prayers in Jotun, but he kept his conclusions to himself.
• After ending the gathering, Klein considered how he might bring more people into the Tarot Club and then prepared to perform a ritual summoning himself.