Chapter 1 – Crimson
Zhou Mingrui wakes as much as an excruciating headache, feeling like his temples are being pierced by a pointy object. He tries to maneuver, however his physique is unresponsive, and his ideas are cloudy and tough to manage. As he struggles to focus, he wonders if he’s dreaming or awake, and if he’s experiencing a cerebral hemorrhage.
Because the ache slowly subsides, Zhou Mingrui opens his eyes to seek out himself in an unfamiliar research, surrounded by unusual objects like a revolver, an ink bottle with an angel sample, and a crimson moon hanging in midair. The room is full of an eerie, crimson glow, and he feels inexplicably horrified.
As Zhou Mingrui tries to soak up his environment, he discovers the room is small, with a mattress, cupboard, and mechanical machine on the partitions. He sees himself in a dressing mirror, and his gaze sweeps the room, taking within the unusual, steampunk-inspired decor. The ambiance is tense and foreboding, and Zhou Mingrui is left with extra questions than solutions, questioning how he ended up on this weird world.
Chapter 2 – Scenario
Zhou Mingrui’s gaze falls upon a dessicated corpse-like reflection within the dressing mirror, leaving him reeling in worry. Regardless of his preliminary terror, he tries to calm himself and inspects his physique, discovering his wounds to be grievous however his vitality robust. He makes an attempt to look at his head damage however is hindered by the dim lighting.
As he searches for an answer, a reminiscence fragment from his previous life as Klein Moretti surfaces, reminding him of the fuel lamp’s capabilities. He finds the lamp on the wall and makes an attempt to mild it, however it doesn’t work at first. After recalling his brother Benson’s resourcefulness in putting in fuel pipes, Zhou Mingrui discovers a fuel meter and makes use of a copper penny to activate it, lastly illuminating the room with a heat glow.
With the darkness receded, Zhou Mingrui inspects his wound once more, discovering it to be quickly therapeutic. He attributes this to the restorative results of transmigration. Feeling relieved, he decides to scrub up the blood stains on his head and ventures out into the darkish hall, the place the crimson moonlight casts eerie silhouettes.
Chapter 3 – Melissa
Zhou Mingrui’s worry and unease dissipate as he focuses on finding out Klein’s reminiscence fragments, attempting to piece collectively the mysteries of his previous life. He discovers that Klein’s recollections are fragmented and incomplete, like shattered glass, with many lacking items, together with the occasions main as much as his dying. Regardless of this, Zhou Mingrui recollects Klein’s college struggles and his ambition to attend Tingen College’s Historical past division, in addition to his mentor’s suggestion letter.
As Zhou Mingrui delves deeper into Klein’s recollections, he learns extra about his household, together with his brother Benson’s resourcefulness and assist for his sister Melissa’s goals of changing into a steam mechanic. Melissa’s ardour for equipment and her training on the Tingen Technical College’s Steam and Equipment division are revealed, in addition to Benson’s struggles to keep up their livelihood amidst the corporate’s decline.
As Melissa awakens, Zhou Mingrui shortly hides the revolver and composes himself, attempting to behave regular regardless of his still-healing head wound. He reveals Melissa a silver vine-leaf pocket watch, a treasured household heirloom that Melissa had beforehand fastened, however which now seems damaged once more. The dialog is awkward, however Zhou Mingrui is set to navigate his new actuality and uncover the secrets and techniques of his previous life.
Chapter 4 – Divination
Zhou Mingrui, nonetheless navigating his new actuality, prepares to enterprise out to purchase substances for his luck enhancement ritual. He alters right into a brownish-yellow coat and felt hat, and retrieves a roll of notes from a hidden compartment, admiring the distinctive ink and design of the Loen Kingdom’s forex. Along with his outfit and funds so as, he pockets a revolver for cover, involved about potential ‘accidents’ attributable to Klein’s suspicious suicide.
As he exits his house, Zhou Mingrui is met with the colourful sights and sounds of the bustling avenue market. Cell hawkers peddle their wares, from roasted fish to recent greens, whereas the aroma of meals and dirt fills the air. He tightly clutches his revolver and notes, his senses on excessive alert for potential thieves and risks.
Zhou Mingrui finally reaches Smyrin Bakery, owned by the kind-hearted Granny Wendy Smyrin, who has been a fixture in Klein’s recollections. As he enters the bakery, the nice and cozy ambiance and scent of recent bread envelop him, a respite from the chaos of the road. However what awaits him inside, and the way will his luck enhancement ritual unfold?
Chapter 5 – Ritual
Zhou Mingrui enters a mysterious tent to have his fortune advised by a lady claiming to own correct divinations. He’s skeptical, remembering his experiences as a keyboard folklorist, and ensures the service is free earlier than continuing. The fortune-teller guides him by means of a tarot card studying, asking him to shuffle and minimize the deck, after which revealing three playing cards representing his previous, current, and future.
The current card, “The Idiot,” suggests a recent starting with countless potentialities, leaving Zhou Mingrui intrigued. Nevertheless, their session is interrupted by one other girl, an animal coach, who reveals the fortune-teller to be an imposter. The true fortune-teller gives to interpret the playing cards, however Zhou Mingrui refuses, unwilling to pay for the service.
Undeterred, Zhou Mingrui continues his day, buying substances for his luck enhancement ritual on the market. He spends his final notes and penny, worrying about his dwindling funds. Again in his house, he decides to translate the ritual phrases into the native languages, Loen and Feysac, in case the unique incantation fails.
Chapter 6 – Beyonder
Within the midst of the grey fog, Zhou Mingrui finds himself face-to-face with two newcomers, Audrey Corridor and Alger Wilson, who have been mysteriously transported into this world. As they wrestle to grasp their environment, Zhou Mingrui takes benefit of the state of affairs, deciding to keep up his enigmatic identification and manipulate their perceptions. He feigns a mysterious tone, replying to their questions with an air of indifferent curiosity, whereas concurrently observing their reactions.
Because the trio engages in dialog, Zhou Mingrui realizes that the couple’s pictures are interconnected with the crimson purple “stars” past the fog, and that he can probably see by means of the mist as soon as he turns into stronger. Audrey, fascinated by the supernatural, asks how you can turn into a “Beyonder,” and Zhou Mingrui, intrigued by her query, begins to ponder a solution, all whereas sustaining his mystique.
The grey fog abruptly churns, and a grand, historic palace materializes round them, with a protracted, bronze desk and crimson-red, high-back chairs. Zhou Mingrui takes his seat, exuding an aura of confidence and thriller, as Audrey and Alger sit throughout from him, captivated by the surreal ambiance.
Chapter 7 – Name Signal
Because the grand corridor settles, Zhou Mingrui introduces himself as “The Idiot,” leaving Audrey and Alger in awe of his mysterious aura. The trio engages in a commerce dialogue, with Audrey and Alger exchanging info to acquire the Ghost Shark’s blood in alternate for a potion formulation. Zhou Mingrui agrees to bear witness, and the dialog sparks an thought – what in the event that they maintain common “Gatherings” to facilitate exchanges of information and assets?
Audrey means that Zhou Mingrui, because the enigmatic chief, may gain advantage from their distinctive expertise and insights, and Alger echoes the sentiment, acknowledging that their mixed efforts may produce unpredictable results. Zhou Mingrui weighs the professionals and cons, in the end deciding that the advantages of those gatherings outweigh the dangers of publicity. He agrees to their proposal, setting a daily assembly time and promising rewards for his or her help.
Because the assembly concludes, Audrey proposes that they undertake name indicators impressed by tarot playing cards, and Zhou Mingrui agrees. She chooses “Justice,” whereas Alger selects “The Hanged Man.” With their designations in place, the trio concludes their inaugural Gathering, leaving readers questioning what secrets and techniques and alternatives will unfold of their future conferences.
Chapter 8 – A New Period
Because the stormy climate ravages the three-mast sailboat, Alger Wilson emerges from his crimson-eyed trance, shatters a unusual glass bottle, and absorbs a hexagonal crystal-like snowflake into his palm. He then confronts a pale middle-aged captain, chokes him, and makes use of him as a defend to smash by means of a picket wall, sending him into the raging sea. The blond man, a fellow crew member, rushes in to evaluate the state of affairs, and so they focus on the captain’s Beyonder powers and their reward for locating the ghost ship.
In the meantime, Audrey Corridor, again in Empress Borough, remains to be reeling from her mysterious encounter with “The Idiot.” She gazes at a swirling “crimson” mark on her hand, which finally fades away, leaving her breathless and thrilled. She begins to bounce, feeling a way of pleasure and liberation, earlier than being interrupted by her maidservant, Annie. As they put together for a ceremony, Audrey fabricates a narrative about her canine, Susie, breaking the previous bronze mirror, hiding her true feelings and experiences.
The chapter concludes with Alger considering the brand new period that has begun, amidst the eerie, self-manned sailboat, and Audrey trying ahead to her ceremony, cloaking her enigmatic encounter with “The Idiot” behind a veil of normalcy.
Chapter 9 – The Pocket book
Klein, now absolutely recovered, finds 4 black dots on the again of his hand, which shortly disappear, leaving him with extra questions than solutions. These mysterious marks appear to be related to the ritual he carried out earlier, and he wonders if he can bypass the staple meals choices in future rituals. As he displays on the unusual occasions, Klein is gripped by an intense worry of the unknown, but in addition an awesome urge to discover and perceive the mysterious area.
Regardless of his starvation and fatigue, Klein forces himself to relaxation, finally waking as much as discover himself rejuvenated. His priorities shift to meals, and he decides to utilize the rye bread choices, boiling water with a furnace to make a easy meal. As he waits, Klein’s ideas wander to his upcoming interview and his life within the massive metropolis.
After devouring two potatoes and two loaves of bread, Klein feels revitalized, and his appreciation for the straightforward joys of life is renewed. Along with his starvation sated, he begins to tidy up, basking within the heat daylight streaming by means of the window, however the mysterious forces at play in his life proceed to lurk, ready to be uncovered.
Chapter 10 – The Norm
As Klein recovers from his ritual-induced exhaustion, he’s abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door – it’s Bitsch Mountbatten, the native policeman, accompanied by three inspectors. They’re on the lookout for details about Welch McGovern, Klein’s classmate and buddy. The inspectors’ superior, a middle-aged man with piercing eyes, asks Klein about his relationship with Welch, and Klein reveals their shared curiosity within the mysterious Fourth Epoch pocket book.
Nevertheless, the inspectors drop a bombshell: Welch and Naya, one other buddy, have each died beneath mysterious circumstances, with proof pointing to a weird suicide pact. Klein is left reeling, his thoughts racing with the implications of those disturbing occasions. The inspectors’ motives and the reality behind Welch and Naya’s deaths stay unclear, leaving Klein to navigate an internet of uncertainty and worry.
With the police inspectors nonetheless lingering in his house, Klein is compelled to confront the darkness that’s been lurking beneath the floor of his actuality. The mysterious forces he’s been sensing are actually nearer than ever, and he’s left questioning what different secrets and techniques will quickly be revealed.
Chapter 11 – Actual Culinary Abilities
Klein’s makes an attempt to hunt safety from the police inspectors are met with indifference, leaving him feeling uneasy and suspicious. He wonders in the event that they’re simply probing him or setting a entice, and his paranoia grows as he realizes they may nonetheless be watching him. Regardless of his doubts, Klein decides to concentrate on getting ready a meal for his sister Melissa, who’s quickly to return from college. He busies himself chopping mutton, onions, and carrots, and elegantly cooks a young pea stew, showcasing his self-taught culinary expertise.
As he waits for Melissa, Klein’s thoughts wanders again to the mysterious circumstances surrounding Welch and Naya’s deaths. He can’t shake off the sensation that the police are hiding one thing, and that he’s being manipulated ultimately. The eerie ambiance lingers, and Klein’s self-defense mechanisms kick in, getting ready him for the surprising.
Within the midst of his cooking, Klein’s ideas drift to Welch, his deceased buddy, and the Midseashire flavors he used to get pleasure from. He rationalizes his newfound cooking expertise by blaming them on Welch’s affect, however the weight of the unknown looms giant. With the stew simmering on the range, Klein waits anxiously for Melissa’s return, his senses on excessive alert for any indicators of hassle.
Chapter 12 – Right here Once more
As Klein waits for his sister Melissa to return from college, he’s nonetheless reeling from the eerie ambiance surrounding Welch and Naya’s deaths. He tries to concentrate on cooking a young pea stew, however his thoughts wanders again to the mysterious circumstances. Melissa returns, and the siblings spend a peaceable night collectively, unaware of the approaching shock that awaits them.
Klein is jolted awake by a knock on the door at daybreak, and to his shock, it’s Dunn Smith, the gray-eyed police inspector from the day earlier than. The inspector reveals {that a} carriage driver has come ahead, testifying that Klein visited Welch’s place on the twenty seventh, the day of their deaths. Moreover, Welch paid for Klein’s transportation charges. Klein feigns innocence, claiming he can’t keep in mind the small print, however the inspector stays skeptical.
Dunn Smith searches the room, finally discovering the revolver Klein had been hiding behind the mattress board. Klein spills out his fabricated story, leaving out essential particulars about his transmigration and mysterious talents. The inspector listens intently, believing Klein’s phrases however nonetheless concerning him because the prime suspect. He requests Klein’s cooperation in an investigation on the police station, which may take as much as three days to clear his identify.
Chapter 13 – Nighthawk
Klein’s life takes a darkish flip as Dunn Smith, aka Nighthawk, reveals his true identification as a Beyonder from the Church of the Evernight Goddess. The police inspector’s grey eyes pierce by means of the dimly lit hall as he confesses to getting into Klein’s dream, guiding his ideas, and uncovering hidden feelings. Klein’s thoughts reels as he realizes the extent of Dunn’s talents, and he struggles to grasp how a standard human can management and manipulate goals.
Dunn’s phrases are laced with an aura, and Klein finds himself torn between fascination and worry. Because the inspector continues to probe, Klein’s ideas whirl with the chances of his transmigration and the perks that include it. He begins to marvel if his particular physique and soul are related to his capability to hide his true intentions in his goals.
The stakes escalate as Dunn broadcasts his intention to take Klein to satisfy an skilled, who would possibly assist him recuperate misplaced recollections. The point out of the Antigonus household pocket book sends a chill down Klein’s backbone, and he’s compelled to confront the fact of his state of affairs. With Dunn’s superior energy and talents, Klein is aware of resistance is futile, and he reluctantly agrees to accompany the inspector, uncertain of what lies forward.
Chapter 14 – The Medium
As Klein accompanies Dunn Smith to Welch’s residence, he’s greeted by an eerie ambiance, sensing quite a few unseen eyes observing him. Regardless of the unsettling feeling, he follows Dunn into the home, the place they meet Daly, a mysterious and delightful medium. The room is full of an otherworldly aura, with a cobalt blue candle flame casting an ethereal glow. Daly’s eccentric conduct and enigmatic phrases solely add to Klein’s unease, as she prepares to extract hidden secrets and techniques from him.
Daly’s strategies are unconventional, utilizing fragrant essences to calm Klein’s nerves. Nevertheless, her phrases and actions solely heighten the sense of unease, making Klein query what she’s able to. Because the fragrances fill the air, Klein’s stress dissipates, changed by a way of tranquility. However this calm is short-lived, because the room begins to distort, colours mixing collectively in an impressionist haze, and Klein’s notion blurs.
Unsettling murmurs fill the air, making it appear as if tons of of unseen voices are debating round him. Klein’s grip on actuality begins to slide, leaving him disoriented and helpless. With Daly’s true intentions unclear, Klein’s state of affairs grows more and more precarious, leaving him to marvel what secrets and techniques she’ll uncover, and what the price will probably be.
Chapter 15 – The Invitation
Klein’s tumultuous feelings rise as Dunn reveals the hidden risks of Beyonders, and the Church’s inside Judiciary’s involvement. Dunn’s enigmatic responses solely gas Klein’s doubts, making him query how he could make an knowledgeable resolution to hitch. The air is thick with stress as Klein struggles to grasp the true nature of Beyonders and the Church’s intentions.
Dunn’s cryptic explanations trace on the significance of civilian workers members, who’re aware of secrets and techniques and may help within the understanding of Beyonders’ hidden risks. Klein’s distinctive qualities, together with his luck and academic background, make him a gorgeous candidate for the Church. Dunn’s phrases are laced with a way of dry humor, as he admits that the Church typically encounters historic paperwork and relics that require experience.
Because the dialog unfolds, Klein begins to understand the Church’s motivations, however Dunn’s statements are shrouded in thriller. The true extent of the Church’s secrets and techniques and the dangers concerned in becoming a member of stay unclear, leaving Klein with extra questions than solutions. With Dunn’s phrases hanging within the stability, Klein is left to ponder the unknown, and the darkness that lurks beneath the floor of the Church’s seemingly benevolent facade.
