"I come from beneath the earth..." Seeing the pale words emerging from the mirror's surface, a cold chill surged through Cline's back, and his pupils dilated instantly, instinctively reaching for a swap with the secret figure beside him. In the room where his personal servant was stationed, the quietly lying "Enyuni" opened his eyes without a sound. A gentle expansion and then a contraction occurred in the region corresponding to his stomach, as though a second, slow-beating heart had grown there. At the same time, Cline's mind flashed back to the image the "magic mirror" Arodes had presented when answering its own origin: Black, viscous liquids surged from a hole in the earth, twisting and expanding, growing arms and legs of varying numbers, transforming into one monstrous form after another. Alongside this process, a single point of light accompanied the outpouring liquids, landing on a stone and fusing with it to form an ancient silver mirror, adorned with black gemstones on either side—Arodes' true form. Indeed, it comes from beneath the earth...and this underground realm is the very same one sealed within the bronze gates of the abandoned castle. I hadn't made the connection before—quite impossible, really. There are so many things related to the underground, most of which carry no special significance, much like coal...um, until today, I never thought anything connected to the earth beneath would hold any particular importance. Cline suppressed the impulses stirring within him, disregarding the startling nature of Arōdes' answer, and maintained a composed expression as he spoke: "Could you tell me exactly what happened?" The pale words seemed to writhe and shift, evoking an odd sense of near-tears: "Most noble Lord, I truly do not know the specifics. I only gained true awareness when I arrived on the surface and became a mirror. I have no memories of what came before. By the way, there is one matter that might be relevant—would you like to hear it?" "Go on." Cline, seeing that Arōdes remained calm and composed, let out a subtle sigh of relief. The color of the words on the full-length mirror had brightened slightly, becoming quite white: "Didn't I say so? I saw pillars and authority in you, and regarding the underground, beyond merely hearing strange calls, I have similar sensations—this warmth, this desire to return, to submit—it is precisely this that makes me feel like I have become your servant." What? The underground and the gray mist feel similar? Both involve pillars and authority? Seeing Arōdes' response, Kline was once again startled—had it not been for his 'clown' ability, he might have lost his composure. At that very moment, he unexpectedly recalled a joke he had once heard in a previous life, and transplanted it onto himself: "What? The ancient gods fear things that come from the underground? "What? Even the 'Mirror' Arōdes originates from the underground? "What? Am I also from the underground?" "It's both hilarious and terrifying... No, perhaps it's not exactly a joke at all. The original inhabitants of that mysterious space above the gray mist—the creators of that strange luminous gate, the beings who have summoned one after another of the 'transcenders'—might very well have originated from beneath the earth, or be deeply connected to its underground phenomena... Thoughts flooded Klein's mind, sparking numerous associations. When the indescribable shadow descended upon him, he offered a slight smile, quietly mocking himself in his heart: 'Regardless of what happens, the investigation into the gray mist and the phenomenon of transcendence now has fresh leads and a clearer direction.' Klein then steadied himself, carefully asking: 'What do the major churches and various secret organizations know about the underground phenomena that must be sealed off and isolated?' On the full-length mirror, the white words returned to silver: 'They have essentially no awareness of them—seemingly hidden by some force.' Isn't that what 'secret' means? Klein's brow furrowed slightly, but he ultimately remained silent. The silver words on the mirror continue to unfold line by line: "However, there are still certain legends that persist within some more secret organizations. These tales describe the underground as the lair of demons and spirits of malice—the source of human moral decline, the origin of primordial sin and evil." The first of these is incorrect—the entities that need to be sealed are likely unrelated to demons or spirits of malice... The legends themselves are much like esoteric symbols—don't focus on what they say; peel away the surface and understand what they symbolize... This symbolizes a deep-seated fear of the underground, from the physical body to the spirit, from awareness to emotion? Klein's thoughts turning swiftly, he gently nodded. "It's your turn to ask." "Esteemed Lord, my humble suggestion from your loyal servant, Arados, is this—shall I present it to you?" The silver words on the mirror surface appear one after another. "Go on," Klein murmured, already sensing what Arados, the Great Mirror, would propose. "Until you return to your throne, please avoid investigating matters related to the underground seal." The silver words swiftly pulsed and reorganized into a new sentence. Indeed... Kline sighed, speaking calmly: "Next, where did you obtain confirmation that *The Travels of Grozsel* had disappeared from the 'City of Miracles,' Liviethed?" The sentences on the mirror's surface rapidly distorted, crumpled into a ball, then swiftly unfolded again: "It was revealed through insights and information from the Spirit Realm, as the source was the divine dragon lineage—the 'Dragon of Wisdom'—therefore, my faithful servant believes this confirmation to be valid. Great Lord, is there any issue with this?" "Indeed, directly... After this moment, Caine instantly recalled that the "Dragon of Wisdom," Herabergen, must have entered the world of the book, approached the bronze gate near the ancient gods' throne, and possibly, due to his "omniscience" and deep understanding of the underground seals, sensed a deeper intention hidden within the ancient dragon as described in *The Travels of Grolser*. He could sense something, yet could not quite grasp it fully, unable to hold onto it firmly. "No," Caine answered the "Magic Mirror" Arodes. Then, he tentatively asked, "Why didn't you mention the true name of the 'Dragon of Wisdom'?" "Because I am afraid to reveal the true name of the gods," Arodes responded with a measured tone. Caine nodded, and did not press further. "It's your turn now." "Great Lord, do you have any further questions?" The silver words rapidly reorganized on the slightly dim mirror surface. "No, that's all for today." Klein shook his head. As he spoke, he remembered the previous incident and added, "When new matters arise, I will summon you again." The full-length mirror instantly brightened, silver words gleaming: "Yes, Master! Your loyal and steadfast servant, Arodos, awaits your next call!" This time, the gesture was no longer a simple sketch, but a cat paw in white with a red heart. ...Each time, something new. Klein's lips slightly twitched as he watched the full-length mirror in the bedroom return to normal. Standing in the darkness, bathed in the soft, faint crimson moonlight filtering through the curtains, he stood quietly for a while before returning to his bed and falling asleep quickly through meditation. On a Monday morning, slightly earlier than usual, Klein woke up a bit ahead of schedule, accompanied by his personal servant, Enyuni, and descended to the first floor. To the butler Walter, he said, "I had a nightmare last night. Before breakfast, I'd like to go to church." Walter was surprised, yet not at all astonished—after all, as long as the church was open, people always came. He quickly arranged for a carriage and took Dauvray Thénardier all the way to the entrance. When Kain arrived at Saint-Séverin Church, the doors had not yet opened. He waited until eight o'clock and then entered the hall with the first group of worshippers, taking a seat in the front rows facing the dark sigil. Closing his eyes, he settled into the serene and quiet atmosphere and silently recited in ancient Hermes: "O goddess more noble than the stars, more enduring than eternity—Queen of the crimson, Mother of the hidden, Sovereign of calamities and fear, Lady of slumber and stillness..." After reciting her name, he switched to ordinary Runes, speaking almost silently: "There is an ancient castle at the heart of the Daeler forest. Deep within it lies an old bronze door, sealing a powerful force of fallen power. How shall I resolve the issue that lies concealed there?" "Klein wasn't merely testing the divine—he was simply reporting facts, straightforwardly and openly. As for the church's subsequent reactions and what their actions might reveal, that would be another matter entirely. After repeating this account seven times, he began to pray seriously. Time passed slowly, and within the quiet, serene, and peaceful church, Klein stood up and, accompanied by his personal servant, Enyuni, walked out of the Saint Samuel Church. Throughout this journey, he received no visions or revelations, nor did he encounter the Night Monastery's abbot, Arianna. This very feedback itself conveyed a certain attitude—one that indicated he had not yet reached the level of understanding the underground seal. ... In the eastern district, within a two-bedroom apartment. Folshe pulled the blanket over her head. She deeply disliked the curtains here—they were far too thin and transparent, allowing the morning light to seep through, severely disrupting her sleep quality." "I have to replace it—no, perhaps I'll need to move again soon..." As Folly's thoughts drifted off into the distance, she heard the sound of the bedroom door opening and the familiar footsteps of Hugh. Her blanket vanished in a sudden rush, and a letter landed on her. "Your letter from Prizhaven," Hugh remarked. "...From the teacher," Folly sat up abruptly, unfolded the letter, and skimmed through it quickly. After a moment of silence, she spoke: "I need to leave for a while—my teacher has arrived in Beckett. This letter should have reached me two days ago!" The letter bore a date and address. "The mail here isn't very reliable," Hugh said, glancing at his friend. "Is there still time?" "Yes, the teacher said she'd wait for me three days." Folly quickly got out of bed and began changing her clothes. She had a feeling that this time she would gain a deeper understanding of the Abraham family, obtain the elixir recipe of the traveler, and acquire certain extraordinary materials.