LOM: Lord of Mysticism

Klein first needed to confirm Instigator Trissy's whereabouts. He entered his bedroom, took a simple silver knife from the drawer, and after sealing his room with a spirituality wall, he walked four steps counterclockwise.

After the usual incantation, Klein appeared in the lofty palace above the gray fog. He willed a piece of brown goatskin, then wrote down the divination statement: "Trissy's whereabouts."

He wasn't sure if the name was correct, but he could also use the girl's appearance and other detailed information as a guide.

He recalled the information related to Trissy, then recited the divination statement seven times and entered a dream state with the aid of Cogitation.

In the illusory scene amidst the fog, he saw a steam engine that spurted dense smoke and the rows of seats in a clean train carriage.

Trissy sat near a window, with a checkered fishnet hat on the table before her.

Klein made repeated attempts to confirm the train number, but he failed to discern it. Soon, he left his dream.

"I could only confirm that Trissy took the steam locomotive and left Tingen. There weren't any more clues. Sigh, it seems like this mysterious space only helps me eliminate interferences, but it doesn't do much to enhance the standard of my divinations."

He now knew with certainty that the target had once been Instigator Tris. The new Trissy, however, was already fleeing Tingen. Given the circumstances, he didn't think his new divination would help Dunn.

Klein quickly decided. "Captain already said that he would send a telegram to Backlund, Enmat Harbor, and other main stops along the railway so that Trissy will be placed on the wanted list throughout the country. I won't report the divination result then."

Since he couldn't see the train number in the dream divination, using the spirit pendulum and other methods would be equally ineffective, even if he attempted to do so by process of elimination.

At that moment, he felt mentally drained, so he didn't stay above the gray fog any longer. When he "returned" to his room, he thought of mutton.

"I must add some fennel. Praise the Lady!" Klein swiftly removed the spirituality wall and opened his door.

...

The next morning at twenty minutes to nine, he entered the Blackthorn Security Company.

"Good morning, Klein. I have good news." Rozanne said from behind the reception desk.

Klein asked, "We caught Trissy?"

"Trissy? Who is she?" Rozanne said, looking lost.

"You probably don't know her. What's the good news?"

Rozanne replied, "The Captain's request to bring two police staff members who have come across supernatural incidents to be clerks here has been approved. I finally don't need to frequently stay up all night."

"That's great news," Klein said. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Rozanne, he went underground by following the stairs and saw the two classic gas lamps and the ever-quiet corridor, which was lit up by the light behind the glass.

He stopped and looked towards the gas lamp, realizing that he had made a mistake.

In his divination above the gray fog, Klein had seen Trissy boarding a steam locomotive and assumed it was happening in real time. However, this world had yet to invent electric lights or similar technologies, and once night fell, almost no steam locomotives carrying passengers would operate. Accustomed to trains that ran even after dark, Klein had instinctively overlooked this crucial detail.

In other words, it wasn't something that happened last night but a scene from the future that would happen that day or the day after.

Klein went upstairs. He opened the door to the entertainment room, and he saw Leonard reciting a poem by the window.

He ignored the others who were playing cards and looked towards Leonard. "I have a question for you."

"Could it be that you want to learn tricks to entertain the ladies?" Leonard said and put down his book.

He exited the entertainment room and followed Klein halfway down the stairs. "It seems like you did a successful divination last night."

"I divined that Trissy will leave on a steam locomotive." Klein said.

"Steam locomotive, the earliest train, is at seven in the morning..." Leonard took out his pocket watch. "No time to waste. I'll tell the Captain that I received a reliable tip."

Klein entered the duty room. Old Neil, who had just finished making himself some hand-ground coffee, took a sip and asked, "Would you like one?"

"Alright." Klein sat down.

"Do you want to start now?" Old Neil asked.

"Let me settle down for a few minutes. The others just got a tip about Trissy's whereabouts and are on the way to the steam locomotive station." Klein said.

Old Neil asked, "Is the tip detailed enough? Are they sure which train it is?"

"No, it's not confirmed," Klein said.

Old Neil explained, "Under such circumstances, the possibility of failure is much higher than success. Trissy should be a Sequence 7 Beyonder, and a Beyonder at that level won't be captured so easily. Divination isn't all-powerful; you'll only obtain symbolic signs, which are very easy to misinterpret or ignore something."

Klein recalled his mistake and felt melancholic. "Yeah, divination isn't all-powerful." Klein said, attempting to downplay the power of divination above the gray fog, presenting it as no more effective than ordinary divination, even as he used it to catch glimpses of the future.

Just then, Klein's mind, body, and soul entered a magical state. He heard an illusory shattering noise and felt something dissolving inside him, blending together with his spirit.

In the basement of Saint Selena Cathedral, Klein closed his eyes, leaning back, and experienced the unique feeling in silence.

He took in the complete digestion of the potion and faintly saw one illusory star after another. Those stars seemed to share a strange connection with him and wanted to lump together to fuse as one.

After the indescribable feeling of hunger and thirst receded, Klein returned to normal and stopped having any additional experiences.

His mind felt a lot more relaxed and pure. He opened his eyes and knew that he had become a real Seer.

...

The first town that the Tussock River passed by after it flowed through Tingen City was called Wienia. It was the first stop from Tingen to Backlund for the steam locomotive.

On the platform, Trissy changed into a long beige dress and put on a woman's circular hat. Fine fishnet gauze hung down from the edge of her hat, covering half her face.

She had already sent a telegram to her partner in Tingen as a reminder for them to be careful and also told them that she had used money she had burgled to buy a steam locomotive ticket to Backlund.

A train let out a long whistle as the long metal behemoth chugged to a stop next to the platform while spurting smoke and sparks. Trissy didn't carry any luggage and entered the first cabin. At the same time, she decided to get off the train after three stations and enter Backlund through other methods.