The sun was nowhere to be seen as Ulrich dropped by Selena’s house unannounced. She was currently unemployed, which wasn’t that important to bring up. With her family background, if she wanted to freeload for the rest of her life or move to Lunden, there would be no problem. What was important was her appearance. He had no idea what Anna Castella did, but whatever she did, he hoped that she would do it again.

  Selena looked much better. Her face was brighter, more at ease, and it wasn’t hard for him to see the changes, having known her for some time. It wasn’t just about the physical changes. Through some body language and subtle cues, aid by his enhanced senses, Ulrich could easily discern the state of her mental health.

  Huh. Maybe I should become a psychiatrist… It was tempting. Given all the mental issues that plague Weavers across the five luminants, he had a feeling that this profession should be well respected with rather high-paying commission. Of course, it was just a thought since he had no license to speak of. And people wasn’t his thing. Even if he possessed those two things, being a psychiatrist was not in his soul. And if being a psychiatrist was in his soul, he wasn’t Ulrich!

  After wrapping up the conversation with Selena and bidding her farewell, he made his way to the Sanctuary, arriving in front of the Repository without any interruption.

  Strangely enough, Rosaline was already there when the gate opened. It was like she had been waiting for him. Was it a coincidence? Or was it left open this entire time?

  “You… have very good timing.” She said, perhaps she had read his mind when adding, “The gate cannot be left open or unattended for a long period of time, you know?”

  “I didn’t ask.” Ulrich raised his hand in resignation.

  “I never said you asked.”

  Now, that was a curveball he didn’t expect. This couldn’t possibly be the same gentle and cheerful Rosaline that he became acquainted with. Narrowing his eyes, he noticed something was not quite right.

  Immediately, he took a step back, his mind filled with skepticism as his hand reached toward his gun. Rosaline, no doubt, noticed his gesture as she chuckled.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Your bullet doesn’t work on my shield, you know that, right?”

  That manner of speech, tone of voice, it was Rosaline alright. On that note, he realized, maybe she wasn’t possessed or gone insane. Something must have happened in his absence, and recalling all the past abnormality regarding Rosaline, he can’t help but come up with one name: Victor!

  That idiot. Did he pissed her off? Now I’m her target dummy?

  He didn’t dare to voice his thoughts and let out a deep breath. Pretending as though nothing happened, Ulrich brought up the matters about the Shadow Realm. Rosaline was absent-minded as she led him through the cold, spacious hall behind the Repository, not offering a single comment.

  No matter how many times he has been down here, that awful stale stench of mold and musty earth never grew on him. Seriously, Ulrich had decided that when he returned from the Shadow Realm, he would file a formal complaint to Captain Ottis, persuading them to hire a janitor down here.

  Rosaline… I need you to pay attention!

  By the time she stopped, Ulrich's eyes narrowed. Why were they always back at the ancestral hall? Was there some undisclosed requirement or secrets behind the Shadow Gate that required them to be in this hall?

  Rosaline did not notice his confusion, and she probably didn’t care as she began to perform the necessary ritual, completely out of pure muscle memory. Ulrich almost palmed his face, unable to believe the sight of this young lady. What the hell did Victor do to put her in this state? In that moment, the urge to divinate the truth in front of her grew, and it grew at an astonishing rate.

  However, out of respect, Ulrich shook his head.

  “Rosaline.” He called out. She was crouched on the floor, trying to draw runic symbols, many of which he didn’t recognize.

  “What?” Rosaline blurted, raising her head to meet his gaze. There was hesitation and conflict on his face, and with Rosaline looking at him directly, he wasn’t surprised when she noticed it.

  “I’m just letting you know right now, if you change your mind on the matter of the Shadow Realm, I won’t draw it over again. I’m busy!”

  Ulrich rolled his eyes, unable to believe what he had just heard. Why was almost every employee in this company like this?

  Isn’t that your job…?

  “Ahem.”

  He paused for a moment, trying to find the right word before speaking his honest request. He didn’t want to agitate her any further. Cursed that damnable colleague of his, Ulrich prayed for the day and night the Night Mother would smite him with a of bad luck.

  “You see…”

  He began recounting his adventure in the shadow realm in his first descent, from meeting Silas, traveling to Helgan’s Keep, joining a mercenary group, fighting the Great Fallen Knight, and finally, the supposed Rank 5 Shadowmancer who once ruled that castle. The part about Silas, Helgan’s Keep, and the mercenary group did not interest her in the slightest; evident by her lack of reaction to his recount.

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  However, regarding the subject of the Great Fallen Knight as well as Rank 5 Shadowmancer, she was extremely interested. On that part, she raised many questions, and Ulrich answered them to the best of his knowledge. Looking at it, he was confident that she would be interested in joining him in exploring this ruin, just as Anna Castella was eager to join him.

  Yet, after he answered the final question, Rosaline shook her head.

  “I can’t help you.” She said regretfully.

  Ulrich's heart dropped to the floor. He was confused, perplexed. Clearly, she was interested, so why couldn’t she help him?

  “We are both Shadowmancer. According to that Knight’s words, it should be relatively safe if we avoid the Castle’s Keep.”

  Surely, no matter how high her rank as a Shadowmancer and Keeper was, she couldn't possibly be beyond Rank 5... Right?

  “It’s not about the danger,” She clarified and explained, “Even if it’s dangerous… I would love to help you if possible. But my position does not allow me to leave the city for long. In Belham, there is only 1 Keeper, and that person is me. If I leave… Who will keep the Repository in check?”

  Ulrich protested. “There’s Freddy. The trip won’t be long, maybe three days at most.”

  Just as he said that, Rosaline shook her head. “Even if Freddy could maintain the seal on the Repository for some time with my absence, there are certain related secrets that require my presence. A Keeper is not just an oath-sworn to the Night Mother for nothing. Throughout the five seas, every single Keeper is the direct speaker of the Night Mother. ‘She’ whispered into our ear, and only us. It is only through us that the Ministry Watchman, devotees, including the Bishop, can listen to the words of the Mother.”

  “If I were to be absent, then ‘her’ ears in Belham will be cut off. If something were to happen, the other Keeper would not be able to contact the city through me as the proxy of the Keepers and Mother. The consequences of my absent is too great to consider helping you.”

  Having said that, she squeezed a helpless smile as she looked at him.

  “I’m sorry. It’s for the greater good of Belham…”

  For a moment, Ulrich could not speak. He couldn’t quite force her to come with him; that would be irresponsible on his part. The logic and reasoning in her words were too reasonable and convincing. Indeed, the matters relating to the status “Keeper” were much more intricate than he thought initially. From the sound of it, it wasn’t far-fetched to say that Rosaline was a crucial pillar, one of many beacons of light in the vast open sea.

  And through this Beacon, the Mother was able to form a hive-mind of some sort, allowing each designated Keeper to contact one another over vast distances. Of course, he had no doubt that this was just one small part of the greater whole.

  With that in mind, he can’t help but grow even more confused.

  Why is Ma’am Felanor so confident that a Keeper will help me if I tell them my talent? There’s no way that she does not know the truth behind the Keeper’s constraint…

  He hesitated. Rosaline was patient as she always has been, despite her already worsened mood from whatever Victor did to her. While Ulrich sank into contemplation, Rosaline resumed drawing the symbols, trying to complete the ritual as soon as possible.

  Ma’am Felanor's carefree voice continued to reverberate in his mind, scratching at the walls of his skull. She must have her reason behind her confidence, right? It wasn’t like he had much to lose by bringing it up. After a moment of conflict and hesitation, Ulrich called Rosaline again.

  “What now…” She murmured, turning her head. The ritual was almost completed, but Ulrich had already interrupted her twice. From here, Rosaline looked ready to slap him on the back of his head.

  Ulrich awkwardly brought up his talent information, a bit scared of her demeanor. “Do you know anything about this talent of mine? It has no description in my psyche, and I’ve been trying to figure out the effects of it.”

  Rosaline, clearly not interested, narrowed her eyes and urged him to stop beating around the bush.

  “What’s the name of it?”

  “Blessing of the Shadow.” He said.

  “Blessing of the Shadow?”

  Maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him, but her face changed so quickly that he couldn’t believe it. Especially her eyes and pupil, the latter enlarged exaggeratedly like some kind of fish eyeballs. Yup. Maybe Ma’am Felanor was right as Rosaline began whispering to herself with her head lowered, her face completely flushed red.

  With his enhanced senses, he should be able to hear her whispers, yet he couldn’t; must be that shield she was talking about. In that moment, she snapped her head at Ulrich, a smile growing so wide on her face that it looked like a clown drawn grin.

  “How did you get that talent?”

  How am I supposed to answer that?

  “I… It came naturally?” He replied, his voice a bit weak and dubious.

  That was all he could say. The next thing he knew, Rosaline began tapping her chest thrice, ignoring his baffled and confused state altogether. By now, the ritual had basically finished, and all she had to do was recite the corresponding chant. That she did. After which, she moved behind him, then pushed him forward.

  Helpless, Ulrich's body fell forward, his hat almost falling on the ground.

  “What is wrong with you…”

  She tilted her head, the smile still present on her face.

  “Didn’t you need help? Say less, I’ll come with you!”

  Still confused and lagging in thoughts, Ulrich let Rosaline push him into the gate.

  “I need to prepare some things before I can join you. So wait for me at Helgan’s Keep, I’ll see you then!” She yelled loudly. By the time Ulrich woke up from his stupor, his body was already submerged halfway into the dark gate.

  What the hell is this talent? Why did her attitude change so fast?

  That was the only thought in his mind as the darkness swallowed him whole.