Constant murmurings and ravings were heard as they fell upon Lumian's mind.
The unrelenting madness that threatened one to lose control, caused unimaginable pain as Lumian registered it.
Instantly, Lumian fell onto the ground and clutched his head.
Blood seeped down his head as clumps of hair were being torn out as Lumian yelled out in pain.
His eyes turned red as blood flowed out of them and angry red veins emerged in his bottomless black eyes. Trails of blood seeped out of his ears, as they trailed down his neck and soaked into the clothes he wore.
Seeing his efforts to lessen the pain was ineffective, Lumian started to bang his head on the ground, as his bandages that were previously clean white, starting to stain with red spots.
He was just about to pass out, when the murmurings suddenly stop as if they never existed.
. . .
Panting as he tried to recover from the phantom pain, he opened his eyes to take in his surroundings.
Previously what once surrounded him was the dirty apartment that a discord mod could call his humble abode,
Instead he now saw pitch blackness as fog floated around him, covering the area with seemingly mystery.
Being a reader of Lord of mysteries, he knew instantly where he was.
. . .
The Sefirot. Sefirah castle.
. . .
Except….. there was no castle.
- - - - - - - - - - -
As Lumian looked around him, all he saw was the white fog and the blackness that seemed to stretch as far as the eye can see.
The castle that was described to be tall and ethereal, with towering spires that pierce through misty skies. Its form that seemed to shift subtly, as if it exists in multiple realities at once. The structure that combined gothic grandeur with arcane symbolism, giving it a divine, otherworldly presence.
The material that was made with glowing white stone or silver-gold material, often shimmering with runic patterns or light that flows like water. Walls that appear almost translucent, radiating a calm, divine energy.
Sefirot Castle had floated or stood isolated in a boundless spiritual realm, surrounded by stars, clouds, or cosmic light. Almost as if it lied at the heart of the universe or within a divine dreamscape.
The pillars and majestic palace that was the humble home of the Fool were absent. The throne of which "HE" usually sat in, and the table that was surrounded by chairs also seemed to be nonexistent.
The stars that usually shone, in majestic beauty. seemed to hide in the darkness.
Even though darkness, permeated his eyes….. Somehow, Lumian knew he still had some vision based on the fact he could still see the fog.
He looked up and the Seven lights that usually shone with different colors refused to show themselves. There was no red. No Orange. No yellow. No Green. No Blue. No Indigo. No Violet.
Just pure and utter blackness, with white fog.
———————————
Lumian looked around taking in this environment.
"There's nothing? I would have thought that Klein might've been present... but I guess I somehow arrived to a time before he inherited it? Or is something else in play?" Lumian questioned.
Lumian did not know why Sefirot castle was empty. He had also originally thought that perhaps the Fool had a hand in his transmigration. Guess he was wrong....
Wait a minute….. Lumian had a sudden spark of inspiration.
He lifted his hands as if he was a conductor about to start an orchestra. Then he wished for the majestic palace to appear as he imagined it in the memory.
He realized that perhaps, when he arrived here, he had inherited Sefirot castle, and that he just had to imagine that it would appear. Then the palace would take form.
He continued to raise his arms imagining that grand scene. Lumian waited in anticipation for his thoughts to turn into reality.
Nothing happened.
Lumian dropped his arms with a deadpan expression and made a stupid face.
"That didn't work???? Then what am I supposed to do????" he asked.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
He looked around him, and seeing that there was no obvious indicator to clear his present confusion, he started to walk in a random direction.
He walked in a straight line.
Keeping his eyes focused on the fog, he continuously put his right leg and left leg forward. Trying to gain some distance as he moved.
After a period of time, seeing how the environment around him wasn't changing, Lumian grew increasingly more anxious.
Lumian didn't know how to leave, as there wasn't an indicator for instructions.
After all, it seemed like he was yet not in control of this mysterious realm.
Just as Lumian was about to change directions and head towards a different path, a blinding light expanded in front of Lumian's eyes.
...
"AGGGGHHHHH!!!," he was temporarily flash banged by the sudden light and clutched his eyes in pain.
"What the he-" Lumian was saying as he opened his eyes as angry red dots covered his vision.
Lumian widened his eyes, as he took in what appeared before him.
Shaking his head, he rubbed his eyes and looked again.
In front of him 3 objects were hovering in the air. They seemed to ignore the laws of gravity and seemingly bobbed up and down ethereally.
Lumian recognized them as glass beakers.
However, he knew they weren't ordinary as lab equipment.... No, each beaker contained something within.
A realization came to mind.
Beyonder potions.
. . .
The 3 objects each had unique appearances.
The left beaker that floated up and down contained a black, viscous bubbling concoction that resembled traditional herbal concoctions. It was pink, or purple? in appearance as the liquid inside sloshed around.
The beaker in the middle that also floated ethereally contained a dark-blue gelatinous liquid that gave off a faint and seemingly ethereal scent. It looked like a deep blue ocean, however Lumian somehow knew it wasn't related to the sea, in any way, shape, or form.
The beaker on the right, was also a Deep blue. However this one seemed to be darker in appearance, and also seemed to be bubbling more.
. . .
Lumian gaped at the 3 potions before him.
"Beyonder potions????? But how???"
"It was never mentioned in the book that this space had beyonder potions stored in it. After all, Klein was the god of hobos, so even if he obtained potions he would've certainly sold them off!!" Lumian thought.
Unnerved by the potions, Lumian walked closer to them as their details grew more and more profound.
He stopped just within reaching distance and theorized what he should do.
"Am I supposed to drink one of them?? I don't exactly know which pathway each Beyonder potion are supposed to be. After all, how am I supposed to memorize the details of each indiviual description of the pathways?
Lumian wasn't a genius, so of course he couldn't remember what the Beyonder potion's appearance were described as in the book.
"Guess I'm going to have to gamble" he affirmed.
Looking over the choices, he chose the potion in the middle. Why? Because it was in the middle.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Holding the glass beaker that was cold to the touch, Lumian prepared himself to drink it.
He remembered in the book that once a person drank a Beyonder potion, they were exposed to the world of madness and corruption if their emotions got the best of them.
"We are guardians, but also a bunch of miserable wretches that are constantly fighting against threats and madness" Lumian quoted.
Letting out a deep breath, Lumian held his nose, and drank the potion in a quick gulp.
After he swallowed the contents inside, the glass beaker disappeared.
Lumian closed his eyes and closed his hands to shape fists, to resist the side effects.
It never came.
Lumian released his fists and slowly opened his eyes,
"Huh thats wier-"
Then he blacked out.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lumian saw a scene appear before him:
"The concoction of a Sequence potion is extremely simple, at least for Sequence 7 and below. There's no need for a special flame or any additional ritual, much less an incantation. There's no need for one to participate in it spiritually. All one needs to do is go according to the formula's steps, add the precise amounts, and mix it. That will be all." ????? said.
"For real?" ????? questioned in surprise.
He saw two men huddled in a closed room as the old man appeared to be lecturing the young man.
Lumian instantly recognized them.
The young man had black-haired figure of medium build and brown eyes that appeared clearly in front of him. The person had a distinct scholarly air to him.
Klein Moretti
The old man looked like a hoary elder. The elder was dressed in a classical black robe.
Old man Niel
. . .
"This sounds as simple as my luck enhancement ritual... "
"Man, it's quite frightening when you come to think of it... " Klein thought.
"Perhaps it's a gift of the gods. Praise the Lady." Old Neil drew a haphazard circle over his chest.
Following that, he opened the silver chest and pulled out goatskin parchment that exuded antiquity.
The yellowish-brown goatskin unfurled inch by inch, revealing words on it. Klein looked from a distance and realized it was in Hermes, a language he was very familiar with.
It was written in ink that resembled blood, seeming to still having its fluidity intact. But other than that, it did not seem extraordinary in any way.
"Seer: 100 milliliters of pure water, 13 drops of night vanilla liquids, 7 gold mint leaves..."
Klein silently recited the formula's content, but the rest of it was blocked by Old Neil's wrist, preventing him from reading it.
"Pure water is water that is repeatedly distilled. Thankfully, I made some previously, so there's no need to waste time on it." While Old Neil gave the introduction, he took a large sealed glass bottle from the table with great familiarity.
He took off the stopper and poured about 100 milliliters of pure water into the cauldron without much thought.
Klein did not dare ask, afraid he would affect Old Neil's concoction. After all, he was the one drinking the potion.
"13 drops of night vanilla juices. This can be extracted and stored as an essential oil ahead of time." Old Neil took out a tiny brown bottle from the silver chest and with a pipette and dripped 13 drops into the cauldron in a relaxed manner.
A faint but easing fragrance emanated, making Klein feel an abnormal sense of peace.
"7 gold mint leaves..." Old Neil picked up a silver patterned can and removed its lid.
With his bare hands, he picked up a few leaves and scattered it into the cauldron. He caught a whiff of a fresh and stimulating scent.
"4, 5, 6, 7. Perfect." Old Neil chuckled and looked at the potion formula on the goatskin.
"3 drops of poison hemlock. This isn't something you should drink randomly. It can cause your entire body to numb to the point of death. In ancient times, it proved to be the best option for committing suicide."
It's not like I'm silly... Klein lampooned.
Old Neil changed pipettes and dripped the poison hemlock into the cauldron. The mixture caused a strange smell that freshened one's mind.
"9 grams of dragon blood grass powder." Old Neil took his time to reach his hand into the silver chest and pulled out a transparent test tube. There was some deep black powder inside.
He used a beaker and a scale to measure 9 grams of powder and poured it into the cauldron. He then stirred the mixture twice with the dark wood ladle. The laidback process to making the concoction made Klein a little worried.
"In fact, the materials from before were just supplemental. The exact amount doesn't really affect the final outcome. Should I put a little bit more?" Old Neil made a joke.
"The last two is what's crucial. The amount can be slightly lowered, but it cannot be too far from the requirement, or your 'enhancement' can fail. Oh, the quantity cannot be any more, even just by a bit. If so, you will have to be treated for mental problems. It's not impossible to die immediately."
Klein immediately tensed up as he saw Old Neil pull out a black glass bottle from the silver chest.
"Lavos Squid's blood, 10 milliliters. This kind of squid is considered an extraordinary biological species. It is clearly mutated. It is covered in mystery. Its blood will rapidly break down under sunlight and lose its unique qualities. It has to be stored in opaque material." Old Neil's tone no longer sounded relaxed. He quickly and carefully retrieved 10 milliliters of blood with a test tube.
The blood was blue like the sky. From time to time, it produced illusory bubbles as though it was connected to the spiritual world.
"After pouring the blood inside the test tube, the remaining drops are ignored as a form of precaution," whispered Old Neil.
The moment the blue blood entered the cauldron and made contact with the liquid from before, it produced bubbling sounds. The surrounding light was dyed with a light blue tinge, making Klein feel a strange sense of distance but also familiarity.
It felt like the feeling of being in a mother's womb. It elevated a human's soul.
"The final item. Stellar Aqua crystal. 50 grams." Old Neil's voice sounded in Klein's ears, jolting him awake as he looked at the table.
In the old gentleman's hand was a piece of extremely pure crystal. Furthermore, the crystal appeared gelatinous, as though it was jelly from Earth. It lacked hardness.
Under the blue light's illumination, it reflected bits of light as it seemed to contain a resplendent void of stars within.
"This is excellent material for the creation of divination crystals... Just a little less in consideration of any mistakes." As Old Neil measured, he used a tiny patterned silver blade to extract the crystal.
"Pure water, night vanilla, gold mint leaves, poison hemlock juice, dragon blood grass, Lavos Squid blood, and Stellar Aqua crystal make up a Seer..." At that moment, Klein could not help but recall the formula.
With everything done, Old Neil poured in a few blocks of Stellar Aqua crystal into the cauldron.
Sizzle!
Illusory fog instantly spewed forth, turning the alchemy room into a blur.
Klein seemed to see a vast array of stars amid the fog and felt like he was being observed by an invisible existence.
A few seconds later, the fog dissipated. Old Neil used the dark wood ladle and scooped out some sticky dark-blue liquid. It had strange characteristics—gooey and inseparable. Not one bit was left in the black cauldron.
The dark-blue liquid was poured into an opaque cup before Old Neil pointed at it.
"It's done, your Seer potion."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lumian woke up with a gasp.
He was laying down on the dark floor, as the fog of the black world still loomed around him. 10 feet away. The two potions still ethereally bobbed up and down.
Lumian was still panting as he took in the details. "Was that Klein??? Did I just consume the seer potion?"
Suddenly Lumian's vision seemed to explode with all the colors of the rainbow.
The reds were redder, the blues were bluer, and the blacks were blacker. The rich colors blended like an impressionist painting.
The different colors clustered together, as each light seemed to contain life and immense knowledge.
After a while, the colors faded and Lumian's vision turned to normal.
Lumian instantly knew that he had unlocked his powers as he just attained spirit vision.
- - - - - - - - - -
Author's note:
The Seer pathway abilities are the following:
Enhanced Memory: Initially, those who drink the Seer potion will gain a slight increase in memory that will continuously improve during potion digestion.
This Enhanced Memory grants a Seer the ability to memorize and learn the steps of various Ritualistic Magic and Divination Arts.
Spirituality: A Seer's Spirituality will get enhanced upon drinking this potion.
Spirit Vision: They can use Spirit Vision to see non-physical things, such as ghosts and specters. They could see the different parts of a Soul, deduce a person's health and emotions through it, and determine if something has a magical aura.
They can "see" obstructed objects and "hear" faint footsteps, allowing them to take preemptive judgment. However, their visual, auditory, and tactile senses do not have any enhancements.
Divination Arts & Ritualistic Magic: They can master all kinds of Divination methods, including astrology, spiritual numbers, and scrying.
Seers don't gain knowledge on how to directly utilize these mystical arts, only the ability and talent to do them at an expert level. Their mastery is dependent on their time learning.
Danger Intuition: They can intuitively detect danger using their Spirituality.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lumian's emotions were erratic as he took in the potion's effects within him.
As he was currently laying down, Lumian pushed himself off the ground, and steadily tried to maintain his balance.
After 10 minutes of staring off into grey fog, he no longer felt dizzy.
After a period of silence, Lumian let out a wide grin.
He was currently ecstatic, as he basically just gained what the previous world's humans would define as literal superpowers.
Weirdly, he was calm. Way too calm.
"Shouldn't I be seeing afterimages, or be overwhelmed by murmurings?" Lumian questioned.
He cupped his hands and placed them near his ears.
After a while he set them down. "No Hornacis Flegerea... Hornacis Flegerea" Lumian determined. In fact, he didn't hear anything at all.
Lumian's attention turned to the two potions that were still floating above the ground.
"They didn't dissapear?" Lumian asked.
He walked back to the pair of objects, and held both of them.
Suddenly, somehow, with the recalling skills of the Seer potion, he remembered what these potions were.
Maurader, of the Error pathway.
Apprentice, of the Door pathway.
. . .
Looking at them for a while, Lumian theorized.
"I don't know how... but it feels like I'm immune to the ravings and murmurings as a Beyonder? Does that mean that I can consume these potions too?
"Wait that doesn't make sense. After all, didn't I hear the murmurings after doing the ritual?" Lumian criticized.
After a while, he let both of them go and let them hover in the air.
"I shouldn't try and drink them right now. After all, who knows what'll happen? I'll try to drink one of them after digesting the Seer potion." Lumian nodded in acceptance.
Then Lumian looked up into the black sky of the grey fog space.
He wanted to try one more time.
Lumian raised his arms and imagined the grey palace and the throne of the fool.
Still, nothing happened.
Dropping his arms once more, Lumian resolutely decided, that action might yield some results if he advanced more as a Beyonder.
After he took one last look around him at the grey fog, he reached into a connection inside of him that emerged after he drank the potion. He knew this connection was how he could leave.
Soon, Lumian's figure dissapeared. Leaving the Grey fog and the pair of potions hovering in solitude.
- - - - - - - - -- - - - - -- -
Lumian appeared back at his apartement.
He was still in his original spot standing up.
He sighed.
He looked at the grapes, celery stick, apple, and bannana that were stilling lying there.
After looking at them, he gathered them, and after setting the chair and table upright, he sat down and finished eating them.
Afterwards, he stood up and looked at the overturned couch.
After setting it back up, he jumped and laid on it, not minding whatever stains and weird holes that covered it.
Lumian closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Tomorrow, he was going to test out his powers.
---------------
And done!
I had a lot of thoughts on how this story would progress. After making some connections, I decided that I was going to give Lumian the Door, Error, and Fool pathways.
As always leave me your suggestions or criticizms on the book. They improve my writing.
Thank you and POWER STONES!!!!