Lord Of The Mysteries: A Slug of Time

"…"

"…"

"Sorry."

Saying that, Klein closed his eyes, turned around and left Amanises's room, closing the door behind him. 

When did I get transmigrated to some cliche Rom-com anime? He lampooned while leaning his body against the door frame. 

Amanises continued to stare at her closed door, her expression serene, while her body unmoved. Slowly, she made a turn and stepped towards the door, stopping just before it. "Are you outside?" She asked, instantly taking note of the change in her voice. It was much softer, and had a deep sense of calm and serenity, further complemented by her physical features. 

"Yes." A soft reply sounded. Amanises narrowed her gaze, before sighing. She leaned forward, pressing her whole naked front against the closed door. She felt a sting of cold travel towards her bare skin, causing her nipples to retract and tighten. 

"Well… why didn't you knock?" Amanises questioned while pressing the side of her face against the door, as if deeply listening to the man's breathing on the other side. He leaned against the door… deep, soft breaths, a bit of awkwardness in his previous tone, seems like staring at my body did a number on him.

A soft chuckle parted her sweet lips. Amanises wasn't too bothered with having unintentionally flashed Klein, mostly due to the fact that she had been roaming around, completely naked, with the same man for nearly a year. When Amanises initially realised this, she visibly felt awkward and slightly embarrassed, but as time went by, she had gotten used to it. 

This was the reason why she was unbothered being naked by human standards. Of course, this did not mean she lacked the need for clothes. Just as this thought came to her mind, she heard a calm voice, tinged with a bit of shyness, sound behind the door. 

"Well, I was too caught up with the excitement of giving you this that I forgot…" Klein replied to her previous question, as Amanises heard some ruffle, before a creaking sound resounded from behind her. She didn't have to turn her around, as just from the corner of her eyes, she noticed the single chair in her room had vanished, only a dark piece of fabric at its spot.

"A month ago, I did a divination to see how much time it would take for you to gain a human form. Realising it wasn't too far off, I started making something for you…" Klein continued further, his voice trailing off at the end. Amanises let out a deep sigh, followed by a chuckle as she walked towards the small piece of fabric lying on the floor. 

Leaning down, she picked up the fabric, and inspected it, realising it was a Dress. A long Black Dress!

"Huh, wait, you made this?" Amanises uttered, surprised. 

"Yeah." 

She laid the dress down, noting its plainness and the smoothness. It was just the type of dress she liked to wear back on Earth. 

You are kidding right?! This guy knows how to sew a dress from scratch! Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind: 

It was a bit over a month ago, she and Klein were lying on the ceiling of their house, sunbathing, when Klein had asked her a particular question. 

"What kind of dress do I like to wear?" Amanises repeated, earning a nod from Klein, who had dawned sunglasses. "Hmm, let's see… I mean, I usually dress professionally when going to work, and wear shorts when at home. For casual walks, I just wore jeans and a simple shirt." Amanises used her paws to scratch her chin, squinting her eyes while looking at the bright sun. 

"But, I had a liking for simple, silk dresses. Like the ones you wear at the party… Well, at least in my case. It is a pity though, I would love to wear them casually." She ruminate out loud, with a sigh. Klein stared at her for some moments, before turning his head away, looking at Tingen in the distance. 

Noted. 

…

Back in the present, Amanises was pleasantly surprised looking at the beautiful handsewn dress, moving her eye between it and the closed door. "I… thank you!" She uttered before she finally picked the dress up, approached her mirror, while examining her naked body once more, before hoisting the dress in the mid-air and letting it fit on her. 

Klein heard some ruffles coming from inside, before he felt a push against the door. "You can come in." Klein sighed. Closing his eyes, he turned around and entered the room. 

First, he saw the intricate window, letting the faint illumination of crimson dawn in the room. Then he moved his head, his gaze landing on the only other person in the room. A beautiful woman wearing a long black silk dress. The dress was plain and simple, a perfect fit for the woman's figure, faintly outlining her physique, a slender curvaceous body, while the sleeveless dress itself was quite unrevealing, only displaying her smooth collars. 

Silence dawned the place, as Amanises took note of Klein's prolonged stare on her. Hehe, enchanted are you? She smirked before walking up to him, her smirk widening at his average, but shorter stature. However, the tall gall quickly realized Klein's puzzled look which seemed to be directed at her head. 

Amanises felt incredibly confused, causing her ears to twitch. Wait a minute… She traced Klein's gaze and finally realised what drew them. 

He was staring at her two tall ears. The wolf ears she still possessed!

What kind of weird anatomy does she have for ears to be at the top of her head?! This was the only thought that echoed in Klein's head. Wolf ears… wait did the Evernight Goddess also have them? Well "She" had four extra limbs akin to a demonic wolf so I won't be surprised. Maybe "She" just concealed them? "She" had human ears, and also wolf ears… wait, does the current one also have a… 

Klein slowly retracted his gaze from her ears down to her waits. Sure enough, there was a large protrusion on the back of her dress which he attributed to her tail. Amanises noticed his gaze and slightly bent around finally noticing the protrusion. 

… Seems the polymorphy wasn't perfect… she is essentially half human-half demonic wolf, a furry of sorts… Klein had a weird expression as he plunged himself into deep thoughts. His silence caused Amanises ears to move about, before she finally said out loud. "Yeah, there are some… things left behind from my original form… I suppose concealment would work…"

"Yeah… interesting to be honest." Klein commented tapping his chin with his slender fingers. What do you mean by interesting? What are you interested in?! Amanises felt weirded out, causing her ears to straighten.

Klein continued to stare at her ears, before mildly extending his hand. But then retracted it, and locked eyes with the Goddess of Misfortune while asking with some hesitation, "Can I touch your ears?"

"Why?" Amanises blurted out, the fur on her ears and tail now slightly upright. "... Just curious…" Klein replied in a serious tone. I do not like your curiosity… She inwardly commented, while letting her eyes linger on his. 

"..." 

Slowly, Amanises bent down, leaning her head towards Klein. "Only for a few seconds…" Klein was mildly surprised at her obedience, before he extended his hand. Just as his finger came in physical contact with her fluffy ears, Klein immediately took note of their softness.

Amazing, they are so soft, and squishy! Klein pressed her ears with his slender fingers for some moments, before Amanises retracted her head. "Okay, times up." Klein let out a disappointed grunt, earning a chuckle from Amanises.

Hehe, What a moody kid… She smirked, before patting Klein's head, causing the latter to raise a brow, but not resist.

Eventually, they both sat by the window, with Klein summoning an extra chair from the historical void. Amanises opened her window, letting the fresh air flow in as she leaned her back against the cold frame, her wild, beautiful black hair fluttering about, with some strands lying on her dress.

The faint crimson that shined on her, making her beauty further stand out. Klein stared at her in silence, not wanting to usher a word as his mind was drawn to a conclusion.

Amanises was possibly the most beautiful woman he had seen in his life.

Slowly, his lips moved, as a few soft spoken words resounded followed. "So, how does it feel?" Amanises at the nightly sky, her gaze instinctively narrowing while her tail, bow partly freed from her clothes fluttered about. "A bit unusual… seems like I got used to standing on eight legs." She snickered, before looking down, gazing at her fluttering dress.

"You seriously made this all by yourself, and I am assuming from scratch? Just how many more hidden talents do you have that I am unaware of?" Amanises asked curiously, a small smile on her face.

"Hmm, for starters, I can sew a dress, make confectionery, brew wine, play music, draw, cross stitch…" And thus, Klein began to state the very long list of things he was capable of doing. With each new skill he mentioned, the Goddess's eyes widened while ears straightened and pointed to the sides.

What the fuck… this guy is like an entire town on his own… Amanises suddenly felt extremely talentless, causing her ears to sway. They both laid in silence as Klein finished his statement, looking over at the latter whom had a strange expression on her face. 

"That's… very nice…" She commented, maintaining a strange serene smile. Klein looked at her strange expression, chuckling to himself as he waved his hands in front of her face. "I learned them due to the Attendant of Mysteries Ritual." This piqued Amanises's interest, as Klein described.

"The Ritual is to build a town consisting only of marionettes, with each having their own unique trajectory of fate. As these marionettes interact with each other, they will act as a sufficiently real life painting and create a corresponding area in the spirit world."

Amanises was surprised upon hearing this. A Marionette town… considering it's a town, it can't be one or two marionettes, probably hundreds—No. Thousands of Marionettes! She turned her head towards the horizon, looking over at Tingen in the distance. The Sequence 1 rituals are no joke… how did he even maintain his rationality or sense of self? According to the description of ritual, each marionette will need to have their own personality, life, acquaintances, and many more that makes a person.

How interesting… there is so much about him I am not aware of… Amanises made a mental note before a thought resurfaced in her mind. She sighed, and turned her head back to Klein, deeply gazing at him. 

"You wish to become a Great Old One…" Amanises spoke lightly, her voice trailing off at the end. Klein suddenly felt an extreme feel of calm was over him, causing his gaze to lower, his eyelids shut. 

"This world needs a Lord of Mysteries to survive the Apocalypse." Klein stated solemnly, before softly chuckling, "Actually it needs God Almighty too… and the other Great Old Ones that can be born in this world." Amanises narrowed her gaze at him, before it drifted back to the sky. She stared at the pretty stars that appeared not so pretty anymore, imagining them to be the Outer Deities that were eyeing this planet. Eyeing this very moment. 

"I… I still greatly can't understand you. You wish to protect a planet you do not even belong to, to protect those people you care about, people that you have met in a foreign world, knowing that there are others waiting for you back home. Yet, you choose to embark on a path that will likely guarantee you'll never be able to meet them again… or at least going back.

"Just… how… how do you make such a decision?" Questioning, Amanises gaze fluttered as the answer itself surfaced in her mind. 

Humanity. 

To be capable of sacrificing oneself in care for others, the humanity Klein possessed allowed him to make a decision that was by no means logical or reasonable. He, who did not belong to this world, was under no obligation to save it, let alone sacrifice himself for it. 

Yet, he did so with no regrets. Amanises, upon coming to this realisation, felt her own humanity strengthen. A sigh parted her lips as she witnessed Klein's lips curling upwards, slowly. 

"Guess."

A cute chuckle sounded. The women laughed tiredly. "As I have said before, you are not obliged to follow the path I chose." He suddenly paused, discreetly gulping. "You can choose to… continue looking for a way back home. I will help you to the best of my ability." 

Klein suddenly felt his heart pounding, with his gaze becoming unknowingly weary. Amanises let out a deep sigh, gazing back at the resplendent stars, thinking to herself. To follow you… She felt her lips slightly parting, a humming noise sounded. Neither of them spoke, simply staring at the stars, one contemplating as well as dealing with the hundreds of prayers, while the other feeling solemn about his friend. His one and only friend.

The night crept in, the crimson faintly illuminated. While the two Mythical Creatures did not need sleep, it was one of their cherished hobbies even more so for the Sleepless Angel. But this night had something special about it, it gave birth to a beautiful being, in both Second and Pre Epochs; a female one to serve the Evernight while other to live a life of calm and luxury, for one to be the Subsidiary God, while other to be a successful business women. Two mismatched, seemingly have no relation with each other. 

Yet, in this very moment they were one. Fate truly works in Mysterious ways.

Mysteries…  

This thought echoed in Klein's mind, as he got up from his chair, and left the room without uttering another word, confusing Amanises. Before, the goddess of misfortune herself could have moved from her chair, the man returned, in his hands now was a small cream cake that appeared a bit burned from the sides.

"Baking is a tedious task in this era, so forgive me if it appears or tastes a bit charred." Klein said nervously as he pulled out a table from Historical Void and rested the cake on it. He then summoned some candles and put them on the cake before lighting them with his spirituality.

Amanises eyes widened upon seeing the cake, as she had not expected Klein to prepare one for her. "Klein…" She whispered under her breath as a smile took shape on her beautiful face. Her ears twitched, as she stood up and approached the man, standing just beside him, she looked at the cake, smiling and said, "Thank You."

A chuckle escaped Klein, as he took out a birthday cap from Historical Void and rested it on her head, before backing away and realising that Amanises long ears, which were instinctively erect due to the presence of a foreign object on her head, completely hid away the relatively large birthday cap. He sighed, shaking his head, as he handed her a knife. Amanises ignored the unfitting hat on her head, and took the knife from his hand, their fingers brushing together in the process, causing Amanises fluffy tail to instinctively wag. 

She took a deep breath, and cut her birthday cake with Klein singing, "Happy Birthday" in his tone deaf voice.

" Happy Birthday Amanises! "

(This is a Happy Birthday to Amanises from me too!)

Her gaze pleasantly narrowed as she took out a slice and held it against Klein's face, the latter edging closer as he took a bite out of her fingers, making small chewing motions, and then said, "Not as bad as I thought…" Amanises began to laugh at his remark, as Klein took the cake slice out of her hand, moving it closer to Amanises, prompting her to take a bite out of it.

"You are right! It's actually really good!" Amanises immediately took another slice out of the cake and ate it, licking her fingers vigorously. Klein witnessed her action, his gaze fluttering as a sigh escaped from his lips, lifting his hand he too licked his fingers clean.

They both enjoyed the cake baked by The King of Yellow and Black, one appreciating his cooking, while the other, the birthday woman, perhaps was enjoying it less for that it was her birthday cake but more so that it was baked by her friend.

After wrapping up and dispelling the projections, Amanises yawned out loudly, stretching her arms. She was about to turn around and jump in her comfy pillow before the realisation that her body was no longer that of a demonic wolf dawned on her.

"Uhh… I need a bed." Klein looked back at her then at the pillow. He chuckled before snapping his fingers as the comfy couch changed its positions to the other side of the room, while at his previous spot appeared a gigantic single bed. On the bed was a soft mattress with many pillows and a nice blanket.

Almost immediately, Amanises jumped and landed on the bed, rolling around before snuggling within the blanket, her protrusion at the back visibly moving. "Thank you!" Her muffled voice came as her face was buried in her pillow. Klein broke into a laugh upon seeing this, earning a hum from Amanises. He turned around while still chuckling and approached the door, grabbing the handle before turning his head back and gazing at beautiful women who equally fixed him.

"Good Night Amanises." He said, noticing the smile on her face widening. "Good Night Klein." She spoke out, softly. Their gazes locked together for a while, before a sigh parted as Klein turned around and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Amanises stared at the door for a while, before turning her to face the wall. Her eyes did not blink, only her eyelids slowly fluttered, as she tightly hugged her pillow, while snuggling her whole body, letting her hair tangle in itself.

To follow you… is perhaps the best choice I could make in my life.

She thought, closing her eyes, as the Sleepless angel fell asleep.

…

Sitting on his bed, he held his head low, his hair dropped down into bangs that covered his deep dark eyes, while his hands tightly clutched the mattress. There was one certain fact about Klein, something he had made peace with a long time ago, that was that:

Klein was a Liar.

From the day he had transmigrated, awoken in the body of Klein Moretti, to this very moment, Klein's life was built on lies, and false. He lied to his sister and brother, to his colleagues back when he was a nighthawk, his friends, the tarot club, his landlord, his alliances, people that trusted and had faith in him.

While he had never confirmed anything about the Tarot Club's misunderstanding, the fact remained. He had lied to pretty much everyone in his life, including himself.

This was something Klein had long made peace with. After all, how could he have survived and thrived if he hadn't lied? He probably would have been in some Mental Asylum otherwise or otherwise had endangered the lives of many that were close to him if he hadn't. Klein had felt bad for lying, for not being able to express himself truthfully and fully to the people that deeply cared for him. But, perhaps this was the worst he had ever truly felt.

Lying to Amanises.

Klein felt truly bad for it, worse he felt betraying her very trust. Klein had lied to so many people, over so many things in his life, yet perhaps this was a first for him when he truly felt worse than he has ever done.

Why was this so? Was it perhaps due to Amanises being the first person he has been so open with? That she was his true friend, one with whom he could be himself? No. Even this relationship, this friendship Klein had formed was built on lies. He had lied about himself from the start, hiding possibly the most gut-wrenching secret ever, keeping his friend in the dark even if it was for her own safety.

Then, came fear. One day he would have to reveal this secret, to reveal that the world she had so dearly and desperately longed for, only existed in memory. After all, how could one return if they have never even left? How would Amanises react when faced with this truth? Would she shatter down, break, be on the verge of losing control or directly turn into a monster? 

No. That's why Klein had kept it a secret so long, he would not let it be. But then, another question surfaced in his mind, one that made his heart pound, his eyes to flicker, and his throat to gulp.

How would she feel knowing her only friend in this world, in her world, had always been lying to her about what she cherished the most? Klein had no answer, nor speculation to this. 

Sat he was, on his bed, clutching his mattress, his eyes weary, almost hollow. The crimson shined through the window, reflecting his pathetic form.

…

"It's time."

Uttered, The Resplendent and Decadent sun. Gazing over at the cloudy weather, "His" eyes reflected a battlefield. Bones, flesh, scales, lightning, fire, madness, and death. Rationality and Tyranny. Two opposites, making Grisha wonder why they were neighbouring.

An aspect of Omnipotent and Omniscience. The thought crossed "His" mind, as "His" gaze narrowed before "His" figure slowly turned illusory and vanished. Much away from the battlefield, across an entire continent, "He" reappeared, cracking "His" fingers, as "His" gaze settled on a man in a black robe, with dark curly hair flowing down "His" shoulders.

Besides "Him" was a man, looking young and handsome, giving off a fiery feeling. "He" donned a black, metallic armour, seemingly splashed with blood, with "His" long red hair complementing "His" appearance. 

"Don't you think a white chapel is weird and a bit boring? It looks so planar and has no taste?"

"It is the lord's wish that "His" chapel needs to be all white. "His" wish is my command." 

"Still though, maybe we can add some red streaks? Maybe some black as well? How about we make the chapel out of bones!"

"Hmm… I'll take the bone suggestion. But you'll have to be the one to find them."

"So bet it!"

Saying this, the man in black armour, the Red Angel Medici, grinned widely before disappearing in a streak of fire to find the bones needed to build not just a chapel, but a cathedral. The man in black robe, The Dark Angel Sasrir, watched "His" fellow angel disappear while shaking "His" head and then sank into the shadows .

Grisha let out a sigh and a faint smile graced "His" face, when suddenly crimson engulfed "His" vision. It soon disappeared as "He" now found himself seated in front of a long ancient copper mottled table, surrounding "Him" the familiar thickish greyish white fog, on top the ancient dome propped by various pillars of varying heights.

At the end of the long table, on the seat of Fool, sat Klein, looking over at the vast nothingness, before turning his head towards Grisha. "Good Afternoon." Klein greeted with a smile, yet he received no response. Confused, Klein noticed the man in clergyman robe staring directly ahead of himself.

Ahh, of course!

Turning his head to the other side, Klein's dark eyes reflected the beautiful figure of a woman, dawning a black plain dress. She had fair smooth arms, and slender fingers with her hands clasped together, resting on the table, half of her face was concealed by a thin black veil, only barely revealing her dark eyes that radiated a feeling of serenity and calm.

On her head, besides the veil, was a big black sun hat, adorned with black feathers. The woman, the goddess of misfortune, Amanises stared back at Grisha with a grin on her face, while slightly tilting her head. "Why? Hello there." She said with a sweet voice that had a hint of spite. Klein discreetly facepalmed at this, before coughing to drag the duo's attention.

It worked wonders, as both heads turned towards him. Klein released a sigh, and observed Grisha. "Good Afternoon." In response, the Dual pathway True God flashed him a smile and softly replied, "I heard you the first time. Good Afternoon indeed." "He" then turned towards Amanises and said in a flat tone, "Hey."

Her lips twitched as she narrowed her gaze, and stared at him coldly. Grisha, unbothered, turned "His" head back at Klein, and stared at him for a moment before saying. "The Plan is laid out." Klein's eyes flickered, as his lips curled up. He leaned forward, clasping his hands together as he spoke,

"I am all ears." Suddenly he glanced Amanises, his gaze fixed at her head, causing the latter to awkwardly stare at him. She turned her back towards Grisha, her gaze weary as she keenly listened.

"But first I need to confirm something. Do you want to advance to Sequence 1?" Grisha asked, returning "His" to the Goddess of Misfortune. Klein also subconsciously shifted, his eyes reflecting her serene figure, silently reminding Amanises of his previous statement.

"You are not obliged to follow my path."

Amanises let out a deep breath before looking straight ahead of herself.

To follow you… is perhaps the best choice I could make in my life.

"Yes."