Chapter 107: Fors

Chapter One Hundred Seven
Fors

“A writer?” Audrey observed Glaint’s reaction and asked in an apparently casual tone.

This belonged to normal conversation, so she did not avoid Anne, the personal maid accompanying her.

Glaint straightened his posture and laughed.

“Yes. I believe you should have read her work: Stormwind Mountain Villa, which has received wide praise over the past two months.”

“I like that book, especially the calm Miss Sissy,” Audrey answered with a gentle smile.

At the same time, she inwardly rolled her eyes at her own hypocrisy.

That was because her recent interest was not novels at all. Her reading progress through Stormwind Mountain Villa had stopped at one-third and had been stuck there for nearly a month.

Ever since joining the Tarot Club, coming to know the powerful Fool, and becoming a true Beyonder, she had been integrating the mystical knowledge she understood and systematically studying psychology-related matters. She had found it difficult to muster enough interest in anything else.

As Viscount Glaint led Audrey toward the sitting room furnished with sofas, he smiled brightly and said, “Then I am certain you will form a good impression of Miss Fors Wall, because she is just like Miss Sissy from Stormwind Mountain Villa: calm, wise, and lazy.”

“Also, my dear Miss Audrey, would you be willing to play the piano for us later? It would be the finest praise for literature and fiction.”

Audrey looked at the side of Glaint’s face. From his expression, tone, and certain body movements, she sensed an emotion of wanting to show off.

He wants to use me as part of his display…

Audrey thought as though seeing this friend for the first time.

Maintaining her elegant smile, she said, “My music teacher, the pianist Mr. Viknar, believes my recent standard has declined noticeably and that I need more practice.”

“All right.”

Glaint was about to say more when he suddenly saw a lady walking to the long table to take a dessert.

“Audrey, that is Miss Fors Wall, the author of Stormwind Mountain Villa.”

Audrey looked up and saw that Miss Fors was around twenty-three or twenty-four, about one meter sixty-five in height. She wore a beige high-collared dress with ruffles. Her slightly curled brown hair hung loose, and her pale-blue eyes turned toward them because of Glaint’s introduction, carrying a smile that seemed half teasing, half playful.

In less than three seconds of observation, Audrey noticed many small details.

“Miss Fors’s fingers have yellowed marks from smoke… She likes cigarettes…”

“The place where she grips a pen has obvious calluses. This fits her identity as an author…”

“The movement of her arms shows that she has rather good strength. That is not something an author should possess unless she loves exercise, was born that way, or once worked in another profession…”

“Her Stormwind Mountain Villa presents a cool, rational, precise style. That should be related in some way to her previous profession…”

“Her current gaze and expression are both relaxed. There is a sense that she is looking down on Glaint and me. Is that the psychological advantage a Beyonder has toward ordinary people?”

“If Glaint discovered her Beyonder identity by accident, then she would certainly show some uneasiness and anxiety. After all, she would be unable to guess his reaction or what might happen next. The unknown brings fear.”

“…This indicates that she proactively approached Glaint, and had already understood our interests beforehand. She has a certain confidence in what follows…”

“Why would a Beyonder proactively approach Glaint? Does she need financial support? Or extraordinary materials hidden in his treasury? Or does she wish to obtain help with some particular matter…?”

At that moment, Glaint was introducing her to Fors.

“Madam, this is Miss Audrey, whom I mentioned before. She is Backlund’s most dazzling gemstone. Her father is Earl Hall, a member of the House of Lords deeply trusted by the King and respected by nobles.”

“Good afternoon, Miss Fors. Your Stormwind Mountain Villa still rests at my bedside,” Audrey said, performing a curtsy strictly according to noble etiquette.

Then, she silently added in her heart: That is because I still have not finished reading it after a month…

Fors returned the courtesy simply.

“Good afternoon, Miss Audrey. Your beauty truly leaves a deep impression on me. I believe I already have material for my next novel. Heh, Viscount Glaint has also praised your outstanding musical talent.”

In public, the two sides only exchanged a few courtesies and did not speak further.

Watching Fors continue toward the dining table, clearly targeting a small cake coated with cream, Audrey withdrew her gaze and followed Glaint toward the sitting room.

She recalled the details she had just seen, trying to accurately grasp the other woman’s thoughts and win the initiative for their later contact.

Taking a step forward, Audrey, cool and detached like a neutral Spectator, stepped on the hanging hem of her dress. Her body swayed, and she nearly fell.

At that moment, her personal maid Anne was already prepared and caught her, preserving her lovely image.

“Miss, the unique design of this dress requires you not to walk too quickly,” Anne leaned close to Audrey’s ear and quietly reminded her.

“I understand.”

Audrey’s face flushed as she nodded.

I was only too focused on observing others and forgot to pay attention to my feet…

She complained inwardly, feeling wronged.

During the salon that followed, Audrey faced attentive writers, critics, and musicians while maintaining an elegant, sweet smile from beginning to end.

Finally, when her cheek muscles had begun aching, she received Viscount Glaint’s hint.

After waiting several minutes, she used the excuse of going to the washroom, lifted her skirt, stood slowly, and left the salon.

Once she confirmed that no gaze was pursuing her, she detoured toward the study on the first floor and said to her personal maid Anne, “I have something to discuss with Glaint. Guard the door and do not let anyone else enter.”

“Yes.”

Anne found nothing strange about the instruction, because she knew her young lady and Viscount Glaint shared the same interest and often privately discussed mysticism-related matters.

Entering the study and locking the door behind her, Audrey saw Glaint seated behind the desk, playing with a fountain pen, while Fors Wall stood before the bookshelf, casually flipping through one of the books.

“Let me introduce her again. Miss Fors, a true Beyonder,” Glaint said, putting down the pen and coming over to greet her.

“Is that so?”

Audrey deliberately displayed doubt.

Fors slipped the book back into its original place, turned her head, and smiled.

“It seems I must prove myself.”

She slowly walked to the door, extended her right hand, and pressed it against the handle.

All at once, Audrey’s vision blurred. She seemed to see Miss Fors turn into an illusion and pass through the door.

Her heart shook. Focusing again, she discovered that Fors was no longer where she had been.

Several seconds later, the handle turned, and the locked door opened from the outside. Fors Wall entered with a smile. Anne, who had been guarding a short distance from the door, had not noticed anything happening behind her at all.

“What a magical ability,” Glaint exclaimed aloud.

Audrey drew a light breath.

“I have no more doubts.”

At the same time, the ability Fors had shown allowed her to confirm the other woman’s true intention, because whether money or materials were involved, such a Beyonder would not be stopped by them.

Glaint’s home has no Beyonder guarding it…

Fors hopes to borrow my and Glaint’s identities and resources to accomplish something?

Audrey worked hard to make herself resemble a Spectator.

Fors laughed softly twice.

“Let us speak frankly. The time left for us is not much.

“I was once a clinic doctor. Through a certain accidental opportunity, I became a Beyonder. It has now been over two years.

“I hope you will help me with one matter. In return, I will guide you into the true Beyonder circle and sell you certain Sequence potion formulas and the corresponding materials.”

Hearing such a promise, Glaint could not wait to ask, “What matter?”

“A companion of mine has been put in prison and is waiting for final judgment. I hope you can rescue her, by whatever method,” Fors described concisely.

Audrey furrowed her brows slightly.

“Miss Fors, the ability you displayed should be very suitable for such a matter…”

Fors shook her head with a smile.

“No, not quite. Places I can pass through may not be places she can pass through. I can only often go in to visit her and chat with her for a while.

“Besides, I do not think a risky rescue is a good idea. Life is already short, while there are many things one needs to do.”

Audrey observed the other woman’s face and body, then carefully asked, “I understand. What crime was your companion imprisoned for?”

Fors’s expression immediately became a little awkward.

“My companion is actually very respected, the sort who makes people sincerely want to obey her. She is noble in character and kind-hearted. Mm, well, she merely used a somewhat excessive method when persuading a certain scoundrel…”

…

After entrusting the tasks to the detective, Klein maintained a schedule of mysticism in the morning and combat practice in the afternoon. His life became so regular that he almost forgot he was a Nighthawk, and the “curse” of repeatedly encountering supernatural incidents seemed to have vanished entirely.

Saturday arrived. It was his turn to guard Chanis Gate.

“You may freely enjoy the coffee I left here, as well as the black tea in the civilian staff office,” Dunn said, sweeping his deep gray eyes around the duty room.

Klein, who had already found a reason and explained things to his elder brother and younger sister in advance, nodded with delight.

“All right, Captain. You truly are a generous gentleman.”

Dunn smiled.

“It helps you relax mentally. Being too tense is bad for your health.”

He picked up his hat, took his cane, and slowly walked toward the door.

When he was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and said, “I forgot to remind you. No matter what sound you hear, do not open Chanis Gate unless it is opened from inside.”

“Remember. No matter what sound you hear. No matter what happens.”

Captain, when you say it like that, I will be afraid…

Klein’s spirit tightened all at once. He suddenly felt the underground darkness overpower the elegant gaslight.