Lord of Mysteries: Goddess of Origin

Returning to her room.

She noticed that the antique hand-mirror, resting above the dresser, suddenly shattered into pieces, yet remained intact by the metallic frame.

Perplexed by the events that have transpired, Selina reassembled her thoughts.

The gathering... the name of two potion formulas... mysticism languages... Roselle's unique cards... the establishment of the Tarot Club... and the introduction of the enigmatic Mr. Fool.

Somehow it resembles a group chat back on Earth... Selina mused internally, laughing softly at the thought.

At the next second, a soft high-pitched voice of a feline echoed in the room.

Meow~

Startled, Selina lowered her head and she saw the black cat that once accompanied her at the moment of her emotional collapse returned with a calm demeanor.

"Oh, Falacy... I'm really sorry, I forgot to bring treats again" she said bending her legs, lowering her body, and reaching the cat's level.

Her hand lightly hovered over the cat's body, stroking its soft black-coated fur. 

Upon contacting the black feline, Selina noticed a swirling "crimson" star from the back of her hand.

It vaguely depicts an eye in the center of the star, circling in a fading motion before gradually disappearing into her skin.

So it wasn't a dream... She mused internally, before dismissing the strange symbol.

Completely regaining the previous Selina's memories. She can finally recall how the two met.

After a day of visiting the townspeople, accompanied by Deimsfel's "surveillances". Drops of water began to cascade from the sky, turning into a heavy rain that clouded the streets. 

Selina and her company took shelter in front of a roofed house. That's when she encountered a shivering black cat lying at a window sill.

Carrying a basket of offerings, she took a fresh fish and proffered it for the black cat to take.

The feline hesitated momentarily, before ultimately accepting Selina's kindness. 

Afterward, Selina began frequenting the place—just to nurse the weakening cat back to health.

But her little routine didn't last long.

Soon, her wedding arrived. That's when she stopped visiting her animal companion.

Maybe due to it being fond of her, the black cat, in return, now frequented the manor, with the intention of seeing Selina.

What a lovely companion... she mused, watching the cat's natural reaction to her caress.

Moments later, she recalled her actions during the gathering. 

With the task at hand, she mumbled, Let's help in reporting the cultists of Milo.

Selina straightened herself, and made her way to the dresser. 

She once again, saw the beautiful Selina of the reflection. 

We'll finally flee from this hell... she muttered, anchoring herself with certainty.

Afterwards, her hand opened a drawer below, taking out a blank piece of white paper and an ink bottle, followed by a feathered quill.

As for an object of evidence... Selina turned her gaze towards the drawer next to her.

After discovering her parent's corpses, she managed to retrieved their emblems stained with blood. She kept them in memories of her deceased mother and father.

Moments later, Selina took out a silver button, engraved on its surface are miniature leaves and flowers circling a capital letter of V, with prominent bloodstains covering the sides. It was the family emblem of the Ivorys. 

With this, it should be enough for them to conduct investigations right? she wondered, before returning back to the bed, seated at the edge and began writing a compiled version of the diary's entries, including only the major informations to prevent confusion.

...

In an opulent villa, situated at the royal district, capital of Loen, Backlund. 

In front of Audrey, the antiqued mirror of the dresser shattered instantly, with its pieces remained relatively in place. 

She cast her gaze downwards and saw the swirling "crimson" on the back of her hand; it was like a tattoo depicting a star.

The "crimson" gradually faded and disappeared into her skin.

After recovering from her disorientation, Audrey Hall, her heart palpitates with excitement was followed by a sense of urgency. Her anticipation for the future was accompanied by the situation of her fellow member—her only female companion in the Tarot Club.

Let's assist her as best as we can! Lifting her spirits, she propped herself from the dresser, who's surface mirror suffered an irrevocable damage.

Soon, she strode off towards the room's door.

...

In the dire storm. Howling winds accompanies the heavy downpour. The three-masted sailboat was tossed and turned by the crests and troughs of the incoming waves.

The crimson glow in Alger Wilson's eyes faded. Followed by the shattering of the quirky-shaped bottle in his palm. The frost and wind within melted into the storm. In seconds, its traces disappeared into the tempestuous winds.

A hexagonal crystal-like snowflake emerged on Alger's palm. It then faded rapidly until it was seemingly absorbed by the flesh, vanishing completely in the process. Alger nodded his head in a hardly noticeable manner, as if he was thinking about something. He remained still and silent for a full five minutes.

He turned around and headed for the cabin.

...

After descending a flight of stairs, the corset dressed Selina saw the wooden grand clock, producing a chime each seconds amidst the quietness of the corridor.

Its short hand slightly above nine, and the longer opposite it, indicating the time: 10:21.

Selina deliberately waited for the time to struck midnight, as it is the only moment where she is certain that there would be no "surveillances" around the manor.

With gentle tracks, she arrived at the interception. Just like before, the right awaits the trapdoor of the basement while the left leads to the dining hall. Turning left once more would lead her to the first floor of the main block, where the living room resides.

Beyond, is another corridor which connects to the kitchen and finally the cargo area next to the supply room.

This manor is like a maze... Selina mused as she navigates through the illumination of the crimson moonlight.

She soon arrived at the living room, to her side, a grand doorway leading to the front yard, ahead is her destination.

With cautious and deliberate movements, she soon arrived in the manor's kitchen. 

The interior wasn't grandeur, rather, it is stale but charming. To her left is another series of veiled windows followed by a set of gas powered stoves cemented in a squarish design. At the center is a clothed table serving spices and seasoning, with cooking utensils hanged by a rack above.

Selina examine the room before resuming her pace towards the cargo area.

Carefully opening the closed door from the inside. The chilling breeze of the night swept through her skin, sending shivers to her body.

Although the season of June is also equivalent to summer in this world. The northern cold winds could still be felt across the continent, prompting locals and tourists to wear another piece of clothing.

I should've brought a coat! Why do I always forget things? 

Selina couldn't help but confront the signs of her worsening memory. First it was the candle for the basement, now an extra pair of clothing for the wind?

After shaking her head, with the letter and the two bloodstained emblems of her parents tucked in her palm. Selina managed to get closer to one of the wooden cargo carriages.

The horses are currently at the manor's stable, being tended by the servants, that means the carriages are left unattended after maintenance and inspection. 

With this in mind, Selina made her way to one of the carriages, approached the empty stacks of crates inside and wedged the letter into a gap between its wooden boards.

But after a moment, she reconsidered. With the carriage constantly jolting as it moved, the letter would likely come loose and be noticed.

Hmm... Selina hovered her gaze across the wooden crates. With a thought, she revealed a cheeky smile.

Choosing a random crate, Selina exerted force into both of her hands, prying open its wooden boards.

After a deliberate attempts, she succeeded in producing a slight gap at its corner. 

She inserted the letter once again. Now satisfied with its placement, she leaped down from the carriage and made her way onto the next.

Mirroring her previous idea, she stuffed the two silver emblems, now tied with a string, into the slight gap she made in one of the stacked crate of the second carriage.

After doing all this, Selina quietly return to the kitchen room. Steadily keeping her pace before closing the door.

...

In the dark shadows of the carriages, casted by the crimson light. 

A certain space of the shadow began to contort. Forming into a dark hand that slithered its way onto a corner of the carriage, seeped into the crevice of a familiar crate.

Where the letter is inserted.