Lord of the Mysteries:Voice of the Stars

"It is our honor. Beyond this, what else does the great God of the Mirror require of us?"

Hearing that his family's only duty was to spread the faith and teachings, Dorian secretly let out a breath of relief.

"Hmm, I recall that our family still holds some sacred texts from the Third Epoch, ones written by the Creator of that time. Once I return, I can revise them a bit, and they should suffice."

"For now, beyond spreading the faith and teachings, there is nothing more I require of you. Once I fulfill my promise to your family on the next full moon, the members of the Abraham family must uphold our agreement—believe in my teachings and follow Ael's guidance. He is my emissary in the mortal world, carrying my divine will."

"Since you have come here, that means you have already met him."

"That is all. You may leave."

With that, Ael raised a finger and lightly tapped the edge of his throne. In an instant, Dorian Gray's spirit was expelled from the Palace of Mirrors.

"What a… terrifying yet fascinating day."

Back in his room, Dorian Gray shook his head and muttered to himself. Today's experience had been nothing short of bewildering.

He carefully placed the talisman and the paper inscribed with the sacred name back into his coat pocket. Then, he lifted the spiritual barrier that had isolated the entire room, took his top hat and gilded cane from the coat rack, and stepped out of his office.

Woo—!

A sharp whistle echoed through every corner of the platform as a steam locomotive, massive like a beast, slowed and pulled into the station.

As the train came to a stop, carriage doors swung open one by one. Among the passengers stepping onto the platform was Ael—dressed in a well-tailored suit, with neatly combed black curls, a strikingly handsome face, and a monocle over his left eye. With a steady stride, he set foot in Tingen, the university city of the Loen Kingdom.

Three days had passed since his meeting with Dorian Gray. During this time, he hadn't returned to the Southern Continent to take charge of the ORGINAL Moon's church affairs. Instead, he had been indulging in the pleasures of life.

After a brief stop at Pritz Harbor, he took the steam train to Backlund before arriving in Tingen.

To him, all those intricate schemes, deadly battles, and calculated moves were pointless. He had already transmigrated into a world where he was practically an angel upon arrival—why not enjoy firsthand the magical allure of this Victorian-era industrial revolution?

Life was meant for eating, sleeping, and having fun. Who had time for all that tedious planning and fighting?

If things ever got out of hand, he could just teleport beneath the great churches, obliterate all their sealed artifacts and Beyonder characteristics with a single 360-degree Thomas spin, then pounce on the LAMP God and take a big bite out of him.

The other Outer Gods and True Gods? They wouldn't be spared either. He'd devour them all.

Eat. Eat. Eat. Eat. Eat. Eat!

Although it was already midsummer, Tingen, located in the northern part of the Loen Kingdom, had a unique climate. The highest temperatures barely reached 30°C, even at the peak of the season.

Stepping out of the steam train station, Ael decided to find a place to stay first. He planned to enjoy himself for a few days before engaging with the key figures in the script once the nesting dolls were in place.

The moment he entered the streets, he spent two pence to buy a newspaper from a street vendor, then turned a corner into a modestly designed café.

Settling into a window seat, Ael placed his coffee on the table, unfolded the newspaper, and scanned for anything noteworthy.

The headline immediately caught his attention:

"The Clover Went Missing for Half a Month After Encountering the King of the Five Seas—A Tragic Loss"

"That must be the ship Tris, that witch, was aboard," he mused.

Glancing further down, he continued reading:

"Prominent grain merchant Mr. Elight reports that the House of Commons is set to revise the Grain Act."

"Mr. Lanreworth's mining company in the Hornacis Mountain Range seeks public investment."

"Shocking! Renowned opera artist Via publicly declares her love for women!"

…

"What the hell is this?"

With a resigned shake of his head, Ael rolled up the newspaper and finished his latte before exiting the café.

The streets bustled with vendors selling vegetables, fruits, and cooked food, loudly hawking their goods to passersby. Some pedestrians stopped to compare prices before making a purchase, while others waved impatiently and hurried along.

Following the flow of people, Ael wandered aimlessly until he arrived at a relatively spacious plaza. At its center stood a towering marble statue, encircled by flower beds and fountains.

"Heh, George III," he scoffed, his tone laced with mockery as he looked up at the imposing and dignified face of the statue.

Like the streets, the plaza was filled with vendors. But among them were also many homeless people—clad in rags, their faces pale and gaunt.

Some sat motionless on the ground, lifelessly staring ahead. Others wandered aimlessly, picking up scraps from the ground to eat.

Their eyes were dull and vacant, yet when they looked at the passing pedestrians, a flicker of longing appeared—a brief glimpse of what their lives once were.

Sitting on a bench, Ael prepared to feed the pigeons with a piece of bread when he noticed a frail, middle-aged man with a cane standing before him.

Before Ael could speak, the man, gasping for breath, pleaded in a weak voice:

"Kind sir, could you spare me a bit of bread? Not much, just a piece. I… I haven't eaten in two days."

His voice trembled, and his body shuddered as though he might collapse at any moment.

"…Here, take it."

Looking at the impoverished and weakened man before him, Ael sighed and handed over the bag of white bread.

The man's eyes filled with tears as he took it, bowing repeatedly. "Kind sir, your generosity overwhelms me. May the god you believe in always bless you."

"Don't eat too quickly," Ael warned. "After starving for so long, eating too fast might choke you."

"How about this—I remember seeing a restaurant nearby on my way here. Let's go there and have a proper meal. My treat. Order whatever you like."

"This… I… I couldn't possibly… You've already given me more than I could ask for… And I… I have no money to repay you…"

Seeing the man's hesitation and embarrassment, Ael chuckled.

"Don't worry about it. To me, money should be spent on meaningful things. And helping someone in need feels quite meaningful."

Then, with a relaxed smile, he added,

"As for repayment… Well, I'd like to hear your story."