Above the Grey Fog, seated in the chair of the «Fool», Klein beckoned and drew the «Darkless Cross» to himself.
The verdigris-coated crucifix was bound together with a button that looked utterly ordinary, save that grains both crystal-clear and yet of an oppressively august air had begun to crystallise out across its surface.
This was the «Judge» button belonging to «Hermit»
At the
— By agreement, everything obtained from exploring «Grosell's Travels», apart from the knowledge itself, was not to be shared by «Justice» Audrey; she merely offered unpaid assistance with the earlier matter of slaying Hewen Lanbis. As for «Star» Leonard, he had the right to sell potion formulas and historical knowledge, but evidently «Judgement» Xio placed greater trust in «World» Gehrman Sparrow.
«It's nearly fully crystallised; that way I can hand the 'Darkless Cross' across to little 'Sun' with my mind at ease… Hereafter, for similar needs they will surely prefer to deal with little 'Sun' rather than ask Mr. 'Fool' for help. No one dares to disturb a hidden being too often, unless they have truly no other recourse…
«Once little 'Sun' has the chance to become a demigod and turns the 'Darkless Cross' into an extraordinary characteristic, I ought to be a Sequence 3, capable of drawing upon a greater portion of the mystic space Above the Grey Fog, and shattering sealed artefacts outright…
«After being 'sterilised' by the grey fog,
«Hm, Amon seems able to come and go from the 'God-Forsaken Land' at will. I wonder whether Adam can do the same…»
While separating the «Darkless Cross» from the button now praising the sun, and watching the precipitated extraordinary characteristic gather itself, Klein waited for little «Sun» to perform the sacrificial and bestowal ritual.
……
Silver City, within the Round Tower.
After devout prayer and a brisk round of preparation, the spectral door of sacrifice and bestowal opened, took the «Staff of Life» away, and left behind a verdigris-encrusted crucifix bristling with thorns.
At the same instant, the name, mode of use and adverse effects of this cross flashed unbidden across Derrick's mind.
Suppressing the agitation in his heart, he first offered thanks to Mr. «Fool», then brought the rite to a close, stepped before the altar, took up the «Darkless Cross» and turned it over and over in his hands.
Once the chamber was tidied, Derrick left it, crossed to the opposite door and knocked upon the Chief's chambers.
«Enter,» came
Derrick turned the handle, pushed open the door, walked in, and openly displayed the verdigris cross: «Honoured Chief, this is the relic-bequeathal of the Lord I mentioned earlier. It is called the 'Darkless Cross'; its method of use is to let the thorns upon it be touched by the bearer's blood.»
This time he had deliberately changed «relic» into «bequeathal of relics».
White-haired Colin had already turned his gaze the moment Derrick produced that ancient cross; on hearing the explanation his step grew somewhat heavy as he came forward, accepted the object, and examined it over and over.
At length, Colin Iliad pressed his thumb directly against one of the thorns, letting bright red blood flow out.
The mottled verdigris began to peel away, and the «Darkless Cross» revealed a body composed of pure radiance, lighting the entire room until not the smallest patch of shadow remained.
When the chamber was filled with an unspeakably sacred resonance, Colin loosened his grip and said with a sigh: «This truly is an object of the Lord…»
Though he had been born more than two thousand years after Silver City was 'forsaken', and could in no way have known the breath of a deity firsthand, the city-state still preserved many implements used in worship of that Creator; whenever the dark-faced grass was harvested they would be brought forth and added to the rites. By comparison with those objects, Colin Iliad could be almost certain of the provenance of the cross in his hand.
Derrick had been on the point of making some response, but the heavy resonance carried within the Chief's words pressed all of a sudden upon his heart, and he found himself unable to speak.
Colin Iliad added nothing further; he simply stood where he was, the «Darkless Cross» in hand, silent.
Several tens of seconds passed before the Chief of Silver City broke the quiet, his voice slightly hoarse: «The return of one of the Lord's objects is an omen — an omen that the dawn is upon us.
«This 'Darkless Cross' shall remain with me for half a day. I mean to convene every Elder presently in the city; this artefact must be shown to them.
«Heh. Even I cannot dispose of a Saint-grade sealed artefact at my own discretion. Since the 'Staff of Life' has been lost, I must give account to the other Elders and bring discipline upon myself. Remember this: a Chief must possess both the decisiveness to make decisions when the moment demands it, and the courage to shoulder the corresponding responsibility. You must not, on the conviction that this is for Silver City's good, seek to evade the penalty. Perhaps this time you were right, but you cannot guarantee that you will always be right.
«Rest at ease. This 'Darkless Cross' will, in the end, return to your hand.»
The Chief speaks most profoundly… I should ask Mr. «Hanged Man» to expound upon it at the next Tarot gathering… Derrick instinctively wished to raise his right hand and scratch at the back of his head, but in the end he held back and informed Colin Iliad of the «Darkless Cross's» adverse effects.