«You?» Klein asked in a rather complicated state of calm.
The woman in the simple, coarse robe gently nodded.
«
Servant of Concealment… Arianna… Klein’s eyes flickered as he recognized the woman before him.
As a Beyonder with a background as a Nighthawk, how could he not be familiar with the name Arianna?
The abbess of the Night Monastery, the foremost of the thirteen archbishops, a possible future pope—each of these positions was common knowledge in theology and mysticism!
As for the title «Servant of Concealment», Klein had read about it in Emperor Roselle’s diary. Combining it with similar titles like «Mystery Servant», he suspected it indicated the Angel rank. At the same time, based on the law of conservation of Beyonder characteristics and the fact that there was a Sequence 0 existing, Arianna couldn’t be a Sequence 1 Angel, so Klein concluded that «Servant of Concealment» was most likely Sequence 2 of the Darkness pathway.
This… The Goddess didn’t ignore my request, but responded in a special way… directly sending her «servant»… Klein’s feelings were complex and hard to describe.
After a few seconds of silence, he bowed solemnly: «Good afternoon, Your Highness Arianna.»
In major churches, if an Angel-ranking half-god walks the earth, one must address them with the suffix «Your Highness» out of respect. Similarly, representatives of the deity’s will, such as popes, pontiffs, and patriarchs, are addressed with «Your Holiness». Additionally, the head of a church can be referred to as «His Holiness» or «the Holy See», though «the Holy See» can also refer to the seat of the curia.
Arianna touched her chest four times in a clockwise direction and piously responded: «May the Goddess bless you.»
Then she added: «I am an ascetic nun. You may call me ‘Madam’ directly.»
«Yes, Madam Arianna.» Klein didn’t insist at all.
Arianna looked at him calmly for two seconds and asked directly: «You plan to deal with the ‘Blasphemer’
«Yes. I hope to obtain the concealment’s blessing,» Klein replied honestly.
At that moment, a feeling of difficulty surged within him, because this wasn’t what he had expected.
Originally, he thought the Goddess would grant a blessing and provide protection, and then he would join forces with Pallez Zoroaster, who resided within Leonard, to eliminate all of Amon’s avatars in Backlund. In that process, the problem of Leonard and that Angel of the «Marauder» pathway wouldn’t be exposed. But now, the protection had become «physical», would participate in battle, and once Pallez Zoroaster acted, He would definitely be discovered, and the outcome would be unpredictable!
Did he not need to ally with Pallez Zoroaster after all? Have Him only be an information provider and share some of the spoils? As Klein’s thoughts raced, Arianna spoke at a moderate pace: «I can provide the power of concealment, so that everything that happens cannot be spied upon. But I cannot guarantee that I can eliminate all of Amon’s avatars in Backlund.»
«Pallez Zoroaster said He could do it… The one who knows Amon best is indeed a Sequence 1 of the same pathway…» Klein thought for a moment and said: «Madam Arianna, I already have a mature and complete plan. You only need to provide the power of concealment, without participating in the actual battle. I will handle the rest.»
Arianna nodded, raised her right arm, and opened her palm.
Points of light then lit up, deep and brilliant, quickly forming a medal in the center of her palm.
The medal was completely translucent, as if made of black gems, giving the feeling that it existed when one looked at it and disappeared when one didn’t.
«This is my Night Emblem. It itself has no characteristics or power. Its only function is that once activated, it will establish contact with me, no matter where you are in the real world,» Arianna briefly described. «Remember to use it before you begin your action. I will provide you with the power of concealment. If you need more direct help, while activating it, speak the name ‘Arianna’ in Ancient
This is equivalent to a fixed altar and ritual directed at herself… Hmm, at the Angel rank, the range of responding to prayers expands to the entire world? Klein instantly grasped the essence of the Night Emblem.
As a «Faceless», he currently couldn’t respond to prayers—that was a trait only obtained at Sequence 3. Of course, as the «Sea God», as «The Fool», he was sufficiently experienced in this regard.
Klein didn’t refuse. He took the Night Emblem and bowed sincerely: «Thank you for your gift.»
Then, he touched his chest four times in a clockwise direction, tracing the Crimson Moon: «Praise the Goddess!»
This way, he could still join forces with Pallez Zoroaster, as long as he didn’t speak the name «Arianna» in Ancient Hermes when activating the Night Emblem.
«Praise the Goddess,» Arianna responded piously.
Her figure then vanished, as if erased by an eraser.