Chapter 49

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As a Seer who had just stepped through the gates of mysticism, Klein did not dare claim he knew much; however, he was certain he knew far more than a layman. He understood that the various forms of divination could be split into three broad categories according to a standard—the standard being the different origins of revelations!

The first category of divination included tarot cards, poker cards, pendulums, cane dowsing, dreams, and so on. These methods used the revelations obtained from a connection between the inquirers own spirituality and the spirit plane to interpret the result. However, spirit pendulums and cane dowsing required very high levels of spirituality, soul body, and astral body; non-Beyonders were unable to obtain precise and clear revelations. Meanwhile, card divination made use of fixed symbolic elements, providing a visual representation of the vague impressions sensed by ordinary people. Dreams fell somewhere in between the two.

The second category included spirit numerology and astromancy, along with their derivatives. In these methods, the fortune teller used either the inquirer’s personal details or objective information based on changes in nature for calculation, inference, and interpretation. With this method, the key did not lie in the inquirer but in the fortune teller.

The third category involved an external third party, separate from both the inquirer and the fortune teller. The Ouija boards that Klein remembered from his previous life belonged in this category. Using certain rituals, one could ask for answers directly from an unknown, mysterious entity. However, the average person was unlikely to succeed with these methods. And in the rare case they did manage to bridge a connection with malicious entities or beings capable of driving one mad from mere contact, it often led to tragic outcomes.

The mirror divination that Hines Vincent mentioned belonged to the third category. In mysticism, mirrors were seen as doorways to the unknown and mysterious, as well as to the spiritual world. Thus, Klein stopped outside the meeting room, intending to hear how the famous fortune teller would explain the divination and to decide if he needed to inform the captain to pay him a visit and check his gas meter in the middle of the night.

Of course, there was a safe way to perform mirror divination: One could ask for answers from the seven orthodox divinities. Even if it was almost impossible for the average person to receive any real revelations, they would not be in danger or suffer any negative effects.

Meanwhile, the mirror divination strictly controlled by the Nighthawks and Mandated Punishers sought help from wicked gods or mysterious entities worshipped by certain unsanctioned organizations. Furthermore, even completely fabricated idols posed a risk. A particular phrase or characteristic of the ritual could inadvertently invite the attention of some unknown being.

In a world where supernatural powers existed, such divinations often led to the worst possible outcomes. Klein even suspected that the original Klein, Welch, and Naya had committed such a forbidden divination by following whatever was written in the Antigonus family’s notebook.

In the meeting room, Hines began to explain the principle behind mirror divination and described the detailed process.

“First, you choose a suitable time and date according to the deity you believe in. You can determine this using the Astromancy Manual. For example, we all know that Sunday represents the Evernight, as it is the embodiment of rest. Similarly, two to three in the early morning, nine to ten in the morning, four to five in the evening, and eleven to midnight are all times of the moon, making them the domain of the Evernight. Therefore, fortune tellers who pray to the Evernight can use mirror divination during these times on a Sunday.”

Quite a solid foundation...Klein nodded to himself as he hid behind the half-closed door of the meeting room.

It had to be said that, with the seven major churches keeping each other in check, some mystical knowledge had indeed leaked out. For example, many of the meanings behind the symbolic representations could be found in the Astromancy Manual. However, without potions or extraordinary powers, it was almost impossible for the average person to achieve the desired effects.

“Second, we must carefully wipe the mirror clean. It must be one that’s silver-plated. Place the mirror in the position in your home that corresponds to the moon...” Hines demonstrated with the prop in his hand.

No, what you need now is spirit dowsing. First, choose a position and recite the phrase, “This place is suitable for mirror divination, ” seven times in your head. Then observe which direction the pendulum turns. Clockwise for true, counterclockwise for false... Of course, if you are seeking answers from a mysterious or malicious unknown entity, the position would not matter. Rather, it would depend on whether the entity is interested in answering your questions...

Klein silently corrected him in his mind. At this point, he felt like a teacher auditing a class...

Hines Vincent continued to give out detailed instructions for the necessary preparations of the ritual in a normal voice since he could not hear Klein’s mental quibbles.

When the other members finished taking notes, Hines continued explaining, “After taking your bath, confirm that you have drawn your curtains tightly and locked your doors. Then light a candle and place it in front of the mirror before sincerely praying to the deity you believe in. Keep your questions simple—there’s no need for complicated embellishments. After praying seven times, pick up your mirror and gently toss it on the ground. Be careful to be gentle... Remember how it shatters, as that is a revelation from the gods... I will explain the main symbolic representations in a second.”

Phew, nowthat’sorthodox mirror divination.

Klein heaved a sigh of relief as he walked into the meeting room and sat back down in his original seat. He finished the rest of his Southweir coffee in one gulp.

So-called “orthodox” divination meant that it was indeed possible to receive revelations but almost impossible to interpret them accurately. When Beyonders reached this step, if they received a response, they could look straight into the mirror and be shown images that translated into a relatively clear message.

Because the broken mirror could produce many potential symbolic representations, Hines spoke at length. He was not done even when Edward Steve returned to the room after finishing his divination.

Klein did not ask what method Edward used or what he divined since it was an unspoken rule among fortune tellers not to inquire about such things. As a Seer, Klein naturally had to abide strictly by that rule unless the other party initiated the conversation.

“I realized that often our interpretations are too vague, as though they’re designed to meet different demands, allowing different people to find something that fits their own situation within the interpretation.” Edward drank a mouthful of Cibo black tea and sighed as he said quietly, “For example, you have encountered too many adversities and misfortunes, but eventually, you will see the light. Heh-heh, but no one knows when that light of hope will come. And another example! Your journey might not be very smooth sailing, but you will surely arrive alive. Ha, the dead will not come back to rebuke me.”

Since Klein hadn’t listened from the beginning, he simply ignored Hines’s mirror divination lesson.

“Survivorship bias,” Klein added with a smile.

Survivorship bias referred to the error of concentrating on people or things that survived some phenomena and overlooking those that did not, leading to clearly biased conclusions.

“Exactly. Emperor Roselle really was a great philosopher,” marveled Edward.

Speechless, Klein raised his empty cup and pretended to take a sip.

The members remained fully immersed in the studies of star charts and mirror divination throughout the afternoon. Occasionally, they came to discuss the content with Klein and Edward.

Whenever that happened, Klein would do his best to carry out his duty as an informal member of the Nighthawks. He strove to steer them away from anything related to extraordinary powers or danger. However, he failed at the one thing he wanted most. A few inquirers came and went, but none chose him to perform their divination.

Perhaps I have to be more proactive in courting them. Should I greet them with phrases like “You are plagued by misfortune,” “Something bad will happen to you in the near future” or “Nothing you do will ever go smoothly?” No, that’s not what a Seer does...

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Klein couldn’t help but shake his head in self-mockery. He picked up his walking stick, rose from his seat, and left after bidding everyone farewell.

At half past five, when Edward Steve put on his coat to leave the Divination Club, he suddenly saw a familiar figure.

“Good afternoon, Glacis. Long time no see,” he greeted with a smile. He noticed his friend—who shared a similar hobby—wearing his usual suit with a black bow tie and a monocle hanging in front of his chest.

But then Edward immediately noticed that his friend did not look well at all. Even his pale blond hair looked dull and brittle.

“Good afternoon, Edward...Cough,” Glacis managed to say. Holding his hat in one hand, he covered his mouth with his fist and coughed several times.

“You seem to be ill,” Edward asked, concern evident in his tone.

“A very serious illness. It even developed into pneumonia before. If it wasn’t for my wife, who happened to have met an impressive apothecary and gave me a magical remedy, you probably would have had to visit me at the cemetery.” Glacis’s tone mixed lingering fear with a trace of relief.

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“Dear Lord, I can’t believe it. You were so healthy. Look at you now—you look so frail! I remember when I divined for you last week. There was no indication that you would become so seriously ill!” Edward exclaimed, waving his cane.

“My own divination yielded the same result as yours. Perhaps we are not yet qualified fortune tellers. Besides...besides...” Glacis suddenly recalled something from Monday, and his expression turned a little somber.

It was then that the beautiful Angelica walked over and bowed to them with a pleasant smile. After exchanging greetings, she first expressed concern for Glacis’s health and offered some suggestions. Then she mentioned in passing, “Mr. Glacis, the gentleman who requested your divination services last time—Mr. Moretti—has joined our club as well.”

“The one who asked for me last time?” Glacis’s eyes lit up immediately. “Good Lord, where is he?”

“He already left.” Angelica and Edward exchanged puzzled glances, unable to comprehend Glacis’s abnormal reaction.

Glacis paced a couple of steps in agitation and said, “The next time he comes, if I’m not here, please ask him when he will come again!”

“Glacis, what has happened? Did that Mr. Klein Moretti do something to you?” Edward asked, clearly puzzled.

Glacis waved his arm emphatically and met Edward’s and Angelica’s probing gazes squarely. In excitement, he declared, “He’s a very, very, very incredible...” Gesturing with each “very,” he finally said loudly, “...physician!”