Chapter 9: Levels

  Nicholas felt as though he was walking through the 18th-century spy organization. Inside The headquarters of the Order of Spirit Medium was a hive of activity, with people in uniform hurrying past in every direction, leaving Nicholas to wonder whether every single person here was a Spirit Medium.

  The various departments were divided systematically, yet a sense of mystery permeated the air. Lingering Spirits occasionally appeared along the way. Nicholas passed through research and development laboratories, as well as the command division located in the deepest levels. Now he was nearly at ground level.

  With the current technology of this world, he could barely imagine how they had managed to construct such a vast, intricate complex so deep underground.

  Nicholas reflected on his conversation with Mr. Edwin. Becoming a Spirit Medium seemed to be a crucial step toward adapting to this dangerous world. Moreover, joining the Order might provide him with information about the history and background of Extraordinaries. Perhaps it could even help him unravel the mysteries of this world—and find a way back home.

  However, the price he would have to pay was not something he could overlook. He still didn't know how deeply he would be bound to this enigmatic organization. Furthermore, should he fail the transition to becoming a Spirit Medium, he would not even be able to preserve his own life.

  Then there was the matter of the Abominations Mr. Edwin had mentioned. Nicholas felt a nagging suspicion that there was more to them than Edwin had disclosed—or perhaps he was merely overthinking.

  Mr. Edwin himself seemed aware of these concerns. That was why he had given Nicholas time to make his decision. Nicholas intended to use this period to consider his options thoroughly and plan what he would do going forward.

  Having thought this through, he returned his attention to the present. Before him, a young woman—likely seventeen or eighteen years of age—was leading the way toward the training hall.

  ‘If I recall correctly, her name is Haley,’ he mused.

  He remembered Romero introducing her earlier, when the prosecutor had assigned the girl to escort him back to the training hall to retrieve his belongings.

  "Hey... Haley, would it be alright if I ask you a few questions?"

  Nicholas called out to the girl ahead. She turned back to him, her eyes gleaming with a fair share of interest. It was hardly surprising; for a total stranger to suddenly appear within the Order and gain an audience with its highest-ranking official was more than enough to pique a young woman's curiosity.

  "Of course, Mr. Parlay. It's my duty as your guide." the young woman replied eagerly.

  “There’s no need to be so formal,” Nicholas said with a friendly smile. “You can just call me Nicholas.”

  He kept his tone casual; It might be better if he acted friendly with the people here. Perhaps, in doing so, he might be able to gain some useful additional information.

  “Understood, Mr. Nicholas!” Haley replied with a cheerful grin, snapping a playful military salute.

  Nicholas took a moment to observe the emotions radiating from her. They shimmered with bright, genuine sincerity. It seemed the young woman before him was quite good-natured.

  "Are you... a Spirit Medium?"

  He asked her directly. To be honest, he felt a bit unease at the thought that everyone in this place might possess supernatural powers.

  “Eh? Oh, no! Not at all,” the girl replied, waving her hands frantically in dismissal. “I’m just an apprentice.”

  "Apprentice?"

  “We’re orphans from the church, taken in by the Order to be trained as Spirit Mediums,” Haley explained "Usually, we’re called ‘apprentices.’ I’ve been one for six years now, yet I still haven’t been approved to undergo the Trial of Rebirth."

  her tone tinged with slight disappointment.

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  'I see.'

  Nicholas processed this information, then a sudden thought occurred to him. It seemed the Trial of Rebirth was even more dangerous than he had initially imagined.

  “In that case... I take it not everyone here is a Spirit Medium?” Nicholas asked, his gaze scanning their surroundings.

  “No,” Haley shook her head. "Most people here are just ordinary folk with Spirit Medium bloodlines, or individuals recruited by the organization to work here. As for actual Spirit Mediums currently stationed in York, there are fewer than a hundred. And ninety percent of them are éna-level and d?o-level Spirit Mediums."

  Nicholas felt a slight sense of relief. At least not everyone here possessed special powers. But speaking of which...

  "What do you mean by éna-level and d?o-level?"

  “Oh! I forgot you wouldn’t know about that yet,” Haley let out a sheepish laugh before continuing her explanation.

  "Spirit Mediums can be divided into multiple levels. The levels increase progressively based on experience, ability, and mystical power. I only know six levels which are: first, éna; second, Dío; third, Tría; fourth, Téssera; fifth, Pénte; and sixth, éxi."

  “In our classes, I remember the instructors mention that there are levels even higher than these,” Haley added. “But apparently, that information isn't deemed necessary for apprentices like us to know.”

  Nicholas listened quietly. This information seemed to align roughly with what Mr. Edwin had told him. He wondered what level Romero and Mr. Edwin were, and just how vast the disparity in power was between each level.

  From their conversation and his own observations, Nicholas could tell that the girl before him was genuinely sincere and entirely harmless. Her bright cheerfulness made him feel an involuntary fondness for her. Moreover, she was proving to be an excellent source of information.

  However, just as he was about to fire off his next question, a soft, deep voice interrupted them.

  “I believe that is quite enough information for one day, Haley.”

  Turning toward the voice, they found an elderly man dressed in clerical attire. His grey hair fell to his shoulders, and a faint, gentle smile graced his face. He exuded an aura of profound kindness and compassion—yet, to Nicholas, none of that was what truly mattered.

  What left him stunned was the sheer number of red threads tethered to the man. They intertwined and branched out in countless directions, a web so dense it was hard to believe. Since gaining the power to see the Red Threads of Fate, he had never encountered anyone with such an extensive karmic connection to so many people.

  “Ah! Father Ramones!” Haley gasped, her playful energy vanishing instantly as she pressed her hand to her chest and bowed respectfully.

  Father Ramons nodded in acknowledgment before turning his gaze toward Nicholas.

  "This is Mr. Nicholas Parlay, " Haley introduced him hurriedly. "Captain Romero assigned me to guide him to the training center on Mr. Edwin's orders."

  Nicholas followed suit, quickly showing his respect to the elderly man.

  Father Ramons's face remained adorned with a smile, but his gaze remained fix on Nicholas, making him feel inexplicably uncomfortable. His instincts told him there was something strange about the priest standing before him.

  "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Parlay..."

  Finally, Father Ramons spoke.

  “Forgive me if I’ve been impolite. We don’t often welcome outsiders here, so I may not be conducting myself properly. I hope I haven't made you too uncomfortable."

  “I understand, sir.”

  Nicholas replied, and Father Ramons nodded in acknowledgment.

  Before turning to leave, the priest cast a subtle, knowing look at Haley. The young girl flinched, dropping her head with slumped shoulders.

  Once Father Ramones had disappeared from sight, Haley wiped a bead of sweat from her brow and let out a small sigh. She then leaned closer to Nicholas, whispering softly.

  "Father Ramons is known for being extremely strict. But in truth, he is regarded as the ‘Saint of York’. He frequently uses his own funds to distribute food to those in the slums, and he also serves as the headmaster of the orphanage run by the Church of the God of Death and Rebirth. He may seem stern, but please, don't hold it against him."

  'Is that why Father Ramons has karmic connections to so many people?'

  Nicholas theorized inwardly. It seemed the most plausible theory, yet he remained skeptical. After all, he was still far from certain about the true nature of the Red Threads of Fate or what they truly signified.

  Following that, Haley led him toward the training center. Perhaps due to the unspoken signal Father Ramones had given her before departing, the girl had become noticeably quieter. Therefore, Nicholas didn't have the opportunity to ask her anything more.

  Upon arriving at the training center, staff returned his clothes and personal belongings he had been carrying before he lost consciousness. Nicholas breathed a sigh of relief when he found the gray mirror among those items.

  The office door opened slowly as Haley and Nicholas stepped out onto Road No.5 Nicholas glanced back at the location behind him. From the outside, the Order's headquarters looked like an ordinary telecommunications office, blending seamlessly with its surroundings. Who would ever suspect that behind this mundane facade lay a massive secret organization, constantly monitoring the pulse of the entire city?

  It seemed his tour of this hidden world would conclude here for today...

  "This is the office contact number. Captain Romero asked me to give it to you. If you encounter anything unusual or have an emergency, you can contact this number at any time," Haley handed Nicholas an office business card.

  “And this,” she added, “is a direct line to my residence. If you have any questions you'd like to ask, feel free to call me.”

  She gave him a playful wink—or at least, she tried to. To Nicholas, it looked more like she was simply blinking rapidly at him, and he couldn't help but let out a small, fond laugh at her endearing attempt.

  "Thank you so much, Haley. See you again," Nicholas tipped his hat slightly in farewell, and Haley responded with a bright, graceful curtsy.

  …..

  It took Nicholas about thirty minutes to reach his home. Upon entering, he immediately checked the telephone situated near the front entrance. Telecommunications technology in this world had not yet advanced enough to support voicemail or caller ID, but it could at least indicate whether any calls had been missed.

  Checking the device, Nicholas found that he had missed two calls. He guessed they were probably from Mary, his secretary. Based on the clues he had gathered while scouring the house earlier, he knew that the previous 'Nicholas' had no relatives or close friends. Therefore, any incoming calls were almost certainly related to his work.

  Nicholas made his way up to the second floor and entered his office. He opened the desk drawer to review his schedule. Fortunately, he had no appointments with clients for the rest of the week. However, there were upcoming cases requiring preparation in a few weeks, along with several scheduled meetings for various ongoing lawsuits. For now, everything still remained under control.

  As he was about to put the schedule away, Nicholas noticed something unusual about the drawer. The wood at the bottom of the center desk drawer felt hollow, as if it were made of thin plywood. Furthermore, the exterior depth of the drawer didn't match its shallow interior. Sensing a hidden space, Nicholas carefully pried up the inner lining, revealing a secret second layer concealed within.

  A black notebook lay tucked inside. On its cover, the word ‘Diary’ was inscribed in Ukati script.

  Nicholas immediately sat up straight. His attention focused entirely on the black diary before him. This had to be the journal of the previous 'Nicholas.' The fact that it had been hidden in such a secret place suggested that its owner intended for its contents to remain hidden from prying eyes.

  Perhaps this was the key to discovering exactly what had happened to the previous ‘Nicholas.’

  Nicholas took a deep breath before reaching out to open the black diary before him.

  14.10.550

  Nicholas Parlay

  Judicial representative