The representative of the Aurora Order stood patiently on the doorstep, making no attempt to force entry despite the obvious supernatural power radiating from their form. This restraint was somehow more unsettling than outright aggression would have been—it suggested confidence, planning, and resources that the crude cultists of Tingen had lacked.
Mrs. Doyle gestured for Klein and his companions to remain silent as she approached the door. "What do you want?" she called through the heavy wood.
"Good evening, Mrs. Doyle," came the reply in a cultured voice that carried just a hint of an accent Klein couldn't place. "I represent certain interested parties who would like to speak with your newest guests. Specifically, the young man who carries the mark of The Fool."
Klein felt a chill run down his spine. The Aurora Order's knowledge of his presence in Backlund suggested an intelligence network far more sophisticated than he had imagined. But more disturbing was the casual way the representative had mentioned The Fool—as if the entity's involvement was common knowledge rather than the cosmic secret Klein had assumed it to be.
"We have nothing to discuss with your organization," Mrs. Doyle replied firmly. "This establishment is neutral ground, protected by agreements that predate your order's presence in this city."
There was a pause, and Klein could sense the representative considering their options. When they spoke again, their tone remained polite but carried an undertone of steel. "The agreements you reference were made with the previous incarnation of our order. Circumstances have... evolved. However, we are not here to violate your sanctuary. We merely wish to extend an invitation."
A small envelope slid under the door, its edges glowing with a faint phosphorescence that hurt to look at directly. Mrs. Doyle picked it up with obvious reluctance, using a pair of silver tongs rather than touching it directly.
"An invitation to what?" she asked.
"To a gathering of like-minded individuals," the representative replied. "Tomorrow evening, at the old Hornacis Mountain Steel Works. Yes, we know about your recent adventures in Tingen. We know about the ritual, the notebook, and the... intervention that saved you from our less sophisticated colleagues."
Klein's blood ran cold. The Aurora Order not only knew about their escape from Tingen but seemed to have detailed knowledge of everything that had happened. Either they had been watching from the beginning, or they had sources of information that transcended normal surveillance.
"The young Fool-touched has a choice to make," the representative continued. "He can continue to stumble blindly through the hidden world, learning its dangers through painful experience, or he can accept guidance from those who have walked these paths for centuries. The invitation is for him alone—his companions are welcome to remain here under Mrs. Doyle's protection."
With that, the presence outside the door withdrew. Klein could sense them moving away with the same unhurried confidence they had displayed throughout the encounter. Whatever the Aurora Order wanted, they were clearly prepared to wait for his decision.
Mrs. Doyle examined the envelope with obvious distaste. "Phosphorescent ink made from ground pearls and the tears of a Sequence 5 Wraith," she identified. "Expensive, and designed to ensure the message can only be read by someone with supernatural abilities. They're definitely taking you seriously."
She handed the envelope to Klein, who opened it with trembling fingers. The message inside was brief but loaded with implications:
"Mr. Moretti,
Your recent awakening has not gone unnoticed by those who understand the true nature of the world. The Fool pathway is one of the most challenging to navigate alone, and the entity you have contacted is not known for providing clear guidance to its chosen.
We offer knowledge, resources, and protection in exchange for your participation in certain endeavors that align with our mutual interests. The choice is yours, but consider this: the forces you awakened in Tingen are still pursuing you, and they will not be deterred by distance or time.
The gathering tomorrow evening will include representatives from several organizations, not just our own. You will have the opportunity to hear multiple perspectives before making any commitments.
We look forward to your attendance.
—A Friend in the Shadows"
Welch read the message over Klein's shoulder, his Seer abilities apparently showing him layers of meaning that weren't visible to normal perception. "There's truth in what they're saying," he said reluctantly. "I can see fragments of the future, and if you refuse this invitation, the alternatives are... unpleasant."
Naya, meanwhile, was picking up on the emotional resonances left behind by the Aurora Order representative. "They're not lying about offering protection," she said. "But there's something else—ambition, hunger for power, and underneath it all, a kind of desperate fear. They need something from you, Klein, and they're not entirely confident they can get it through persuasion alone."
Klein studied the message again, feeling The Fool's presence stirring in his mind. The entity's knowledge was vast but often cryptic, offering insights that raised more questions than they answered. But one thing was clear: the Aurora Order's invitation was both an opportunity and a trap, and his response would determine the course of his future development as a Beyonder.
"What do you think?" Klein asked Mrs. Doyle. "Can I trust them enough to attend this gathering?"
The boarding house keeper's expression was thoughtful. "The Aurora Order is dangerous, but they're not stupid. If they wanted to simply capture or kill you, there are easier ways to accomplish that. The fact that they're offering you a choice suggests they need your willing cooperation for whatever they have planned."
She paused, studying Klein with eyes that seemed to see far more than their appearance suggested. "But there's something else you should know. The Fool pathway is unique among the twenty-two paths because it's the only one that can potentially transcend the normal hierarchy of sequences. A true Fool doesn't just gain power—they gain the ability to change the fundamental rules of the game."
"That's why so many organizations are interested in you," she continued. "You represent the possibility of overturning the established order, of revealing secrets that have been hidden for millennia. Some see that as an opportunity, others as a threat that must be eliminated."
As Klein contemplated his options, he realized that his transmigration from Earth had been just the beginning of a much larger transformation. The quiet academic life he had briefly imagined was impossible now—he was destined to become a player in cosmic conflicts that would determine the fate of not just individuals but entire civilizations.
The crimson moon, visible through the boarding house windows, seemed to pulse with anticipation. Tomorrow evening would bring answers, but Klein suspected those answers would only lead to more dangerous questions.
The Fool's journey was accelerating, and there would be no turning back.