Mystery: Good Witch

Chapter 1406 Prologue: Mr. Fool's Commission
As evening fell, the final sermon at St. Audrey's Church in Queen Backlund was drawing to a close. When Audrey Hall, dressed in a pale yellow fitted gown and carrying a parasol, entered the prayer hall, she overheard Archbishop Susie leading the assembled "Fools" in chanting slogans:

"Praise the fool!"

Surrounded by the emblem of Mr. Fool and the sunlight shining through the stained glass onto the altar, a sophisticated woman in her thirties with long blonde hair and wearing an archbishop's robe began to direct several priests in distributing communion, though she herself did not participate.

Because she is a dog.

In Audrey's eyes, Susie, dressed in pure white, moved among the believers, exchanging simple greetings or offering a private blessing to a particular believer, her steps light and quick, as if she were taking a stroll.

But to all the other “Fools” believers, Susie was the Archbishop they respected.

Eight years ago, in 1360, Susie had already digested the "Dreamwalker" potion and, with Audrey's help, prepared the necessary materials to complete the ascension ceremony, becoming a true demigod and gaining a lifespan far longer than that of her original race.

Whether they could go any further was a question Audrey thought was unlikely, but Susie was already quite satisfied. She had also come to believe in the great "Fool" and became the archbishop of the "St. Audrey's Church." On the one hand, she provided the Fool and Audrey with their respective anchors of faith; on the other hand, she thoroughly enjoyed this time when she could openly communicate with humans.

Of course, the Fool's Church, located in Queens next to St. Windsor's Church, the "Church of the End Times," was not built for Susie. It was sponsored by Earl Hall with a huge sum of money 14 years earlier, after Audrey revealed her identity to her family.

Because Audrey's angelic "psychological invisibility" ability has achieved a certain effect of eliminating traces of reality, no one would associate "Saint Audrey" with Earl Hall's daughter, the famous philanthropist Audrey Hall, unless the other party is an angel with powerful divination abilities, such as the disaster witches who often come to the neighboring church to freeload communion.

But to them, it was not a big deal for a talking dog to preach to Mr. Fool. Archbishop Wensa of the End Times was also a black cat who often disguised himself as a human and mingled with the crowd, using his charm to win over some men or women.

Besides, even if someone knew that this Audrey was the same Audrey, who would be willing to expose an angel's "pretense"? Audrey withdrew her gaze from Susie and sat on a row of benches at the back of the prayer hall, recalling the day 14 years ago when she first revealed her identity as an angel to her family.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"I have something important to tell you."

As Audrey made her slightly serious declaration, the four men, including Earl Hall, who had come to the study on their own initiative under the guidance of their subconscious, looked at each other in bewilderment.

The count's first thought was that his youngest daughter was in love.

As a believer in the goddess, he did not oppose free love, but he believed that such a life-long matter should be approached with caution. After all, Audrey was only 22 years old, which was not considered an age for rushing into marriage among the nobles of Rune.

Of course, this was just speculation, so the count simply sat calmly on the sofa in the study, smiled, and asked in return:

"What is it?"

Beside him, Lady Caitlin sat down gracefully, with her eldest son Hilbert and second son Alfred standing on either side, both looking at Audrey with puzzlement.

Their micro-expressions, gestures, and even subconscious thoughts all fell into Audrey's eyes. She chuckled to herself at her father and brothers' wild speculations, and the words she had already prepared in her mind flowed out:

"I have become an angel."

“You have always been our angel,” the count said, his fingers interlaced on his lap, striking a relaxed pose. “That will not change with age or with changing your surname after marriage.”

His words were echoed by the other family members, and Hilbert even forced a smile and nodded, saying:
"Who is he? Is he someone we know?"

He clearly shared the same guess as the Earl.

Only Alfred, with his extraordinary abilities and the instincts honed from his long military career, sensed something was amiss. Based on his impression of his sister, if she had simply fallen for a poor boy or a family member with a different political stance from their father, she was unlikely to announce it publicly in front of all her family members. Instead, she would have discussed it with her mother first and then worked on her father. As for her two older brothers, they would only receive the news at the very end.

Is it something more serious? Did Audrey secretly advance to become a Sequence 6 Extraordinary?
Alfred's gaze was fixed on Audrey, preparing to rely on his "Punishment Knight" abilities to discern any "abnormal" signs on her.

After returning home from the Southern Continent, he had designated this area as his "territory" and gained an extra sensitivity to perceive any changes in extraordinary factors. If he were already a demigod, this ability would easily distinguish extraordinary individuals among the crowd and roughly determine their level. Even at Sequence 5, Alfred could determine whether Audrey had secretly taken a higher-sequence potion based on the subtle differences before and after her advancement.

But as soon as he began to examine the other person closely, an invisible force gripped Alfred's chest, making his heart pound and his forehead bead with cold sweat, turning him into a statue.

As a soldier who had fought against the local natives and extraordinary beings from enemy nations in the Southern Continent, this feeling was not unfamiliar to him. Several times when facing powerful enemies or supernatural beings, Alfred had this sense of urgency that was being frantically reminded by his spirituality.

The strongest warning occurred when an "Iron Knight" from the Intis colonial army descended onto the battlefield and locked onto Alfred's squad. At that time, a demigod from the Rune army, a "Law Mage," blocked the enemy, and a fierce battle broke out between the two sides, which ultimately resulted in both sides being severely injured and retreating.

At that moment, Alfred didn't dare to move an inch, like a pitiful ant waiting for the outcome of the battle and its own fate at the feet of two giants.

Now, Audrey gives him a feeling far beyond that; she is not a giant, but a dragon!

Could it be...? He had a guess.

Seeing Alfred's expression gradually turn pale and the beads of sweat on his forehead become more noticeable, Audrey then concealed her presence again, reverting to her harmless noblewoman persona, and shook her head with a smile:

"I am not in a relationship, nor do I intend to marry any nobleman."

"Alfred should already understand."

Guided by her words, the Count and Countess, along with Hilbert, all looked at the "Punishment Knight," who was sweating profusely and pale-faced. Having just recovered from Audrey's restrained aura, he swayed unsteadily, then, ignoring the gazes of others, asked as if to confirm:
"You have... become a saint? No, an angel of sequence two?"

Audrey smiled and nodded.

It really was an angel, an angel far more powerful than a saint… With this thought settled in his mind, Alfred's expression relaxed. The tension and despair he had felt facing the dragon vanished, replaced by a deep sense of doubt.

How is this possible? Two years ago when I returned from the Southern Continent, she was just a Sequence 7 "psychologist." Even with her exceptional talent and the ability to advance one sequence per year, she would only be at most Sequence 5 now...

He simply couldn't reconcile the smiling sister in front of him with the only two angels in the army, the two unapproachable princes. Even when Rune was besieged by Intis and Fusak, and the colony was on the verge of collapse, only a few saints appeared on the southern continent. He had heard that on the front lines of the Intersea and Winter County, the appearance of "angels" often meant the disappearance of an entire army, and thousands of casualties.

Only angels can fight angels, and his own sister has suddenly become this "He"? It must be a joke... Where did Audrey learn about Sequence 2 and want to scare us? Alfred was caught in a deep and inescapable confusion.

In contrast to his second son's constantly changing expressions, Earl Hall's reaction was much calmer. Although he was not an extraordinary being, he had some understanding of potion pathways, sequences, and titles such as "Saint." He knew that Archbishop Anthony Stevenson, who often visited his home and chatted with all the family members, was one of the important figures in the church who was given a saintly title. He could guess that the "angels" recorded in the church's books really existed and held a high position, directly listening to the divine pronouncements of the goddess, with a status equivalent to that of the Pope.

However, the count, who was not deeply involved in the world of mysticism, did not understand the strength corresponding to such a title. In his view, Alfred's ability to rise to the top of the middle ranks in the army was already a fulfillment of his mission in this generation. Climbing further would only arouse the suspicion of the royal family and be detrimental to the survival of the family.

And now, Audrey, the youngest member of the family and cherished by everyone, actually says that she has become an "angel" with a higher status than His Excellency Saint Anthony?
Could it be that the Church of the Night has chosen its own daughter as its representative of interests among the nobility...? His keen political sense immediately led him to speculate in directions he was familiar with.

Standing beside him, Hilbert Hall frowned deeply. He was groomed to be Earl Hall's political successor, inheriting the title, a seat in the House of Lords, and the vast majority of his fiefdom and property. Therefore, he focused all his energy on maintaining relationships with other nobles, members of parliament, and political allies. He didn't know much about the occult world, only that there were several extraordinary individuals from the church serving as guards in the shadows of his home, and that there were also some extraordinary individuals in his territory who were either hired or trained by a branch of the family. His younger brother held a fairly high position in the army and was a powerful Sequence 5 extraordinary individual.

The lower the sequence number, the more powerful it is, and Alfred just said that Audrey has reached sequence 2?

Hilbert felt that today's conversation had an unreal, absurd quality that was outside his understanding, and that everything seemed to be out of his control.

The three men in the study fell silent one after another. What they were thinking was unknown, but their constantly changing expressions said it all. Only Mrs. Caitlin, who was sitting to the side, noticed a hint of loneliness beneath Audrey's calm expression. She slowly stood up, went to her daughter, and took the latter's slightly cold right hand.

“My little angel, don’t worry, they’re just too surprised to process the news right now, not that they’re afraid of you…” she gently comforted her daughter, then glanced at Alfred, who was quickly adjusting his expression, and Hilbert, who was taking a deep breath and looking away, and continued, “…and unease.”

I know, Mom, my eldest brother's suspicions, my second brother's disbelief, and my father's speculations about the source of my extraordinary power are all clearly reflected in their subconscious... Audrey muttered to herself, gripping Caitlin's hand tightly to dispel the worries hidden deep in her mother's heart.

She intentionally revealed negative emotions that others could perceive, with the aim of breaking the current awkward situation. Sure enough, after recovering from the shock of being overtaken by her sister, Alfred spoke first and asked:
What is the sequence 2 name of the 'audience'?

He noticed his mother's reminder and tried to maintain the tone of his previous conversation with his sister, rather than using the honorifics he used to address his superiors in the military.

“The potion’s name is ‘The Insightful One’,” Audrey explained in a lighthearted and simple tone. “I have the power to weave dreams and hypnotize others, and I can apply many psychological suggestions to make people unconsciously develop a liking for me.”

"It sounds about the same as Mr. Garrick, who was sent by the Church of Goddess to protect us."

Lady Caitlin commented.

That Mr. Garrick is most likely a "nightmare"... Audrey didn't explain much, but simply turned her gaze to the French windows leading from the study to the outside of the villa, which were half-drawn by curtains. Earl Hall and the others also looked in that direction, only to be surprised to find that what lay outside the window was not the familiar streets of Queens, but a green field, a flowing creek, and a picturesque countryside scene.

That's where the Hall family's castle is located in East Chestershire!

The Earl abruptly stood up from the sofa and walked towards the window with some disbelief. Alfred, meanwhile, looked at his sister with a knowing expression and said:

"Are we already in a dream?"

Audrey smiled and nodded again. This was only a tiny part of the power wielded by the "Insightful One," but to her family, it was as shocking as when she grew scales and wings and transformed into a powerful mental dragon.

The latter will inevitably pollute the subconscious of ordinary people, driving them into madness. The intangible transformation of dreams is more suitable for the current situation.

Immediately, she sensed different emotions in the minds of the people before her: Alfred's感慨 about extraordinary abilities, his father's worry that powerful and extraordinary members of the family might arouse suspicion from the royal family, and Hilbert's expectation that his sister's abilities could help him secure his career.

The latter's hopes did not disgust Audrey. It is only natural to make use of the resources at hand. Before Audrey was an extraordinary person, didn't she also use the Hall family's status and wealth to trade at the Tarot Meeting and obtain magic potions?

As an "audience member," it is a basic skill to not be swayed by the darker thoughts of family and friends. The fact that her parents and brothers' worries outweighed their desire to "use" her also gave her some comfort.

Sure enough, after a moment of surprise, Earl Hall walked towards her first, and like Caitlin, took Audrey's other hand, saying with some emotion:

“Audrey, when I first learned that you had become an Extraordinary, I never imagined that you would go so far, to a height that even Alfred could not see your back.”

"I can guess why you went public with this today. The Hall family will give you their full support in any way you need, whether it is material or spiritual."

"But your mother and your two brothers want you to know that in our hearts, you will always be our most beloved angel."

Audrey, who deliberately revealed this matter in her dream in hopes of getting the most honest feedback from her family, wrinkled her nose. The negative emotions that she had suppressed in her subconscious through "soothing" were greatly relieved.

Sure enough, relying solely on the "audience" as an anchor to stabilize humanity is not enough; problems can easily arise. Family and believers are indispensable... Just as Audrey was beginning to have some insights, she was overwhelmed by Mrs. Caitlin's barrage of questions about the difficulties she faced on her path to promotion, whether she had been injured, and other concerns.

As she answered, she glanced at Alfred, who remained silent, and an idea formed in her mind.

She subtly changed the subject, saying to her brother:
"Alfred, do you remember five years ago when I wrote to you hoping you could help me find the Rainbow Lizard Dragon?"

“I remember, I only found out later that those were the potion ingredients you needed for your advancement,” Alfred replied.

"Actually, part of that was prepared for Susie...she was also an 'audience member'."

"what?"

Even Earl Hall raised his eyebrows in surprise, unable to believe that one of his dogs had become an extraordinary being.

Alfred, who had initially felt dejected that his sister had become an angel while he wasn't even a demigod, straightened his back and asked pointedly:
"What sequence level has it, no, she reached?"

Surely Susie can't become another "psychologist" after already reaching Sequence 7? Who can she treat? Other dogs heartbroken because they were abandoned by their owners? One thought after another popped into his mind.

"In fact, Susie was already a Sequence 5 two years ago."

Audrey replied with a smile.

Hibbert suppressed a laugh and secretly glanced at his younger brother, who was also a Sequence 5 and whose face was now somewhat pale.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Fortunately, Alfred also advanced to the 'Law Mage' level four years ago, becoming a demigod, otherwise he really wouldn't be able to beat Susie now..."

Leaving the vivid dream scene from 14 years ago, Audrey looked at Archbishop Susie, who was seeing off one group of believers of the Fool with a kind smile, and couldn't help but mutter to herself.

With her ability to recreate scenes from the depths of her memory at any time in her subconscious and the memory of the "audience" angel, Alfred will probably never forget the blank look on his face because his sequence was like a dog's.

Forever… The Mind Dragon Erdfana lived for nearly 8000 years. Of course, this was due to the influence of that “God.” Normally, angels live for two to three thousand years, and apart from Alfred, Dad, Mom, and Hilbert probably wouldn’t live past one hundred… Audrey’s expression dimmed for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

She was mentally prepared for this and would cherish every day her family members were still alive.

As the faithful who had finished communion departed one by one, Susie, who still looked like a large golden retriever in Audrey's eyes, strolled to her side. Suddenly, as if sensing something, she looked at Audrey and asked in a questioning voice:
"Audrey, is that you there?"

The reason why Susie was able to sense the presence of an audience angel at Sequence 4 was twofold. Firstly, Susie had been following Audrey for a long time and had already developed a certain tacit understanding with her, and was also a solid anchor for Audrey. Secondly, Audrey did not deliberately conceal her whereabouts from Susie, but simply made it impossible for ordinary people passing by to discover her.

"it's me."

She answered softly, revealing herself in her own St. Audrey Chapel.

Upon seeing her, Susie excitedly leaned closer, nuzzling against Audrey's outstretched hand before continuing to ask:
"Did you listen to my sermon just now? Is there anything that needs improvement?"

Actually, I was daydreaming just now... Audrey was thinking about how to cover it up when the familiar gray fog appeared before her eyes, and the voice of the great "Fool" came to her ears.

"They need my help to accomplish something important. This will not only allow me to play the role of a 'writer' in Sequence 1 ahead of time, but also serve as a rehearsal for the promotion ceremony?"

Only when the gray fog dissipated did Audrey look up at the "Fool" emblem deep inside the church with some confusion, her expression turning strange.

Currently, all three Sequence 1 traits from the "Dreamer" pathway are in the hands of that "God." Even if, according to the minimum requirements of the Great Old Ones, He could allocate two traits for the advancement of Sequence 2 angels of the same pathway, it would not be the turn of the angels under Mr. Fool.

Could it be that Mr. Fool is preparing to exchange a Sequence 1 extraordinary trait for that being? Do I deserve such a privilege…? Audrey pondered for a moment, ruffled Susie's fluffy head, then went to the altar and bowed her head to recite under the holy emblem composed of the pupilless eye and twisted lines:

"A traveler wandering the starry sky, an observer looking down upon the mortal world, a witness to mystery and natural disasters..."

This is the name of Fors, a senior member of the Tarot Society and one of the few Sequence 1 Archangels known as "The Magician".

Generally speaking, angels can respond to prayers within an entire planet. If they advance to Sequence 1, they can respond instantly to prayers within a star system or a similar range. Beyond this range, they need the "transmission" of the deity they worship. However, some special abilities allow them to respond to prayers of honor more broadly. For example, "Insightful Ones" are stronger than ordinary angels. After the Creator's barrier disappeared, Audrey can currently respond to prayers from other planets in the solar system. It is believed that this range will be further expanded after she advances to "Writer".

The "Observer" Fors is even more special. Her authority extends to the concept of dimension. Distance and space are no longer obstacles for her. She can respond in real time to prayers from places she has been to and witnessed.

Shortly after the name of the deity was recited, a woman wearing a long dress that shimmered with various bright colors in the twilight appeared at the church entrance. Instead of being transported or teleported through the spirit world, she appeared as if she had suddenly emerged from a painting, her complete body outlined.

Audrey looked closely and noticed that her dress was decorated with twinkling light strips, creating a variety of vibrant colors, much like the electric lights that have recently become common in big cities.

“Fors!” She withdrew her gaze from the other woman’s clothing and greeted her long-lost friend. “Your outfit is so… fashionable.”

"This is a popular clothing style in a civilization on a remote planet. They like to use different colored lights to express their current mood."

Fors explained, pressing on herself and turning off the light strips that made her look like a festive tree decoration.

Knowing that the other party had been exploring different planetary civilizations with "Redemption Angel" Amon for the past two years, Audrey didn't ask for more details, but instead lowered her voice and said:

"Mr. Fool, and of course Miss Queen, together have entrusted us with an important task."

“It’s not just the two of us, it includes all members of the Tarot Club.”

PS: Thank you to the two big shots, "Otaku2016" and "Li Biao Come Here", for their generous donations!

(End of this chapter)