World Occult Usage Guide

Chapter 68 The Whispers of the Illusion

Fairies are creatures with magical powers who occupy the space between Earth and the heavens.

The word comes from the Latin word "fata," meaning "fate," because people feared fairies more than they worshipped them, a belief that was particularly prevalent in the Lion Kingdom and the island of Airland.

In folklore and literature, the Fairy Queen is the female ruler of fairies. There are many Fairy Queens around the world, with common names such as the well-known Titania and Mab.

Kirk said that the fairy world is a mirror image of the human world, caring for and protecting the natural order. Disturbing their lives will bring bad luck. If someone builds a house in the fairy kingdom, then bad luck will follow.

Residents will get sick, animals will die, crops will not grow, and doors and windows will not be able to stay closed.

Fairies also like to lead travelers astray. In Cornwall, fairies are called "piskeys," and they also refer to being in a state of confusion as "piskey-led."

There is also a term called "fairy ring," which people believe refers to the marks left by fairies when they dance.

Throughout history, the local people of the Lion Islands have often built altars to seek the help and blessings of fairies, who are said to be able to grant humans the gift of prophecy and a second eye, and also teach magic such as bewitching, meditation, clairvoyance, and telepathy.

The legend of fairies flashed through Lin An's mind as he glanced at the system panel that was displayed on Mi Xi's face.

[Name]: Fairy Queen, Fairy Queen, Una

[Rating]: Legendary C-grade

Radiation level: 0.7%
[Pollution Level]: 0%
[Medium]: God of Agriculture

The materialized prototype of the medium is indeed inextricably linked to bloodline. Mishi clearly has the characteristics of the Lion Kingdom Islands, and thus awakens the mysterious prototype of Celtic or Erlan mythology.

She previously said that her consciousness suddenly split into several parts, transmitting information about the witch's invasion remotely to the research department and the direct confrontation department, which may correspond to the fairy's "telepathy".

As the Fairy Queen, Mishi's abilities are certainly not limited to this.

It's truly a mystery worth exploring in depth.

Turn back to Simon's information; Lin An finished reviewing tonight's itinerary in a few seconds.

According to the foundation's plan, they will leave the facility at 8 p.m., drive to the International Bridge, and at 11 a.m., split into pairs to begin patrolling the river area, maintaining contact using communication devices.

Simon and Mishi are in one group, and Lin An and Barry are in another.

The patrol will last for 6 hours until 5 a.m. the next morning when the team will disband and return to the foundation facilities to rest. The patrol will then repeat the process in the evening, continuing for three full days.

"Going back to the foundation every day? I remember the itinerary told us to stay at a nearby motel, and I even packed my bags," Lin An asked.

“Since the entire Disciplinary Team has been killed in the line of duty, the Direct Action Department is short-staffed. One of us, along with Control Team 2, must remain in the facility on standby at all times,” Simon explained. “In addition to our duties, we may also have to deal with some emergencies, so please be prepared.”

“Wouldn’t that mean one person is doing the work of two… Will the Foundation recruit new disciplinary squads?” Mishi’s voice trailed off. “Please, don’t let it become like that 007 newspaper…”

“Don’t worry, the busyness won’t last long,” Simon said. “The president emailed me, he reported the losses at the Michigan branch to headquarters, and we got reinforcements. They’ll be back at the foundation in five days, and we just need to hold out until then.”

Fortunately, the Free Mystics were also severely weakened in the invasion, and there were no emergencies requiring their intervention in the past five days.

Lin An walked across the river that divides Dietrich City and Maple Leaf Country. The bustling city center gradually became drowsy and quiet, with only the gurgling of the flowing water. The air was filled with the smells of gasoline, river fish, and stinking ditches. The outline of the International Bridge was blurred by the steam from the ships.

The entrance to the witch's illusion is right there.

“I’m going to the airport tomorrow,” Barry said. “Aren’t you really not coming with me?”

"I've already told Green Bubble everything I needed to say. Remember to wish her a pleasant speech," Lin An replied casually. "Barry, I'm feeling rather bored lately."

“How thrilling can you be? You can’t deal with mystics every day,” Barry said with a wry smile. “If I didn’t need the money, I’d rather find a job closer to home and spend more time with my wife and kids… Don’t you get along well with your family?”

"..."

"The emptiness of the soul stems from loneliness. I read this in a magazine."

Lin An suddenly reached out and grabbed Barry's shoulder, shaking him violently.

"I had a wonderful month at the foundation! You are some of my few true friends! And I believe that friends are the family we choose for ourselves later in life!"

"Oh, God..."

“You’re family to me, Brother Barry!”

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, let's not talk about this anymore, alright?" Barry pushed Lin An away helplessly. "What can you do to stop having these episodes?"

"Buy me coffee."

Several days of fruitless patrols lowered Barry's guard. After greeting Lin An, he entered a café on the street corner. Riding a velvet horse at midnight, the full moon's light, summoned by the stars, allowed his body and mind to rest, his heart to enter a steady rhythm, and his soul to gradually find peace and tranquility.

Light, gauze-like clouds floated in the sky, as if concealing a serene fairyland of palaces and pavilions. Lin An gazed at the constellations that stretched across the sky and suddenly realized that they were getting closer and closer to him.

Although the clear night sky makes the stars seem within reach, isn't the starlight a little too close?
The ethereal light intertwined to create increasingly clear colors, from points and lines to concrete planes. Lin An vaguely realized that she was not an unreachable constellation, but a real person.

To be precise, it is a projection.

A fresh, exquisite fragrance swirled around Lin An, and he finally saw this person, who was both real and illusory, clearly.

Her upper body was that of a beautiful and sexy woman, with a vibrant head and two decorative wigs. A nearly transparent veil covered her snow-white skin, and her breasts, navel, and other intimate female features were faintly visible.

Each head has a pair of goat horns with key-shaped bells hanging from the ends.

The woman's lower body resembled that of a goat, with dense, tattoo-like secret words etched on her dark fur.

Lin An recognized this creature; it was also known as the Mendes goat and the black goat, but its more widely known name was Baphomet. It was said to be both a symbol of witchcraft and intricately connected to Mete, the Gnostic god of wisdom.

Baphomet is just one of the translations; it is also written as "Baphomet".

Codenamed Beta-001, the leader of the free mystics in Dietrich, the enigmatic "Witch of Bavomet," is now locked in a gaze with Lin An.

Have I entered the witch's illusion?
What exactly is going on?

Moreover, I clearly know the mysterious prototype of the witch, so why didn't the system pop up the panel?
Because... I didn't get to "see" the witch in person?

In an instant, several thoughts flashed through Lin An's mind, his attention falling on the magic wand clipped to his waist. The gem in the basilisk's head was slightly warm, seemingly having a close connection with the witch's phantom.

Is it because of it?
"Hello, lovely person," the witch said, "You have the aura of one of my companions, and I mistook you for it because of its attraction."

"Good evening, Ms. Isol," Lin An greeted politely.

"Heh, don't address me so formally." Facing the suspected murderer of her companion, the witch showed no anger, but instead narrowed her eyes with amusement. "Young man, how should I address you?"

"Ragil Tulver".

“No, you’re lying, and using such an awful pseudonym.” The witch chuckled softly. “I saw that angel pull you out of the basilisk’s belly, and he called you ‘Lin,’ so you’re Lin An from the Foundation, right?”

"You were there?" Lin An was taken aback.

“I am here, I am not here. I used illusion to shroud my companion who was calling me. I also wanted to rescue my basilisk, but it was too late. The angel's magic blocked my senses, and I was powerless to cover its body with illusion and bring it back to my side.”

It seems the witch's rating is probably similar to Simon's.

"You can create illusions anytime, anywhere?" Lin An looked around, the night scenery transforming into colorful abstract concepts, as if he had stumbled into a geometric world. "Can't others see me now?"

“Only those who are willing to accept my grace,” the witch said. “They give me their essence intact, and wherever they are, I can hear their call.”

"Have you installed 'satellite navigation' on your followers?"

"A very good analogy. To me, they are as clearly visible as the stars in the sky. As long as we are still under the same sky, I can see their twinkling light."

"You... haven't heard of satellite navigation?"

"I don't know how to use electronic devices!"

Lin An's eyes flickered; the witch was quite different from what he had imagined.

No wonder she was writing on the computer screen in the exchange warehouse; she probably didn't know how to type.

From the witch's fragmented words, Lin An roughly pieced together the effect of this illusion.

Through a certain ritual, the witch obtained the coordinates of her followers. Whenever they "call," the witch can spread energy there and create an illusion that envelops that person.

Lin An recalled Jim, who used illusions to steal things everywhere. It seemed that the "Dreamers" medium did not care about spatial barriers; they only needed the "coordinates" to cast mystical spells.

The reason why the Free Mystics are so difficult to capture is that once they hide in the illusion, the Foundation is almost powerless against them, given their witch rating.

Through the remains of the basilisk, the witch also obtained my coordinates...

Fortunately, the illusion was harmless, and the witch's and Lin An's energies could not affect each other. It was simply a place to hide, and Lin An could terminate the connection at any time.

"Lin, you are a very interesting person," the witch spoke again. "If you are willing to become one of us, the [Fox Fairy] will be happy."

(End of this chapter)