The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

After leaving the library, George noticed that the terrain outside had changed again, with another set of stairs leading down next to the one he had come from.

This is probably the passageway leading to the "storage room" that Stone mentioned.

George took out the key and found that after turning it around, it did indeed point to the newly appeared stairs, so he continued down the spiral stone steps.

After descending about one more floor, an arched wooden door appeared at the end of the stairs.

George observed for a moment, then inserted the key into the lock near the doorknob.

The key fit perfectly, and with a smooth turn, the wooden door opened silently, instantly illuminating the room.

George slipped behind the door and slowly opened it. Finding no danger, he calmly entered.

This is a room of about ten square meters with no windows. The few lamps on the wall have uniquely shaped crystal bases.

There is a huge mirror opposite the door, which makes the room appear larger and brighter under the light.

In the center of the room was a heavy wooden table with several utensils scattered on it, which were probably the items left to him by the Viscount.

George examined the items. Although the card table didn't offer any hints, he could sense a faint spiritual fluctuation emanating from several of them.

In the left corner lay a bundle of coiled rope, an unnatural grayish-white color, its surface covered with fine, almost invisible runes, and it felt as if it were the sinew of some kind of creature.

George gave it a gentle pull, and the rope seemed to possess a tender resilience, making the feeling of removing it from the creature even stronger.

The card table faithfully describes the contents of this device.

Gleipnirlin

[Sexual characteristics: string, hunter, star, tool]

Even if it's built from non-existent memories, it can still trap certain realities.

It seems to have some connection to the chains that bound Fenrir the giant wolf in Norse mythology, and may be some kind of imitation or weakened version.

George lowered the rope and turned to look at a sword lying flat beside him. He picked it up, drew it, and swung it lightly.

This sword is somewhat heavy, about sixty centimeters long, with a wide and straight blade that gleams with a dazzling silver light.

The white bone hilt is wrapped with dark silver metal wire, the end of which is carved into an eagle's head, and the hilt is engraved with an abstract torch emblem.

George gripped the hilt, feeling that the sword was a bit too long for one-handed foot combat, but would be very suitable for use on horseback.

Ancient swords

[Sexual characteristics: Hunting, Stars, Tools]

Simply wield it as it has with every previous owner, and it will faithfully carry out cutting and conquest.

There was also a box next to it containing several bottles of medicine.

George recognized the presence of King Arthur's Blood and the Awakening Elixir, but he hadn't finished the two bottles the Viscount had given him.

In addition, there were several items on the table used to set up the ceremony—a simple altar, rune stones, and antiques that could serve as symbols.

George thought for a moment, then picked up the rope and the sword along with its scabbard.

The rope was slung over his shoulder, and the sword was held in his hand.

One tool can kill, the other can trap; I'll probably need them tomorrow when I'm searching for Frederick's trail.

George didn't linger in the storage room, and returned the way he came with the two tools and the key in his pocket.

Shortly after his footsteps faded into the distance in the corridor, a mirror on the wall of the storage room, almost half the height of the wall, began to ripple, slowly revealing the silhouette of a tall human figure.

As the light shimmered, a tall, handsome figure emerged from the mirror.

It has an androgynous human face with a long, delicate jawline, and its eyes and long hair are the same deep silver-gray.

The creature in the mirror is dressed in clothing reminiscent of a peacock, giving the overall impression of a painter's whimsical fantasy, or perhaps a fairy that has just emerged from an ancient dream.

It tilted its head slightly, its silver-gray eyes gazing through the cold mirror at the door George had just closed. Standing in its own dimension within the mirror, it lightly tapped its cheek with its fingertips, seemingly lost in thought.

George was completely unaware of this, and it was late when he returned to his bedroom.

Sitting at his desk, he gently opened the book he had brought back from the tower library, "The Book of the Threshold," by the light of the fireplace.

The paper of this book is thick and yellowed, and the stable ink color shows that it has been preserved with great care.

Upon opening the first page, one is immediately greeted by densely packed notes and diagrams.

There were also traces of specimens or items wrapped in fine silk being flattened between the pages.

He read intently and found that it was indeed a systematic summary of rituals, from basic sacrifices and harmonization to complex invocations and transmutations, and even how to design targeted rituals under different criteria.

As he read, he gently stroked the pages with his fingers, a sense of emotion welling up within him.

The "rationality" card, which relies on cheat codes, can quickly analyze books, which is incredibly efficient, allowing users to instantly acquire core knowledge and condense it into cards.

However, the process of "acquiring" in that way is like swallowing dates whole, lacking much of the fun and depth of thinking, comparing, connecting with the context, and even figuring out the author's implied meaning.

Like now, flipping through a book with my own hands, understanding and reflecting on the symbolic meaning behind a ritual step as an ordinary person, and feeling the essence of knowledge that has settled over a long period of time...

This kind of understanding and insight gained after reading through the book is indeed fundamentally different from the "infusion" of cards.

Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

He can't get rid of the convenience of his "golden touch" for the time being, but perhaps he should cherish the reflection brought about by this kind of "hard work".

At this moment, what he urgently needs to find is knowledge related to the current crisis—rituals about "transformation," about "transformation of form," and about methods of sacrifice, reshaping, or reversing corruption.

There are indeed relevant chapters in the book, but they are all interspersed within a vast system of rituals and require careful discernment and consideration.

His focused reading made him almost forget the passage of time.

-----------------

At the same time, on the dark surface of the decaying lake, a dark shadow flew low across the water like a waterbird, the wind pressing against the surface and creating ripples.

She flew extremely fast and soon crossed the vast lake to reach Paradise Island.

Because of the epidemic on the island, the routine night watch patrols had been cancelled by the two stewards, so no one on the island discovered the intruder's presence.

If they were nearby, they would be surprised to find that the flies in the lake area, which were restless and hovering because of the remnants of the "Fly King's" power, would fall silently and stiffly to the ground as soon as they got within a few meters of this dark figure, as if their lives had been suddenly taken away, and they would be completely dead.

She raised her face, her gaze sweeping over the insect corpses on the shore. Her tone held no disgust or fear, but rather an excitement at having found her target.

"As expected of 'Lord of the Flies'... The taste is so pure, it's truly rare."

Under the moonlight, one could see that she was wearing a dark black robe, with a hood that completely covered her face, revealing only her thin chin and lips.

She raised the cane in her right hand, the head of which was a lifelike silver winged bird head that gleamed, its eyes seemingly flashing a sliver of light under the moonlight.

A moment later she opened her eyes, a knowing smile on her face.

The most intense and noteworthy atmosphere is found on the western side of the island.

She raised her cane and began to walk toward the west side of the island.