Chapter 7: The Order of Spirit Mediums

  Nicholas stared at the door standing before him. The hallway was eerie and deserted, heavy with the atmosphere of an old, desolate office in the dead of night. Romero had led him deep into the basement of the Order's massive headquarters, only to leave him there with a brief remark—that his superior was waiting inside.

  Nicholas hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath. His right hand reached out, pushing the door open as he stepped slowly into the room.

  The room was filled with countless bookshelves, resembling a library. On the ceiling above hung stained glass cut into intricate patterns. Light reflected from the glass cast rays onto the open space in the center of the room, where a large wooden desk stood. Seated there was a middle-aged man in a white robe. He was reading, his face composed and radiating a profound sense of tranquility.

  Nicholas stopped about two to three meters from the desk. Since the man before him was absorbed in his reading, Nicholas remained silent, choosing not to announce his arrival. Instead, he used those brief moments to observe his surroundings.

  The atmosphere around him was eerily quiet. It reminded him of the chilling atmosphere when he was being hunted by David's spirit. Although he felt no immediate danger, something warned him that nothing here was as it seemed.

  His attention shifted back to the man in white, who appeared friendly and harmless. Nicholas sensed an aura as calm as a gentle stream. Yet, just as he began to let his guard down, he felt something was watching him.

  A chill ran down his spine. It was like a cold breeze brushing lightly against his skin. It circled around him before slowly moving to stop behind the man in white. Yet when Nicholas focused his gaze on that spot, he saw only emptiness.

  It was at this moment that the man in white became aware of Nicholas's presence.

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

  He placed the book in his hands down. His gaze studied Nicholas before he continued.

  "Let us begin with introductions. My name is Edwin. You may call me 'Mr. Edwin.' I am the Overseer of the York City branch of the Order of Spirit Mediums."

  His voice was deep yet gentle, giving the impression of an elder speaking to a family member. Nicholas furrowed his brow slightly, wondering why the man before him specifically insisted on being addressed as 'Mr. Edwin'?

  Though the other party already knew him, Nicholas introduced himself again out of courtesy.

  "I believe you are already well acquainted with my background, Mr. Edwin. I am Nicholas Parley," he said, placing his right hand over his heart and offering a slight, respectful bow.

  "I have heard the preliminary report from Romero. The reason I asked him to bring you here was simply to inquire about a few additional matters and perhaps to clear up some misunderstandings. So, please, there is no need for you to worry."

  Mr. Edwin said reassuringly before continuing.

  "If it is not too much trouble, I would like you to recount the details of what happened two days ago once more. Should I have any questions, I may need your help to clarify them for me a bit."

  Nicholas thought for a moment before nodding and began his account of the event. Naturally, he remained selective with the truth, just as he had when spoken with Romero.

  Mr. Edwin listened in silence, occasionally probing Nicholas for more specific details. most of which focused on the appearance and nature of the monster Nicholas had encountered.

  After Nicholas finished his story, Mr. Edwin shifted slightly to the right. as if the man were tilting his head to listen to something, even though they were only the two of them in the room.

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  "It seems luck is the only thing that can explain how you survived," Mr. Edwin remarked with a gentle smile. Yet for some reason, Nicholas broke out in a cold sweat.

  "I believe so as well." Nicholas replied.

  Their eyes locked for a moment before Nicholas decided to shift the subject.

  "May I ask, Mr. Edwin—could you explain what that monster I encountered truly was?"

  Though unsure if he was overstepping his bounds, Nicholas felt he had every right to know. Mr. Edwin leaned back in his chair and said:

  "Since you have experienced these events firsthand. I suppose there is no reason to hide the truth from you. That Monster was a type of 'vengeful spirit.' To make it easier to understand, I must first explain the origins and types of these spirits." He paused briefly before continuing.

  "When a human departs from this world, the body is left behind, while the soul typically dissipates. However, there are instances in which a soul does not pass on as it should. This can occur for several reasons—for example, if a soul still clings to a lingering attachment, it cannot let go of, or if its malice and resentment are so intense, preventing it from going through the cycle of rebirth. These factors lead to the creation of different types of spirits. We, the Spirit Mediums, have classified them into four categories, and we distinguish each type by its color."

  Mr. Edwin raised his finger, and at its tip, a strange energy flickered and took the shape of a flame, so translucent that the background remained clearly visible through it.

  "The first category is known as 'Lingering Spirits.' These are souls that remain bound by attachment, drifting aimlessly through the mortal realm long after death. They are the most common type and are generally harmless—unless provoked by outside influences."

  Mr. Edwin then raised a second finger. This time, the flickering flame gradually shifted into a dull, ashen gray.

  "The second category is 'Vengeful Spirits.' These spirits arise from the resentment of their hosts and are extremely dangerous, especially to ordinary people. Even Spirit Mediums required an utmost caution when purifying these spirits. Their accumulated hatred is usually directed toward those responsible for their suffering; thus, their victims are often people tied to the spirit's life while they were still alive."

  Mr. Edwin looked deeply at Nicholas, as if implying something.

  'Hey... that wasn't my fault, alright!' Nicholas couldn't help but protest inwardly. The one with the complicated ties to that soul was the previous Nicholas, not him.

  "The Vengeful Spirits you encountered—David and his family—belongs to this category. However, from what you described, the fact that multiple spirits merged until their spiritual power was strong enough to manifest a physical form capable of affecting reality. it suggests that vengeful spirit was on the verge of evolving into the next stage."

  At this point, Mr. Edwin raised a third finger. The flame gradually darkened until it turned pitch black.

  "The third category is what we call 'Specter.' This type of spirit is extremely dangerous on a wide scale and does not target specific individuals. One of the fundamental rules of the Spirit Medium Order states that if any medium encounters this type of spirit, they must retreat immediately and report to their superiors. This is to arrange for at least one squad of pénte-level Spirit Mediums or an éxi-level Spirit Medium to handle the purification of this type of spirit."

  Perhaps noticing Nicholas's confused expression, Mr. Edwin cleared his throat before continuing.

  "This information might be a bit overwhelming for you right now. Let's just say that if you ever happen to encounter this type of spirit, I recommend you run as fast as possible."

  The man in white gave his warning as the flame on his finger extinguished, this time, he clenched his fist before opening it again to reveal a flame of vivid, blood-red.

  "As for the final category… we call it 'Pure Hatred.' The ultimate embodiment of malice, its appearance signifies the collapse of entire cities or even civilization itself. I believe I needn't tell you what would happen should you ever face one. But rest assured—it has been centuries since its last recorded appearance."

  Mr. Edwin smiled, but that did not make Nicholas feel any better. Learning that he existed in a world filled with such dangers was hardly reassuring.

  "Thank you, Mr. Edwin, for clarifying this for me."

  Nicholas replied, bowing his head in gratitude. Mr. Edwin gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

  "If there is anything else you are curious about, please, feel free to ask. I will answer what I can."

  Nicholas pondered for a moment before posing another question.

  "I would like to know more about Spirit Mediums... and this Order."

  This was the matter that piqued his curiosity the most. This enigmatic organization had become deeply intertwined with his life, yet he still knew nothing about them.

  "We, the Spirit Mediums, are individuals gifted with the mystical power to bridge the divide between the mortal world and spirit worlds. Most of us possess the ability to see and communicate with spirits. Given this power, it is our duty to oversee and manage supernatural incidents arising from the spirit world. Our work remains hidden, and the public is unaware of both the spirit world's existence and those who wield such extraordinary powers…" Mr. Edwin explained further.

  "The Order of Spirit Mediums is a secret organization under the Church of the God of Death and Rebirth. Here, at the York City branch, we are responsible for managing and controlling supernatural incidents within the city's eastern and northern districts. The southern district, however, falls under the jurisdiction of the Church of the Goddess of Love and Redemption. As you might guess, while the two churches maintain a cooperative relationship, each side strictly refrains from interfering in the other's internal affairs."

  As Mr. Edwin finished speaking, a mocking smirk played across his lips, as if the words he had just said were merely a joke.

  Nicholas noticed the shift in Mr. Edwin's emotions, but the weight of the information he had received was far too immense for him to dwell on it.

  The Church of the God of Death and Rebirth… the Church of the Goddess of Love and Redemption… the division of power… It all pointed to one thing: beyond the Order of Spirit Mediums, there were other organizations lurking in the shadows, pulling the strings of the occult world.

  Mystical powers... monsters... secret organizations... and divine churches. The more Nicholas thought about it, the more dangerous this world seemed.

  He recalled the blood-stained sacrificial altar he had discovered in the sewers. He couldn't help but wonder: what kind of enigmatic cult or secret organization was pulling the strings behind that horrific scene?

  "Mr. Parley…" Mr. Edwin's voice snapped him back to the present.

  "If I were to tell you... that there is a way for you to become an Extraordinary yourself…"

  The man stared intently at Nicholas, his gaze searching as if peering straight into the depths of the young man's soul.

  "Would you like to become one of us?"

  14.10.550

  Nicholas Parlay

  Judicial representative