"An interesting technique?" Klein asked, his curiosity piqued.
Old Neil chuckled. "I'm going to inspect the armory, materials, and document archives. Meanwhile, I want you to make two cups of coffee from the beans on the table. In one of them, add something unpleasant. You're free to decide what it is, but use your imagination—just don't waste too much coffee powder. These beans are highland-grown, ground by hand!"
"Alright." Though unsure of Old Neil's intentions, Klein readily agreed.
As Old Neil unlocked the armory's iron door with a brass key and disappeared into the room, Klein took his time preparing the coffee. He checked the kettle for hot water, placed two cups, and carefully spooned a measure of rich-smelling coffee powder into each, then poured in the hot water and stirred.
After a moment of consideration, Klein decided on his "unpleasant ingredient." He took a pinch of dust from his boot sole and mixed it into the cup on the left, stirring it until both cups appeared identical in color and aroma.
A few minutes later, Old Neil emerged from the armory, keys jingling, and shut the iron door with a clank.
"Done?" His slightly murky, dark-red eyes turned toward Klein across the table.
"All set," Klein nodded.
Old Neil gave a slight smile, then unwound the silver chain from his wrist as he sat down. His expression turned calm as he held the chain in his left hand, letting the silver chain dangle over the coffee cup on his right. The clear crystal at the end of the chain hovered just above the liquid.
In the quiet, soothing atmosphere, the crystal gradually began to swing in a subtle, counterclockwise circle, pulling the chain with it.
"This is the cup with the unpleasant addition," Old Neil declared confidently.
Before Klein could confirm, Old Neil retracted the chain, took a sip from the cup on the left, and commented, "Do you enjoy black coffee? Personally, I like one spoon of sugar and a bit of milk."
Instead of answering, Klein asked with great interest, "Your divination was spot-on! Is it all thanks to that crystal? It's white crystal, right?"
"This is the pendulum method in divination," Old Neil explained, setting down his cup. "It relies on the connection of your 'astral body' with the spiritual world and the stars. By using natural materials like crystals, gemstones, or special metals, you can channel spiritual resonance to assess the quality of something."
Returning to the coffee cups, he continued, "In this case, counterclockwise meant 'bad,' clockwise would mean 'good,' and no movement would indicate neutral. You can even write an event on paper—note, it's about events, not questions."
Klein appeared deep in thought as he said, "So, it's best to avoid phrasing it as a question?"
"Exactly. Don't write 'Does so-and-so want to be my fiancée?' Instead, write 'So-and-so wants to be my fiancée,'" Old Neil chuckled. "Place the paper flat on the table, then hold the pendulum with your non-dominant hand. That's important—use your non-dominant hand."
He continued, "Straighten your arm, adjust the pendulum chain's length so that the crystal hovers just above the center of the paper, barely touching the written words. Close your eyes and silently repeat the statement in your mind seven times. After that, open your eyes and observe if there's any movement. If not, close your eyes again, repeat the process, and continue until you notice a rotation."
Klein nodded, "Counterclockwise means 'no,' and clockwise means 'yes'?"
"You could also interpret it as 'unfavorable' and 'favorable,'" Old Neil clarified. He then went on to explain more variations and nuances of the pendulum technique.
As Klein processed the information, he realized how practical this technique could be. In unfamiliar situations, for example, he could quickly check if food was safe to eat without needing extra "field biology" skills.
Of course, this simple divination method had its limitations. It offered only basic answers—yes, no, or neutral. It wouldn't provide detailed insights or nuances. For instance, certain foods might be mildly harmful but, in dire hunger, could still be eaten without serious consequences. Such complexities were beyond the pendulum's scope.
"I'll need to save up for a crystal or pure silver to make my own pendulum…" Klein sighed.
Old Neil gave him a surprised look. "You can apply for one directly. It's considered standard equipment for Extraordinary members, especially for those in supportive paths like ours. The armory has a citrine pendulum and a pure silver one."
"But I'm not an official member of the team…" Klein hesitated, feeling a surge of excitement.
Old Neil chuckled, "For Extraordinaries, official or not, since there's no salary increase, there are certainly other forms of compensation."
"'Perks' might be a better term," Klein thought, making up his mind. "I'll request it from the Captain later!"
How could he know the Captain's answer without trying?
"Good," Old Neil smiled. "Now, let's start our official 'Occult Course.' The foundation here is called 'Symbols.' Do you know what a 'symbol' is?"
Recalling the fragments he had overheard and what he had glimpsed in the spiritual world and the gray fog, Klein carefully responded, "The spiritual world, the illusory starry sky, and those unknown realms lie beyond our sensory world. These realms aren't something our ears, nose, or eyes can accurately convey. What we receive are ineffable, intuitive insights and experiences, often represented as abstract symbols or images. These symbols each carry specific meanings and represent different entities or concepts."
"Very accurate; you're indeed a 'Diviner,'" Old Neil nodded seriously. "Only by mastering the interpretation of symbols can you truly enter the world of the occult. Take, for example, the symbols on tarot cards—each image, and every element within it, serves as a humanly assigned symbol to help us understand and interpret the primal 'revelations.'"
He pulled out a piece of paper and picked up a pen, drawing a short arc.
Then, with a few swift strokes, he added several vertical lines beneath the arc, looking up at Klein. "Do you know what this symbol represents?"
Klein studied it for a moment, then hesitantly replied, "Eyelashes?"
Old Neil sighed, "This is the symbol for the Harvest Constellation. This is the Thunder Constellation. And this one is the Frost Constellation…"
He quickly sketched several more symbols, each corresponding to various constellations.
As Klein memorized them, he couldn't help but comment, "These constellation names are… remarkably simple. Yes, that's it—simple!"
Very rural and primal...
Old Neil chuckled, "That's exactly what Emperor Roselle thought. He wanted to rename them to things like Virgo, Cancer, and Scorpio, but ultimately, he couldn't overcome the power of tradition. At least these ancient constellation names and their associated dates still serve a purpose in guiding planting and harvesting."
"One has to admit, Emperor Roselle had ideas," Klein said, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.
Yes, Emperor Roselle must have been quite the sophisticated man...
Unfazed by Klein's humor, Old Neil continued to teach him various foundational symbols, including those representing the constellations, as well as symbols for the sun, the Red Moon, the Brown Star, the Red Star, and the Blue Star.
As he explained, Old Neil interwove teachings on drawing astrological charts, creating crystal balls, selecting materials and incantations, and other intricate details, nearly overwhelming Klein with information.
If not for the slight memory boost he'd gained from the Diviner potion, Klein would have had to ask Old Neil to slow down to properly absorb everything.
"Today's occult lesson ends here," Old Neil finally announced, pulling out a golden pocket watch and clicking it open. "Don't forget to review the historical records I prepared for you. Frankly, just looking at them fills me with dread."
"Understood," Klein said, accepting the notes on symbols that Old Neil had prepared. He quickly reviewed today's lesson, making sure he had absorbed the knowledge fully.
Old Neil took another sip of his freshly brewed coffee and advised, "Memory alone won't suffice. You have to use this knowledge frequently until it becomes second nature. And remember, meditation should be part of your daily routine. Only through consistent practice and use will you fully harness the potion's power, uncover its hidden mysteries, and neutralize any negative effects."
At the mention of this, Klein thought of "role-playing" and the divination club. Testing the waters, he said, "Since my potion's abilities are related to divination, practicing on my own won't cut it. I need to interact with many people, giving them readings to fully grasp my skills. Once I have some extra money, I plan to join the 'Divination Club' on Howes Street in the North District and become a real 'Diviner.'"
Realizing this couldn't stay hidden from the Night Watchers forever, he thought it best to bring it up now.
"You sound just like Daly; she's always saying she wants to be a true 'Medium,'" Old Neil chuckled, shaking his head. "But why wait until you have extra money? You could submit a request to Dunn and get the cost covered!"
"Clubs like the 'Divination Club' might have members involved in cults or nefarious groups. As a clerk and an Extraordinary in the Night Watcher team, joining them would allow you to monitor the place more closely—it's work-related! We used to conduct periodic inspections there, but we're short-staffed for regular surveillance. Now it could be assigned to you."
*There's really such a way to handle this?* Klein was stunned by Old Neil's serious expression.
He could expense personal endeavors under the guise of work requirements?
*I had no idea this was possible. I really am just an armchair expert…*
"You'd rather spend your own money for this?" Old Neil asked, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
Klein quickly shook his head, responding with firm conviction, "I'll submit a report to the Captain immediately!"
Old Neil nodded approvingly, then glanced at the cup still holding the "unpleasant substance." "By the way, what exactly did you put in there?"
Klein scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "Just… a bit of dirt from my boot sole. The color's similar enough to the coffee grounds… mostly similar."
Old Neil froze for a moment, then clamped a hand over his mouth and growled, "Well, go on! Get rid of it!"