The Codex hummed faintly in Liam's mind as he stood on the fog-drenched streets of Tingen, its whispers like the rustling of ancient parchment. The knowledge it imparted wasn't explicit, but its presence had grown more active since his unsettling conversation with Audrey Hall.
The threads of this world shift, diverge, and tangle. Fate is no longer bound by its original design.
Liam clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. This was not the Lord of the Mysteries he knew. Klein Moretti should have been fumbling through his days, oblivious to the grand forces at play. Audrey Hall should have been hosting salons in Backlund, learning the ropes of social manipulation, not wandering Tingen and probing him with Spectator-like precision.
And yet, here they were, their paths inexplicably intersecting with his.
---
Liam spent the following days combing through Tingen's bustling streets, libraries, and back alleys, searching for clues about what had changed. The city itself seemed alive with mystery, its secrets nestled in the fog and shadows.
He frequented places that Klein might visit in the early stages of his journey—libraries, cafés, and bookstores. He even lingered near the Nighthawks' base, though he was careful to remain unnoticed. Each location brought a mixture of familiarity and unease.
The plot is advancing too quickly, Liam thought, watching the discreet comings and goings of the Nighthawks from a shadowed alley. They moved with an urgency that didn't match the careful buildup he remembered from the book.
Klein's peculiar behavior also gnawed at him. His movements were too deliberate, his eyes too sharp. Was it possible that Klein had already begun tapping into his connection with the Fool?
And Audrey...
Her presence in Tingen was a complete anomaly. Even if she was only visiting, the fact that she had shown interest in Hermes fragments and displayed the poise of a Spectator unsettled him.
---
Late one evening, as Liam sat in his rented room, the Codex began to stir with more vigor. Its pages turned in his mind, revealing cryptic messages:
The Fool is not blind. The sequence unfolds out of order. Beware the weight of your own influence.
Liam sighed, leaning back in his chair. He had already suspected as much, but hearing it from the Codex solidified his fears.
When he had first arrived in this world, he thought his knowledge of the story would give him an edge. But now he realized that his presence was a variable, a ripple in the fabric of destiny.
He didn't even know if Klein's rise to the Fool was guaranteed anymore—or if Liam himself was unintentionally diverting the course of events.
---
The next day, Liam found himself in a small café tucked away in a quieter part of Tingen. It was the kind of place where no one asked questions, where conversations melted into the background.
He had been poring over the Codex's notes for hours when he sensed someone approach.
"Mr. Hart," a familiar voice said.
He looked up to see Audrey Hall standing there, a curious smile on her face. She was dressed simply, but her noble bearing and beauty was unmistakable.
"Lady Hall," Liam said, forcing a polite smile. "To what do I owe this honor?"
Audrey gestured to the empty seat across from him. "May I?"
He nodded, closing the Codex and sliding it aside.
Audrey studied him for a moment before speaking. "You seem troubled. I hope I didn't unsettle you the other night."
Liam shook his head. "Not at all. I've just been... adjusting to life in Tingen. It's a fascinating city."
Her smile deepened. "Indeed, it is. Full of mysteries and hidden truths."
Liam's gaze sharpened. "You seem particularly interested in those hidden truths. Is that why you're here?"
Audrey leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. "I could ask the same of you. You don't strike me as someone who came to Tingen by chance."
The air between them grew tense, each weighing the other's words carefully.
---
Finally, Audrey broke the silence. "I don't mean to pry, Mr. Hart. But I've learned that those who delve into the unknown often find themselves entangled in... peculiar events."
Liam's heart skipped a beat. Was she referring to the Tarot Club? Did she suspect him of being connected to the supernatural?
"I suppose that's true," he said carefully.
Audrey tilted her head, her emerald-green eyes gleaming with interest. "If you ever wish to share your insights, I'd be happy to listen. Tingen is full of surprises, and it's always better to face them with allies."
Liam hesitated. Her offer was tempting, but it also carried risks. He didn't fully understand her role in this altered plot, and trusting her too soon could backfire.
"I'll keep that in mind," he said finally.
Audrey smiled, rising from her seat. "I hope you do. Until we meet again, Mr. Hart."
As she walked away, Liam felt the Codex stir again.
Her threads are intertwined with yours, whether you choose to see it or not.
---
Liam remained in the café long after Audrey left, his mind racing. The pieces of the puzzle were scattered, their edges jagged and incomplete.
The plot had diverged, and he was no longer an observer but a participant. His knowledge of the book was both a weapon and a liability, and he would have to tread carefully to survive.
But one thing was clear: the forces at work in Tingen were far greater than he had anticipated, and he was running out of time to unravel their mysteries.