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Katarina's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected question. In the dimly lit room, shadows danced on the walls as she composed herself, concealing the tremor beneath her calm exterior.

Delving into her thoughts, she was aware of hidden Entities who prey on human desires, weaving promises of wishes granted, wealth bestowed, and immortality bestowed. Yet, she, a veteran of mysticism, knew the truth that no enigmatic force could bestow the gift of eternal life outright.

_Is HE trying to lure me into making a wish? Her mind raced with suspicion, Perhaps the cost would be unleashing HIM or something?

Spiritism dictated that hidden forces could only manifest in the human world if bound within it. Hence, HE likely slumbered as a sealed Entity, awakening with a desire for liberation. A soft sigh escaped her lips, and she inquired, "And it will cost?"

Louis, the intermediary of shadows, hesitated before responding, "Purchase is done through the rule of equivalent exchange!"

"I see." Katarina inhaled the air, contemplating her next move. "What can you offer?"

Her question, a subtle challenge to the Entity's dominion, aimed to discern the extent of his power. Through this, she hoped to uncover a strategy to counteract any twisted repercussions on her wishes, especially if HE sought to exploit her familial bonds.

Louis, the trickster veiled in darkness, clasped his hands and adopted a comical tone. "Any... thing... you... like," he paused and continued with a sly cadence, "Power, knowledge, immortality, boundless wealth, or even dominion over the entire world. Wish it and it will be yours. Of course for an equivalent price."

Katarina suppressed a scoff at the Entity's words. _Does HE take me for a fool? she pondered, What Entity can give the world? Does HE think HE is "I"?_

Observing the shifting expressions on Katarina's face, hidden beneath the shadows, Louis deduced, _She must be no stranger to mysticism._

As a trickster with a repertoire of personas, Louis sensed he might have rushed this particular one. _What if she demands the world?_ A mischievous grin surfaced on his face, hidden by the hood and swirling black smoke, _Then I can simply request something outrageous!_

Katarina remained silent, pondering over the words of the strange figure clad in a black hood and swirling smoke, taking a deep breath her eyes narrowed on the Figure as she questioned in a whispery mannar, "What is YOUR name?"

Unsurprised by the question, Louis spoke in comical manner, adopting the persona of a clown, "As I said, just think of me as a merchant"

"No! If you want me to trade then tell me your name" Katarina remained resolve in her question. It was not simply an inquiry over his name but to guage his power by the nature of his honorific name.

In mysticism, secret existences or even deities develop honorific names which express their essence and if the situation calls for it, can be used in casting spiritualistic magic. Katarina was not a normal lady who would naively use the name of a Secret existence to perform Spiritualistic magic, such actions would or most likely live her in the mercy of the secret existence.

No, instead she hoped of grasping HIS honorific name in case HE happened to twist or play something, by that means she will bear down on HIM using the might of the Aurora family.

Louis remained quiet, his visage that of tranquility, _Oh fuck.. am so screwed, so she's really not a novice but a veteran, she is most likely trying to find out my Honorific name, but the problem is I don't have one. Only deities or hidden existences can afford such luxury... Should I just wing it

It shouldn't be hard to do. It's just after all four lines long. But the problem is what if my Honorific name points to another entity?

I might just suddenly die without even knowing why!_

Katarina who sat on the edge of her bed was contemplating the next possiblity if everything went haywire, _Is HE angry? So does all hidden existences look like HIM? No no, this might not even be his real form by some sort of projection in spiritism. But why is HE taking so long to respond?

What if HE attack's me? Can I fend HIM off till the beholders get here? No I doubt that, even HIS presence here should have been detected by the Family beholders, which means this area has been shifted in the space of secrecy or wall. as such it would take considerable time before the family can even detect that I am gone.. should I stall? Or make a deal to gain beholder power? No! Doing that would mean HIS imprint might end up on me, so better should ask for beholder knowledge. That way their is no corresponding influence"

Louis on the other hand was livid, he had no idea on how to go about creating a honorific name. Even with the corresponding knowledge of it, he lacked the mysticism or spiritism level in other to enforce it - meaning even if he made one it wouldn't link to him unless he becomes worthy to hold a honorific name,

_Well if their is no harm done to me if done correctly, who am I to want anything more_

Louis looked back at the lady, a smile curled up on his face- with efficient and swift thinking, he spoke in a whispery tone, an attempt to imitate an ethereal voice, "A Merchant should always leave his details shouldn't he? As my first customer a freebie, my Honorific name is

"The merchant who wanders through the world!

The traveller of the black plains!

The Entity who exists within the black and red!

The master and lord of desires!"

....

After his declaration, silence threatened to swallow the room, shadows dancing at the flattering light on the lamp.

Katarina seated on her medium sized bed was at the edge of her sanity, her hands grabbed on the bed, threatening to pull it apart,

_HIS.. HIS a deity!_ she almost buttered out, her eyes twitching in horror as cold beads of sweats formed on her temples.

A deity as Katarina knew it, was an entity that could be known by the four lines in THEIR honorific name, and right now before her was an entity who had such in HIS name..

A Real God was before her!

"I.. I.." Katarina found it labor to control her words, deep fear and trepidation rushing through her bones.

This reaction wouldn't be so if the entity was simply a hidden existence, but with the revelation of HIS Godhood, even Katarina became fearful. As even her family would not dare challenge a God.

Louis stared puzzled by the sudden reaction of the lady, _Did she have a delayed reaction? Is she just now fearful of the mysterious person that appeared in her room? Nah, it must be something else_

A sigh reverberated from the "Merchant's" limps, his eyes hidden behind the dark robe.

In an ethereal voice he said, "Shouldn't you make your wish already?"

"My wish?" Katarina seemed to snap back to reality, yet the deep fear for the being lingered.

In a shaky voice she responded, "My wish.. I .. I  want knowledge of a cultivation manual!" She exclaimed, finally releasing what it was she wanted.

Louis reminded composed, the wish opposite to his thoughts was quite achievable - albeit would take a while.

"Oh?" Louis exclaimed in a comical manner, "That's nice. But you didn't expressly state what channel exactly. You can tricked you know"

"I. I don't care!" She yelled,  "I just want power. Any channel would do"

_That makes it even more easier. I might just right now pass on the black priest cultivation manual_ Louis mused inwards,

With a silent sigh he responded, "What do you think is the equivalent for your desire?"

"Anything! Am willing to do anything" Katarina blurted out, but speaking again in a whispery tone she said, "Anything"

A smile curled up on Louis face, and with a loud clap of his hands he spoke in a cheerful manner, "And that's your price. Sooner or later I will ask you for something, and you are to comply"

Katarina bowed slightly, her eyes glancing at the floor, _Was this the right decision? What if HE asks  for something impossible? Would I be able to fullfil it?... No! Firstly why would a God even make a deal with me? It's either HE is in a weakened state, or this is just for amusement,

_either way, HE probably wouldn't ask for something impossible, just most likely something that will seem impossible and would amuse HIM_

And with that, Katarina steeled her resolve, and with a firm tone she declared, "I accept the Deal!"

"And it is so!" Louis swiftly responded.

Suddenly, Louis began to feel a splitting headache come over him, threatening to collapse him in the moment.

_a sign that the adventure is over?_ he mused, but then swiftly spoke to Katarina,"You will receive your Goods soon!"

_Someone will bring it? Or will it magically appear?... No no, I shouldn't try to guess such things, I might have already gotten infected, who knows what would happen if I thought about HIM._

"In case you have something else to purchase, wait every Wednesday and once I arrive you can have it"

Katarina nodded in affirmation, when suddenly the black smoke that swirled the "merchant" began to blur, turning vague almost as if being erased by a pencil.

She reminded composed and silent as the figure clad in a hooded robe completely vanished from her room.

"Gasp!. Huff Huff! .....Did I really get the chance to become a beholder?" She muttered, her mind still in disbelief in the events that just took place right under the nose of the powerful beholders of her family.

"Now I just wait!" She exclaimed in delight, her mind filled with images of lofty and magnificent power that she yearned to obtain.

She was livid!

....

Awakening with a gasp, Louis glanced around his room to find himself back,

"Hahaha! That was fucking awesome!" He exclaimed in delight, his mind churning with repeated memories of his venture with the lady, _Miss picses will probably lose her mind. Not that I care or anything..._ Calming himself he questioned, _So what did I gain today?

_Got myself a lackey, also a new power, albeit an uncontrollable one, figured out how to increase my connection with the plains, and also my favorite bit, I got a boon manual_

Louis felt like jumping up and screaming at the top of his lungs, yet he reined in such thoughts as he had better things to do.

He was going to attempt to become a beholder tonight, but he too was aware of the chance of failure,

As he knew it, cultivating a boon might not yield result at instant, as such he was prepared for the chance of failure,

"Gonna try till your done trying!"