To hear this come from a child is indeed poetic. Perhaps Arbane is brighter than what I give him credit for… Zixin commented internally, then rambled to himself like an old man lost in his ridiculous ideas: Absolutely not —how can someone misinterpret my distant demeanor as shyness? I still haven't forgotten that Arbane… I sound like a child with a grudge for an equally absurd reason. I suppose I have to accept that, like countless others, he too is not perfect – no one is, and no one should be. There it is again, my thoughts strayed from the current moment at hand. Goodness sake, my intrusive thoughts sure are a pain. I suppose I might just be acting laid back since I feel safe for now. I guess it's good that I think this way.
His thoughts stopped when he noticed Arbane walking towards an old lady sitting in the corner of the street. Wrinkles were etched into her skin, a grim reminder that time erodes all. Her unkempt, long grey hair fell, a reminder of her current predicament. Wearing a dark purple dress, she sat in the corner, waiting for someone. Her eyes remained closed, as her ears perked up upon hearing Arbane's voice.
Who is this old lady? She has her eyes closed, so is she blind? No, this might just be another case of overthinking. Zixin pondered for a second before walking forward.
His footsteps came to a halt once Arbane asked the old lady. He appeared polite, speaking gently, "Miss, would you be willing to divine my companion and my fortune?"
Divination, huh? The last time I had gone through divination, the outcome was far from favorable. Looking back now, if Rai's second divination was correct, what are the chances that his first divination was not? But I suppose my sample is too small to even compute anything definitive. Hmm? I got sidetracked again… I suppose I'm more of a talker than I thought. Zixin's thoughts wandered off again as the lady spoke, her voice heavy with experience.
"I must first warn you that divination does not always lead to good outcomes. Sometimes, you will hear of your death; at times, you will hear of your success. If you still wish to continue, my services cost a measly three Pier Coins per person." The lady warned them, reminiscing over the past as she did.
That sounds like a steal… compared to Rai's at least. He commented before he noticed Arbane's eagerness and such, his thoughts ran: Hmm? What's with that look on him? He seems excited… Well, I am not, but it doesn't matter.
Arbane spoke, a spark of intelligence lighting up in his eyes, "Three Pier Coins is a lot, isn't it? How about one?"
Zixin gave him a deadpan look, his thoughts moving along: He's even scamming an old lady… I suppose that's respectable…
He sighed, speaking up, his voice calm, yet a hint of uncertainty lurked beneath, "I'm willing to pay the six Pier Coins needed. There's no need to bargain further when the price is already reasonable. Apologies for Arbane's behavior."
The lady's lips curled up into a smile as she told them with a satisfied expression, "Come, sit down on the ground. We'll begin soon enough."
Having no reason to refuse, they both sat down. Arbane remained unconcerned, used to this, but Zixin, on the other hand, wasn't. His back hurts, as he wasn't used to sitting on the ground. Feeling concerned over his health, he decided to end this as quickly as he could, but while he thought this way, Arbane's eyes lit up in excitement, almost akin to a child tasting a desert for the very first time.
The lady spoke softly, her voice like a calm breeze on a cold winter night, "Let me divine the little girl's fortune first. Arbane is your name, right? Lend me your hand, and do not fear it, trust it."
Huh? Girl… girl… girl… there's no way, right? Arbane's a male, right? Zixin's thoughts danced in a chaotic array, his mind utterly shocked.
Arbane whispered, explaining after noticing his disbelief, "She's blind, so she depends on her other senses to deduce a person's gender, and it just so happens that I sound like a girl to her."
Conclusion: This woman has terrible hearing. Zixin commented inwardly, almost comedic by how fast his decision was.
"Now, let us begin. Remember to keep a calm mind; anything else would disrupt my attempts." She kindly explained, taking a firm hold of Arbane's hands. As soon as she finished speaking, she began to carefully feel his hand. They were rough yet she still felt a hint of softness, like a secret hidden deep within.
Her hands halted, her voice deepened, and her breath steadied as she spoke, cryptic and melancholic, "There lies a person you must follow at all costs, she alone would bring salvation–The Savior of Humanity. Follow her, become her ally, and reach the Sanctuary."
Arbane's eyes glowed with brilliance, no longer suppressing his excitement, but on the other hand, Zixin's eyes darkened;d, he felt wary of this so-called "Savior of Humanity." His thoughts soon followed, a chaotic mess unlike Arbane's: A Savior would be born in this era? This is problematic. If such a figure were born, then they would certainly face countless tribulations, and what are the chances that I would be roped into this? It's unlikely as long as I never go along with any powerful figure, but this is also intriguing. After all, why would such a figure be born in a peaceful era? The only answer I have right now is that peace would fade, becoming overwritten by chaos. But this is all under the presumption that this fortune is even correct. Maybe she just felt like encouraging him.
The lady smirked, delighted to have seen such a bright future. Her expression softened, preparing for her next customer–Zixin. After a moment's rest, she waited for Zixin's turn.
Zixin passed his hand to her, believing that she would use the same divination technique, but what she did baffled him. Pulling his hand and shoving it a second later, she muttered, "All I need is to see your face."
With the help of Zixin, she managed to place her hand on his face as she opened her eyes, feeling the sensation and concentrating on his forehead.
But at that moment, Zixin felt–no, experienced everything that he had once gone through all at once. Forgotten memories surfaced, hidden secrets were revealed, moments of pain, suffering, and despair rose alongside memories of peace, joy, and satisfaction. He felt it all again, but instead of tears of sadness, tears of joy flowed down his face, for this is truly fortunate.
Her voice echoed in his ear, her tone grim, "A path created by another only leads to further torment. Forge your own and avoid the calamities forced upon you."
Soon enough, she let go of his face, and just as she did, Zixin's mind returned to normal. He let out a deep sigh, wiping his tears before smiling briefly. He turned to Arbane, thinking to himself: I hope he forgets this.
A second later, he thanked her, "My sincerest gratitude, this has been an enlightening experience. But if I may, can I know your name?"
The lady spoke while reminiscing about a bygone era, "My name has long been lost in time, but you may call me Signet."
He nodded, handing her their payment, but as he did, she voiced out a question, "Have you already felt the poison we call 'love'?"
He smiled lightly, giving a reply, "You can say that I did, but to be honest, I had merely lived through those memories, and such I cannot call it mine."
She rubbed her hands together, searching for warmth as she spoke, "Just remember that love can also be cold."
…
A few minutes after their fortunes were told, Zixin and Arbane strolled upon the market.
Arbane decided to bring up a question, appearing nervous yet also curious, "Are you in love?"
Huh? That's certainly a random question. His curiosity was probably piqued after hearing Signet mention love. Either way, I am in fact not in love. He thought for a short while, carefully selecting his choice of words.
But right as he was about to speak, Arbane barged in with another question, "Is it Hope?"
His eyes widened momentarily before returning to normal. His thoughts raced, searching for an answer: Hope saved me, and I am deeply indebted to her, but I feel no affection. Love is a matter that I may never gain personal experience i, besides the use of Snowdrop on individuals with experience… I probably won't do so; privacy is important after all, and using Snowdrop would just be more trouble for me.
His thoughts continued, wandering to Elmer's love life: The love I felt was due to having used Snowdrop on Elmer, forcing me to experience seven years of his life. If it weren't for this, I would still be clueless regarding love, but I would certainly prefer such.
His thoughts continued to wander, leading him into what had just happened: Signet must have used some bizarre method to be able to make me experience such a mind-shattering experience. Thinking back at it, it was such a surreal experience, almost like I was being dragged into a pool of my own mind. Her words sounded more like advice rather than a full-blown prophecy like Rai's. Even though this is already my third experience with divination, I still can't tell whether it's a scam or not.
His thoughts slowed down as his gaze landed on Arbane. He remained calm, probing into his motives with a question, "Now that I think about it, why did you suddenly decide to have both our fortunes divined?"
Arbane rubbed his nose, explaining his idea, "I have been curious regarding the accuracy of divinations, but never had the time to try it myself. Afterr we were forced to bond together like this, I thought that if we tried it together, it would be like killing two birds with one stone."
Curiosity as a motivation is a valid enough reason in my book. This, too, probably told him more about me than actually speaking with me directly. Zixin analyzed Arbane's reasoning, believing it to be quite understandable. But just as he did, he recalled further information: Hmm… wasn't he worried when I was thrown into the ring before? To be worried over the safety of someone you've just met… what a kind-hearted child–unlike me. There must have been something appealing about me that led him to give his trust. I wonder what it might be.
Zixin's curiosity won him over, causing him to ask, "Why do you trust me?"
"It's a very simple reason, because my gut and mind told me to trust you. My gut told me that trusting you is reasonable, while my mind told me that you have checked all of my trustworthiness criteria." Arbane replied nonchalantly, unconcerned but deeply curious himself.
Why would his "gut" tell him to trust me? I can't exactly understand why… Hmm? Is my perspective perhaps wrong? After all, I see myself in terms of others' perspective, using Elmer's perspective, and his perspective is entirely biased. He viewed me to be a person of great talent, and thus, he concentrated his growing hatred upon me. In that case, I'll have to do a quick self-assessment. His thoughts ran like wildfire, leading him to one conclusion: I am weak, yet I am also an unpredictable variable.
Sigh, matters aside, if Arbane actually had a criterion, I doubt that anyone would deduce what each criterion is. Zixin pondered, his understanding deepening by the second.
…
After walking together for a while, they reached the Trading District. Vendors flocked like birds, covering the streets with bizarre goods. Hunters pushed through the crowds, heading towards the Gambler's Hall.
Arbane followed them, pulling Zixin in a hurry. The crowd melded, creating a sea of bodies, each moving like ripples on the ocean. Each movement that fought against the tides was rendered futile, forcing them to go along until they reached their destination. Time passed, as they too melded with the tides, but Zixin was able to keep his mind sane, pulling Arbane away to a safe spot, away from the crowd.
That was strangely intense. He commented inwardly, taking a few deep breaths to recover his strength.
But when he noticed where they were, he was sent into utter shock: Huh? This is the entrance to the Gambler's Hall… Arbane, don't tell me you plan on gambling for the rest of the night? Hopefully not, he's intelligent enough to know what he should and shouldn't do.
Arbane came forward, asking in intrigue, "Have you ever made a bet before?"
Oh no… maybe I'm overthinking again, maybe he's just curious. Right… right? He joked inwardly, shaking his head as his response.
As Zixin pondered, Arbane saw this as an opportunity, pulling his arm and dragging him into the Gambler's Hall without a moment's delay. Zixin's thoughts were abruptly halted, confusion surfacing in his mind.
At the counter, Arbane asked, "A single chip, please."
He's actually gambling… for goodness sake, at least get more than one if you'll waste money in the first place. He commented inwardly, slapping his face in disappointment.
After the chip was handed back, Arbane's grip tightened as he dragged him once more. Their pace quickened, and Zixin felt almost like a doll after being casually dragged this easily.
He sighed, choosing to keep himself company by analyzing the interior of the casino. His gaze steadied as his mind raced like a pack of wolves on the hunt.
After a glance, he noticed the flashy interior, the gem-like decorations scattered across all the furniture. Adding on the fact that everything was painted in gold, everything appeared to be glimmering. Red patterns were oddly placed everywhere, covering the casino like an array. Hunters walked, played, and fought inside, but none of these caught Zixin's attention.
"This place is not for me," Zixin muttered, dissatisfied with this casino's existence. His gaze returned to Arbane, who dragged him, unfazed by the duality of humanity.
On one side, the Hunters, who spent their money on entertainment, while on the other side was Zixin, who wanted nothing more than to learn.
Time passed, and before long, Arbane came to a sudden stop. Zixin almost fell, not expecting the sudden stop. He scanned his surroundings but saw no reason for the stop, but Arbane did as he walked forward, beginning a conversation with Vanor.
"Would you be willing to have a match with him in the roulette game?" He gestured at Zixin, sending him into silence.
Does he think I have a grudge against Vanor for tossing me into the ring? I couldn't be bothered to care about that; it's already over after all… perhaps he has yet to learn about letting go of grudges. Zixin thought momentarily, assessing Arbane's decision.
Vanor composed as ever, cast a glance, before responding, "I don't mind. Go ahead and choose your color."
Zixin questioned, confused like any normal person should, "What roulette game? I quite literally have no idea what it may be."
Vanor politely explained, doing his best to level the playing field, "This game requires the participants to take a bet on two different colors, red or black. Once all bets are made, a ball would be spun, and whatever color it lands on would decide the winner. If it lands on red, whoever bet on it would be the winner, and vice versa."
Almost immediately, Zixin made his bet, "Red it is, I suppose. I can't exactly go against what will happen, so any calculation is just a waste of time."
And I also want to leave as soon as possible. He added internally.
"That only leaves me with black. May our luck decide the winner."
After they've made their decisions, the roulette spins along with the ball. It moved, dragged by the roulette like Zixin was dragged by Arbane. And once all its energy was used up, it landed on black.
Just as he was about to take his leave, Arbane told him before running back to the counter, "I still have other chips, just wait for me."
Before even a minute passed, Arbane had already returned with even more chips to spare.
I want to spend it all to get things over with, but I… feel hesitant, after all, this is his money. On that note… After a sudden realization, he probed, asking him, "How can you even afford to have this many chips?"
"I took a loan from some land sharks." He replied plainly, but it only further added to Zixin's astonishment.
He shook his head, feeling guilty: I… uh… at least he's honest, I suppose. I hope he's kidding.
Zixin gave Vanor a knowing look, which he fortunately managed to understand. He spoke, ending their game, "It seems you two have other matters to attend to. Unfortunately, our game would have to come to a premature end. I bid you two farewell."
Having found his chance, Zixin dragged Arbane outside, like a parent holding onto their child. But soon enough, Arbane exposed the truth, "I lied, I never took a loan from a land shark, I couldn't possibly with my age. I bet the casino allowing a child inside must have messed up your thinking." He added, elaborating further, "I lied because I wanted to test how trustworthy you are. Although I admire a few aspects of you, I had to make sure that I could trust you, so I came up with this plan. If you had decided to spend my money, then I would have distanced myself from you, perhaps never talking to you ever, but you didn't."
Why is everyone testing me? Wait, that's exaggerated… He sighed internally, speaking up as he advised, "I didn't mind it at mu, but the setting you chose is terrible. The plan itself had some key details, but even then, it is lucklaster. A good test determines someone's capacity through measured logic, and not with sentiments."
Arbane bowed down, apologizing profusely, "I'm so sorry! I'm an idiot!"
"It's fine, I've already accepted it. It's also already over, so my suffering is finally over." He replied, already unconcerned with the past.
"Oh, right. Let's head back now." He told him, beginning to head back as he felt his drowsiness kicking in.