"The original deck isn't something with a physical form," Aina explained as she led the way, emphasizing key points to Night Star. "It's akin to a Duty Crystal in essence. Its physical carrier is merely its outward manifestation, but its true nature is always an abstract concept."
"I know," Night Star said, following Aina into the central teleportation array. "I just… want to try. To see if I can become an astrologer."
With a flash, their figures vanished, reappearing on another floor of the tower.
"The tower has ten floors. This is the eighth, where all sorts of precious items are stored, including the original decks," Aina said, stepping off the array. Before them stretched a long corridor lined with over a dozen rooms, all windowless with tightly shut doors.
Night Star glanced around briefly before looking away. She knew the tower held many treasures, but she had no intention of coveting them. The cost of crossing the Stargazers' Guild was more than most could bear.
"Thank you, Aina," Night Star said suddenly.
"What's there to thank?" Aina smiled. "It's my task from the Guild Leader, so I'll do it well. Besides, you saved my life—I've been wanting to repay you."
"No need for repayment. The reward from your Guild Leader is more than enough," Night Star said with a wink. "But if you're willing, you could tell me more about divination."
"Divination isn't as mystical as people think," Aina said with a laugh. "People always imagine it's overly complex or mysterious, but it's not that extraordinary."
"What's observed in fate isn't always accurate. It's constantly shifting, moment by moment. People marvel at the precision of prophecies, but they forget it's just the inevitable course of history. We simply reveal the outcome ahead of time."
"I understand," Night Star said thoughtfully. "It's like a Tier Six mage's Swap Position spell. Everyone thinks it's a divine skill, but they overlook its limitations. It only works on targets marked with a Swap Mark, which can't be reapplied and has a time limit. Exploit that, and you can counter the mage easily."
"I don't know much about mage skills," Aina said with a smile, brushing past the topic. "We're almost there, Miss Night Star. Are you nervous?"
Night Star's expression remained calm as she shook her head slightly. She watched Aina place her hand on a door, which opened automatically, revealing an empty room inside.
"Go in. If you're qualified to obtain a deck, you'll know what to do," Aina said, gesturing invitingly from the doorway.
Night Star stepped forward unhurriedly, entering the room. The door closed automatically behind her, plunging her into complete darkness.
Her vision was entirely stripped away, but she wasn't panicked. Already "spoiled" by her knowledge of the process, she knew this was normal. Soon, formless decks would appear, floating in the air, awaiting a mutual selection—a two-way choice.
Outside, Aina drew a card, its surface reflecting Night Star's image.
At that moment, nearly every astrologer in the Stargazers' Tower pulled out a card. It was their tradition: when someone attempted to claim a deck, everyone paid close attention, eager to see if a promising "junior" would emerge.
On the card, a faint glow began to emanate from Night Star's form. This light represented a person's "aptitude" for becoming an astrologer. The brighter it was, the greater their potential. Even a faint glow indicated the basic capacity to join their ranks.
Many in the tower nodded approvingly. It seemed they would soon welcome a new member.
But in the next moment, Night Star's body erupted in a blinding, radiant light, illuminating the entire room. Countless decks were drawn to the glow, swirling around her like stars orbiting a moon.
The sight stunned everyone in the tower.
"This! This brilliance! I've never seen anything like it!"
"Not just you! In my fifty years in the tower, I've never seen such a glow!"
"Peerless talent! Unmatched potential! We must have her join the Stargazers' Guild! She could be the kingdom's new hope!"
"Look! Which deck will she choose?"
Amid the fervor, no one dared blink, afraid to miss a single detail.
They were no longer concerned with whether Night Star could become an astrologer—only with how far she could go.
Yet, as time passed, something felt off.
Countless decks circled Night Star, eager to approach her, but none drew close enough to be claimed.
"What… what's going on? Why are the decks surrounding her but not approaching?"
"No way! Are the decks feeling inferior, thinking they're unworthy of her?"
"Or are they hesitant, wary of being the first to stand out?"
The crowd buzzed with speculation, unable to comprehend the scene. They had never witnessed anything like it and had no answers.
Only Grandma Luo Lin's expression grew grave, as if she sensed something amiss.
Perhaps the only one who truly understood was Night Star herself.
The reason the decks wouldn't approach was simple: she already had a deck.
As a max-level character in all classes in the game, her astrologer class was naturally maxed out as well. She had long possessed the astrologer class.
But since arriving in this world, she had lost her deck.
Yes, as a special item for a special class, her deck hadn't crossed over with her.
This prevented her from using her astrologer Duty Crystal or manifesting the class.
And now, even if she wanted a new deck, she was already "bound" to her original one, making it impossible to contract with another.
This wasn't unique to the astrologer class. Her other special classes were similarly "sealed" due to missing their required artifacts.
Night Star sighed silently.
It seemed that unsealing her special classes would require another approach.
After what felt like an eternity, the swirling decks lost their momentum, falling to the ground one by one, motionless. The door opened automatically, and Night Star, having gained nothing, had undeniably failed.
The onlookers stared in disbelief, still caught in the fantasy of what could have been.
They couldn't accept it.
Only Night Star walked out calmly, smiling at Aina by the door. "Thanks for your trouble."
"N-No… I… you…" Aina stammered, at a loss for words.
She couldn't comprehend it.
How could someone so extraordinarily gifted fail to claim even a single deck?
It made no sense!