Sonya smiled. "Senior, you actually believe in that?"
The Orange Dancer curled her lips. "If it says good things, I'll believe it. If it says bad things, I won't."
Horoscope divination was quite popular in the Starry Kingdom, though it had little real influence. The seventy-two constellations were divided by birth date. If fate could truly be judged that way, it might as well be based on looks or family background. At least those would be far more accurate.
Horoscopes were less a book of prophecy than a kind of psychology text. People read them for resonance and reassurance. Many went through life without hearing a single blessing, complint, or word of comfort. Seeing lines like "Your hardships have passed, happiness awaits tomorrow" could be enough to give them the strength to face another day.
"I'm Pegasus. What about you, Sonya?"
"I'm Moth."
"Moth, May..." Leona flipped to the middle pages. "Here it is. May will be a complicated and ever-changing month for Moth. Your relationship will face setbacks, and endless temptations will test your partner again and again. But your career will take off. Opportunities will keep appearing, pushing you toward new beginnings..."
Leona nodded as she read. "At least half of that sounds right. You'll definitely run into plenty of opportunities this month. Heh, good thing you're not in a relationship, or your partner might get stolen away... Hm? Why does your expression look strange?"
Sonya quickly composed herself, forcing a practiced smile. "Nothing. Let take a look at the book."
She carefully read through the Moth horoscope, growing more surprised the further she went. Many details matched her own life. The April reading had said, "You will encounter a change this month."
Isn't that referring to the Watcher showing up for the first ti? That's alarmingly accurate.
After finishing the Moth section, Sonya paused. She considered checking the Watcher's horoscope.
Wait... what zodiac sign is the Watcher? Co to think of it, he's never told his birthday... and I haven't told him mine either. Sohow, we know so little about each other.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips as she returned her gaze to the Moth constellation chart. As she studied it, a sense of familiarity struck her. This star pattern... wasn't it the sa chart from Demilo's Commander's Handbook?
Each star in the book had a number and a na. Sonya flipped to the index at the back and quickly found the nas of the other two stars Demilo had marked: Rada and Vloz.
Vlozrada? Did Demilo know soone from the Vlozrada family? That would an he was from the Starry Kingdom... The Starry Kingdom... Star Hall...
Sonya would not have jumped to conclusions over a single coincidence. But with multiple clues pointing skyward, it was hard not to suspect that Star Hall was an organization under the Starry Lord.
Wait... does that an the person I killed last night was one of the Starry Lord's agents? Would the Starry Lord hold it against ? I'll have to discuss this with the Watcher and the Witch tomorrow night...
Thinking of them brought a sour feeling rising in her chest. She had already made her decision, but the irritation lingered, leaving her with an almost physical urge to lash out at sothing.
What are they doing in the Virtual World right now? Talking about hobbies? Discussing strategies? Whispering behind my back? That Watcher will surely use the chance to get closer to the Witch, and she will not miss the chance to draw him in either. Hmph. What a shaless pair!"
***
On the Continent of Ti in the Virtual World.
When the Swordheart pierced the last White Velociraptor, bringing it down, the battle at the lumber-filled Resource Point finally ended. The two selected the materials they needed, while Ashe converted everything else into reserve essence.
Back in the car, Ashe took the front seat, and Dia quietly claid the back. They sat in opposite corners, as if an invisible, sorrowful barrier had risen between them.
Silence. Silence defined the Virtual World tonight.
During the fight, Dia had stood at the front as both shield and damage dealer, while Ashe supported from the rear with Swordheart and his Substitute spirits. They had worked in perfect sync, but the mont they left that working state, neither could find a natural way to start a conversation.
At first, Ashe had wanted to imitate the Swordswoman and pat the Witch's ahoge as encouragent. But tonight, her ahoge lay flat. He couldn't help but wonder. Did she wash her hair?
When Ashe raised his hand, the Witch looked at him nervously. The awkwardness made him change the motion to scratching his own head.
"There's a special area ahead."
"Mmhmm."
That was the extent of their conversation tonight. The atmosphere felt like that of a father working far from ho and a daughter raised by grandparents, familiar, yet distant.
However, as the two sorcerers pushed through layers of Ascending Golden Rain, they quickly forgot the dull tension. The grandeur before them captured all their attention.
A three-story building rose out of place among the ruins and wastelands of the Continent of Ti. Its black ebony doors glead, frad by interwoven white bricks. Stained glass windows caught the golden rain, shimring with a srizing glow that hid the interior from view. On the roof, grotesque, bizarre monster sculptures lood above, gazing down on every visitor with a commanding presence.
Despite not being in combat, both Ashe and Dia felt a surge of nervousness unlike anything they had experienced in battle. This felt less like exploration and more like paying a visit to an ancient prophet.
They exchanged a glance. Ashe steeled himself and stepped forward, pushing open the doors. The creak echoed inward, stirring remnants long sealed by ti.
Inside lay a strange maze of bookshelves. Towering shelves ford walls, while hanging lights cast a warm glow over the knowledge contained within. It was a library.
The shelves varied in style. So were carved from stone, others from ordinary wood. A few were transparent glass, and pure white shelves emitted a faint glow, radiating a sense of advanced technology. The shelves held more than books. There were parchnt sheets, scrolls, stone tablets, and even small storage devices that resembled USB drives.
Their first impression was that it felt both ancient and advanced.
Ashe and Dia both asked at the sa ti.
"Where is this?"
"Where is this?"
They froze, suddenly realizing a problem. The only one among them with formal sorcerer education... was the Swordswoman. Without her, they had no clue what this mysterious building was.
Swordswoman! Co back! The team cannot function without you, just as a child cannot do without its mother!
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