"You look barely eighteen. Are you actually of age? Our divination club doesn't allow minors to join. Of course, if you're only here for a divination reading, that's fine."
The waitress across from Angel regarded her with skeptical eyes.
This was a divination club in the southern Bridge District that Angel had found through newspaper advertisements—a potential "acting" venue.
As a club in the capital city of Backlund, the membership fees weren't expensive. Just fifteen pounds, with an additional five pounds annually to renew membership. Members received a private divination room, complimentary coffee or tea, discounted meals, and access to numerous newspapers, magazines, and professional books.
She hadn't expected to hit a wall at the very first hurdle of joining the club.
Angel was currently wearing the "Ring of Madness," which altered her appearance in others' eyes from her true features to a slightly freckled, round-cheeked face that looked rather youthful.
Before consuming the witch potion and becoming female, Cole Granger had been twenty-four years old. But Angel's current body, transformed by the potion, indeed appeared barely of age.
The "unfamiliarity" effect of the ring wouldn't change her apparent age.
"I'm a graduate of Hoy University's history department! How can you say I'm not of age? If my classmates learn about your discrimination against outsiders and word spreads, your boss probably won't be pleased, will he?" Unable to produce proof of identity, Angel employed a touch of her extraordinary abilities to "persuade" the other party.
Fortunately, the waitress had only asked casually. Under Angel's silver tongue, she quickly capitulated and processed Angel's membership application.
After writing her chosen code name "Divination Witch" on her assigned divination room door, Angel's divination practice was officially open for business.
...
Throughout the entire afternoon, having drunk countless cups of coffee and tea due to psychological thirst, Angel hadn't received a single customer.
Laughter constantly emanated from the room next door, where a somewhat rakish middle-aged diviner entertained a steady stream of female clients. This only highlighted the "Divination Witch's" predicament.
It made Angel question her decision once again.
Would setting a fire on Backlund Bridge to paralyze traffic for several hours be more effective at digesting the potion than sitting here waiting for customers who would never come?
Her fingers continuously rubbed the citrine on her right wrist as she thought somewhat desperately.
"Knock knock—"
The half-open door was rapped, and a woman pushed her way inside.
She wore a wide-brimmed hat with fine black mesh netting along the edges, concealing her face, and was dressed in the loose-fitting gown common throughout Loen. After entering, she promptly closed the door. Through the rapidly closing gap, Angel glimpsed a man in a black windbreaker standing outside—apparently accompanying this woman to the club.
"Hello. I didn't expect another new diviner here today."
The lady's voice was gentle and sounded quite young. She sat across from Angel at the divination table, removed her hat and set it aside, revealing beautifully contoured cheeks, curling black hair, and a pair of lake-blue eyes.
"Hello, beautiful lady. What type of divination do you require? I can use tarot cards or pendulum divination, but I'm most skilled at mirror divination."
Angel recited the introduction she'd memorized through sheer boredom, then looked at the other party expectantly.
This was her very first customer!
This elegant lady's name was Laura—quite a common name in the Kingdom of Loen. Angel even suspected it might be an alias, and providing false names would undoubtedly interfere with divination. However, she didn't mind, deciding to first hear what this lady required.
"I want a love divination," Laura said, covering her mouth with one hand but still revealing a rather smug smile. "I've been troubled lately because I don't know how to choose among my suitors."
Your suitors?
Hearing that plural ending, Angel's heart sank with a sense of foreboding.
"Of my two primary suitors, one is Baron Fanis. Though he lost his estate in a family crisis several years ago, retaining only his title, he inherited his father's multiple factories and plantations. He's quite wealthy and pursues me most ardently."
As if oblivious to Angel's slightly awkward expression, Laura continued her introduction unprompted, her beautiful lake-blue eyes full of romantic charm, seemingly reminiscing about every moment spent with this baron.
"The other also makes the choice difficult for me. His name is Stuart—he's a captain in the Kingdom's army. At such a young age, he distinguished himself in the war in the Southern Continent... or was it the eastern coast of Balam? Which is that, Feysac?" She frowned, trying to recall geography from the depths of her memory, but quickly gave up. "Distinguished himself in war and is supposedly about to become a major soon. Such a young major!"
Laura's beautiful eyes carried distress, as if choosing between two equally priceless jewels.
"Who should I choose? Perhaps I should listen to Father and court Baron Fanis. Perhaps I should let my body make the choice and follow my heart..."
What a clichéd love story—and the complicated kind... Angel critiqued internally without mercy.
But as her very first customer, she needed to provide good service, establishing a positive beginning.
After inquiring in detail about Laura's two suitors and writing their names on separate pieces of paper, Angel removed the citrine pendant from her wrist. Holding the silver chain in her left hand, she let the pendant hang above the first paper—Stuart's name.
"Captain Stuart will be a suitable match for Miss Laura."
After silently reciting the divination statement, Angel closed her eyes, entering a meditative state and feeling the pendant pull the silver chain as it slowly moved beneath her left hand.
Opening her eyes, Angel saw the pendant rotating slowly counterclockwise.
"Oh, Stuart! Could you really be unsuitable for me, as Father says?"
Having been informed of the pendulum method's function before divination began, Laura dramatically covered her mouth, her eyes showing disbelief as she spoke softly.
Clicking her tongue and ignoring Laura's rather theatrical response, Angel moved the pendant above the other paper, conducting another divination for Baron Fanis.
The result was surprising—this wealthy minor noble was also unsuitable for Miss Laura. The pendant's counterclockwise rotation was even faster than for Captain Stuart.
"This is..."
Laura's eyes widened, tears nearly spilling from them.
"...This is so heartbreaking! Are neither of them suitable for me?"
"I apologize, but the divination results do indicate this. Perhaps they simply aren't good enough for you. You, um, deserve better?"
Equally surprised by the divination results, Angel ransacked her vocabulary for comforting words to prevent this emotional lady from bursting into tears in her divination room.
But soon, she detected a strange emotion in the other's eyes—excitement.
"Perhaps I shouldn't limit my attention to just those two. Maybe I should give him a chance..."
The lady's voice grew quieter and quieter, but her face flushed, her expression pitiable.
Him? Is there a third one?
"Is it the gentleman who accompanied you to the divination club?"
Angel suddenly remembered the male standing outside the door and asked tentatively.
"Who? Oh no, he's just my bodyguard." Laura first shook her head, then nodded. "Though he is humble, courteous, young, and strong. Perhaps..."
Your Loenese interpersonal relationships are far too messy... No wait, I'm also Loenese. Then it's Backlund people—Backlund's social relationships are too messy!
Angel grumbled internally about the capital's social circles, watching somewhat helplessly as Miss Laura lamented her romantic tribulations for a while. Fortunately, the other party's need to vent was soon satisfied. She extracted two soli from her handbag, passed them to Angel, wiped away nonexistent tears, and left the divination room.
From outside the door came the earnest voice of that candidate ranked at least fourth, asking if Miss Laura wished to visit other divination clubs.
She came for so-called divination just to show off to another woman, didn't she?
Holding her first earnings of the day, Angel's mind filled with countless question marks.
...
As evening approached and even the divination room next door quieted down, Angel gathered up her pendulum and mirror, preparing to leave the club.
Placing the tarot cards into their box, she glanced at her own smooth palm. Though she'd long anticipated not entering the gray fog space for a Tarot Club meeting this time either, once three o'clock in the afternoon had passed, she still felt disappointed.
At least tonight at eight, Caspars at the "Brave Bar" would introduce her to another Beyonder secret gathering. Such important matters couldn't be missed.
"Knock knock."
The door was rapped again. The day's second—and final—customer entered the divination room.
Seeing Angel already standing, the table cleared and tidied, this young man with a somewhat decadent air apologized and was about to back out of the room.
"Hello! What type of divination do you need?"
Angel quickly called out to him. There was still time, and as someone acting as a dedicated "witch," she didn't want to miss this hard-won customer.
The decadent man pushed the door open again, sitting across from Angel with a dejected, melancholy expression.
"I want a love divination. I recently met a woman I could spend my life with, but my ex-girlfriend from university won't stop pursuing me."
Love again? Do young people in Backlund do nothing but romance?
Sighing inwardly, Angel produced a tarot deck. After shuffling, she had the man silently contemplate his needs while drawing three cards.
This divination method was simple and convenient. Most importantly, the results could be interpreted from multiple angles, avoiding the awkward situation that had occurred with Miss Laura earlier.
The man drew three tarot cards with somewhat sluggish movements, arranging them in sequence on the table.
The Lovers reversed, the Chariot upright, and the Star upright.
Angel pretended to close her eyes in contemplation while actually recalling her newly learned tarot knowledge. After a moment, she opened her eyes and looked at the man.
"The Lovers reversed represents uncertainty and struggle in relationships, indicating that you once succumbed to temptation and evaded responsibility."
"The Chariot upright represents controlling emotions and actions, suggesting your relationship will develop smoothly, but you must continue making efforts."
"Finally, the Star upright represents hope and beautiful romance. Your future relationship will surely be wonderfully bright."
"So I should change my past character, work hard to pursue my current goal, and that way I can achieve beautiful love in the future?"
Listening to Angel's explanation, the man's expression changed several times before settling on sudden realization.
No, this sounds like you're being fickle...
Before Angel could speak, the man had already convinced himself. Though his decadent air hadn't dissipated, the dejection on his face was slowly fading.
"Yes, I should forget that woman sooner and bravely pursue a new life. I'll go make things clear with her right now."
He grew more excited as he spoke, standing up from his chair and preparing to leave the divination room.
"Oh, right—your payment."
He finally remembered, pulling out two soli and handing them to Angel.
"Thank you. But you'd better be careful. Though divination results point toward the true future, you must still be mindful of hardships and tribulations along the way."
Watching this man who seemed to have already made his decision and only wanted divination to provide justification for his wandering affections, Angel couldn't help but voice a warning.
"Thank you, diviner miss. I'll be careful."
Did I inadvertently make their three-way relationship even more complicated?
Her gaze shifted to the three tarot cards on the table. Angel felt that tomorrow she might as well just go burn down a bridge—it would be easier.
...
"You're late. When I say eight o'clock, it generally means you should arrive by seven-thirty."
Caspars' scar-crossed right eye shot a sharp look toward Angel, who'd arrived at the "Brave Bar" precisely on time.
"My apologies. I wasn't aware of the custom here. I'll arrive early next time."
Angel spoke softly, passing over the two-pound "introduction fee," successfully defusing his anger.
Though Caspars' irritation was likely mostly due to the other man standing beside him—a man whose hat revealed short black hair beneath, who wore gold-rimmed spectacles and sported a beard covering half his chin. He appeared to be at least thirty years old.
This gentleman repeatedly consulted a somewhat ostentatious gold watch from his pocket, checking the time.
Is he pressuring Caspars? Is he also planning to attend that Beyonder gathering?
Angel looked at this unexpected fellow traveler, who returned her gaze without courtesy, seeming surprised by her height, curiosity flowing through his brown pupils.
"Follow me, both of you. Any later and you won't get in."
Caspars pocketed the introduction fee and led his two clients out through the bar's back kitchen, threading through narrow alleys to arrive before a dark, unlit house.
Seeing Angel proactively produce a puppy mask and don it, he nodded with satisfaction. From his pocket, he extracted an iron mask and handed it to the black-haired man, who removed his spectacles and put on this mask that only covered the upper half of his face.
Wait, the mask was included? I should also...
Angel's mouth fell open in surprise. She was about to request her share when Caspars knocked on the door.