"Lucille is the one who came to the tower with the Little Princess," Aina said, surprised. "Grandma Luo Lin, though you haven't met him, I must have mentioned him to you—maybe not by name, but you'd know, right?"
"No, I don't," Luo Lin said, slowly shaking her head. "I can't divine his existence. Or rather, I can't even sense it."
"How is that possible?" Aina said, incredulous. "No one who enters or leaves this tower escapes your perception. You really didn't sense him?"
"I wouldn't jest about this," Luo Lin replied seriously. "Aina, could you go to the second floor and ask him to come up? I'd like to meet him."
Night Star suppressed her swirling thoughts, watching calmly as Aina left. Only when Luo Lin's voice broke the silence did she turn her attention back.
"Now, let's discuss the second matter, Miss Night Star," Luo Lin said, pulling a book from a towering shelf and placing it before her. "There's no doubt you have the potential to be an astrologer. It's a pity you couldn't obtain your own deck. I deeply regret that."
"I reviewed past records. There have been three others like you. The first was a demon in disguise. The second bore a curse. As for the third—I'll hold off on that for now."
"Miss Night Star, which one do you think you are?"
Night Star knew Luo Lin was probing her. She responded calmly, unruffled. "The first represents malice, the second innocence. I'm neither malicious nor innocent."
"So, you're the third?" Luo Lin asked.
"Exactly," Night Star said, nodding without a trace of guilt. "The reason I couldn't get a deck is simple: I already have one—but I lost it."
Luo Lin gave Night Star a deep look, then nodded. "I see."
She opened the book before her, turned to the third page, and began writing on the blank paper.
Night Star glanced at the room's books. Most were handwritten, with few printed copies. A closer look revealed they were penned by Luo Lin herself.
She reached for a book, curious, but Luo Lin's voice stopped her.
"I've overseen this tower for over seven hundred years," Luo Lin said.
"People think I'm profoundly learned and far-seeing, but I've always felt that's just flattery."
"There's still so much I don't know, an ocean of knowledge I don't understand. You may be older than I am, but regardless, you're now part of the Stargazers' Guild."
Night Star caught Luo Lin's meaning. The elder assumed Night Star was an ancient member of the guild, someone who could have once had a deck and lost it.
Standing there, Night Star considered correcting her but decided against it. She needed an identity, and this was a perfect opportunity.
She pulled out a deep purple Duty Crystal and placed it before Luo Lin with a faint smile. "No, I'm the one asking for your help."
"If possible, please help me find a way to become an astrologer again."
Luo Lin picked up the crystal, her expression confirming her suspicions. "Then let's keep this Duty Crystal here for now. Please don't take it back, Miss Night Star."
"Of course," Night Star agreed readily.
At that moment, a series of knocks—knock, knock, knock—echoed. Night Star knew it was Lucille but kept her composure, watching calmly as he entered.
"Pleased to meet you, Grandma Luo Lin," Lucille said, greeting her with impeccable etiquette. "You called for me. Is there something you need?"
Luo Lin put on her glasses, then took them off, only to put them back on moments later. She stepped closer, studying Lucille intently.
After a long pause, she removed her glasses, shaking her head. "Strange. Too strange."
"I can't see your fate. You're different from Night Star—her fate is unclear, but it exists. You… I can't even find a trace of fate on you."
"Young man, where are you from? If you weren't standing before me, I'd think you don't belong to this world. You're like… someone who shouldn't exist here. It's bizarre. I can't fathom how you appeared."
Lucille stayed silent, unsure how to respond. But he didn't need to—someone else would handle it.
"He's lost his memories," Night Star interjected, explaining to the room. "He's forgotten his past, his origins—everything. The only thing he remembers is his name, Lucille. But I can vouch for him. If anything goes wrong, come to me."
Before Luo Lin could respond, Aina shot Night Star a meaningful glance.
Night Star's defense of Lucille piqued Aina's curiosity about their relationship to an extreme.
Luo Lin hadn't expected Night Star to protect Lucille so fiercely, but she didn't dwell on it. She nodded and addressed Lucille. "Since you're in the tower, study well. The Stargazers' Tower is safer than most places in the kingdom. You can read here in peace. I hope one day you, too, might become an astrologer."
"Sorry," Lucille said bluntly. "I'm not interested in being an astrologer, but I'll study hard."
An astrologer's deck is bound to the soul. Just as Night Star couldn't claim a new deck, neither could Lucille. If he tried and replicated her failure, becoming the fourth case in Luo Lin's notes, it would draw unwanted attention.
Better to admit his lack of interest outright. As someone who entered the tower through Night Star's connections, whether he became an astrologer was irrelevant.
"Alright," Luo Lin said, not pressing the issue. "The tower has plenty of other books. Feel free to explore them."
The Stargazers' Tower had no hierarchy. Anyone permitted to enter could access its library—a rule set by the first tower master.
Lucille was indeed interested in the books, but he wouldn't go to the seventh floor or read them himself.
After all, if Night Star had seen them, didn't that mean he had seen them too?