The two of them stared at each other for a long while. Linnie's jaw was clenched, despite not understanding a single thing that came out of the old woman's mouth.
Granny, on the other hand, wore an extremely sorrowful expression. It was as if she was on the cusp of saying something, her mouth only slightly open.
"Is that it? I didn't understand any of that crap."
When he spoke, she broke out of whatever trance she had fallen into. Blinking a few times, she cleared her throat.
"Sorry, boy, that's it for today. I hope you... find what you are looking for."
She brought a small handkerchief and patted her forehead dry of the sweat that collected on it.
"You're kidding!"
"No, I'm very serious. Shoo, now, the young prince is waiting."
'Damn, does she know that I cut the line? Tch!'
He stood up and pushed through the curtain, returning to the store. What he saw, though, made him want to go right back into the cove.
The atmosphere between the three was very tense, and Marielle was, unsuprisingly, incredibly sour-looking.
"Wow, that was even faster than Marielle!" Liora said. "I hope mine isn't that fast... I wanna know all sorts of things. Did she tell you when you're gonna die? Are you gonna have kids? Linnie as a dad... I can't imagine it!"
The Prince glanced at Linnie, then walked past him and went into the curtain.
"It was fast? It felt like I was in there for a while, though..."
The three of them that remained outside were... awkward. Once it became clear that The Prince's fortune reading wouldn't be so quickly finished, Liora broke the silence.
"So? What'd she say? What's your future?"
"Forget it, she didn't even say anything intelligable." He turned to Marielle. "Is she really your granny, or what?"
Surprised by the sudden involvement into the conversation, she tilted her head at him.
"Huh? Oh, yes, she's my mother's mother. But, not officially. She hasn't been a part of my family since before I was born, so."
"Weird, how's your grandma not a part of your family? That makes no sense..." Liora said. "What'd your fortune say?"
"Nothing important."
"...Oh, okay. Ahem. Soooo—"
The Prince was back, and his expression looked visibly brighter.
'I guess someone got a good fortune. Lucky bastard, dammit.'
"Good news?" Linnie asked in an attempt at friendly conversation.
"Yeah, I guess."
'Okaaaay, then.'
"Finally! It's my turn! My turn!" Liora dove into the cove, and even through the strange sound barrier, her muffled speaking was audible to the three standing outside.
. . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
After only a few seconds, the barrier snapped—shattered by the shrill screaming of an old lady. Then, the screams of Liora, too.
"What the hell?" Marielle turned her head to the curtain. "Granny!? What's happening!?"
Linnie, stunned in confusion, moved to part the cloth. Marielle, though, slapped his hand away.
"No... no one's allowed to interrupt. I—I just—"
Suddenly, the screaming stopped and Liora came diving out from inside, landing on the floor.
"What happened?" Linnie asked.
She spoke at lightning-speed, saying:
"I don't know! I gave her my hand, and then she started screaming all crazy-like, so then I started screaming too! And I tried yanking my hand away, but she was super strong! And then she stopped screaming, and I stopped screaming too, and I finally got my hand away, and then I came out!"
"Granny!? Are you alright in there? I'm coming inside!"
"No... no, dear. Don't come inside, I'm fine. I just... need some rest. It seems that I've grown too old for the festival this year. Could you... close up on your way out?"
"But, Granny—!"
"Please, Ri-Ri."
"Okay..."
The lady was subdued, which would've made Linnie glad if he wasn't so... damn confused!
He made a curious face at Liora—who was still on the floor—and raised his hands up in the air in front of him. She just shrugged, frowning.
'What the hell... this was just awful! I'm never getting my fortune told ever again!'
Liora climbed up from the ground and looked at Marielle. The lady had gotten over her worrying, replacing it with anger.
She had flipped the 'OPEN' sign to display the 'CLOSED' side when seen from outside.
"What did you do?" she said through gritted teeth, grabbing Liora by the arm rather forcefully.
"I swear, I didn't do anything!"
"You...! Tch!"
She let go of Liora's arm and stormed out the door. Linnie and Liora looked at each other, both sweating.
"Why'd you have to go and upset her grandma?" Linnie whispered.
"I didn't—she already looked upset when I went in! I bet The Prince noticed it, too! I would never hurt a little old lady!"
He rolled his eyes and walked to the door. "Whatever you say. I wouldn't be surprised if she noticed you were a damn Siaryn or something. You sure monsters can even get their fortunes told?"
"Hey, that's mean! Wait, you don't actually think that could be... no way, right? I'd feel terrible. What if I, like, cursed her? Can Siaryn's do that!?"
"How would I know!?" Linnie asked.
"Um, what's that about 'Siaryns'?"
They both slowly turned their heads to the voice. There, The Prince was standing, twiddling his thumbs like an idiot. A very forgettable idiot.
'Uh-oh. How the hell'd I forget he was here!? He's taller than me!'
Liora laughed, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. "Haha, nothing, man. What are you talking about? What the hell's a Siaryn?"
'Why is she speaking like that!? It's so unnatural! It sounds nothing like her... was she just possessed by a ghost!? Can a Siaryn even be possessed by a ghost...?'
"Oh, nothing... I just thought you said... nevermind."
The Prince moved to open the door, but Liora shot her foot into the air and held it shut.
Putting on the most intimidating voice she could muster—reminicent of the thugs Linnie would fight with every day as a younger boy—she said:
"Alright, you're totally fragile and... whatever, but I know you're not deaf! Yeah, I'm a Siaryn. What're you gonna do about it? Huh? HUUUH!?"
'This is so dumb...!' Linnie thought, bringing his hand to his forehead.
"N-nothing! Nothing, I swear! I don't even care, really... not at all."
The Prince was sweating, and gulped loud enough for anyone to hear.
"What's the big deal, anyway?" Linnie asked. "He was bound to find out at some point. I mean, we're gonna be living together real soon."