Elyon purchased three second-class carriage tickets for himself and his sisters, and they stood among the clusters of people waiting on the platform. The various groups were segregated according to the class of their tickets.
"Young man, could you lend a hand?" A deep, gravelly voice came from behind.
Turning towards the sound, Elyon saw an elderly gentleman with graying hair, dressed impeccably, struggling with an exaggeratedly large suitcase. Clearly, the old man was hinting for help with his luggage.
"It would be my pleasure to assist you. Just one moment, please," Elyon replied, handing his own luggage to his sisters before taking the elderly man's suitcase.
After heaving the heavy suitcase onto the train and arranging it properly, the gentleman, as it turned out, was seated next to the trio. He struck up a conversation, captivating the sisters with his worldly tales. Elyon mused that this man could have been a stand-up comedian back on Earth.
"How about a divination?" the old man offered, pulling a small crystal ball from his pocket. "I studied this when I was young, and occasionally, I like to bring it out for a bit of fun. It's a good pastime for the journey."
Elyon had little faith in such things. This world might not be bound by the same laws of science as Earth, but his experience told him that most so-called divinations and prophecies were vague or spoke of things too distant for immediate verification. Most fortune tellers and witches were probably just keen observers of human behavior.
Yet, when someone was so enthusiastic, it seemed rude to kill the mood.
Elyon took a seat across from the old man, who placed the crystal ball on a piece of linen and positioned four candles at cardinal points around it.
"First, meditate on a few questions you'd like to ask. Don't say them aloud, and think of something else to confuse any spirits who might be listening."
Elyon silently pondered whether he could return to Earth, if his future police work would be smooth, and if he might come into some minor fortune. If he couldn't go back, then living comfortably as a small-time cop here didn't seem so bad.
"Alright, now you may ask your questions," the gentleman said, peering through the crystal ball at Elyon.
"Well, I have a wish in my heart that I cannot speak aloud for privacy reasons, but is there any possibility it could come true?" Elyon inquired.
"Elder brother, are you secretly pining for a lady? Haha, who knew our bookworm had it in him to be so smitten," Seraphina teased from the side.
"The ball churns with darkness. Your wish may be difficult to fulfill."
It seems the road home is long indeed. "My second question, will my future work go smoothly?"
"This time the color is blue. Your work should go very well; there's a good chance you'll get a promotion within six months," the old gentleman said with a smile.
Getting promoted in half a year here when it might take six years back on Earth? If not for the life I miss on Earth and my parents, I might have wanted to stay here. "And my third question, will I get rich in the future?"
"This one is unusual; gold and gray are intertwined. You will have many opportunities to become wealthy in the future, but for various reasons, you might spend it quickly, or you'll choose to give it away," the gentleman said, his expression turning serious.
It looks like a poor man's fate is the same everywhere. Despite his skepticism, Elyon's inherent attitude seemed to confirm he wasn't destined for wealth.
"I have no more questions. Your turn," he said, giving way to Nyara and Seraphina, who eagerly took up the divination game.
With companions to talk to, the two-hour journey to Aegsburg felt quick, and by one in the afternoon, they arrived at Aegsburg station.
Elyon continued to play the role of helper, carrying the old man's luggage off the train. He then led his sisters to the public carriage stand.
"Young man, come here a moment; I have something else to tell you."
It couldn't be that he wanted me to carry his luggage home too, could it? One can only fleece a sheep so many times.
Despite his thoughts, Elyon put on a friendly face and jogged back.
The old gent placed his hand beside his mouth, whispering into Elyon's ear:
"Young man, the state of your soul is quite peculiar. Though invisible to the common person, those with special sight could spot it immediately; you're like the sun among fireflies."
Elyon's heart surged with alarm and fear. Was the effect of the potion from the orb so obvious?
"What are you talking about? I don't quite understand. I'm just a regular college graduate," Elyon replied, trying to keep his composure steady.
"Relax, I mean no harm. In light of your kindness, I'd like to give you this amulet. Carry it, and you'll be alright."
He pulled out a rather ordinary-looking silver pendant, threaded with a white cord.
"How much? I'll pay you," Elyon reflexively offered, thinking of street vendors or temple hawkers who touted various crafts with persuasive pitches.
"Ha, it's free. Just answer a question for me when you've achieved something. Concerning the soul—if you become a transcendent, you'll naturally learn to mask your past. This isn't a gift; let's call it an early investment," the gentleman said, handing over the pendant.
Elyon accepted the pendant and, in a daze, saw that the old man and his luggage had vanished. Rubbing his eyes, he wondered if it was all a dream.
But the cool metal in his hand assured him it was not. Clutching the pendant, Elyon walked back to the carriage stand.
"What's wrong? You look out of sorts. Do you have a fever?" Nyara asked, touching Elyon's forehead.
"Nothing, let's talk when we get back," Elyon replied, feigning normalcy.
On the public carriage, Elyon examined the mysterious pendant. It was a round disk made of silver-white metal, its face divided into six equal parts by three evenly spaced lines intersecting in the center, each line ending with a three-pronged branch—resembling a simple snowflake. Elyon recognized this as the emblem of the Winter God. The back featured a pentagram inscribed within the circle.
The silver metal was slightly cool to the touch, and the small disk was heavier than a typical Bruge gold coin. It appeared that the elderly gentleman must have been a devotee of the Winter God.