In the evening, the sky glowed with hues of orange and lavender, casting a warm light over the bustling market. Ashura, Edmond, and Jarek found themselves weaving through a labyrinth of food stalls, delighting in the array of scents and treats. Laughter bubbled up between them as they shared bites of street food, thoroughly enjoying the lively atmosphere.
As they washed down skewers of grilled meat with sweet tea, Edmond's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Alright, one last stop before we head back," he announced, rubbing his hands together excitedly. "I heard there's a fortune teller around here. Who's brave enough to have their future revealed?"
Ashura scoffed, crossing his arms defiantly. "I'd rather not know what fate has in store for me," he replied, though the challenge in his tone was unmistakable.
Jarek leaned closer, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he feigned seriousness. "Scared, Ashura? Afraid they'll tell you something you don't want to hear?"
Ashura shot him a sidelong glance, his eyes narrowing slightly. "No, just not interested in wasting my time."
Edmond, ever the instigator, clapped a hand on Jarek's shoulder with a grin. "Then it's settled. Jarek, you're going in first. Let's see if the fortune teller can handle your stubbornness."
With a dramatic throw of his hands, Jarek surrendered. "Fine, fine! I'll go first. But if they predict something ridiculous, I'm dragging both of you down with me."
As Jarek strode toward the stall with the sign that read "Fortune Teller," Edmond and Ashura exchanged amused glances, anticipation lighting up their faces.
Upon entering the stall, Jarek was taken aback. The interior, unlike the modest exterior, shimmered with hues of rich velvet and was adorned with various gemstones, each twinkling under the soft glow of candlelight.
"Welcome, young one. To may what you're looking for," a voice emerged from the shadows, the figure seated at the center obscured by flowing robes and a veil.
Jarek hesitated, uncertainty clouding his expression. "Uh, well... I want to know about my future," he stammered, feeling both impulsive and foolish.
"Hmmm... there are many types of futures, young one. What type do you wish to know?" The fortune teller's voice danced with amusement, almost taunting.
Ashura and Edmond stood behind him, their faces alight with curiosity, eager to hear what Jarek would decide.
"Will I be able to... surprise the heir of the main families?" Jarek blurted out, his voice cracking slightly. Even he sensed the weight of his question. Edmond furrowed his brow, perplexed, while Ashura's disinterest turned into a fleeting moment of surprise as he lowered his gaze.
The fortune teller leaned forward, the light glinting off her veil. "A sparrow's flight does not tremble before the storm, but should its wings be clipped, it shall never soar. You seek to gift a dawn unseen, yet shadows linger. Beware, for what is given may turn to dust in eager hands."
Disbelief washed over Jarek. "What do you mean by that?" he demanded, a tremor of uncertainty in his voice. "Are you saying I won't be able to?"
"One person, one answer," the teller replied, her tone dismissive, leaving Jarek floundering in confusion.
"Tch... I knew it was a scam. Let's get out of here!" he grumbled, unable to accept the cryptic message, and he stormed out of the stall.
Edmond, witnessing Jarek's hasty exit, sighed dramatically. "I guess my turn won't come, not that I care, though," he said, a nonchalant shrug accompanying his words.
"Let's go, Ashura," he continued, gesturing for his friend to follow. Ashura, still standing lazily, began to move toward the exit.
Suddenly, the fortune teller called out, her voice melodic yet firm. "Oh... young child of black hair."
Ashura paused and glanced back, curiosity piquing as he met the teller's unseen gaze.
"A child of dark, with soulless stare, will twist your hope to cold despair. Betrayal's touch, alone you'll weep, abandoned dreams in shadows deep."
The weight of her words settled heavily in the air. Ashura's demeanor shifted, and he regarded the fortune teller with a serious expression. "Who... are you?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with a hint of unease.
"Ashura!" shouted Edmond outside the stall. Ashura snapped back immediately as he looked and reached the exit. When he glanced back for the last time, the teller was already gone. Ashura could not help but feel uneasy.
### Hoxrrary Academy: Boys dormitory
The dim light of the dormitory living room cast long shadows across the worn-out furniture as Jarek slumped into a plush armchair, exhaustion weighing heavily on his eyelids.
"Urgh... so tired," he groaned, running a hand through his tousled hair. He glanced over at Ashura and Edmond, his two steadfast companions.
Edmond, who always seemed to radiate energy even in the most drudging of times, leaned against the doorframe with a tired grin. "I hate but have to agree with you. I also need to return to my room. I'm so tired I could sleep instantly," he said, his voice laced with playful irony despite the weariness evident in his eyes.
Ashura, who usually wore a mask of indifference, let a genuine smile break through for the first time that day. "It's… been a fun day for me. Thank you, you both," he said, his gaze softening as he looked at his friends. The transformation was palpable; those who knew him knew that a smile from Ashura was rare, and both Jarek and Edmond's eyes widened in surprise.
"Wow, Ashura! Is that a smile?" Jarek exclaimed, his fatigue momentarily forgotten. "You must really have enjoyed today!"
Ashura shrugged, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks as he tried to maintain his composure. "Don't get used to it," he replied, though a sparkle of warmth danced in his eyes.
"Well then, have a good rest," Ashura said, his tone shifting back to a more reserved demeanor as he prepared to part ways. He turned to make his way towards his room, leaving Jarek and Edmond behind in the living room.
With a sigh, Jarek leaned back in his chair, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "What a day, huh?" he mused, glancing at Edmond, who nodded in agreement, both reflecting on a day filled with unexpected joy amidst their typical exhaustion.
### Hoxrrary Academy: Ashura room
As Ashura entered the dimly lit room, the faint sound of pen scratching against paper echoed through the silence. He hunched over his desk, drafting a report on the underground secret tied to the book that had consumed his thoughts. The faded memory of the fortune teller's ominous words loomed in his mind.
"Betray, huh…" he murmured to himself, a disdainful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. His voice chilled the air as he continued, "What kind of betrayal could there be when I never fully trust anyone?"
With a final flourish of his pen, Ashura set the report aside and slumped onto the cozy bed, its softness inviting him to surrender. However, no matter how tightly he closed his eyes, sleep eluded him, a tormenting specter in the shadows.
"Urgh… this is pointless," he grumbled, pushing himself up from the bed. His clothes, still unchanged and mottled with the remnants of the day, clung to him as he moved. He trudged into the kitchen dormitory, the familiarity of darkness greeting him, save for the moonlight that seeped through the window, casting ethereal patterns on the floor.
The kitchen was as usual —gloomy and still. Ashura opened the drawer, rummaging through the meager remnants of food left. He snatched a few items, his movements swift and practiced. The thought of bumping into anyone made his stomach twist, so he steered clear and returned immediately to his room.
Once inside, he leaned against the closed door, eyes scanning over his luggage. As expected, nestled among his belongings was a high-grade magic stone, glimmering faintly in the muted light. Ashura didn't hesitate.
With meticulous precision, he arranged the magic stones in a circle on the floor, mirroring the circular formation of the candles that flickered to life beside them.
"Since I cannot sleep, it's far more productive to train and hunt in the Abyss," he declared, his voice devoid of warmth as he settled into the center of the formation.
As he focused his energy, the air thickened around him. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply before speaking the incantation, each word dripped in a cold, deliberate tone.
"O veil of Nyx, enshroud mine eyes,
By tongues of old where silence lies.
I call thee forth, realms unknown,
Guide my soul to the Dreamer's throne.
By shade and shadow, dusk's embrace,
Draw me deep to that hidden place.
Where visions stir and phantoms roam,
Lead me now to Abyss's home."
He finished the incantation with a chilling whisper, "Somnium Abyssi," his breath barely escaping his lips as if sharing the phrase with the shadows themselves.
In the ensuing silence, Ashura felt the weight of the darkness embrace him, the allure of the Abyss calling him into its depths. He welcomed it, a glimmer of anticipation igniting within his cold exterior.