A few days later.

Adam found himself trudging through the deserts of Kigrial, a nation far east of Rustria.

It wasn't easy to get here for most, but he had access to the astral network and used it to bypass thousands of kilometers in mere minutes.

As for where Eden was, that was a difficult question.

Eden was capable of moving, one day it could be on the north pole, the next day on the south pole.

All of that was controlled by the old stump— or Lorias’lona is what they called themself.

Being in the desert of Kigrial was pretty normal since it was vastly unpopulated and would take weeks to walk across the entire thing.

He wore his normal, grease stained clothes even in the piercing heat of the desert’s sun.

He was almost at Eden, he could feel the invisible pull of it directing him to its destination.

Then he arrived at its entrance, a rotted wooden door with a barely legible label in a language unknown to the current humans of today.

But he could read it.

“The Garden of Eden” It read.

He was here.

He knocked on the door, waiting for the old stump to open the door and let him in but there was no response.

He knocked again but even after waiting a few minutes there was no response.

“Oi you old stump let me in!” He yelled at the door whilst banging on it.

No luck.

“Fucken Fuck!” He swore aloud. “Heyyyy can you open the door, it's me Adam!?”

Afet still getting no response he angrily punched the door as hard as he could, normally the door would shatter at his immense strength but this door stood firmly, not even shaking.

“God. Fucking. Dammit.” With those last parting words, he began his trek back through the desert towards the nearest astral gate he could use.

After a day of nonstop trekking, fueled by his anger and annoyance, he reached the great city of Zaga. It was a bustling place always packed to the brim with people going about their day.

The first place he visited when he arrived was a pub.

He walked in, eyes stared back at him because he looked like a foreigner, but they soon returned to their merry drinking.

He sat at the bar, and ordered the largest size of beer they had.

Slamming the empty glass down onto the table with a refreshed sigh, he began to think.

‘Why was Eden closed? Did something happen to the old stump?’

The obvious questions rang in his mind, but then a new question sprung up.

‘Is there a way I can find out why?’ Then he had an idea.

There's only one type of person that could figure out what could happen, and that would be a fortune teller. Not the scamming ones, the real fortune tellers able to look into the past and future.

Is it fate that he was in Zaga? Because the closest fortune teller he knew about was located in the heart of this very city.

He sighed and left after tipping the bartender.

Unfortunately he didn't know the fortune teller, he had only heard rumors about her skills and her steep price she asked for.

He didn't know any better option, so he could only hope she was able to do it and that he could pay her price.

‘Let hope this goes well.’ He wished himself luck and weaved his way through the maze-like city, towards where the rumors of the fortune teller's location were.

He stopped at a giant building where scandalously dressed women ushered in anyone interested in using their services.

This building was a popular brothel in the center of the red light district called the “Crystal Ball”.

Adam stood there not sure how to proceed when a sexy woman grabbed his arm, pressed her breasts against his body and seductively said to him. “What are you doing standing there, come on in.”

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

‘Well there’s no going back now.’

He was led into the building, like many of the other nervous males outside, and saw for himself the sheer scale of the brothel.

Hundreds of people were inside.

The inside was giant. There were many different areas; bars, strip poles, lounge and a large staircase leading to the basement where all the private rooms were.

She led him towards the front desk and then blew him a kiss whilst giggling and walked away to find more guests to bring in.

“What are you looking to do for today?” The front desk lady asked him in a soothing voice.

“I'm looking for a special girl that supposedly works here.”

“Oh, which special girl has caught the eye of such a man such as yourself?” She flirted.

“I'm not sure if she's here but she calls herself the Eye of Zaga.” He said.

The front clerk's face momentarily shifted at his words, but immediately went back to normal. It was enough for him to notice.

“There's no one who calls herself the Eye of Zaga here. But there's plenty of other girls here that are just as good.”

He didn't have time for this, he wanted to know why Eden was closed. “Dont lie to me, I could tell you reacted to her title. Just take me to her and be done with it.”

She smiled, trying to hide her reaction but he continued by saying. “I don't like to say normally this but let me talk to your higher up.”

A hand suddenly clamped down onto his shoulder trying to be threatening but it didn't work on him.

He turned around and was face to face with a large light skinned man, almost as tall as him but much wider.

The man wore a white striped suit with various golden accessories and had a bald head.

“Hey buddy, whatchu doing annoying my clerks.” The man said with a raspy voice.

Three similar sized body guards were at the man's back, ready to deal with any annoying pests.

“I'm looking for the Eye of Zaga, is she here?” He asked again in an annoyed tone.

“That's not how we do things in my establishment.” The man threatened. “You better get out or my boys here will make you.”

Adam cracked his finger together ready to tussle with these imbeciles when a soft voice interrupted them.

“There's no need to fight.” A gorgeous woman appeared wearing white robes.

“Lady Reia!” The man was surprised to see her. “What are you doing down here?”

“Does it matter where I go?” She said in a sharp tone. “I'm here to see our guest, he has a very important question to ask me.”

“He can't just walk—” before the man could finish, Reia cut him off.

“He's my guest now so you better treat him with respect!” She barked. “Your only the boss here because my family has designated you to be one, you better remember that ”

The man clenched his teeth. “Fine.” And walked off.

Reia smiled and said to Adam. “Follow me. ”

She led him to a private room reserved for her on the second floor.

She took a seat on a large fluffy couch and motioned for Adam to sit opposite her.

“So, what are you here for?” She asked.

“I thought you knew why I was here?”

She shook her head. “I knew someone was coming here with a vitally important question, and when you arrived I knew it was you. I just don't know what the question is.”

“So… you're gonna help me just like that?” He asked, wondering why she was this easy to work with. The rumors stated anything but that.

“Of course but I'll still demand a fair price for my services, I don't work for free.” she smiled. “But fate told me that meeting you is very important.”

“So why did you need me?” She asked once again.

“Before I tell you I need you to swear an oath not to tell anyone else.” He stated. “A real oath.”

She closed her eyes and paused for a bit before responding with a nod. “Okay.”

Adam clasped her hand and a faith golden glow radiated forth.

“Do you swear to keep what you learn here a secret?”

“I swear.” Golden branches materialized from their hands and wrapped around them, binding them to the oath, before disappearing.

“Alright, I need you to find out what happened in Eden.” He went straight into the meat of the visit.

“Eden?” Reia had a confused face. “As in the Eden.”

“Yes.”

“No fortune teller is able to divine anything about Eden.” She shook her head. “That's not even remotely possible.”

“It is, I've done it before.” He said. “We just need a powerful fortune teller and someone from Eden.”

“Okay I guess I'm the fortune teller, but who's the person—” Her face revealed in shock. “It can't be…. You?”

He nodded.

She stood up and paced around the room. “Wait wait wait, are you… a hero from Eden.” She asked.

Technically he wasn't but it was easier if he said yes. “That's right.”

“Oh. Oh!” She sat back down and composed herself. “I knew fate wouldn't lie to me.”

“Alright let's do this, I've never divined Eden before,” She said.

“I will warn you, it's relatively dangerous if the guardian notices you.” He explained. “You need to be careful, try not to dig too deep and make sure you don't expose your presence.”

“Okay.” She rubbed her hands. “Even though your hero, this is gonna be a pretty penny to pay since it's so dangerous, are you still willing to pay?”

“Of course, let's get on with it.” After that it was time for Reia to peer into the past and present of Eden.

She caught her crystal ball, closed her eyes, and nodded to Adam, ready to dive in.

He grabbed her shoulder and faint, almost invisible branches extended from his hand and onto her body.

The crystal ball clouded up and Reia’s mind entered the world of fate and fortune.