Did a world that demanded certainty believe in prophecy? What made someone put their faith in the whispers of fate? There were myriad causes. Men believed, if it came out of the prophet’s mouth, who had foretold nine other prophecies, all of which had come to fruition. Or maybe the prophecy was merely a pattern, a logical conclusion drawn from a series of past events. Or even the truth had been etched into the stars, the rustling leaves, the ancient carvings and writings that predated humanity itself. These signs had always been there, just waiting for someone to interpret them.

But at least, a tiny matter the three had in common: all three had credibility. The ancients believed because they had lived through the prophecy's tale, and from there, they could infer the identity of the revelation's source. They used prophecy as a compass, a guide through uncertain times. It did not matter if that credibility would crumble later; that was a problem for another day.

However, what if someone heard their fate from a source with no credibility, no proven track record of predicting the future? What if the one dictating the world's course was merely a drunken, incoherent babbler? Most people would dismiss them outright, that was obvious. But not Alicia. She felt like the universe was playing a trick on her, a divine comedy with her as the unwitting punchline.

Haddock and Alicia had just arrived at the city station and made their way to a special platform deserted by the common people. This was preferential treatment for the Vanir and other magic centre nations. Vanir was not experiencing its golden times now, unlike the Eternal Empire. Even so, Vanir was still a magic centre worth thousands of years of history with the Elven race, who were said to be the first pure Arcane holders. The Arcane was no more, but the nation still boasted advanced equipment, artefacts, and magical resources, a world heritage that marauders coveted as their inheritance.

As they approached, several people were already waiting for them. Some were familiar faces to Alicia, but only two of them she knew by name; Bartholomew Strongbark, the dog with a strong bark, and Barbarra, the female wizard who helped her during the Leichenhaufen clamour. But the most striking figure of all was a strange woman who ran towards them, with her body jiggling with excitement.

The woman was tall and... voluptuous, Alicia noted having compared herself to the lady. The spectacled lass felt her frame was quite ideal, but the one before her was the body of a sexy model, her curves accentuated by a fairly tight corset and short-sleeved dress. There was a short cloak tied from the neck to prevent the upper body from being too exposed. Her braided short hair in blonde responded to a graceful breeze. For a moment, Alicia's eyes were petrified by the woman's beauty.

“Sir Haddock! It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other! We can finally go out again, can we!” the woman greeted Haddock, her hands between her jaw full of eagerness.

“Your Honourable Grand Magus, I beg you,” Haddock replied with a half smirk. The woman's enthusiasm for the Grand Magus was palpable, and Alicia could not help but imagine them as perfect lovebirds. They should be, aye? But why shouldnae they?

The woman realised the daydreaming Alicia right behind Haddock. There was nervousness inside the spectacled lass, but she brushed it off and gave the lady a warm greeting. “Delighted to meet you,” she said, humbling herself while lifting the hem of her skirt.

“Aww! What a graceful and modest child! Haddock, is this the one you’re talking about?”

“Uh, yes, right, this is the one. Alicia, I’d like to introduce to you, Odelie 'Verdandi' Gunnadottir. She is an astrologer in the Magisterium, as well as a staff member of the Vanir embassy in Camelot. Odelie, Alicia Crimsonmane, ‘The Chosen One By Arcane Outside the Blessings of the Eternal Empire’.”

"Crimsonmane?" Odelie exclaimed in surprise. “Of course! There’s no doubt that such a formidable power was obtained by one of the prominent Crimsonmane clansperson.”

“Odelie, she’s Ailsa’s daughter.”

“Oh, the one who can’t do magic—”

Haddock cleared his throat.

“Oops. Sorry, dear Alicia. I slipped.”

Alicia's answer remained kind and calm. “It’s alright. The entire world of thaumaturgy already knows about it, so it can’t be helped.” A shrug from her shoulders and a sweet smile emerged.

The bookworm's adorable smile was indeed her national treasure. That Odelie approved. She had to clasp her hands over her own cheeks to quell the itch to stroke Alicia's fluffy ones. “Oh my, you’re so adorable, just like Ailsa—”

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“Hey, hey Odelie. Stop your smut!“ Haddock restrained the rebellious, yet flirtatious woman when her hands could no longer stand the urge to squeeze the lass’ face. A step back from Alicia, but she chuckled along the way.

“Ah, Haddock! Let me hold this little baby, just for once!”

“Odelie, have you gone mad?”

“You’re no fun, Haddock.” Odelie put a sullen face at the Grand Magus. “By the way, Alicia. I heard a lot about you. How you took down Leichenhaufen, then faced the Danhar separatists with your Arcane orb! I guess it’s okay if I...”

Haddock immediately pushed Odelie into the train. “No, you can’t. Not here. You can have a glimpse when we arrive in Vanir. Alicia, let’s get on the train!”

Odelie groused. “Ah, Haddock! You’re such a spoiler of fun!”

“We’re still in public, Odelie. Too dangerous in here!”

As they entered the locomotive, Alicia was struck by the marvel at its exceptional features. The trains she had travelled on all her life had lost their class when compared to the one she was standing on now. It had two levels for each carriage and a sleek, slender body layered in beautiful, shiny metal. The entire carriage was designed with luxurious and elegant white architecture, complete with facilities that rivalled a conglomerate flat. It was every VIP's dream come true.

When the train departed, it picked up speed, travelling three times faster than an ordinary train at maximum velocity. However, the train's motion hardly affected the passengers. This was not just any train, indeed.

“Okay, Alicia, this is your room,” Haddock said after guiding her around the carriage.

How the girl could not believe the extent of her personal space. “My room… is one, whole carriage?”

“That’s correct. The top floor will be the link between the carriages. Fancy, innit?”

“I think so.”

“So, knowing that you’ll go to one of the famous restricted magic centres should arouse your curiosity, am I right? Unlike your other overseas vacations?”

“I-I’ve never travelled outside of Camelot, Sir Haddock.”

“What? Really?”

Alicia nodded.

“I see. Well, this is your first overseas outing, so enjoy it while you can. The trip to Vanir will take a day or so. During that time, perhaps you can learn this.” A book was given to the girl. The same book that had been shown to Donar, her father.

“‘Fractions of Light, One Darkness’,” she read. She then fixated on the author’s name on the lower side of the book. “Sir Haddock, why did you give me Nostredame’s papers?”

“Hm, why, you say? Have you read Nostredame before?” asked Haddock back.

“Never, Your Honourable. I have no reason to read a fake astrologist.”

“Well, guess what? This fake astrologist predicted your arrival!”

“What?” Alicia's tone conveyed surprise. “Sir Haddock, you’re not into some kind of play, are you? There’s no way this man prophesied me.”

“I’ve guessed your reaction. But I’ve promised you about it, so here it is. You just have to read it, and you’ll understand.”

“This whole book?”

“This whole book.”

Alicia's gaze fell heavily upon the book cover, its cracked leather seeming to mirror the weight of her own dispirited thoughts. The book exuded sadness, full of failure, eliminating any appetite for even the most ardent lover of literature. Mostly because it bore the author's name on it. Its ancient pages lacked the slick adventure footage that could draw a bookworm mage's passion into a fantasy world filled with harmonies of letter fragments and magical spell-forming characters. A cursed grimoire that might provide guidance for becoming the world’s most failed being—like Nostradame, the author.

With a heavy sigh, Alicia finally gave in. “Well, let’s hope this book contains something and not some form of prank, Sir Haddock.”

Then, in the distant carriage, they heard another woman’s hail. Who else but Odelie Verdandi.

“Haddock! Dear Alicia! There you are.” Odelie approached them with excitement. “What are you guys talking about? Oh, about the prophecy for Alicia, huh? Where did you get the source from? Here, let me see!”

Odelie snatched the old book from the girl’s grasp. She read the title “Fractions of Light, One Darkness” and then continued with the name of the author.

The blonde woman threw at Haddock, the temperament of wroth. Certainly not the one that can be taken seriously. “Nostradame? What is this, Haddock? You’re toying with this little Alicia of mine, aren’t you? You want me to take you to Vanir to see a vision of a failed astrologist?”

“Yes, Odelie. How many times have I said to everyone who reads the cover of this book: I’m not having a laugh. The mark on Alicia’s wound is in this book. It may be a coincidence, it may not. But the only source I could find was here! Or we can go to Danhar and hand this bairn over to ‘Merlin’? The Danhars also have their own divination about her.”

“I had my doubts about you, Haddock. But fair enough.” Odelie narrowed her eyes at the Grand Magus. “Anyway, this book is quite interesting. Hey Alicia, your room is all to yourself, right? I know, I might be able to… accompany you to read this book. Maybe reading it together would be more fun!” Odelie cornered the girl with her body, “I can also show you a thing or two about my star magic if you like! You won’t regret it, you know...”

The astrologist’s beautiful face made Alicia stammer. Dizzy, she was, to see a pair of eyes that thirst for her. “T-thanks for the offer, Mistress Odelie—”

“Mistress? I’m still single, love. I’m only twenty-six years old. Just call me Odelie.”

“O-Odelie? Erm, n-no problem. T-thank you, Ollie—Odelie! But I think I can read it myself.”

Haddock grabbed Odelie by the collar and dragged her away. “You heard the young lady. Let her have her privacy.”

“Ah, no!” Odelie moaned a disapproval.

Alicia Crimsonmane was just clueless about what was wrong with the elite mages of the Magisterium, and what was wrong with her. She desired to throw away the thought about the turmoil of passion felt when gandering at that lady’s mannerisms. But her deeper thoughts could not utter a lie.

She stepped into her coach and sat on the long, soft blue sofa. She stared at the book, the antithesis of Odelie that excited her. She opened the first page.

“Fractions of Light, One Darkness. Like my failure, this is the failure of the world to come...” []