The place where they fought yesterday was already cleaned of blood.

The flow of people moved normally, as if nothing had happened. Even the snack cart from the previous night was still there, with its owner shouting to attract customers.

Even the ground had been repaired, and the broken stones from the battle were replaced. Only a few shallow marks still carried traces of blood.

Blood never fully washes away the traces of blood.

Charlotte silently recited her family’s motto.

The place was near the city gate, a medium-sized marketplace. It didn’t take long for Charlotte to become distracted by the interesting items on display at the stalls, completely forgetting her mission.

“Dear young ladies, would you like a fortune reading?” asked an old woman who looked like a witch.

Or rather, an old woman who seemed to have stepped straight out of a witch’s tale.

She was entirely wrinkled: the pointed hat she wore, the skin on her face, and the black robe she had on—all crumpled and creased.

She was hunched in a corner, with a long, thin nose, enormous eyes that seemed inhuman, almost toothless, and her hair tangled like spiderwebs.

Under the light, her skin had a bluish tint.

It was as if the artists who illustrated witches in children’s books had modeled them after her. If there had been a large cauldron by her side, Charlotte probably would have drawn her sword.

But instead of a cauldron, there was a strange machine beside her. It was a structure full of exposed gears and parts, assembled in a makeshift manner.

There was a rod resembling a fishing pole with a long crystal hanging from its tip. Below the crystal, the gears formed something like a dial, along with a lever on the side.

Charlotte could barely look at the machine without wanting to cover it with a casing. How could those exposed parts function without jamming? What if a piece fell off? Or if someone bumped into it?

The old woman noticed Charlotte’s interest and continued her sales pitch:“Ah, sweet young lady, how about trying my ‘automatic fortune-telling machine’? A perfect blend of white alchemy and pendulum divination! A collision of modern technology and ancient mysticism! Using crystals that have slept in the Earth’s depths since the creation of the world, this machine can reveal the secrets of your destiny!”

“Automatic fortune-telling machine?” Charlotte repeated skeptically.

Fortune-telling was considered a type of magic, but no one took street fortune-tellers seriously.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Nine out of ten were frauds, and the tenth was an accomplice.

“Exactly! Come closer, I’ll tell you a secret.” The old woman gestured for Charlotte to approach.

When Charlotte leaned in, the woman whispered:“This machine was invented by Dr. Amon Von Eiberg!”

“What?” Charlotte examined the machine more closely.

If my father made this, I’ll eat Caroline whole!

She thought, frowning.

“Surprised, aren’t you? Now I’ll tell you another secret.” The old woman looked around as if about to share something confidential:“When I was younger and still charming, Dr. Amon and I spent an unforgettable night together. It was then that he gave me this machine as a gift! You understand, don’t you?”

I perfectly understand the fate a witch like you deserves.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes, holding back her anger. But the old woman continued:“Additionally, the construction of this machine includes elements of true magic!”

Charlotte began to reach for the alchemical device hidden in Caroline’s clothing, ready to turn the old woman to ashes. Caroline subtly moved aside, noticing her intent.

“Look here at the dial,” the old woman pointed at the gears. “It was made based on the movements of the Sun and the Moon. These circles represent the lunar phases, and the crystal represents the Sun. Ah, but this crystal is no ordinary one…”

“That’s glass, isn’t it?” Caroline interrupted, pointing at the supposed crystal. Its edges were uneven, and small cracks were visible inside—clearly cheap glass.

“Ah, well… you see… humble business,” the old woman stammered, trying to justify. “Anyway, the Sun is dead, so it works as a substitute.”

“But you just said it was special.” Charlotte crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. She didn’t feel any trace of magic in the machine, and the dial seemed purely decorative.

“Of course it’s special! Have you seen another crystal like this in the sewers?” The old woman tried to change the subject. “How about this? Since you’re my first customers of the day, I’ll give you a free reading. Who wants to try?”

Charlotte hesitated. Accepting the old woman’s favor might make it harder to act against her later.

“Come on, young lady. No superstition here—we use science to predict the future!”

“Fine, I’ll try.” Charlotte thought that if the old woman tried to charge her afterward, she could use it as an excuse to destroy the machine. After all, knights are obligated to combat fraud.

“Look at the crystal,” the old woman instructed. “Focus on it without blinking, and think of your question. Remember, the answer must be ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ When you’re ready, tell me, and I’ll activate the machine.”

Charlotte obeyed, fixing her gaze on the crystal, and thought to herself:“Will I be able to find my parents?”Then she said, “I’m ready.”

The old woman turned the machine’s lever a few times, raised her arms dramatically, and began to chant:“Oh Sun, Moon, Saints, and Spirits—and any other entity out there—reveal the destiny of this young lady!”

The machine didn’t respond.

“Is that it?” Charlotte asked, already reaching for her sword.

“It must be stuck.” The old woman kicked the machine twice. Finally, the gears began to turn, producing creaking noises and a loud whistle of steam.

Startled, Charlotte hid behind Caroline. With a final bang, the “crystal” shot into the air, rolled across the ground, and disappeared into the sewer.

“If the crystal spins to the left, the answer is ‘no.’ If it spins to the right, the answer is ‘yes’!” the old woman shouted as the “crystal” was already gone.

Silence filled the air.

Charlotte peeked out from behind Caroline and asked, “Is it over?”

She was about to draw her sword when Caroline grabbed her sleeve.“Miss, the city guards are coming.”

Charlotte saw several guards approaching, followed by armored soldiers. Reluctantly, she followed Caroline away from the scene.

As they left, the old woman shouted:“Come back soon! Next time, I’ll tell you more about my night with Dr. Amon!”

Charlotte almost turned back to put an end to that witch.