While suddenly raising her voice, the purple-eyed diviner's expression became terrifying as she looked at Shade
"The Churches of the True Gods and the Three Academies will not allow an illegal organization to possess a Chosen. No matter what, he cannot be left alive until that door opens; we must find a way to make him die."
Even when helping Iluna deal with the "Silver-Eyed One," Luvia had never shown such an expression. Shade didn't feel that Luvia's thinking was wrong; he was simply very curious about exactly what kind of connection she still had with the *Whispering Verses*.
"But who should we report this to? I lean toward the Church in Coldwater Harbor rather than the Academy; otherwise, we won't be able to explain the source of the information. We can't exactly say we saw a stone tablet with Darkness's name written on it."
Shade asked after thinking for a moment.
"Yes, Shade, you're right."
Luvia appeared exceptionally agitated at this moment. As she spoke, her fingers curled, unconsciously tapping the tabletop, her beautiful brows furrowed
"But don't arrange for someone else to report it. Shade, you personally take the relic that can shroud fate, the [Twenty-Sided Die of Fate], and find a way to deliver the intelligence to the Church. Your special fate, combined with the shrouding of that relic, means that even if the Church wants to trace it, they won't be able to find us."
"Alright, that was my thought as well."
Shade nodded. Seeing that Luvia still looked agitated, he reminded her
"If your divination is truly foolproof, then Darkness won't be captured by the Church in Coldwater Harbor; his destination of fate is Tobesk. Therefore, the intelligence we provide is merely to let the Church know of his existence in advance so they can be prepared."
Luvia's divination could, at the very least, guarantee that Darkness would not head to the New Continent prematurely.
"I understand. He will definitely come to Tobesk, but this is fine. Compared to Coldwater Harbor, Tobesk is our—if possible, I want to kill him with my own—"
"Luvia!"
Shade suddenly raised his voice. Startled by this, the female diviner looked over in surprise, and Shade very impolitely grabbed her hand across the table.
[No abnormalities.]
"Did you notice that just now, you looked as if you were about to lose control?"
Shade continued to squeeze her wrist. Luvia looked at him in a daze
"Did I..."
She looked down at the hand Shade was holding and shuddered as if waking from a dream. Sweat visibly appeared on her fair forehead, subsequently dampening the stray hairs by her ears. Her brown hair clung to the side of her face; she opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
The previous excitement gradually faded. The brown short-haired girl lowered her head and said softly
"I did."
"Performing this kind of divination consecutively actually has such a great impact on you?"
Counting it up, in just one short week, she had used nine relic coins for divination regarding the second Chosen.
"It's not just the divination, there's also..."
Her lips, somewhat pale due to her low spirits, moved, but she did not say the second half of the sentence.
"Luvia, look at me."
Shade tugged at the purple-eyed girl's hand, and she looked up into his eyes.
The Outsider's body in this world had brownish-black pupils. For reasons of politeness, few people would maintain eye contact with Shade for a long time. Looking into his eyes now, Luvia inexplicably felt a certain pressure.
"Regarding the matter of the second Chosen, Iluna and I are also helping. This isn't your burden alone."
"Yes..."
The more she looked into those eyes, the more Luvia Annat felt her heart beating uncontrollably.
"Furthermore, the opponent is currently in Coldwater Harbor. Before he arrives in Tobesk, I will take responsibility for everything."
"Yes..."
Luvia had never explained the uniqueness of her purple eyes to Shade, but in fact, she could see many things that ordinary people could not. And at this moment, she clearly saw dazzling golden streaks within those brown eyes.
It was only a momentary flash; once she looked again, they were gone.
"So, no matter what needs to be done, calm down. If you want to make a decision, please discuss it with me."
Shade continued to speak, and Luvia subconsciously nodded.
"Do you remember what you told me in the carriage when we left Dorothy's house after the night at Lakeview Manor ended?"
Seeing that the purple-eyed girl remained silent, Shade answered himself
"You invited me to walk this path with you, so this is a matter for the two of us. Relax, Luvia, relax."
Shade was truly worried that this girl with a great secret would suddenly lose control; her appearance just now had been far too terrifying.
"I understand, Shade."
Seeing her use her free hand to wipe the sweat from her face, Shade took the opportunity to release her other hand.
Neither of them spoke after that. Shade frowned deeply, considering how to deliver the intelligence.
However, when Luvia happened to look at Shade's profile, she thought dazedly that perhaps Shade's appearance was truly a compensation given to her by fate.
Compensation for the heavy burdens placed upon her that no one had ever known.
"You used the die to reflect the misfortune of the [Puppeteer's Script], but we still don't know what the script has changed into because of that luck. Shade, let me perform a divination for you."
After a long while, Luvia suddenly spoke. Shade looked at her hesitantly
"Your mental state..."
"Just a simple, ordinary divination," the brown short-haired girl said softly. She stood up and took a set of divination cards from a metal rack where many divination supplies were placed. Although Rhode cards could be used for divination, Luvia generally did not use them.
"Just draw three."
Her mood was still somewhat low.
Shade kept his eyes on the girl opposite him and nodded hesitantly. Picking up the first three, he flipped them over himself. The cards were a fish, the deep sea, and a symbol representing "desire." Not a colored desire, but the sum of all desires.
This was a quite foul symbol; in divination cards, it was not a good omen. In occultism, such symbols were usually associated with evil spirits or even evil gods.
"What does this mean? I'll develop a desire for a fish in the deep sea?"
Shade made a small joke, hoping the girl across the table would smile.
But Luvia shook her head. Her lowered purple eyes lifted, the emotion within them complex
"I cannot interpret your fate, so Shade, you must interpret the results of this divination yourself. However, regarding the mouth in the palm beneath the red glove you mentioned, I seem to have heard of it at the Association. I will look up some information, but I cannot go to Coldwater Harbor to help you. Be careful with everything."
This was a signal for parting.
"Alright, you be careful as well. If you have need, come find me at St. Delan Square anytime."
Shade could only say this. Under his worried gaze, Luvia bid him a soft farewell and walked out of the room.
Watching her back, Shade momentarily saw the phantom of a more mature Luvia walking alongside her. That should be Luvia's "other self," but Shade didn't know why he was able to see her.
"I forgot to ask Luvia if it is currently the Sixth Epoch... though she'd probably just say my head is broken."
Shade muttered, finishing the tea in the cup before him. The price of a single divination was not cheap.
He stood up to leave, but then remembered today's Rhode card. After a moment of hesitation, he put his hands in his pockets and prepared to go to the Association to inquire about the situation.
(End of Chapter)