"I don't think we will find anything else in here, Master."
"Probably not… We were quite lucky already, after all with what we could find out about Iky and the Mirror, so it's alright to stop for now. I am still curious about the prophecy through, so will go search for information about that tomorrow."
"And the rest of today we…?"
"You get to decide."
"Date!"
Although he let out a sigh at the obvious of that response, he saw no reason to object her request. She did find that book in expectation of a reward, which this would count for. So he agreed and they spent the rest of the day together, which they would have done anyway but now they were spending time differently.
The next day started as any other, and Yamato was already starting to despise the repetitiveness of vacation days. Even though they were doing something different everyday, school in general seemed to become more and more annoying to him. He was also starting to question the usefulness of trhe education he was receiving, as Yuki would probably be a more reliable and efficient teacher in all areas he would be interested in. But regardless, they went into the city and walked around the streets in search of a local business that looked like it would provide information on ancient prophecies, like a museum for example.
"Master? Wouldn't it make sense to ask the twins for advice? I believe they mentioned growing up in these streets and earning money any way they could. I imagine they know about this city well enough to guide us."
"Perchance… Though I believe the part of the city we search is where they rarely set foot in. Even if they could help us with directions, I don't think we really need to get them involved. Besides, they need to study to keep up as much as they can, if they want to stay useful in this environment."
"Is there a reason you don't want them involved in this?"
"No particular one, why?"
"Well, maybe you don't want them to know about the prophecy or that whole stuff because you don't want to worry them, because you secretly developed feelings due to my affectionate love and now you love me with all your heart whe want to get married!"
"Impressive how you made that about you so quickly…"
"I take that as a maybe~"
He sighed as he spotted a small shop in a darker area leading away from the main street. It appeared to be a fortune teller, which in his old world, he took for a scam, but in a world with magic in it? He was quite interested and wanted to at least check it out. Though he did not have high hopes for it since if it were legit, how come there were so little customers? Surely knowing the future was a universal desire of humanity and all conscious races in this world, so there would have to be a good reason for people to avoid it despite it being legit.
Entering the shop through a dark curtain, his eyes darted around the room and stopped on the old woman sitting in the middle of the room on the ground, with a small table infront of her. From what he could tell, she appeared to be blind. Otherwise the room had paintings on the walls and was quite run down. Anything in it seemed old and in bad condition, with hardly any value.
"Excuse us, may we enter?"
"Of course, my boy… What brings you and your girlfriend to me?"
"We were just curious and wanted to take a look inside…"
"If I had to guess then she just listened to our steps and assumed that Yuki is my girlfriend, and of course she had no way of knowing that she is even a girl, unless she has some sort of magic that lets her see despite being blind… Either way, it was meant to impress me. A trick of a saleswoman…"
"Oh, that is alright. Come, sit down with me, please."
Yamato sat down in front of the table which Yuki did as well, as close to him as possible of course.
"So… How does this work? And what do you charge?"
"I don't charge anything, you can pay me whatever you believe it to he worth it. And it works the following… Just tell me what you want to know about your, and I will answer it."
"It is that simple?"
"Yes, of course."
Yuki immediately asked.
"Will we get married? If so, when and how and will he love me and only me forever?"
Although Yamato had expected this, he was somewhat impressed by her direct approach. So he did not cut her off and let her get her answer, though doubting it to be credible.
"Ah, I sense great passion in you, young woman… Still going to school and already thinking about marriage, love and a family… Let me find it out for you…"
"Please do!"
"I see… You two together… Starting a family… Very soon, yes. You are soulmates, no doubt about it."
"Ah, really?!"
"What a bullshit answer… I'm not close in starting a family with Master, I still have a long way ahead of me for that. Yet this old hag thinks it can scam me and play with my feelings! Just telling me what I want to hear, you…! But then again, she didn't charge anything… If I were her, I'd charge the shit out of my customers in advance, and then tell them whatever they want to hear. I'd even do a couple special where one partner can come to me in advance and tell me what he wants me to say to their partner, for a little extra of course. Boom, super business model! All my earnings go to presents for Master~"
"Yes, I can see it clearly… You will be very happy, but there will also be great suffering along the way."
"Whose suffering?"
"Not yours, nor his. Someone close to you, someone who trusts you. That is all I have to say."
"Well that doesn't help us at all!"
"Hm… What about you, young man?"
"What about me?"
"You still haven't asked your question."
"…I'm looking for something."
"Ah, a hidden truth, something no one else knows of."
"Something like that."
"Well, I can't help you with that. I can only tell you this… The path you walk leads through destruction and death, and the knowledge you seek might be closer than you think. If you want to keep what is yours, there will he a moment where you have to chose between what you want, what you need, and what you think you deserve. I can see greatness in you… A greatness unlike most, that you can see yourself. But with greatness comes pride, and with pride the loss of humility."
"I see…"
"You will know when the time comes, my boy. Do not worry about the timing, but the decision itself. That is all I have to say."
"Then we will leave. Thank you for your time."
Yuki stood up and straightened her clothes before walking out behind Yamato, but stopped along the way.
"I have one more question…"
"Everyone only gets one, I'm afraid."
"It's not about fortune telling. That painting over there on the wall… Where did you get that?"
She turned to an old painting, depicting a clown at the top of a mountain, which reached so high that he was close to the stars, with masses of humans climbing up to him, and angels striking from above, trying to kick him off, at which he only laughs and extends his arms, welcoming their efforts while reaching for the stars above.
"Oh in that case… It is an old painting. It has been in my family for generations. The Emissary of The Stars. There is a whole legend around him, but nowadays only a story told to children remains."
"Would you mind telling me that story?"
"No, not at all…
A long, long time ago, when the stars where not in order yet and fighting amongst themselves for a place in the sky, the Emissary born with the Stars came and stopped their war, promising everyone a place to be seen.
When life was created, still under gods command, he tricked him, said if he wanted them to grow useful, he needed to give up a fraction of his power to them. Through it we were granted free will, god forever furious with him, we forever grateful.
When wars broke out, amongst the races, he flew away into the endless spaces. Searching for the mighty treasures, Unikums, creators of the universe, instruments of power. Gifting them to us, sharing them so we all would have enough to feel safe and secure.
When the Sun was about to explode, it was him who flew inside. Rewinding it, so we could be. Forever trapped inside the flame, never to see through the light that he became."
"Huh… Interesting."
With that she grabbed Yamato's hand and they left the shop together, going back onto the main street.
"Oh well… Nothing about the prophecy. Only a new myth, that sucks, Master."
"It's alright… It was a long shot anyway. Why did you ask about that painting?"
"Because it was pretty, like me~"
"Ah… I suppose it was."
"What do you make of The Emissary of The Stars, Master?"
"The painting or the person themselve?"
"Both."
"Well the painting obviously reflects the story she told, him rebelling and helping humanity… The mention of the Unikums was quite unexpected as well, but now we know their importance goes deeper than originally thought. The fact that he is depicted as a clown could mean he is in the wrong from the artist's perspective. That they see the Emissary as a fool that thinks of himself above the laws of heaven… Or something like that. Who knows.
About the entity themselve, I believe they were a kind person."
"That's all…?"
"Yes. I don't have anything to add to that description."
"You're being vague on purpose!"
"There is nothing vague about simplicity, Yuki."
"There kinda is but alright…"