As the carriage began to move, Caelum, still lost in thought, began to feel heavier the closer they got to Vienna. In a panic, he turned and asked his mother, "Why do I feel lighter?" She turned and looked at him, saying it was natural to feel heavier, as kids who haven't traveled much always feel that way.
Caelum continued, 'Do you know why that is?' he asked as she went silent and said to him, 'Nobody knows why. 'All they know is that when traveling to some cities, the mana in the air becomes thicker than normal, and Vienna is that type of city.'
As Caelum turned to look at her in confusion, he asked, "What is mana?" Before she could reply, the carriage came to a stop, and the coachman opened the door, saying, "Welcome, my lady. We have arrived in Vienna, the city of music and arts."
As soon as Caelum stepped down from the carriage, he froze.
Before him, melodies drifted through the air from every direction. The gentle cry of violins mingled with the bright notes of flutes, while the distant boom of drums echoed somewhere deeper within the city.
As it stretched to a grand circular plaza where several wide stone streets branched out like the spokes of a wheel, each leading toward a different district of the city. Elegant buildings of white stone and polished brick lined the roads, their balconies draped with colorful banners that fluttered gently in the breeze.
As street musicians performed beneath colorful awnings with children dancing around them.
A young woman practiced on a harp beside a fountain, while an elderly man played a cello so beautifully that passersby stopped to listen before continuing on their way.
With Caelum utterly speechless at how beautiful the streets of the city sound
Diana, who had fallen asleep, woke up to the multiple melodies playing and rubbed her eyes and asked sleepily, "Are we there yet?"
"Yes, Diana," Mother replied while she looked very happy as she saw multiple instruments playing, and she asked Mother if she could get one before they leave. Mother,r with a tired expression, replied, "Yes, don't worry;y that would be your gift for accompanying me to this event."
After finally sitting up, Mother told Scarlett to hold both of her hands, explaining that there was going to be a crowd. Scarlett replied, "Yes, ma'am." After making sure they didn't leave anything behind, she quickly asked, "Scarlett, did you pack my opera glasses before we left?" Scarlett responded, "Yes, madam. It's in your handbag."
After confirming they were present, they began to move forward into the city.
While walking, Caelum started to see multiple nobles with their children and many stores on every corner. Some people were holding instruments, heading down the plaza. Caelum asked Mother, "Who are they?" She replied joyfully.
You'll see Caelum. Let's get to our destination first as they began to move and reached the heart of the plaza.
Caelum noticed two towering marble statues: one of a man holding a conductor's baton toward the heavens. Around its base, sculpted musicians played violins, flutes, harps, and trumpets, as though performing an eternal concert. A crystal fountain surrounded the monument, its waters catching the afternoon sunlight and scattering tiny rainbows across the square.
"The second statue depicted a stern man with flowing hair and a thick beard. Clad in imperial robes and wearing a large crown, he rested his hands on the hilts of two swords in front of him.
As Caelum saw some people behind the statue he looked over and saw a black canvas and two people one was painting a portrait of the other. Caelum said internally that he really wants one and asked his mother whether they can have a portrait painted of them before they go she Replied you kids really want to empty my wallet reluctantly she said, " Yes, this would be your gift today.
As Caelum looked at both statues, he noticed one was grander than the other. Out of curiosity, he turned to ask Scarlett, "Do you know who these statues are of?" She replied in a tired tone, "I do not know, young Master."
Then, behind them, a man carrying an instrument chimed in, saying, "The grander monument is dedicated to Luciano Caruso the greatest opera performer in history. His descendants still rule Vienna to this day."
"And the other is Emperor Alfred Huang Tao, humanity's greatest emperor and the ancestor of today's royal family who helped unify humanity and founded the slomire empire."
Legends say he is also humanities strongest swordsman and the greatest military commander in recorded history that why ever major city has a statue of him.
Immediately, Caelum and Scarlett turned around and asked, "Who are you?" The man, wearing a white shirt and a black tie with a violin in his hands, quickly said, " for scaring you."
"My name is Leonard. I was passing by when I heard your question, and since you're new here, I felt it was my responsibility to inform visitors. I apologize if I overstepped."
He gave a short bow to Mother and asked, "Why do you look familiar?" He thought for a moment and then asked, "Are you Count Ashbourne's wife, by any chance?" Mother replied, "Yes, I am why are you asking Leonard replied I saw a crest on your carriage before you came out and was wondering if it might be them mother replied It's us is there a problem?"
Leonard looked at her and said with a bow It's me former Lieutenant Leonard.
I used to work for Mr Ashbourne before he became a count.
I attended your wedding as he responded." As her mother heard that, she thought for a moment but couldn't remember. Noticing this, Leonard quickly opened his violin case and took out a small picture frame.
The moment she saw the picture, she quickly apologized, saying, "Ahh, Leonard—you were serving as a lieutenant for my husband back when he was still in the Navy."
When Caelum heard "Navy," he shouted in surprise, "Since when was Father in the Navy?" Mother replied immediately, "It's been a while." After answering, Caelum quickly asked, "How are you doing lately?" Leonard replied, "I am doing fine, thank you."
Leonard turned and asked, "Are you perhaps going to the opera?"Mother replied, "Yes, I am," and you, Leonard, nodded, saying, "I am performing at today's show," and brought out four tickets, saying, "Because it's you here," and gave out four tickets while saying, "I haven't seen you in a while and since you are heading to the opera house, the least I could do was give you free tickets."
Mother went silent for a brief moment, contemplating whether to take them or not, but ultimately decided to collect them so as not to disrespect the man.
As we were walking close to the area, a crowd of people suddenly joined us, and their shoulders began to hit us, and without warning, Caelum lost sight of Scarlett and Diana.
As he was looking for a way back to the.
He walked up to the different people passing by and asked Excuse me sir but do u know the way to the Vienna Opera House the man wearing a black top hat and black coat turned to the boy and asked which one? he asked the boy Caelum turned and met the man's gaze and began to stammer I don't know the man noticing the little boys plight showed him the location of the two opera houses and quietly left.
Cealum still searching stumbled into a black tent by mistake and was about to leave when he suddenly heard a hoarse woman's voice sounded from behind him.
Would you like to try a divination little one? "
Caelum subconsciously turned and saw a woman wearing a pointed hat and a long white dress sitting in front of a table.
Her face was smeared with black and yellow paint and her eyes were a profound purplish-blue.
No, " Caelum shook his head in response. He did not have the spare cash for divination and was lost looking for his mother.
The woman laughed and said, "My tarot divination is very accurate and maybe it can help u locate her. "
"Tarot…" Caelum was instantly dumbfounded felt like as if this situation was quite familiar but couldn't put his finger on where this familiarity came from.
And thought how could such a thing exist here but the way the woman pronounced it was almost identical to the tarot cards on Earth!
And to his memory tarot cards from Earth were a set of cards used for divination. They just had graphics that represented different omens and said internally there's no way they can be similar not possible but was curious nonetheless.
And what are tarot cards the woman replied that tarot cards were first introduced by Emperor Albert Huang Tao as a set of seventy eight used during divination and since the rise of spirit magic the moment Caelum heard that he immediately thought of spirit magic she continued It's become more accurate.
And asked little one do you want one or not but after hearing about tarot cards out of curiosity he sat down and asked am broke and can't pay the woman smiled saying since you are my first customer it's on the house the moment caelum heard that he immediately asked is the card reading and divination free or is one free and the other paid for.
The woman laughed and said Little one your a strange one but yes the full package is free.
Caelum laughed internally saying this would be fun as he had seen scammers like this in his previous life and mumbled If you are really that capable, try divining that I was reborn here! He said internally
As he sat down and began to notice the interior of the tent.
The tent's interior was extremely dark, illuminated only by several beams of light that managed to seep inside.
A table covered with paper cards could be made out faintly in the low illumination
The woman with the sharp pointy hat was not affected by this at all. Her long white dress glided as though it was moving over water while she went around to the table. She sat on the opposite side and lit a candle.
The dim yellow light flickered, causing the inside of the tent to appear bright and dark at the same time. It instantly added a much more mysterious feel to the atmosphere and Caelum began to shake in excitement as he had always wanted to try this type of thing as he always wanted to try this but didn't have the money then but now that someone was offering he couldn't refuse.
Caelum sat down quietly, his gaze sweeping over the tarot cards on the table where he discovered familiar cards like "The Fool, " "The Justice, " "The Hanged, " and " The Sun," etc.
Could Alfred have been a 'fellow reincarnation I wonder if he was also a citizen of my world, Caelum mumbled to himself subconsciously.
Before he could finish looking at the opened cards on the table, the woman who claimed to have accurate divinations had already reached out her hands to gather all of the cards together.
She stacked them into a deck and pushed it in front of him.
Shuffle the cards first and cut the deck, " the fortune-teller said in a muted voice.
Me? Shuffle? " Caelum asked outwardly but inside he was very excited.
The black and yellow paint on the fortune-teller's face squirmed together as she revealed a slight smile, saying, "Of course, everyone's destiny can only be unraveled by themselves. I only serve as a reader of it. "
Caelum immediately questioned her warily, "This reading does not require additional fees, right? "
As a former university student, he had been scammed quite a lot back then and was quite wary of such things.
The fortune-teller was visibly tired of answering before finally saying muffledly, "It's free all of it before adding honestly u are way too paranoid for a child caelum smiled taking it as a compliment.
Caelum was finally relieved immediately
reached out his two hands to shuffle and cut the deck skillfully.
It's done. " He placed the already shuffled tarot cards in the middle of the table The fortune-teller clasped the cards with both her hands and carefully looked at the cards for a while. Then, she suddenly opened her mouth and said, "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask, but what would you like to ask about? "
Back when he was wooing his first love, back in his former world, Caelum had also read books on tarot cards. He asked unhesitatingly, "Past, present, and future. "
This was a type of divination as part of tarot card interpretation—three cards when opened sequentially symbolized one's past, present, and future.
The fortune-teller reached out her fingers and picked a card from the top of the deck. Then she placed it on the left side of the caelum. Her voice was going lower and lower as she spoke, "This card symbolizes your past. "
This card symbolizes your present. " The fortune-teller placed the second card right in front of Caelum
Then, she picked the third card and put it on the right side of Caelum.
Alright, which card would you like to see first? " The fortune-teller raised her head after completing her placement of the cards and gazed deeply at Caelum with her purplish silver eyes.
I'll have a look at the 'future' first, " Caelum said after giving it some thought.
The fortune-teller nodded slowly and flipped over the tarot card that was directly in front of Caelum.
A skeleton in black armor riding a pale white horse holding a black banner decorated with a white rose
With the Roman writing for thirteen.
Caelum after seeing this was visibly scared as the woman called out the name " Death, " the fortune teller said worriedly.
The moment Caelum heard the name he wanted to run away and asked himself Why is death in my future is this woman a sham or just cursing me in spirit and began to shake but got curious about the present and past cards, thinking she was fake and so he pressed on to see the end of this possible sham he told himself.
Asking I would like to have a look at the present next as the fortune teller flipped the present card, Caelum saw.
a crowned, armored warrior driving a blocky stone chariot with two sphinx pulling it one black and the other white.
Caelum thought that the card looked cool as the woman called out its name chariot caelum was stunned as he heard that and tried to remember what that card meant. It was only after a few seconds that it dawned on him that the card meant hardship.
As the fortune teller looked at the card she asked Caelum politely saying Little one what kind of fate does the world have for you that your present his filled with hardship and future death caelum looked at her with a blank expression.
Caelum thought you were the one divining how should I know she immediately asked are u interested in your past before he replied.
He heard someone calling out his name from outside the tent he tried to figure out whose voice it was he listenined first before replying noticing that the voice sounded feminine he thought it was Scarlett and responded I'm here immediately.
As the woman heard the response she quickly entered and saw Caelum asking in a furious tone How did you get here while adding It's a good thing I found you or else the madam would have my head and thanked the fortune teller, and the fortune teller with a scared and worried face responded No problem as Caelum was quickly carried out.
The only thing on Caelum's mind at that time was whether this fortune teller was real or fake but if she was what did those cards mean?