The voices in the corridor filtered through the wooden door of the dormitory, starting as a vague hum before gradually becoming clear.
Many students were discussing in the hallway, their conversations repeatedly mentioning one name.
Erylin.
Ain opened his eyes. The wooden grain on the ceiling shimmered with a faint golden hue in the morning light. It took him a full two seconds to remember that this was his dormitory.
“I’m not quite used to this bed yet; I feel like I didn't sleep well last night.”
He needed to head to the library to look up some information and think carefully about how to increase Mordred’s mana conversion value.
Ain grumbled to himself, and after finishing his morning routine, he stepped out of the dormitory.
The sounds of discussion immediately flooded his ears.
“It’s true! The score sheet on the bulletin board is up. Erylin’s practical score from yesterday is zero!”
“I really hope you’re not talking about Senior Erylin from the third year. How could she possibly get a zero?”
“Not just her. Senior Silas, who was on her team, also got a zero. He’s one of the top students in the practical classes!”
“Senior Silas was there too? Then it’s even more impossible! How could two Tier 3 Mages only get a zero?”
“Could they have been sabotaged?”
“No way, Senior Erylin has such a good reputation with everyone!”
In Ain’s memory, this was the first time this dormitory building had been so lively.
“Oh, Ain?”
“You’re... Lucan?”
Ain remembered this student from his own year; he seemingly lived right next door.
Lucan, a Tier 2 Mage and a member of the Soul Lighthouse.
Unlike other departments, the Soul Lighthouse was merely a school-certified private organization. It held no real power and only existed to resolve students’ psychological issues.
In his memory, after the news of the original owner using forbidden magic spread throughout the entire grade, only Lucan was willing to interact with him, even offering him psychological counseling.
Though the original owner hadn't been appreciative and had even insulted him.
“You look like you’re in good spirits,” Lucan said with a smile, appearing not to care about Ain’s previous behavior.
“Thanks. I want to apologize for my earlier actions, Lucan. I’m sorry for saying so many foul things to you back then.”
Upon hearing Ain’s words, Lucan, who had been prepared for a cold shoulder, showed a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected Ain to apologize to him.
Not only that, the person in front of him was different from the perpetually gloomy student in his memories.
“Hey! Lucan, I heard that Senior Silas wasn't the only one on Senior Erylin’s team! Someone said they saw her invite a sophomore to join them!”
“My god, who could be that lucky?!”
A student draped an arm over Lucan’s shoulder from behind, forcing Lucan, who had intended to reply, to look back.
“Sigh, they’re probably just rumors. Weren't there scandals about Senior Erylin circulating last time too?”
“Last year, some people even said the Academy Principal was actually a current student. Honestly, the people who believe those rumors are beyond help.”
The student behind him didn't rush to argue, instead leaning in mysteriously to whisper in Lucan’s ear.
“This time it’s for real. Someone said the sophomore’s name is Ain!”
“Ain... Ain?!”
Lucan’s eyes widened, and he quickly looked to his side.
Ain had already left.
“What’s wrong? Why such a big reaction?”
“No... it’s nothing.”
Even if it wasn't a rumor, the Ain they were talking about probably wasn't that guy.
It was likely just someone with the same name.
...
Ain walked through the academy park, his hands constantly fiddling with several magic circles the size of coins.
“How do I use Divination Magic again?”
In Ain’s memory, Divination Magic was different from ordinary magic. It didn't have specific Tiers, but its learning difficulty was no less than any Tier 3 spell.
“Fato, gvidas min. (Fate, guide me.)”
As the incantation ended, the magic circles in his hand transformed into cards composed of golden patterns, which stacked neatly in Ain’s palm.
【Divination Magic: Cards of Canal】
【Proficiency: Max】
【Rank: None】
【Description: Consumes the user’s mana based on the content of the divination. The less contact the user has with the event in reality, the more mana is required, and the accuracy will significantly decrease.】
【Required Mana (MP): TBD】
There were forty-eight Cards of Canal in total.
The cards were divided into three types: God Cards, Spirit Cards, and Mortal Cards.
Beginner scholars could only use card spreads to interpret the imagery of the Cards of Canal, but Mages with a certain level of expertise could consume a certain amount of mana to let the cards provide varying degrees of guidance.
The former were known as Divination Scholars, while the latter were called Diviners.
Normally, a Diviner could not perform more than two divinations in a single day. This was unrelated to mana consumption and was instead a restriction of Divination Magic itself.
The more one relied on the foresight of divination, the more blurred their own destiny became.
“What are you doing?”
A sudden voice interrupted Ain’s thoughts as light brown hair fluttered into his vision.
At some point, a beautiful girl with refined features and an outstanding appearance had stood beside him. Her eyes shimmered with a faint starlight as she stared intently at Ain.
“Nothing.”
Glancing at her attire, Ain tucked the Cards of Canal into his pocket and walked forward without looking back.
“Hey, hey, wait up!”
“What is it?”
“This is for you.”
Ain confusedly took the gold coin the girl handed him. Unlike a regular Golden Branch Coin, several high-tier magic circuits were engraved upon this one.
“Corona Gold? Why are you giving me this?”
Ain remembered this type of coin. In the original plot, this was a currency worth several times more than Golden Branch Coins; a single Corona Gold was equivalent to over ten thousand Golden Branch Coins.
This girl was actually this wealthy?
“Heehee. Great Divination Scholar, I think you must be in need of your first customer of the day.”
The girl smiled, her eyes revealing a hint of anticipation.
She recognized the Divination Magic in his hands?
Thinking to himself, the temptation of the gold coin made Ain re-evaluate the girl in front of him.
After observing her for a moment, Ain reached a conclusion.
Only an idiot would turn down easy money!
“Of course, I would be happy to be of service, Miss. However, my fees are quite expensive. This little bit might not be enough to cover the cost of a divination.”
“One Corona Gold isn't enough? Don’t you Divination Scholars often say that ‘money is a profanation of fate’?”
The girl was somewhat surprised.
Ain smiled, shaking the Corona Gold in his hand, and then made a show of being about to leave.
“This is a non-refundable deposit.”
“Wait, wait!”
The girl pulled on Ain’s sleeve with a pained expression and pulled another Corona Gold from her pocket, handing it to Ain.
“Here.”
Seeing that the man still didn't move, the girl looked at him in confusion, only to see Ain hold up three fingers and wave them in front of her eyes.
The girl felt like crying without tears.
How could there be such a rogue Diviner!
“Ugh... I—can I choose not to have the divination?”
“Of course, but the deposit is non-refun—”
Before he could finish, the girl exasperatedly stuffed the third Corona Gold into Ain’s hand.
“Take it!”
“Oh, my heavens. Beautiful and charming Gold... Miss, I’m sure the Goddess of Fate will see your destiny clearly and clear all obstacles from your path.”
“You... you just wanted to say beautiful gold coins, didn't you!”
“You must be joking. We Diviners never care for such worldly possessions. Money is simply a profanation of fate!”
“...”
The girl no longer knew what to say.
“So, beautiful Miss, what would you like to divine?”
The girl pouted her lips in dissatisfaction, crossing her arms over her chest as she said softly, “I want to know, if a person has two identities—the first is needed by others, and the second is what she herself needs—which identity is the real her?”
“Happy to be of service.”
Seeing several magic circles light up in Ain’s hand, the girl frowned and looked at him with great dissatisfaction.
“Aren't you going to ask me for specific details? You’re just starting the divination like that? You aren't trying to swindle me, are you?”
Ain didn't reply immediately, only smiling as he held out the Cards of Canal and said softly, “Draw one.”
The girl hesitantly drew a card. It was printed with a silvery-white scale.
【7】The Arbiter
God Card (White Card)
Upright Meaning: Scales that never tilt; absolute justice.
Reversed Meaning: An unfair judgment; a helpless, erroneous verdict.
“Put this card at the top of the deck.”
After the girl complied, Ain shuffled the deck and said softly, “Draw another.”
The card drawn this time depicted a small figure lost at a crossroads, with a single star in the dark night illuminating one of the paths.
【17】The Star
Mortal Card
Upright Meaning: Hope and opportunity; transformation after the storm; a bright and promising future.
Reversed Meaning: Inverted direction; wrong guidance; lost hope.
Ain took back the girl’s card, shuffled the deck again, and several magic circles flashed in his hand.
As the effect of the magic circles faded, only one card remained in Ain’s hand.
【2】The Fateweaver
God Card (White Card)
Upright Meaning: The weaving of destiny; a fated encounter.
Reversed Meaning: The rupture of fate; an unavoidable backlash.
The first was reversed, the second was upright, and the third was also upright.
After a moment of thought, Ain manifested the previous Star card again and handed it to the girl.
“A person should not let an identity bind their true self. Neither of those two identities is the real her—or perhaps, both are her. The need and being needed of an identity are merely excuses to deceive oneself.”
“She is simply feeling uneasy about her current situation and is anxious for comfort from others.”
“I believe this Star card is the answer you seek.”
With that, Ain gently unpinned the insignia from the girl’s chest and reattached it properly.
“By the way, your badge was on upside down.”
After finishing this, Ain left without looking back.
The girl looked at the insignia on her chest and froze for a moment. Then, she stamped her feet and looked toward the direction Ain had left in exasperation.
“So this guy knew my identity all along!”
“No wonder he asked me for three Corona Gold coins!”
“Aaaah! You jerk! Give me back my money!”
Rate on N.U.
