"Good for you, Flame Lord, great even! Now, I also have an announcement, or actually a proposition!" the Thunder Lord clamored.
He had?! Seeing how many seemed confused, it seemed like the "One Clad in Flames" Prophecy wasn't common knowledge. Yet, the ones in the know were already frowning.
It was BAD!
Flame Mansion + Thunder Palace = Invincible alliance!
A marriage offer wouldn't have mattered for any other faction, but those two factions were special… they only had one heir! It was the equivalent of a 100% merger!
Sure, both were still young, but what would happen once they grew up a little? Besides, the Flame Lord and the Thunder Lord weren't known for their political fondness.
If they left everything to the youngsters in a few years, there would only be one Fiery Thunder Palace, more united than ever! Knowing this, the Wind Lord interrupted.
"Thunder Lord, please keep it for later. I fear too much excitement at once would be bad for my old heart." He chuckled.
ραпdα Йᴏνê|(сòm) Old? Even if the man was 100 years old, he still didn't have a single wrinkle. Who was he trying to fool?! Besides, no way a Platinum Rank like him had to worry about that!
"Oh? Is that so? Don't worry too much, my Windborn friend. My proposition is very auspicious; I'm sure your heart will be just fine."
Auspicious? So he really was planning a marriage proposal! At this moment, Jack reacted like the other Lords: he felt threatened!
After all, even he had no clue how the Flame Lord would reply. If she accepted, he'd have a LOT of explaining to do to cancel the whole thing. No, it was better to block it now!
Jack made his move just as the Lords were engaging in "friendly" banter with passive-aggressive tones. He nodded toward Lizzy, who instantly understood.
Without anyone noticing, she actually excused herself, leaving the venue. It was time for her to start Mission "Sketchy Oracle"!
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A little while ago…
Somewhere in the high district.
"Wow! This food really is great! Had I known there were cooks so amazing here, I would have visited Dawn city long ago!" A man blissfully devoured a very peculiar dish.
This was the first time in his life he was eating sushi, and he couldn't get enough of it! The sauce by the side was especially tasty, enough to render him speechless!
Little did he know that the "local" specialty he was devouring at the moment was anything but local. In fact, no one around here would have even known of it.
"How is it? Have you eaten enough, mister?" The freckled young lady sitting in front of him was the epitome of cute and seemed to carry joy with her.
"Hehe, so tasty! I'll never have enough of this!" He happily chuckled. "Now, I really owe you one. You said you wanted me to read your Fortune, right?"
"Exactly! How long does that take? Is it hard?"
"Hehe, it's fine. I'm an expert!"
The man had come from far away and had long studied Divination. Officially, he was here to meet with a fellow Diviner, but actually, he had come to investigate Fortuna Mountain.
Even now, he still trembled every time he thought about it.
What kind of godly power could bring down the Fate God's Temple? After all, the Temple's power would adjust itself to the level of whoever challenged it.
Platinum? No way! It had to be Diamond… or perhaps even Legend Rank! Those ranks were believed to be unachievable, but perhaps…
"Mister Diviner, actually, the reading isn't for me, but for a friend! Would it be fine to help him? He's at a nearby tavern, drinking alone." The cute girl gently asked.
"Of course!" This was the least he could do to repay the sumptuous meal he had just been given. As for this being a trap… He couldn't sense any evil intent.
Thus, they went to meet a certain individual. But, before they could arrive, a messenger went to get her, and she had to leave in a hurry!
Even then, the Divination Master didn't think much of it. He'd still meet her friend and read his Fortune. After all, she was delightful, and he owed her.
Said friend turned out to be a youngster who couldn't have been more optimistic. At this moment, he was even grinning, not believing how lucky he had been!
He was actually a Fire Mage from the adventurer guild. He didn't compare to a Fiery Fox in terms of firepower, but he made up for it in spirit.
As the Divination Master appeared, he focused, inwardly repeating the mission's directives.
'Get my palm read, agree with whatever the Divination student says, and smile a LOT!' For all he knew, he was helping a Newbie Diviner get his confidence back.
It didn't take long for a Divination Master and a naive Fire Mage to sit together, each thinking they were helping the other.
"You've been stuck at the Bronze level for a while…."
"Yes, exactly! So insightful You're the best!"
"You're a young man who—"
"Precisely! You're amazing!"
No matter what one said, the other would happily reply with a grin larger than the world. It even reached the point that the Master believed this friend to have mental issues.
In any case, the session wasn't too long, and the two quickly parted ways. As far as they or the world was concerned, nothing really happened, the event merely an afterthought.
Until today, that is.
Lizzy carefully made her way to the Adventurer's guild, making the last preparations. At her side were a couple of disguised foxes that she was in charge of leading.
As soon as she arrived, she was welcomed by the clanging of weapons. Hyped by the Flame Masquerade, a friendly tournament was being organized here, and she was just in time.
Lizzy quickly spotted her target, a certain Fire Mage youngster.
She waited for his fight to begin, she waited for him to be in danger, and just as he was about to be trouble, they sneakily provided "help."
"I won't go down that easily! I'm Johny, the courageous Fire M—"
"WHAT the fuck?! Dude, you're on fire?!"
Screams echoed all over, the youngster consumed by an inferno. But the strangest thing was that he didn't seem to take any damage?! How peculiar!
Just when people were getting confused, some random bystander exclaimed. "Ah! The flames are protecting him?! One Clad in Flames, AWESOME!"
Even then, no one thought much of it. It wasn't the worst nickname they had heard, so they just rolled with it. "One Clad in Flames? It checks out, haha!"
"Shit, that Fire Armor is cool as hell! Little brother, how did you do that?! Teach me, will you? Pretty please!" The other Adventurers didn't take long to crowd around him happily.
Surrounded by his fellow Adventurers, the youngster never noticed the scheming young alchemist nor the disguised foxes leaving, nor did he notice a certain man's reaction.
'One Clad in Flames?!' To everyone else, it was just a cheesy nickname, but to a particular purple-wearing soldier, it felt like a canon had just been fired right next to his ear!
This was HUGE! Without waiting, he hurriedly rushed away, heading for the Fiery Masquerade. 'Please let me be in time. Please let me be in time.' He kept murmuring.
Of course, he never noticed the snickering foxes hiding in the shadows…
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Back at the Masquerade…
Even now, the Lords still argued! "… Besides, we really shouldn't overshadow the Flame Lord right now. She's gone through the trouble of organizing this whole event after all!"
Most spectators were utterly confused. What the hell was the Thunder Lord's proposition about, and why were the other lords banding together to stop it?
At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if they started fighting! Yet, just as things were getting tenser and tenser, a holler suddenly interrupted it all.
"S-sir, messenger for the Thunder Lord, it's urgent!"
The latter grumbled as he slowly moved toward the exit.
At this moment, an amused yet cold light glowed in his eyes. 'The fools thought buying time would do any good? They were sorely mistaken!' But then he met the messenger.
"W-what?! One Clad in Flames… Are you 100% sure?!" The Thunder Lord suspiciously gazed at his subordinate.
"Yes, Sir! That's what everyone was calling him, at least! It could just be a coincidence, but—"
"Listen, and listen well." The Thunder Lord decisively gave plenty of directives as he quickly returned to the Masquerade. Seeing him return, many tensed.
"Thunder Lord, about your proposition…."
"Actually, there's no need anymore. I've changed my mind. Let's just enjoy the party, shall we?" At this moment, he appeared amiable, yet countless thoughts swirled in his mind.
Was this real? Was this a coincidence? ….Or was someone trying to play a trick? Either way, he'd soon get to the bottom of it!
A little distance away, Jack grinned.
'Wait till you discover how that "Divination Master" of yours met with the "One Clad in Flames." I wonder how much you'll trust that Prophecy afterward…."
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