In the end, agreeing to Blake's proposal, we decided to visit this suspicious place at first glance.

The tent inside was a dark and small space, where it smelled of various herbs and incense.

Of the furniture, there was only a table and a couple of chairs, one of which was occupied by an elderly woman in an unusual purple robe. She was blind, and didn't react immediately as soon as we went inside.

— Good afternoon, mistress, » Blake greeted her first.

— I am glad to welcome you, young people, — the old woman groaned, — Would you like to have a session?

— Session? I asked.

— A session where you can see your future.

I reacted to such a proposal with obvious doubt, but decided not to voice my skeptical thoughts on this matter in front of this elderly lady.

After all, from the very beginning I saw it as nothing more than entertainment.

Besides, as Blake said, it is unlikely that we will be able to be here again in the near future, and it would be nice to have time to see the city in all its glory.

We sat down at the opposite side of the table, and I saw on its surface a crystal ball with foggy contents.

— What do we need to do? Blake asked.

— Touch the surface of the ball, — said the old woman, — Then you will plunge into a dream that will show you your future.

Even though I thought everything that was happening was just a stupid performance and quackery, I still felt interested.

To see the future…? Hmm… is it really even possible?

But if I really had such an opportunity, I would definitely not refuse it.

Feeling the same anticipation, Blake and I touched the crystal ball at the same time.

Nothing happened for the first couple of seconds, and I was about to be disappointed in all this again, when I suddenly felt a sudden dizziness.

After which, I was immediately attacked by drowsiness.

Involuntarily closing my eyes from fatigue, my body went limp on the chair, and I fell into a strange dream.

***

Blood. Rivers of blood.

The entire royal palace was on fire while the guards were trying to cope with the coming uprising.

Hundreds of people managed to fall from the swords of the invaders. Chaos and destruction enveloped this formerly peaceful place, sowing the spirit of death in it.

Hired assassins killed almost all the servants in a short time, and those who were lucky enough to survive so far ran away from here as fast as they could.

A young woman with emerald hair and a beautiful face was one of those lucky enough to avoid the mercenaries.

She ran through the corridors flooded with crimson rivers, trying to get out of the castle walls as quickly as possible.

However, when the cherished freedom was very little left, she was doomed.

The figure of a girl with short-cropped black hair appeared right in front of her. She was dressed as a mercenary, but she was by no means of inferior origin.

The young woman's eyes seemed redder than the fresh dark blood that covered her clothes and face.

The assassin took a few steps towards her, staring intently at the trembling noble lady.

—You broke your promise, » the Duchess of Cassius said in an impetuous voice, «You broke it. Do you know about this?

The tip of the bloody sword, touching the marble floor, began to make a loud grinding sound as she approached.

— R-Rachel…

«You promised you'd never betray me.»

— I'm sorry…

«Is that all you have to say for yourself?»

— I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry I lied to you.

— Are you sorry? You know that more than anything, I hate lying.

— …

The woman stood as still as a stone when the tip of the sword was raised above her neck.

— The day we met, you said you didn't think I was a monster. Is that still the case?

Brown blood dripped from the tip of the sword and dripped onto her clothes. The blood of countless people she knew. Even the king and his brother, whom Duchess Cassius killed in the first place.

The lady knew that her answer would determine whether she would live.

She closed her eyes and decided to trust fate.

— no. You're a monster…! Now, I'm sure of it.

And then, before her eyes, only darkness followed.

— Leriana… It's your fault. You raised this monster.

In the next second, Rachel Cassius cut her throat, and fell dead next to her former lover.

***

I woke up to the fact that Blake had been shaking my shoulder for a long time.

The fatigue that had covered me before instantly subsided, and when I opened my eyes, I blinked in surprise.

Did this session really work…?

— Leriana, how are you feeling? Blake asked worriedly, «I tried to wake you up for five whole minutes, but you didn't answer.

— Oh, that's… I'm all right.

I smiled and shook my head, making it clear that I had fully recovered.

Meanwhile, I strained my head, trying to remember at least something from this strange dream. But the only thing that came to my mind was… Red color.

My whole dream was tinged with this shade, and I had no idea what it could mean.

I caught myself thinking that I really felt uncomfortable in this place. Either from the strange incense and the atmosphere itself, or because of the dream that I just saw.

In the end, after paying the fortune teller for her service, we left the tent and headed down the street. It was almost evening, and it was time to return to the academy.

We walked in silence, each thinking about his own.

The prediction that the crystal ball gave me has not let me go until now. For some reason, it gave me a lot of anxiety, although I couldn't even really understand what it was.

Maybe all this is really just nonsense…?

As if reading my anxious thoughts on my face, Blake asked:

— What did the fortune-teller's ball show you?

When I came to my senses, I didn't know what to answer.

— It seems that this is something unusual, since you are so shocked, — the guy remarked, — You can share it with me.

I was embarrassed.

— Nothing special… — I hesitated a little before answering, — To be honest, I don't even remember what it was.

— Really?

— Yes… And moreover, it is unlikely that it is something important. I told you I don't believe in such things.

The black rabbit nodded understandingly, and then I remembered that I still hadn't asked him about it.

— And you? What did you see?

He let out a chuckle.

— Are you really interested?

— Of course! — I smiled, — Come on, tell me! Your life will definitely be more interesting than mine.

— Well…

A mysterious smile appeared on Blake's face.

— There's really nothing there… I'll tell you later.

— what? — I drawled in disappointment, — Why? Can't you do it now?

— All in good time, — the guy continued to speak in strange phrases, the meaning of which I did not understand, — Sooner or later, you will find out about everything anyway.

After Blake refused to tell me anything, I was briefly offended by him. But I soon stopped when I saw something that completely took my attention.

When we came to the city square, where the academy was just around the corner, we decided to stay for a while to admire the rare beauty.

When it was almost completely dark, fireworks were launched in the capital, which painted the sky above us with colorful lights and turned this place into a real fairy tale.

I lifted my head and couldn't take my eyes off.

In a previous life, fireworks were my favorite sight, which I watched even from the windows of my ward.

The first time I saw them as a child with my mother on a city holiday, and since then it has always remained for me the most vivid memory.

— How beautiful… — these words involuntarily escaped from my mouth when another purple flash swept over us.

— I agree. That's very beautiful.

Blake agreed, but he wasn't looking up at all, but at… me. However, being carried away by the night sky, I couldn't notice it.

We watched the fireworks for some more time, until at the same time we remembered that we were already significantly late for the curfew.

Hurrying, I was about to run towards the main gate, when Blake suddenly stopped me by grabbing the edge of my sleeve.

— I was surprised by his unexpected action, — Blake, what are you doing? We're about to be late!

— Can you give me just one minute? — the guy suddenly asked.

— what?

«It won't take long…» the black rabbit was embarrassed, looking down at his shoes, «I just want to get it done before we get back to the academy.

— What do you mean? I didn't understand.

«Leriana, you… you haven't chosen who you're going to the banquet with yet, have you?»

— Well, I…

— In that case, do you agree to become my partner?