"There's a very strange rumor about 'The Stage' maze-lock. When destiny and the stage converge, the ability undergoes a bizarre and fascinating transformation. At the same time, all the abilities that constitute the maze-lock become ineffective, while 'The Stage' evolves into a unique, special chain..."
Jenkins had no interest in this chain ability. He had yet to fully explore the potential of the many powers he already possessed, not to mention he only had two ability bubbles to spare—nowhere near enough to learn such a demanding maze-lock. The cat, cradled tightly in his arms, glanced up at the red-haired girl and let out a yawn.
"What's your take on the stage, Hathaway?"
Jenkins asked casually. Both Alexia and Briny had offered interesting perspectives on the subject, even linking it to the concept of destiny.
"The stage? A pre-written script, directing actors who are powerless to resist."
Hathaway thought for a good while before answering. She pointed to Jenkins's cat, which looked uncomfortable being held so tightly but, for some unknown reason, wasn't resisting:
"Take Chocolate, for instance. He has a certain degree of freedom, but in reality, you've already planned out all his actions. The stage is much the same. It may seem entertaining, but ultimately, there is only one ending."
Chocolate squirmed in protest, as if to declare that Jenkins couldn't possibly limit his freedom... except, of course, in this particular instance.
"What if you defy the script?"
"You'd be throwing away your career. I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to do that."
The red-haired girl murmured, "Has our opera made you ponder these things more deeply? As a playwright yourself, you must understand that while the stories on stage are thrilling, they don't represent freedom."
"What is freedom, then?"
"Our own lives, where we have the autonomy to make our own choices."
His thoughts turned to the concept of destiny, to the Millstone of Fate, and to the playwright, Mr. Pisco, who had lived an entire lifetime just waiting for him.
"To make our own decisions... on the stage of destiny." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by NovєlFіre.net
Briny was meeting her friend at Stryker Camp, just outside the city. Though it was called a camp, the place was more like a small town. For centuries, travelers on their way to Nolan had made a habit of resting in the nearby woods before entering the city, and over time, a settlement of its current size had formed.
The friend Briny was meeting was a schoolmate. Jenkins rarely heard his friends mention attending school, but they were, in fact, students at an academy for noble young ladies—the name of which he had long since forgotten.
The town was small, but there was no sign of the blonde girl at her friend's house. The young student stammered, at a loss for how to explain, before finally revealing where Briny had gone.
"She just went for a walk after we ate. Please don't blame her, Hathaway."
The girl hesitated, holding something back.
Jenkins and Hathaway easily found the "Enchix General Store." It was a true general store; upon pushing open the door, Jenkins was astonished by the sheer volume and variety of junk packed inside. But when he pushed aside a curtain at the back, he was surprised to discover a divination room.
Hathaway's expression immediately soured. She had strictly forbidden Briny from dabbling in these matters again. Clearly, the blonde girl had lied to her.
Mortals yearn to know their future, which has led to the invention of countless methods of divination. The setup behind the general store was clearly just a common charlatan's trick. While Jenkins himself had yet to master even the fundamentals of divination, he could easily distinguish between genuine arts and mere fakery.
The room was windowless, its only door draped with a heavy, black curtain that blocked out the light. It was incredibly dim. On the walls, he could make out crudely drawn star charts, and other strange paraphernalia were scattered about—cards dangling from white threads on the ceiling, statues lining the walls, and the like.
The sole light source was at the room's center, where an oil lamp and a crystal ball rested on a square table draped in a deep blue cloth. A single, enormous human eye was painted on the fabric.
Ordinarily, strangers were forbidden from entering during a divination session, but Jenkins was a wealthy man now, so the two of them simply walked in.
"...just so. Your romantic prospects are quite favorable, but that which you desire may not truly belong to you. Yes, I see it... I see the signs of fate... I see that your path ahead is..."
These were the snippets of conversation he caught as they drew closer. Judging by the figure's back, the person receiving the divination was none other than Briny.
He could already sense Hathaway's simmering anger, so he gestured for her to go ahead and interrupt them. He, meanwhile, retreated with the cat to the doorway to wait for them. There was no reason for him to stay; if an argument erupted, it would be terribly awkward.
His Eye of Reality seemed ineffective against possessed souls, but the murderer still had a Cursed Item on him. However, if the old key keeper had left that strange gun behind to conceal his identity, he would be no threat to Hathaway.
Feeling assured, he retreated back into the main part of the store. The middle-aged shopkeeper shot Jenkins a knowing smile.
A quick scan with his Eye of Reality revealed nothing out of the ordinary. His gaze then settled on a disorderly pile of burlap sacks in the center of the room. The filthy bags were stuffed with piles of small paper slips, likely good-luck charms for travelers. Nearby, a staircase led straight to the second floor.
"What's on the second floor?"
Jenkins asked. The owner, knowing him to be a generous spender, stroked his beard and answered enthusiastically:
"An apothecary, selling some very useful remedies. Things to drive away fatigue, sharpen the mind, repel insects, or... to make you a little more... potent."
Jenkins's interest in the second floor vanished instantly.
He was actually quite curious about what was happening behind the curtain, but at least for the moment, it didn't sound like they were arguing. Jenkins knew that Hathaway never acted overbearing around Briny, but he also knew she had her limits.
The two young women had once had a furious argument over Briny’s interest in the supernatural and the occult, especially after that illegal seance. But since neither of them ever mentioned it to him, he had no idea what it looked like when they truly quarreled.
Standing in the shop, bored out of his mind, he reminded himself that it felt rude to walk into a store and leave empty-handed, so he decided he might as well buy something. Still, he remained vigilant, his left hand clutching the metal block in his pocket. If the soul with that bizarre gun were to appear, Jenkins had no intention of letting him escape.