Chapter Text
I sit alone on the dark command deck of the assault fleet flagship. The rest of the crew has made their way down to the commissary for the customary celebration of a successful Hunt.
Normally the commanding officer joins, but my splitting migraine prevents me. The Omniscia is warm to the touch from overuse, a necessary sacrifice to evade the staggering amount of counter attacks from the scepter. But even then, I know there is more to it than just that. Something just…happened…something I can't quite explain.
I take stock of the world around me. I can see the glow of dozens of screens projecting “Hello World!” on loop while the stars twinkle overhead swirling around the observation deck. I can smell the sterile air from the ventilation shafts mixing with the sweat and tears that filled the deck during the battle. I can taste a slight metallic taste of blood in my mouth where I bit my lip during a particularly hard turn to avoid an incoming missile. I can hear the almost imperceptible buzzing static of idle jade abaci interrupted by the occasional shout that echoes up from the commissary. I can feel the cold metal of my chair beneath me and the hot roar of pain from my forehead.
By all accounts I am still here, all five senses active. So why can't I shake the feeling that, at some point during the battle with Irontomb, we lost—and I died? I distinctly feel like I experienced my death; witnessed that instant where everything goes dark. I felt like I was floating away, forever losing my connection to this mortal realm. And yet here I sit, not dead. I still feel and perceive the world around me, sharp and crisp and concrete.
So what happened? It felt almost like the Omniscia was showing me a glimpse at fate, but still somehow different from a divination. It felt so...real. And final. And cold. I'd almost considered that the Omniscia might be playing tricks on me, but that's impossible; the Omniscia does not lie. None of the other officers have any idea what I'm even talking about. They just chalked it up to nerves and overstimulation from too much use of the Omniscia. Humph, as if I were some whimsical child whose overactive imagination ran away from her.
I wish Qingque were here. She might not have any idea what happened more than anyone else, but at least she'd believe me when I say that something happened. Probably. Maybe.
My rumination is interrupted by the sharp sound of the door opening up behind me. I spin in my chair to see who it is, expecting one of the officers here to check on me. Instead I'm surprised to see a strange woman strut in. She has thigh high black boots and sheer grey tights. Her black and purple high-low skirt sways behind her with each step. Atop her ashen blonde hair is a massive wide-brimmed hat that ends in a tall point, almost like a witch. Her face, though clearly haggard, still exudes complete confidence and poise (and no small amount of beauty, as I swallow the lump in my throat). I know this woman!
“Umm, you're with the Genius Society, correct?” I say as I stand to meet her.
She smiles as she walks up to meet me. “Indeed, I'm #83, but please, call me Herta. It is a pleasure to meet you, Commodore Fu. Or do you prefer Master Diviner?” Her voice betrays none of her obvious exhaustion, instead sounding confident and sharp and as if its owner is used to getting exactly what she wants.
“Just Fu Xuan is fine” I say with equal confidence. I'm plenty used to dealing with dignitaries of all stripes, so I certainly won't let a headache get in the way of diplomatic protocol. “What do I owe the pleasure of this visit to? I'm afraid I'm not authorized to speak on official Xianzhou Alliance matters. Would you like me to put you in contact with the Arbiter-General?”
She laughs and waves her hand dismissively. “Oh no need, no need. I'm not here on official business either. I came because I have personal business with you, specifically, Fu Xuan.”
I feel my eyebrows involuntarily shoot up. “With me?” I manage to squeak out. So much for diplomatic protocol.
“Yes. I have a question for you. That gem, on your forehead,” she motions to the Omniscia with a slight glint in her eye. “Where did you get it?”
I am so taken aback I cannot help but pause. I briefly consider trying to dismiss the question, considering it is so deeply personal and involves many painful memories, but then decide against it. It is said this woman is an emanator of the Erudition, so likely she already knows the true answer and is simply asking to be rhetorical. There's no point in trying to be deceptive or elusive, so I give her the plain and honest truth. “One day, a blind old man offered it to me—as a way to gain knowledge in exchange for pain.”
Herta approaches even closer, never dropping the small smile on her lips. “And I trust I don't need to spell out who that old ‘man’ was?”
I narrow my eyes, but shake my head. “You do not.”
“Good! Then my interest in it, and by extension, you, should be obvious.” She pauses to make sure I fully comprehend her meaning before continuing. “So, would it be possible to have a little chat, you and I?”
“I'm not sure I should. After all, I hardly know you” I say, trying not to be rude but clear in my discomfort of the subject.
“Really? But aren't you even the least bit curious about what really happened during the battle with Irontomb…and why you feel so strange and disoriented right now when no one else does?”
I feel knees buckling under the combined pressure of my headache and the heavy implications that hang in the air. “You know!?”
She laughs, a small but still surprisingly warm one. “I do. Would you like to as well?”
I take a deep breath. I know I should be wary of this woman. I know she's got an angle, and she's just dangling this in front of me to pressure her into giving her what she wants. And yet, I can't bring myself to outright turn her down. I need to know what happened. This fate-but-not-fate might be crucial to finally being able to settle my Master's debate. I want to say yes, but I feel my eyes cringe as a fresh wave of pain courses through my forehead, forcing my mind to grind to a halt. “Now isn't really a very good time…” I start to say.
“Oh, of course, Fu Xuan” she replies with a cheerful laugh. “It was a long and hard battle, you need rest. And frankly, I wouldn't admit this to most people but I must confess that this whole business with Irontomb has left even me completely drained. So, how about my people contact your people and arrange some time for me to visit you in a few weeks?”
I'm silently grateful that at least she doesn't seem intent on grilling me now. Some rest will give me time to ponder if another brush this close to the Wisdomwalker is worth it. “That is acceptable,” I finally reply with barely disguised weariness.
“Wonderful to hear!” she says with a smile as she pulls out a phone and dials it.
After a single ring the other person picks up and I can hear a muffled voice come through the earpiece. “Yes, Madam Herta?”
“Asta? I want you to arrange a personal meeting to visit with Madam Fu Xuan, Master Diviner of the Xianzhou Luofu” she says with a commanding voice. After another muffled response Herta responds “Sometime next month.” Another muffled response and Herta tersely replies “Good. Listen carefully to who your point-of-contact will be.”
She smiles and holds out the phone to me, the mic pointed at my mouth. I think for a few moments what to say. Normally I'd just give my official secretary's name. However, this isn't Alliance business, and frankly I'd rather not have this meeting face scrutiny from going through official channels. I'm still a little sore at being so heavily “observed” before and after my trip to the Yuque. The Alliance doesn't get to just butt into my personal business for no reason.
I quickly think of the only person who would be willing to keep this appointment off the books and has total access to my schedule. I lean slightly closer to the phone and speak with a clear voice. “Diviner Qingque, librarian of the Divination Commission.”
Herta nods and pulls the phone back to her ear. “Did you get that?” She pauses. “Good. Make it happen.” She goes to hang up but then hesitates for a second before putting the phone back once again to her face. “Th-thanks, Asta” she says quickly and slightly uncomfortably before hanging up and shoving the phone into a discreet pocket located somewhere in her dress.
She turns to me and gently bows her head. “Thank you for your time, Master Diviner, I'll leave you to your silent celebration.”
I nod back. “Yes, see you then. And thanks for your assistance during the battle. I scarcely can imagine how we'd have won without you.”
She puts her hand to her mouth and giggles with faux modesty. “Oh, think nothing of it” she says as she turns and walks to the door. “Ta ta for now, and I look forward to seeing you again real soon!” she says with a wink as she quickly walks through, leaving me once again alone with my thoughts.