Chapter 50: The Unreliable Fortune Teller
Givia hadn’t planned to come to the Eastern Empire personally. Acquiring supplies could be delegated to trusted subordinates. It was common sense. But a single sentence from a fortune teller had compelled her to embark on this long and arduous journey.
“Meeting Lannis Consten will cure you of your nightmares.” The statement had seemed dubious, like the ramblings of a charlatan, but it had become Givia’s last hope.
Tormented by nightmares, she had journeyed to the distant Eastern Empire, witnessing the chaos unfolding in Lavoisier City. And now, thanks to Abyss, she finally met the person she had been seeking.
Lannis, dressed in comfortable travel clothes, sat across from Givia. Having been informed that she was meeting a princess, Lannis had refrained from smoking, even consuming a strange potion that caused a small explosion in her mouth to eliminate the lingering tobacco smell. She had also attempted to tame her messy hair, with limited success.
“You must be Miss Lannis Consten. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I won’t hide my identity. I am Givia, Princess of the Ossi Kingdom,” Givia said, smiling, extending her hand.
Lannis chuckled, shaking Givia’s hand. She wasn’t familiar with formal etiquette.
“Abyss told me you’re leaving the city soon. I apologize for requesting this meeting at such short notice. I need your help. I have some questions for you,” Givia said, getting straight to the point. She didn’t want to waste anyone’s time.
Lannis, seemingly appreciating her directness, grinned. “Princess Givia, ask away. I’m quite experienced in alchemy.”
“I’m not sure if my request is related to alchemy,” Givia said, smiling apologetically. “First, I’d like to ask, do you know anything about the Lord of Nightmares?”
Lannis was stumped. She looked at the ceiling, racking her brain, then shook her head. “The Lord of Nightmares? Never heard of him. Is he a famous mercenary? Who would choose such a ridiculous name?”
“Hmm… It seems you’re not familiar with this Outer God,” Givia said, her lips pursed, her voice laced with disappointment. “To be honest, I’ve been tormented by the Lord of Nightmares for a long time. You must be aware of the civil war in the Ossi Kingdom. My brother, Prince Kevin, drove me from the palace. After my exile, he somehow managed to enlist the help of an Outer God called the Lord of Nightmares, who has been plaguing me with the same nightmare every night. I’ve been on the verge of a mental breakdown. A fortune teller once told me that meeting you would cure me of these nightmares.”
“Well… You’ve come to the wrong person. I know nothing about Outer Gods. And my expertise in alchemy is focused on explosive and unstable compounds, not calming remedies,” Lannis said, gesturing towards herself apologetically. “As you can see, Princess, I’m always in a state of manic excitement. How could I possibly help someone escape their nightmares?”
Givia nodded, her disappointment evident. “So you have no solution for my nightmares. Was that fortune teller lying…?”
Lannis had little respect for fortune tellers, but she knew her dear friend Rebecca was fascinated by such mystical things, so she refrained from commenting.
She tried to recall any knowledge about nightmares, but nothing came to mind. She had never conducted any research or possessed any unusual insights in that area. As for Outer Gods, the term was unfamiliar to her. Most people on the continent had never even heard of them. Lannis only knew about them thanks to her conversations with Abyss.
“I apologize for bothering you with these trivial matters, Miss Lannis,” Givia said after a moment of silence, sighing softly. She stood up, forcing a smile. “I won’t take up any more of your time. Please continue your journey. Thank you for your time. As a token of gratitude, I’d like to offer you a fine horse from the Ossi Kingdom. It might be useful for your travels.”
“Oh, thank you. But I’m truly sorry I couldn’t be of any help,” Lannis said, jumping off her chair.
“It’s my fault for believing a fortune teller. Who can truly see the future?” Givia said, chuckling wryly.
Her hopes, pinned on this meeting, had been dashed. She bid Lannis farewell, her heart heavy with disappointment. Santos, her loyal general, escorted her back to the Black Hats’ base. Abyss and his companions, meanwhile, left the base, accompanying Lannis as she prepared to embark on her retirement journey.
Lannis, feeling nostalgic, took a detour to visit Rebecca’s former home.
She observed the alchemists entering and exiting the house, now a laboratory, and nodded with satisfaction. It was now under the Emperor’s protection, ensuring its preservation. If she ever returned to Lavoisier City, this familiar building would still be here.
“Sigh, we just reunited, and I have to leave,” Lannis said, looking at Rebecca, her voice laced with regret. “I’ve given you my address. Come visit me when you have time.”
“You’ve dedicated forty years of your life to me. It’s time for you to live for yourself,” Rebecca said, crouching down and hugging Lannis. “Thank you for waiting all these years, Lannis. I’ll visit you soon. I promise.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear,” Lannis said, hugging Rebecca tightly before releasing her. She then turned to the others. “Abyss, you must make Rebecca happy. And come visit me sometime. Although we haven’t known each other for long, I’ve grown fond of you. And you two girls, I don’t know you well, but you’ve chosen the right person to follow. Keep an eye on him.”
“I’m planning to buy some land in the Elven Kingdoms and build a grand graveyard, my future home. It’s not far from your place. We’ll visit you together,” Abyss said, grinning.
“Ha! You necromancers!” Lannis said, chuckling, then turned to Titus, who had accompanied them. “Titus, I’m leaving. If I hear that Lavoisier City is suffering under your rule, I’ll be back. Remember that!”
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