"Sorry, something urgent came up with the Silva family. I need to leave for a bit."
"Then, Luno is in your care, Ray."
Lupa hurried off, her figure quickly disappearing around the street corner.
Luno still wore the unassuming cloak, hiding herself within the shop awning's shadow. Watching the young woman disappear into the distance, she let out a soft sigh.
"It seems even a star gladiator isn't as free as I imagined."
As an Oracle Maiden of the Tetragon Temple, weren't her own days also filled with countless rules and restrictions?
She had imagined more than once: if she hadn't been chosen as an Oracle Maiden back then, but had become a gladiator instead, would she now be embracing that long-craved freedom?
But looking at it now, no matter where one stood, everyone seemed pulled by invisible threads.
So-called freedom might just be another form of cage.
"Does Luno not like her own identity?" Ray asked softly, keenly noting the subtle shifts in her expression.
The young woman was momentarily taken aback, a flicker of something complicated passing through her eyes before returning to her usual placid demeanor. She clasped her hands behind her back, her tone airy. "Rather than describing it with 'like' or 'dislike'... the term 'Oracle Maiden' feels more like... a responsibility."
"Responsibility?"
"Ah, I almost forgot you're not from Septimont, so naturally you wouldn't understand what Oracle Maidens mean to this land." Luno said. "To you, an Oracle Maiden might just be a profession that can foresee the future. But for Septimont, we are guiding lights, showing the people of Septimont the right direction through the mist."
"Guiding the right direction?" Ray was puzzled.
"Oracle Maidens can glimpse fragments of the future, thus making choices for Septimont's fate at critical moments." Here, she suddenly looked up at the cold silver moon in the sky, a hint of bitterness touching her lips. "But I've seen too many people struggle against fate to change a predetermined future. They fight with all their might, perhaps indeed altering some details of the process, but the final outcome... always arrives as scheduled, never changing."
For some reason, the young woman's mood had grown much more despondent.
Perhaps it was truly as she said. After witnessing people embark on futile journeys to change their fate time and again, her heart had long sunk into despair for the future.
Clearer about it than anyone, yet wanting to avoid this truth more than anyone.
It wasn't that she couldn't see; she simply didn't want to.
Silence dispersed in the lonely street.
Until—
"Maybe they just didn't pay a heavy enough price, couldn't move the lever of causality?"
"Huh?" Luno abruptly looked up, a flash of astonishment in her eyes. "Move the lever of causality?"
"The future is never set in stone." Ray's voice was calm yet firm. "What Oracle Maidens see might just be the most probable reality of this world. But as long as that reality hasn't been realized, it means we still have a chance to change it."
Having said that, he paused briefly, as if weighing his next words.
"For example, suppose my destined outcome is to die at the hands of a remnant seven days from now."
"But if I jump from a tall building tomorrow, or end my life early in some other fatal way... then the prophecy of me dying to a remnant in seven days becomes invalid."
"Though I still didn't escape the fate of death, at least I created a deviation from the predetermined future. Wouldn't that count as... moving the lever of causality?"
"Then the question is: If the outcome an Oracle Maiden sees diverges from my actual outcome, does that create a paradox?"
Listening to this astonishing line of reasoning, Luno couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "What kind of change is that? You still ended up dead."
"True," Ray also laughed. "But at least the action itself proves the future can be influenced. In a sense, that confirms the possibility of change, the key lies in how much we're willing to sacrifice."
Luno slightly narrowed her eyes, thoughtful. "That sounds somewhat reasonable. But the question is, how great a sacrifice is needed to truly change the future?"
"Who knows?" Ray looked toward the distant, flickering lights. "Maybe it only takes a trivial choice. Or maybe... it requires enough quantitative change to spark a qualitative one."
The woman first nodded gently, then shook her head like a rattle-drum.
"Ah, never mind, never mind! Too troublesome!" She shook her head as if to fling out the complicated thoughts, then swiftly changed the subject. A faint, lively smile curved her lips as she looked at Ray.
"But talking with you is quite fun. Ray, right? Mm, I'll remember! I declare you are now my friend. Being a friend recognized by this Oracle Maiden is a tremendous honor. You must cherish it, you hear?"
"The honor is mine." Ray replied with a smile.
"Then it's settled. Let's head back to the hotel first." Here, a sudden blush tinted Luno's cheeks. Unconsciously twirling a strand of hair around her finger, she averted her gaze, her voice dropping a little. "Um... could you cover the hotel fee for me first? I-I absolutely don't plan to skip out on the bill! Once I'm back at the Tetragon Temple, I'll repay you right away!"
"Of course." Ray took in Luno's fleeting shyness and couldn't help a gentle smile. "Miss Luno is the Second Young Miss's friend, so naturally, you're my honored guest as well. How could I possibly be neglectful? Don't worry, leave the expenses these few days to me."
"...Is that really okay?"
Luno unconsciously pursed her lips, forcing herself to look away, unable to meet his gaze.
It wasn't dislike, but a mix of awkwardness and embarrassment, who wouldn't feel sheepish having to rely on someone right after becoming friends?
She secretly opened one eye, carefully observing the young man beside her. Her voice carried a hint of feigned warning as she whispered.
"Think carefully before you answer. You're indulging my willfulness. If this continues, perhaps... we'll fall together into an unknown deeper than chaos."
"The bonus the Second Young Miss gave me still has a good amount left." Ray nodded. "Whatever Miss Luno wants to do, I can accommodate."
"You said that yourself; I didn't force you." Luno crossed her arms with a light huff, though a trace of unconcealed cunning shimmered in her eyes.
"But I have to warn you, I'm a very willful person. Once you agree to this, until my wishes are fulfilled, I won't easily let you off, you know."
Ray rested his chin on his palm, letting out a helpless laugh. "Saying something like that already shows how willful you are. But it's fine. As long as it's not too outrageous a request, I'll try my best to accommodate."