Divination Club

"Klein's becoming a full member?" Alice stared at Rozanne in surprise. "He joined less than a month ago, didn't he?"

"Oh, you look exactly as surprised as I did," Rozanne told Alice with an exaggerated expression. "But I bet you're not nearly as upset!"

"...What's wrong?" Alice looked at Rozanne uncertainly and began to wonder whether she should comfort her—wait, what was she upset about?

"My skin! I have to work a night shift every other day... Goddess, I'm not a Sleepless!" Rozanne complained.

"..." Alice fell silent. She really couldn't sympathize with Rozanne, though she wasn't a Sleepless either. "I'm afraid I can't help you. I'm a minor. I can't stay up all night."

"..." Rozanne fixed Alice with such a mournful look that, after a moment, Alice could no longer bear it and left.

Having finished her studies for the day, Alice left the Blackthorn Security Company with nothing to do and wandered the streets like a ghost.

Suddenly, Alice sensed something. She stopped and looked up at several signs on the second floor across the street:

"Harold's Department Store."

"Retired Officers Club."

"Divination Club."

Divination Club... Alice studied the name thoughtfully, then went upstairs.

A pretty woman with light brown hair pinned up stood in the hall, handling reception. When she saw Alice, she came forward. "Miss, are you here for a divination, or would you like to join our club?"

"Hmm." Alice gave her a thoughtful look, then took out a coin and tossed it under the woman's puzzled gaze. It landed on the king's side. "A divination."

"Our members are free to perform divinations for people at the club and set their own prices. We take only a small percentage. If you'd like a divination, you can look through this catalog. It lists the members willing to perform them, along with their profiles and prices." Though puzzled, the conscientious woman opened the catalog for Alice. "However, since today is a workday, most of our members are at work and busy..."

Alice paid no attention to what the woman was saying. She searched the catalog for a name that might stir her spiritual perception, then stopped at a familiar one.

"Klein Moretti?" Alice looked at the woman with interest. "He's a member here too?"

"You know Mr. Moretti?" The woman looked at Alice, a bit surprised.

Noticing the appraising look in her eyes, Alice frowned slightly, then smiled. "Is Klein... uh, Mr. Moretti here now?"

"No, he isn't," the woman replied. She hesitated, seemingly about to recommend another diviner to Alice, but decided against it.

"All right." Alice looked away from the catalog. "What are the requirements for joining?"

The woman gave her a look that said she had expected as much, then launched into a practiced introduction.

"You fill out your personal details and pay the annual membership fee: five pounds to join, then one pound a year after that. Unlike political or business clubs, we don't require a recommendation from a full member.

"Members can use the club's meeting rooms, divination rooms, and tools for free. They can also enjoy the coffee and tea we provide and read the newspapers and magazines we subscribe to, all free of charge. Lunch, dinner, alcoholic drinks, divination textbooks, and divination materials are available at cost.

"And at least once a month, we invite a renowned diviner to give a lecture and answer questions.

"Most importantly, you'll find friends who share your interests, so you can exchange experiences."

"I'd like to join," Alice told the woman, taking out a five-pound note.

"It's our pleasure." The light-brown-haired woman smiled warmly. She accepted the note, checked it carefully for authenticity, and put it away before handing Alice a form. "Please fill in your details, and I'll write you a receipt."

Alice picked up a pen and carefully filled in her name, gender, address, and company. She hesitated at the age field before writing "16," but left her date of birth blank.

"You live at the church? Oh, and you're Mr. Moretti's colleague?" The woman noticed those details at once.

Alice looked up at her in silence. Her attitude was clear: she had no intention of answering.

The woman put the form away and handed Alice a cufflink, extending her right hand. "Welcome to the Tingen City Divination Club. I'm Angelica Barrehart, your diligent attendant. This is your membership cufflink. It bears our unique inscription and proves you're a member.

"Hello, Ms. Angelica." Alice shook her hand and accepted the dark-gold cufflink.

Alice examined it with interest while Angelica continued, "What kind of divination are you skilled in? Or is there a method you'd like to learn at the club? We can consider inviting a renowned diviner in that field to teach a class, and introduce you to members with similar specialties so you can exchange ideas."

"There's no need." Alice shook her head. "I know a little of everything... I'm not a beginner."

After a brief pause, Alice asked, "Can I perform divinations for people right now?"

"You're free to perform divinations here whenever you like. But until we've confirmed your skill, we won't recommend you when customers ask. What would you like to charge?" Angelica replied as usual, though Alice could tell she could barely contain her curiosity.

"Price?" Alice glanced thoughtfully at Angelica, then did something that baffled her again. She took out twelve coins and scattered them across the tabletop. Exactly six landed on the king's side and six on the number's side. "Six pence."

Angelica opened her mouth, then recovered her smile and continued, "We'll take a fee of one-quarter of a penny, based on one-eighth of the total price..."

As she spoke, she entered Alice's information into the catalog.

"Would you like a drink? We have Siberian Black Tea, Southwell Coffee, and Dixie Coffee..." When Alice took out a coin again, Angelica finally couldn't help herself. "May I ask why you do that?"

"I'm not good at making decisions for myself," Alice explained. "In most cases, when a major decision is involved, Fate tells me the answer without my asking. But with little things like this..."

Angelica hadn't expected that answer. She fell silent, then recalled something odd in Alice's words. "Tells you the answer without your asking?"

Alice stopped what she was doing and gave her a perfectly composed smile. Angelica understood that Alice wouldn't answer that question either.

"Is there any drink on the list you dislike?" Angelica decided to ask a different way.

"No."

"Then would you mind if I simply chose one for you?"

"That would be wonderful." Angelica saw the relief on Alice's face and went to prepare her drink.

Just then, a young man with closely cropped hair came in. His face had a yellowish cast, and his red eyes looked somewhat dull.

"I'd like a divination," he told Angelica.