Don't Look at Things You Shouldn't (Continued)
—What did you see?
The astrological girl, full of curiosity, used the bloodstains of the supernatural as a catalyst and her own talents as fuel to lightly and precisely ignite the burning torch that reveals the trajectory of fate.
Observation. Astrology is an ancient and authoritative art.
Using blood as a medium, one can see everything related to blood.
"I'll just see why you're still alive; I won't touch any other private matters." The young astrologer pressed her rather ample bosom. Making this vow to herself, she constructed a mirror reflecting the starry sky using water elements. Then she cast a drop of crimson blood into the mirror, letting the scarlet star seek its source in the reflected cosmos.
—What did you see?
The crimson faded to a pale red, filling the mirror-like surface of the water. Scattered images appeared before the astrologer's eyes. Chaotic, blurry, the few discernible details were all the actions of the strange person in the village during the day—lifting a fat cat from a tree, cultivating the wasteland beyond the fields. Ritual elements that would at least reveal months of history in an ordinary person had only a day's effect on that person. Moreover, most of those images were from the astrologer's own experiences.
That's really strange.
That's incredible.
The girl's curiosity grew stronger. What she saw was something never before seen—according to the rules of astrologers, she should have stopped there, halting the ritual to avoid unforeseen dangers. But this curiosity about the unknown propelled her, making her want to delve deeper into this elusive secret.
"I'll only take one look. Just one look, and I'll absolutely not tell anyone."
The girl looked around; the surroundings were eerily quiet. The wind had stopped blowing, and no one was swaying among the blades of grass. Even the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds. Apart from the pale red water mirror in her hand, everything was quieter than she had expected.
Silence. In the silence, only the pounding of the girl's heart could be heard.
She vaguely sensed that she seemed to be at a crucial crossroads in her life. Taking this step would inevitably lead to drastic and profound changes in the future—perhaps for the better, perhaps for the worse, but certainly not static. And she herself would inevitably be drawn into a troublesome and terrifying event.
—What did you see?
The thought of retreating flashed through my mind. However, the next moment, the last words of advice I had received from my mentor when I bid farewell not long ago echoed in my ears.
"Megistus, my Megistus. If you have made up your mind, then you should never hesitate any longer."
The old woman in my memory was as languid and frivolous as ever. But when she uttered those words, I was certain that they contained a different kind of solemnity and determination—something I hadn't understood back then. But now, the current situation seemed to offer some explanation.
Ah... an explanation. On the journey from Liyue to Mondstadt, many things need explanation. The Hilichurl were once just foolish, stealing food and driving away travelers, have become ferocious. The Treasure Hoarders, who were once only after money and didn't kill, have become insane. And the Fatui of Snezhnaya, who used to roam freely and vengefully, have restrained their malice and disappeared—everything in Liyue is becoming strange and intriguing. Yet, the reasons behind it all remain elusive.
Astrology offered no explanation; it could only tell her that a massive storm was about to descend. The Millelith was mobilizing everywhere and no longer concealing its movements, while the Eight Mansions and Seven Stars of Liyue had also shifted from their previous low-key approach to active activity. Puzzling, incomprehensible. She attempted divination herself, only to be reprimanded from afar by the Ningguang, following the trajectory of his magic.
Being trapped in a stone prison that suddenly appeared out of nowhere is not a pleasant memory. Even if one can transform into water, the violently dissipated Geo Element will prevent one from using magic to move coordinates through Crystallize Reaction. It is precisely for this reason that one left the always safe Liyue after escaping and went to Mondstadt to find the person who was prophesied to cooperate.
The girl let out a soft breath.
"Old woman, I won't be easily intimidated."
"I am Mona, Astrologis Mona Megistus. The greatest astrologer of this era will not back down so easily!"
She took a deep breath, clasped her hands together, and made a soft sound.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Surtr. If I saw anything I shouldn't have, I'll forget about it and sincerely apologize to you... I'll make amends!"
The girl's eyes suddenly widened. The divine eye on her neck emitted a radiance more intense and dazzling than any previous divination.
"In my name!"
"Destiny is revealed here!"
Crimson mingled with azure light filled her vision. She saw the antlered girl beside the fiery-haired woman. She saw the sword-wielding figure return to the forest and speak to a blurry wisp of wind. She saw the remains lying on the ground, the same corpse as 'Surtr'. She saw the one who buried the remains walk backwards back to the original forest, from standing to lying down—a past she had lived in reverse.
Then--
She heard a sound.
—What did you see?
The astrology girl heard this voice for the first time.
It seemed to come from the sky, from the earth, and from the depths of one's own heart.
She didn't know if she should answer, or how she should answer. An indescribable sense of crisis, like thousands of needles pressing against every inch of her skin, gripped her. It made her mind chaotic, her breath ragged. It made her... see that body, the world before its birth.
—What did you see?
She saw a great tree, its enormous roots embedded in the earth, penetrating deep into the Ley Line, entwining and firmly binding the elements as vast as stars. The tree's roots pierced every fissure in the Ley Line, blooming like flowers, breathing in and out the earth's vital energy, a foundation of wealth and knowledge. Countless prosperous kingdoms rested atop these massive roots, and all the produce of the land upon which people depended for survival originated from the tree's breath.
She saw the tree decaying, and saw a shimmering, star-like light, like the glow of something beautiful, eroding the roots of the Giant Tree beneath the earth. The shimmering starlight permeated the elemental tides within the Ley Line, causing the once pure land to gradually shift in an unpredictable direction.
—What did you see?
She saw the sky at the edge of the trees. She saw the legendary Sky Island —the pilgrimage site for ascensionists—floating silently above the clouds. She saw the majestic temples standing tall in the clouds, and the authority of the Seven Archons gathered there, while the power of divine authority flowed silently down from the Sky Island.
She saw a majestic jade throne in the center of Sky Island, and a Goddess with white hair and black feathers, whose dignified and noble bearing surpassed all earthly deities, sat high upon it— the Goddess's eyes were slightly closed, and her fair hands rested at her sides beside the throne's armrests. Her slender ankles were bound with pale-colored ribbons, and drops of crimson blood hung from the Goddess's toes.
Blood? Why is there blood?
The astrologer was instantly filled with fear; she vaguely guessed the Goddess's identity. This clear realization brought her to the attention of things she had previously failed to notice, or rather, things her reason and instincts had refused to perceive—
The gods are the 'Celestia'. They are above the Seven Archons of the mortal world and are the rulers of Sky Island.
God is dead. For a spear formed from starlight pierced her and pinned her to her throne.
The starlight that erodes the great tree within the Ley Line originates from this place.
The source of this victory lies in the pure sky above Sky Island.
The astrologer trembled as he raised his head, looking towards what he perceived as 'above'. Above, a vast, cracked void stood silently, like an ancient, timeless star. Beyond the void, an endless, magnificent constellation stretched out.
And the next moment—
A mechanical voice, indistinguishable between male and female, young and old, appeared beside the sorcerer girl's ear.
"You saw it all."
Despair and terror overwhelmed her; she covered her head and let out a pitiful scream before being swallowed by darkness.
"Alina! I need your help!"
There was a knock on the door of the hotel room, then the Flame-haired maiden pushed it open forcefully. The Little Deer, with a pile of books that seemed far too many for her, looked up abruptly and saw Miss Surtr rushing into the room carrying a fainting girl dressed... rather boldly, looking like a witch.
"Surtr?" She put the Rhodes Island operator's nameplate back into her pocket. Standing up, she first watched Surtr place the unfamiliar girl on the large bed, then slightly shifted her gaze—she saw the innkeeper peering curiously from a short distance outside the door. When she looked over, the innkeeper gave her a fawning smile, then shooed away the onlookers and left.
The hotel owner was afraid of her—which is not very normal.
But Miss Surtr didn't pay attention to this minor detail. Instead, after setting the unconscious girl down, she breathed a sigh of relief and gave her an apologetic look.
"Surtr, who is this...?" The Little Deer, who hadn't switched back to the original form of address, asked with a puzzled and polite tone.