As for exam week after the Year-End Festival, the Doctor claimed he would definitely make it back in time. Last year, Dorothy had not revised properly and ended up with the worst grades in the group. This year, she was confidently certain that she would excel in every subject—
Because Leisha had also revised very seriously this year.
"All right, all right, it's about time."
The Doctor stared at his pocket watch and ended the discussion about the recent major local human trafficking case. Dorothy withdrew the flames, and everyone stood up beneath the tree.
After stretching a little, Luvia handed the last blank card from the envelope to Shade. The others spread out a few steps in different directions, preparing for any unexpected situation.
The Doctor's countdown was quite clear:
"Three, two, one."
Spirit was guided from his fingertips into the card, and Shade watched as the blank card face was gradually covered by a silver-blue background.
But he did not rush to check its contents. Instead, he warily surveyed the surroundings for any "giant spider emitting silver moonlight from its entire body."
The other four were also on full alert. Two seconds later, dull impacts and faint explosions indeed sounded out. But they did not come from nearby. All five members of the group looked into the darkness to the southeast, and Dorothy asked in confusion:
"Did the Fate Weaver appear that far away this time?"
The Doctor immediately shook his head:
"Of course not. It must appear near the activated card; that cannot be wrong. What is happening over there has nothing to do with us. It seems the Detective's luck is just like a seer's. Is it just me, or does it feel like something over there is charging toward us?"
It was not an illusion.