Chapter 188: The Remaining Fate
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 188: The Remaining Fate
At that moment, the Fate Card paused again.
【The Wheel of Fate was created by the Master… If the Master heard such a rumor, she would likely be quite incensed.】
The Fate Card had offered a rare bit of snark.
Xie Bai, however, ignored its commentary. Her attention had already shifted from the "Wheel of Fate" to Ivy.
"If that’s the case, things seem to have become much simpler. I just need to keep an eye on Ivy."
With that thought, she questioned the Fate Card again.
"Show me the two remaining prophecies."
【…】
【As you wish.】
A second later, two lines of information appeared before Xie Bai’s eyes.
【Betrayed by the envious, dragged into the shadows to die.】
【Identity as the Witch of Fate revealed; slain by humans who harbor hatred for the Master.】
Xie Bai frowned as she read the messages.
Judging by the patterns she had seen so far, these unfulfilled prophecies would likely come to pass before long.
Suddenly, the two little ones turned around and looked at Xie Bai.
"Sister Xiaobai, what is all this for?"
"Why is Sister Ivy in this image?"
Xie Bai didn't offer much of an explanation to their questions. She simply took them by the hands and said, "We’re going to see Ivy right now."
The two little ones were taken aback.
"Eh? Why?"
"It’s so late, Sister Ivy should be asleep by now, shouldn't she?"
Xie Bai shook her head.
"There was a slight mishap during my divination just now. I discovered she might be in danger."
The two little ones’ hands tightened.
"Eh?! What? Sister Ivy is in danger?"
"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s teleport to her side immediately…"
Little Gamie paused mid-sentence. "But… where does Sister Ivy live?"
*
The Dome.
It was the tallest tower in the world.
At the same time, it was the title held by the supreme leader of Dome Academy.
The academy had been built around this tower, hence its name.
Within the massive tower, the top nine floors were designated as active living areas. Only the teachers who had made the greatest contributions to the academy or exceptionally gifted students were permitted to stay there.
In practice, however, usually only Department Heads and the Dean qualified.
Those who resided there were granted a "Dome Seat," allowing them to participate in the academy's highest decision-making processes.
Ivy lay in her newly tidied room, rolling around comfortably on the bed.
"Mmm, it wasn't easy… After all this time, I finally managed to squeeze my way in. I just wonder how long a position earned through a single contribution can last…"
Thinking of this, she hugged her pillow and rolled over.
"Still, it’s nice to experience it once. I remember back when there weren't nearly this many Dome Seats. At the very beginning, there was only one."
Clutching her pillow, Ivy’s thoughts drifted back to that dark era.
Back then, the Insect Race Calamity had erupted, and the entire world was threatened by the Insects. For some reason, those Insects had fixated on Ivy, relentlessly hunting her down.
Just as she was about to die beneath their claws, a man with golden hair reaching his waist had suddenly appeared and saved her.
That man was the First Generation Dome who founded Dome Academy. His name was…
Well, she had no idea.
He had left no name behind; even the history books of the outside world contained no record of it. Not even the subsequent Domes had ever mentioned his name.
"But now that I have a Dome Seat, I can probably go to the top of the tower and see if there are any records of him. Maybe I’ll even find a name."
As long as there was a name, she could use her power as the Witch of Fate to forcibly deduce his identity. Even if it was a pseudonym, as long as he had used it, she could uncover something.
It wasn't as if he didn't have a name at all, right?
Ivy shook her head, clearing her thoughts.
"Forget it, I should get some sleep first. I’ll skip my writing for today. Tomorrow, I’ll head to the top of the tower to look for records. If I find anything, maybe I can even write it into my book and see how it turns out…"
Just as she was about to drift off, a faint noise disturbed her.
"Who’s there?"
Ivy sat up and looked around, but she saw no one.
"Strange. Is the Dome Tower supposed to make noises like that?"
*
On the other side of the room.
Vesparo stood silently in the corner's shadows, staring coldly at Ivy.
"As I thought, Ivy has taken my place…"
The coldness in his eyes deepened.
He had stood within the Dome Tower for five hundred years; his seniority even exceeded Xavier’s.
Back when he was preparing to succeed the Dean and become the new Dome, a blonde brat less than sixteen years old had suddenly appeared, entering Dome Academy through a special exemption.
That person had speedran Dome Academy in a mere three months, defeating every teacher and even the Dean of that time, becoming the new Dome.
Naturally, he had also taken over the position of Dean.
That blonde brat was the current Xavier.
Originally, Vesparo hadn't been so resentful. He figured a Dome Seat wasn't a bad consolation prize, so he settled for staying in his original position.
The problem was, he had lived too long.
His abilities were gradually becoming insufficient to maintain his Dome Seat. Consequently, he had been forced to use some rather unsavory methods to keep his position.
During that time, he had tried to curry favor with Xavier many times, but the boy looked down on his methods and constantly treated him with disdain.
While he was still trying to find a way to fix his relationship with Xavier, Ivy—a teacher who had only been at the academy for six years—had replaced him without any warning.
Even if you counted the four years she spent as a student, she had only been there for ten years.
How could she possibly compare to someone with five hundred years of seniority?
This was clearly Xavier’s doing! He had arranged this specifically to suppress a veteran of the old guard like himself!
As these thoughts swirled, the advice of the Cult Leader of Chaos echoed in Vesparo’s ears.
【Admit it, you desperately need this power now. Not only will it guarantee your Dome Seat, but it will also help you go a step further and replace Xavier.】
【Furthermore, the Holy Church has fallen, and Heavenly Mountain can no longer protect the Aodu Empire. In such a moment of crisis, Xavier, as the Dean of Dome Academy, hasn't lifted a finger.】
【Only you, my friend. Only you can unite the Eastern Alliance to face the foreign enemy. Only you are qualified to stand in that position.】
【Besides, you have no other choice. Even the shadows have abandoned you now. But Chaos is different. No matter what, it will never leave you alone…】
Recalling this, Vesparo looked at the pitch-black crystal in his hand and swallowed hard.
"Must I really use this chaotic, filthy power?"
Deep down, he didn't want to turn into one of those deformed, hideous monsters.
But other than this, what else could he rely on?
Even the Shadow World no longer had a place for him.
But if he accepted this power, he could even fight his way back into the Shadow World and truly possess the power of shadows.
Vesparo’s heart began to waver in a fierce internal struggle.
Until a voice appeared behind him.
"You there, skulking around… what exactly are you planning to do to Sister Ivy?"