Visions from the Blind Bard
Kosa's lips were pale, her cheek muscles twitching incessantly as if gripped by fear. She pushed against the floor with her feet, trying to edge away from me.
"Why are you acting like that? What do you mean by 'me'? Innkeeper..."
"No. Not the present, but the past. You..."
I shut my mouth. The past... Did she mean my days as a hero?
"Mr. Balder... The path you've walked... I can't help but question if what I'm seeing is truly real..."
"What did you see?"
Kosa fell silent for a long while. After what felt like an eternity, she finally forced her lips apart.
"Blood... slaughter... terror... destruction... I don't even know how to describe it further..."
"Haha. Looks like you're seeing some weird stuff."
"No... it's not weird. I see you standing in a pool of blood up to your ankles... Unidentifiable corpses piled up like mountains around you... The air thick with the stench of charred flesh and gore... And the sword in your hand gleaming blindingly bright..."
I was honestly a bit shocked. I'd figured it would be something vague like "oh, that's how it was back then," but she was describing it as if she were right there on the scene...?
"But... you've accomplished feats no one has achieved since the world's creation... Yet no one praises you... They don't even know you exist... How could this be...?"
I had nothing to say about that.
"In a grand castle... far from the highborn... you stand like a shadow... And a woman... with snake-like eyes..."
"Aigoo..."
Was she seeing my first meeting with Elua? That was one I wished she'd skip.
"The snake-eyed woman asks, 'Are you the hero? You're taller and handsomer than I imagined. I like it. If you're free, let's talk somewhere private...'"
"Ahem. Kosa, let's not peek into such personal matters."
"Ah, sorry. Mr. Balder..."
Kosa immediately apologized and clamped her mouth shut. An awkward silence settled between us.
She wasn't likely to speak first after being so shaken by my past, so I broke the ice.
"You seem to see the past clearly... So, what about my future?"
"Ah... yes... But first... I swear, Mr. Balder, I won't breathe a word of your past to anyone. Fortune-tellers must see people's secrets and hidden shames—keeping them is our lifeline."
"That's a relief. Now, please look into my future."
Kosa nodded and began weaving her fingers in that intricate pattern again. I'd been skeptical at first, but after she nailed the past so precisely, I was ready to believe whatever she said.
Soon, her fingers froze. But... her expression was deeply troubled. Had she seen something bad?
"To start, the future hasn't happened yet, so it's not as clear as the past. I can only glimpse vague outlines and interpret them."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Mr. Balder... in the future... you'll be exploited..."
"What... what did you say...?"
The word "exploited"—so utterly unrelated to me—left me flustered.
"You'll be exploited by many people, forced to provide them some kind of unpaid labor... Hmm... But you're not sold into slavery... What could it be...?"
Kosa's white eyebrows twitched above her eyepatch. If even she was unsure, what hope did I have?
Exploited? Labor? What the hell happens to me later? Who the fuck would dare treat me like that?
But that was all she got. She apparently couldn't see the future any clearer.
"Sorry, Mr. Balder. That's as far as it goes."
"Ah... yeah... Feels like you cut off mid-shit."
Damn it... I'd gotten my hopes up...
Fortune-tellers who nail the past are a dime a dozen. The real trick is seeing the unwritten future... Unless what she said comes true far down the line, it's just empty words for now.
Disappointment colored my voice, and Kosa responded apologetically.
"I'm sorry for delivering such poor news."
"No, no. Actually, you shocked me by getting the past so spot-on. Seriously."
Kosa gave a faint smile and replied in her serene voice.
"No boasting, but I see the past as if it's right in front of me. It's not just guessing from stars and auras."
"Impressive ability. Wonder if it's tied to your 'other power.'"
"I'm not sure about th—" Kosa trailed off, then reached out as if remembering something, groping around the bed.
Realizing she was after her lute, I grabbed it from where it leaned against the desk and placed it in her hands.
"Thank you, Mr. Balder. As an apology for the unsatisfying reading... may I play a little music and sing for you?"
"Sounds great. I welcome it. Been ages since I heard a proper troubadour."
"Troubadour... It's been a while since anyone's used that term."
Kosa chuckled and plucked the lute strings. To a slow, calm melody matching her voice, she softly laid a tale from ancient times.
It was the epic of a man who roamed the continent freely long, long ago. He cleaved mountains, conquered hell, tamed the most wicked dragons, and lorded over all creation—the great hero.
My ancestor, Vengeance King Blavhan Balder, many greats back. Only the royal inner circle knew the Vengeance King's castle was named Balder. The current royal house was Sirdanel, not Balder... Nothing shook a throne like denying legitimacy.
So Kosa wasn't deliberately singing the Vengeance King's epic after peeking into my past. Good.
Thankfully, her playing and singing didn't disappoint. Better than any bard I'd met, I was quickly swept away.
If Kosa became our inn's exclusive bard, it'd be perfect. An inn our level should have at least one minstrel or musician.
The long winter nights were coming. Sipping by a warm hearth, listening to old tales—that was the romance inns offered.
"How was it, Mr. Balder?"
"Flawless... No exaggeration—the best song I've ever heard."
"Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Kosa dipped her head slightly. I asked her,
"Kosa. Instead of wandering the cities, why not stay at our inn...?"
Suddenly, someone pounded on the door like they meant to break it. Kosa startled, nearly dropping the lute.
"Bertrand...! Bertrand! Get out here quick!"
Francois's frantic voice—one I'd rarely heard so urgent—shot me up. I bolted to the door.
As I flung it open, noisy chaos erupted from the stairs. Screams, shouts, frantic footsteps. Guests poured into the hallway, looking around bewildered.
Racing downstairs, I found the source. Blocking the landing was Pelle, arms already in full demonic transformation—black scales sprouting wildly, massive claws glinting. Her slitted yellow pupils glared at those below, fangs bared.
"Haha. Full body transformation right in front of us? Pathetic."
Below, crammed with demon hunters. A burly man, dripping rain, glared up at Pelle. His cursed-blackened hand marked him as leader.
"Step aside, demon. She's a special target, so we'll let this slide once."
"Keep climbing if you wanna see your own guts."
Pelle's voice grated like scraping metal.
I patted her shoulder. "Stand down, Pelle. I'll handle it."
She turned, softened, and stepped aside. Her arms slowly reverted.
Standing on the landing, looking down, the man spoke to me.
"Innkeeper. You fooled us good. Only after tearing Bue apart did we find out."
"Fooled you how?"
"The white-haired woman. You said she never came here."
"She didn't. Why take it out on us when you lost her? Get out. You're soaking the floors."
He smirked.
"Heard lute music and singing from upstairs earlier. What was that?"
Fuckers overheard.
I lied smoothly. "One of our staff has a hobby for it."
"Cut the bullshit and let's settle clean. We'll pay her room fees and extras. With a bonus."
"No, fuck. She's not here. How do you pay for a ghost?"
"Haha..."
My brazenness drew a hollow laugh from him, face saying words wouldn't work.
He drew his sword from his belt.
"Innkeeper... You'll regret this choice."
On cue, his men gripped deadly weapons.