Actually the wrong places were far more than just this one, such as that "she," such as no matter what she did she had to open that book and look.
She seemed to very much trust, very much depend on that book—perhaps this was the side effect?
Alice began looking at that book with wary eyes.
Alice maintained high vigilance until the gathering ended, the gathering's organizer arranged for them to leave in batches from the back door, Alice who hadn't had time to do anything felt a sense of regret.
Alice happened to be among the first few to leave, when she got up the mysterious person was still sitting in the chair, she had to lower her head, extremely restraining that regretful yet longing gaze.
When following the waiter along the long winding passage to the door, watching the waiter turn back, Alice suddenly realized that no one would see her departure route, naturally no one would see whether she left.
Alice licked her lips, she walked forward about four or five more meters, then silently hid her form.
She had discussed with Danitz beforehand that after coming out he didn't need to care where she went, so she wasn't worried about Danitz coming out and not finding her—well, even without discussion she might not worry.
This wasn't as important to Alice as what the mysterious person actually looked like.
Too lazy to move, Alice simply stayed in place waiting, until the waiter finally brought out that mysterious person, only then did her eyes light up as she followed.
The mysterious person didn't remove her hood and mask, she held that book and walked a few steps before stopping, raising her head to look around once, using that previously hoarse unpleasant voice to ask:
"Oh, dear child, stop hiding, fate's trajectory has already exposed you, your secrets, your doubts, cannot be hidden.
Come out child, let us together unveil fate's veil, together face those storms about to arrive."
Alice felt a question mark slowly appearing above her head.
Why do I feel like she's more like "Miss Fate" than me...
Alice silently lowered her head, began self-reflection in place.
After asking the question, the mysterious person waited quietly in place, after waiting several minutes, she said with somewhat regretful tone:
"It seems you're not prepared to show yourself now, but that doesn't matter, fate's gears have already begun turning, our paths will eventually cross again.
At that time, you will have to face me; at that time, I will reveal hidden secrets for you."
Alice looked up at that figure in disbelief, that figure didn't linger, didn't panic either, she still held that book, walking away with unhurried steps.
Alice didn't chase after, not because she didn't react, but when the mysterious person spoke those words, she keenly detected fate's fluctuation.
That was a "prophecy."
"But," Alice looked at the empty alley entrance and murmured, "if the book in your hands comes from a 'Prophet,' then... we were destined to meet again anyway."
She shook her head, but didn't return to the "Golden Dream," instead returned to her home in Backlund.
After all she was preparing to contact Amon, doing this kind of thing on the "Golden Dream"... don't really synthesize an Amon for her, that would be awkward.
Alice shook her head while beginning to think what she should say.
Using prayer ritual... no, too long, write a letter, and writing a letter at least Amon would have to finish reading before coming to settle accounts with me...
Alice found paper and pen, began choosing words carefully.
『
Delicious Time Worm:
Haven't seen you for a long time, when we last met you said you were searching for ingredients nearby, how was it, any harvest?
It's fine if not, I... of course didn't find suitable ingredients for you! However, this might count as a bit of seasoning?
Oh yes, I discovered a "Swindler," she's seeking to purchase "Cryptologist" potion formula, so I told her...
Go adventure in your mausoleum, there's definitely what she wants there, might even find extra treasures—like You.
I mean, would You like to create a mausoleum for her to dig? I remember You have a mausoleum in Backlund...
Then You can lie in the coffin, then suddenly open eyes and suddenly sit up, horror movies often act like this... though that's usually corpse transformation.
Finally, please, when You do this, please be sure to bring me—actually I want to prepare a camera to photograph the scene of You sitting up.
Could be something else too, like adjusting monocle, like suddenly opening eyes and smiling... anyway definitely classic horror movie scenes, put in our era might even become popular memes.
Pity is, cameras of this era can't record video...
Enclosed with the letter is Your labor fee and performance fee 50 pounds.
Your close friend, Alice.
』
Alice put down the pen, gently exhaled, touching her chin looking at the letter, murmuring:
"Always feel like something's missing... mm, this is too monotonous, should have some illustrations!"
Alice suddenly understood, after reading the letter content once more, recalling the appearance of fried insects in memory, and the appearance of time worms, after slight consideration, drew a time worm on the letter paper.
After that, she found separate drawing paper, drew a plate of golden tempting fried time worms...
Yes, she colored it.
Pressing the drawing paper on the desk waiting to dry, also placing the letter aside, Alice thought for a moment, still returned to the "Golden Dream" to sleep.
She only slept a few hours before waking, at this time Bayam wasn't even 5 AM yet, sky hadn't brightened, basically no one was up.
This was just right for Alice, she needed to send things to Amon before others woke up, then send away the possibly arriving Amon.
Returning to Backlund, here was further from dawn, Alice confidently arranged the ritual, handed everything to Amon.
...
After reading Alice's letter, Amon ignored the weird title at the beginning and that fried time worm drawing, these were essential sections of every Alice letter, Amon had learned to ignore them.
Saving accounts to settle together.
Seriously speaking, what made Amon most speechless in this letter was—Alice really enclosed 50 pounds in bills with the letter.
...Sick.
Amon held the 50 pounds, momentarily uncertain whether he should return it, according to His principles, money that reached His hands could never be returned, but the problem was... this was fate's gift.
Stolen would be fine, but such blatant gift... Amon raised an eyebrow, trying to analyze Alice's thought process:
"She should be asking for help...
That 'Swindler' has something she wants?"
Amon reread Alice's letter once more, suddenly showed a malicious smile.