"Sorry, I need to use the washroom."
After everyone had finished their dessert and the conversation was winding down, Klein—who had been sitting beside Angel—adjusted his dress shirt and stood up. He nodded to a nearby waiter, pushed open the door, and left the private room.
The direction he headed was toward the restaurant's front desk. Was he using the washroom as an excuse to actually pay the bill?
Watching Klein's hurried departure, Angel speculated.
She withdrew her gaze and picked up her spoon, scooping up the last bit of cream mushroom soup and bringing it to her mouth. The warmth traveled from her throat down to her stomach, providing slight relief to the cramping pain in her lower abdomen.
Even counting her previous life's decades of human experience and adding Cole Granger's twenty-plus years of memories, she had never imagined that one day she would menstruate—complete with cramps! Fortunately, Cole's memories included experience caring for his sister Lily Granger, and her previous life in the internet age had exposed her to relevant knowledge. Through trial and error, she had managed to navigate these past two days safely.
But delicious treats like ice cream were currently off-limits, much to her dismay.
This wasn't due to any superstitions, but rather hard-earned experience from recent days.
Looking at the strawberry jam ice cream in front of Melissa across the table, Angel could only swallow her mushroom-flavored saliva and force herself to look away.
As if sensing her resentful gaze, Melissa looked up with a sly smile and tugged at Benson beside her.
"We're also... um, going to the washroom. Miss Granger, Mr. Agers, please rest and enjoy some after-dinner tea. My brother will be back soon."
With that, she pulled the bewildered Benson out of the private room.
The waiter had also been called away by Klein earlier, leaving only Angel and Azik in the room. Azik seemed to sense the sudden emptiness, his gaze shifting from the red wine before him to sweep around the room before finally settling on Angel.
Before today, Angel had only heard Klein mention this history instructor from Hoy University once. Because Klein had described him as having the bronze skin tone common to the Southern Continent, and because the name seemed somewhat familiar, she had filed it away in her memory.
When their eyes met, she noticed that Azik had a small black mole beneath his right ear—barely visible unless you looked closely.
Just as she was considering what topic might break the awkward silence, Azik spoke first, his expression hesitant.
"Miss Granger, you're the same as Klein, aren't you? You also possess... extraordinary abilities of some kind?"
Same as Klein? Extraordinary abilities?
A chill ran down Angel's spine.
He can tell I'm a Beyonder. Could he also be...?
The bronze-skinned university lecturer with gentle features seemed oblivious to Angel's surprise. Without waiting for her response, he continued speaking, almost to himself:
"Last week when Klein visited me at Hoy University, I could tell that he, like you and me, had already 'ceased to be an ordinary person.'"
"Such people aren't numerous, but they're not exactly rare either. When I heard him mention that you work together, I assumed you both belong to some official organization—perhaps a police department, like several officers I've encountered before..."
As he explained in his calm tone, Angel's anxious heart began to settle. She chose her words carefully, taking over the conversation while trying not to reveal additional information.
"That's correct. Klein and I both chose this line of work after encountering extraordinary events."
"He mentioned that incident resulted in the deaths of two of my students..." Azik sighed, sadness flickering in his brown eyes. "But fortunately, you've entered this circle now. As long as you proceed carefully and remain cautious, you shouldn't worry too much."
"I'm different. I've grown accustomed to my current life—teaching young students, enjoying long and fulfilling vacations, making friends who share common interests."
"I no longer have the courage, nor the desire, to touch the unknown or delve into danger."
His tone carried a weariness that seemed far beyond his apparent years.
But then Azik shifted topics abruptly.
"Forgive me—too much sentimentality. My students constantly complain that I tend to digress from the curriculum when I teach."
His brown eyes fixed intently on Angel, causing her to straighten in her chair, her expression growing serious.
"I see disharmony in your fate."
Disharmony of... fate?
Hearing words that sounded like something a street fortune-teller might say, Angel found herself unable to laugh.
If this man could recognize her as a Beyonder at a glance, either his sequence was quite high, or he possessed some special ability to perceive extraordinary power. Regardless of which category Mr. Azik fell into, she couldn't dismiss his words as mere nonsense.
"May I ask what kind of disharmony, and how should I respond?"
She leaned forward slightly, her tone respectful.
"I can only perceive certain inconsistencies, but as for specifics... Have you recently experienced frequent 'coincidences'? Or perhaps a sense that something is interfering with or guiding events?"
Recent coincidences, or feelings of being guided?
Like when she happened to encounter the Heart of Machinery's traitor Tormasu preparing to kill the craftsman Kavi at Enmat Harbor? Like running into the wanted Assassin again while tracking the Antigonus notes? Or like Lady Sharon choosing that exact moment to attack and invade Zotland Street when the Nighthawks went to arrest her?
Thinking it through, Angel suddenly realized that quite a few such "coincidental" events had indeed occurred recently.
She nodded.
"That's what I thought. Once or twice might be within normal range, but when coincidences become too frequent, you must consider whether other factors are orchestrating them."
"Klein is experiencing the same thing. Actually, I first noticed the disharmony in his fate and warned him then. Now I'm giving you the same warning. The 'coincidences' you've both experienced may stem from the same source."
"I cannot see the deeper reasons, but I believe your fates are connected. I hope you can work together to uncover the truth behind this matter—I don't want to lose another promising student, or see him suffer heartbreak."
After delivering everything in one breath, Azik picked up his wine glass and drained the remaining red wine, exhaling the scent of alcohol.
Watching this university lecturer who alternated between revealing the weight of history and displaying childlike enthusiasm, Angel couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Thank you for your guidance, Professor Agers."
Azik started, set down his wine glass, and shook his head.
"No, I'm merely a lecturer. Klein's actual mentor, Quentin Cohen, is the professor. Well... currently a senior associate professor. He'll probably have to wait several more years for promotion—everything goes by seniority these days."
He winked and corrected her with mock seriousness.
Quentin Cohen... Azik Agers...
As these two names flashed through her mind, Angel suddenly remembered where she had seen them before.
The night Cole Granger died from a failed advancement and she "transmigrated," the badge Lady Sharon had given her—supposedly worth 200 pounds in reward money—had both their names engraved on it.
That same badge that brought her into the Tarot Club, then quickly aged and crumbled like dust in the wind!
Could this, too, be what Azik called a "coincidence"?