The audience was no stranger to this book.
After forming a deep connection with Mem, Stelle obtained this book from Mem.
From then on, the book had remained in Stelle's possession.
"My book of oracle cards..."
Cyrene took As I've Written and couldn't help but laugh.
"Thank you for keeping it safe. You know you can always just ask if you want me to divine something."
Upon hearing this perfectly ordinary sentence, the audience froze.
?? What do you mean, your book of oracle cards?
In the audience's eyes, their first impression of this object was that it was As I've Written, something Stelle had obtained from Mem.
Yet, an unknown number of years ago in Aedes Elysiae, this very object had been Cyrene's book of oracle cards.
Two different names. Yet in an instant, they connected countless questions together.
And that wasn't all. Phainon had clearly visited Mem Village before, and he even recognized the other Mems there.
Which indirectly proved... back then, there had been no pink Mem in Aedes Elysiae!
Even after this place was destroyed and Phainon went to Okhema, he had never encountered one.
The pink Mem had appeared afterward.
Hiss... A bold idea emerged in the audience's minds.
...
: Holy crap?!! You mean...
: Oh no. Pink, the card album (As I've Written)... Cyrene is Mem?!!
: !! They match! They really match!
: Isn't this basically outright hinting at the connection between Cyrene and Mem?!
: Exactly! Otherwise, why would such an important Episode Four suddenly include a storyline about Mem Village?
: Plus, Phainon doesn't recognize the pink Mem at all...
: Holy shit! So the mysterious Cyrene has actually been by our side this whole time?!!!
: So what actually happened is that, for some unknown reason, Cyrene didn't die. Instead, she turned into Mem and wandered around the Temple of Fate. Then, after Stelle landed and saw her, she stayed by Stelle's side?!
: Holy crap... If that's true, then Cyrene's secret has been buried way too deeply.
: Even if she isn't the mastermind behind everything, she's practically no different from one!
: And ever since Stelle was pulled into this drama, Mem has completely disappeared!
: Holy shit! So that's why?! Because Mem is already beside Stelle, as Cyrene?!
: Thinking back, Stelle suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of closeness toward Cyrene. Could that also be because of this?
: If that's the case, then it makes sense that Cyrene inside the drama can see Stelle!
...
The more the audience speculated that Cyrene was Mem, the more reasonable it seemed.
Some of the minor contradictions and doubts from before were also easily resolved once they realized this.
Although many of the comments' guesses were still somewhat different from the actual truth.
There was still the issue of the timeline. But overall, they were already extremely close.
Just as the audience was throwing around theories and reeling from this speculation, the conversation that followed seemed to confirm it even further.
"Still... bringing us here like this after so long... Is something wrong, Chief?"
Phainon looked at the book of oracle cards and asked in confusion.
Why go through the trouble of hiding this thing and making them search for the Village Chief?
Dolimem didn't hide anything and slowly explained:
"Yes. The Veil of Evernight whispers to us once more. It tells of a new fairy who will soon enter the Maze..."
A new fairy!? Could it be Mem?
The audience's expressions changed as they immediately perked up their ears.
But what seemed to them like something worth celebrating caused the smile on Cyrene's face to slowly disappear. She even cried out in alarm.
"A new fairy..."
The old Village Chief continued:
"Indeed. Every time a new fairy arrives in the maze, it means that Beyond the Veil, in the vast lands far from Aedes Elysiae, a great calamity is on the horizon."
Afterward, Dolimem, afraid that Cyrene and Phainon had forgotten what they had heard as children, explained it all once again, Aedes Elysiae, protected beneath the Veil of Evernight, was far removed from worldly conflicts. It was even far removed from "Amphoreus."
Of course, when Dolimem said "far removed," she explained that it was physically extremely distant. At the same time, on a mystical level, Oronyx's divine power also made it difficult for ordinary people to even know of this place, much less reach it.
However, Aedes Elysiae was not completely sealed off. Rather, it was sealed against outsiders.
Those who lived there, such as Phainon and Cyrene, generally knew about the outside world and could enter or leave whenever they wished.
That was what made Aedes Elysiae special. A true paradise isolated from the world.
And beneath its ordinary surface, the village representing the fairies concealed another unknown secret of Aedes Elysiae.
Whenever the outside world encountered an enormous calamity, a fairy (mem) would be born in the Village.
And the number of Mems currently living in the Village represented how many such calamities the outside world had experienced throughout history.
But exactly how severe those calamities were... Dolimem couldn't explain clearly.
She could only emphasize again and again that they were incredibly terrifying disasters.
By this point, both Cyrene and Phainon understood what the old chief meant.
"But if that's the case, our journey..."
Phainon's expression turned solemn as he said in a low voice, "...will have to be cancelled. If disaster's coming, we should stay in Aedes Elysiae, just to be safe."
Stelle had been observing from the side the entire time. After hearing the entire story, a vague premonition had already formed in her heart.
Upon hearing Phainon's words, she couldn't hold herself back and instinctively asked:
"What about all the people out there?"
If Phainon simply remained in Aedes Elysiae like this, then the Flame-Chase Journey that followed would never happen.
The "Nameless Hero" posed the question. Phainon froze for a moment before answering frankly, "That's... that's a good point. But what difference could Cyrene and I make?"
At this point in time, Phainon, truly regarded himself as nothing more than an ordinary person.
After hearing about the impending disaster, his eyes were filled with worry and concern. There wasn't the slightest sign that he had any desire to leave Aedes Elysiae.
At that moment, Cyrene, standing nearby, was also troubled, but she still wanted to venture outside a little more.
"We weren't planning to be gone for long... just enough time to hone our abilities. Phainon would train in Castrum Kremnos, while I would seek the Fate Titans' blessing in Janusopolis..."
"Then we'd return to Aedes Elysiae, to help keep our village safe."
That was what Cyrene thought. Phainon, however, shook his head.
"It's okay. I can still practice my swordplay here. Some things you can learn on your own."
At the end, Phainon somewhat guiltily added: "Well... probably."
But regardless of whether he had confidence in mastering swordsmanship, it didn't affect Phainon's determination to remain here.
The village chief looked at the two children's differing thoughts, smiled kindly, and made a suggestion:
"Here's a thought: Let's have Cyrene do a reading. If fate wishes to show us its path, we might find some peace of mind."
Cyrene's eyes immediately lit up, clearly very interested in the suggestion.
But Phainon hesitated, saying in a low voice, "But... What if we don't like what the cards tell us?"
He was asking the other two, Cyrene and Dolimem. At the same time, he was also asking the "Nameless Hero."
Stelle was standing right beside Phainon. Almost without thinking, she instinctively replied:
"Then we stand against it, until the very end." Phainon abruptly raised his head.
"Heh... never thought of doing it that way before."
"Thanks, partner. We'll do it your way, whatever the cards show, we'll face it together."
Phainon took a deep breath, his gaze becoming resolute.
The Nameless Hero's encouragement had clearly played a crucial role.
Once Phainon was ready, Cyrene picked up the Oracle Card Book and began preparing the divination.
"Ask with a true heart, and truth shall answer in kind."
"Close your eyes, and let's open the Oracle Card Book together..."
Cyrene softly chanted the prayer.
"Let your thoughts flow like stars drifting on the river, carried by fireflies and gentle winds, your destinies flowing towards the same future..."
Come to think of it, she really did have a bit of a priestess's air about her now.
As she chanted, she brought the Oracle Card Book before Phainon and opened it.
Phainon also closed his eyes.
"Now, shall we begin?"
Cyrene said softly.
Phainon did not hesitate. He reached into the book and drew.
"Oh..."
"Oh my..."
Cyrene and Dolimem, who had been watching the Oracle Card Book closely, both let out soft cries upon seeing the result.
Within the thick Oracle Card Book, seven cards emerged.
"The cards are quite responsive today..."
Cyrene secretly clicked her tongue in surprise, but while performing the divination, she did not dwell on her astonishment and instead began examining the results.
One card after another appeared and was laid across the pages of the codex.
There were so many results that it took a full two pages to fit them all.
They were:
"Weaver"
"Gatekeeper"
"Ruler"
"Traveler"
"Servant"
"Healer"
"Scholar"
And whenever Cyrene focused her gaze on one of the oracle cards, a vague and distinct voice seemed to drift from within the mists of Oronyx.
The Weaver's voice was noble, like that of some highborn lady.
The Gatekeeper's voice was innocent and childlike, originating from echoes within a temple.
The Ruler's tone was stern, murderous, and domineering, carrying the scent of blood and fire.
The Traveler sounded cunning and mischievous, as though they were about to start playing a prank on someone.
Although the Servant's tone was calm, it could not conceal the sorrow that seeped through.
The Healer's voice brimmed with vitality, making one feel as though they could see a clear blue sky merely by hearing it.
These oracle cards... were the prophecies left behind by Oronyx.
They seemed to point toward different people.
This divination had been performed with Phainon drawing the cards, but he had absolutely no idea what these completely unfamiliar words and voices, or the oracle cards they represented, had to do with him.
Nor did he know what connection they had with the disaster Dolimem had spoken of, or with his own fate.
However... There was still one final card.
And it was also the one card that pointed completely toward Phainon himself.
"The Deliverer... this card again."
Phainon looked at the familiar card, somewhat speechless.
"The "Deliverer"... According to the tripartite prophecy, this card means absolute harmony and perfection."
"In fact, it's the only oracle card without a dark side."
Cyrene carefully analyzed the meaning behind the card.
But after hearing this, Phainon gave a bitter smile.
"Oronyx must be joking again. Just the part about being perfect has absolutely nothing to do with me."
"And why is no divine whispers this time?"
Cyrene burst into laughter and pointed at the Deliverer card.
"Oh silly... this is simply the card you drew for yourself."
"Oronyx gave many responses this time, but the previous cards merely have strong connections to you. They aren't you yourself."
"Only this 'Deliverer' card is Oronyx's divination concerning you."
Phainon sighed helplessly.
He really did not like the title of Deliverer, nor the meaning represented by this card.
However, the old village chief beside him saw Phainon's distress and began comforting him kindly:
"Ah, my child... don't be confused. Oronyx's divination is very clear. It seems you're destined to bear the wishes of many, to answer the world's call."
Phainon looked at Dolimem with a somewhat confused expression.
"Bear their... wishes?"
Dolimem nodded firmly and slowly said:
"Yes. Just like Kephale, standing eternal atop the mountain."
Kephale?
Phainon had never been to Okhema, nor could he imagine the figure of a Titan who bore the world upon his shoulders, or the wishes of others that he carried.
When he thought about other people's wishes, the only things Phainon could recall were those simple wishes of the people closest to him:
"My parents... they only wished for me to grow up well, to help around the village, stay out of trouble..."
"Mrs. Pythias wished for more books in her little schoolhouse, wanted us all to learn and grow. And little Piso... he wants to grow up strong like his father, to become a hunter..."
"Is that my purpose? To fulfill their wishes?"
These wishes... Only left Phainon even more confused.
He wasn't sure whether this was what the Deliverer truly represented.
Cyrene seemed to think of something and added from beside him:
"Perhaps... for a true Deliverer, such wishes are but droplets in an ocean."
"After all, Kephale bears the weight of the entire world."
On screen.
An elderly Dolimem and two young people wandered in confusion before fate, trying to discern the deeper meaning hidden within it.
But the audience outside the screen felt only sorrow and heartache. Every one of the cards Phainon did not recognize was familiar to the audience.
Even Phainon's later fate... They had witnessed it with their own eyes.
The word "fate"... The audience understood it all too deeply, all too painfully.
...
: The gears of fate have begun to turn.
: So even when he was this young, Phainon was already carrying everyone's wishes.
: You are perfect, Phainon!
: Just thinking about how Phainon still doesn't know what he's going to go through makes me feel awful.
: Wuwuwu, what Phainon's mom and dad wished for him really hit me hard. I also just want you to live a safe and peaceful life...
: ...Sigh, this damn fate.
: I seriously can't bear hearing Phainon say things like this anymore. It hurts too damn much!