"Did you say something?"
I froze.
"…No. Nothing."
The fortune teller stared at me for a moment longer than necessary.
"Hmm… alright then," she said, but her tone didn't match her words.
"Let's continue. The present."
"Pick two."
I reached out to take the two cards, but the moment my hand touched them—
Tick…—gears shifting—
It felt as if time slowed down. A huge clock ticked, and…
It stopped.
—
Somewhere else.
A Veridian silhouette stood in a dim room, faint light cutting through smoke.
"Hm… that's certainly interesting."
—
Back to me.
I slowly pulled the cards out.
"Flit— I mean, flip them."
I turned them over.
Ace of spades… and—
Another ace of spades…?
"Uhm… yes. Since poker only has 52 cards and tarot has 78, I just added extras that have meanings."
"Uh… sure… so what does it mean?"
"An Ace of Spades and The Joker… that's the Fool's Pair. It means a beginning that knows no bounds, but walks right on the edge of the blade. You're a traveler with no map… and a pocket full of miracles."
The Fool… reminds me of a certain novel I read back in the past.
"Alright, and now for the pas—"
A loud announcement interrupted from outside.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!"
"The show must've started," she said.
"Alright, here's a silv. I'm gonna go."
"Wait, sir—what about your past?"
"I know my past. And I'm sure this is a gimmick, so it'll be fine."
"Okay, thank you—AND NO, IT'S NOT A GIMMICK!"
"Sure, sure."
"A Fool and a Magician… something huge is going to happen… good luck, Foolish Magician."
I walked toward the stage. The host—at least, what seemed to be the host—was speaking.
"Today, we have the traaaveliing weaaaveeer…!"
The crowd cheered and clapped.
"HELLO EVERYONE!" the weaver said.
"I am Astin Miro. And for those who do know me—well, you already know. But for those who don't, I'll tell you. I am a Veridian, one who walks on the Actor of Mender."
"Uh… what else am I supposed to say? I'm not much of a speaker."
The crowd laughed as if it were a comedy stage.
"Very well. As you may know, I am an aspirant—someone unaffiliated with any group or whatever. Therefore, I might be stuck with the same skills, but I'm given freedom. So every once in a while, I see something unique, like an ancient structure… or an artifact… or perhaps… the Golden Strand of Hair."
The crowd still cheered, though some looked confused, wondering about the "Golden Strand of Hair."
Golden strand of hair…? Could he be talking about me?
I was suddenly reminded of what the granny said—"Don't peer too far behind the curtain."
I shouldn't stay here too long. I'll leave in a bit.
"This is an event, so there isn't much to do. I'm only here to open it and take some requests anyone might have."
"Everyone, enjoy…!"
The weaver set up a booth on the stage—tables and chairs. Anyone could go up and request something, and each request turned out… magical.
"MR. WEAVER! I'VE HEARD YOUR STORIES!" a lady shouted excitedly.
"Hahaha, of course. My stories have spread quite far."
"Sir, please make me a dress that looks beautiful!"
"Request accepted, my lady."
In just thirty seconds, the dress was beautifully made.
Another request—mending metal and jewelry together. With just a string and needle, he fused them perfectly, leaving no trace.
There were many more miracles. Casual… yet unreal.
On my last glance before leaving, our eyes met.
It felt like he was watching me.
I left, stopping by a few stalls to avoid suspicion—just in case he was actually watching me.
Sigh… he knows about the golden strand. I don't even know what it is, but approaching him might be dangerous.
I walked past several souvenir stalls related to the weaver.
I paused, squinting at the display. I'd seen something like this back in the future—a Hanfu waist pendant. The intricate silk knots and the hanging jade covered in gold were a dead ringer for the styles I'd seen in across China and Korea. It was beautiful Elris would actually love something like this.
"Excuse me," I said, catching the shopkeeper's attention. "How much for the pendant?"
The man looked up, offering a practiced, toothy grin.
"You've a sharp eye, sir. A rare piece, that. I can let it go for two silv."
"Two silv?" I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Come now, don't play me for a tourist. That's a bit steep, isn't it?"
"Steep? Heavens, no," the merchant countered, holding it up so the light caught the metal. "This is master-work, sir. Crafted from the finest burnished fool's gold and genuine Eastern jadeite. You won't find another shimmer like that in all of Lorden's Crossing"
"But it's not real gold, is it?"
"You have a point, but… it still looks like gold. Only a close inspection would tell the difference."
"Alright. I offer 1 silv and 1 bronze."
"No, sir. I can go down to 1 silv and 4 bronze instead of 2 silv."
"1 silv, 2 bronze."
"Please don't be stubborn, sir. This is a great price."
"I could just find a cheaper store. Who would even buy this overpriced item?"
"Fine! I'll do 1 silv and 3 bronze."
"Deal. Thank you."
I took the Hanfu pendant and went home.
Sigh… I suck at negotiating. But that merchant isn't much better—how is he still in business?
Anyway… I should get some perfume. This smell is unbearable.
I reached my house… and the door was unlocked.
I rushed in, thinking there might be an intruder—only to realize I forgot to lock it.
I checked everything. Thankfully, nothing was stolen.
I didn't buy much, but I should wash up.
—
During my bath—
Suddenly, I felt dizzy. Pressured. Like I was drowning deep underwater.
It was dark. I couldn't see anything.
I couldn't move.
…Fine. I'll just go with it.
After a while, I regained consciousness.
The water I used was swirling violently… around the pendant.
Panic set in.
An artifact…?
The water suddenly stopped.
I stepped out of the bathroom.
Knock. Knock.
"Who's there?"
"It's Astin Miro. I'm sure you know—I was on the stage."
Thousands of thoughts ran through my mind.
Why? Why is he here? Because of me? The pendant? …my hair?
"Would you mind waiting a second?"
"Sure."
I rushed to my room, got dressed, and hid the golden strand of hair.
I also put on a hat.
I opened the door.
"Hello… welcome."
"Do you need something from me?"
"Maybe I do… maybe I don't."
His hand suddenly reached for my hat—
I stopped it just before he touched it.
"Sir."
My hand trembled, but my grip was firm. His skin felt cold… and his clothes—silk that didn't feel like cloth at all.
"Sir?"
I repeated, my voice slightly shaking.
"I believe it's rude to touch a man's hat without introduction or reason."
Astin smiled.
Not a casual smile.
It was the kind of smile a collector makes when finding a misprint in a rare book.
"It's a tragedy, Thran."
His voice was quiet… heavy.
He didn't look obsessed with the hair. He looked weary—like someone who had seen this before, many times… and knew how it ended.
"To have a Golden Strand of Hair—a mark that shines like 24-karat light—and feel the need to bury it under cheap felt. Every time I look at you, the threads of this world scream that something is out of place."
He didn't move, yet the air in the hallway felt frozen.
I didn't want to become some experiment for someone I didn't even know.
My instincts kicked in.
I yanked his wrist to break his balance and ran down the hallway—toward the kitchen.
The pendant was on the table… still wet, vibrating, as if humming.
I didn't know what it was, but I knew it wasn't normal.
As I ran past, I grabbed it and slammed it against the floor near the stairs.
CRACK
The moment it hit, the water it absorbed exploded into a massive cloud of freezing mist, filling the room instantly. It smelled like salt.
"You're faster than you look."
Astin's voice echoed. Calm… curious.
I didn't go upstairs. I rushed to the back door.
I burst into the alley and ran, turning corner after corner—
Until—
He was already there.
Leaning against the wall, fiddling with a needle.
"Here… you left your hat."
He tossed it to me.
I was shocked. When did he take it…? Or did I drop it?
I ran the other way.
"You know I'm a Veridian. How do you expect to outrun me?"
Still in the alley, I climbed the wall.
"Climbing, huh?"
"You do know you're trying to run from a mender, right?"
With a flick of his hand—
My clothes were pinned to the wall.
"You're… walking on air…?"
Looking closer—
Threads.
Thin threads stretched across the air like a web.
I tore off my coat and ran—
Only to be wrapped in countless threads.
Unable to move.