Chapter 1265 Divination
"Brother Zijing, what are you thinking about?"
Greta's voice interrupted his thoughts. She had put away her sketchbook at some point and was looking at him with some curiosity.
“It’s nothing,” Zijing smiled, “I just feel very comfortable here.”
“Yes!” Gretchen nodded vigorously, deeply agreeing. “It feels so peaceful, and seeing so many beautiful lives makes me feel like my inspiration is overflowing.” As she spoke, a faint blush rose on her face, and she added softly, “And… it’s so nice to come with Brother Zijing.”
Her directness startled Zijing slightly, but she responded gently, "I'm happy too."
The two continued their stroll, and as they passed through an enclosure simulating a polar environment, the temperature plummeted. Greta glanced cautiously at Amethyst and rubbed her arms.
"Are you cold?" Zijing noticed her little gesture.
“A little…” Gretchen replied.
Zijing naturally took off her light coat and handed it to her: "Put this on, don't catch a cold."
Greta blushed slightly as she took the coat offered to her, whispering a "thank you." The warm, amethyst-like fabric made her heart skip a beat. She secretly inhaled the coat's clean, refreshing scent, then lowered her head, a sweet smile curving her lips.
The two then arrived at the dimly lit shark tank. Inside the enormous display vessel, dark shadows swam, exuding a powerful aura. Gretchen watched intently, adding a few more fluid lines to her sketchbook, capturing the strength and beauty of the sharks' movements.
She had seen many Honkai Beasts in shark form during previous battles, but this ordinary shark was a rare sight for Gretsch.
"They don't actually look as ferocious as the legends say; they have a kind of elegant power," Gretsch commented softly.
“Yes, fear often stems from the unknown,” Zijing agreed.
The two strolled slowly along the passageway, observing the various marine predators. Just then, they noticed a small group of people unexpectedly gathered in a relatively secluded corner of the shark tank, surrounding an inconspicuous little hut with a dark blue curtain hanging at the entrance and covered by a large black cloth. The hut's design clashed with the surrounding modern aquarium style, exuding an air of mystery.
"Is there... some kind of special marine life show over there?" Gretsch curiously tiptoed to look, but the crowd blocked her view.
Zijing also found it a bit strange. Setting up a performance area near the shark tank? It didn't seem very reasonable. "Shall we go take a look?"
As the two approached, they could see a sign emitting a faint purple glow standing at the entrance of the small house, with the words written in cursive script:
"Deep Sea Secrets: Fortune Telling House"
Below is a line of smaller print: "See into the ocean of your heart, foresee the tides of destiny."
amethyst:"……"
There is an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Greta blinked, looking at Amethyst with some confusion: "Why...why is there a fortune-telling shop in an aquarium?"
This is so jarring! In a marine life exhibit area, a place that looks like a medieval witch's hut suddenly appears, which is just too eerie.
There seemed to be quite a few people queuing in front of the fortune-telling booth, mostly young girls and couples, with expressions of both anticipation and amusement on their faces.
"Want to go in and take a look?" Amethyst asked, noticing Gresh's clearly intrigued expression. He himself had reservations about such mystical matters, but if Gresh wanted to see, he wouldn't mind accompanying her.
Greta hesitated for a moment. She didn't usually have much experience with these kinds of things, but the scene before her was so abrupt that it aroused her curiosity. Moreover, the name "Secrets of the Deep Sea" seemed to have a barely perceptible connection to the theme of the aquarium?
“Hmm… I’m a little curious.” Gretchen nodded and said softly, “How about… experiencing a different ‘venue atmosphere’?”
So the two joined the queue. While waiting, they could hear the people ahead of them excitedly discussing:
"Wow! The fortune teller inside is so elegant! What she said seems to be quite accurate!"
"She said I'll meet someone who will change my destiny soon... Could it be...?"
Was she using a crystal ball? Or tarot cards?
These discussions only added to the mystery surrounding the cabin.
Finally, it was their turn. Amethyst lifted the deep blue curtain and went in with Gretchen.
The cabin was dimly lit, with only a few small lamps emitting a faint blue glow. A strange scent, like a mixture of seaweed and sandalwood, filled the air. A figure draped in a deep purple cloak, whose face was obscured, sat behind a table covered with black velvet. On the table sat a crystal ball and some scattered cards with peculiar designs on their backs.
"Welcome to the Whispers of the Deep, lost traveler." A clear, slightly hoarse voice came from beneath the cloak. "Please sit. Which sea of destiny do you wish to explore?"
“...Aponia?”
"Aponia's mother?"
Amethyst and Gretchen simultaneously revealed each other's identities.
An eerie silence fell over the cabin for a moment.
Amethyst and Gretchen exchanged glances, both seeing the same astonishment in each other's eyes. The cloaked figure behind the table also seemed to pause slightly after hearing their name called.
Then, she gently raised her hand and pulled back the wide hood, revealing her true face—long, flowing, silver-grey hair, her signature eyes, filled with compassion and mystery, and that familiar dark-colored nun's habit. Who else could it be but Aponia?
However, the fact that she was in this eerie fortune-telling room in the corner of the aquarium, with a crystal ball in front of her, made the scene seem incredibly incongruous.
"...Aponia?" Amethyst confirmed again. "What are you doing here? And... dressed like that?" He couldn't help but point to the "professional equipment" in front of her. A nun doing fortune-telling at an aquarium? Isn't this a bit too much of a crossover?
Greta's eyes widened, and she whispered in agreement, "Mama Aponia... are you... working here?"
Aponia remained calm in the face of their questions, as if being in a church made no difference to being in this eerie fortune-telling shop. She gently shook her head, her ethereal voice returning to its original tone, no longer deliberately hoarse: "It wasn't for work. It's just... a 'kind person' told me about your whereabouts today."
She paused slightly, her gaze slowly sweeping between Amethyst and Gretchen. "I was a little curious, so I followed. As for this place..." She glanced around the small, dark room, "I just happened to find that no one was using it, so it was convenient for 'observation' and 'waiting'."
