Chapter 262: Dark Demon’s Prophecy (4k)
“Robert Broheim.”
“Yes, Professor!”
In the slightly noisy atmosphere, Robert quickly stood up, feeling somewhat nervous.
It was like when people went to a shrine to draw lots; everyone knew that the fortune drawn was about luck, not fate, yet many still cared deeply about it. As more and more people drew “good” fortunes, those who cared became even more anxious.
Robert did not want to receive any ominous signs.
He clasped his hands together, standing straight and stiff as he said, “I am Robert, I like Mage Chess, and in the future, I want… to be a soldier?”
Professor Metia glanced at him, her tone suddenly stuttering before she finally spoke after a while.
This abrupt pause made Robert feel a sudden sense of foreboding.
Indeed, Professor Metia said, “Your life, the life of the chess, shatters with the chess, and the person dies.”
Robert’s legs gave out, and he sat down with a loud thud that caught the attention of the entire class.
His neighbor, Wit, quickly stood up and asked, “Professor, is this a bad omen?”
Professor Metia, however, maintained a calm demeanor and smiled. “Look beyond the surface to the essence; it is the core of prophecy interpretation. Death in astrology is not just an end but also a beginning. Even from the word ‘death,’ one can read ‘life.’ What I say today has no real meaning; do not take it too seriously.”
She meant: I’m just talking nonsense, don’t overthink it.
But for the young mages, whether it was true or false didn’t really matter.
Drawing a “great evil,” it was certainly bad luck.
This was an unavoidable fact.
In other words, he was just a jinx!
Tudor couldn’t help but look at him with pity.
Surrounded by sympathetic looks, Robert was still scared.
…
Seeing this, Dark Dedmon noted down the “prophecy” about him and pondered: Professor Metia’s prophecy seemed ominous.
But life is like a chess game; everyone is a piece on the board.
And everyone will eventually die.
Isn’t this exactly what “shattered chess, shattered lives” means?
Is this even a prophecy?
If it is, then isn’t everyone a prophet?
Mmm…
“Wit Gold!”
Before Wit could sit down, Professor Metia directly called out his name.
Wit trembled all over, his face tightening involuntarily.
After thinking for a moment, he opened his mouth and said, “Professor, I am a first-year student at the Knight Academy. If I had to choose something I like, Mage Chess should count as well. My goal for the future is to become a hero, like my father.”
Professor Metia nodded. “Brett Gold, is that your father?”
Wit replied, “Yes.”
Metia focused slightly, the silver moon deep in her eyes gradually becoming fuller, her voice turning slightly ethereal. “History always repeats itself, the cycle never stops.”
Wit asked, “What does that mean?”
Metia smiled. “Each has their own interpretation.”
Wit sat down, bewildered.
After a while, he asked Robert, “Does she mean I will repeat the path my father took?”
Robert still looked dejected. “Isn’t that bad?”
Wit was puzzled. “Why?”
Robert casually replied, “Didn’t your father sacrifice himself?”
Wit: “…”
…
The identity of the hero’s child was different.
Professor Metia’s “prophecy” about Wit clearly caused a commotion, spreading quietly among the crowd.
Their gaze toward Wit changed.
“History always repeats itself, the cycle never stops.” Diana unexpectedly showed some intelligence, turning to Dark and whispering, “Does Professor Metia mean that Wit will become a hero?”
Dark smiled. “Maybe.”
After all, in the original story, Wit was indeed the main character. If his fate wasn’t changed, he would definitely become a hero.
Even though Dark hadn’t figured it out yet, Wit must have the unique potential of a hero.
As for how the future would unfold, no one could say for sure.
Even so-called prophets are divided into two factions.
One faction believes that the future is single-threaded, everything is predetermined, and one can only follow the trajectory of fate, unable to change it.
Prophets are merely observers of the trajectory of fate.
The other faction believes that the future is multi-threaded and uncertain.
Prophets can only observe one fragment of one thread.
Once that fragment is observed, the world line changes.
Thus, this faction views prophets as independent changers outside the world line, great and noble.
The former is more approachable.
The latter is more arrogant.
The former has a longer lifespan.
The latter has a shorter lifespan.
That’s roughly how they’re categorized.
Although Dark is not a prophet, he clearly favors the latter faction.
He believes that since he “observed” part of the future, destiny has already changed.
Everything is still uncertain…
On the podium, Professor Metia observed the children’s gazes, expressions, and whispers.
She knew this year’s students were special.
Children of heroes and valkyries.
They continued the lineage of the golden generation, greatly attracting prophets.
Many true and false prophets made predictions about these students, with similar conclusions and completely opposite ones.
But prophecies are like this.
Even if some elements of the future are observed, they need precise interpretation.
The same element can appear entirely differently in different prophets’ eyes.
Therefore, before getting concrete evidence of the future, no one knows if their prophecy is correct, let alone others’.
The tower master of the Star Tower once tried to incorporate probability theory into divination, but the calculations were too complex. They lacked the necessary models, so it ended up superficial.
Metia is an astrologer at the Star Tower.
Her real purpose for accepting Altair’s invitation to substitute teach was to closely observe this year’s students and interpret a prophecy.
A prophecy about the stars, black fog, and abyss.
…
“Eudora Envi.”
“Yes, yes!”
The pink-haired girl quickly stood up, shrinking back and lowering her head.
Metia’s gaze flickered. “Be brave, lift your head.”
Eudora lifted her head, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly.
But when she met Metia’s gaze, Eudora suddenly froze.
Deep within her eyes, stars appeared!
Competing with the silver moon deep in Metia’s eyes.
In this instant, Metia’s face suddenly lit up with joy!
She never expected such talent hidden among this year’s students!
— The Eye of the Stars!
People with the Eye of the Stars can see the trajectory of star movements and use it to glimpse fate.
Every owner of the Star Eye is a natural astrologer!
If she could take Eudora as a disciple, even if she failed to interpret the prophecy, it wouldn’t be a waste.
But in this classroom, she shouldn’t show such urgency.
Metia quickly composed herself and softly said, “Don’t you want to introduce yourself?”
“I.” Eudora hesitated, then said, “I am Eudora, I like the night sky, and my dream is to become a bride.”
Metia was slightly stunned, then sighed. “A nice dream. Your eyes contain stars; the night will bless you.”
Few astrologers marry.
Eudora’s expression brightened. “Thank you!”
…
Time slowly passed.
Dark was thinking this astronomy class might be spent with self-introductions and “prophecies” when he heard his name.
“Dark Demon.”
He gracefully stood up, looking at Metia and casually starting his introduction. “Hello, Professor. I don’t have any major hobbies, nor any ambitions… well, if I had to choose one, it would be cats. After graduation, I hope to inherit the family business.”
— Eliminate worries, inherit the dukedom, gain wealth, pet cats, eat melons, continue the lineage, live a life of ease.
This is all Dark Demon’s current dreams.
After finishing, he calmly faced the surrounding gazes, waiting for Metia’s “prophecy.”
But Metia’s brief glance nearly blinded her.
She quickly turned away, still shaken.
This wasn’t the first time she had been blinded.
Since entering the classroom, she had repeatedly looked towards that corner.
Each time, she was blinded again.
Those “silver moon eyes” almost blinded her.
“Before this, I’ve never heard that a valkyrie’s son could be a son of the stars…”
Metia couldn’t help but mutter.
The moon is also a star.
Metia’s “silver moon eye” and Eudora’s star eye both belong to the “Eye of the Stars.”
But her silver moon eye is clearly more mature, allowing her to see deeper scenes!
In her vision, Dark is a gathering of stars!
The blazing sun.
The gentle moon.
The steady Saturn.
The resolute Venus.
The restless Jupiter.
…
Stars of various sizes converge, forming a dazzling star chart.
In historical records, people with this phenomenon are called “sons of the stars,” said to be able to borrow the power of the stars to cause miracles.
…
The moment she saw Dark, she believed he was the key to interpreting the prophecy.
But immediately, she discovered more “great individuals” in this classroom, expanding the scope of “stars” to multiple students.
…
Closing her eyes, hiding the silver moon, then opening them to look at the “son of the stars.”
Metia began with her distinctive voice, “Do not hesitate, do not doubt, embrace the stars, and embrace everything.”
…
Dark was suddenly stunned.
Professor Metia’s “prophecy” surprised him, even scaring him.
He slowly sat down.
Then he realized he might be overthinking it.
As long as he continues on his path, some branches of the future won’t exist and won’t appear in the prophecy.
There’s no need to worry about it.
But this new astronomy professor seems to have something.
…
Unlike other more direct “prophecies,” Dark’s prophecy is rather vague.
Without being in the situation, it’s hard to understand its meaning.
And the reason Metia said this and what Dark understood are completely different.
Other students were equally confused.
Some thought Professor Metia meant that Dark would surely inherit the dukedom’s wealth and get everything he wanted.
That is the fate of a duke’s son, something others envy.
Of course, it was a non-sensical statement.
…
Only Eudora seemed to hear another meaning, covering her blushing face.
Rose, who received the “above the stars, your destiny,” was particularly sensitive to the term “stars” and thought of something else.
She couldn’t help but turn her gaze away.
Apart from that, Dark’s “prophecy” didn’t leave as strong an impression as the hero’s child’s statement.
Someone even speculated: “Hear that Brett, the hero, wasn’t a top student during his school days either. Could this be another similarity in history? Will Wit truly become a hero?”
Prophets always say, “Whenever a hero appears, humans need him.”
If Wit truly becomes a hero, does it mean disaster is coming?
Various thoughts spread in the classroom, with young mages whispering and speculating.
Professor Metia’s roll call and “prophecy” continued.
…
With a few minutes left until the end of class, the roll call process finally concluded.
Though it was a long process, the students didn’t find it boring.
Professor Metia’s “prophecy” was quite interesting, and some students even copied down good prophecies to make them into amulets later.
Students who received bad prophecies, although outwardly complained, were not too concerned inside, except for a small group who felt uneasy.
For example, Tudor and Robert couldn’t let go of it.
The last few minutes.
The young mages watched as the roll call finally ended, and class would end soon, making the atmosphere increasingly lively.
But Professor Metia suddenly waved her wand, drawing a purple heart in the air that lingered for a few seconds, then said loudly, “This is my first lesson, I didn’t cover much content.”
Not just not much, she didn’t cover any!
Dark in the back row couldn’t help but mutter, it was a waste of bringing Lil’Eevee to listen.
In the end… well, Eevee did recognize most of the first-year students.
Professor Metia continued, “I know astronomy is just an elective for first-years, but now that I’m here, it’s no longer an elective.
We have at least a semester together. During this time, I will teach you some knowledge related to astrology, and tonight is just the beginning.
I hope you will try to interpret the sentence I gave during the roll call when you return home. This will be our first lesson’s assignment. Do you understand?”
“Understand… not a chance!”
The classroom exploded instantly!
Not everyone has the habit of taking notes.
Most just listen and then discuss briefly, focusing their attention on others’ “prophecies.”
They quickly turned to ask their desk mates, but often found them equally confused.
