Chapter 011: The Gamble

Fate is like a mischievous child, always eager to lay little traps when you least expect it, causing you to stumble right in, while it stands by, snickering at your misfortune. It is also a string of choices, a test whose answers are inked with every decision, and when you turn to look back, you may find that the ending was decided from the start—setting foot on the path of alchemy was both destined and fortuitous, or perhaps, simply destined fortune.
—Excerpt from “Theresa’s Alchemical Notes”

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“…Pedia, do you dare to make a wager with me?” Joans’ words immediately drew the attention of the few tables of guests scattered in the restaurant. Though they all appeared to dine with sober composure, their ears pricked up, eager to eavesdrop on the unfolding drama—none more so than Theresa and Achille.

Theresa nudged Achille with the handle of her fork, waggling her brows meaningfully. Achille merely spread his hands, indicating he was just as baffled.

Seeing this, Theresa pouted, tilting her head to glance at Pedia, Aivis, and Joans’ group. She whispered low, “Achille, what do you think is the point of this bet?”

“Who knows?” Achille replied bluntly. “Anyway, with Pedia and Aivis worrying about it, we just sit back and enjoy the show.” Clearly, he’d grown used to leaving the thinking to Pedia and Aivis.

Theresa was speechless—she’d never seen anyone so brazenly lazy…

While the two youngsters fretted at their table, Pedia had already lifted his brow, his expression unreadable as he asked, “What’s the wager?”

“A treasure-hunt drill with the city map,” Joans answered, seemingly prepared. “We each take a commemorative badge from the Treasure Festival and mark it with our seal. Over the next thirty minutes, we each hide our badge within a ten-square-kilometer radius. Then, we return to the Sea of Blue and set out at the same time. Whoever finds the other’s badge first and returns to the Sea of Blue is the winner. How about it?”

Pedia stared at Joans for a moment before calmly asking the most important question: “And the stakes?”

“Water’s Passing and Lumina.” Joans’ answer startled everyone. Achille, in the midst of gnawing on a hard-shelled fish, was so shocked he bit down at the wrong angle, his teeth crashing together with a loud “crack,” even biting his tongue, making Theresa wince in sympathy.

Theresa looked at Achille with concern. When he’d recovered enough to lower his hand from his face, she asked, “Achille, what are Water’s Passing and Lumina? Are they really worth all this fuss?”

“Water’s Passing is my brother’s weapon—a gift from Mother. He’s used it for five or six years now. It’s not the finest magic staff, but it’s full of spirit, and most importantly, it’s a specially crafted sword-staff that suits him perfectly. As for Lumina, that’s Joans’ prized weapon, also forged by a master craftsman—he’s actually putting it up as a wager! I have no idea how he’s so sure he’ll win today…”

While Achille puzzled aloud, Pedia and Aivis had already concluded their public discussion with Joans and were walking back toward Theresa and Achille. Once seated, they resumed their meal as if nothing had happened. Achille, however, was too agitated to sit still. “Brother, what’s Joans up to this time? What’s the point of this bet?”

Pedia focused on his food, ignoring the question. It was Aivis who teased, “Achille, maybe you should try using your own brain for once. If you keep slacking off, you’ll really end up a fool.”

“Tch, as if! With how clever I am, my brains wouldn’t shrink even if I went a hundred years without thinking.” Achille grinned. “Anyway, you don’t need to tell me—I can guess. It’s for the field internship in two months, isn’t it? But what I don’t get is, does Joans really think he’s sure to win? That he’ll get Water’s Passing?”

“Perhaps he’s absolutely confident about this wager. Or, maybe Lumina isn’t as important to him as we imagine,” Pedia replied coolly, his eating measured and calm, giving off a reassuring air of quiet authority.

At this, Achille had a sudden realization. “So you’re testing his hand too, brother? Or could it be Joans has already adapted to a new weapon? If that’s the case, winning today would be a triumph, but even if he loses, it won’t really affect his strength.”

He couldn’t help but sigh in admiration, “Cunning—truly cunning!”

Theresa, already full, was nibbling absent-mindedly on a pastry, her eyes darting between speakers like a curious kitten. As she glanced about, she caught Pedia’s gaze as he finished eating. Instantly, she beamed at him with a radiant smile.

Her smile warmed Pedia’s eyes. He reached over and patted her gently on the head. “Achille knows the city map best, and his mind is sharpest. You’ll go hide the badge with him. When it’s time to search, Aivis and Achille will act separately, and Theresa, you’ll come with me.”

Aivis and Achille nodded in agreement. Theresa hesitated, then said, “Brother, won’t I slow you down if I go with you? Joans-Hark’s group already has more people, and if I hold you back…”

“What’s with all these worries, little one?” Pedia lightly rapped her head in mock admonishment—Theresa sulked, thinking how much he liked to pat her head. The gentle force made her nod deeply, swallowing back the rest of her protest.

Seeing Theresa so docile under her brother’s “paw,” Achille burst into laughter and reached out to give her two playful pats as well. “That’s right, Tess, if you worry so much, you’ll never grow tall.”

Theresa edged away from Achille’s hand, her round eyes glaring indignantly. “Don’t go patting my head! If I really do end up short, it’ll be because you two keep flattening me!”

Her childish complaint set all three boys laughing.

☆☆☆

The Sea of Blue was located in the southwestern part of Cervantes City. Ten square kilometers—neither vast nor minuscule—but since the southern district was home to artists, with its unconventional buildings and whimsical city planning, finding a place to hide a small badge was easy, but hunting for it became a real challenge.

By afternoon, the festival crowds had dispersed—some heading to the entertainment complexes outside the city, others to the northern district’s shopping and party zones. Of course, many also flooded into the southern city. As Theresa and Pedia walked, they noticed the throngs had grown much denser since morning.

Amid the crowd, Theresa glanced left and right before fixing her gaze on the unhurried Pedia. At last, she couldn’t help but ask, “Brother, why aren’t you looking for the badge at all?”

After leaving the Sea of Blue, the four had split into three groups—Aivis and Achille each taking a separate path, and Theresa naturally following Pedia. They’d already been walking for ten minutes, yet Pedia seemed to be strolling idly, completely unhurried, as if the wager meant nothing to him, and Water’s Passing was of no concern.

“A city-map search isn’t about blindly turning over every corner,” Pedia explained patiently. “It involves cartography, psychology, tactical deduction… In short, what we’re looking for is the place Joans thinks ‘Pedia’s group will never find.’”

Theresa took a moment to process this, then murmured, “Oh,” visibly relieved, and said no more. Her reaction surprised Pedia—he looked down at her, noting how at ease she seemed as she watched the festival crowds in their flamboyant costumes, showing not a hint of worry. He let out a silent sigh of relief and chided himself for overthinking—after all, Tess, for all her cleverness, was only ten. How could she be expected to fret over such things for long?

Refocusing, Pedia continued to analyze Joans’ mindset, planning the next search location.

They wove their way through city streets, brushing past hordes of festival-goers. Some, already weary, made their way home; others, freshly rested, surged eagerly toward new festivities. On a day like this, simply observing the revelers could be entertainment enough. Just as Theresa was lost in the spectacle, the sidewalk suddenly grew crowded, the noise swelling. She looked toward the commotion to see a singing, dancing procession approaching—a band at its head, their artistic costumes and infectious music swelling the crowd as they advanced.

At the first hint of noise, Pedia had already pulled Theresa into the shelter of a nearby building. As the parade drew near, the crowd pressed tighter. Theresa, who had been tapping her feet and clapping along, was soon forced to burrow into Pedia’s arms, bracing herself and waiting for the tide to pass. She couldn’t help but admire those who managed to dance so joyously in the thick of the mob.

Pedia, holding Theresa close, was buffeted about like a drifting leaf, struggling to stay upright and shield her as best he could. He frowned, regretting that he hadn’t chosen a higher vantage before the crowd arrived, rather than settling for the convenience of the roadside. Just as he was berating himself, he felt the press grow even tighter—something jabbed his right arm, numbing it instantly, rendering it useless. At that moment, the body he’d been holding so securely seemed to…