Chapter 8: Rain Crystal Stones
After leaving the mansion of Gaga County’s Lord Rostellum, the Great Witch Biggs felt a pervasive unease. This feeling had persisted for several days. Biggs had believed that the Rain Crystal Stone would restore her title as the omnipotent Great Witch of Gaga County. But in reality, one hadn’t been enough, and neither had two. Not only had she failed to reclaim the title she cherished, but she had also become entangled in a task with no clear direction.
Moreover, judging by the current situation, this mission had to succeed; failure was not an option, even though she didn’t fully understand what "hospitality" entailed. Consequently, she felt she had no capital left to squander this chance for atonement. This sense of helplessness, of having no way out, was the source of her discomfort these past few days.
This helplessness feels like being pushed off an impossibly high mountain, she thought. The slopes are bare, offering nothing to grab. No matter how I flail my arms or kick my legs, I only grasp at the wind whistling past my ears. The wind stings my stooped body, a reminder that the fall will end with me shattered to pieces. And I can’t even tell when that will happen. It means that before the ultimate pain arrives, I can only continue to experience the terror of this rapid descent...
If only I had known, I would have given the other two stones to Elder Rostellum as well, Witch Biggs lamented internally, fear and despair welling up. It all started with that chicken, that damned chicken Elder Rostellum bought from the Dusk Market.
As this thought crossed her mind, a shiver ran through Witch Biggs.
If I could just provide Elder Rostellum with the date the chicken will lay its eggs, would this feeling of helpless freefall lessen? The chicken’s previous owner must know more about it. With more information, divining the laying date becomes much more hopeful!
A sudden tremor of excitement coursed through Witch Biggs.
She staggered into the inner chamber of the Divination House and began rummaging around with a CLATTER and a BANG.
With my current Witch Spirit, it’s very difficult to accurately visualize that Adventurer’s appearance, she mused. However, what little Witch Spirit I have should be enough to trace an object’s owner. I’m falling anyway. Instead of waiting passively for doom in this clueless task, I might as well forge a new path, find another way to resolve this current predicament.
In the inner chamber, Great Witch Biggs found the chicken feather she had used for the last Divination. Then, using the worn-out Crystal Ball on the divination table, she began to scry into the past. The Crystal Ball spun and spun on the dusty table, and soon, an image materialized: a buck-toothed vendor in Liuli City’s Dusk Market, hawking a chicken he cradled in his arms.
"Dusk Market!" The Great Witch adjusted her spectacles, pacing thoughtfully.