The encounter with Jax affected Felix more than he let on, though he tried not to let it show. His pets, however, seemed to sense his conflicted thoughts as they wandered through the temple grounds. The lively atmosphere around them helped ease the tension, with the soft jingling of bells, the murmur of prayers, and the occasional laughter of visitors filling the air.

As they turned a corner near the main temple courtyard, they noticed a side hall set apart from the bustling crowd that was no less full of people as the wishing tree courtyard had been. Temple cats sat behind low wooden tables, arranging what appeared to be smooth, polished fish bones on their tables. Large, intricate bones, likely from sea creatures, were marked with delicate engravings of symbols, runes, and tiny pictographs. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The signboard nearby read: Oracle Bone Readings—Find Guidance in the Tides of Fate. Under it in smaller print explained the offerings: career fortunes, love fortunes, and general life advice, each for a modest fee.

“Oracle bones?” Felix muttered, his curiosity piqued.

“Ooh, fortune-telling!” Virgil tilted his head, grinning. “I didn’t know Regal Ones believed in this stuff.”

“Many don’t,” Thel replied, his tone matter-of-fact. “But the temple has always blended tradition with cultural curiosity. Fortune-telling is just one of the many services that draw visitors.”

Albrecht’s eyes lit up, clearly interested. “Why not give it a try? I shall go first!”

The group approached one of the tables, where a serene-looking temple cat welcomed them with a slight bow. Her fur, white with mottled black, brown, and orange patches, looked very touchable in the sunlight filtering through the courtyard’s canopy.

Not that anyone would dare to pet her as it was considered gauche to pet a Regal One unless given permission. 

“Welcome to the Oracle Bone Reading,” she said, her voice calm and melodic. “What guidance do you seek today?”

Albrecht, sat down straight and confident, didn’t hesitate. “Love, of course.”

The temple cat gestured to the tray of polished bones with a paw. “Please choose three bones that resonate with you, and I will interpret their alignment.”

Albrecht studied the tray carefully, as though the bones might reveal their secrets if he stared hard enough. He finally selected three, laying them out on the table.

The temple cat arranged the bones in a triangular formation and traced the engraved symbols with the pad of her paw. Her eyes closed briefly, as if connecting with some unseen force.

“Your heart is loyal and devoted,” she said. “But your standards are high, perhaps too high. If you wish to find love, you must learn to balance your ideals with reality.”

Albrecht frowned. “I don’t settle,” he said firmly.

The temple cat flicked her ears. “Love is not about settling. It is about compromise. Keep that in mind.”

Virgil stepped forward next, grinning as he rubbed his hands together. “Alright, let’s see what the bones have to say about my love life.”

The temple cat swayed her tail patiently and gestured for him to select his bones. He picked three at random, placing them down after feeling them between his fingers in curiosity.

She arranged them into a crescent shape and examined them closely. “You are charming and magnetic, but your lighthearted nature often masks deeper insecurities. If you wish for true connection, you must first be honest with yourself about what you truly want.”

Virgil’s grin dropped slightly, though it quickly raised again, even brighter than before. “I guess I’ll have to think about that one.”

After him was Sorath who approached the table with an air of nonchalance. His sunglasses were still perched on his nose, though his lips displayed their usual roguish smirk. “Love,” he said simply with a little snap of his fingers.

The temple cat nodded and gestured for him to choose. Sorath picked three bones with little fanfare and handed them over.

Arranging the bones into a diagonal line, the temple cat studied the runes etched into their surface. “Your confidence is both your strength and your weakness,” she said. “You attract others easily, but lasting connections require sincerity. Do not be afraid to let someone see beyond the surface.”

Sorath maintained his devil-may-care smirk but he did straighten up from his slouch. He said nothing further as he stepped back, but his lips did seem to pout slightly in a thoughtful moue.

Thel’s turn came and he walked forward briskly, his expression calm and composed. “Career,” he said, selecting his bones with precision. Unlike his fellow pets, he had no interest in frivolous things like love.

The temple cat arranged them into a circular pattern and studied them intently. “You are ambitious and calculating, with the potential for great success. Your strength lies in your ability to strategize and execute plans with precision.”

Thel nodded, clearly pleased.

“However,” the temple cat added, “your calculating nature may hinder you. Not every situation will allow for the weighing of pros and cons. Sometimes, you must take risks and listen to what the heart wants.”

Thel’s brow furrowed slightly as he processed her words.

Felix finally stepped forward, last in line, feeling a little awkward. “Um, career, I guess.” Like Thel, he wasn’t very interested in love. What was most pressing, with the imminent combat trainee program looming ahead, was his career and means of livelihood in this world.

The temple cat’s eyes looked up at him briefly before she placed a paw on the table, the tip of her tail pointing at the bones. “Like the others, choose three that call to you.”

Felix gave the tray a cursory sweep and selected three bones, placing them carefully on the table. The temple cat arranged them into a triangular formation and traced the runes with the pad of her paw.

“You’re at a crossroads,” she began. “You’ve recently embarked on a new path, one that will test not only your physical strength but your determination and adaptability. Success lies ahead, but it will not come easily. You must remain open to learning from others and trust your instincts.”

Felix frowned slightly. It was vague, but her words sounded like good advice. “Anything else?”

Her tail swished enigmatically. “Learn to embrace yourself and the world around you. Even the strongest cannot achieve their goals alone.”

Felix thanked her quietly and stepped back to join the others.

After the readings, the group wandered further into the temple grounds until they reached a shaded pavilion. 

“So,” Virgil began, stretching lazily. “What did everyone think about those readings? Pretty wild, huh?”

Felix tapped thoughtfully at his chin. “I found mine rather insightful. She described my situation almost perfectly.”

Thel frowned. “I can’t say I agree. Letting emotions cloud your judgement is a sign of weakness, hardly a path to success.”

Albrecht also pursed his lips. “Likewise. What’s wrong with having high standards? I’d rather remain a bachelor than settle or ‘compromise’, whatever that means!”

Sorath remained silent, a contemplative look on his usually carefree countenance. It was clear that for him, his reading had hit too close to home. 

But the group didn’t ponder too much over whether the readings were truly accurate or not as a tantalizing aroma of grilled fish wafted through the air, making Felix’s stomach growl.

“Where’s that smell coming from?” Felix inhaled deeply, taking a few steps towards the source. The others also followed, feeling various degrees of hunger themselves.

“Ah! The famous fish lunch! I’ve been thinking of it even in my dreams over the past week,” Virgil exclaimed, gesturing animatedly to a discrete sign that read, “Free Lunch for All Visitors: A Blessing of the Night Hunter.”

A temple cat approached them, bowing politely. “Would you like to join us for lunch?”

“Yes, please,” Felix said, grateful for the invitation.

The temple cat led them to a long, low table in a private room reserved for small groups. Plates of steaming fish dishes were already set out, along with bowls of seaweed soup and an assortment of pickled vegetables. There was grilled fish seasoned with herbs, a big pot full of a rich, savory fish broth, and even fish balls on skewers glazed with a sweet soy sauce.

“This smells amazing,” Virgil said, already reaching for a skewer.

“Wait,” Albrecht snapped, swatting his hand away. “We should eat respectfully. This is a temple, not a street stall.”

Virgil rolled his eyes but waited as Felix said a quick word of thanks before they began eating.

The meal was quiet at first, everyone focused on the delicious food. But as they ate, they forgot all about the readings from earlier and found themselves relaxing, the savory flavors and fragrant aroma of the dishes filing their senses.

“This temple is incredible,” Felix finally broke the comfortable silence. “The fortune-telling, the wishing tree, the food… It’s a great way to spend a day with friends.”

“It’s a tourist trap,” Thel said, though he was on his second serving of fish.

“Maybe,” Felix admitted. “But it’s also kind of… nice. I can see why it’s so popular.”

Sorath grinned, raising his glass of iced green tea in a teasing toast. “Well, then it seems coming here was a good idea. Let’s hope the gods hear our prayers—to good luck and—”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Felix not getting his tail handed to him tomorrow!” Virgil finished with wicked humor.

Felix huffed, but the others laughed, everyone joining in the impromptu toast, the atmosphere full of simple enjoyment and lighthearted cheer.

AN: trainee!Felix arc finally starts next chapter! 🐈‍⬛️🫡✨️