THE FORTUNIST

29. Lay

“Salem's Flower takes the form of a comb.”

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Lay took it back. This girl— Ciara Mulden, is certainly full of surprises. She had barged into the room immediately Denpo left without assuming that they'd be consequences. He had been a bit relieved when her affinity reading showed zero because that would have meant his hundred percent score was a fluke. His rays of hope was rudely dispersed however when the heir of Lemohn did his reading and scored a solid eighty nine.

"What happens to the two of us? Do we get to stay? Are we welcome to Albenarum? We bought tokens you know. The tokens were expensive!" That had been the exact words Ciara had spoken in her agitation.

Lay is only glad that he had finally found Ciara. If they are both kicked out for the score anomaly, he would ask Ciara for the drawing and be on his way. If they are both retained, he would still ask Ciara for the drawing and be on his goddamn way.

"The boy Lay Denwin can stay since his score was seventeen before the machine began to count again. He will stay and when the back up machine arrives, he will retake the final test. As for the girl, ahem. She will go home and return when we summon her to retake the final test."

A vein pops in Lay's neck. What is the meaning of this? How is it that they are to be separated?

"How…how long till the back up comes?" If Lay does not know better, he would think that Ciara is taking this awfully well. To Lay's horror, Domi Heidi gives a careless shrug as she says: "Two days, two weeks, two months. Who knows?"

HELL NO!

"I… I can't wait that long! Albenarum has always been my dream!" Why does Lay find it hard to believe that? His self control so far had almost been negated but Ciara's outburst saved it once more.

Afetor Bo indirectly begins to threaten the usual consequences of rudeness before the panel. Ciara's eyes roll aimlessly in her head, her panic is tangible and Lay can see that she is willing to do whatever it takes to stay even if it means saying all the wrong words— an unwise solution. Whatever happens, Lay knows he must not lose his window to ask her about the drawing.

"I'm a banea!"

What is this now? It's one thing to score a zero in the affinity reading. It's quite another entirely to be a banea. Does she even know who a banea is or are these the workings of desperation?

"This is not something you are saying out of desperation?" Godswood Tai voices out Lay's exact thoughts.

The girl reddens. "No!"

"Very well, then prove it. You have the floor,"

With how composed the panelists remain, Lay can tell that they do not believe Ciara, and rightfully so! The way one doesn't see a zero or hundred percent cryfix affinity score is the same way one doesn't see a random person claiming to be a banea. There are only seven baneas in the country at a particular time and there are as hidden as the Fortunist, usually not knowing themselves to be baneas. Perhaps Ciara should have taken it up a notch and announced herself as the Fortunist so she could she how fast she would fly out the door.

"Prove it how?"

"It should be simple for you really," Godswood murmurs with keen amusement. "Summon the Fortunist."

Ciara looks stunned. Afetor bursts into laughter as Godswood wryly shakes his head.

"It is funny," Indila comments, "from the look on your face, I would think you don't even know what a banea is."

"She is a banea."

Silence.

"What did you say boy?"

If this craziness gets too much, he could always whip out the Dropp Seal which awards its wielder the Lord General's protection. Lay raises his head. "I can vouch for her that she speaks the truth."

"Lay Denwin, you are from Zia and she is obviously from Xri. How is it that you can vouch for her?"

"We are childhood friends, and the only reason she was last in taking the test today is because she was waiting for me. She promised we would take it together. My house is affiliated to Zia but I grew up far from my house. I thought that would be apparent too as well seeing as it is only by my efforts that I am facing the final test panel at the last minute."

"Young man, I hope you are aware of the severity of the assertion you are making."

"I totally don't understand why you would think she's lying but she's done it before, when we were kids."

"How?"

"It is a secret art, My Lord."

"But," Domi drawls, "if we are to admit a student with a zero score just because she claims she is a banea, do you know the thousands that will flood in next year claiming the same?"

"My Lady, they don't have to claim the same. It is highly unlikely that someone else would get a zero reading. My dear childhood friend would not have revealed her secret if her affinity had read one or two at least."

"How can she be a banea when her affinity is zero?"

"It is a secret art!" Ciara says out of the blue with a stubborn set of her lips.

"If the Fortunist can wield all the nine cryfixes, doesn't it make sense if a banea can wield none?"

"Are you the Fortunist then?"

Lay frowns, "I know I'm not."

"The device has never read a zero before."

"Then maybe Albenarum has never admitted a banea before."

"Maybe the Fortunist is standing right now before us," Afetor prods, "maybe it's you."

"Okay, this is getting ridiculous!" Godswood explodes and rises. "If she says she is a banea, she should be able to prove it the only way that it can be proven— by summoning the Fortunist."

"If I may point out my Lord. The Fortunist usually visits a single person and we are six people in the room. Peradventure the Fortunist comes now, it is another question on who would get a fortune and in the presence of others. Don't you think it is better if we are not too rash. My childhood friend Ciara would eventually prove that she is telling the truth."

"Can you stop saying childhood friend now?" Ciara seethes.

Everywhere is quiet once again as the panelists seem to be communicating with their eyes.

"I will now give the verdict," Godswood while still standing proclaims, his carefree countenance is completely gone, "Lay Denwin and Ciara Mulden will surely retake the final test. Until then, they shall both remain in Albenarum. Their studentship is however conditional on when Ciara Mulden finally proves that she is indeed a banea who can indeed summon the ever evasive Fortunist."

"What happens if she can't prove it?"

"You said she can."

"Of course. I… I said so." Are those tears Lay is feeling sprouting behind his eyes. Domi Heidi also rises.

"I may not believe the girl but I appreciate the earnestness of the boy who only wants the best for a childhood friend. It is around the season when Albenarum hosts its yearly student tournament. This year's enthusiasm will surely hype up a notch when everybody knows that the winner would not only be getting cash prizes and acclamations but also a private audience from the Fortunist, courtesy of Ciara Mulden."