To Cassiel, From Cross

( There is an annotated piece of paper, an insignia, and a map attached to the letter )

     Cassiel,

     Against all odds, your fortune came through. Partially.

     I do not mean to dirty your claims as a so-called fortune teller, nor get opinionated on the subject of divination– one which I am very much not acquainted with, in the slightest– but it seemed to be a bit of a… sloppy job. 

     As you might recall, you gave me a complete count of important events that would happen over the two weeks following our meeting. I have attached it to this letter in the form of the second page, as well as taken the liberty to circle, cross and annotate them according to their relevance. Some of them were completely off, like the one that mentioned a very big financial gain (which you implied would be coming from selling a considerable piece of land) and losing an old family member. Not only did these not happen at all, but I was aware of their impossibility the moment you had written them down. For once, I do not engage in the buying or selling of land, as I do not own enough money for that possibility– and for another, all of my grandparents have unfortunately passed away. Though this is, as far as I know, common knowledge. Your research of my life was indeed sloppy.

     Still, I decided not to mention any of it, for the sake of the entertainment that came with your services, and the experience you provided. Having my fortune read would have been fun, or at least I had assumed as such.

     On the contrary, it turned out to be quite bizarre. Because as the days went by, some of your more general predictions did indeed come true, though distorted:

     You mentioned me reconnecting with a lost friend from childhood, and though no person reached out, I found an old plush toy I had played with as a child. It was buried between memories, pictures, and miscellaneous objects, inside a box I could have sworn I had thrown away years ago. You also mentioned a new culinary experience, and the guard’s kitchens caught on fire after a candle had broken down at night. Though there were no casualties, and the building was salvageable in its entirety, two cooks are on leave until their wounds are cured. Ultimately not the experience I was waiting for, nor a positive one at that. 

     Lastly, and the one which made me the most confused, was your claim of a betrayal close to my ranks, which was of the utmost concern. Putting some faith in your abilities, I kept an open eye on any information that might be leaking from internal affairs, but no such thing happened. Instead, my mentor stepped down into retirement, leaving me on my own to take over what he had been overseeing. Not hostile, nor technically a betrayal, but I have felt his absence most these past couple of days, and I do wish his leave had not happened so suddenly.

     Though flawed, your predictions had come true, in some way or another. At first, I was convinced that they were flukes. Coincidences, of general statements, broad sentences that had fallen into place through the events of my life. 

     And then, the last item on the list: come midnight would aid in saving a life. 

     Against my new master’s wishes, I overstayed patrol the entirety of the two weeks, when my leave was to end an hour beforehand. The area I usually patrol is to be unguarded for half an hour through the late night or early morning, just when the city gates are closing down for the night. It was believed to be safe enough to do so because nothing bad had happened in an area so close to the guards’ sleeping quarters. And yet, I decided to guard my spot anyways, when I should have been going to bed. For two weeks, I wasted an hour of my sleep, standing guard in an isolated, peaceful stand. 

     Until last night, when sharp at midnight, I heard a child scream, muffled and weakened, not loud enough to wake anyone who had indeed gone to bed. I acted as soon as I could, and with it, apprehended a man through his attempt to take a child away from an unconscious mother. It seemed that I acted so early in the man’s nefarious plan, that none of the victims had been harmed. 

     I saved not one, but two lives that night. And it was all thanks to you. 

     Cassiel, you intrigue me. So much more than anyone ever had– you talk so loud and are so convinced of your abilities when they are not meant to exist at all. Fortune telling has always been no more than a rumor, even when you claim it to be a gift of your magical prowess. You should not be able to predict the future, yet you do. Cassiel, you are an exception to the rule, and though your gift has not been fully honed down, I believe that it has the ability to aid this kingdom if trained properly. 

     I have attached a map, as well as an insignia, to where the entrance to the guard’s quarters is. I was planning to give all of these to you in person, but if that sign outside your establishment tells the truth, I just missed you on your trip out of town. When you are back, meet me there, any time between six to noon. Ask for me, show that insignia, and whoever is on duty should let you in. 

     You have saved two lives already. Allow me to help you to save many more. 

Expecting to see you, 
𝓒𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓼