51. Camping and Peaking Plans

Strolling through the kingdom with my hands in my pockets, I headed toward the academy. I wasn't wearing shoes—just a pair of slippers. Mom had told me to buy some before going to school, but shopping would've only slowed me down. Besides, I don't even like wearing shoes. My feet always get sweaty.

Just a few meters from the academy, I noticed an old woman sitting on a tattered mat by the roadside. Probably just another beggar. I walked over and tossed a coin in front of her, but as I did, I noticed her wrinkled hands shuffling a deck of black cards. Her long, unkempt black hair covered most of her face.

When she looked up, my breath hitched. Her pale, cloudy eyes locked onto me, unblinking.

Creepy.

I turned to leave, but before I could take a step, she suddenly stopped shuffling her cards and whispered, just loud enough for me to hear:

"The road ahead… thorns and embers… stepping forward only to burn."

I ignored her and kept walking.