Spoilers about life (1)

Vera and Sara had been waiting for a little less than an hour on top of the Duomo cathedral when Gamayun appeared on the horizon.

While Vera didn't even react, Sara jumped in happiness.

«She's there, and she seems directed at us! We can meet her, right? She must be attracted to magic.»

«No, she just likes when people understand her,» Vera replied, a tired sigh accompanying her words. She could understand how lonely Gamayun felt and how hope could move even a being from heaven if they thought they would be understood.

«I have so many things to ask! Like, will I be married to the right kind of man? Will he have enough patience to deal with a witch? Oh, I can't wait to hear about my future. And you? What are you going to ask?»

«I won't ask anything,» Vera said. «I tried, but she didn't want to tell me the first time. I don't think it will be any different now.»

«Oh, it must be because you're a dark witch.»

«Yeah, sure,» the woman said, rolling her eyes.

As for the kind of question, she didn't mention anything. It wouldn't sound elegant to confess she asked about sport instead of her future or the dangers for the world. Even though she had no interest in asking about marriage. She already knew she wouldn't find a husband. Why bother?

It was not the same for Sara. She was a white witch, meaning she could live with a human without bringing misfortune or sucking their life force out. She brought good luck, which meant she did have good chances of getting married to a rich and influential man - just what she dreamt about.

As for Vera, she didn't have any dreams. She was not a kid anymore.

She didn't even care to know who would win the world championship in advance. It was just a backup plan to raise some money she would spend with her grandmother. But now, she had no chance of leaving the agency and starting a new life.

When Gamayun was close enough, they noticed how she slightly changed her route to reach them. This time, she didn't levitate mid-air as she did in Paris. Instead, she landed on the cathedral, on the railing. Her bird nails gripped the metal and almost folded it because of the strength, but her angelic face didn't have a wrinkle of worry.

She knew everything, including that the railing could keep her weight without breaking. Her eyes swept over the place, and she smiled in a direction where something pleasant had happened - in the past or in the future.

Once she was done observing the surroundings, she turned to the two women waiting for her. She knew one and ignored the other.

Sara didn't notice Gamayun's attitude, so she moved forward with a polite smirk.

«Hello, Gamayun,» she said.

Vera gripped her shoulder suddenly.

«Don't call her by name,» she whispered. «It's impolite.»

«Let go,» the other replied with a glacial tone.

She had no time to deal with Vera's issues. She had a Gamayun to interrogate and, later, bring to the agency.

Seeing her expression, Vera retreated and let her face doom. She was being impolite to a heaven's being.

«Don't say I didn't warn you,» she just muttered before taking a couple of steps back and crossing her arms.

With some luck, Gamayun would just refuse to answer and leave. The heavenly bird already knew what was going to happen - it was part of her power. There was no way Sara's plan could work, no matter how smart, organised, and precise it could be.

«I'm happy for you, child,» Gamayun said.

Vera felt the words hit her, and she bowed her head. She split her lips to thank her, whatever she meant, but she couldn't finish her thought because Sara was already talking.

«Happy? Can you tell me for what, exactly?» she asked, paying no attention to Gamayun's gaze bypassing her and landing on Vera.

«You might not believe me, but it will eventually pay off. You will accept it, and then your happiness will begin. But until then, many trials wait ahead of you. Many dangers will try taking you with them. But you're not alone anymore, so you don't need to fear anything. You will be protected when you need it, loved as you deserve. But you won't see it until you let go of your pain.»

«P-pain?» Sara stuttered.

She didn't like what she heard. Maybe, it was better to leave that prophecy to Vera and take another one, one more propitious.

She bit her lower lip and clenched her fists, her nails cutting into the skin. She couldn't allow a future filled with pain! What use was there to intercept Gamayun if not to get a blessing?

«When will I get married?» she asked in the end.

She was curious about that the most. She had waited more than twenty years for the suitable man to appear. She needed someone who could bear with her.

Someone rich, influential, and handsome. Nothing could be less than perfect in her future husband. A regular man couldn't survive next to her, after all.

However, she didn't get any answer. She observed how Gamayun didn't even think about her query but continued gazing at something behind her. She stared with something close to love, which was unbelievable - given that the only living thing behind was Vera.

Maybe, it was still something she liked about the cathedral! It must have been it.

After all, who could love a dark witch? Surely, not a being from heaven, a bird from paradise. Surely not Gamayun, who everything knew and everything could guess.