I returned to the waiting room. Lorry promised that she was there and waiting. Like I predicted, nobody stopped her from smoking. The other patients seemed uncomfortable around her presence.

“So, are you satisfied with visiting the guard?” Lorry flicked her cigarette on the floor.

“Yeah, I had a chat with him and we hung out. We shared some stories.” I purposely gave her the curated version.

“That’s good that you rectified your issue. We should head back inside the motorized carriage… Hold on — what’s that in your hand?” She pointed.

“A can of Fresh Cola. I snatched it from Grubbs when he wasn’t looking,” I held the can up for Lorry to see.

“I see, so you can be mischievous, Mekiko.”

“Grubbs is overweight. Him not having a sugar-filled drink would do him some good,” I explained.

I sipped the soda out of curiosity — and promptly spat the liquid out. I would’ve meowed in public right here and then, if I hadn't tempered my expectations. My eyes darted around. There wasn’t a soul around. I held in my breath

I spoke when I was sure nobody else was around, “what did they put into this slop, nya~? Is this what they call soda? No, this is an abomination! I rather wash my mouth with rubbing alcohol. This… this is rotting my teeth.”

“Mekiko, I understand your beastkin sensibility; and yes, other beastkin share the same opinion. But you shouldn’t sound so offended. Fresh Cola is a popular drink. In fact, a lot of people’s favorites. You should at least try being a little more nuanced,” she told me.

“...Just pass me the hand crank, Lorry,” I sighed.

Nice to know that my taste has changed so that I can no longer enjoy an ice-cold cola, I sarcastically thought.

Lorry drank the Fresh Cola I refused to drink, while I put the motorized carriage in drive.

— — —

I arrived at the dead of night. I thought about what Grubbs said. I thought about Thousand Cuts. We haven’t talked since I hugged her.

As much as I hate to say it, and boy do I hate to say it — she is my friend. When I get the chance, I’m going to converse with her, I nodded to myself.

My hands opened the door. There was another stuffed fish on my dresser. The fish was silver in color.

God damn it, Thousand Cuts. You somehow found a way to ruin my mood. She must have found out that I slept with the other stuffed animal. She hadn't teased me thus far.

She’s playing a game. That must be it! If I throw the plushy out now, that would be admitting defeat. Nice try Thousand Cuts, you might be clever, but not clever enough!

I placed the silver fish on my bed. I was giddy, but giddy from triumph. yes that’s what it is, triumph!

I laughed, then looked at the deck of cards lying on the table. Curiosity made me pick them up. There was no reason for me to hold onto them.

I had a long day, and the cards were only a source of frustration. Yet my mind was clear. I analyzed the cards. My tail didn't even twitch, nor was there movement in the ears.

I was focused, condensed to one focal point; the cards. My hands pressed on the cover, an action I practiced many times. I felt raw conviction this time.

I took my hand — and flipped the first card over.

Then, I saw it.

(Ace of Hearts)

The card was as clear to what Donovan or Thousand Cuts saw. The card was a little blurry. I refocused my sight to keep track. The card that perturbed Donovan. Although I wasn’t sure of the suit, I had a hunch It was the same card. Do I dare see what the other card is? I cautiously flipped another card over.

(Queen of Hearts)

I stared at the drawing. There was a picture of a catgirl — no, a catwoman.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

She looked matchless.

The woman had white hair with snowy eyes. I reached down to my own porcelain hair and thought about my own eyes, which were the same as the queen…

I was getting too emotional. I wasn’t tearing up, was I? My heightened emotions were acting up. My eyes were watery from seeing the image.

I put the queen back into the deck, though carefully.

The cards were what irked Donovan. I suspected he also drew the Queen of Hearts. There was no way of knowing, I sensed that I was missing something

Probably some superstition, like Donovan said.

Wait — that’s not the only thing strange about the deck.

I skittered the cards around. All the symbols were normal, but the face cards…

Donovan, you did that on purpose!

All the face cards were beastkin, specifically nyancans. The triangular ears were unmistakable. He planned this as a way to tease me at my final moment. Well, I wasn’t going to allow him. I earned that achievement, and I had the right to gloat.

I studied over the handful of cards.

This card is the odd one out, I picked a tarot card out from the deck; strangely stylised. The drawing made discerning the specific card hard.

I should show the tarot card to Donovan, that is proof enough.

I thought about the Queen of Hearts. I was keeping the deck.

— — —

I went to the training hall in the daytime. Donovan waited for our usual training routine. He wore the same duster and uniform armor. Today was going to be different.

I strode towards my meteor.

Donovan swerved his head, “Aren't you the talk of the town? And before training. What had possibly riled you up so?”

“Nice try, Donovan, but it would take more than a few words to fluster me!” I chirped.

“That’s not going to work? Here I thought you were trying to get out of chasing the ‘laser pointer’.”

“O-Of course not! What I found out is more important. More important than catching a laser!” I beamed.

“You found something? What can it be?” he asked.

“Well, uh, see for yourself,” I held out the deck of playing cards that I was keeping on me.

I was reluctant to let go of the cards that I kept for so long. I regretted Parting with them, yet I knew I didn't have the pride I once held. I was ready to relinquish what I once grasped.

“Here you go,” I took a deep breath, and handed him the deck.

“You’re right, this is more important than training,” he said. “The challenge that I have given you has been completed? ‘You did well, Mekikko’, truly.”

There wasn’t a hint of surprise in his voice, almost like he expected me to succeed. Did he believe in me this whole time?

We Stood in the training hall.The silver-eyed man shuffled the deck while nodding. A way to say that he acknowledged that he praised me moments ago. My ears twitched as my feet kicked the ground. He always believed in me.

“You can tell me first of what was the card that I hid,” He interrupted my thoughts.

My mentor tested me, despite believing my word. He’s trying not to let his bias show, behaving like what any mentor should.

I shifted through the cards. They looked cloudy, so I altered my focus. I got a better glimpse of the illustrations. My claws plucked the tarot card from out of the deck.

“Can you tell me what this card is?” he questioned further.

“I can't tell you that much other than it’s a tarot card. The depiction makes it hard to tell as I know little about tarot cards,” I said while holding the card.

“Then can you describe it for me?”

“Sure, a man hangs from a tree. He’s upside-down with a rope tied on his ankle. A hollow glows from his head. Despite all that — he’s smiling,” I squinted.

Yes, you are correct,” my mentor smiled. “The card is called the hanged man. I chose this card especially for you.”

I tilted my head, “Really? Another teaching moment from Donovan. Who would have expected that?” I sarcastically remarked.

“You, of course,” he responded. “I couldn't throw such a perfect opportunity. Do you see the deeper meaning behind the hanged man, Mekiko? Look at his expression. He's here on his own accord, by his own choice.”

I observed the card. The hanged man was nothing compared to the gruesome name. Perhaps I expected his neck hung at the gallows? No, that would be too horrendous of a scene.

“What I do know is that the card shows a new perspective on life,” I told him my thoughts.

“Exacally,” he inclined, “The hanged man is about letting go, and the importance of surrendering. Although past sacrifices for you haven’t offered the expected result, they still yield lesions. By taking time for patience, and learning, you can lay down the illusion of control…”

His eyes went from playful, to dull. He’s spacing out spacing out again. Donovan would get like this sometimes.

Strange, silver, and sterling was what he meant to me.

“You promised you would give me a reward if I completed your challenge,” I broke his thought.

“Yes, yes I did,” he refocused back to me. “And I intend to keep my promise. With such a short notice as well. Here take this to cover your eyes.”

“A blindfold?” My ears twitched.

“I intended for the reward to be a huge reveal. Originally, the blindfold was supposed to be used for training, but it can be used for other purposes all the same.”

“I don’t like having my eyes draped over with cloth, you know that.” I looked at him.

“Mekiko, I know, but you have to swear that you will never take off that blindfold until I say so. No matter how much curiosity gets in the way, or how blind you feel. This is important, more of a right of passage.

“For you, fine, but I’m not enjoying this, Donovan,” I put on the blind fold.

The world went dark. The buildings disappeared as Donovan led the way.