The General waved his hand, signaling Arden to follow him. "Come with me. There's someone you need to meet," he said, his tone serious but inviting. Arden, curious and slightly apprehensive, walked with the General and the Governor to a private Majlis room tucked away from the main celebration. Outside the Majlis, two bodyguards stood at attention, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats. Another discreetly opened the door, nodding respectfully as the trio entered, ensuring their conversation would remain undisturbed.

Seated inside was none other than the President of the Philippines. The room’s elegant decor matched the gravity of the moment, with polished wood panels and soft lighting adding to the air of importance. The President looked up as they entered, his expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

The General gestured toward Arden. "Mr. President, meet Arden. He’s more capable than his age suggests, and I believe he might be instrumental in understanding what’s happening."

The President raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with disbelief. "You brought a 16-year-old boy to discuss matters of national security? General, is this some kind of joke?"

Arden remained calm, his demeanor composed despite the weight of the scrutiny. The General placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Trust me, Mr. President. Arden is not an ordinary young man. Let him demonstrate."

Arden took a deep breath and stepped forward. With a subtle movement of his hand, he performed a spiritual technique, channeling a faint yet tangible energy that rippled through the room. The temperature seemed to shift, and a faint glow emanated from his palm before dissipating into the air.

The President’s skeptical expression gave way to one of astonishment. "What... was that?" he asked, his voice laced with both wonder and disbelief. Beside him, the Governor leaned forward, his brows furrowed in concentration. "Incredible," the Governor murmured. "General, I knew you had something remarkable to show us, but this... this is beyond expectation."

"Evidence," the General said simply. "There’s more to this world than meets the eye, and Arden has insights that may help us address the chaos that’s brewing."

The President leaned back, his intrigue evident. "Tell me more."

The General gestured toward himself, his voice steady. "Mr. President, before we continue, you should understand why I trust Arden. A few days ago, I was a man bound by age and illness, barely able to stand without assistance. Through Arden's intervention, I regained not only my strength but also years of vitality. He used techniques unlike anything I’ve seen before—methods that defy conventional explanation. What you see before you now is proof of his capability."

Arden stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding the room's attention. "Mr. President, Governor, before we proceed, allow me to demonstrate something that might address your skepticism."

Reaching into his satchel, Arden pulled out a small pouch and carefully unwrapped its contents. He withdrew a single Tarot card and held it aloft. "This is no ordinary card. It serves as both a conduit and a guide for what I am about to show."

Closing his eyes, Arden muttered a quiet incantation, and the room seemed to shift. The air grew heavier, and a faint luminescent aura surrounded him. With deliberate motions, he traced symbols in the air, and from his hand emerged a radiant thread of energy that stretched toward both the President and the Governor.

The energy settled briefly over each of them, and their eyes widened as a warmth spread through their bodies. "This is a form of divination and healing," Arden explained. "It not only reveals but addresses hidden ailments."

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The President touched his chest, his astonishment evident. "The tightness in my breathing... it’s gone," he said, his voice soft with disbelief. The Governor flexed his fingers, marveling. "And my arthritis... I can move without pain."

Arden offered a faint smile. "These are merely examples of what the spiritual techniques I’ve been taught can achieve. I do not yet know what is behind all this, but I trust that our paths have crossed for a reason."

The President paused, his expression growing serious. "General, Governor, and Arden, there’s something I need to bring up—something we’ve been investigating at the highest levels. Have you ever heard of the Arcana?"

Arden tilted his head, the word stirring a faint familiarity within him. Though he couldn’t immediately place it, something about the term "Arcana" resonated deeply. The General's expression showed recognition but with uncertainty, as if he had only heard fragments of information about it from the President before. The Governor, on the other hand, looked entirely puzzled, his face betraying no prior knowledge of the term.

The President nodded gravely, his tone measured but urgent. "The Arcana have been identified as key players behind numerous global and regional conflicts. Their influence is subtle, hidden behind layers of intermediaries, but devastatingly effective. We've found traces of their involvement in our maritime disputes with China, where they seem to be fueling tensions by manipulating key individuals on both sides. In Mindanao, they’ve exploited existing insurgencies, supplying arms and misinformation to prolong the chaos."

He paused, his gaze shifting to Arden. "And it’s not just here. Intelligence reports suggest they’ve been a factor in the unrest between Ukraine and Russia, sowing discord to destabilize the region further. The Arcana don’t seem to be aligned with any one country—they operate on their own agenda, which we’re only beginning to understand. Their goal appears to be leveraging chaos and conflict to tip the balance of power in ways that remain unclear."

The room fell silent as the weight of the President’s words settled. "We need to know who they are, what they want, and how to stop them. That’s where I believe your unique insights might come into play," he said, addressing both Arden and the General.

For the next hour, they delved into the details of the Arcana Investigation. The General and the Governor explained what they knew about the Arcana—a shadowy group whose influence seemed to stretch across global conflicts, from the maritime disputes in the Philippines to the unrest in Mindanao, and even connections to international crises in places like Ukraine and Russia and other conflicts all around the world.

Arden listened intently, his mind aligning fragmented memories with the information being shared. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but deliberate. “Do you know about the Tarot Cards?” he asked, his gaze moving between the President and the Governor. “At first glance, they seem like harmless, decorated pieces of paper, shuffled and drawn for fun—or perhaps for divination. But what if those cryptic symbols weren’t just abstract images? What if they held the key to a hidden world, brimming with ancient power and forces that shape destinies?”

The room grew silent as Arden continued. “There are a total of 78 Arcana in the Tarot World. Fifty-six of them are the Minor Arcana, also known as the Lesser or Suit Arcana. These are divided into four groups: Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles. They are likely the ones responsible for the imbalance happening around the world.”

He paused, his tone growing heavier. “Then there are the remaining 22—the Major Arcana. These are powerful entities, numbered from 0 to 21, who maintain the balance between the Tarot World and Reality. Each of them possesses immense power, and...” Arden hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Unfortunately, I am one of them: No. 0, The Fool.”

The revelation hung in the air, the gravity of his words sinking in. The President leaned back, his face a mixture of astonishment and curiosity. The Governor’s brow furrowed, processing the connection between the Arcana and the chaos they had been discussing.

Finally, the General leaned forward. "Mr. President, this is only the beginning. There’s much more we need to uncover, but for now, let’s return to the celebration."

The President nodded, still processing what he’d learned. "Agreed. But we will continue this discussion soon. Arden, you’ve certainly given me much to think about."

As they left the Majlis, Arden couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the start of something far bigger than he’d imagined.