So you have come back.
It's not like I have a choice to come back to this dark room. But at the same time, I can't shake the feeling of curiosity of those people they talked about during our first meeting. They called me a "Fool", but then, they started talking about an emperor, magician, or somebody else. Honestly, I don't know what else should I know who to meet next.
It's not a matter of who you meet. It's a matter of what you will encounter in your life. Soon, the Fool must step out of his little room and explore the wider world to learn the different beliefs and traditions he never knew from the comfort of his home.
Again? I'm completely confused by their words just as a framed painting appears out of nowhere. This time, it shows another man in a robe, except he has some strange items in his hands that look like holy items priests hold from the books.
The Hierophant. A teacher who represents arcane knowledge and mysteries that exist in this world. He appears to the Fool to teach what he knows. The concepts, the belief system, and the religion they believed in. He taught them the concept of conformity and how it applies to the world around him. However, beliefs can be challenged and there comes a time when they start to desire relationships.
Then, another painting appeared next to me. But when I look at it, I scream and cover my eyes. How can I?! It's a painting of a human man and woman naked with an angel in the middle! I know I don't deserve to see this right now and I know Casia will be mad if I do.
Before, the Fool was self-centered. He didn't know about the world until he encountered those people representing his journey as they showed him the way. However, as he desires to be part of The Lovers, he tries to forge his beliefs and values in his attempt to understand himself more and more as he forged through the path of his journey.
I turn around and open my eyes once the voice is done with his explanation. To my relief, I see a new painting on my right, which is a painting of a woman in some sort of a chariot being pulled by strange man-faced creatures.
Once he was grown as a man, the Fool forged a strong identity that he could call his own. He strengthened his inner control through discipline and willpower to triumph over the environment that would have cut his journey short. This earns him The Chariot, a symbol of his assertive success as he rides on the road to victory while keeping himself in check through visible control.
I still have no idea what they said. But looking at the pictures (while briefly looking at the naked people without really looking at their...parts...), I feel like most of them remind me of myself. I don't know why, but it seems relatable, but I don't know why. Is it related to my past self or is it something else?
The more I think about it, the more I want to know more about these people and objects I see.
Eventually, I raised my hand and broke my silence from their speech.
"Um... Do I need to remember all of this? This...is too much. I'm just a kid and I don't know if most of the paintings you showed me are helpful in my life."
I wait for the voice's answer. I don't know what else to ask after that. It's not the end of the story, yet I don't know if I can continue listening to it if I can't understand the lesson behind it. Casia said that most stories have a lesson and I don't know what is it after listening everything about it.
It doesn't matter if you remember or not. It matters if you want to reflect on yourself if you're trapped at a crossroads in life.
Cross...roads? I don't...
Everything is a chance encounter. You will never know what will you find if you encounter these Arcana.
"Ar...cana?" I repeated. "Is that what you call in those paintings? Do they exist outside of the Demon Territory?"
I honestly have no clue what "Arcana" means. But I want to know more. I want to know what happens next for The Fool. And I want to know more about myself.
What you see here are the Major Arcana. The players who aid or harm The Fool during his journey. There are other aspects that you need to consider.
"Other aspects?"
The traits of your daily life. Ones you never take for granted in favor of a grand journey. Do not forget that time is fleeting and you must make the most of it. They are minor compared to the Fool's, but they are significant in your growth.
Suddenly, 4 objects appeared around me. But instead of paintings, I see several seemingly ordinary weapons, coins, and cups around me.
The Suit of Wands represents your creativity and passion. It tells you the purpose of life, motivations, and new ideas that you may create.
Really? I thought wands could only do magic and were weak against melee combat.
The Suit of Pentacles represents your wealth and material possessions. It tells you about your career and the prospects of the rich and poor.
Pentacles? Do they mean the coins in the cups?
The Suit of Cups represents your feelings and emotions. It shows you the state of your current relationships as well as your intuition in life.
Wait, what are cups supposed to do with my feelings anyway?
Lastly, the Suit of Swords. It represents your words, knowledge, and actions. It shows you the consequences of your decisions and tells you how you can assert your power while communicating your ideas through words and logic alone. They say the pen is mightier than a sword. But the sword inside you is much stronger and more dangerous if you don't use it right.
After showing me all of these objects, I'm still trying to wrap my head around their explanations of these seemingly normal objects. They said they represent everything in my daily life, but what do I do with them? What's the point of showing everything to me if they don't tell me directly?
Because there is no only meaning in each object.
Huh?
There are many meanings depending on what you pick. It isn't decided by the future. It's decided by your interpretation of it.
Future? Interpretation? I'm so confused...
Well, it's still too early for you to understand right now.
Early? Are they expecting me to understand all of it without telling me exactly what they are teaching me?! As if I let them...
H...Huh? Why am I...feeling sleepy? I had the urge to do so, but I didn't hear anyone telling me to sleep. So why...?
Fate can be a tricky fellow to discern from others' opinions alone. And the future isn't set in stone. It cannot be predicted through the gods and magic. However, you have the power to change it. Interpret it with as many meanings as you want. It all depends on your belief and imagination. Never lose the true meanings set upon you.
N...No! I have so many questions to ask! Answers to find! I...I can't...
Don't worry, young demon. You will know soon. You will understand...why you're...re...
I...I don't want... I want... I need...to stay...
Until we meet again, the other half of the chosen Darkness.
----------------------------------------
...Hey, are you still with me, Aster?
I gasped and shook my head. I'm standing right in front of the field of Shadow Lavender in front of the mansion and when I look down, I gasp to see the water in my watering can is gone. I haven't been watering the whole garden and it has been about five minutes since I started.
That's because I was spacing out lately. What is wrong with me?!
Whoops. I'm not sleeping this time, but I was a bit bored taking over Casia's duties that I keep recalling from my dreams lately. It was more vivid compared to the one about a jester, king, and queen, but I'm still stumped at what it all meant. Maybe the voice was right. It might be too early, probably because I'm still a kid trying to figure out what works in this world. Or maybe, it might be a test only meant for me to answer.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Yeah, like a 9-year-old kid would know. Besides, I can't spend all day thinking about it. If I keep goofing off, Casia will give me more chores as my punishment and I don't want more of it that would question my sanity. I should get back to tending the garden.
The watering can...
Ugh... I feel like Vander is having fun using this ability while I'm suffering here...
----------------------------------------
It took a few hours, but I managed to water most of the garden. There are exceptions thanks to Casia's instructions and some do's and don'ts on the garden. Eventually, I sighed as I lay on my bed and yet, it was barely a few hours till noon here.
Man, what is Casia doing now? I know he said he's going to be out for a while dealing with stuff he can't say anything to me. I know I need to respect his privacy, but that doesn't mean he has to dump every chore onto me for the rest of the day. Can I try to nap for a while or something?
If you do that, he might suspect I might try with the alchemy stunt again without him around to look after me. Honestly, it's for the best since I made a big and impossible discovery.
True. I was the first one who managed to combine two different Mana Crystals using Alchemy. That's nothing to scoff at.
But what else can I do? I get that's big, but all I did was supposed to deal with my shower problems. What other things am I supposed to make? Maybe make another HC Mana Crystal to make tea?
Hey...
I sheepishly chuckled. Yeah. that counts as alchemy, too. I don't want another punishment.
Dang it! There's nothing to do here other than reading and reviewing magic basics! I want to do something amazing! Something that would impress Casia again! Something...
Meaningful.
Huh?
Did I...think of that just now?
It didn't seem to belong to me or Vander. So how...
Have you forgotten the journey? Have you forgotten the Arcana?
...
Now that I think about it, I'm still wondering about my strange dreams lately. The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess...
Man, I can't recall all of them! Remembering Cups, Wands, Pentacles, and Swords is easy, but recalling those people is like memorizing the basics without my textbooks. I already listed what I remembered from my dreams, but I don't know if it's enough. I want to remember those framed pictures again. I want to remember what they mean.
I let out a sigh and got out of my bed once I made my decision. Another notebook wasn't enough to help me, so I decided to use some paper Casia gave me. I thought he wouldn't since I heard I was drawing some random stuff before I woke up, but I guess he either trusts me with the paper again or he must have forgotten. There are also colored pencils in the drawer. I heard they are much better than the crayons that I unknowingly used before. Honestly, I don't know if I can draw well, but it's not like I can win an award for best drawing. Plus, I feel like this is the only way to pass the time. I already did my homework last night and I don't know if I can review the alchemy and magic basics again all day. Maybe drawing to recall those dream paintings should be enough to pass the time.
Besides, what blessing or harm can a few drawings will do to me?
----------------------------------------
Casia yawned as he got up from his resting place. It has been a few hours since he brought the young boy into his abode and so far, there seemed to be no one following them. He growled in relief, knowing that any humanoid willing to enter the Demon Territory would be a foolish death sentence for them. Not only that, the boy's village would assume that he already died as a sacrifice. In other words, a bait to divert all of the Wild Demons to him.
He felt sorry for the boy. He was sleeping peacefully near his leg and yet, he couldn't help but worry for his safety. He was running out of fruits from outside of the territory and he needed to do something before he could starve. Again, bringing him to the mansion would be a viable option, but he needed Vander and Aster's opinions and permission first. That would be easy if it wasn't for the boy's would-be pursuers. He needed some information.
With a deep breath, Casia let his draconic body shift into the form of a normal human. With his size shifted, he could see the boy was now sleeping on his lap. The sight of it made him smile as he gently stroked his head. After that, he carried the boy in his arms and gingerly placed him on an elevated rock bed while remaining undisturbed. He walked out of his cave and waved his right hand to it, causing a barrier made of dark mana to appear right in front of it. He combined it with stealth magic to ensure it was safely hidden. Yet, he knew that it was only a temporary solution until he would get the young Master's permission.
"Alright. Let's see what I can find outside for now. Hope it is cloudy today."
He closed his eyes and started focusing his mana on his back. Then as if something exploded behind him, two black batlike wings burst out from it as Casia took a deep breath while holding on to the brief pain.
As a Drago Nox, he normally couldn't take a human form beyond his size, and if he did, manifesting his wings, tail, or ears would require more effort for him to summon into his human form. However, he was special since he merged with the body and mind of a kind human who helped him in the past. While it would double his mana consumption than he usually used, it was paltry compared to the spells he would cast, especially with offensive and powerful ones that he rather not use more often for the territory's sake.
Without a word after that, Casia took off to the sky and flew towards the border that separated the Demon Territory and the world everyone considered as the blessing of the light.
----------------------------------------
The goddess sighed.
How long has it been since that young man left to restart his life? Umbaria glanced at the empty wine glass on the other side of the table where he used to sit while twirling her own filled with a purple beverage that was said to be made from the stars.
However, there seemed to be no peace in the neighboring [Domains]. Ever since the summoning of the latest so-called Heroes, other gods were up and arms at their reckless decision. The culprit of this unauthorized action was none other than Brilanta. To most of the humanity in Monochroma, Brilanta was the world's God of Light. They seemed to represent what light truly is: A beacon of hope that drives away the evil who selflessly risked their godhood for the safety and love of all species. She heard stories of how the heroes defeated the evils of this world due to their blessings granted by Brilanta themselves. It's because of them that Monochroma continued existing till this day.
But to Umbaria, they were nothing but tall tales that were exaggerated for the purpose of propaganda and image created by Brilanta's fanatical believers. In reality, Brilanta was nothing more than a glory seeker wanting to gain attention through their showboating and blessings regardless of who they were. The "God of Light" was nothing more than a mere title and they could do more than light except the darkness. However, times have changed and with justifiable fears of an oversaturated number of Otherworlders, many gods put a limit and requirements to see which of the humanity would be able to become a hero in their own right. Brilanta was no exception and they were the most reluctant to accept this agreement. She understood why they were frustrated, but it would be better than them toppling the powers currently ruling the kingdoms in the world they managed.
Despite this, Umbaria remained concerned about the world's current state. However, she was not allowed to interfere with humanity beyond interacting with them through prayers and certain skills they gained over time. Even if she wanted to, it wouldn't change the minds of the stubborn without fiddling in their heads.
As soon as she made that thought, Umbaria gingerly placed her wine glass on the table and took a glance at where she felt a presence that seemed too warm for her liking.
"Honestly, would you wind down your flames for a while? This Domain isn't like your own, you know."
A burst of flame appeared in front of her table and coming out of it was a man wearing a red and black robe, brown pants, and dark brown leather boots. His hair seemed to be made of red flames that simmered into a flowing short ponytail.
"Why not? You're the type not to invite guests compared to the God of Wine. You should loosen up a bit and join us for a drink or two," the male god offered.
"Hmph... I'll pass," Umbaria answered. "What good will come if I join a group of deities who would do nothing but indulge their debauchery for eternity." She stood up and left the table as she approached the man with her glare daggered right through his chest. "Now then. Care to share your reasons for this unannounced visit? You know I have an arrogant spirit guardian who hates anyone who dared to step into their territory without their permission, Ardor."
The man smiled before he said, "You already know who I am, Umbra. The man who never misses the news and shares the moment he hears it." Then, his smile turned into a frown as he turned to the goddess. "But on a serious note, I'm surprised you haven't heard this one lately. Namely how they quickly summoned a few more Otherworlders in their Domain a few days ago."
Umbaria's eyes widened. She was relieved that she left her wine glass on the table or else, she would have lost another. "So soon?! But it has only been a year in their time since the last group of heroes was summoned in one of the kingdoms affiliated with them."
"Well, I'm telling you now and before you ask, it's not the same ones who summoned them. It's someone who seemed to be related, yet they are mostly associated with Brilanta themself."
Her annoyance turned into horror as her eyes widened when she heard of this. "Wait, do you mean those people?!"
She knew a few places where Brilanta's more fanatical worshipers lived and were stationed, but she and the others knew one that seemed to be overboard with their beliefs to them.
"Again, I never lie and I made some verifications before I told anyone about it," Ardor explained. "Seems like it's a big summon, too. They must be somehow desperate to find new heroes to flock into their territory. But never in this magnitude."
Umbaria almost fainted from hearing that news. If there was one thing she has a disdain for were gods summoning Otherwolders like there were candies left in a bowl. She rubbed the bridge of her nose as he sat back in her seat. "Those humans and their related brethren never seem to stop amazing me with their stupidity. What do they gain from summoning more and more Otherworlders? To be their proxies in their make-believe war against the so-called evils called "demons"? Honestly, I stopped questioning all of their actions after I thought I was done with that incident."
"How can they? Besides, you're the one who instigated it."
The goddess's glare turned from annoyance to venomous the moment she glared at him again. "Do you still have to remind me of the truth?"
"Well, you destroyed everything from your tantrum and introduced demons to the world," Ardor reminded. "So yeah, humanity has a reason to hate you."
At this point, she was one spark away from strangling the God of Fire with her shadows. But she couldn't do it for good reasons she wouldn't say to him.
"Would you please leave before I make you?" Umbaria ordered. "I think that's all I can hear from your big mouth."
"Right~ Wouldn't want to spoil your teatime, now wouldn't I?"
Ardor smirked and snapped his fingers. When he did, flames started to spread around his body as he waved to the goddess.
"I hope the next time we meet, we should talk over some drinks called "coffee"! I heard they're better than tea!"
The goddess huffed as she averted her gaze before the flames disappeared. Then she looked down and frowned as she stared at the wine glass, which only had half of her purple wine.
"Tantrum... As if that's true..." She looked up at the ceiling made of a night sky and stars behind glass and sighed. "If I didn't do what no one did..."
The Demon Territory and the state of Monochroma wouldn't exist in the first place.