The Raven

I walk out of my shop as the door shuts with a clank. I take out my keys, locking it as I cast a protection spell before I turn and head off. I put my hood on, and slide my hand into my pockets. It’s freezing out, with the tormenting winter air caressing my cheeks with a piercing touch. It feels like claws scratching at my face. Vesuvia feels even colder and empty this season. Stained psychedelic-like glass still vibrant everywhere I look. Like Vesuvia is trapped in one huge bubble. I’m not sure what happened to Scout, but I hope she’s alright. I hope I’ll get to see her again soon. Today I’m going to do the unimaginable... I’m going to talk to Quaestor Valdemar once more. I get flashbacks of our last interactions. I’ll never forget what they tried to do to Julian. Oh Julian... Why did it have to come to this? Everything was going so well, or so I had thought. I can’t help but feel like it’s entirely my fault for what happened to him. The guilt has been eating me alive since. We were so close to defeating the Devil... But then Julian sacrificed his humanity to save me, and Vesuvia turned into... this.

I pass through an alleyway when I start hearing voices, one sounds eerily familiar.

‘‘No! Stop it, you mortals! I’m not just some animal!’’

Oh I definitely know that voice. It’s the High Priestess’s...

I creep around the corner as I see some punks gathered around her, one is holding her as the other is throwing rocks at her.

‘‘You’re nothing special! You’re just an owl looking bitch who thinks she’s better than us!’’ The guy shouts, as his companions laugh in return.

She clenches her talons.

‘‘None of you humans truly understand us, and never will! That’s why it was never supposed to be like this! But the devil ruined everything! He destroyed the peace! He destroyed our lives, and yours as well!’’ She exclaims, and looks around at them.

They laugh in response, and keep chunking rocks at her.

Is that really one of the major Arcana? What would the High Priestess be doing here? But then I remember... So this is Vesuvia’s new reality. The Devil successfully merged the Major Arcana’s realms with that of us humans. This is such a disaster, and it’s my fault this is happening. I can’t let this go on any longer. There has to be a way to save the Arcana, and Julian, and everyone else. I dig in my pocket as I pull out my tarot deck and search for her card. I eventually find it as I see it’s her reversed card. I let out a sigh and squint as I look over at them. I’ve been practicing my magic every single day, preparing for what comes next after losing Julian. I was lucky enough to not lose my magic, and so was Asra. I close my eyes as I move my finger around her card. The High Priestess’s eyes widen as she can sense me.

‘‘This feeling... Could it really be... The Fool?’’ She mutters to herself.

I suddenly open my eyes again and quickly hold my hand out as a burst of magic flies out, and knocks the three troublemakers down. They yelp as I slowly approach them, eyeing them with a fiery glare.

‘‘Begone you imbeciles, and I’ll spare you!’’ I shout, as I keep fierce eye contact.

They all cry out in shock and fear, and quickly get up and bolt away.

I slowly look up at the High Priestess, shame and guilt ridden across my face so clearly. I wonder if she knows me at all?

She suddenly gives me a small smile, as she puts her talons on my shoulder.

‘‘So you are The Apprentice... It's a pleasure to meet you, I had only wish it be in different circumstances. I heard about what happened with Julian, it is truly a shame what the Devil has done to us all.’’ She says, as her smile slowly fades.

I can’t hold it in anymore. The guilt, the pain, the shame... It has finally gotten the best of me. I suddenly fall to my knees, immediately overcome with grief.

‘‘I’m so sorry! I-I let this happen! It’s my fault! I-I ruined Julian’s life! I ruined my friends lives! I ruined what was left of the Arcana! I-I’m the real monster here! I’m the one that should’ve been taken, not Julian! I-‘’ I feel my worlds slip away, as her warm talons caress my tear-stained cheeks.

‘‘There is no need to weep, magician. You may feel as if you weren’t worthy, and that you didn’t deserve to be this special. But you were chosen for a reason, remember?’’ She replies, and gives another small smile. She suddenly quickly turns, and strides away until she's out of sight.

I sit there, as the words are ingrained into my mind. Is there really a way to reverse this damage? It feels like there’s no point of return after what I let happen to Julian and everyone else. I frown as I slowly sit against the wall. Vague memories of Julian come flooding back to me. The night we first met, oh how everything catapulted after that. So much happened in such a short time. He really took me off my feet. I miss him. I miss him being here next to me. I miss his soft sweet kisses, and his nonchalant jokes. I miss the way he instantly lit up the room, like he was my sun. I miss the journey we went through... Just for it to have crumbled down to nothing. I should’ve done better for him. He was constantly self-loathing, internally and mentally consumed by guilt of a false past. Why did I enable him? Why? I was supposed to guide him, so he could see the truth about himself. So he could see through his flaws, and push himself to become better. But instead, it felt like I let him guide me. I should’ve known what the consequences would bring. Everything is my fault. All of it.

I bury my head in my hands, as I pull my knees up to my chest. My crying turns into pitiful sobs. I don’t feel like a magician, or a leader anymore. All I feel now is the shell of a person I once was. I hear the crackle of thunder, as rain starts to pour down onto me. I let myself get drenched, and slowly lift my head up as lightning flashes across the sky. Same stained glass still hovering within it. I sigh as I manage to pull myself together, and slowly stand back up. I know what I have to do, and I’ll need Quaestor Valdemar for it.

As I approach the palace gates, everything seems very different this time. The guards standing watch at the gates look much heavier, and they wear full-blown body armor now. I look up at the palace, it seems to have lost the beauty and shine it once beholden. From what I heard, Lucio managed to pull off the ritual for a new body; and successfully reclaimed his throne as the Count. All while Julian had to pay the price for it. I sigh as I slowly approach them.

‘‘Excuse me, I have a meeting with the Count.’’ I lie through my teeth, and it doesn’t seem to work.

‘‘You must be the Apprentice? Sorry, but you’re no longer allowed on palace grounds.’’ One of the guard booms in reply.

‘‘Oh? That’s a shame really.’’ Invoking some magic, I walk up and cup both of their faces, their eyes turn ghostly white; and they slowly drop to the ground.

The gates open for me nonetheless, and I make my way in. I remember the secret path from Portia’s cottage. I manage to avoid the guards patrolling as I prowl through bushes. As I approach the clearing, I see what used to be Portia’s cottage. As I reach the building, I come to a standstill. It seems that Portia no longer lives in it. It turned an ashy grey, and half of it run down. A wave of sad nostalgia washes over me as I remember the day I had to disguise Julian, with the help of Portia. The sounds of Julian’s laughs and Portia’s giggles echo through my mind. Will I ever hear them again? I shake it off, and quickly scurry down the path to the Palace. I manage to find a way inside, keeping my hood on. I sneak past some servants, as I find my way upstairs. No sign of the Courtiers or Lucio... Yet. I try to remember where the library is as I scurry through the halls. Hoping that Lucio didn’t revamp the entire palace. I eventually find the all-too-familiar library door. Same locks, same design. I sigh in relief then muster some magic as I close my eyes as it seeps into the locks. The door creaks lightly as it slowly opens, a wave of nostalgia hits me once again. But to my sudden surprise, I’m face-to-face with Consul Valerius. He looks at me and squints, presenting with the same wardrobe and wine glass like before.

‘‘(Name)’’ He speaks, with an abrasive undertone.

‘‘Valerius.’’ I coldly reply, then squint and cross my arms.

‘’You know you’re not allowed on these grounds, right?’’ He snarks, and takes a sip of his wine.

‘‘So I’ve been told. But I have no business to discuss with you, Consul.’’ I reply. My fingers twitch, I’m starting to get impatient now.

‘‘Are you trying to play hero again, Magician? I believe you’ve had your fill already. How does it feel to have been the reason for Vesuvia’s downfall?’’ He asks, as he gives me a cold stare.

I squint. ‘‘Do you think I wanted this? I was trying to save everyone-’’ He quickly cuts me off.

‘‘But you didn’t save anyone, and what did that cost? I admit I may have been... trivial towards Julian. But he seemed to have wanted any chance he could get either way to end it all. All your efforts for nothing. But I suppose that’s what the otherwordly idiots get for wanting a mere mortal woman to do their bidding.’’ He then takes another sip of his wine.

‘‘I guess that’s why Lucio kept you around then, huh?’’ I squint as my rebuttal seems to have had an effect on him, as his eyes grew wide with anger as he grips his wine glass and gets close to me.

‘‘You sniveling little-’’ His words are cut off, as the sound of footsteps approach us. There’s a familiar sense of dread.

‘‘Well well, the little Apprentice has come back for more I see?’’ It’s Quaestor Valdemar in the flesh, also sporting the same getup from the last time we had met.

My eyes widen as I get that queasy feeling again, but I decide to brush it off this time.

‘‘Valdemar, we have some things to discuss.’’ I say.

Clasping their hands together, they flash a wicked grin, and tilt their head at me.

‘‘Oh, I’m sure we do.’’