Vatican City (III) - The Seer

In a city of marble, the sun attempted to find its way into a small shack. Unfortunately, the glistening rays of sunlight were blocked by a deep violet tapestry against the window.

In the back room of the tarot shop, four figures sat around a round, unpolished mahogany table. Of course, three of the figures were Bell, Mona, and Jude, but the fourth was a mysterious person.

Mona had explained to Bell about "seers" and their role in history. They were close to royal families and often guided them down paths that the seers prophesized.

Bell didn't entirely buy all of that, same with the idea of "fate" and "prophecy" altogether, but she wanted to have some fun with friends, so she played along.

There was a single overhead lamp that illuminated the room, albeit extremely poorly. The dim orange light barely lit up the center of the table, and only really showed the old hands of the seer in front of them.

"Do any of you know how this is done?" The elderly, masculine voice of the Seer spoke.

Monas voice broke the momentary silence left by the Seer, "Yes, we focus on a future we want to see and then draw from a spread of facedown cards. Am I right?" 

Bell didn't know anything about tarot cards at all, hell, she didn't even know of its existence until this morning. It didn't seem that Jude knew anything, either, seeing as he also didn't reply to the Seer.

The elderly man chuckled, and then spoke in a pleased tone, "Oh! How long its been since a young person knew how this tool worked!"

The Seer leaned in forward a small bit, allowing Bell to discern more about the Seer's appearance. She was able to make out a thick cloak, which was much more than she had previously been able to see.

He then leaned back into a slightly relaxed pose, pulling something out of an inner pocket of sorts. His hands were lit up by the dim orange overhead light, including a deck of playing cards in a black box. 

He opened the box and pulled the cards out, "Would you like to use the major arcana only? Or would you like to use the minor arcana as well?"

Bell didn't know what those terms meant, so stayed silent for the time, so did Jude.

Mona spoke in for the trio, "We'll use only the major arcana, sir."

The Seer separated most of the stack and left around twenty or so cards, "Alright. Also, for humoring me, I'll throw in two more readings, one with minor arcana, and another with a crystal ball."

Bell knew about divination using a crystal ball as the medium and looked shocked that it was a real thing. 'I thought it was just in the books!' She exclaimed in her blown-up mind.

He started shuffling the cards with dexterity and precision that Bell hadn't expected the old man to still have in his later years. All the while, he maintained conversation, "Who would like to go first?"

Mona spoke out the quickest with, "I'll go first!" She didn't really speak, rather exclaiming at the first available moment.

Bell shrugged and looked toward Jude, who didn't have a discernable reaction. The Seer then finished shuffling the cards and spread them face down. Afterward, he silently waved his hand over the cards in wordless invitation.

Mona closed her eyes and started to hover her hand over the cards, looking to be deep in thought. 

"And... I ... choose... you!" Mona said as she picked one.

The Seer let Mona read her card before asking, "What did you get? If you don't know the meaning, I can always explain for you."

Mona smiled politely, "I know what I got, no need to share it with the world, you know?" She then pushed the card back into the spread face down.

The Seer nodded as he collected the cards and began shuffling them once more, "That is very true, young one."

He continued shuffling thoroughly, "Actually, it's been said that divination and prophecy don't entirely work near The Heart. Something about the Challengers up there messes with the threads of fate.

He then whispered something under his breath, but due to the sheer silence, Bell was able to make out what he said. "Poor Clotho..."

Bell didn't know who Clotho was, and didn't want to pry, seeing as how she would have outed herself as an eavesdropper.

The Seer then presented the cards in a spread once more, silently waving a hand over them in another invitation.

Jude wordlessly grabbed one and read the card aloud, "What is the Wheel of Fortune?"

To which the Seer quickly explained, "The Wheel of Fortune is always spinning, and represents having ups and downs. Whatever trials and tribulations you are going through now will pass, whatever emotions you feel will wash away with time. 

Jude looked slightly perturbed, as if the Seer had noted something that Jude wanted to keep hidden. He then pushed the card back into the spread with a slightly shaking hand.

'Jeez, he's really shaken up, huh?' Bell thought as the Seer started shuffling once more.

However, this time, the Seer didn't offer any more conversation, and the trio surely didn't say anything. He then spread the cards once more, this time, the spread was directly pointed towards Bell.

It was her turn.

Bell closed her eyes, mimicking Monas actions and started to follow her words.

'Envision a future I want to see,' Bell thought with a mocking tone.

She then seriously thought about what kind of world she wanted to see for her family. A world where they were able to go beyond the walls of the cities without fear of monsters.

A world where Bell and her family could settle down in a field somewhere, tending to a few animals and handling a small farm. Just enough to stay alive and content with their basic needs, allowing them to focus on their wants. 

Bell's hand and body became an instrument for her soul and what her soul wanted. A future in which her family and friends could reach whatever goal they wanted without worry of injury or death.

Bell tapped one of her fingers onto a tarot card and pulled it. She opened her eyes and lifted the card.

The illustration was simply mesmerizing, the art of the card was beautiful, almost mesmerizingly so. A golden moon hung in the starry night sky above a dark green grassy plain with the animals of the night looking up at it. A depiction of a sleeping woman was etched within the golden moon itself.

"I got the Moon." Bell said, her voice devoid of any discernable emotion.

The Seer then asked, "Would you like an explanation?"

Bell politely smiled and said, "Please?"

The Seer's body language seemed to indicate slight happiness as he explained, "The Moon represents any inner thoughts, doubts, and fears. Since you pulled the Moon, I can only recommend some deep introspection on your mental state."

Mona then smiled and asked, "Which divination should we do next, the crystal ball prophecy or the accurate tarot reading?"

The Seer pulled away into the shadows for a moment, allowing the other two to decide.

"I don't particularly care," Jude offered, which left the choice to Bell.

Bell thought for a moment, 'We're doing both either way, might as well do the second tarot reading and end our little visit with the crystal ball. End it on a high note.'

After her moment of internal debate, Bell answered, "Let's go with the second tarot reading."

The Seer then leaned back in and added the second pile of cards to the major arcana and began shuffling.

"Adding the minor arcana lets us to further read into your personal situations. I'll explain each of the sets and what they symbolize, I'd keep my results to myself." He explained as he shuffled.

He then pulled one of the cards out, looked at it, then displayed it to the group. The card carried an illustration of a man on a plain holding several swords, "Seven of swords, in summary, it represents the need for mental clarity, keeping your actions straight, and otherwise decisive action.

The Seer put the card back into the pile, then started shuffling again, "Remember that most of the power that tarot readings has is within the personal interpretation. An interpretation of The Wheel of Fortune could say that your negative situation will pass, or it could say that you should prepare for a low period in your life."

Jude's nervous expression still lingered slightly with him, but with the Seers new explanation of The Wheel of Fortune, Jude seemed to relax slightly.

After a moment, the Seer then drew another card and looked at it, turning it to face the trio, "The One of Coins, it symbolizes the need for work and financial stability. I pulled a One of Coins, so I don't really need to worry about it. On the other hand, it looks like I need to really think clearly."

The One of Coins was a floating golden coin with a square hole in the center, the coin was floating amidst a sea of clouds with the sun high above. 

He shuffled again, pulling one more card out, only to look at it and then put it back in the card. After going through the cycle once more, he pulled out a card and showed it to the group.

The card depicted a man wearing a crown surrounded by fourteen golden cups pouring water out. The Seer smiled as he explained, "The King of Cups represents someone who has reached emotional and mental balance in their life. Mine came through the many years I've lived."

He soon shuffled the cards once more, and pulled out the final of the four suits. The card, when turned to face the group, depicted a man sitting while surrounded by three staves planted in the ground.

"The three of staves, it represents the desire to change, ambitions, and creativity. If I were to interpret mine, I'd say that the high number comes from creativity." The Seer sighed after his explanation, as if disappointed by the "high" number on his final card. 

He then shuffled the cards once more, presenting all of them face down towards the group. "For this one, you'll pull three cards, it will provide enough context for you to know what you should work on in the short term."

Mona then closed her eyes and repeated her actions one more time, pulling three cards. She then opened her eyes and read the cards, silently putting them down with a smile and returning them to the pile.

The Seer shuffled once more, then presented them, Jude pulled the cards this time. After a long minute of what seemed to be analysis, he finally put them back down and pushed them into the spread.

Once again, the Seer shuffled, and then presented the spread of cards face down to Bell, who closed her eyes. She imagined the world she envisioned, the grassy plain, a wooden log cabin with family, a barn and a field of plants.

The soft breeze blowing past her as she toiled at the gardens, planting and harvesting, watering and fertilizing. She ate meals with her family, who all pursued their own goals, Lucas continued his magic tricks, Audrey continued drawing.

By the time Bell's time in her ideal world ended, she had pulled three cards. She read her three cards, one was Queen of Staves, the second was a Six of Swords, and the third one was a major arcana.

"What is the Magician?" Bell asked as she put the cards face down and pushed them into the spread, just as her two friends had.

The Seer seemed shocked from his body language, but coughed and explained, "The Magician represents using one's own tools to achieve any goal. It also represents having the tools required to reach those goals, it seems that you don't have much going against you."

Mona then interjected, "Time for the crystal ball, right?"

The Seer chuckled as he gathered the cards, "Yes, that it is. I'll need a minute to attune it to you three, but it should be an otherwise easy process."

He then closed the black box and kept it right in front of him, with the snap of the fingers, a crystal ball on a pedestal appeared. The ball was a swirl of cerulean, aquamarine, and azure paints. The three colors were shifting within the glass ball, it seemed truly magical.

'It's like something out of a movie,' Bell thought, enticed by the crystal ball.

The lights then turned off, and the crystal ball started to emanate a blue light. The Seer had a hood covering his face, but failed to cover a long white beard, it was properly styled and taken care of.

Over the next minute, the Seer would whisper things into the crystal ball, but for some reason, Bell couldn't make out what he was saying.

He then spoke, "Who wants their reading first?"

Of course, Mona spoke first, "I'll go."

The Seers beard twisted in a way that could only indicate that he was smiling, "You'll need to provide a droplet of blood for the crystal to properly read your future."

Mona didn't seem too phased, but Bell was slightly weirded out. Looking towards Jude, bell saw that the white-haired boy seemed to share her sentiment.

Another snap of the fingers, and a thin dagger appeared on the table before Mona, who then drew it against the palm of her left hand. She squeezed her hand into a fist over the ball, and somehow, only a single droplet fell onto the crystal ball.

The Seer then gasped and started breathing heavily, his hands shot to hold onto the table for stability, and he began to slightly shake. The three then immediately looked concerned, shooting confused glances at one another.

"Are you okay?" Jude asked, grabbing something from within a pocket. 

The Seer gasped again and returned to normal, he then leaned forward and looked at Mona, "Your secret is safe with me, I will contact you soon."

After that freak of a thirty second window, the Seer then wiped the top of the crystal ball and returned to simply looking at it. After one more minute, he then asked for someone else to draw blood.

Jude took the knife and mimicked Mona, another drop of blood tapped onto the crystal ball. The Seer then started seeking something deep within the crystal ball, his breathing grew slightly laborious, but nothing too seriously worrying.

"Judas Solace, your plans will go through mostly according to plan, begin preparations for any weak points in your strategy." The Seer calmly explained to Jude. 

'Judas?' Bell was surprised to see that Jude had been hiding his full first name from the rest of the group. She didn't entirely care, though, seeing as how she valued the privacy of those close to her.

The Seer then wiped the crystal ball and repeated the process. When the dagger appeared before Bell, she quickly dragged the blade against her palm, which felt only as bad as a needle injection.

She then squeezed her fist over the crystal ball, and her single droplet of blood then started melting the crystal ball. The crystal ball immediately lost its swirling luminosity that it had so brilliantly displayed mere moments ago. 

The Seer then sighed and then said, "This crystal ball has run its course. Oh well, I'll grab another one."

He then stood up and went further backwards into the darkness. Bell almost physically felt the gazes of Mona and Jude.

She then turned to face the two and said, "That's pretty crazy, huh?"

Mona didn't say anything, and Jude simply sat there as well, the lack of light making it hard to see anything beyond their vague figures. The sunlight from beyond the tapestries allowed enough light to make out her surroundings vaguely.

The Seer soon returned, sitting down and presenting the crystal ball to Bell once more. He sat in front of the crystal ball once more and "prepared" it.

Over the course of the next minute, greenish-teal, neon green, and dark green luminescent swirls started to appear in the glass orb. After a certain point of luminosity, the Seer spoke.

"It's ready, draw your blood please," The seer pointed towards the dagger in front of Bell.

Bell picked it up and readied it against her left palm, only to find it be completely healed from a mere two minutes ago. She mentally shrugged at the strange occurrence and drew her blood with the thin blade once more, squeezing a fist above the crystal ball.

The Seer then looked into the orb and had no change in breathing activity or body language, it was as if he were simply watching a movie. After a long while, he then spoke, "Young girl, you have a strange story for me to tell, but let me tell it."

He leaned back, snapping the crystal ball away. "Your journey for the next few months will be rough, and you will be tested many a time in various ways. You mustn't falter, but you must also keep close attention to those you stay close to."

Bell understood everything so far, and it mostly made sense.

The Seer continued, "You will make one large mistake, you will not know it until it has long passed, and you see the consequences. This will allow you to get stronger, a lesson from a mistake is better than repeated practice for seven years."

Bellona nodded wordlessly, allowing the Seer to keep going.

"Keep yourself safe and your mind stable, if you falter, everything you yearn for will crumble in front of your eyes. The most important lesson I can tell you from my visions is to be wary of the light-haired traitor, he will ruin you at the first chance." The Seer completed his analysis of Bell's future, which was surprisingly in depth.

The light turned on at the finish of the Seers speech.

The Seer then stood up and offered a hand, "There is one thing I do see, though, and that is the importance of your patronage. I will give you all a Marble from my mind space, please shake my hand and accept my gifts."

Bell shook his hand, and didn't know how to accept, but internally thought, 'I accept,' multiple times. After a moment, Bell felt some sort of energy similar to the activation of her abilities shoot down her arm and into her heart.

A small voice rang out in Bell's ears.

[Received Marble!]

Bell was temporarily stunned in surprise at the voice, and during that time, the Seer gave an item to both Mona and Jude.

"It was nice to meet you all, young ones, but time is quickly running out, you should return to your friends with swiftness." The Seer said, pointing at Mona's watch.

Mona looked down and said, "It's only three in the afternoon, though?"

The Seer then explained, "They'll need you by four, I recommend using one of my gifts. The long-haired boy has it."

Mona and Bell swiveled their heads to face Jude, who then pointed at himself and worded, "Me?"

Mona nodded and said, "Yes, you. Summon it, please."

The Seer chuckled and retreated into the shadows, "Have a great day, you three. I'm excited for your return in the future!"

Jude seemed to quickly find out how to summon the item like he had practiced the action tens of times. A torrent of swirling golden sparks filled the air and materialized in the form of a ring on his finger.

He looked down and around, as if seeing the world in a new light, which was ironic, considering that the three were in near complete darkness.

They had to do their best to find the way out of the dark room using just the light of the sun peering through the tapestry and remembering the easy path to the door from earlier. 

It took nearly no time at all, and the three then exited the room and felt as if their eyes were being assaulted.

'So... light...' Bell complained internally as she squinted her eyes.

"Hello! How was your reading?" The giant man from earlier asked, his voice loud, but soft.

Bell and Jude waved to the kind giant and Mona spoke, "It was nice, but we have to go now. We'll be back sometime soon!"

They paced past the kind giant who waved goodbye, the door chimed as they exited. This time, they really got flash banged by the sun so kindly sharing its blinding rays onto them and into their eyeballs.

Bell didn't notice, but from deep within her pocket, the Compass of Ages shifted drastically. Its red point shifting from the Seer to something completely different, and in a completely different direction.