Arcana?

The day Lara was sad passed, and all I could do was be there for her until she stopped crying. After that day, I never saw her joyful smile again.

Three days went by, and I haven't seen Lara in the office. I tried asking our lead about it because I was worried. However, he just told me that Lara is on vacation leave and won't be back for a while.

In my thoughts, Lara might be taking time to recover, or perhaps her father in prison is making arrangements.

I still feel an overwhelming sense of guilt for my actions. At that time, I didn't consider the consequences when I manipulated her father. It was only later that I realized she would bear the blame for Red's death.

During those moments, I had no empathy, thinking that all police officers had corrupted minds, so I didn't care about their fates. However, now I regret my actions, seeing how deeply Lara is affected by the situation.

I need to find a solution, but it seems like it's too late for everything. If I confess that I am the reason behind that incident, it will surely bring more sadness and anger to Lara. It will also render my cause meaningless. I have to come up with something to make Lara's father appear innocent in my efforts to avoid causing further harm.

After my work hours that day, I walked home, lost in thought about finding a way to help Lara's father. While I was not focused on my surroundings, I accidentally bumped into a woman. Her bag fell, and I helped her pick it up. I apologized for not paying attention to where I was going. Surprisingly, she didn't get mad or irritated. Instead, she smiled at me as if she had something unique to say.

"Hehe, found you!" she exclaimed while I couldn't understand why she said that.

"Sorry, Miss?" I replied with a hint of confusion.

"By the way, I'm Katherine. You don't need to address me formally; I'm sure we'll get along. I've been looking for you for a long time, and finally, I found you. So, my decision was right, and my investigation bore fruit," she said, smiling with a hidden meaning.

"Sorry, you might have mistaken me for someone else. I'm in a hurry to get home. Please excuse me again," I said, trying not to give too much attention as I had something on my mind.

However, I was shocked when I heard the words she uttered next, sending chills down my spine: "The Fool."

"You're one of the Arcana. Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

I was genuinely shocked by her words, feeling a sudden wave of nervousness and sweating without knowing why.

"Sorry, I don't know what you're talking about," I replied, pretending not to understand her.

What surprised me even more was when she pulled out a Tarot card. Its design, pattern, and appearance were strikingly similar to the card I possessed. As she presented the card, I saw exactly which card she had: "The Justice." My face turned pale, and she noticed it, saying, "Did you think you're the only one with a unique ability?" with an evil grin while staring at me.

"But don't worry, I'm not your enemy, and I have no intention of causing harm to you. In truth, I want to help you. I appreciate what you're fighting for, and I understand the message you want to convey to the world. I'd like to contribute to that cause as well. However, my ability allows me to discern whether a person is telling the truth or lying. The effect of my card enables me to know if someone is being genuine or deceitful, and I can also read a person's thoughts when I detect dishonesty," she explained to me, describing her unique and unusual ability.

Due to the words she spoke, her presentation of the tarot card, and the description of her ability, I couldn't conceal my true identity any longer. It seemed pointless to lie and change the narrative, especially now that I knew the effect of her card.

I took her hand and quickly pulled her into a secluded alley where we could talk privately. "Wow, it's my first day, and you're already taking me to an alley," she teased me with a playful remark.

"Look, Katherine! First of all, what I'm fighting for is no joke, and the world I've entered is dangerous. If you genuinely believe in the cause I'm fighting for, it's okay for you to support me, but you must promise me that you won't expose my identity. Also, there are too many people outside, and you shouldn't casually reveal your ability. You should have thought about the place or the surroundings before saying that. What if someone else heard you?"

Those were the words I immediately expressed while facing Katherine. She smiled at me and said, "So, does that mean you're accepting me as part of your team?"

I still couldn't give her a definite answer at that moment, saying I needed to think about it. However, I also told her that her ability could be incredibly helpful, and we could certainly use it in the fight I'm engaged in.