Five of Cups (1)

[ Are you having fun? ]

She froze, her hand hovering in midair as her eyes locked onto the system interface. Her stomach started to twist as a chill creeps up in her skin.

'It's happening again…'

Since the war's end, the system had started behaving strangely—almost as if it were… speaking to her. Not just issuing commands or delivering updates, but talking to her as if it wanted to say something. 

At first, she thought it was just being 'weird'. But as time went on, the system's weird actions grew more unstettling.

[ Let me warn you... ]

[ Everything...is....conn- $@3ba!...#01n... ]

[Error ... Error... Error ]

The screen flickered to red, flashing ominously before shutting down altogether. Seon hadn't dismissed it—yet it vanished on its own.

This wasn't the first time, either. The system had once asked her, "How does it feel to be a savior?" But just as she was about to reply, it shut down—leaving the half-asked question remained unanswered.

A shiver ran down her arms, prickling her thoughts.

"Again?!" Seon muttered her concerns out aloud.

At her side, Flour'e glanced up, clutching Seon's hand tightly. "Sister? Are you alright?"

The voice shook Seon out of her thoughts, blinking twice, seeing the worry in Flour'e's eyes.

"I'm sorry... I think I need to rest for now".

***

Back in the cabin, Seon sat cross-legged on her bed, staring at the system's interface, her mind churning as she reviewed her stats. 

___________________________

Stats:

|The Fool | The Magician | The High Priestess | The Empress | The Emperor | The Hierophant | The Lovers | The Chariot | Strength +5 | The Hermit | Wheel of Fortune | Justice | The Hanged Man | Death | Temperance | The Devil | The Tower | The Star | The Moon | The Sun | Judgement | The World|

___________________________

Everything seems normal except...

'"Strength +5."

She stared at it, her brows knitting together. Her Strength stat had reached Level 5, maybe likely because she had recently allocated points to it.

Perhaps that explained her recent summoning of that "useless rat"—or rather—Hunter, the hamster who is currently sitting in a nearby desk, peeling oranges and offering it to Seon like some kind of deity.

"Should I start investing to another else?"

Shaking her head, Seon dismissed the idea. Not until I know what danger this brings, she thought seriously.

'Maybe the system's strange behavior has something to do with this?'

'Arcana is always accompanied by corruption.' She recalled Yunnie's words and bit her lip.. 'Could this Strength stat be part of that same corruption?'

Seon unconsciously turned around to the Hamster, Hunter immediately recoiled in fear out of instinct.

'Who am I kidding? How would I get an answer to a fucking rat.'

A sharp unease settled over her as she considered the possibility. She felt like an insect tiptoeing on a web. Knowing how tempting the perks this system gives; and the possibility of danger as well.

"System just what are you really..."

Alas, the system, as always, stayed silent. No glitching, no ominous words. Only a blank, unresponsive interface that seemed almost too still.

"Ugh! Whatever! I don't wanna think over complex things"

Seon sighed as she grumbled, lying back and pressing her hands over her face.

As she lay there, the uneasy thoughts remained lingered, eventually putting her presence in sleep.

****

An orange fox prowled silently through the steam-filled alleyways blending through the crowd of the city.

It leaped from one rooftop to another, until it reached a vantage point above a high, open stained-glass window. There, the fox sat still, its tail swaying gently as it peered below.

Inside, an old man in a blue cassock stood beneath a whale-shaped statue. His golden eyes opened slowly, focusing on the figure of Istar, who knelt humbly nearby, clutching a crescent-shaped necklace.

"The Prophet has descended?" the Pope intoned.

"Yes, Your Excellency… I am certain it was the true Prophet. The Justice's stone remained quiet by her words."

A faint smile touched the Pope's lips as he set aside a smoldering incense holder. "So, the stone did not react… This is indeed a favorable sign."

"Your Excellency, is the Prophet truly…?"

The Pope raised a hand, silencing him. "You must not question the Oracle of God."

Istar's face paled, and he immediately dropped to his knees. "Forgive me, Your Excellency! I did not mean to imply any doubt toward your sacred hearing of the Oracle. I await any penance you see fit."

"That will not be necessary." The Pope's gaze turned away.

Luntian, the God of the Sea, Keeper of the Moon, Guardian of the Abyss… 'His' followers dare not question 'His' will.

For the Pope, unwavering faith was not merely a duty—it was an absolute truth.

Should the God of the Sea decree it, 'His' faithful would follow 'Him' even into death. Such was the solemn conviction he expected of his clergy.

Yet the Oracle also made him doubt the God's words.

'The Prophet will descend on the coming of the fifth moon. She will guide the world toward truth and, in doing so, will also become the instrument of its undoing.'

Though the Pope remained indifferent upon hearing the words of God after 300 years, his heart was beset by doubts he dared not reveal.

Thirty long days had passed since the Oracle last spoke, and now the Prophet had come earlier than foretold.

No one understood what Luntian's words truly meant; they could only guess its meaning.

"Lord… is this truly Your will?"

The fox observed the scene in silence. Its gaze lingered a moment longer on the two men below before it slipped away.