《Tarot》Prologue: Tarot Cards
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In a dark room illuminated only by the light of candles sat a young girl and an old woman, separated from each other by a table. Atop the table was a deck of cards.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” the old woman cackled, “I cannot be held responsible for any disasters that unfold.”
The young girl snorted, waving her hand dismissively, indicating that the woman should continue.
“Very well. What is your question?” the woman asked ominously.
“When will the world end?” the girl asked, ridicule in her eyes.
The old woman paused in surprise.
“The end of the world?” she asked, revealing a smile devoid of teeth, “Lucky for you, the cards are sure to provide an answer.”
She moved her hands towards the deck of cards and spread them face down.
“Choose three cards. One to represent your past, one to represent your present, and one to represent your future.”
The girl rolled her eyes but did as she was told. She instantly picked the first three cards from the left with an uncaring attitude.
The old woman laughed eerily.
“Flip over the first card.”
The young girl did as told, revealing the image. On the card was a man with harpy feet, goat horns, and bat wings. An upside-down pentagram rested on his forehead. He held one hand upraised, in the other he held a staff. He sat on an altar, with two demons chained to it.
“The Devil?” the girl read, “What is that supposed to mean?”
“The Devil represents many things,” the woman said mysteriously, “He represents living in fear and bondage. He represents being trapped by a cage of luxury.”
The girl frowned but didn’t say anything.
“Flip over the next card,” the hag ordered.
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The girl did as told, displaying the picture beneath.
On the card’s face was a naked woman with her legs crossed. In each hand she held a baton. A green wreath surrounded her. In the top-left corner of the card was the face of a man. In the top-right, an eagle. In the bottom-left, a bull. At the bottom-right, a lion.
“The World,” the girl read plainly, looking at the old woman with a blankness in her eyes.
“The World symbolizes the end of a cycle of life,” the woman said gravely.
The girl blinked, uncomprehending.
“Next card,” the old woman commanded.
“Wait, tell me more about The World,” the girl said, knitting her eyebrows.
“You’ll understand shortly,” the old woman smiled.
The girl flipped the last card.
It showed a man with a bindle, walking towards the edge of a cliff, a small dog yapping at his heels.
“The Fool,” the old woman whispered, “He represents a new journey about to unfold.”
All of a sudden, the woman stood up.
“Our meeting here is done.”
“But you didn’t explain things well enough! I still have questions!” the girl complained.
“Everything will be answered with time dearie. Now goodbye.”
And the world went black.
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