Card of Destiny

Nathan was immediately taken to the treatment room after the horrifying incident. His injuries were quite severe—his leg was slightly sprained, and his head was wounded, causing blood to continuously flow, soaking part of his face and neck. Every small movement he made caused him to wince in pain.

Diana never left his side. Since Nathan was brought to the treatment room, she had been sitting in the chair beside his bed, holding his hand anxiously. Her usually lively eyes were now filled with deep concern.

Meanwhile, Rovan was in his own room, isolated from the others. Guilt haunted his mind. He felt utterly useless—someone who was nothing but a burden to Nathan and Diana. Instead of helping, he had stood there trembling in fear, watching Nathan fight alone.

"If only I were stronger..." Rovan thought, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Diana remained by Nathan's side, waiting patiently until, after hours of unconsciousness, Nathan slowly opened his eyes. He blinked a few times, trying to understand where he was, before finally seeing Diana still faithfully by his side.

A faint smile appeared on Nathan's face despite the pain in his body. "You didn't leave?" his voice was weak.

Diana sighed in relief. "Of course not. I wouldn't leave you alone," she replied softly but warmly.

Nathan tried to sit up, but the pain coursing through his body forced him to remain lying down. He glanced around and noticed something. "Rovan... where is he?" he asked, slightly worried.

Diana lowered her gaze for a moment before answering, "He's in his room... He hasn't come out since earlier."

Nathan could guess what Rovan was feeling. In his current condition, he clearly couldn't walk on his own to see his friend. So, he looked at Diana with hope in his eyes. "Can you call him for me?"

Diana hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, wait here."

A few moments later, Diana returned with Rovan walking slowly behind her. Rovan looked very different from usual—his shoulders slumped, his eyes red from lack of sleep, and perhaps from blaming himself too much.

When he finally stood in front of Nathan, he couldn't bring himself to look at him. His gaze was fixed on the floor, and his jaw was tightly clenched.

Nathan observed Rovan's expression, then gave a small smile. "Rovan... Thank you," he said suddenly.

Rovan lifted his head, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Thank you? For what?" his voice trembled.

"For having the courage to face that vampire," Nathan replied sincerely. "I know it must have been hard for you, but you still tried. That's not an easy thing to do."

Rovan's eyes began to water. He couldn't hold back the emotions he had been suppressing. "But... I couldn't do anything... I just stood there, terrified... I barely helped at all! I... I don't deserve to be your comrade," he said, his voice nearly breaking.

Nathan looked at him gently. "Don't say that. Everyone has their own fears, Rovan. But you tried to overcome them. That's more than enough."

Rovan covered his face with both hands, his shoulders shaking. "I just don't want to lose you guys... I don't want to be someone who just watches his friends die without being able to do anything..."

Nathan lifted his weak hand and patted Rovan's shoulder lightly. "We're here to support each other. I never considered you a burden. I need you, Rovan. We need you."

The tears Rovan had been holding back finally fell. He clenched his fists, lowered his head, then whispered, "I promise... I won't run away again..."

Diana, who had been watching the entire exchange, gave a small smile. This wasn't just about Nathan being injured—it was also about Rovan finally facing his own fears.

At that moment, in the quiet treatment room, a bond of friendship grew even stronger.

They knew that their journey was far from over, that many dangers still awaited them. But for now, at least, they could rest and prepare for what lay ahead.

After his emotional conversation with Nathan, Rovan made a promise to himself that he would become stronger. He no longer wanted to be a burden to his companions. Day after day, he trained himself, trying to banish the doubts that had long haunted him.

A day had passed, and Nathan had begun to recover. Though his wounds hadn't fully healed, he was at least able to walk, albeit with some pain. By then, they had reached their destination—the city of Waverston, a place famous for its various entertainment spots and attractions that drew many tourists.

Nathan, Diana, and Rovan walked leisurely through the streets of the city. Since Nathan was still in recovery, they weren't in a hurry to find the fortune teller they were seeking. Before heading there, they took some time to enjoy the city's atmosphere, trying out some of the games at the amusement park and tasting the local delicacies unique to Waverston.

However, as the sun began to set, they finally arrived at their destination. The building stood out from the rest—the atmosphere around it felt eerie and somewhat ominous.

As they stepped inside, the air grew colder and darker. Only a few candles were lit, casting dim light across the room. Suddenly, from the shadows, a woman appeared.

She wore a sheer black veil that partially covered her face. Her eyes were hidden beneath a black cloth, yet somehow, she seemed to see them clearly. Her long gown was pitch black, creating a mysterious aura around her. In her hands, she held a small box of unknown contents.

With a soft yet firm voice, the woman greeted them politely. "Please, have a seat," she said, gesturing toward the chairs in front of a small table draped in deep purple fabric.

The three of them sat down, still filled with curiosity. The woman also took a seat, placing the box she had been carrying on the table before speaking. "What brings you here?"

Nathan looked at her seriously. "We're looking for someone who can help us understand something. We found a book... and according to the information we gathered, only a fortune teller can give us answers."

The woman gave a faint smile, then, without another word, opened the box she had brought. From inside, she took out a deck of cards.

Diana eyed the cards with curiosity. "What kind of cards are those?" she asked.

The woman let her fingers glide over each card before replying, "These are tarot cards, specifically the Major Arcana. These cards will determine the fate of the three of you."

There were 22 cards laid out neatly on the table. The woman directed her attention to Nathan. "You first," she said, extending her hand. "Hold my hand."

Nathan complied. As soon as his hand touched hers, something strange happened. One of the cards suddenly glowed brightly.

When the woman flipped it over, an image of a young man standing at the edge of a cliff appeared, carrying a small sack on his shoulder and holding a flower in his hand. The Fool.

Nathan furrowed his brows. "What does it mean?" he asked.

The woman smiled. "The Fool symbolizes the courage to take a step forward without overthinking the risks. It represents someone full of enthusiasm who isn't afraid to face challenges, though sometimes a bit reckless."

Nathan was silent for a moment before giving a small smile. "I guess that really is me," he said proudly.

Next was Diana's turn. The woman extended her hand again, and Diana grasped it. After a few seconds, another card began to glow.

When the woman flipped it over, it was The Lovers.

Diana blushed. "What does it mean?" she asked in a soft voice.

"The Lovers symbolize harmony, strong relationships, and decisions made with the heart. You are someone who prioritizes love and togetherness in all things."

Diana's face turned even redder, but she smiled.

Finally, it was Rovan's turn. With some hesitation, he took the woman's hand. Like before, one card glowed.

When it was revealed, the card was Justice.

The woman's eyes lit up slightly. "This card means that you are someone who strives to uphold justice and truth. You have an honest heart and do not wish to see injustice around you."

Rovan was stunned. All this time, he had felt weak and useless. But hearing the meaning of the card, he realized something—he had always wanted to help others, always wanted to do the right thing.

He clenched his fists. "I will prove it," he whispered to himself.

The woman smiled. "Your fate has been written, but the choices remain in your hands. Now, let's talk about the book you seek..."

With that, their conversation with the fortune teller finally began.

Nathan took a deep breath before starting to recount his experience of returning to the past. He explained how he was thrown back in time, witnessing events that had already happened, and having the chance to change fate.

However, the fortune teller's reaction was different from others who had heard Nathan's story. There was no shock or confusion on their face. Instead, they only offered a faint smile, as if they already knew something that Nathan and his companions did not.

Without saying a word, the fortune teller waved their hand, summoning someone from behind the dark curtain in the room. A servant appeared, dressed entirely in black, wearing a white mask with a simple, innocent smile. Their movements were smooth yet mysterious, like a figure that wasn't entirely real.

The servant carried a large mirror, tall enough to reflect half of a person's body. The mirror had a black frame adorned with strange carvings that resembled ancient symbols.

With a calm demeanor, the fortune teller instructed the servant to place the mirror beside them. Then, they turned their gaze to Nathan.

"Sit in front of this mirror," they said, their voice soft yet filled with mystery.

Nathan obeyed the instruction and slowly sat before the mirror. As he stared at his reflection, the fortune teller began to chant in a foreign language they did not understand. Their voice flowed like whispers of the wind dancing between the flickering candlelight.

Suddenly, the mirror glowed red. An eerie light enveloped its surface, creating ripples like trembling water. Slowly, the reflection within the mirror began to change…

But what appeared was not Nathan's reflection.

The mirror only displayed the scene behind him—Diana, Rovan, the fortune teller, the table, and the room they were in. But Nathan was nowhere to be seen. It was as if he was an invisible figure in the mirror's presence.

Diana and Rovan widened their eyes, bewildered by what they saw. Nathan himself felt something he couldn't quite explain.

The fortune teller gave a small, knowing smile, unfazed. "Interesting," they murmured. "Very rare… but not impossible."

Nathan turned to the fortune teller, sensing that he was missing something. "What does this mean? Why am I not in the mirror's reflection?"

Before the fortune teller could answer, a sudden loud noise interrupted them.

Bang!

The servant had accidentally knocked over the table, causing the neatly arranged tarot cards to scatter onto the floor.

The servant appeared flustered and immediately knelt down to pick up the fallen cards.

Nathan and Diana, watching, suddenly froze. Something felt off. Something familiar.

They exchanged glances before turning their attention back to the servant.

The mask hid their expression, but… there was something in their movements and demeanor that felt strangely familiar.

Nathan narrowed his eyes. "Wait… I feel like I know someone like you."

Diana nodded in agreement. "Me too… but where?"

The servant paused briefly, then quickly resumed gathering the cards.

The fortune teller's smile remained, as if they were enjoying their confusion. "Perhaps you have met them before… or perhaps not."

Nathan, Diana, and Rovan grew even more curious. Something much bigger was at play here, and they needed to find out what it was.