Future Club

After a fierce battle against the low-ranking vampires in the city of Waverston, Nathan, Diana, and Rovan returned to their inn. Their bodies felt exhausted, but that small victory gave them a bit of confidence. They knew this was just the beginning of a long journey to prevent the world's destruction by the vampires.

The next morning, they went back to the house where Alistair and Seraphina were staying. Upon arrival, they immediately reported the events of the previous night. Alistair chuckled and patted their shoulders.

"Well done, you showed remarkable courage," he said proudly. "But this is just the beginning."

Johan, who had been listening to their story, looked surprised and amazed. "I still find it hard to believe that we actually have to fight vampires. But if you've already battled them... then this isn't just some empty tale."

They all gathered in Seraphina's room to discuss forming a new group. Nathan looked at his two friends. "I'll join if you both agree."

Diana and Rovan exchanged glances before nodding. They were ready to face their destiny.

Alistair smiled in satisfaction, then turned to Johan. "What about you?"

Johan was startled, not expecting to be included. "I'm invited too?"

Alistair lightly patted his shoulder. "Of course. You have a role to play in all this too."

Johan grinned excitedly and nodded firmly. "Alright! I'm in!"

Seraphina, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke. "I'll join as well."

Alistair immediately shook his head. "No. This is too dangerous for you, Seraphina."

Seraphina huffed and crossed her arms. "Without me, you'll struggle against supernatural threats. Besides, I can see the future, which will be useful for the group."

Alistair hesitated but eventually let out a long sigh. "Fine, you can come. But don't be a burden."

Seraphina smirked triumphantly. "Don't worry, I'm a valuable asset."

Their conversation lightened with laughter, showing that they were starting to feel comfortable with one another. After ensuring everyone had agreed to form a group, Johan brought up an important point.

"We need a name for our group," he said. "And we should also decide on a leader."

Seraphina suggested, "How about using a name from the tarot cards? It sounds cool."

They all pondered for a moment. Then, Diana suddenly raised her hand. "How about 'Future Club'? Since we're trying to change the future."

Nathan seemed intrigued by the name. "Future Club... It sounds good."

Alistair and the others agreed, and thus, the name was officially chosen.

With the group name decided, they now had to pick a leader. Everyone looked uncertain.

Johan suddenly pointed at Alistair. "How about you, Alistair? You're the one making plans for this group."

Seraphina immediately shook her head. "No! My brother is too reckless and impulsive!"

Alistair looked offended. "Hey! I'm not that bad!"

"No, you're worse than they think," Seraphina teased, making the others laugh.

In the end, Seraphina proposed Nathan as the leader because he was the one determined to change the future.

Nathan looked surprised. "Me? I'm not fit to be a leader."

But everyone seemed to agree with Seraphina's suggestion. Nathan tried to refuse, but in the end, he had to accept the reality that they all had faith in him.

"Alright... I'll do it," he said reluctantly. "But you all have to help me."

Diana smiled. "Of course. You're not alone."

With that, Future Club was officially formed, and Nathan became its leader.

———

After agreeing to form the group and choosing the name "Future Club," the atmosphere became more relaxed. They laughed about Alistair's disappointment over not being the leader, while Johan still grinned, proud to be part of what he considered a very cool group.

However, Seraphina quickly shifted to a more serious topic.

"I will start training you to use supernatural powers," she said, looking at each of them.

Diana raised an eyebrow. "Can we... just use them right away?"

"Not exactly," Seraphina replied. "But you already have the foundation. The tarot cards aren't just symbols. They are bridges between you and the gods who have chosen you."

Seraphina led them to the backyard of her house. The space was large, surrounded by stone walls and wild plants. The morning sun felt warm on their skin, making it a comfortable place for training.

Standing in the center, Seraphina said, "Before learning to use your abilities, you must first recognize your power. And for that, you need to feel the energy from your cards."

Nathan, Diana, Rovan, and Johan lined up, each holding a faintly glowing card. Nathan held The Fool, Diana The Lovers, Rovan Justice, and Johan The Moon.

"Close your eyes, take a slow breath, and imagine the power from your card flowing into your body," Seraphina instructed calmly.

They all followed her guidance. The air grew still, with only the soft rustling of leaves breaking the silence.

Minutes passed.

"Does anyone feel anything?" Seraphina asked.

Nathan slowly opened his eyes. "I don't know why, but I feel... light. Like I can move faster."

Diana nodded. "I feel warmth in my left hand. But it's not hot, just... comforting."

Rovan frowned. "I just feel stiff."

Johan, however, looked uneasy. "I... feel like shadows are moving around me."

Seraphina smiled. "That's normal. Your power won't manifest fully right away. But the fact that you can feel it is the first step."

They then began training individually. Seraphina patiently guided them, teaching them how to channel energy into their hands or other body parts. Nathan practiced directing his energy to his legs and, after some attempts, managed to move a few steps faster. Diana created a faint pink light from her palm. Rovan still struggled but kept trying. Meanwhile, Johan started sensing illusions forming around him.

After training, Seraphina sat on a large rock at the edge of the yard and started explaining.

"In this world, there are 22 major tarot cards. That means 22 people can be chosen by the gods to receive supernatural powers," she said, glancing at them. "So far, only four have been found."

"So there are still 18 more out there?" Nathan asked.

Seraphina nodded. "Yes. But who they are and where they are remains a mystery. Some might not even realize their powers yet or haven't been 'awakened'."

Rovan raised his hand like a student. "If all the tarot powers are different, then there could be people far stronger than us?"

"Possibly," Seraphina replied. "But power isn't just about how much energy you have. It's about how wisely you use it."

Johan, sitting cross-legged on the ground, seemed deep in thought. "So... we could be hunted too? What if there are bad people chosen by the gods?"

The room fell silent after Johan's words. Everyone exchanged glances.

Alistair, who had just returned with drinks, said, "Good question. And the answer is... yes. Not everyone chosen is good. We need to be prepared."

Nathan clenched his fists. "Then this training isn't just for power, but for survival."

"Exactly," Seraphina confirmed. "And for that, we must unite our strengths."

After finishing their training, they returned inside. The evening approached, and their stomachs grumbled with hunger. While Seraphina and Johan prepared some snacks, Alistair spread out a large map on the table.

"I've found information about a place linked to the vampires," he said, pointing to a remote area far from Waverston.

"Where is that?" Diana asked.

"The Rembrad Mountains. There are rumors of strange activities and people disappearing mysteriously," Alistair answered.

"So, are we heading there?" Nathan asked.

"Not yet," Alistair replied. "We need preparation. But that will be our first mission as the Future Club."

Everyone felt both nervous and excited.

Their adventure had just begun.

They all began discussing their plans to go to the Rembrad Mountains. Alistair and Nathan were serious about strategizing and preparing, while the others seemed more relaxed—especially Johan, who leaned back in his chair with a bored expression.

"So, that place is actually a tourist destination," Alistair said, crossing his arms. "But after this news spread, some people started to be more cautious."

"Hmm… A tourist spot, huh?" Rovan raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't sound like a dangerous place."

"That's exactly why," Nathan replied. "If there's any suspicious activity there, then something must be happening behind the scenes."

As everyone was lost in their thoughts, the sound of the radio in the room suddenly caught their attention. A broadcaster with a distinctive voice began speaking:

"Listeners, here's the latest news from the nobility. Next week, a festival will be held in the Rembrad Mountains to celebrate the appointment of a new noble. All citizens are invited to join in the festivities."

Nathan and the others exchanged glances. That information surprised them—who would have thought their plan would coincide with a major noble event?

"This is interesting," Diana murmured. "A festival being held in the same location as our objective… Isn't that a little suspicious?"

Rovan nodded. "Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I don't believe in coincidences like this."

The radio continued broadcasting, providing more details about the event. Nathan listened carefully but remained silent. Deep down, he felt something was off about this situation. If the nobles were hosting a grand festival there, the area would likely be filled with their forces. If there truly was a vampire threat in the Rembrad Mountains, did the nobles know about it and were trying to cover it up, or were they involved in something much bigger?

"We need to plan our strategy more carefully," Alistair finally said, breaking the silence. "If we depart at the same time as the festival, we can disguise ourselves as visitors. That will allow us to move around without drawing attention."

Seraphina leaned back in her chair, deep in thought. "In that case, we also need to find out who the new noble is. They might have some connection to all of this."

Nathan nodded in agreement. "Alright. We'll use this week to gather information. After that, we move."

Everyone agreed with the plan. Though many things remained unclear, one thing was certain—they had to be prepared for whatever awaited them in the Rembrad Mountains.

The room fell into a brief silence as everyone processed the plan. The weight of the unknown lingered in the air, but there was no turning back now.

Johan let out a sigh, finally sitting up straight. "Guess that means no time for relaxation, huh?" He smirked, though his eyes held a hint of seriousness.

"We never had time for that to begin with," Nathan replied dryly.

Seraphina tapped her fingers against the table. "If we're disguising ourselves as festival attendees, we'll need the right outfits. Blending in won't be as easy if we look like a bunch of travelers carrying weapons."

Alistair nodded. "We should also consider possible escape routes. If things go south, we need a way out."

Rovan folded his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the group. "And if we do run into whatever is lurking in those mountains… are we ready for that?"

A tense pause.

Nathan finally stood up, his expression unreadable. "We will be."

No more words were needed. Each of them understood—this mission was going to be more than just reconnaissance. The Rembrad Mountains held secrets, and one way or another, they would uncover the truth.