Deck of Shadows

BAMMM!

The bar door slammed open. Taro burst in, panting, eyes wide with panic. "Kai! I need money—now!

Kai sighed, pressing his fingers to his forehead "What did you do this time?"

"I got hungry!" Taro panted. "Went into that fancy meat shop down the lane. Ate the best ribs of my life... then realized I had no coin. So... I ran."

"From who?" Kai asked, dread settling in.

"The owner! He chased me halfway across the district!" Before Kai could answer, the tavern door flew open again. A red-faced, burly man stood there, scanning the room. His eyes locked onto Taro. "There you are!"

The cheerful tavern noise died instantly. All eyes turned to them.

Taro slowly stood, hands raised like a cornered animal. "Look, mate," he offered weakly, "that meat? Incredible. Seriously, top-notch work. You should be proud."

"Proud?" the owner snarled, stepping closer. "You think sweet talk pays my rent? Where's my gold?"

Kai stepped beside Taro, letting out a long, tired sigh. "We don't have coin. Not right now. Maybe... we work it off?"

The owner's face darkened. "Charity? I don't run it. No gold, no food. That's life!"

Just as the air felt thick enough to choke on, a calm voice cut through from the back. "They're with me." Navi stepped forward, arms crossed. She looked utterly unfazed.

The owner blinked, confused. "What?"

"I said, I'll cover it." Navi unhooked a small pouch from her belt and let the gold coins spill into the owner's open hand. He blinked, caught off guard, his anger fading into quiet disbelief. With a final grunt, he turned and stomped out of the tavern.

Kale leaned in close to her and whispered, "We needed that money to pay for the weapons. The war, remember?"

"I know," Navi replied, her voice low and steady. "But we can't beat the Deck of Shadows alone. We need them."

Later, outside the tavern, Taro and Kai were getting ready to leave. They both nodded at Navi.

"Thanks for that," Kai said, genuine relief in his voice.

"Yeah, owe you one," Taro added, cracking his knuckles. He turned to leave.

"Wait," Navi commanded. They stopped. "I need to ask you something."

Taro looked back. "Yeah?"

"We need you guys. To defeat the Deck of Shadows."

Kai frowned. "Why us? you guys seem strong enough."

"We are strong," Navi stated flatly. "But not strong enough. Not against their numbers. Not against Spade."

Taro shook his head, looking away. "This isn't our fight." He took a step towards the street.

Navi's next words froze him solid. "I know you're headed to the Fourfold Heaven. And I know you ate the Golden Apple, Taro."

Taro spun around, shock plain on his face. "How do you know that?"

"I know the way to Fourfold Heaven," Navi said, holding his gaze. "I can guide you—and I'll join your Rogue One's as a member—but only if we take down Spade. That's the deal."

Kai's eyes narrowed at Taro. "Don't tell me... you don't know the way?"

Taro rubbed the back of his neck. "I do! But the path I know... it takes months. Years, maybe. I need to get there faster." He looked back at Navi. "You said you know a shortcut?"

Navi nodded once. "I do. But it's dangerous. Very dangerous."

Taro grinned, reckless energy flashing in his eyes. "Then we take the shortcut."

Back inside the tavern, huddled around a flickering candle, Navi laid out the enemy "The Deck of Shadows… they're not just a group. They're a system. Five members run the whole thing: Spade, Heart, Diamond, Club—and one more we barely know, called Joker."

She continued, her voice steady. "Spade is their leader. Diamond is the spy, always gathering secrets. Heart is the strategist—he plans their moves like a war game. Club is the watcher, keeping eyes on everyone, everywhere. Navi paused, her eyes darkening. "And then there's Joker. We don't know much about him—just whispers. But if the rumours are true… he's the wild card. Together, they control this entire nation."

Kai and Taro exchanged a glance. With a dry smirk, Kai said, "Well… looks like the shortcut isn't the only risk anymore."

"Three days," Navi announced firmly. "We hit the palace."

Kale slammed his mug down. "Weapons! We needed that gold today for the blacksmith, Navi! Because of him!" He jabbed a finger at Taro.

"Don't panic," Navi said calmly. "I'll talk to the smith. Get us one more day. We sort payment tonight." She stood.

Kai stood too. "Where you headed?"

"To the blacksmith," she replied. "Keep an eye on them, Kale."

Kai hesitated. "I... was gonna polish Blazer anyway. Mind if I tag along?"

Navi studied him for a second, then gave a curt nod. "Alright."

As the door closed behind them, Kale leaned conspiratorially towards Taro. "Weird. She never lets anyone come with her to the smith. Ever. Goes alone. Won't even tell us where the place is."

Taro raised an eyebrow. "Never?"

Kale and Taro talked on, completely unaware. At a shadowed table near the back, a man had heard every single word. They know too much, he thought, his face grim. His name was Diamond. The Deck's spy.

He started to slide silently from his seat, ready to vanish into the night, when the tavern door creaked open again. A short figure, completely wrapped in a heavy, travel-stained cloak, shuffled in. Diamond froze. Stared. A dwarf? His mind raced. Impossible. They vanished ages ago. A slow, greedy smile spread across his face. If I bag this one... the nobles will pay a fortune. An absolute fortune. Capturing a living dwarf was the ultimate prize.

Meanwhile, outside, Kai walked beside Navi through the quiet, cobbled streets. The tension from the tavern slowly eased.

"So," Kai ventured, "this blacksmith... what's he like?"

Navi didn't break stride. "He's a dwarf."

Kai stopped dead. "What? A dwarf? But... everyone knows they're gone. Extinct!"

A small, knowing smile touched Navi's lips. "Exactly. That's why nobody finds him. But he's real. And best blacksmith we've ever come across."

A slow smile crept onto Diamond's face as he thought, "I'll capture him. No matter the cost."