I Got Tricked By a Fiend, and Now I Have to Kill the Tarot Devils?!?

4. The Emperor

Erick finally found me tucked in an alley, crying behind a trash bin.

"Hey... bud... Thought I might find you here."

"Go away," I sniffled, wiping my nose with a shirt sleeve. "I don't want to talk to anyone ever again."

"C'mon now, Tim. It was just one girl."
"You saw how she laughed at me then!"
"Yyyyyeah. True. It was kinda harsh," Erick grimaced.

"Well, I don't need her, or you, or anyone," I turned away, tucking myself deeper into a grimy corner. "I'm tired of everyone treating me like I'm some kind of freak now."

"C'mon, you're being too harsh on yourself," Erick shook his head, his somehow still perfect blonde hair billowing back and forth in the light breeze. It only made me pout more. "If you still want to ask someone to the dance, though, I heard from her sister that Kendra said you were cute."

"I don't like Kendra, though. She's short and smells like someone boiled apples in fertilizer," I frowned.

"That's true! She kinda does, actually!" Erick laughed, and I couldn't help but smile a bit. He helped me to my feet, and I sighed while brushing myself off.

"C'mon then, Tim. Let's head back before Koen finds out we're gone."

"I don't need to go back to school any more. I'm twelve and a half as of last month. I'm practically a man now."

Erick laughed, ruffling my hair affectionately. "Alright, Tim. Talk to me when you're sixteen, bud."

I didn't waste any time going immediately to the next Major Arcana's door. The Emperor. Other than some sharp pain in my shoulder blades as I was leaving the Empress' throne room, I felt better than ever. I must've thrown out something casting those spells, but it was nothing a good stretch didn't fix.

I wasn't going to let my mind dwell on Ten, or The Magician, or anyone. It didn't matter right now. All that mattered was beating the Major Arcana. And with this power, that was shaping up to be easier than anything I had ever done. It was a wonder that The Fool never bothered to climb the ranks with these spells, but he had all the makings of a lazy sack-of-crap sleazebag from the get go, so whatever. His loss, my victory.

I was ready for a fight. Now that I had leveled up and figured out how to use this magic, I was itching for something at least a little challenging.

As I stepped inside, my small collection of cards was still warm in my jeans pocket. I didn't bother more than a glance at the mural, an armored devil holding a hammer. Even from such a quick glance I couldn't help but be impressed by his massive rack- that is to say, clearly his horns must've been compensating for something.

The Emperor stood on the opposite end of his hall, a gilded warhammer identical to the one on the mural resting on a marble dais in front of him. His back was turned to me, a flowing dark purple cape attached by glittering studs atop a full suit of golden plate armor. Even from this angle I could see his impressive curved horns.

Dark marble pillars with veins of gold and flecks of lighter stone lined the hall on either side of a similarly textured tiled stone floor. It was very similar to the size of Empress', it wouldn't surprise me if they were modeled after each other somewhat.

"Ah... The Fool. You are here much sooner than I expected," The Emperor's voice was deep and gravelly. His tone was steady and reverent. "I almost have not prepared for-"

My blast of neon purple and pink interrupted him, but with unnerving speed he spun around and swung the two-handed hammer, knocking the magic arrows away. His cape, slightly tattered near the bottom, fluttered and settled as the remnant sparks of magic fizzled out on the stone steps. His expression and short, dark beard made him appear regal and stoic, and his eyes were glowing a bright, malicious red.