The Arcana: Fragments

XXI: You Stand Accused

Devil x Reader (Alt. Upright Ending - Asras Route)

"You will train me", I protested, anger fueling me as the Magician arcana all but watched me with great amusement in his vibrant eyes. "Despite the great length of time with which you've already spent here, no amount of enhancements to your magic would phase The Devil. Your efforts are fruitless, my dear". I approached the fox humanoid slowly, only to have him dissipate and re-emerge behind me in one swift movement.

He may not be threatened by me, but he's growing more and more cautious, I noted.

"You're right", submitting, I threw my hands up in the air in defeat. "My powers are sub par in comparison to The Devils, and I doubt I'd stand a chance in defeating him on my own..", the Fox smiled down at me in sympathy. "But I'm not on my own, am I? You're The Magician, after all". The Magician just stared at me, reading into my thoughts like a great wave sifting through granules of sand on a restless beach. I felt dizzy as he encircled me, his magic rendering mine minuscule. "You're not bluffing", he gasped. "Nope".

In a quick flutter of iridescent fabric, The Magician was before me, our eyes locking. "I'm not the only arcana you wish to invoke, either", he whispered to me, baffled. "My dear, you know not of what you ask".

"Perhaps. But I ask regardless. Now, are you with me?"

-

And there we all were. The High Priestess' realm was the last of The Magician and I's journey to beseech the other Arcana to join our war with The Devil. "Such devotion to your friends", the High Priestess mused. "You will remember your end of the bargain?", The Chariot was a fearsome being, using the form of a tall, malicious cheetah to present itself. "Of course, our worlds will be united. The magical and physical realms, under a united democracy of arcana and mortal leaders", I said.

"Harmony", The Hanged Man said dreamily. The Magician hummed in agreement.

There they all were, with me. "Who is our opponent?", The Hermit finally spoke after what seemed like an eternity of silence from him. "Aside from those who choose to remain neutral, it looks as though The Devil has his own armada of willing soldiers", The Lovers spoke this time. Their form confused me; the two serpents opting to share a single body atop a neck that sported both of their heads. Perhaps it would be best that way, when it comes to fighting especially; the two are strongest when they are together. The High Priestess rubbed her temples slowly, recalling something. "Who might they be?", The Chariot questioned.

The magician stepped forward. "Ones who are going to prove to be quite the like minded opponent indeed: The Devil, The Tower, Temperance, The Hierophant, Justice, and Death".

"Temperance?", The High Priestess seemed shocked by this. "Enslaved into The Devil's grasp, no doubt", The Hermit assured, though not to anyone's reassurance.

"Twelve arcana, two mortals, equally split. My, my, this is sure to be fun", The Hanged Man said.

I stood from the carved marble bench I was in and peered out from where I stood at my army: The Magician, The High Priestess, The Chariot, The Hermit, The Hanged Man, and The Lovers.

-

The palace of Vesuvia was brightly lit, outshining the full moon and its armada of stars with its fluorescent orange glow. My six companions and I stood at the base of a long range of steps ahead of us, and at the top; the ones we came all this way for. Albeit my body was not physically here, The Magician and The Lovers had devised a way to ensure I would have physical impact on my attacks. The spell coursing through me made my muscles throb with energy I had never known and made me that more confident at our success.