The Arcana ~ The Requiem of Lost Memories

Books I-V, Prologue

I- The Magician

My name is Akiko.
I am a student of the magical arts.
I live and train in the city of Vesuvia. Tonight, the evening fog is thick, blanketing the street in an ethereal, milky glow. I linger at the window to appreciate the tranquil scene, before drawing the curtains shut.
"I will miss you."
The person speaking to me is my master, Asra, the fortune teller. I know nothing of his past.
Yet he has taught me everything I know about magic.
"Do you have to depart tonight?"
"It's the death of a moonless night. The right time to begin a journey."
His eyes twinkle in the warm light of the lanterns.
"Here... Take this. I want you to watch over it while I'm gone. Keep it."
... A gift? How unusual.
"My tarot deck."
That's the last thing I expected him to give me. This deck is Asra's own handiwork, imbued with great magical potential and hand illustrated.
"Do you think I'm ready, Master?"
"You're still calling me that...
You know I can't answer that for you. You've made incredible process, yet you won't let go of your doubt.
Do you think you're ready?"
I am not quite sure.
"Why don't we ask the cards?"
"Excellent suggestion."
A few rays of starlight peer through the window as we enter the backroom of our shop.
"It's been a while since we practiced."
A shadow passes my countenance.
"Because you are always gone?"
"Maybe.
Someday, you'll find a real teacher...
But for now, I'm here.
Let's see how powerful you've become."
He's always going on about how powerful and gifted I am...
His confidence warms my heart, but I don't know where it's coming from. Or if I'm able to live up to his expectations.
When we sit down on a table hanged with fabric, something smooth and cool slithers around my ankles.
Asra bends down to the floor and scoops it up.
It's Faust, Asra's familiar. The purplish-white serpent bleps happily at us before she winds herself around Asra's torso.
"So now that we're all here, let us begin."
I've done this a dozen of times by now. My hands are steady as the cards flutter through my hands, shuffling them, and laying out three in front of Asra.
He points at one of the cards, and I flip it.
The High Priestess.
"What does she tell you?"
When the Arcana speak to me, they do not use any human tongue. However, when my mind is clear, answers will come to me. This time the message is particularly clear.
"You have forsaken her."
Asra shivers from head to toe before he nods into my direction, signalling me to go on.
"You pushed her away, buried her voice.
She has been trying to warn you, but you block her out.
Master, if you ignore her now-"
A sharp knock at the front door cuts me off mid-speech.
A customer? At this hour?
"Have we forgotten to put out the lantern in the front again?
...
Well however, it is time for me to go." Asra stands and moves towards me, pulling me into a hug.
"Farewell for now, Akiko."
I wonder where he's going this time. But I don't bother asking. He won't tell me. He never did.
Then he releases me, puts on his coat and approaches the backdoor.
Shortly before he goes out, he turns to me. It looks like he wants to say something. But then pain crosses his face and he heads out into the tranquil night without another word.

The knocking at the front door gets louder, more impatient. I gather the cards from the table and move back into the shop.
Who is that and... What could they possibly want, so late at night?
There's only one way to find out, I suppose.
As I open the door, a tall figure from outside strides past me, inside the shop.
"Pardon the time, but I will not suffer another sleepless night."
A carriage stands before my shop, looking a little too noble for a normal person, a bit out of place in this part of town.
I close the door and turn towards the figure, that unwinds an elegant, violet shawl from her neck, allowing me to see her face.
My heart jumps a beat as I recognize her.
Countess Nadia! Here in my shop, in the dead of night...
"Please, you must read the cards for me."
A reading?
"You've come to the right place."
The Countess relaxes ever so slightly, gaze wandering through the shop.
"So I'm told. Your reputation precedes you.
Beggars and nobles alike... They all whisper your name in wonder.
Though in my dream... You were different."
My name? I am nothing but a mere apprentice. And a dream??
... Could it be that she mistakes me for Asra? However, I shake my head to clear my thoughts and pull the curtain aside, showing her to the backroom.
"This way, please."
The Countess walks past me, a hint of amusement on her face.
We settle down at the table.
The Countess leans forward, expectant. Her keen gaze follows my every movement as I shuffle the deck and lay out three cards in front of her.
I flip the one she is pointing at.
"The Magician."
"Oh, how intriguing. What does The Magician hold for me?"
The answer comes to me as easily as ever.
"You have a plan. One that is very important to you."
The Countess tenses a bit, but looks curiously in my eyes.
"And? Should I see it through?"
I nod.
"Yes. Everything has fallen into place. Now is the best time to set the plan in motion."
The Countess stands, seemingly satisfied. I raise with her.
"Thank you, this is everything I needed to hear.
Your fortunes are as straightforward as the others I've heard... Yet you are the first one to pique my interest.
I have a proposal to make."
"Proposal?"
The confusion must be showing on my face, as the Countess' eyes start twinkling in amusement.
"Are you nervous, perhaps? You needn't be. I require very little of you. Come to the palace, and be my guest for a short while."
The Countess. Here in my shop, in the dead of night. And she orders me to her palace?
"Do not worry. Just a discussion tomorrow in my palace."
She winds the elegant cloth around her neck once again, heading towards the door.
I scramble to my feet to open it for her, and again, her eyes gleam with amusement, as she steps out into the silence of the night. For a moment, I just stare into the fog she disappeared into. What would the Countess of Vesuvia want with me, a mere apprentice?