“I welcome you to the free city of Enkidu. The only free city on the continent. There was a bloody war about a hundred years ago between them and the Order. Several hundred thousand died and they ended up free of the Order’s influence.” Dardania dramatically motions towards the city as we all pass through the city gates. What stands before me is absolutely spectacular, and arguably the most gorgeous place I’ve seen thus far.

  The previous towns we’ve visited so far all looked like they could be blown over with a stiff wind, in Maia’s case Dardania practically did that. Here though, everything was just better made. Buildings made out of concrete and or stucco. Alongside them were building made of brick. The only wood structures in sight where carts and stalls that lined the marketplace. The roads were paved with cobblestone that was immaculately crafted.

  The people mirrored the beauty of the architecture. The skin color and gender diversity was much more vast than what I have seen so far.

  “This is what I’ve been waiting for!” I practically scream.

  A bunch of people throughout the market turn and stare at me confused, but I choose to ignore it. I mean, can you blame me? This market alone was amazing. Clothes, restaurants, weapons, armor, books, and literally everything you could want from a modern adjacent city.

  “I mean, over there is a woman in some serious high fantasy garb. That way is a hot shirtless muscular man buying a sword. Right there are two women dressed very much like witches buying a crystal ball. I don’t actually know if they are buying a crystal ball but I’m just assuming based on what I want it to be. This is the high fantasy I’ve been expecting!”

  “Stop dragging your feet and come on.” Avis says as he practically drags me further down the street.

  “It reminded me of an isekai anime the first time I came here too.” Madison whispered to me with a soft chuckle.

  “Glad I’m not alone.” I smile.

  Madison stops abruptly and grabs Avis by the back of his collar and pulls at him.

  “I need to show you this. There is this shop over here with the most amazing knives. You will love it.” Madison drags Avis towards the store.

  “Why are you dragging me? Don’t we have someone to meet.” He yells back at her.

  “Shopping first.”

  Dardania steps up beside me and smiles as she watches her brother get dragged into the weapons shop.

  “He needed other people in his life besides me. He was becoming a bit too rigid if you ask me. He needed the excitement.”

  “I don’t know if I share your enthusiasm as one of those people since he tortures me relentlessly, but I guess I’m glad to oblige. Or something.” I say in return. Since I was finally alone with Dardania, now seemed like the perfect time to ruin the good mood and talk to her about what’s been bugging me.

  “I didn’t want to talk about this in front of Madison, but the idea of The Order having the Death card has me a bit rattled.”

  “Why?” Dardania turns to me confused.

  “I thought we were the good guys. Knights of Tabathia or something. The ones who go against The Order and save the day. But if the Order already has one of the cards, what does that mean for us? Are we not the good guys?”

  Dardania stares ahead lost in thought for a second before she finally answers.

  “It’s just power. Each of the cards simply holds power, nothing more. In the myth the Major Arcana were people who founded the city alongside the Demon. But it wasn’t their power that made them stand by him, it was their morals. Who they were. The power just helped them to achieve that, at least that’s what I believe. It’s not good or bad. It’s just simply how the person wielding it chooses to use it.”

  I contemplate what she says for a minute. I suppose it is true. There are many in my world who held power who chose to use it for great misdeeds. Take priests who abused those children. Then the church that chose to cover it up. Police who shoot unarmed people. Politicians who oppose gay marriage only to be caught in a gay scandal. None of these things exist solely because of the power they held, but the morals attached to those people.

  “Take for example the Clerics and Acolytes for the Order. They are not bad because they simply are granted the title, they are bad because they choose to commit atrocities in the name of their Saint and gods. Think of The Magician simply as a title, not who you are.”

  Moments later Avis and Madison walk out of the store with a new knife in hand. Avis is holding it like one would hold a newborn child and staring at it lovingly much like one would stare at a newborn child. I guess he loves his knives.

  In regards to what Dardania said, it makes sense. I had been thinking of the Major Arcana as people. That it was more than a title but a description of who these people before me was. Honestly, it also was daunting. If these Arcana were such great people once upon a time, could I live up to that? I can’t even do magic let alone topple the world’s most powerful church. Something was comforting about it just being a title though, that meant I could make it my own.

  “Look at it.” Avis’s eyes were glowing. He practically shoves the knife into my face to look at it.

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  “It’s a knife.” I say, not seeing the appeal. He scowls at me.

  “It’s magnificent. Look at the craftsmanship of the hilt, and the way the blade curves ever so slightly. It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen.” Avis grins from ear to ear. He looks up at me, and I just smile.

  “It’s beautiful.” I say, still not getting it. But for some reason getting this approval from me just seems to make Avis’s day because he beams. He spins on his heel and continues walking through the market. Well, bouncing would be more accurate.

  “He didn’t show me the knife.” Dardania says as she looks at me confused. I just shrug.

  “Yeah, don’t question that one. I think you know what it means, though no one will ever admit it.” Madison says and Dardania just nods at her. I’m confused but I’d rather not ask. There is already too much information in my brain at the moment and I can’t add to that complexity.

  “So our mutual acquaintance. I’ve known her for quite some time” Dardania said.

  “Yes, my informant.” Madison responds.

  “Do you all trust this person? I mean, several of us are wanted.” I look around cautiously.

  “Yes.” They respond in unison. Okay, I guess that solves that.

  ****

  A gorgeous dark skinned woman stands before us. The highlight of her face was her amber eyes and it was only complimented by her long white hair that was tied in a braid that ran all the way to her lower back.

  “Is everyone in this world attractive?” The words falling out of my mouth before I could stop them. Everyone slowly turns their head towards me, their mouths agape.

  “God you’re rude.” Avis says as he slowly turns his gaze away from me.

  “Well, if you think I’m attractive, wait until you see my fiance.” The woman says as she smiles gently. “Please do come inside.”

  The woman who stands before us who is politely inviting us into her house is Prisha, member of the Minor Arcana. She wasn’t the sole reason we came to Enkidu, but it was definitely one of the added bonuses, according to Dardania and Madison.

  As we enter, we are ushered into a very well decorated sitting room. Unlike our previous destinations that felt like decor was never a feature, this wasn’t the case here. It closely resembled that of an Victorian era salon. Ornate and brightly colored furniture all centered around a coffee table. To coincide with the Victorian decor was a skinny pale white man dressed in all black setting the table for tea. He looked akin to a butler from the same era as the furniture.

  “This would be the aforementioned fiance; Devon.” Prisha motioned as we all took a seat around the coffee table. Devon smiles gently before placing the tea kettle on the table and began pouring five cups of tea. As he leaves the room I could have sworn he shot me a glare. When I looked back he was already gone, so it could have been all in my mind.

  “Well, what brings you all to Enkidu? And together? I didn’t realize you two knew each other.” Prisha sips her tea, crosses her legs, and sits back like she was ready for a long story to begin.

  “Honestly, we just met a few days ago. It was happenstance more than anything.”

  Madison drops a few cubes of sugar in her tea and stirs gently.

  “Murder was on the agenda, so we joined together.” Avis sniffs the tea and snarls but proceeded to drink it anyway.

  “How crass. We had a similar goal to Madison, so we decided to work together to achieve that goal. We hoped you could help us with that since you have some connections.” Dardania shoots her brother a glare before turning back to Prisha.

  “I can definitely give you any information that I have. I’m always happy to help the Arcana out.” Prisha turns her gaze towards me. “And who might you be stranger.”

  “I’m James.” I didn’t really know what to say except my name. I’m pretty sure she was asking for more information than that, but in the moment I didn’t know what to say. I’m not normally one to be tongue tied.

  “He’s the Magician.” Madison took over for me. “He actually just got to this world about a week or so ago.”

  “Only a week and you’re already planning to storm the castle? Quite daring of you.”

  “I wouldn’t say I’m ready to storm the castle. More like I have nothing to go home to and this seemed like the good alternative that. You know, dead parents and no family, so why go back to that mess?” I chuckle even though what I said wasn’t funny, but after mentioning dead parents it felt like the good way to relieve the tension. My own tension might I add.

  There was silence. A very long silence as everyone just stares at me.

  Avis slowly raises his eyebrow.

  Madison sips her tea.

  Dardania slowly starts to pull a book out of her pouch.

  Prisha just smiles at me.

  “Right. Anyway, what can I help you with?” Prisha thankfully breaking the silence.

  “Well, we happened to discover this in Taygete. Well, I’m not entirely convinced it was by happenstance, but I digress.” Dardania hands the Pilgrimage of Lucias to Prisha. “Enkidu was his first stop, so we thought perhaps there might be something in this city that may help us find other of the Arcana.”

  Prisha thumbed through the book silently for a few minutes before handing it back to Dardania.

  “That is an amazing find. I do actually have two different things that might before of interest to you. One is the serial killer.”

  I almost spat out my tea when she brought up the serial killer. The same killer on all the wanted posters everywhere? What could that have to do with us?

  “As far as I can tell, all of his victims were either members of the Major Arcana, or their supporters. Every victim I’ve come across was attached to the Arcana one way or another.”

  “Why the Arcana? Why kill them?” Madison questions. Prisha shrugs in response.

  “Killer for hire?” Avis asks. “Perhaps hired by the Order.”

  Prisha shook her head.

  “I don’t think so. Why hire a killer when they have the Touched? They’re basically a one man army in their own right, so no need for a lowly henchman.”

  “Well, let’s move past the killer for now; what’s the other thing?” Dardania pushing passed the morbid conversation.

  “So, an altar appeared in an old part of the city. I honestly didn’t think anything of it until you showed me that book.”

  “An altar just appeared in the city?” I ask, confused.

  “Not exactly. The outer edge of the city are mostly ruins from the war. They never fully rebuilt the city. Many believe it’s to remember what they were fighting for. Others believe it’s cursed. No one really knows the truth as to why, but there is nothing there but rubble and ruins. About two or so days ago an altar literally just appeared out of thin air. It’s not like someone built it because you can see where it came up out of the ground. It just smashed right through a portion of stone. No idea what it is.” Prisha stares off into space as she spoke. Everyone listens intently.

  Two or so days ago, that was probably right around the time we found the book in Taygete. I’m not sure if that’s just coincidental or not. Perhaps there is something else it all coincides with that I’m not aware of.

  “We should check it out. It’s not like we have anywhere else to look in this city. Besides if there is some signs of Tabathia in Enkidu, it’s going to be in the old part of the city.” Dardania closes the book and puts it back in her satchel. Avis sighs and leans back on the couch and lets out a large grunt.

  “Can’t we just have a break. Why does this adventure have to have so much adventuring? Can’t we take a nap” Avis groans.

  “No, let’s go.” Dardania says as she stands up and kicks Avis in the shin.