Legacy of the Tarot (Laoyon)

While waiting for the special auction arrangements to be finalized, the group headed to The Star Rock Café on Bazaar Street—just past the temple adjacent to the Arcane Bazaar. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meats, spiced wine, and freshly baked bread. Unlike the mystic and enigmatic atmosphere of the Arcane Bazaar, this street had a more grounded, lively energy—filled with adventurers exchanging stories, merchants haggling over exotic goods, and bards strumming lively tunes.

At their table, laughter and conversation flowed freely as Darian, Selva, and Bren joined them. Leigh, ever the meticulous one, pulled out their ledger and began checking their gold balance. As her eyes flicked across the numbers, her expression stiffened.

She snapped her head toward Dominic. "Wait. You didn't spend a single coin?"

Dominic smirked and leaned back lazily in his chair. "Why would I? Everything was given to me for free after I left the Wyvern Breath Wand for auction."

Leigh's fingers tightened slightly around the ledger. "And here I was expecting a damage report."

Arden chuckled. "That explains why you looked like a spell-struck apprentice back there."

Dominic shot him a side glance. "Can I help it if everything in that place was practically begging to be mine?"

Before Leigh could retort, a disheveled figure stumbled toward their table. His clothes were worn and stained, his hair a mess, and the overwhelming scent of strong ale trailed behind him like a ghost. He plopped himself onto an empty chair uninvited, his half-empty mug of wine sloshing dangerously in his grip.

Boozer the Drunk. A known tavern regular, infamous for his ramblings, yet oddly respected for the sheer amount of knowledge he possessed.

He squinted at the group, swaying slightly before breaking into a toothy grin. "You kids… you're interesting. Real crazy." He hiccupped. "I like that."

Selva raised an eyebrow. "And you are?"

Darian leaned in slightly, murmuring, "If you want to know about powerful monsters, forbidden places, and hidden treasures, you pour him a drink, and he'll spill secrets like a broken dam."

Leigh exhaled, sliding her untouched mug of wine toward him. "Start talking."

Boozer's grin widened as he grabbed the drink with a shaky hand. Taking a deep swig, he wiped his mouth on his sleeve before leaning in conspiratorially. His voice, though slurred, carried an eerie weight.

"There are places even the strongest fear. Creatures lurking in the dark, ancient ruins that whisper curses to those who enter, and treasures that can make or break empires."

Dominic rested his chin on his hand, intrigued. "Any specifics?"

Boozer twirled his mug, smirking. "Depends. How much more are you willing to pour?"

The trio exchanged glances before Arden signaled the bartender. "Another round for the old man."

Dominic raised his mug. "To adventure."

Arden grinned, clinking his drink against Dominic's. "And to not being broke."

Boozer took another long gulp, sighing in satisfaction as the warmth of the wine settled in his belly. He set the empty mug down with a thud and smirked at the expectant looks on the group's faces.

"Alright, listen well, kids. You wanted specifics? I'll give you gold." He leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a hushed whisper. "There are places in Laoyon where even the most seasoned warriors hesitate to step. Forbidden grounds, lost ruins, and hunting zones where death is but a heartbeat away."

Leigh crossed her arms, giving him a skeptical look. "Start with something real, not a bedtime horror story."

Boozer chuckled, tapping his temple. "How about a hunting ground so dangerous that even the Great Clans steer clear of it?" He paused for effect. "The Abyssal Rift."

Darian arched an eyebrow. "Never heard of it."

Boozer's grin widened. "That's because the people who do usually don't live long enough to spread the word." He traced a shaky finger along the table, as if drawing a map only he could see. "Deep in the western borders of Kardum, beyond the cursed valleys, there's a canyon that seems endless. The Rift itself swallows light, and the air is thick with a pressure that makes it hard to breathe. It's rumored that a city once stood there, but something erased it—completely. No ruins, no remains, just an emptiness so deep it devours sound."

Selva leaned forward, intrigued despite herself. "What makes it so dangerous?"

Boozer exhaled through his nose, his smile dimming. "They call it the Abyssal Rift because… well, things crawl out of it."

Leigh frowned. "What kind of things?"

Boozer's voice dropped to a near whisper. "No one knows what they look like. The few who survived only said one thing—they saw eyes blinking in the dark."

The group exchanged glances. Even Darian, who had been mostly observing, shifted slightly in his seat.

Dominic, however, looked thoughtful. "Sounds like a great place to find something valuable."

Boozer gave him a look, then burst into laughter. "Ha! You're insane, I like that!"

Arden grinned. "Any other places worth noting?"

Boozer wiped his mouth, clearly enjoying the attention. "Ever heard of the Sunken Labyrinth beneath Eldoria?"

This time, Darian stiffened. "That's real?"

Boozer wagged a finger. "Oh, very real, kid. A ruin submerged under the city, hidden by layers of ancient magic. The entrance shifts—one day it's a crack in the sewers, the next it's under a noble's estate. But those who find their way in never return."

Selva scoffed. "So another death trap?"

Boozer shook his head. "Oh no, sweetheart. Not just a death trap—a vault. If the rumors are true, the Sunken Labyrinth holds a treasure that can change the fate of Laoyon itself. But you'll have to deal with the ghosts first."

Arden leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. "Alright, that one sounds fun."

Dominic stretched. "Anything else? Something that hasn't been looted yet?"

Boozer tapped the side of his mug. "You're asking for a lot. But…" He grinned, eyes gleaming. "There is one place—The Skyreach Spire."

Leigh tilted her head. "I don't recall hearing about it."

Boozer chuckled darkly. "That's because it's not on any map. A floating ruin lost to time. Some say it was a fortress from the Age of Gods, others say it's a forgotten sanctuary of The Magician himself." He swirled the last of his drink. "One thing's for sure—whoever finds it, owns it."

Dominic's eyes flashed with interest. "Now that sounds worth checking out."

Arden clinked his drink against Dominic's. "Guess we've got our next destinations lined up."

Boozer grinned, reaching for his now-empty mug. "Now, if you really want to know more…" He glanced pointedly at their untouched pitcher of wine.

Leigh sighed, pushing it toward him. "Fine. Keep talking."

Boozer's laugh echoed through the café, and the night stretched on with whispered secrets, tales of forgotten places, and the promise of adventure.

Boozer took another long sip, smacked his lips, and leaned back with a satisfied sigh. He gave the group a lopsided grin, his glassy eyes sharpening just enough to show that, despite his drunken state, his mind was far from dull.

"Alright, kids. Since you're generous, I'll share a little more."

Leigh rolled her eyes. "This better not be a drunken tale about your glory days."

Boozer chuckled. "Glory days? Bah! I'm still living 'em." He leaned forward again, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "But this one… this one's different. Ever hear of the Wailing Graves?"

Selva raised an eyebrow. "Sounds dramatic."

Darian, however, shifted uncomfortably. "Wait, you don't mean—"

Boozer smirked. "Oh, I do. The cursed battlefield where the dead refuse to stay buried."

Dominic rested his chin on his hand, intrigued. "You're saying there's a place filled with undead?"

Boozer nodded. "Not just any undead. Ancient warriors. They say the battlefield was once a sacred site where five powerful kingdoms clashed in a final war. The blood spilled there was so great, the land itself refused to let the souls move on. Now, every so often, when the mist rolls in, you can hear the sound of battle—clashing steel, dying screams, war drums that beat long after the armies have turned to dust."

Arden grinned. "Sounds like a decent place to train."

Leigh gave him an exasperated look. "Of course you'd think that."

Boozer pointed at him. "Smart thinking, boy. The Wailing Graves aren't just a cursed battlefield—they're a testing ground. The spirits there don't attack blindly. They judge. If they deem you unworthy, they will drag you into the mist, never to be seen again."

Selva folded her arms. "And if they find you worthy?"

Boozer's grin widened. "Then you earn the right to claim one of their ancient weapons."

That caught everyone's attention.

Darian scoffed. "You expect us to believe that?"

Boozer shrugged. "Believe what you want. But if you ever see the mist rolling in from the east at night, be ready."

Dominic tapped the table. "Alright. What's next?"

Boozer's expression darkened slightly. "There's one more place. But even I don't joke about this one."

The table fell silent. Even the lively chatter of the café seemed distant.

Leigh frowned. "Spit it out, Boozer."

Boozer exhaled. "The Black Hollow."

Selva narrowed her eyes. "I don't like that name."

"You shouldn't." Boozer's voice had lost its usual amusement. "It's a place that doesn't belong in Laoyon. A tear in reality, a wound in the world itself. No one knows where it came from, but those who have wandered too close..." He paused. "They don't come back normal."

Arden tapped the table impatiently. "Details, old man."

Boozer sighed. "Alright. The Black Hollow appears at random—sometimes in deep forests, sometimes in abandoned ruins, even beneath the ocean. It doesn't follow any pattern. Those who enter it say the world shifts—time warps, colors bleed, and shadows whisper your name. And worst of all?" He looked them dead in the eyes. "You can meet yourself inside."

Silence.

Dominic finally spoke. "You mean... doppelgängers?"

Boozer nodded. "Aye. But they're not just copies. They know your past, your future, your regrets. And they don't always want to leave."

Leigh exhaled slowly. "That... sounds like a nightmare."

Boozer leaned back, draining his glass. "That's because it is. Even the Archmage of Ravenloch has ordered it to be avoided at all costs."

Selva scoffed. "So, of course, we're going to end up there eventually."

Arden smirked. "Wouldn't be an adventure otherwise."

Boozer let out a dry laugh. "I like you kids. You're either brave, stupid, or both. But you paid for my drinks, so I wish you luck."

Dominic stood, stretching. "Well, we've got a lot to think about."

Leigh massaged her temples. "And somehow, I know we're going to end up in every single one of those places."

Arden grinned. "Let's start with the Abyssal Rift. Sounds fun."

Selva sighed. "I need more wine."

Boozer raised his empty mug. "That makes two of us."

Laughter echoed through the Star Rock Café as the night deepened, and with it, the promise of new dangers, new discoveries, and a future written in the unknown.

As the group was finishing their drinks, a well-dressed man in a deep blue robe, embroidered with shimmering gold sigils, approached their table. The insignia on his chest marked him as one of the Arcane Bazaar's shopkeepers.

"Honored guests," he said with a polite bow. "I have come with news regarding your auction."

Dominic, who had been leisurely sipping his wine, raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"The special auction for the Wyvern Breath Wand has been officially scheduled for the afternoon of the day after tomorrow. You will be provided private seating and a share of the final bid price will be arranged accordingly. We expect some of the most influential nobles of Laoyon to be in attendance."

Arden smirked. "Finally, some entertainment."

Leigh gave a satisfied nod. "Good. That means we have tomorrow free to do as we please."

Selva leaned forward. "So what's the plan?"

Dominic set his mug down, his golden eyes gleaming mischievously. "We're going hunting."

Bren blinked. "Hunting? Like gathering materials? Chasing down some wyverns for sport?"

Arden stretched his arms lazily. "Not exactly. We need a good warm-up before we get to the real challenges, so we're heading to the Wailing Graves."

Darian and Boozer nearly spat out their drinks.

"You WHAT?!" Boozer gawked. "You're actually going there?"

Darian shook his head in disbelief. "That's a cursed battlefield! People don't just 'drop by' the Wailing Graves! They either go in prepared to die or turn back before it's too late."

Leigh nonchalantly swirled the wine in her glass. "Seems like a decent place to test our strength."

Selva sighed dramatically. "And we're just gonna waltz in, fight an army of undead, and claim a legendary relic like it's a casual stroll?"

Arden grinned. "Pretty much."

Boozer looked between them, dumbfounded. "Are you lot serious? Do you even hear yourselves?"

Bren, his face pale, muttered, "They're discussing this like they're planning a picnic."

Darian rubbed his temples. "Alright, humor me—say you somehow survive the Wailing Graves. Then what?"

Dominic leaned back, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Depends on what we loot. If we get a decent relic, we could trade it for something useful. If it's cursed, I could study it, maybe break the curse."

Leigh casually added, "And if it's useless, Arden can use it as a training dummy."

Arden laughed. "I like that plan."

Boozer threw his hands up. "And if the undead refuse to let you leave?"

Arden shrugged. "Then we keep fighting until they do."

Bren stared at them, speechless. "...You guys are insane."

Darian slowly exhaled. "What are you going to do after that? You're going to need to recover, right?"

Dominic took another sip of his drink. "Probably. But if we're still feeling good, we might check out the Black Hollow while we're at it."

Darian and Boozer dropped their jaws.

"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS."

Leigh rested her chin on her hand. "If we go to the Black Hollow, we need to prepare. The doppelgängers could be a problem."

Selva rolled her eyes. "Yes, because the undead army was perfectly normal."

Boozer slumped in his seat, defeated. "I need stronger drinks."

The conversation continued as the trio calmly discussed battle strategies, equipment, and loot distribution, as if they were simply deciding where to eat dinner.

To Darian, Bren, Selva and Boozer, it was madness.

To Dominic, Arden, and Leigh, it was just another day.