Legacy of the Tarot (Laoyon)

The battle was over. The Necromancer was erased, and the Wailing Graves fell silent. But Arden wasn't focused on the ruins or the aftermath of the battle. Then he felt it, something, not in the Wailing Graves. Not in the cavern they had fought through, but deeper.

A slow, steady pulse ran through the ground—not a tremor, not magic, but something alive. Something that had just woken up.

Arden smirked. "Hmmm? Interesting."

"Arden?" Leigh's voice pulled him back. She was watching him closely—noticing the flicker of something in his expression. "What's up?" she pressed.

Arden tilted his head slightly, then shrugged. "Nothing. Just thinking about what's next."

Leigh narrowed her eyes. "Uh-huh. Sure."

Dominic didn't even look up as he counted the gold stash from the Wailing Graves. "If Arden's smiling like that, either we're about to fight something fun, or he's being stupid again."

"Or both," Selva muttered, sheathing her sword.

Arden just grinned. "Guess we'll find out."

The group ascended toward the upper exit of One-Eyed Peak, the same path where Arden had already cleared eight Eyegors earlier. Their bodies still littered the stone steps, reminders of how quickly Arden had ended them.

As they moved forward through the corridor to the exit, Leigh checked the map while glancing around. "Looks like we're at the other side of the mountain's cavern entrance," she murmured.

Dominic peered over her shoulder, squinting at the map. "So, you're telling me we've reached the other side?"

Arden smirked. "Looks like we need to head back the way we came."

Selva exhaled, stretching her arms. "Yeah, no way around it. I'd rather not deal with Ely's nagging when we get back and she asks where her horses are."

Leigh checked the map again, looking for another route. "If we go straight through that forest," she pointed at the huge trees in the distance, "then go left, we should find a dirt road that connects to the Tvaris Kingdom to the southwest and back to the stone bridge to the northeast."

Dominic gave her an approving nod. "Well done, Miss Valverde."

Arden snorted, "I wouldn't expect anything less from my future wife."

Selva chuckled. "You two are ridiculous."

Dominic smirked, adjusting his coat. "That's quite the declaration, Arden. Should I start addressing her as Lady Valverde now?"

Leigh huffed, her face turning a deep shade of red as she flailed her hands. "W-wait! That's— I— You— Ugh!" Refusing to entertain them any longer, she stomped her foot like a frustrated child and turned away, hastily changing the subject. "Let's just get moving! We don't have time for this nonsense!" She marched forward, determined to ignore the laughter behind her.

Arden followed her without a care, his usual smirk in place.

Dominic chuckled even louder. "Well, that was entertaining."

Selva sighed, "You two are impossible," before calling out to Leigh. "Wait up!"

As they made their way through the forest, they casually picked wild berries, sharing small talk and teasing one another. The fresh scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, adding to the peaceful atmosphere of their journey.

"Before we head straight to the auction, we should drop by the Silent Peak Cave first," Leigh suggested, looking at the map again. "We need to drop some supplies and check on things."

Dominic nodded. "Makes sense. No point in rushing into the city with all our luggage."

Selva glanced at Leigh curiously. "You guys have a base?"

Leigh beamed. "Yep! It's nothing fancy, but it's home for now. You'll love it."

Arden smirked, tossing a berry into his mouth. "Just don't expect anything fancy though."

Leigh shot him a glare before turning back toward the path. "We should keep moving. The stone bridge isn't far now."

Leigh glanced at Selva with an eager expression. "You're going to love our base," she said excitedly. "It's nothing grand, but it's home."

Selva smirked. "I can't wait to see it!"

Dominic adjusted his coat. "We made some improvements, so it should be comfortable enough."

With that, they pressed on toward the Stone Bridge in the distance, their banter filling the quiet road.

In the deepest part of the One-eyed Peak, more levels down the Wailing Graves. Something has awakened from its deep slumber. "That Energy." It chuckled with excitement. How long has it been since I get excited like this? "I need to tell the others about this."

The group arrived at the Stone Bridge, a colossal structure of weathered stone stretching across the vast wilderness that separated the three major lands. The river below carved through the land like an ancient scar, its waters deep and relentless.

Leigh paused at the center of the bridge, resting her hands on the stone railing as she took in the breathtaking view. "This is incredible... I never thought a bridge could be this high. The view is stunning from up here."

Selva stood beside her, her gaze sweeping across the landscape. "This is the Great Divide, the massive wilderness that acts as a natural boundary between the three major lands. The river splits into canals and separates everything, but the land in the middle still belongs to the Tvaris Kingdom, including Veyne. That's why this bridge exists—it's one of the only safe routes across."

Arden leaned against the railing, looking toward the distant mountains. "You make it sound like there's no other way across."

Selva smirked. "There isn't. Unless you want to risk the rapids or deal with whatever creatures lurk in the waters. The only true access to the other kingdoms is that." She pointed toward a towering plateau rising in the distance. "That mountain is the only direct pass between kingdoms."

 Dominic followed her gaze. "Ah, that's where our base is."

Selva snapped her head toward him, eyes wide. "What?!"

Dominic adjusted his gloves casually. "Yeah, we've been staying there."

Selva let out an exasperated breath. "You mean the same place that's infamous for being a warzone? The one filled with ruins, wild animals, and remnants of past battles? The Ruined Mansion Plateau?"

Leigh tilted her head. "Wait, what do you mean?"

Selva sighed. "Legend has it that a grand mansion once stood in that area, but it fell to ruin, now infested with trolls and wild beasts. It became a battlefield between the Dwarven Kingdom, Tvaris Kingdom, and a Goblin Clan allied with an exiled Minotaur Sorcerer. The war lasted years until the sorcerer cast a catastrophic spell, devastating the entire plateau with a celestial explosion. Since then, the Kardum Empire decreed that no human is to enter, and the dwarves stationed warriors to guard the mountain. Anyone who dares approach is met with immediate hostility."

Arden grinned. "Sounds fun."

Leigh let out an exhausted sigh. "I knew you were going to say that. At least try to hide that grin, won't you?"

Dominic chuckled. "Well, if we're done admiring the view, let's get moving before the sun sets."

The group descended from the bridge and made their way to the massive tree where they had left their horses. Dominic flicked his finger, dispelling the enchantment that had concealed their presence. The moment it lifted, their mounts stirred, eager to be on the move again.

"Alright, let's ride," Dominic said, mounting his horse. "We head northeast to the Ruined Mansion."

With that, the group set off, the echoes of their conversation lingering as they rode toward their next destination.

Selva stepped inside Silent Peak Cave, her boots clicking softly against the stone floor. The cave was nothing like she expected—it wasn't damp, dark, or eerie. Instead, it had been carefully transformed into a functional base. The walls were reinforced, shelves lined with supplies, and a warm fire flickered in the central chamber. Her gaze swept across the living space, her expression unreadable until Leigh spoke up.

"Welcome home, Selva," Leigh said with a smile.

Selva turned, taking it all in. "You guys really live here? It's... well, more put together than I thought."

Leigh chuckled before walking over to a wooden chest, carefully unlocking it. "We saved the best part for last." She pulled out an aged, leather-bound journal and handed it to Selva.

Selva took the book hesitantly. "What's this?"

Leigh folded her arms, watching Selva's reaction. "The journal of Xarnok the Starbound—the Minotaur Sorcerer we killed."

Selva's jaw dropped. "You what?" Her voice echoed through the cave. "You mean the Xarnok? The one who caused the destruction of the Ruined Mansion Plateau?!"

Leigh nodded. "That's the one. His magic was dangerous, but in the end, it wasn't enough to stop us."

Selva stared at the journal in disbelief before flipping through its pages, skimming old incantations and cryptic notes. "I... I don't even know what to say. This is insane."

Meanwhile, Arden and Dominic were busy stocking up their groceries and food supplies in the kitchen. Boxes of ingredients and preserved goods were sorted while Arden inspected their storage, ensuring everything was in order.

With that done, the duo turned their attention to unpacking the furniture they bought from The Emberforge Furnishings. Arden retrieved a small metallic button from his pocket, recalling Garrick the Builder's words:

"There. Press this button when you get to your place, and everything will unfold back to its original shape, just the way I packed it," Garrick explained, dusting off his hands. "No mess, no missing screws."

Arden pressed the button. Instantly, the furniture expanded and arranged itself in the designated spaces, the pieces unfolding like clockwork. Dominic enhanced the process with a spell, levitating chairs, tables, and cabinets into place while Leigh and Selva guided the interior setup.

Selva, still overwhelmed by the revelations of Xarnok, blinked as a couch floated past her. "You know what? I think I'm just gonna roll with all of this now."

That evening, the group sat around a freshly set dining table, the rich aroma of Arden's cooking filling the cave. He moved effortlessly in the kitchen, his skills honed from years of training under Lolo Lando.

Selva took a bite and immediately froze. "This... this is the best meal I've ever had."

Leigh grinned. "Told you, Arden's got some serious skills."

Arden shot back, pressing the ladle against his chest. "It is my pleasure to cook for my future..."

Leigh's face turned red as she cleared her throat and abruptly changed the subject. "Anyway! We should start planning for tomorrow."

Dominic smirked, swirling his drink. "Of course, none of this would've been possible without my brilliant guidance and general greatness."

Selva chuckled. "Oh? And what exactly did you contribute?"

Dominic dramatically placed a hand on his chest. "Moral support. Also, I helped move chairs. Very important."

The night was filled with laughter and banter, the tension from their battles momentarily forgotten. Eventually, exhaustion settled in, and the group retreated to their rooms. Selva joined Leigh in the Women's Quarters, while Arden and Dominic took their usual room.

The next morning, the group set out for Veyne, riding across the landscape after retrieving their horses from where they left them. As they approached the city, they stopped by Mang Ronald's for breakfast before heading to Elysia's Stables to return the horses.

Elysia, upon seeing Selva, rushed forward and embraced her in a tight hug. "Selva! You're back! I was worried about you!"

Selva chuckled, patting Elysia's back. "Yeah, yeah, I'm in one piece."

Like wildfire, news of their return spread throughout Veyne. Before long, Darian and Bren rushed into the stables, eager to see them.

"You guys are back already?" Bren asked, wide-eyed.

Darian smirked. "That means you've got stories."

With little time to waste, they made their way toward the South Gate of Veyne City, where even more familiar faces waited, eager to hear of their latest adventures.