The woman quickly recovered from being startled by her first customer in – oh god just don’t even look at the clock, it’s not worth it – and quickly sat down as he did as well. She studied the young man for a moment, taking in his fiery hair and glowing eyes. She couldn’t help but feel that such brightness was hidden by his dark clothing, yet even more by his seemingly dark mood.

The young man draped his sword across his lap and spoke the question he wished to find an answer to into the world. Though, his wording was odd … perhaps he was one of those Otherworlders she’d heard of.

“Looking for some answers to yer future, eh?” the woman clarified, shuffling the deck with care, “To do that, we gotta glimpse at yer past and yer present. Life is a road with many forks, and the decisions we make at each one lead us toward our futures.”

She finished shuffling the cards before slowly and gently reaching for his hand, placing it upon the deck, “Think strongly about whatcha may wish to find, and split the deck.”

Once the deck was split by his hand and put back together, he had chosen the path his fate would take.

The woman takes a breath, before drawing the first card and flipping it before him.

“The Seven of Cups,” she shows him the card, three cups standing upright on the left and right sides of the card, with the seventh cup upside down in the middle of them, “This card represents your past. The major feelings this card represents are Illusion and Deception, though not toward others, but toward one’s self. In your past, did you find yourself in a situation where you could no longer tell right from wrong, good from bad? Did it seem like everything in your reality suddenly became unknown, fuzzy, unclear? This could have happened because you were tempted down the wrong road, or because you wrapped yourself in lies and deceit to shield yourself from something. This is a haunting and sad card, for if one remains on this path, they are sure to find nothing but despair at the end.”

With that, she draws the next card.

“Justice, the eighth major arcana,” she explains, gesturing to the card depicting a sword lying between two cats, one white and one black, with their tails entwined, “This one represents your present. This is a card that represents Decisions and Karma, should you believe in such a thing. These two creatures represent a side of your soul, waiting for you to choose and make a decision. But, which is right, and which is wrong? The sword represents the heaviness of this choice you need to make, and the weight hangs upon your shoulders. If there is ever a time to believe in chance, fate, or destiny … it is now, in your present. The cards cannot decide for you, but let us see if they can give a glimpse to what your decision should lead you toward.”

And so, the final card is drawn and flipped.

“The Ten of Cups,” she sighs, possibly in relief as she shows Oren the card that depicts five cups across the top of the card and five at the bottom, each with four strings extending from it and attaching to the other cups in all colors, “This card is the near opposite of your past. It radiates Energy. This is a very powerful card representing the joy and excitement of your goals being realized. Your energy and positivity will be practically magnetic to others – infectious, inspiring them as well. Do not doubt the sensations that come with this, and open your heart fully to them when you realize them in your future.”

The cards sat between them as the woman pondered, “You are drawn to the Cups. They represent open-minded and quiet individuals, and mostly involve matters of the heart. Whatever clouds your heart … I do hope you find what it so desperately seeks.”