"Each card," Rubina stated, "represents a choice. A step in your journey... a decision only you can make."

  She began to shuffle the deck with a practiced hand. "Close your eyes," she instructed, "and focus on your heart."

  Elara and Ai exchanged uncertain looks, but after a moment, they did as they were told.

  "Now reach forward. Draw one from the deck."

  With shaking hands, Elara slowly reached out, fingers brushing against the cards. One in particular... seemed to call to her.

  Her fingers stopped, then pulled one card free.

  She opened her eyes.

  And stared.

  The Void Empress.

  Not the Death card. Not the Tower.

  Not even the Star.

  It was her.

  Cloaked in darkness, seated upon a throne of shattered stars, eyes glowing like twin abysses… and in one hand, a dying galaxy; in the other, a single sprouting seed made of light.

  The card pulsed faintly in Elara’s grip, as if it had been waiting for her all along..

  Ai's eyes widened. "No way…"

  Elara could barely breathe, staring at the illustration in disbelief. The Void... choosing her…

  Slowly, she turned back to Rubina, who was watching her with that same knowing smile.

  A long moment passed. Finally, she managed to find her voice.

  "Why?" she blurted out. "Why me? I'm nothing special. I'm just... me. Why choose me?”

  Rubina's smile deepened.

  "You don't think yourself worthy," she stated simply. "That's why you're perfect."

  She held Elara's gaze with calm understanding.

  "The Void doesn't want a hero. It doesn't want a savior. It wants the girl who doesn't see much in the mirror... who thinks she's not cut out for more.

  But the Void recognizes the hidden strength within you... the potential that you fail to acknowledge.”

  Elara sat there, struggling to understand. She'd always been average.

  No exceptional talents. No extraordinary skills. She wasn't even particularly strong.

  And yet this woman, this prophet was telling her she was exactly who the Void wanted: a nobody, an ordinary person...

  And yet…

  Could this power really be... meant for someone like her?

  "But how?" she breathed, eyes still fixed on the card. "How could I do what the Void wants? I'm just a gem sprite. I'm not some... some ’chosen queen’.”

  Rubina reached out slowly, placing a gentle hand over Elara’s. Her voice dropped, warm, certain.

  "Elara," she said softly, "the most powerful magic doesn’t come from bloodline… or titles… or even talent."

  She let the words hang for just a breath.

  "It comes from wanting to matter."

  A pause. The night air stilled.

  "And you? You’ve spent your whole life feeling unseen... unheard... unimportant."

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  Elara’s breath hitched. She didn’t move, didn’t blink.

  "So when the Void searched for its vessel,” Rubina continued, “it didn’t look for power.”

  Her golden eyes glinted like firelight on water.

  “It looked for hunger.”

  She gently tapped the card in Elara’s hand, the Void Empress glowing faintly beneath her fingertip.

  “And you? You burn with it.”

  Rubina reached out slowly, placing a gentle hand over Elara’s. Her voice dropped, warm, certain.

  "Elara," she said softly, "the most powerful magic doesn’t come from bloodline… or titles… or even talent."

  She let the words hang for just a breath.

  "It comes from wanting to matter."

  A pause. The night air stilled.

  "And you? You’ve spent your whole life feeling unseen... unheard... unimportant."

  Elara’s breath hitched. She didn’t move, didn’t blink.

  "So when the Void searched for its vessel,” Rubina continued, “it didn’t look for power.”

  Her crimson eyes, like her namesake, glinted like firelight on water.

  “It looked for hunger.”

  She gently tapped the card in Elara’s hand, the Void Empress glowing faintly beneath her fingertip.

  “And you? You burn with it.”

  That word hung there, sharp as a sword.

  It cut through Elara like an ice shard.

  Hungry.

  Yes... she was hungry.

  Hungry for connection.

  For worth.

  For being wanted.

  She'd spent her whole life feeling like she didn't matter. No one outside of her family had truly seen her, let alone desired her, leading her down the path of misanthropy.

  And now the Void was telling her that was exactly what it wanted?

  That it found her, out of everyone, worthy of its power?

  She had so many questions, so many fears.

  But one thing, at least, was certain.

  This feeling bubbling up inside…

  …it wasn't fear or dread. It was excitement.

  Elara exhaled. The thought was absurd, insane… and yet...

  Her gaze rose to the Void Empress once more, then met the Prophet's gaze in a single moment of understanding.

  "How do I start?”

  Rubina smiled—a true, unguarded smile, and leaned back.

  “You already have,” she said simply. “By drawing that card… by feeling what you feel… by wanting as deeply as you do.”

  She gestured to the pool. “The visions? The card? That’s not just prophecy. It’s an invitation.”

  Elara stared at the rippling surface, then down at the Void Empress in her hand, still pulsing faintly.

  “So if I accept…” she whispered, “…I become… her?”

  Rubina tilted her head slightly. “Not all at once. No one becomes a queen overnight.” Her voice softened with wisdom. “But step by step, choice by choice, you’ll wear that crown whether you realize it or not.”

  Then came a beat of silence.

  One final breath before what came next.

  Rubina rose to her feet with grace, long robes flowing like shadow given form, and extended both hands toward Elara and Ai.

  “Then come,” she said gently but firmly. “The first step is here. The stars are watching. And the Void…” a slow smile, “...is listening.”

  Elara nodded, determination replacing her previous doubt. She took Rubina's hand with her free one, gripping it tightly. Ai stood beside them, a silent show of support.

  The three stood in a circle around the reflecting pool, eyes locked on the Void Empress card between them. It hummed softly, its glow a little stronger now.

  Elara took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever was next. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, excitement and trepidation mixing in her gut.

  Rubina’s voice rose, low, resonant, like wind through a forgotten temple.

  “By starlight and silence, by shadow and spark, the Veil parts for one who walks between worlds.”

  The pool stilled. The ripples vanished, as if time itself held its breath.

  Elara felt it first: a pull in her chest, like something deep inside unlocked.

  Then the card in her hand burned, not with fire, but with cold light. The image of the Void Empress shifted, eyes glowing brighter… and then,

  A sound.

  Faint at first… like distant chimes beneath ice.

  Drrriiiinnnng…

  Not loud. Not harsh.

  But impossible to ignore.

  It came from within the card, and from deeper still…

  From her.

  Ai gasped. “Is that, ?”

  Rubina smiled, tears glinting at the corners of her eyes.

  “The Echo Bell,” she whispered.

  “It’s not just ringing…”

  Her gaze locked onto Elara’s.

  “It’s answering you.”

  Silence fell again, but now it was alive with power.

  The night shimmered.

  The stars pulsed.

  And somewhere far below…

  something ancient began to wake…

  Because she had spoken to it.

  And now?

  Now she would have to listen back.

  Rubina beamed with interest at Elara's fascination with the Echo Bell, asking her: "Ah, is there any reason you're particularly intrigued by the Echo Bell?"

  She then leaned closer to Elara, "What are you after in this realm?"

  Elara replied calmly, "I'm going to Alice.”

  Rubina's eyebrows raised in surprise, her mind racing to understand the implications of what Elara had said.

  "You want to find Alice?" she repeated, her voice betraying a hint of concern.

  Elara nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. "Yes," she said, her resolve unwavering. "I have to find her."

  The Prophet studied Elara for a moment, her gaze sharp and assessing.

  "Why?" she asked simply.

  Elara hesitated for a moment, her thoughts swirling with memories and emotions.

  "It's... personal," she said slowly, her voice tinged with sadness.

  Rubina's expression softened in understanding, but she pressed on, her concern for Elara growing.

  "Are you sure this is what you want?" she asked carefully, her words measured.

  Elara's jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing with determination. "Yes," she said firmly, "I know what I'm doing. Could you give me a tarot reading?”

  Rubina paused, considering Elara's request.

  "A tarot reading?" she repeated. "You want to see your future?"

  Elara nodded, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the Prophet. "Yes," she replied, her voice filled with purpose.

  Rubina studied Elara for a moment longer, her gaze searching. Then she sighed, her expression softened once more.

  "Very well," she said finally, "I can give you a reading. But know this... the cards do not lie.”