Feyra looked at the small and a little bit chubby man who seemed to think deeply before answering her.
"It's a little complicated. I can't tell you much on the cards themselves but I know a few things about why people seem so interested in them.", he said opening the box and revealing a full deck of cards.
"There are 22 major arcana cards. The deck in total has 78. Those are the basic information. As for these cards specifically... They've been around for a long long time. So long that not a single soul knows how long. Only those up in space may know.
"Even there however will be hardly anyone who can answer the question directly. All we know is these are the standard cards. All of them depict either gods or beings that are incredibly powerful.", the man said taking out the cards and laying them out. He specifically took the 22 major arcana cards and showed them to Feyra.
"I'll explain a bit more about these first. The other cards don't have that much of an explanation till now.
"Most of these cards indeed depict beings that come close to gods or can rival higher beings. Look at The World for example. This card depicts the Formless Outer God. They're very well known across the world and are said to be the foundation of the Outer Gods.
"Sadly I don't know a lot about these myths but I do know a few things about these sayings. The Formless Outer God is said to be very old. Though they disappeared in between and it's said their memories are corroded. This only means even if you could find the Formless Outer God they wouldn't be able to answer any questions anymore."
Feyra looked at the card. She found it very interesting but soon she looked at another card.
"What about this one?"
"Oh The Emperor. Depicted on this card is the Emperor of Memories. He is revered as a god throughout the entire universe and almost no one knows how old he is. All we know is that he presides over memories ever since. In this card one can clearly see the meaning behind it but it isn't apparent to everyone."
He stopped for a moment rummaging through his bag before taking out a book.
"I only know all this thanks to this book. At least most of the meanings and everything else. Though thanks to that I can tell you that the city in this card is supposed to show that he is powerful not only presiding over memories but also this city. The ice in the back however is supposed to symbolise tyranny."
He showed to everything on the card while reading in the book.
Feyra also got a look in the book and saw all the details to it and the descriptions. Next to it was a full text on the intentions and how the picture came to being.
"Then what about this one?", Feyra took a card showing Strength.
"Strength... There isn't a lot known about the one depicted on it but we have some information. They're known as the Overseer and seem to be an Eldritch God. However... Even with this book there isn't a lot I can understand. I'm a mere human. I don't understand all these powerful entities and the differences.", the leader of the caravan said shaking his head a little sad.
He seemed to wish he could tell Feyra more but he wasn't able to understand what was written about them. He may have understood the words written about the card and the meaning behind it but he couldn't understand the full meaning of everything and what the difference was about the powers.
Is that so? I wonder if I could understand it... Although I also don't know a lot... Still I play in a different league of power too. I may not look like it and don't like using my powers I still know a little more about higher beings.
Feyra took the book and read a bit in it. She seemed to not fully grasp the difference between a Fallen Angel and an Eldritch God but she understood that they were more powerful than her.
"I think if I knew a little more I could understand it.", she said giving the book back and looking at the cards again. "What about this one?"
"Death? Oh... This card is very interesting indeed. What the book describes here is that depicted on this card is none other than the Grim Reaper. An Eldritch God and a concept that shouldn't exist."
"Wait... A concept that shouldn't exist? Can I take a look?", Feyra asked clearly knowing she had only recently read about this in a book.
Yes that one book I didn't buy had asked if one was familiar with the concept that shouldn't exist.
Feyra looked at it and gained the information from it that the Grim Reaper was so powerful that they could destroy the whole universe. They would be the end of it and have been a concept for a long time before only recently this concept came true.
This is very interesting. All these cards depict people I have never heard of and that are mostly residing in space somewhere.
She put the book down before turning over another card and seeing The Hermit. She looked at the book and turned to the page describing this card.
The Hermit... There! The Hermit depicts the Miracle Doctor Maria who has impeccable knowledge and can heal almost everything. She seems to be able to rival some higher beings.
The man watched Feyra as she looked at more cards. He was a little unsure if he should continue but ultimately he did so.
"Now as for Judgement the card depicts someone known as Order of Judgement or also in short Judgement."
"Wait... So the card Judgement depicts Judgement.", Feyra asked.
"Yes."
Feyra found it a little hilarious that the person on this card was also known as Judgement.
"The person pleading in front of Judgement is another version of Judgement. It both depicts punishment in some way as well as redemption and awakening.
"There is a lot to these cards. I think you can do better with this book too. I don't understand as much. Though I do know about the Orders.", he said.
"What are the Orders?", Feyra asked clearly not knowing anything about them. She still continued to look into the book.
"The Orders are the ones making up the Highest Court. There is the Order of Judgement and Time, which is depicted on the card Judgement, then there is the Order of Punishment and Destruction, which is depicted on the card Justice. This card you haven't seen yet. As for the other two... There is the Order of Control, Corruption and Lightning who is also known throughout the universe as Second Strongest. She is usually depicted wearing a mask and is on the card of The Chariot. The last Order is the Order of Death and Void. Though you usually wouldn't call her like that as she is more commonly known as Origin.", the man said letting Feyra take in all the information.
"Origin... Origin... Wait... Really? The Order of Death and Void is Origin?", Feyra had to ask twice as she had heard or seen the name of Origin far too often by now that it felt like this couldn't be a coincidence anymore.
"Yes."
"I have a question though... Why are there places who don't know a lot about Origin while others know a lot about Origin?"
"As for that... The Alliance watches over what happens in the universe too and so we mostly worship Origin nowadays. Not all know about her but she is trying to reform the world. Though I suppose that would be a bit too much if I told you that now.
"Ah what am I saying? I must've bombarded you already with a lot of information. Let me only tell you one more thing. The card for The Fool.", the man said searching for the card before showing it to Feyra.
Depicted on it was someone wearing a veil with a glass ball in front of them and on the lower half mirrored with a wicked smile.
"This card is the only card no one has informatiom to. Whoever is depicted on it... No one knows. It's a little weird knowing that for every other card we know at least something, but this one? Nothing. Even the page in the book is empty.", the man said before taking it and showing the page to Feyra.
Feyra was stunned seeing an empty page with only the picture of the card on it.
Not a single information. No name, no age and also nothing of what is the meaning of this card. Why is that?
She thought a little further not noticing the sun was already setting.
"My oh my... The sun is going down already. It's been already a few hours since we started talking on these cards. I see you're still interested in them. Do you want to buy a set? I'll also give you the book to it.", the man said and looked at Feyra who took out her money bag.
I find it quite interesting. And the book is even more interesting. Deep meanings and depictions of various meanings and concepts. This is like a treasure.
"How much for these two items?", Feyra asked.
The man looked a long time at the cards and book calculating.
"The book is usually more expensive but commercially available. It's just... The import costs a lot. The cards aren't as much but I'll give them to you together for 2500 coins."
"What is their actual price?", Feyra asked out of curiosity.
"Their actual price? The cards are 750 coins. They get imported just as well but they're affordable. The book however... It's usually sold for 4000 coins as many get it from somewhere outside the planet which makes the transport way very long. Together they would usually be 4750. Some even charge more for them. But I'm being generous. I don't know a lot anyway about Tarot cards so I guess they're better in your hands.", he said scratching his head and smiling.
"Thank you." Feyra put 2500 coins on the table and took the cards and book on her before saying goodbye and going back to the inn.
Back at the inn she felt like she was starving and first went to the kitchen to get a good meal. The cook was excited seeing Feyra sit down and immediately came over asking her what she wanted.
After a while she answered, a nice and warm soup with some meat. The cook went to prepare it right away and came not long after out with the soup again.
"I hope this soup is to your liking.", he said smiling and leaving again. A lot of people started to come.
Feyra finished her soup fast and went back to her room. She had left a little notice for the cook telling him the soup was amazing and to her liking.
Finally I'm back for rest... But... I want to look at something.
Feyra took out the book she had gotten with the Tarot Cards and looked at the author of the book.
Who else if not Origin? Clearly she knows more than she writes in it. I suppose she even knows who that person on the card of The Fool is. Though... If every Order is depicted on a card why isn't Origin depicted on one of them? Is she the person on The Fool or does she have more secrets than we know?
Well I suppose trying to figure out other people's secrets comes second to my goal of finding the truth about these past events. Tomorrow I should look at the government building if I can enter. Hopefully they let me in. I really wish to know what they have as information.
With that Feyra collapsed on her bed once again and waited for the next day to come.