Author's note: The follow-up that no one asked for, showcasing the fortunes the rest of the Cures got.
Yayoi:
Card 1: The Moon - A pair of dogs howl at the moon. "This is a card that symbolizes that which cannot be understood on the surface level. That is to say, it represents a person's subconscious. It can highlight a multitude of things, from facing inner fears to stimulating one's imagination to deeply yearning for a fantasy that isn't in your reach. Really, it depends on the person."
Card 2: Ace of Wands (reversed) - A hand reaches out from a cloud to grasp a single wand. "The potential to create or develop something is at your fingertips, but something is preventing you from taking action. Various factors can contribute to this, from existing responsibilities to mental blocks, but regardless you are secretly frustrated with yourself for not being able to properly convey your hidden feelings. All that you can do now is wait and pray that the right opportunity comes eventually."
Card 3: Eight of Swords (reversed) - A woman is bound and blindfolded by cloth while eight swords are placed blade-first into the ground next to her. "Normally, this card is a symbol of finding yourself in a difficult situation where you may feel restricted in your actions. However, the reversed card carries the opposite meaning: though you were once in a precarious position, you have begun to figure the way out. Perhaps it is through reflecting your own thoughts and qualities, but nonetheless you have decided to change your past mindset and free yourself from the bonds that once shackled you. You may not have gotten far quite yet, but at least it's the start of something new."
Card 4: Ten of Wands - A boy carrying a bundle of ten wands walking towards his home. "Most impressive! It seems that your change of thought has put you on the path to fulfilling a lifelong dream of yours. The fantasies that you chased for at the beginning of your journey are about to become a reality. However, don't be celebrating just yet; such an event will undoubtedly come with new responsibilities, and some may be even more strenuous than the ones you had previously. But don't be afraid, for this too is the standard of progression. Hold fast to your newfound courage for just a little while longer, and your efforts will be rewarded in due time."
Card 5: The Magician - A man with an infinity sign above his head stands beside a table with a cup, pentacle, sword, and wand on it while raising a candle. "He is a symbol of initiative, self-confidence, and overall taking action. He represents the person that you will become after long periods of hardship. In the beginning of your journey, you were someone who chased after seemingly-impossible dreams, but thanks to a change in your perspective, you found the courage to overcome the odds and turn your dreams into reality. By taking control of your life and creating something by yourself, you have turned from someone who was inspired by others' fantasies to someone who can inspire others through creating your own fantasies. It will take time, but the payoff will be satisfying."
Akane:
Card 1: The Chariot - A man rides a chariot that is driven by two sphinxes. "This card is a symbol of physical strength and overcoming obstacles through the power at your disposal. You seem to possess a burning drive that allows you to attack any problem head on and come out on top so long as you maintain your focus and determination. Just keep one thing in mind: taking control of the situation also requires that you learn to control your own strength. After all, without control, can you really call it power?"
Card 2: Five of Wands - Five boys, each with a stick in his hand, are fighting each other. "You will find yourself in the middle of an intense conflict where words mean nothing and the only way to make your opinions known is through fighting. You opponents appear to be those with similar or higher power levels, so strategies that may have worked previously won't be so effective here. On the bright side, this can be a chance for you to further improve yourself."
Card 3: King of Swords - A king sits in a throne with a tall sword in his hand. "He is a symbol of taking command through seeking out the truth and exacting fair judgement. In the midst of your conflict, you appear to have questions that don't have the clearest answers, and so the only way out is for you to dig deeper until you find what you're looking for. Unfortunately, I don't know what question it is you're trying to answer, so that could be proof that this event has yet to transpire. Once you do find out the truth, you will reach a new state of enlightenment."
Card 4: Six of Cups - A boy hands a smaller girl a cup with a flower in it. Five other cups are beside him. "This is a card that represents nostalgia, or happy memories of the past. All of the pleasant things you've experienced in the past, be they mundane or significant, will play a vital role for you in the future. When you're still in the heat of battle, perhaps your mind will drift towards the memories you made with those closest to you, and those thoughts will heal you and give you the strength to carry on. The answer that you're looking for lies in drawing conclusions from past events, but do keep in mind that you're still living in the present."
Card 5: The Sun - A child rides a white horse as the sun blazes above him. "The Sun is the source of all life and a symbol of radiance, abundance, and success. Once again, you have prevailed over the conflicts presented to you, and you have become stronger because of it. You have reached an enlightened state of mind thanks to the events of the previous card, and now you have found yourself in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. All that is left is for you to do is to let the Sun guide you so you can do the right thing. Keep persevering, and when all is done, you will be free to bask in the warmth of life."
Nao:
Card 1: The Empress - A young woman in a floral pattern dress sits down on a cushion surrounded by nature. "The card of motherhood and abundance. You're rather young to be a mother, aren't you? ...I jest. This card simply represents the characteristics of motherhood. Nourishing, supportive, a strong sense of fortitude amidst tender teelings, even works well with children. You're the glue holding everything together, as it were."
Card 2: Ace of Pentacles - A hand protrudes from a cloud holding a single large coin. "A seed of productivity has been planted in your life somewhere, even though you may not realize it yet. It is unclear as to what kind of seed it is, but rest assured it will have a profound effect on you when it sprouts. I'd advise you place your trust in others as a safety measure."
Card 3: Three of Swords - Three swords pierce through a heart as rain falls. "This doesn't bode well… The things you hold dear will soon become lost. There is no time to prepare for it; such unexpectedness only makes the pain greater. Perhaps in spite of your efforts, not even your glue could hold everything together. Of course, everything comes with its own purpose. This may just be another trial for you to overcome."
Card 4: Three of Cups - Three women dance together in a circle with cups in their hands and their hands raised in a toast. "Good news. There is light at the end of your tunnel. In the midst of your loss, there are people who will appear to help you back up. These bonds are of mutual give and take: just as you provided a strong pillar for others to lean on, others will be there to provide emotional support for you. The bonds of sisterhood are an amazing thing; so long as you have them, you'll be able to find your way again."
Card 5: Strength - A woman in a white dress with an infinity symbol over her head tames a lion. "This card represents a strong sense of self as well as mental fortitude and confidence. Your trials have made you stronger in spirit, and though you are still the nurturing person you once were, you are empowered with the determination to overcome any obstacle. The relationships that you gave your all for are the source of that determination. Your journey will be a painful one, but if you can get through it, you will be capable of taming any beast, both outer and inner."
Miyuki:
Card 1: The Fool - A young man walks close to the edge of a cliff with a dog at his heels. "Please, don't look so discouraged. Look at it this way: every person who starts a new journey knows nothing. The Fool is basically the representation of that new start. Even if others see you as a fool, you aren't completely foolish. Rather, you simply possess an unbridled innocence that you carry with you through life. By all means, it isn't a bad trait to have, especially at the start of a new experience. Of course, there is a time and a place for naivete; given your age, you may want to start thinking twice."
Card 2: Three of Pentacles - A stonemason and two architects gather to work together on a portion of a cathedral. "Along your journey, you will come across people who will aid you in spite of your character flaws. This will be a great mixing pot of ideals and experiences, but they all come together to create a unified project. Even someone such as yourself who hasn't put much thought into life something to offer. Stick with them, for they may hold the answer that you seek. Alone you may run into much trouble, but as a team nothing is impossible."
Card 3: Nine of Cups (reversed) - A man sits down cross-armed with nine cups sorted above him. "You may have friends who will help cultivate your external growth, but it is also important to measure your internal growth as well. Have you ever wondered about what it is that you fight for? Do you have any wishes for the future that are yet to be reality? Actually, on second thought, don't answer those questions right now; I'm sure philosophy won't get us anywhere right now. At any rate, now is the time to do some self-reflection if you haven't already. Confide in your friends and family if you wish; just remember to stay true to your beliefs and never lose sight of what's truly important."
Card 4: Ten of Swords - A man lies down with ten swords protruding from his body. "Something important is about to come to an end. Whether it is the result of outside forces outside or your own decisions, I can't say, but regardless, this experience will be painful. You may even grieve at the loss of this important thing. However, the good news is that the Ten of Swords marks the final ordeal for you to face, the final obstacle separating you from the end goal. This is the very event your journey has been leading up to, so don't take it lightly. Physical and mental preparation are key here. You will fulfill one thing, but it shall come at the cost of another. Are you prepared to pay the price?"
Card 5. The World - A woman wrapped in cloth dances inside a large laurel wreath. "If The Fool symbolizes the beginning of a journey, then The World marks the end of that journey. Resolution can come in many ways; it can mean the end of something or the start of something new. It may not even be a happy ending for that matter. One thing is certain, however: everything will come full circle. After a long, arduous journey filled with trials and tribulations, you will find your place in the world. Celebrate your successes. Lament your losses. Share your enlightenment with others. Do whatever brings you and those close to you happiness. You may be going through a tough time now, but the weight of the world will lift from your shoulders some day. All that is left is to pray and hope you see it through till the end."
"Very peculiar…" Theatis stared at the cards for the pink-haired girl. "Her cards were the beginning and ending cards for the Fool's Journey. It's not every day you see that." It was true; in all of the years she spent telling people's fortunes, the number of times The Fool and The World were the first and last cards drawn, respectively, could be counted on one hand. The reason this was significant was because the Fool's Journey was the story behind the depictions of the Major Arcana, with The Fool at the beginning and The World at the end. Even if the way the cards were drawn could be chalked up to chance, for a reading to provide a near-accurate representation of the Fool's Journey? "I certainly didn't expect that I'd live long enough to see the day…"
The small fortune teller closed her eyes. The last five girls who had entered into her alcove stuck out in her mind. She had never met them until today, obviously, but for some reason she felt a strong degree of connection from all of them. Perhaps they were all close friends? That would explain some things, but she felt there was something else at play. All of the students she met had, quite frankly, rather small and generic auras. This was to be expected, of course; mankind had long since lost their touch with magic. However, that all changed when the blue-haired girl named Reika Aoki walked into her space with a faint but very unique aura exuding from her person. Theatis had initially dismissed the notion; it wasn't uncommon for a couple people out of a thousand to be slightly more attuned to the elements than others. However, it was the succession of females that came after Reika that made Theatis think twice, for not only did each of them share this same exact trait, each of them possessed a distinct aura of their own.
Blue was the beauty of ice. Yellow was the spark of creativity. Red was the tinge of fire. Green was the winds of change. And pink, funnily enough, was the twinkle of childlike innocence.
"It appears this story may be worth seeing till the end…" Her musings were interrupted, however, by the sound of the door opening and closing in front of her. It was a boy with dark brown hair, the kind of person you could see everywhere on the school campus. His aura was miniscule and frankly nothing worth mentioning.
"Welcome." She bowed her head slightly, as was the custom for this place. "Are you going to keep standing there or are you going to sit down?"