A Tarot Card Reading

"Okay, you can stop." I put my hands to cover Ashmodai's mouth as he suddenly starts praising me out of nowhere.

He looks confused at my sudden action before he starts laughing.

"Someone seems to be easily flustered by compliments." He says pushing my hand back of his mouth, still lightly snickering as he speaks.

"Just stop okay? I can handle compliments, but you're talking about things like that my existence is intertwined with the fate of your world and whatever other nonsense you're spouting!" I yell back in a panic, my brain has stopped working as my ears still feel hot from the outlandish praise that came from the gambling devil.

'I'm not used to this! I spend so many years alone and afterward when I found Cornelius he just always nagged at me. The best compliment he gave me while training was "you did alright" or "decent."'

"Anyway, what I was trying to say was that I would like to try this friendship founded on the trust that you talked about." He says trying to keep himself from laughing.

A sense of shame washes over me from losing my cool at the sudden compliments.

'I've derailed this entire conversation. Calm down, let's think about the pros and cons of this offer of friendship. He seems intrigued with me and doesn't want me dead plus he has been quite useful when asked to do something. However, he's a devil so trusting him would be foolish. Besides, after hearing him sing my praises it feels weird to look at him as the cool gambling devil. He's clearly delusional and making things up in his head, so I would be building a relationship of trust with a mental patient.' A look of pity escapes me as I diagnose Ashmodai with the label "delusional" and "potentially insane."

"What?" He asks seeing my expression.

"Suuuure, let's be friends." I say hesitantly.

"Do you wish to have your future read?" He asks his expression returning to his typical "I'm the cool gambler of this casino" outline.

"Why not?" I answer a bit excited by the offer of a tarot card reading.

Ashmodai mixes the cards before holding them out before me.

"Pick 3 and turn them around in chronological order."

Picking 3 random cards, I put them down chronologically from left to right.

"Let's see what fate has in store for you my friend." Ashmodai says as he turns around the first card.

The first card is that of an old man walking with a bag around his shoulder. He appears to be in a desert with vultures flying above him.

"What does that mean." I ask not really excited by the prospect of what this card has predicted for me.

"No clue."

"Aren't you the one who's predicting my future?"

"I don't like tarot cards."

"Why?"

"I like gambling, what's the fun of knowing your future?" He says as if he just made the most obvious remark.

"Well, this isn't going to help me then." I say, my excitement having dialed down severely.

Ashmodai ignores my complaints as he turns around the second card.

The second card is that of a group of monsters surrounding a chained person. The monsters seem quite diverse, and the person chained up seems to have been chained for quite a while. The monsters themselves also have some markings on them, the markings resemble the outline of the chain that the person is chained with. The person himself looks beaten up and appears to have lost consciousness.

The third card seems the one the most out of place. It appears to be several landmasses crashing into each other, the landmasses differ immensely. You have jungles, mountains, and even some seemingly "dead" land.

"I have no idea what any of this means." I say towards Ashmodai, not impressed by the supposed fortune-teller not telling me any fortunes.

"Well, me neither." He answers with a smile on his face showing me his typical grin.

"Useless."

"Wouldn't that make you useless as well?" He asks, the grin on his face having no intention of leaving once more.

I don't answer, disappointed at the lack of tarot card reading.

"Well, let's see it seems you're going to become an old man walking in the desert. Afterward, you will be sacrificed to some monsters whilst a natural disaster is happening." Ashmodai says clearly making fun of me and my high hopes.

"Maybe I should go to Leilaya." I say in a grumbling tone.

"Who's that?"

"Someone who might actually be capable of doing what you promised."

"Are you going?"

"No, it's too late. I should rest, I'm the one fighting tomorrow after all." I answer officially giving up on my future prediction.

I make my way towards my bedchamber, feeling a bit dejected and nervous.

*The next day*

I wake up in the early morning, deciding to have a strong breakfast, I refresh myself swiftly. One of the many servants of this estate sees me enter the dining room and approaches.

"Greeting sir, I have a message from his lordship." The female servant announces in a polite and respectful tone.

I nod, giving her permission to continue speaking whilst I grab some Demon's rage to drink.

"His lordship says that himself, lord Tharnomath and Miss Sorzana Soquil have already left to the arena. Idrilth and the little devil girl under her teaching decided to go to the market district before going to the arena. Sir Ashmodai has gone to search for a woman who's sparked his interest." She says in a polite tone, lowering her gaze whilst she speaks.

"What about Corneliaus?" I ask wondering what he's up to.

"Don't worry little Ed, I'm right here." He says suddenly sitting at the other side of the marble table.

"For a man who talks about being a gentleman all the time you do like to appear and disappear just like a deadbeat dad." I say towards Cornelius, not appreciating his "showing up out of thin air moments" that he's gotten so fond of.

He looks absolutely appalled by my statement as he shuts his mouth as seemingly begins to pout.

"Come on let's get going then." I say towards the puffing spectral being that's currently transformed in a demonic form.