#first proper anaxa drabble yippee!

[seoulmatez]

The Grove of Epiphany is a beautiful place. Though shrouded in darkness, you've always been able to rely on the stars. They have always been more than enough for you.

You don't mind the people, either — especially one of the seven sages.

"Hey, Anaxa!" you call from the table you've set up. Despite his clear annoyance at your use of his unpreferred and shortened name, he turns to face you. With your deck of cards in hand, you ask, "Care for a reading?"

He eyes you and your card curiously but comes closer to continue your conversation. "I'll never understand why you turned to those cards. You had plenty of potential to make a fine scholar."

You shrug, shuffling your deck. It's not that academia became boring or undesirable, it simply no longer felt like the path you were meant to traverse. You smile at him. "The cards called for me and I followed. So... a reading — how about it?"

"You know I put no stock in fortunes or prophecies." In a direct contradiction to what his words imply, he takes a seat across from you, folding his arms over his chest.

"All the more reason to." Given he hasn't outright denied you, you continue your routine "Practice for me and you won't lose sleep over my meaningless fortunes."

You take his lack of argument as compliance, closing your eyes to block out other stimuli. "Tell us of Anaxa's future." One by one, your hand hovers over three cards that you pull from your spread to arrange in a smaller one of their own. You carefully flip each of them over to reveal their message.

"The Fool, the Lovers, and the Hanged Man — that last one is reversed."

His eye scans over the cards before he looks up to meet your gaze. "And what do you suppose these mean for my future?"

You grin — even interest in the name of debunking is still interest. "Well, the Fool in the upright position suggests new beginnings. Perhaps you'll be going down a new path soon. The Lovers point to union, partnership, and passion — love seems to be on the horizon for you. And the reversed Hanged Man... that one indicates sacrifice. You may feel it necessary in the future."

"How incredibly vague." His gaze bores into you but you don't find it intimidating. "Do your customers really find satisfaction in these readings of yours?"

"Every time," you assure him. "Though, if you're interested, I'd be more than happy to go more into depth for you."

"That won't be necessary." His response is disappointing. He may not be curious about the details but you certainly are. Though, his next words surprise you. "We'll find out soon enough if your fortunes hold any truth."

And with that, he leaves.