As the first light of dawn stretched over the mountains, the crisp morning air wrapped around Arden and the others like a lingering farewell. The towering trees swayed gently, their branches whispering secrets to the wind, as if bidding them goodbye. A sense of finality hung in the air—this was no longer just a place of training and refuge. It was the past. The world beyond awaited them, vast and unpredictable.


    A silent understanding passed between them. They had crossed a threshold, and there was no turning back. The path ahead demanded strength, and they had no choice but to forge it with their own hands.


    Lolo Lando, ever the enigmatic hermit, flicked his finger. A sudden gust of wind carried the faint sound of something shifting. In the space of a heartbeat, golden light shimmered, and a portal materialized before them—its swirling energy casting elongated shadows on the ground.


    He motioned toward it casually. "This leads directly to the Valverde Estate. No need to take the long way back."


    Dominic blinked; disbelief etched across his face. "Wait—you had a portal all this time and just let us hike for hours?!"


    Lolo Lando smirked, stroking his beard. "You are one to talk, Magician. Wasn''t this trick your invention in the first place? In your prime, you could manipulate the very fabric of existence, deceive even the most powerful Arcana with your illusions, and walk between realms as if they were mere stepping stones. Not to mention opening the void—and inadvertently sealing the others during the war. And yet, here you are, complaining about a short hike."


    Arden chuckled, shaking his head as they stepped through the portal. The sensation of movement without motion engulfed them for mere seconds before they emerged inside the Valverde Estate’s grand hall.


    Lucia and Manuel, seated in the living room, watched in stunned silence as the golden portal shimmered into existence. Their disbelief only grew when the group casually stepped out of it as if this were an everyday occurrence.


    Arden emerged first, offering a relaxed, "Good morning, Ma’am, Sir," as if walking through a portal was the most natural thing in the world.


    The General followed suit, smirking. "Oh, Lucia, Manuel—hey boy, what is the power level of your Lolo?" he asked Arden curiously.


    Leigh, however, had other priorities. She rounded on Dominic, arms crossed, her voice laced with exasperation. "This portal trick—why didn’t you remember this earlier?! It could’ve saved us so much trouble in our previous missions!"


    "Oh, hi, Mama, Papa," she added in the same breath, giving her parents a quick greeting before resuming her nagging.


    Dominic groaned, rubbing his temples. "Look, I don’t remember every single thing I used to do as The Magician, okay?"


    As the others stepped through, each preoccupied with their own thoughts, Lucia and Manuel exchanged glances—at this point, they weren’t sure if they should be amazed, confused, or just accept that their lives had officially become something out of a fantasy novel.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    The General, settling comfortably into a leather chair, gestured for a servant to bring him a cup of coffee. He smirked as he greeted them. "What a day. I was expecting you both to take another day before visiting. It’s good that you’re here—we have an urgent arrangement to make."


    Leigh sighed, throwing a glance at Arden. "Lolo Lando finally decided to make our lives easier."


    Lucia, still processing everything, furrowed her brows. "Wait—who is Lolo Lando?"


    The General took a sip of his coffee, chuckling. "Oh, it’s Arden’s grandfather. We just had an interesting time in his small hut." He then turned to Manuel and Lucia, his tone shifting to business. "Anyway, we need to arrange a flight to Russia as soon as possible."


    Lucia blinked in surprise. "Russia?"


    The General smirked, leaning back in his chair. "We just found out that our family is a bit... special." He let out a hearty laugh, while Leigh sighed, offering a faint smile.


    "Can somebody explain what’s going on here?" Lucia asked, trying to absorb everything she had just seen.


    Leigh took a deep breath, glancing between her parents. "Alright, Mama, Papa... it’s a long story, but here’s the short version. We’ve been training, fighting, and uncovering the truth about who we really are." She gestured to Arden, Dominic, and the others. "The Arcana are real. We are the living embodiments of the Tarot, and our world—our true world—is in danger."


    Lucia and Manuel exchanged stunned glances, their minds struggling to keep up with the weight of her words. Before they could respond, the General leaned forward, a grin tugging at his lips. "And to top it off," he added, "your daughter happens to be The Star, and your son—well, he’s The Judgment. That’s why Russia is our next stop. We need to get to him before the Dark Arcana do."


    Diwata, noticing the couple’s bewildered expressions, settled beside them with a patient smile. "I know this is overwhelming," she began gently, "but let me explain everything."


    Moments later, after a thorough discussion, the reality of their mission became clearer.


    Afterward, the group gathered around the long dining table, the scent of freshly cooked food wafting through the estate. Just as Arden reached for a piece of pandesal, Dominic swiped it from under his fingers with a triumphant grin. "Survival of the fittest, my friend."


    Arden narrowed his eyes. "You do realize I could just take it back, right?"


    Before Dominic could respond, Leigh gracefully slid a second piece onto Arden’s plate. "There, now you both have one. Can we eat like civilized people for once?"


    Buwan chuckled, stirring her tea. "Highly doubtful."


    The General, enjoying the lighthearted exchange, casually leaned back in his chair. "This is the last peaceful meal you’ll have for a while. Better eat up before Zeth starts making you regret your life choices." He glanced at Diwata, Akiko, and Marcos. "That goes for you three as well. No special treatment."


    Diwata sighed dramatically, taking a delicate sip of her tea. "Oh, I am well aware. Training under Zeth is akin to courting disaster."


    Akiko smirked, setting down her utensils. "A challenge worth taking."


    Marcos simply nodded, finishing his meal in disciplined silence, as if already bracing himself for the trials ahead.


    After breakfast, Zeth and Dominic stood from their seats, stretching. "We’ll head home to pack," Zeth said, glancing at his son. "We’ll see you all tomorrow."


    The General gave a nod, already making arrangements. “I’ll have a driver take you back.”


    Arden stared out of the window, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of his cup. The path to power was never easy. The battles ahead would test them, break them, and forge them anew. There was no guarantee of victory, but one thing was certain—they would not walk this path alone.


    With the sun rising higher, illuminating the road before them, their journey was just beginning.