Veska sat down and started to shuffle the cards by splitting the deck in half and mixing them together. "Just copper pieces?" She asked while doing more elaborate tricks and mixing up the cards.
"Copper for now," Moren said, dropping a handful of copper coins on the table. "Silver or gold when we get serious." She watched as Veska laid the cards in a straight line before scooping them back up into a deck and setting it in the middle of the table.
Moren leaned back in her chair as Veska shuffled the deck, the enchanted cards flickering with traces of arcane energy. The tavern around them bustled with quiet chatter, the occasional clink of tankards punctuating the air, but Moren's mind was already focusing on the game.
Arcane Ante was simple in principle but treacherous in practice. Each player started with two cards. The goal was to get as close to 21 points as possible without going over. Too high, and you were Burnt, losing the hand immediately.
But unlike mundane card games, magic could turn a winning hand into a disaster in an instant.
Every round, a Flux Card was placed at the center of the table—a wildcard whose value could shift without warning. Some hands were solid, unshakable. Others were at the mercy of the arcane forces within the deck, shifting unpredictably.
Moren knew the basic strategies well enough, Hold a strong hand and force your opponent to take risks, Draw cautiously—every card was a gamble, Bluff when necessary—confidence could win as many rounds as good cards.
The real danger lay in the special hands. A perfect 21 was an Arcane Triumph, but certain combinations carried hidden powers. Aether Cards could be a blessing or a curse. Mirror Cards copied values, Hex Cards forced discards, and Flux Surges could rewrite the entire board in an instant.
It was a game of skill, chance, and deception.
Moren exhaled through her nose, fingers drumming against the table. She needed to watch Veska carefully to figure out her tells. The wizard was cocky, but was Veska reckless? Or was she the kind of player who let her opponents underestimate her?
"Cut the deck," Veska said, waiting for her opponent to cut the card and restack them. "So, what makes an heiress as pretty as you flee Stormhaven with cutthroats on your trail?" She dealt out the first hand of the game and smirked at a decent starting hand. The enchantments on the cards shimmered briefly before settling into their initial values. Red for negative. Blue for positive.
Moren did, placing the restack neatly in the center and snorted at the flirt. "It's a bit of a long story," She replied, trying not to frown at her shoddy hand.
"Well, we have all the time in the world until we reach Ethos," Veska countered while setting her highest card on the table before tossing a few copper coins into the pot. "You tell me your story. I'll tell you mine."
"I can do that," Moren said, adding a few coins to the pot on the table and setting a card down. "I guess I should tell you about my parents and how they led to my escape." She spat out the word parents like it was poison. "I'm sure my Mother has a few comments of her own to add here and there."
"Hrumphed," Mika grunted with a scowl.
A few hours later, the ship departed and started its journey to Stormhaven. The vessel swayed slightly as if it was cruising on the water. Moren and Veska had almost identical amounts of coins in front of them, with gold and silver coins added to the pile. They had switched back and forth on winning streaks and were learning each other play styles. Moren was an aggressive player, while Veska was a defensive and cunning player by feigning weak hands and coming out strong in the 3rd round.
"Flux is in play," the Veska said, dealing the new hand. "Six of Wands. Hands are set. Play begins."
Moren peeked at her cards. A Warlock's Coin (10) and a Runed Blade (9). Nineteen. A strong hand, but two dangerous points away from Burning (busting) if the magic turned against her. She kept her expression neutral.
Veska took a slow sip of her drink and then glanced at her own hand. Her eyes flickered toward the Flux Card. "I'll draw," she said, tapping the table. The deck reacted instantly, flicking a glowing card into her hand.
A heartbeat later, the magic surged—the Flux Surge. The public card at the center of the table shifted, its glowing runes pulsing as its number twisted and rearranged itself.
Moren felt her stomach drop as the six warped into an eight.
Veska smirked. "Oof. That's rough."
Moren's mind raced. If Veska had a low hand before, this might have helped her. But it might have just ruined everything, too. "Hold," Moren said, keeping her nerve.
Veska considered her hand for a moment longer and then grinned. "Raise." She tossed three more coins into the pile, watching Moren expectantly.
Moren exhaled through her nose. Veska was confident—too confident. Did she get lucky, or was she bluffing?
Moren met Veska's gaze, then tossed in her own coins. "Call."
Veska gestured. "Reveal your hands."
Veska laid down her cards first. An Aether Card (11) and a Three of Stars. Fourteen. But with the Flux Card now showing an eight, her total shot up to twenty-two. She was Burnt.
Moren let out a slow breath before flipping her own hand. Nineteen.
"So, you were promised to the Marquis, a man old enough to be your grandfather, by your manipulative parents for money and power," Veska said, looking at the cards Moren dealt for the new hand and glancing at the table to see a Four of Cups. "You enacted a plan to escape, and your parents hired those cutthroats to kill Mika to hurt you." She smirked and set down the card to win the round. "I feel like you kept a few details to yourself."
"That about covers it." Moren sighed and tossed her cards on the table. "As for secrets, I just met you and can see us being good friends. Give me some time, and I'll share some more secrets." She accepted the new hand of cards. Moren studied her cards. Her brow furrowed in concentration. "What about you, Veska? Are you a Luminari? Were one of your parents an elf?"
Moren knew from her studies that the Luminari were those who had either forged a pact with a celestial being or carried the bloodline of a divine union from generations past. Their gold-flecked skin, luminous eyes, and ethereal presence made them impossible to mistake. The gold freckles that shimmered like stardust scattered across their skin, and the translucent, feathered wings—some metallic, others woven with light—were unmistakable marks of their heritage.
Legends spoke of the first Luminari as guides and keepers of balance, their celestial ancestry binding them to the mortal world as intermediaries between gods and men. Some were blessed with divine insight and could sense the flow of Aetherium and arcane ley lines, while others were warriors of radiant energy, wielding weapons forged from pure starlight and celestial fire.
Veska giggled, the sound light and musical. "I am a Luminari," she admitted, her golden eyes twinkling with delight. "My ears might pass for an elf's, but my freckles give me away to those who know what to look for." She flicked her wrist gracefully, matching Moren's card with an effortless confidence that suggested years of practice.
Moren raised an eyebrow. Veska played with precision, no hesitation. Either she had a damn good hand, or she was an expert at keeping her tells hidden.
"As for one of my parents being an elf?" Veska continued, casually tossing four coins into the pot, the metal clinking softly. "I wouldn't know. I'm an orphan."
Moren glanced up from her cards, watching Veska's expression carefully.
"I was left on the steps of the Veysha in Aurion Spire," Veska said, her voice even, but there was something distant in the way she spoke—as if reciting an old story she no longer felt attached to. "I grew up there, raised by the priestesses until my thirteenth birthday. That was when they realized I wasn't blessed with Veysha's divine gift."
Moren could hear the undercurrent of bitterness, subtle but unmistakable. She hesitated before placing her next card down, studying Veska's face for any hint of the emotions she was keeping hidden.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Moren said, gently placing her second card on the table and taking the lead for the round. "So, are you self-taught in magic?" Moren sighed with Veska, played a more substantial card, and took the lead in the 2nd round.
"No, I was taken in by my Master Dain Orriell, a famous wizard and skilled Spellsong who took me as his apprentice. He trained me in the arcane arts for over a decade." Veska explained, focusing her attention on her remaining cards. "Three years ago, I woke up at an inn we were staying at, and he was gone. No note. He just left in the middle of the night. I've been looking for him, but so far, I haven't seen or heard from him." She set down a card and clicked her tongue as the game went to Moren. "This is what he looks like." She cast Minor Manifestation and created a small bust of her Master's face. "Have either of you seen him?"
Moren leaned closer to see an incredibly handsome Elven man with long, white, spiky hair. The bust had a cocky grin on his face, and his eyes seemed to have a hint of mischief to them. "I would have heard if a man like that was in town." She said shaking her head. "The other Heiress would have been talking about a handsome man like that, and I'm pretty sure a fight would have broken out to get his attention."
"That is an understatement of the century," Mika mutters in agreement and shuddered. "A man like that would have also been the talk amongst the staff. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful in your search."
Veska waves her hand with a sad smile. "I don't blame either of you," She said, dismissing the spell and shuffling up the cards. "I plan to have a very long talk with my Master when we meet again." Veska's eyes were filled with hurt and anger.
Moren eyed her cards. They weren't great, but she was determined. "Call," she said, matching Veska's bet.
Veska smirked and laid her cards down first. Warlock's Coin (10) + Five of Stars.
Moren exhaled in relief as she revealed her own: Six of Runes + Seven of Cups + Flux Card shifting to Eight.
"Ha! Nineteen! I win—"
The air around the cards shimmered ominously when she reached for the pot. The Flux Card pulsed, shifting once more.
Then… the number twisted into a three.
Moren froze as the final sum dropped from 19 to 16.
Veska leaned forward, eyes widening. "Oof. The Corrupt Flux. You just got hit by a cursed hand."
Mika sighed. "And what does that mean?"
Veska stretched, looking far too pleased. "This means Moren's first draw in the next round will be played automatically; no choice is allowed." She let a wide smirk cross her face.
Moren groaned and tossed her cards onto the table. "I hate this game."
Veska chuckled. "That's the spirit." She pulled the pile of coins closer to her and neatly stacked them. Veska then scooped up the cards and shuffled.
Moren glanced at her hand after another hand was dealt and played a Two of Swords. She decided to change the mood by sending Veska a confident smile. "You're not going to win this one, Veska. I've got a trick up my sleeve this round." She boasted and set her first card down in a confident manner.
Veska gave her a serene smile. "We shall see, Moren. The cards favor the bold." The round progressed, with each player placing their carts strategically and adjusting their bets. The tension started building as the pot grew, attracting Mika's attention away from her knitting.
Moren confidently set her first card down. "You're not going to win this one, Veska. I've got a trick up my sleeve this round."
Veska responded with a serene smile. "We shall see. The cards favor the bold."
The round progressed, tension thickening with each play. Their bets increased, the pot now a mix of silver and gold. Mika set her knitting aside, glancing up as the stakes escalated.
Moren smirked as she revealed her final card. Aether Card (11) + Nine of Wands. A strong 20. She leaned back, smug. "Beat that."
Veska simply tapped the table. The cards in front of her shimmered. She revealed her hand very slowly. It was an Aether (11) + Ten of Runes.
Mika's knitting needles dropped.
The table fell silent for a heartbeat before Veska's soft chuckle filled the air. "Looks like I drew The Celestial Hand."
Moren stared in disbelief. "You pulled a perfect hand?"
"Not just any perfect hand." Veska swept her winnings toward her with practiced ease. "The divine combination." She winked. "Instant victory."
Moren groaned, slumping forward dramatically. "I demand a rematch."
"As many as you want, little heiress." Veska let out a musical laugh, shuffling the deck. "I'm game whenever you are," She said, scooping up the cards. "We have a few days until we reach Ethos, and I am interested in getting to know you both."
Mika set her knitting needles aside. "How about you two take a break from gambling and find something else to do until dinner arrives." She said in a motherly tone, giving both women a stern expression.
Veska and Moren shared a look before letting matching grins cross their faces. "Yes, Mother," They said with exasperated sighs like a couple of teenagers before breaking down into a fit of laughter.
Mika pinched the bridge of her nose. "Now there are two of them," She groaned, only making the pair laugh harder. She watched as they started talking about magic. They took turns making different objects with Minor Manifestation and gave the other pointers. Mika smiled as she watched Moren laugh, the sound warm and unguarded. It had been too long since she'd seen her like this—relaxed, truly at ease. Seeing her daughter in all but blood forming a bond, a real friendship, made Mika's heart swell with quiet joy.
She had always worried that Moren carried too much weight on her shoulders, always thinking ahead, always planning, always bracing for the next battle. But here, in this moment, she was simply herself—laughing, teasing, sharing stories over a card game.
Mika hoped, more than anything, that this friendship would last. That Veska wouldn't just be a fleeting companion on the way to Ethos but someone who would stand by Moren when the road grew dark.
Because everyone needed someone like that. And Mika knew, no matter how strong Moren was, she deserved that kind of bond.
Over the next few days, they settled into an easy rhythm—sharing meals, exchanging stories, and, of course, playing Arcane Ante. The game had quickly become a staple of their evenings, with coins clinking onto the table and enchanted cards shifting with unpredictable magic.
At first, they even managed to convince Mika to join in, though she played cautiously, placing careful bets and giving Moren and Veska skeptical looks whenever they raised too aggressively. But after a few rounds, Mika sighed, shaking her head at their relentless competitiveness.
"I think I'll stick to knitting," she muttered after Veska bluffed her into folding on a winning hand. "You two can keep your war games."
Veska and Moren only laughed, exchanging knowing smirks before dealing the next round.
Between games, their conversations drifted to magic and adventure. Moren listened intently as Veska recounted tales of her training under Master Dain Orriell, a renowned Spellsong wizard. She spoke of Aetheria's great cities, the floating sanctuaries of the Arcanists, and the perilous ruins where forgotten knowledge lay hidden.
Moren drank in every word. She had read about these places in books, but Veska had seen them, walked their streets, and cast spells in their halls.
"You're jealous, aren't you?" Veska teased after describing the arcane towers of Sol'Aerin, where scholars debated over the nature of Aether itself.
Moren huffed. "Obviously." She tossed a card onto the table. "I've spent my whole life stuck in noble courts, dodging arranged marriages. Meanwhile, you've been off studying spells in skyborne citadels?"
Veska grinned. "Well, if you don't lose all your coin to me, maybe I'll take you there someday."
Moren paused mid-play, looking at her with surprise. Then she smirked. "I'll hold you to that."
The next card was drawn, and the game continued, but a new understanding passed between them—one of camaraderie, challenge, and perhaps, the start of something more than just a friendship formed over shuffled cards and shared stories.
Moren was jealous of how many cities and continents Veska had visited and hung onto the wizard's every word. She had learned that Veska was six years older than her and had lived an adventurous life. Veska would sing in taverns for coin between adventures and make a name for herself as an entertainer. Moren wondered if this was what it was like to have an older sibling as they bonded over their love of history and Dragon Love of all things. She had received a few other books of a similar nature from Veska. The Wolf's Embrace and Fate's Whisper both had a steamy cover that immediately piqued Moren's interest despite Mika's teasing about her interest in smutty books.
"How about I show you around Ethos after you see your Uncle?' Veska offered, leaning back in her chair. "I know a few places you may like to visit, and we can have a girl's night out."
Moren nodded her head excitedly. "I can't wait to see Ethos. It's the home of the legendary Ironbound Vanguard, and their keep is still standing for people to visit and walk through!"
Moren had spent countless hours poring over records and firsthand accounts of the infamous group—rebels, heroes, and war-forged legends who reshaped history. Their story was one of unlikely alliances, skybound battles, and victories won through both steel and cunning.
She had already mapped out a route to visit Emberhold Keep, the last standing remnant of their era. Built atop an aether-infused rock, the keep had once served as the Vanguard's war room and sanctuary. In this place, automatons, artificers, and warriors planned their greatest campaigns against tyrants, rogue Aetherlords, and shadowed deities. Though time and war had weathered its structure, many artifacts, journals, and legendary weapons remained within its walls, preserved for those who sought to walk in their footsteps.
Some say the spirits of the Ironbound Vanguard still watch over Ethos, their essence lingering in the very gears and cogs of the city. If Moren got her chance, she'd make sure to see every hall, forge, and sky-dock they once stood upon—where history had been made, and the future of the world had changed forever.
"Please don't take my daughter to any seedy places," Mika said hopefully, but she saw the hint of mischief in Veska's eyes. "I can see you are going to do it anyway. Please try to ease her into those places."
"I will," Veska said, giving Mika a reassuring smile. "I don't plan on throwing her into the deep end." She paused for a moment. "Not at first, anyway. Moren is like my little sister who needs to be looked after and protect her innocence."
Moren glared at the two, talking like she wasn't there. "I am not a child." She grumbled and crossed her arms. "I don't need looking after all the time."
Mika and Veska shared a look before they burst out laughing.
A hard knock came to the door that made them all jump at the arrival of a guest. Moren cleared her throat. "Yes?" She called out.
"We will be arriving at Ethos within the hour," The Captain said through the door. "Please be prepared to disembark upon our arrival. I need to get my ship unloaded before nightfall."
"Thank you, sir!" Moren called back, and she heard the Captain's heavy footfalls as he walked away. "Almost there." She smiled brightly. "You are almost reunited with your family." She moved out of her chair and sat on the bed next to Mika. "Are you excited?"
"Yes," Mika whispered and hugged herself. "Also, very nervous about seeing my husband and son after all these years." She bit her bottom lip and let out a deep sigh. "This feels like a dream, and I'm going to wake up in my bed and go back to Stormhaven."
Moren pulled her mother into a hug. "It's not a dream, Mother," She whispered into Mika's ear. "You will be with your family again, and I am sure they will be thrilled to see you after all these years."
Veska scooped up her cards and put them away. "Do you know where they are staying?" She asked. "I know Ethos very well and would be delighted to help you reunite with your family."
Mika brightened immediately. "That would be wonderful," She said, digging into her bag for one of her letters. "My husband's family owns a magic shop called, oh, where is it!' She grumbled as she flipped through a large stack of letters. "Found it!" She boomed and opened the folded piece of paper. "Gilgamesh's Emporium."
"What!' Veska exclaimed and nearly fell out of her chair. "Your husband's family owns Gilgamesh's Emporium!" She waited for Mika to nod her head. "That is THE magic shop in Ethos. It has been around since the days of Ironbound Vanguard! I have been there several times myself!"
"How did I not know this?' Moren asked in surprise. "I'm sure your family would have paid off my parents to free you sooner."
Mika let out a deep sigh. "Because they aren't as rich as they look," She said, resting her back against the wall. "While they own the family business, they have just enough gold to keep up their lavish lifestyle and have a bit of influence on the council, but they owe a huge amount of gold to various people." Mika closed her eyes. "My husband had to work for them for barely enough money to take care of our son, and it took him ages to get the job as a guard for the council." Mika opened her eyes and saw a sad expression on Moren's face. "None of that, dear." She pulled Moren into a motherly hug. "It wasn't a perfect life, but I got a daughter out of the deal."
"Thanks," Moren whispered. "I'll ensure you're reunited with your family before I find my Uncle." She glanced over at Veska. "You wouldn't happen to know where the Ravenheart family lives in Ethos?"
Veska pinched the bridge of her nose. "By Veysha's grace, you two are full of surprises." She grumbled. "Yeah, I've seen Councilor Ravenheart's home last time I was there, and I can walk you there before going to find an Inn for the night."
"Thank you," Moren said, biting her bottom lip momentarily before speaking again. "How soon are you leaving?" Moren had grown close to Veska during their trip and was not in a hurry to see her new friend leave on her next adventure.
"At least a month," Vesak replied with a soft smile. "I plan on having that girl's night and a shopping trip before heading out." She patted her gold pouch. "That and I have more money to win from you."
"Good," Moren smiled brightly. "You are the first friend I have made in a long time." She got off the bed and pulled the Luminari into a tight hug. "I don't plan on losing that anytime soon."
Veska returned the hug tightly. "I like the sound of that, Moren." She replied softly before clearing her throat and ending the hug. "Now, how about Mika tell me a few embarrassing stories about you so I can blackmail you later?"
"You wouldn't," Moren said, narrowing her eyes at her mother.
Mika gave her daughter an innocent smile. "Well, there was this one time where Moren was 3 or 4, and she slipped out of the bath and ran-." She began before Moren tried to stop her story.
"No!" Moren cried out and dove at Mika, who slipped off the bed in time. "Not that one! I was a child!"
Veska burst into laughter as she watched Moren attempt to prevent her mother from sharing the embarrassing tale. "I'll stick around longer than a month for entertainment like this," she thought, catching Moren's playful grin. "We can discuss this," Veska added, just as Moren playfully lunged at her.