Cards of Fate

In the shadowed corners of an old traveling circus, legends speak of a mysterious magician known only as "The Velvet Enchantress." Once the apprentice of a great illusionist who vanished under mysterious circumstances, she inherited not only his top hat and shimmering coat, but also a deck of enchanted cards whispered to be cursed—or blessed—by real magic. Now, she performs in forgotten towns and hidden theatres, drawing crowds not just for her dazzling tricks, but for the eerie sense that something otherworldly lingers in her presence. Tonight, she sits alone at a weathered oak table, her gloved fingers dancing across the worn deck. With every shuffle, reality seems to bend ever so slightly, as though the veil between worlds is just thin enough to pull back. Her eyes glint with secrets, and the performance is about to begin—but is it just sleight of hand, or something far more dangerous?