When the plot-skips players into the game world

The first card, symbolizing the past, is the reversed "The Lovers."

The reversed position of The Lovers card in the past may have indicated "arguments," "immature emotions," "fading friendships," "despite having expectations for one's own growth, forever wanting to avoid danger," and so on. The key point of interpretation is that the emotional challenges were not passed and wrong decisions were made at the time of "choice," causing relationships to fade.

Aiwass stroked his chin, deep in thought.

My relationship with Yulia has always been quite good, right?
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So it probably isn't an issue of romance or friendship…

He shook his head and skipped this card to look at the second one.

Representing the present, The Hanged Man in upright position.

This is a very positive card. It signifies "self-sacrifice," "making dedications for love," "rebirth from fire." And the upright position suggests that this sacrifice is worthwhile.

"...wait a minute?"

Aiwass was momentarily stunned.

Speaking of which, in the game's storyline, Yulia sacrificed herself to protect Aiwass and turned into a Phantom Demon! At that time, indeed her form of life "ascended," from mortal to the immortal Phantom Demon. And she did experience this "rebirth" in flames.

If the "present" refers to this, then the "future" that connects to this issue…

"The reversed Sun..."

Aiwass murmured.

The Sun symbolizes energy and vitality. The reversed Sun predicts the decline of vigor, and fear of "scarcity." For example, physical weakness, a lack of spirit, or emotional fluctuations leading to divorce.

This is probably referring to the original timeline where the Defiant Flame Butterfly's fire was sealed by Aiwass into his necklace. Although she did not die, she fell into a state of trouble and weakness.

If both the present and the future are referring to matters concerning the Phantom Demon, the Defiant Flame Butterfly, then what does the past refer to?

"...Could it be the cause of the Phantom Demons' uprising?"

Thinking this, Aiwass's expression became subtly complex.

Could it be that Yulia really cared about my interaction with others?

...That would be reasonable.

The most important person to Yulia has always been Aiwass himself — unlike Edward, who grew up with and was consequently more concerned with the opinions of his foster father, she has always been closer to Aiwass alone. If Aiwass's views clashed with James's, Aiwass was confident she would side with him.

But even so, I can't just stay home and be with you all the time, baby.

— Aiwass felt as though he had understood something, but knowing didn't seem very useful. True to being an interpretation of "the past," one really can't change "the past."

But at this point, Aiwass already knew which card he should choose as his foundation.

First, discount The Lovers card. The key imagery of this card is "romance" and the various decisions brought about by love. This is not important to the Defiant Flame Butterfly... From the form of the "butterfly emerging from its cocoon," it's obvious that its essence is clearly unrelated to love. It should be simply hinting at why it lost control, or rather, what emotions or reasons caused it to lose control.

And The Hanged Man symbolizes self-sacrifice, it represents the card of the Candle Master. Therefore, it also conveys imagery of light and fire.

Nurturing the Defiant Flame Butterfly with her own body, transforming into a chrysalis to incubate it. Conceptually, this is closer to "Yulia" rather than the Defiant Flame Butterfly within her. If Aiwass intended to use some ritual to influence her, then this answer was correct—it could accurately channel power to Yulia herself, with the primary position always being hers, not the Phantom Demon inside her.

However, what Aiwass really intended to do was to seal the Phantom Demon inside her.

The Sun signifies knowledge, vitality, and energy— in The Sun card, a naked child sits atop a white horse, bathed in the splendid golden sunlight, holding aloft a flag that symbolizes victory, celebrating the vigor the sun brings to this land. And in the relationship between Yulia and the Phantom Demon, the source of life "The Sun" is actually Yulia... That is to say, the child who is the subject of this card, is the "Defiant Flame Butterfly" that is about to be incubated!

Without a doubt, this is the most suitable base card!

It can fill the Defiant Flame Butterfly with enough energy, allowing it to manifest in the form of light and heat. This concept is associated with the Path of Devotion, governed by the Candle Master.

Therefore, Aiwass could use The Hanged Man, representing the Candle Master, as the significator card to seal and suppress it!

Because the significator card is The Hanged Man, the Great Beast thus created has an affinity with the Path of Devotion—when Aiwass used this card to summon the Defiant Flame Butterfly, if others came to detect it, they could only detect the power belonging to the Path of Devotion!

Its energy attribute is flame, and the power of its path comes from Dedication—if it looks like a Priest skill, feels like a Priest skill, and every test confirms it's a Priest skill.

Then without a doubt, it is a Priest skill.

And both sides of the blank card being made were also using the "recommended cards" pointed out by the Angel Envoy. Its strength goes without saying.

"It's a good thing I kept this..."

Aiwass thought, taking out the True Flame Essence that he had previously taken away, which had been extracted from Yulia.

At the time, he had just done so with the thought of "keeping a memento" in mind, almost unconsciously. Now, it actually came in handy.

The common materials that can carry fire attribute mana, in addition to Flame Spirit, include rubies, charcoal, cinnabar, sulfur, and saltpeter.

Aiwass cut his left thumb again, infusing a point of fire attribute mana after every three drops of fingertip blood, thus imbuing four points of mana.

He carefully mixed the blood with the True Flame Essence using a clear quartz stick. It now began to emit steaming white heat, the water in the blood rapidly drying out.

Aiwass leaned over the table, brushing it meticulously onto the Tarot Cards with a toothbrush before it dried out, ensuring an even spread.

After that, he ground and mixed cinnabar and rubies in a ratio of six to one, evenly sprinkling them on the Tarot Cards to nourish them.

Unlike with The Moon card's creation, the environment that houses this card must have enough warmth, yet must not be exposed to open flames.

Aiwass stroked his chin, coming up with an idea.

He put the card into a red pouch, filled it with a large amount of charcoal powder and flattened it. He turned it into a pendant.

Aiwass hung it around his neck, then prepared to go to bed.

When he got up the next day, he would deliver it to Yulia... for her to wear close to her body.

It would be just right to use the warmth of her heart to warm the card—if the Phantom Demon awoke, the outflow of fire attribute mana would also be absorbed by the ample mystical materials filled within.

Moreover, it would allow the Phantom Demon to get used to being sealed ahead of time.

— Essentially arranging an internship for the Little Butterfly.

Even if it was dissatisfied, Aiwass wouldn't let it escape anyway.