In the fading light of a dusky evening, Fortune Teller Liliana of the Valley found herself on the fringes of a road that stretched between the towering walls of Alessar's Keep and the treacherous paths of Kobold's Crossing. The journey had been long and arduous, her steps heavy with the weight of her displaced plight. Her essence, once vibrantly magical in her home realm, now felt distant and fragmented in the Runiverse, adding to her desperate desire to return home. A beacon in the dimming twilight, a run-down tavern nestled at the roadside caught her eye. Its wooden sign creaked in the lonesome wind, etched with the emblem of a single red rose and the name: "The Withered Rose". While not the most inviting place to rest, she needed to gather her thoughts, and perhaps find a means to regain some of her lost powers.

As she pushed open the weathered door, the warm, inviting glow of the hearth bathed the interior of the tavern. It was filled with an eclectic mix of patrons - rugged warriors boasting of their latest exploits, weary travelers seeking solace in mugs of frothy ale, and troubadours spinning tales of magic and valor through their songs. But what truly caught Liliana's attention was a group huddled in one corner of the bar, their focus on a collection of brightly colored cards laid out on the table before them.

They were engaged in a game of Runes Cards, their eyes gleaming with anticipation as they strategized their moves. Liliana felt a spark flicker within her. The last time she'd encountered the Runes Cards, she'd discovered a hint of her magic returning. Perhaps, playing the game could help her reconnect with her lost powers. Intrigued and hopeful, she approached the group, her purple attire catching the firelight, casting an ethereal glow around her. The players looked up, their attention drawn away from the game by her commanding presence. Liliana proposed a friendly match. With a nod, they welcomed her into their circle, their curiosity piqued by her otherworldly aura and the promise of a challenging round.

As she played, each card she touched brought a surge of familiarity, a whisper of her old powers that echoed in the silence of her soul. The tavern faded into the background as she immersed herself in the game, her mind weaving strategies, her heart pulsing with the rhythm of the Runiverse.

After several rounds and a hearty dinner of roasted boar and fresh bread, and the games played on, Liliana found herself drifting into the realm of dreams. The cards on the table faded, replaced by a swirling vortex of colors and shapes. Her senses tingled with magic as an ethereal figure emerged from the whirlwind. A creature of otherworldly beauty stood before her; its fur shimmered like strands of silver and gold, and it bore seven magnificent tails that fanned out behind it. It was a Kitsune, a mythical fox spirit known for its cunning and magical powers.

The Kitsune's eyes, two glowing orbs the color of moonlight, locked onto Liliana's. There was a depth to those eyes, a wisdom that transcended time and space. It spoke in a voice as soft as the rustling of leaves yet as powerful as a thunderclap. "Liliana of the Valley," it intoned, "I have seen your struggles, your desire to return to your home realm. I possess the power to reopen the portal, but I require something in return."

Intrigued yet cautious, Liliana fixed her gaze on the Kitsune. "What is it that you seek?" she asked. The Kitsune's eyes glinted with a knowing look, and a slow, sly smile spread across its face.

"The answer to that," it said, its voice echoing in the dreamlike landscape, "is waiting for you at the end of your journey. Come find me, Liliana. Only then will your path be revealed."

As the words faded into the ether, so too did the Kitsune, leaving Liliana alone in the swirling vortex of her dream. When she awoke, her resolve was strengthened. She had a new lead, a new quest, and a renewed hope of returning home.

The journey to find the 7-tailed Kitsune had begun. But what the Kitsune desired in return remained a mystery, a puzzle that Liliana was determined to solve. After all, in the high-stakes game of life in the Runiverse, every gamble was a step closer to her ultimate goal.

Entered by: 0x18Cf…6Aa0 and preserved on chain (see transaction)