"You cannot defend yourself. To break down the order of the world and the Law. It depends on which you choose."

"Why do you want to break down the order of the world and the Law? What are the choices?"

"It is our purpose. There are five choices: the Hermit, the Hanged Man, the Chariot, the Fool, and the Empress."

If Daphne uses her free hand to grab a pencil and scribble on her papers, is this thing going to stop her?

"How are they different?"

It appears this thing does not like her taking notes. Its fingers are crooked and painful digging in against her hand.

"Each sacrifices something for a new kind of power."

Fuck this thing--

"What does the Hermit do?"

"You will sacrifice your ability to express yourself for the ability to think and act with perfect precision."

"...Sacrifice the ability to express myself like how?"

"You will be unable to express emotion."

Welp we can just file that away for nightmare fodder later on.

"What does the, um, Chariot do?"

"You will become strong, powerful, inflexible. The aspect of steel will be yours."

"What does that mean?"

"You will become much more physically powerful and talented, but new academic and social concepts will be more difficult for you to learn."

Eugh. Almost as bad.

"What does the Empress do?"

"You will gain tremendous magical power: in exchange, you will give up any hope of ever being safe again."

Why is every single option terrible.

"What about the Fool?"

"You will give up your body and future for a chance to dictate your own fate."

"What do you mean by give up my body and future."

"You will have a new body in the new world - a male body. Everyone will know that you once had a female body. Love will follow you, no matter whether you wish it to or not. Your future will forever be dominated by an uncommon destiny."

Well compared to the other options that's not so bad.

"What about the, other one, the Hanged Man?"

"You will have eternal youth."

"...At the cost of?"

"That is the cost."

"How is that a cost?"

The shadow shrugs. "Some people prefer to grow old."