Kairo embarked on the train supposed to send him to the police station. Armed only with his training bag and a ticket, he searched for his place. The train was half full, with a lot of empty space around, allowing him to see quite far ahead.
"Today I will be getting my equipment and my badge. From there, I'll start working as a Card Mage," Kairo said to himself.
For an entire year, all they had been doing was learning about card magic and training on how to put their cards to their best advantage. Most of them had been transferred to the station, with only one left on his own. Holding Tactical Brilliance in his hands, Kairo smiled.
"In the past, keeping it for so long would have sent me into days of slumber. My aura seems to have developed."
Even though the training was over, Kairo had managed to keep this one with him to continue his training. This was mainly thanks to his father—otherwise, he wouldn't have been allowed to hold it in town without the equipment.
Kairo sat quietly, observing the passengers, most of whom were either glued to their phones or talking to each other. The atmosphere was light and peaceful. This calmness was exactly the reason Kairo had decided to enter the Card Mage Police.
"Reminds me of weekends with Dad. Calm and light… I would do anything to keep this image alive."
Kairo sank in his chair, his eyes looking ahead in the train. A group of people had started gathering.
Squinting his eyes, Kairo took a serious glance at the group. From afar, it looked like a woman was distributing a little flacon to a set of people. Despite their hesitant gazes, they had no problem taking the flacon, as if they were coerced—but without any form of force imposed on them.
"Card magic?" Kairo frowned.
Drugs weren't exactly a problem in their world. It had long ago given way to a more sophisticated form of dealings—one in which people tested what card magic could do to others. Kairo couldn't be certain of his guess but decided to get closer.
The moving train was loud, making it hard for him to hear what they were saying. Furtively walking ahead, Kairo took a closer look.
"It is a time experiment. I am giving you the key to your freedom—a freedom that has been refused to you all your life. Just a single sip, and everything shall change for you all. I am not giving you a red pill; I am offering you a choice."
The woman was so convincing that Kairo found himself drawn to her—not by her otherworldly beauty, but by her aura.
"Card magic, as expected. She's forcing them into thinking they're using their free will. What card is that?"
Kairo's heart skipped a beat. Freshly out of the training grounds, Kairo might have been a little too impulsive to stay on the sidelines. Without careful thought about the consequences, he darted forward, diving into the crowd without warning.
His movements, trained for such situations, were precise—he carefully knocked the flacon away. Kairo shot his leg forward, snatching the woman off her balance. In a flash, she fell to one knee, and he pinned her to the ground, hands twisted behind her back.
Subduction had been one of the numerous things they had learned in training. Kairo's movements were so fast that no one had barely any time to react.
"You're under arrest for selling illegal magical substances and illegal use of card magic," he said plainly.
In their world, unless one possessed a license, card magic was strictly forbidden—especially on normal people. This crime was as serious as murder and punishable by years of prison.
"If you could notice that, it simply means you've awakened like the others. Indoctrinated to follow the rules like a little toy. So sad… you looked pretty handsome. I didn't want to damage such a face."
Despite being pinned to the ground, she spoke like everything was fine.
"What are you talking about? Have you forgotten your position? I'm the one in charge here," Kairo said.
"From the abyss of lies. They emerged like shadows. Come to me... Vanishing Point..."
The next thing Kairo knew was the grip of his hands suddenly loosening. He gasped in shock. On the ground, the woman had carefully placed a card. In the space, it looked like it connected with the circuitry of the void itself—a fertile playing ground for her to unleash her magic.
Kairo felt the immense power surge. He blinked when the woman distorted like smoke, turning into nothing but shadows that reemerged inches away.
"The Vanishing Point works only if there is contact between the two targets. Thanks for your help. Bye," she smiled, rushing through the window. She fled to the top of the train.
Kairo was shaken. The train was moving at lightning speed, yet she didn't even hesitate for a second to rise above.
"There is no way you're escaping this place. You will be the first I arrest," Kairo said.
Taking out Tactical Brilliance, he flicked the card between his fingers and smiled.
"Here I go."
With masterful agility, he placed the card onto the void. It was like the summoning of a new star. The white energy flowed out like waves, connecting into the familiar circuitry in the void.
Tactical Brilliance was a card that increased Kairo's abilities to adapt to abnormal situations—making him excel in everything that was considered 'abnormal'. Otherwise, the card would not even activate.
"She is a Card Master. I need to stop her," Kairo thought.
He felt the familiar aura assault his body like being washed by a torrential wave. Covered in a white-like aura, his body cannonballed forward.
With a stylish flip, he snapped out of the window, spinning mid-air to land squarely above the train.
The woman's eyes flashed in shock as she saw Kairo approach at lightning speed. Stretching out his arms, Kairo tried to grab onto her shoulder from behind. But he had underestimated his opponent. Like earlier, her figure turned into nothing but a mirage that appeared behind him.
Spinning downwards, she reached out for a low turning kick. Kairo frowned, the speed of his earlier movement slowing down his reaction time.
With a snap, his body flipped over the train, dangling to the side as he fell off.
Kairo's heartbeat accelerated as he instinctively caught onto the edge. Dangling on the side of the moving train, his hair flashed back and forth as he stared at his opponent.
Ahead of him was the entrance of a cave. The train had to go through—at this speed, he would get stuck in between. His face turned serious, not daring to imagine what would happen to him if that happened.
The woman laughed, running away.
"You should have stopped here," she said.
Tactical Brilliance only improved his abilities to react to abnormal situations—it didn't make him any smarter or more intelligent.
Kairo reacted in a split second. Before hitting the cave, he let go of his grip on the train, jumping toward the rocky wall.
"Don't underestimate me," he said.
The moment his foot touched the wall, he began running—shooting through the cave upward. It was like he was in a race against the train.
From above, Kairo kept moving. Once the train was over the cave, he jumped off once more, landing squarely back on the train.
The woman was baffled, yet her smile never left her face.
"Incredible. What card is that? I love it. Still, it can be really annoying," she said.
From her coat, she picked up another card. But before she could react, a pair of hands appeared out of nowhere, sealing her in between.
Kairo blinked in surprise. From behind him, another man was approaching—running, to be precise. His face was a little pale; it was clear he had a hard time catching up with the two.
"You little fool, get away from her!" he shouted.
The only thing Kairo could see was the woman flickering the card between her fingers. It was like the card had fused with the void. The familiar purple lines drew mesmerizing arcs in the space.
Kairo felt the train start shaking, as if it were riding on uneven ground. From behind the woman, a black hole started swirling, drawing in everything within range.
"Down, stupid fool! It's the card Void Cannon!" the man shouted, diving down.
Upon hearing the words, Kairo's face turned pale. Instinctively, he ducked as the cannonball moved—a concentrated laser of dark energy that devoured the space ahead.
Kairo felt the roaring winds above his head, and the next thing he knew, the cave they had just passed moments ago was obliterated in a split second, the debris turning into projectiles that painted the dark sky.
By the time Kairo lifted his head, the woman had jumped off the moving train without any semblance of fear whatsoever. The smile on her face never left as she stared deep into Kairo's eyes before vanishing into the shadows.