Kairo was curious about Jed's motives and got closer, with Nyx observing their captive.
Jed started talking.
"Do you know about the Deck of Origins?" Jed asked.
Kairo frowned.
"What kind of stupid question is that? Who doesn't know about the legend of the Deck of Origin?"
Still, Kairo said no more and continued listening.
"According to what we are taught, the first Archmage, Donatello, created the three first cards that ever existed—those we call the Deck of Origin. Cards said to have the ability to reshape the world itself. You have no idea what power these things can confer, Kairo. And let me tell you something: it's not a myth. The Deck of Origin is real," Jed said.
Kairo shook his head.
"Stop taking us for fools, Jed. You are not the first fanatic with such stupidity. Those cards were lost in the past with Donatello. They don't exist," Kairo said.
He expected Jed to have a solid reason for betraying them, but this? He didn't expect that.
"I understand it can be tempting when we talk of it, but there is nothing that proves the deck still exists. So why?" Kairo was confused.
"Might be he is not wrong, Kairo," Nyx said, her expression a tad calmer, as if she were deep in thought.
"Otherwise, why would he risk his life for something that doesn't exist? You've seen it yourself—how manipulative and calculating he is. He's too much of a devil to just throw his life away like this. He's not a fanatic," Nyx continued.
Kairo took a deep breath. This was getting out of hand.
"We shouldn't derail ourselves from the objective. Jed, I know Harid Din is one of your childhood friends. We need to meet him, and don't even dare lie that you don't know him. Otherwise, I will leave you some minutes with Nyx."
Jed's face darkened while Nyx smiled beautifully.
"I can arrange a meeting, but here's the deal. We keep everything we saw here today to ourselves. You meet Harid and solve your case, and I keep searching for the Deck of Origins. How about that?"
Kairo glanced at Jed and then at Nyx for a moment.
"You are not really in a position to bargain anything. I could just deliver you to the headquarters and you'll still talk whether you like it or not," Kairo's face twitched, holding his wounds.
"That's your deal, not mine. Everyone is looking for the deck, Kairo—people you have no idea how powerful they are. They would do everything they can to get their hands on it. The incident with the modified humans in town is linked to it. Don't be short-sighted. See what all of this could be. Have some vision, man. Damn... ah, my leg… Kairo, let's find the deck together?" Jed insisted.
"Might be we could give it a try. We have nothing to lose, Kairo," Nyx added on the side.
Kairo fell silent. To say the Deck of Origin didn't interest him would be a lie. Who didn't want it? That was the dream of many card mage users all over the world. But Kairo wasn't losing sight of reality. The little girl was still in pain, and this was probably related to some people looking for the cards—but how? Kairo wasn't certain. Even if he didn't want to get into these things, he knew he would have to at some point.
But for now, his priority was getting this case solved and getting the mastermind behind those human transformations.
"It's a no, Nyx. We have more important things to do for now. You have till tomorrow morning to organize a meeting. Jed, past that time frame and I'm delivering you to Fabian. Don't forget we have equipment that records everything that happens in combat. Let's go, Nyx," Kairo said. He didn't want to talk that way, but he had to be firm on his stance.
"Are you just going to listen to him giving you orders like you were his docile girlfriend? I thought you were a rebel. Where is the lioness I just fought moments ago? I felt she was more attractive," Jed taunted.
Nyx stayed silent an instant, her expression betraying nothing about her thoughts. She looked at Kairo and then at Jed.
"Who cares if you find me attractive? Coming from you, it has absolutely no value. Who I receive orders from is none of your business," she said.
Jed shook his head, cursing underneath his breath.
"Hey, wait—you guys aren't going to leave us just like that? I can't walk back home with this leg... hey, Kairo... bastard!"
…
Kairo and Nyx returned to the Card Mage Police. After giving a false report of what happened, Kairo found himself in the hospital.
Seated on the white bed, he waited patiently for the doctor to finish.
The woman looked to be in her thirties; her alluring and mature appearance made even Kairo sink for an instant. A striking lady with incredible light blue eyes. Her hair fell down in spiral waves on the side, giving her a calm and reassuring vibe.
Holding onto her medical tablet, she said with a more than serious, neutral expression,
"Your wounds should heal in a matter of days now. I have done the necessary," she said.
"Thank you, doctor," Kairo said.
There was no way he could lie about their fight, since all magical activities were recorded by the intel department through the circuitry of the Void.
The only thing they couldn't know was why and where they were fighting. As long as he kept that to himself, he could complete his deal with Jed before arresting him. Kairo hopped on his feet, ready to leave.
"One last thing," she called out.
"Do you have an idea where the boss is?" she asked.
Kairo stared blankly at her.
"The boss?"
Then his eyes flickered with realization—that was how they called him.
"No, I have no idea where my father is. Sorry," Kairo answered.
'Father has been gone for quite some time already. What is he actually doing? And why do they keep calling him boss?' Kairo too was getting worried. Still, there was nothing he could do for now.
"Fine. If you meet him, tell him I… no, you can leave," she stopped midway and nonchalantly waved at him like she was driving a fly away.
Little vexed, Kairo left without a word. 'Who was that woman? She really thinks highly of herself. Does she know my father?' Kairo had a good number of questions in his head. Unknown to him, Kairo was leaving towards the library. The day had been long and he needed some rest. 'Not the most comfortable place, but it's not empty at least,' he murmured.
For an unknown reason, Kairo didn't feel the same zeal he had to go back home like in the past. While observing the officers leave one after another, Kairo could only smile. 'It's not like I am alone. I have Nyx, Danzan, Leli… and many more. I'm a big boy, I don't need that,' Kairo shrugged his shoulders. But the echoes of the empty corridors seemed to mock him. Kairo's face darkened and he sped up.
"Hey, my Kairo. I heard you almost died. Are you okay?" Leli's worried voice boomed behind him. Rushing to his side, she quickly caught up.
"No, I'm perfectly fine, Leli. Just some little scratches. What are you still doing here, not going back?" Kairo said, amused.
Leli stared at him from every angle, lifting his arms to check underneath his shirt.
"Calm down, Leli! What are you doing? I'm perfectly fine, I said," Kairo quickly kept his shirt down.
"I said I was just checking on you. Don't be this shy. Will you listen, Kairo?"
Kairo was speechless. Her authoritative personality was resurfacing. Staring blankly at the other officers leaving the corridor, Kairo noticed Leli was currently trying to lift his shirt in the middle of the way. One of them even winked at Kairo and left.
"Enough, Leli. You're embarrassing me. What will others think of me?" Kairo tightly kept his shirt down and moved away—just to meet his other nightmare on the way back. Nyx had a mischievous smile on her face.
"Having fun without me? Tsk, to think we almost died together, Kairo. Isn't this a little too fast? You barely know her," she teased.
"We don't have to know each other for years for that, right Kairo?" Leli asked.
Kairo sighed inwardly. 'With them, at least it feels like home here,' Kairo smiled and left with his friends, Nyx continuously teasing him and Leli being overly bold.