"What happened? Where the hell am I ?!", RJ thought with a panic as he frantically looked around his sudden change in the environment. However, it was frantic panic was soon stifled by a sudden announcement in his head.
[Welcome RJ, to the World Between the Lines. Before we literally and figuratively throw you to the wolves/goblins/horrifying amalgamations of flesh and nightmares designed to eat your sanity, you must choose your first guardian contract].
"Uh...okay?", RJ agreed hesitantly. If pop culture had taught RJ anything, whenever magical stuff happens, you just roll with it. Denying or supressing it either leads to madness, a painfully contrived plot of "failed potential" that leads to a big bad evil guy becoming a bigger pain in the butt than necessary, or death. Sometimes all three but not all at once and RJ did not want to deal with that...no until later at least.
After consenting to the magic voice, hundreds of strange cards suddenly manifested on the floor and walls. While the cards displayed varying colors and exude all types of auras, they all shared the same metallic sheen and strange geometric design on the back.
"So...not out of three or a gacha machine huh?", RJ commented to himself.
[While pick three is classic and other games make use of free multipulls, the true worth of a magi's ability is instinct, not luck. Now choose newbie, and let fate and instinct guide you], the voice replied.
"Two questions: Are you the game guide and are you going to interject everytime"?
[Yes and sometimes].
"Okay then...what's stopping me from taking more than one"?
[10,000 volts of electrical torture].
"Let's do this thing".
Up, down, left, right, below and above. Surrounding RJ was all manner of cards that all seemed to try and catch his eyes.
One of the cards that stood out had a deep purple shine to it, the design on it including a bright red apple, and seven rainbow colored gems. RJ had a feeling of regal energy, warmth... and poison from it.
"Probably shouldn't touch that...", RJ thought before looking at another card.
This one had a circular design in the center, with swords pointing out of it like a sun wheel and a crown at the very top. Solemnity, strength, camaraderie. It felt powerful...but it didn't feel right.
"I have the sudden urge to watch 'Monty Python and The Holy Grail'...", he thought before looking away from the walls and squatting to see the cards on the ground.
A card with a bronze tinge and dreamy appearance greeted his eyes. Center of the card was a design depicting an arabic oil lamp releasing purple smoke that had a lovely islamic geometric pattern inside it. Illusive, dreamy, ephemeral...yet flighty?
"Hmmm. I feel like I should choose this yet...why do I feel not at this moment?", RJ thought as he stopped himself from picking up the card.
As he stood himself up and began to walk down the alley to look through even more cards, he suddenly heard an odd clanking sound beneath his feet.
"What's this"?
The source of the clanking sound turned out to be yet another card, but it was unusually rusty. Despite the layers of rust, RJ could still make out the design on the back. The design depicted the silhouette of a young woman in tattered clothes, wielding a giant wooden spoon with a goat standing near her. The design reminded RJ of "The Fool" tarot card.
For all intents and purposes, this rusty looking card should be the least eye-catching and something he should ignore...and yet...he felt compelled to take it. He wasn't sure why, but something in his gut told him that this was the right choice to make.
He reached out for the card slowly, doubt flitting across his mind for a bit, before just grabbing it quickly into his hand.
[Guardian card selected. Are you sure?], the voice suddenly asked once the card was within his grasp.
"Uhh...yes", he said with a moment of hesitation. He wasn't sure if the card he picked was the absolute strongest, but he at least has the feeling it was good match for him. As soon as he confirmed his choice, the card began to glow before suddenly turning into a ball of light. A moment later, the light ball flew towards him and merged into his chest. The cards that originally plastered the area soon disappeared one by one.
"Huh...".
[Contract established, initiating introductory combat encounter].
"Wait, what"?
"AWOOOOOOOOOOOO"!