The library had become a second home to Johan. He spent days combing through digital archives, flipping through dust-ridden books, and decoding cryptic texts. He scanned every document, every mention of the Card Masters, no matter how obscure. His dreams were filled with numbers and letters, theories, and speculations.
"Why do you spend so much time with these old papers?" Miles had once asked him, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Johan smiled. "Because secrets hide in the least expected places."
One day, deep in the labyrinth of Jurica City's library, Johan stumbled upon a locked cabinet. It was strange; he'd been in that section a dozen times, but he'd never noticed it. After persuading the elderly librarian to unlock it, he found a leather-bound journal. Dusty, worn out, forgotten.
His heart hammered in his chest as he opened it. Each page was filled with neatly inked handwriting, diagrams, and notes. It was a journal, yes, but it was also a research record of a Card Master!
As he flipped through the pages, a particular entry caught his eye. It spoke about the awakening of the card. The process. It wasn't clear, full of metaphors and analogies, but it was something. Something that might finally give him a clue about his card.
Johan felt a surge of excitement. He could hardly contain himself as he scribbled down notes, careful not to miss a single word. He barely noticed the hours slipping by or the librarian announcing the closing time.
This was it. This could be the key to unlock his potential as a Card Master. And he couldn't wait to decipher it.
...
Johan had spent hours, days even, pouring over the journal, picking apart each cryptic sentence. The library's quiet stillness became his cocoon, shielding him from the outside world's hustle and bustle. His Ion Network was filled with countless notes, translations, and wild guesses, a chaotic testament to his dogged persistence.
Miles had started visiting him at the library, bringing sandwiches and encouraging words. He didn't understand the half of what was written in the journal, but he tried. He was there, and that mattered.
After what felt like ages, Johan thought he had it. The awakening process. It was symbolic, filled with metaphors of fire and ice, of shadows and light, but he understood it. Well, most of it. He could feel the thrill of victory, the sweet triumph of perseverance.
And then he read about the cost.
His heart plummeted. The awakening process or the concoction of mystic potion needed certain materials, rare and costly. The price was astronomical, a figure he could not even dream of affording. He didn't have to worry about card though because he has one in his consciousness, but the mystic potion needed for awakening was crucial to step to Tier 9 Extraordinary realm.
Disbelief and disappointment flooded him. He turned to Miles, who had been quietly munching on a sandwich, reading his expression.
"That bad, huh?" Miles said, trying to keep the mood light. But his eyes were worried, reflecting Johan's dismay.
Johan could only nod. "I don't know if I can... it's too expensive, Miles"
For a moment, silence fell between them. Both were lost in their thoughts, the weight of reality pressing heavily. Johan felt as if his dreams were crumbling around him, the newfound knowledge bitter in his mouth.
"We'll figure it out, Johan," Miles said eventually, reaching over to pat his brother's back. "We always do."
Despite the heavy heart, Johan nodded. They had to try. If not for himself, then for the dream that had brought them to Jurica City. For a future they had dared to envision. But the question remained, how would they afford the cost of becoming a Card Master?
Even if he works his ass for, it would take fifty years to buy one. The cost of one mystic potion to become Tier 9 was 100 gold coins! What a joke! He and Miles combined salary for a month was only fifty copper. Not even a silver!
Johan's mind raced, scenarios unspooling one after another. He could work extra shifts, take on another job, or perhaps... he frowned, dismissing the thought of delving into any risky or unethical path. He was desperate, but not that desperate. Yet.
He glanced at Miles, who had been quiet. His younger brother was looking at him, worry lines etching his face, but his eyes... they were filled with unwavering faith. The same faith that had brought them to Jurica City. The same faith that believed in Johan.
"Johan," Miles began, voice steady, "we knew this wasn't going to be easy. And we also know that you're not someone who gives up. We'll find a way, just like we always have."
Johan stared at him, emotions welling up. They had been through a lot, him and Miles. And here they were, facing another challenge, another hurdle. But they were facing it together. That thought brought comfort, a balm to his fraying nerves.
A slow determination crawled back into Johan's heart. He nodded, clenching his fists. "You're right, Miles. I can't give up, not yet. I will become a Card Master."
The silence that fell over them was thick with resolve. It was late, the city's skyline bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. Johan looked out at the cityscape, his heart beating with a silent promise. The journey was far from over, the road ahead uncertain and fraught with obstacles. But one thing was clear - he would continue, with his dream and Miles by his side.
...
Johan stood at the window of their modest dwelling, the night sky a canvas of stars. The calm serenity of the scene before him was a stark contrast to the turmoil within him.
A month had passed since he found himself in this strange, new world. A world filled with monsters, Card Masters, and dangers unseen. He was an outsider here, trying to make sense of his new reality, adapting, surviving. But surviving was not enough for Johan. He wanted to live. To thrive. And to do that, he needed to become stronger.
He thought about the Card Masters, the protectors of Humans. Yes, they were strong, but their strength couldn't be relied upon indefinitely. What would happen if a day came when they weren't there? Johan didn't want to be helpless. He didn't want to be a mere spectator in his own life. He wanted to hold the reins, to control his own destiny.
"I cannot be dependent on others," Johan muttered to himself. "Not in a world like this. I need to become stronger. I need to become a Card Master."
He remembered his card, the mysterious object that had propelled him into this journey. His card. His potential. His chance to take control. He would not let it go to waste. He would unlock its secrets, tap into its power, and take control of his fate.
Johan's resolve solidified as he gazed into the inky darkness. The path to strength was not an easy one, fraught with challenges and hurdles. But he was ready to face them all. For himself, for Miles, and for their future in this world to gain foothold.
The stars shone a bit brighter that night, as if acknowledging Johan's determination. And in the quiet of his room, under the watchful gaze of the celestial bodies, Johan renewed his vow to become stronger. To become a Card Master.