Ascension Hall, Aldeshi
The day I awakened my origin card was the day my world shattered, the pieces scattering like ashes in the wind.
"When is Silas coming back?" I asked, voice quiet. The cold stone of the awakening chamber seeped through my thin slippers, chilling my feet.
"Silas is already being awakened by a deckbearer," Caregiver Nadia said, a smile brightening her weary face. Her olive skin looked sallow under the flickering glow-globes that lit the chamber. "No matter what power he receives, he'll have a chance at a brighter future. A much brighter future than staying at the orphanage."
I studied her, noting the tiredness etched on her face despite her encouraging words. She had woken us up early this morning, urging us to come to the Ascension Hall to awaken our origin card—the very essence of our being that held our origin cards.
Once opened, the origin card would awaken, granting us a unique power that couldn't be changed. The higher the rarity, the more powerful the card. An awakened origin card meant a chance to join the decks, the powerful factions that ruled the world.
It was the optimal path to improve our circumstances. The decks were always on the lookout for talented individuals with rare and powerful cards, offering them a place in their ranks and a chance to make a name for themselves.
Caregiver Nadia herself had only been able to awaken a common card, one that allowed her to soothe mild pain and illnesses. However, its effectiveness diminished with the recipient's age and strength, making it useful only for children. She had tried to improve her power, dedicating decades to training and experimentation, but the potential of her common card was ultimately limited.
In this world, people could level up their cards to different ranks, such as Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Emerald, by sacrificing essence obtained from killing beasts or sacrificing other cards. However, the rarity of a card remained fixed, determined by the Nexus at the moment of awakening.
Leveling up an origin card had unpredictable effects. Sometimes, it would enhance the original power, making it stronger or more versatile. Other times, it would grant an entirely new ability, expanding the card's potential. This applied to other cards added to one's deck as well, but the effects were far less potent compared to the origin card.
It was a harsh reality, that nothing could improve the rarity of an origin card, not even hard work and determination. Perhaps her own frustrations were why she was so supportive of us orphans and our dreams of awakening something greater. Given her dedication, she deserved better than the hand fate had dealt her.
My thoughts drifted to Silas, my best friend, who certainly deserved more as well. I reminisced about our childhood, to the games we used to play with the other orphans. Once, I had won against an older boy who, despite having an awakened common card, was still waiting to be adopted into a deck. Enraged by the loss, he had attacked me—until Silas intervened, as he always did.
Even with the physical enhancements from the boy's card, Silas never hesitated to protect me. Even when we both ended up battered, he kept on smiling, feeling satisfied that he was able to stand up for me. It made me wonder what kind of power he would awaken to. I envisioned something noble and nurturing, befitting his nature.
I had asked Caregiver Nadia once why Silas cared more about others than himself. She explained that when Silas first arrived at the orphanage, he was withdrawn, having suffered unspeakable hardships. But as he found a family in the orphanage, he developed a fierce loyalty. "That boy would give you the shirt off his back without a second thought," she had said.
I admired Silas' selflessness, but it also filled me with a sense of guilt. I didn't know how to care for others the way he did. It seemed to come so naturally to him, an innate part of his being, while I struggled to put others before myself. I wished I could be more like him, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to match his level of compassion.
Back then, Caregiver Nadia must have sensed my inner turmoil as she cautioned me against trying to emulate Silas, encouraging me instead to find my own path. While she agreed his compassion was commendable, she helped me understand that I didn't have to be exactly like him to make a difference.
Her wisdom made me realize that even if I couldn't match Silas' nurturing spirit, I could still support him and Caregiver Nadia in my own way. They cared for so many others, and by caring for them, I was part of that chain of compassion, even if indirectly.
It eased my guilt a little, knowing that I could contribute something, even if it wasn't in the same way as Silas. But still, a part of me longed to be as selfless as him, to put others first without hesitation. It was a quality I deeply admired, even as I struggled to embody it myself.
Silas often spoke of his dreams for the future—awakening powerful cards, helping me and Caregiver Nadia, bringing honor to the orphanage. He wanted to grow strong enough to protect everyone and be wealthy enough to give them full card decks.
I had considered it an unrealistic dream. A full deck of cards was available only to the elite. It was a symbol of prestige and power. But remembering Silas' optimism and ambition, I wanted to help make his dreams a reality.
"I bet he'll awaken a powerful card," I decided. "He's always been so brave and—"
—a blinding light exploded from the building, shooting into the sky like a beacon. The acrid stench of ozone filled the air. Suddenly, agony ripped through me, and every nerve in my body screamed. It felt like I was being flayed alive, my veins filled with molten lead. I doubled over from the pressure, vision tunneling.
Then, as abruptly as it started, the pain vanished, replaced by a gentle warmth that seemed to emanate from within. The blue flames, instead of burning me inside out, were healing me, soothing away the pain.
As the light reached its zenith, a thunderous voice echoed through my mind. Even though I've never heard it before, I instinctively knew it was the voice of the Nexus, the mysterious force that governed the world of cards and magic.
[NEXUS ANNOUNCEMENT] A NEW MYTHICAL CARD HAS AWAKENED
The words hung inside my mind. Then, more information followed.
[ORIGIN CARD] The Inferno Sovereign
[SET] Primal Dominion
[RARITY] Mythical
[DESCRIPTION] This is the origin card of Silas Rourke. The wielder of this card becomes the Inferno Sovereign, wielding absolute dominion over the primal force of fire in all its forms. They can use fire for both creation and destruction on an unimaginable scale. They are immune to flames and extreme temperatures.
The voice faded, but their impact remained. A Mythical card had awakened, a wielder of primal and unfathomable power. The balance of the world had shifted, and nothing would ever be the same.
I stood there, stunned, trying to process what had just happened. Silas, my best friend, the person I trusted most in this world, had awakened a Mythical card. The Inferno Sovereign. The name alone sent a shiver down my spine. I had always known Silas was special, that he was destined for greatness, but this—it was beyond anything I could have imagined.
A part of me was in awe, marveling at the sheer power that Silas now possessed. But another part, a larger part, was terrified. Not of Silas, never of Silas, but for him. Such power would draw attention, the wrong kind of attention. The decks, the factions, they would all want to control him, to use his power for their own ends.
Silas was kind, compassionate, always putting others before himself. He wasn't ready for the ruthless politics of the decks, for the constant power struggles and machinations. He would be a pawn in their games, a weapon to be wielded, and it would destroy him.
I couldn't let that happen. I wouldn't let that happen. Silas had always protected me, always been there for me. Now, it was my turn. I would protect him, no matter the cost. I would find a way to keep him safe, to keep him out of the decks' clutches.
I had barely taken a step towards the Ascension Hall when it exploded, the force of the blast knocking me off my feet. Caregiver Nadia grabbed me, pulling me away from the burning rubble.
Through the smoke and flames, I caught a glimpse of Silas, bruised and frightened, facing off against several imposing figures clad in flowing blue and silver robes. Elite deckbearers, each radiating immense power. "I don't want to go with you," Silas cried out, his voice trembling but defiant.
The deckbearers raised their hands in unison, and a flurry of shimmering nets burst forth, ensnaring Silas from all sides. He fought against the restraints, his newly awakened power flaring around him in a maelstrom of fire and light. The air crackled and burned with the force of his magic. The deckbearers struggled to maintain their hold, their nets buckling under the onslaught of Silas' mythical power.
For a moment, it seemed like Silas might break free. His flames surged, pushing against the arcane bindings. But the deckbearers redoubled their efforts, ancient runes on their robes blazing with arcane might. They chanted in unison, their voices rising over the roar of the flames, weaving a complex web of containment spells.
Slowly, inexorably, the nets tightened, constricting Silas' movements, suppressing his power. He fought valiantly, but against the combined might of the elite deckbearers, he stood no chance. His flames flickered and died, and he hung limp in their grasp, spent and subdued.
As they dragged him away, Silas looked back at me, his eyes filled with fear and a desperate, unspoken plea.
I met his gaze, my heart wrenching at the sight. It was the first time Silas had ever looked at me like this. He had always been the one to help me, the one I relied on for strength and courage.
Seeing him so vulnerable, so afraid, shook me to my core.
I struggled against Caregiver Nadia's grip, but I couldn't break free. I was too weak. Too weak to escape the grasp of a common cardbearer. Too weak to bring him back from those who could wield such powerful magic. My weakness was undeniable; I had failed Silas when he needed me most.
His last glance begged me not to intervene and hurt myself. Then, he was gone, taken by strangers to an unknown fate.
Once again, I was left behind, knowing only one thing for certain: no matter what it took, I would find Silas and bring him home. I would gain the strength to protect him as he always protected me.
This was my vow. I wouldn't rest until we were reunited. I would become strong, strong enough to face the decks, strong enough to bring Silas home. No matter how long it took, no matter what I had to do, I would save him.
With that thought burning in my mind, I allowed Caregiver Nadia to lead me away from the smoldering ruins of the Ascension Hall, and towards an uncertain future.