Orphanage, Aldeshi
The awakening of a Mythical card was a bigger deal than I had imagined. An hour after Silas was taken away, the entire city went into lockdown. Multiple factions had already inquired about the orphanage, but we were being protected by the local branch of the Ascension Hall.
As we returned to the orphanage, I decided to confront the deckbearers of the Ascension Hall who escorted us . "According to the laws of the kingdom, Silas has the right to choose which faction he joins, regardless of his origin card's rarity!" I shouted, my fists clenched at my sides.
It was a calculated risk. I had to show enough anger normal for a child who had just lost his friend. Yet not too much that it was annoying. I had to appeal to their empathy to get the information that I needed.
The deckbearers exchanged glances before one of them spoke, his voice calm and condescending. "Kid, this is a matter of national security. A Mythical card is too powerful to be left in the hands of a child, especially one without proper training."
I took a deep breath, trying to control my emotions. "I understand that, but what exactly do you plan to do with him? Will he be allowed to visit us, or at least send messages?" I asked, my voice steadier now.
The deckbearer's expression softened slightly. "Look, they'll probably train him as an esteemed warrior. With his power, he'll become a valuable asset to the kingdom. He'll be well taken care of, so don't worry about it."
I nodded, processing this information. "And what about his rights? Will he have any say in this at all?"
The deckbearer sighed. "His rights will be respected, but you have to understand, a Mythical card changes things. There are protocols to follow, for everyone's safety. Including his."
I couldn't deny the logic in that, but it didn't make me feel any better. "I just want to make sure he's okay," I said quietly.
The deckbearer placed a hand on my shoulder. "We'll make sure of that. Trust me, kid, this is for the best."
With that, they turned and left, leaving me standing there with more questions than answers. I knew I couldn't trust them completely, but at least I had some idea of what might happen to Silas. They couldn't hurt him, not when he was so valuable to them.
Acting frustrated and helpless, I stormed back into the orphanage. Although they claimed to be protecting us, I had just confirmed that they might be using us as leverage to get a hold of Silas and his powerful Mythical card.
In the small, sparsely furnished room that Silas and I shared, Caregiver Nadia sat across from me, her face etched with concern. The scent of smoke still clung to our clothes.
"Torin, I know what you were trying to do out there," she said softly. "Getting information from the deckbearers was smart, but you need to be careful. They're not to be trifled with."
I looked at her, surprised by her insight. "I had to do something. I can't just sit here while they take Silas away."
Caregiver Nadia sighed, a mix of understanding and worry in her eyes. "I know, Torin. But you have to think about your own safety too. If they suspect you're up to something, they might come after you as well."
I nodded, realizing the truth in her words. "I'll be careful, I promise. But I can't just do nothing. Silas would do the same for me."
Caregiver Nadia smiled sadly. "He would. But he would also want you to be safe. Promise me you won't do anything careless, Torin."
I looked into her eyes, my mind racing with plans and possibilities.
"Torin, you haven't even awakened your card yet," she continued. "The people who took Silas were the leaders of the Ascension Hall Aldeshi branch. Their group consists of Epic cardbearer who have reached the rank of Platinum. Do you understand what that means?"
I understood all too well. If Silas, a newly awakened Mythical cardbearer, could compete against multiple Platinum ranks, then he was a threat in their eyes. They would want to control him, to use his power for their own ends. The thought made my blood run cold, yet my expression remained neutral.
"Silas isn't dangerous," I said, my voice level. "He's the kindest person I know. He would never hurt anyone."
Even as I said it, the memory of the ruined Ascension Hall flashed through my mind. The destruction Silas had caused was undeniable. But that didn't change who he was. It only meant that he needed my help more than ever.
Caregiver Nadia placed a hand on my shoulder. "Torin, I need you to promise me that you won't do anything reckless. Let me handle this."
I knew I wouldn't be able to keep my word, but she didn't need to know that. "I promise," I said, my voice unwavering. "I know how dangerous it is. As you said, I haven't even awakened my card. I wouldn't stand a chance against the decks."
Caregiver Nadia studied me for a moment, as if trying to gauge the sincerity of my words. Finally, she nodded, patting my hand. "Good. We'll figure this out together, Torin. Silas will be back with us, I'm sure of it."
I smiled back, hiding the truth that I knew. Silas wouldn't be coming back, not unless I did something about it. And I was determined to do just that, no matter the cost.
As soon as Caregiver Nadia left the room, I started pacing, my thoughts racing. I knew that multiple factions were already looking into the background of Silas, my best friend, the Inferno Sovereign.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that my presence here was a risk. If the foreign factions discovered my connection to Silas, they might come after me, hoping to use me as leverage against him.
I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let Caregiver Nadia, the only family I'd ever known, be put in harm's way because of my association with Silas. I had to leave, to disappear before they could find me.
My newly awakened origin card only added to the urgency, as I couldn't risk anyone discovering what I could do with it.
But where could I go? The city was in lockdown, and the factions had eyes everywhere. I needed to get off the grid, to disappear. And I needed to do it fast.
In my mind, I called out to the Nexus, and instantly information flooded my mind.
[NEXUS ALERT] You have experienced a near-death encounter with a Mythical card. The residual energy from this encounter has forcefully unlocked your heartdeck and awakened your Origin card to ensure your survival.
[ORIGIN CARD] The Card Weaver
[SET] Cards of Destiny
[RARITY] Unique
[DESCRIPTION] This is the origin card of Torin Aldric. The wielder of this card can upgrade the rank of any card. To upgrade a card, you must sacrifice another card of the same rarity. You can only sacrifice cards that have not been upgraded and are currently disabled.
[ABILITIES]
1. Thread of Ascension: The Card Weaver can upgrade a card's rarity by one level (e.g., from Common to Uncommon) by sacrificing a card of the same rarity.
2. Limit of the Loom: The Card Weaver can only upgrade a card once. Upgraded cards cannot be used as sacrifice material for further upgrades.
3. Weaving of the Unwoven: The Card Weaver can only sacrifice cards that are currently disabled.
I stared at the information provided by the Nexus, my mind racing with the implications of my newly awakened origin card. Seeing my own name etched into the description made it feel like the card was an integral part of my identity, inseparable from my very being.
The level of detail in the description of my abilities was striking, far more comprehensive than the information revealed about Silas' Mythical card. I couldn't help but wonder if this was due to the unique nature of my card or the fact that I was the wielder.
Perhaps the Nexus provided more information to the owner of the card, knowing they would need to understand the intricacies of their abilities to utilize them effectively.
As I pondered the implications of my origin card, a sense of unease grew within me. If word of my ability got out, I would become the most hunted person in the world. Every faction, every power-hungry individual would be after me, seeing me not as a person, but as a tool to further their own ambitions. Just like how they were treating Silas.
I knew I needed to keep this a secret, to learn to control this power and use it to find Silas and bring him home. But I couldn't do that here, not in the city where there were eyes everywhere, watching and waiting for any sign of weakness or opportunity.
My mind raced through the options, searching for a solution. Then it hit me—the wilderness. Out there, I could train and experiment with my new abilities without fear of discovery. I could hunt monsters, collect their cards, and use my unique ability to upgrade them, growing stronger with each encounter.
It was a daunting prospect. I had no experience in the wild, no knowledge of how to survive or hunt on my own. But I was a quick learner, and I was motivated. For Silas, I would learn. For Silas, I would survive.
But there was another problem. The city was in lockdown, the gates closed and guarded. I couldn't just walk out, not without drawing attention. I needed a plan, a way to escape unnoticed.
I studied the city's layout in my mind, marking potential escape routes. The main gates were too heavily guarded, and the supply caravans were also blocked. needed an alternative, something the factions wouldn't expect.
As I pondered, a distant memory resurfaced, one from years ago when Silas and I had hidden in the sewers. Someone had wanted to adopt Silas, but he didn't want to part with me. We wandered around until we stumbled upon a secret passage leading out of the city. If I could find that passage again, I might have a chance.
I remember the look on Silas' face when we emerged, the wonder and excitement in his eyes. I remember how we had laughed, giddy with our discovery, even as we wrinkled our noses at the stench that clung to our clothes.
Silas had always been the brave one, the one who led the way. He would hold my hand when the darkness of the tunnels became too much, his presence a constant comfort.
Now, it was my turn to be brave. For Silas, for the memory of those shared moments, I would find that passage again. I would use it to escape, to find my way to the wilderness where I could grow strong enough to save him.
I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, my hand hovering over the page as I tried to find the words to explain to Caregiver Nadia. In the end, I kept it simple. "I'm sorry," I wrote. "I have to go. Please don't look for me. I'll be back when I can. Stay safe."
I left the note on my bed, taking a last look around the room. This had been my home for as long as I could remember. These walls held all my memories of Silas, of our childhood together. It felt wrong to leave, but I knew I had no choice.
I gathered what few supplies I could—a change of clothes, some food from the kitchen, a knife, a lighter, a makeshift torch. I would need to travel light, to be able to move quickly and quietly through the tunnels.
Once I got everything I needed, I made my move. As I slipped out, I cast one last glance back at the orphanage. I was leaving behind everything I knew. But I was doing it for Caregiver Nadia. For Silas. And that made it all worthwhile.
I made my way to the entrance of the sewers. The smell hit me like a physical blow, but I pushed forward, memories guiding my steps. I retraced the path from my childhood until I found the secret passage. I stepped inside, the darkness enveloping me, but I wasn't afraid. Silas was with me, in every beat of my heart, in every step I took.