"Godori, what's that?" Junpei asked with a puzzled expression.
"Sorry, that's..." Elia's words were promptly cut off by Kai.
"My family has a similar game where we use Hwatu cards to play something alike..." His eyes briefly flicked to Elia. "And I introduced it to Elia."
Junpei rested his hands on his jaw. "I guess some games have different names due to regional dialects." He smiled. "That makes things even more interesting."
"So we just have to reach a three-point threshold, then either call 'Go' or 'Stop.' If you go, you risk everything?" Ikenna asked inquisitively.
"Hmm... More or less."
"That sounds simple. What are we wagering?"
"I never thought you'd say something like that, Lilith." Elia remarked.
Opening her eyes in confusion, Lilith responded, "Is that so?"
"I also assumed Lilith was the quiet, reserved type," Ikenna said, his voice slightly muffled by the chips he was munching on.
Kai's gaze drifted to the bustling streets outside the bus window; the vehicle was stationary, waiting for the traffic lights to turn green as students and other mundane passersby crossed the street.
Looking up at the towering billboards, he couldn't help but admire the impressive quality of the photos and videos Meltonia had to offer.
On the digital billboard was an advertisement featuring the fifth-ranked rookie mage, the prodigy who had supported Matthew during his journey in ICUWSA. 'Sian Razor.'
He was clad in a mage combat suit, though unlike Princess Victoria's, his was white and black with a distinctly metallic aesthetic.
Cold vapor escaped his gas mask as his ice trait enveloped him, a katana clutched firmly in his grasp and his gaze fixed on what was most likely the camera.
He was visually striking.
'If I remember correctly, his suit is crafted from a Tier 6 drifter corpse.'
[Yes, and the highest-grade combat suit ever produced was made from a Tier 4 drifter that died under mysterious circumstances. But since then, no one has been able to form a bond with it, let alone utilize it.]
'Maybe I'll be the lucky one...' Kai smiled at the thought. 'Even Matt couldn't use it, who am I kidding.'
He shifted his focus back to the game they were preparing to play.
Junpei was still shuffling the cards at a rapid pace.
Soon, like a seasoned casino dealer, he distributed the cards among the six of them.
'I thought this game was typically played with four people?'
[Different world. Different customs.]
'I suppose you're right.'
"Guys, I think I'll pass. I'm not particularly fond of card games," Ikenna announced.
"Really? I didn't know that," Junpei replied, clearly disappointed.
"Let's make a rule, alright?" Elia said in a charismatic tone. "Whoever loses has to buy whatever snacks the winner wants."
Ikenna's jaw dropped as he cleared his throat and muttered, "Maybe I'll play just a little."
Junpei smiled softly. "Don't regret it."
-----
Without wasting a moment, the first round of the game began.
"How can I lose twice in a row?" Matthew exclaimed, prompting nearby passengers to turn their heads toward the group.
"Kids," an elderly man muttered, clicking his tongue.
"Why are you so loud, Matt?" Ikenna asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Isn't it obvious?" Elia replied confidently. "It's because he can't win, unlike someone here. I won't call any names, of course." She lifted her chest proudly.
That was how the previous two rounds had gone. Elia had also shouted and celebrated each time she played a ribbon.
Matthew, in contrast, played cautiously.
"Next round," Junpei announced, his tone heavy with the weight of consecutive defeats.
'I was the one who introduced this game... how did it come to this? he thought as he dealt the cards.'
Ikenna picked up a pair and hoarded animal cards like prized war trophies.
Lilith… stared at her cards as if they were trying to whisper secrets to her.
Observing her behaviour and the fact that she'd won the past two rounds, Kai put down his cards and asked, "Just curious, is using your ability considered cheating?"
Junpei paused, thinking. "Typically, no," he said while picking up a card from the center. "But since we're playing casually, I think it wouldn't be fair. Some abilities could give an unfair advantage."
Kai, Matthew, and Ikenna all turned to look at Lilith.
"Doesn't that mean Lilith's disqualified?" Ikenna said, scratching his head. "This is exactly why I hate card games."
He slumped back in his chair. "Why not play video games instead? This is such a drag."
Kai smiled at Ikenna's reaction.
'He really hasn't changed, even all the way to the final arc.'
The deuteragonist of ICUWSA, Edo Ikenna–the Lost Monarch and Lord of Flames.
He was known for his carefree, childlike, and straightforward demeanor.
Unlike many others who relied on manipulation, Ikenna never schemed or lied. He was always sincere and unfiltered.
That was part of what made fans adore him; calm, laid-back, and driven by only a few things: his friends, strong opponents, good food, snacks, becoming the most powerful flame user, and most importantly his only love interest.
[Considering he was the only one to win his battle during the divine war, and one of the few capable of syncing with a tier 5 suit and later upgrading it to a tier 4, I'd say he's an extremely formidable opponent for you.]
'...'
Lilith's voice soon broke Kai's train of thought. "Stop."
Everyone turned toward her simultaneously.
"Lilith, are you okay? We already ended the game," Kai said.
"Tch." She clicked her tongue.
"You're all just sore losers," she muttered under her breath.
"Lilith, it's hardly fair to play cards against someone who can read your breathing and predict your moves," Elia said in a measured tone.
Lilith's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! You guys can use your abilities too, it'll balance things out," she said with a snap of her fingers.
Facepalming himself, Junpei spoke. "Lilith, I don't think that's the actual issue."
Lilith tilted her head. "It's not?"
-----
Minutes turned into hours, and the bus eventually reached its destination.
The group swiftly entered the state portal, used the elevator to reach the seventy-eighth floor, and Matthew handed his ID to a woman in a sleek black business suit. She allowed them through the glowing gate.
Roughly an hour later, they boarded a train en route to the Silver Duchy's southern branch house. Everything seemed peaceful.
But Kai knew the calm wouldn't last and so did the rest of the group.
Junpei held a sniper rifle in his hands. Lilith gripped a sabre, her eyes covered with a blindfold.
Elia glanced at Matthew and Kai, who were seated beside one another.
"Aren't you two going to summon your weapons? Waiting too long could cost you your lives, you know?"
"Don't worry," Kai replied.
"Yeah, we'll be fine," Matthew agreed.
Elia sighed and looked down at the magic wand in her hand. She didn't bother asking Ikenna, who typically relied on raw magic without conduits.
It had been about three hours since they'd left the school.
The train now glided along a narrow track skirting the edge of a mountain cliff they were preparing to cross.
Kai stared through the window at the canyon below and swallowed hard.
'Please.'
This region of the south was infamous, it was usually known by one name; the mountain ruled by beasts.
The train jolted violently as a massive object collided with the front head-on, sending termers through the passenger chambers.
Screams erupted, and terrified passengers huddled together in panic.
'If you're so afraid, why even take this route?'
But Kai knew the reason. This was the only viable passage for merchants heading south without incurring outrageous costs or tariffs.
Matthew immediately stood, pulled out his uniform jacket from his bag, and moved into the next chamber. Then he said the the line that made Kai feel a pang of nostalgia:
"Everyone, stay calm, the students of Noctis Academy are here to help!"
Kai smiled faintly, but quickly tempered his emotions. 'I guess he's still Matt—the loyal hero of the people deep down.'
But then he glanced at Matt again, now frustrated that the passengers continued panicking and ignored him.
'Maybe I spoke too soon.'
[For once, I agree with you.]