Into the Mystic

The following day, the Nobleman looked refreshed. With regained confidence, the smug look on his face made it clear how much more important he was than the peasants at their stalls.

He turned up the alley and barely crept into the darkness.

“I knew he was playing the fool,” he told the companion. “The look on the Knight’s face when he chopped off his head and glitter exploded everywhere was priceless.

“These Blue Dragon are turned in circles. Now is our time to convert another member and bolster our ranks.”

The two men shared gleeful smiles and even shook hands before going their separate ways. The Nobleman strolled through the market and walked right up to the little girl at her table.

“Ahh, my lucky charm,” he said as he threw another three pieces down.

The girl shuffled the cards as fast as she could. She flashed the black X for just a moment and set all three cards down at the same time. He hesitated before selecting the center card and revealing a red circle.

“Seems like you’ve been practicing, little girl. But do not dare cheat me. I am a very powerful man,” he said as he threw down three more pieces.

The girl shuffled with all her might. The black X was merely a blur before she neatly arranged the three cards.

His hand hovered over the right-most card but he kept his gaze on her. His hand slid down the spine of the card before he jumped to the center and flipped over a red diamond.

“I see what you’re doing… One more go, but this time I want to clearly see that X. No more of these games.”

He dropped six pieces on the table and sneered.

“Don’t fail me now, my little lucky charm.”

The little girl was much more deliberate this time. She turned over the black X and held it there until the Nobleman shook his head. She casually shuffled the cards from side-to-side before rotating them around and placing them on the table.

“Hahaha, you silly little girl. You cannot fool me.”

He confidently reached for the center card and flipped it, revealing the symbol of the Blue Dragon.

“Your luck has run out, assassin” whispered the girl.

The incredulous, dark-haired man threw the small table to the ground and drew the dagger from his waist.

The King’s Guard reacted quickly and dragged the man to the ground.

“By order of the Prince, you are to be brought at once to the dungeon,” said the ranking officer. “You will meet the executioner’s axe before the sun rises.”

The young Mystic gathered her pieces from the ground and put them into her purse. A light-haired man knelt beside her and helped gather her things.

He picked up the three cards from the ground and flipped them over, revealing the indigo rose of the Unseen.