Kairo found his way to the ceiling of a public building. Seated on the edge of a three-story structure, he observed the city in silence. He had thought about going back home but then considered the possibility of meeting his father.
"He too isn't right in all of this. He wiped my memories of Mirelle."
Kairo could not resolve himself to simply walk in as if everything was fine. Kairo wanted to be far from them, just with himself—away from all those lies and betrayals.
He then sent a quick message to someone and waited patiently.
"She regretted deeply her actions. Yet I can't resolve myself to forgive her now," Kairo said. This was beyond his strength. Feet dangling in the void, Kairo could feel the cold winds blow past his body.
"If only they could wash away all this pain," he whispered.
"Hey Kairo, I rushed as fast as I could after receiving your message."
A very familiar voice came from behind—almost like a ray of hope pulling him out of his dark clouds.
Nyx approached the edge of the wall, a pullover in hand. Then sat by his side and draped it over his shoulders.
"It must be hard on you. I understand how you feel," she said.
"Thank you for being here. I didn't know anyone else to call. I've avoided you the entire day and yet when I need help, I call and you rush in here. I'm such an egoist," Kairo said, his voice heavy with guilt.
After they returned from the submarine, everything had always been about him and only him. He hadn't noticed how she could be feeling. Earlier that day, he had left without care and just went about his things like she didn't exist.
"The truth is... I recently learned I might possess one card from the Deck of Rigon. The Eye of Truth. My father wiped my memories about my mother. And my mother didn't want me. You can guess how I was feeling. But that's not an excuse…"
"Kairo, why didn't you tell me about this instead of taking all the burden on your own?" Nyx asked, a flash of anger in her face.
"I didn't want to burden you. Sorry," Kairo said, only now understanding how selfish he had been.
"That's so stupid, Kairo," Nyx said, raising her fist to tap into his chest.
Although Kairo didn't feel any pain, he could feel how angry she was at him. Her delicate eyebrows twisted in a deep frown.
"Have you forgotten who we are? Partners, Kairo. You can't hide things from me, nor can I. I was scared one day you'd leave—just like my friends at the care center. Get fed up with the 'lively' kid and go."
Nyx said this with relief, visibly happy she was the first Kairo called.
"No, I wouldn't," Kairo said.
It didn't look like it, but for him, she was his anchor in this world—preventing him from swaying too far under the heavy winds of chaos that blew through the Card Mage Police.
Kairo took Nyx in his arms, leaning her head against his chest.
"Promised I wouldn't."
Kairo and Nyx's eyes fell into each other. For an instant, they forgot everything that had been disturbing their minds. Kairo could see the hesitation in her eyes, as if she feared he wasn't in the right state.
"She doesn't seem convinced about us, right? This time I think I have to take charge," Kairo thought.
Kairo leaned forward, causing their lips to meet in a tender kiss—their worlds melting into each other for a brief moment.
Afterward, they sat there without a sound, the calm and dark luminous city spreading all over the horizon.
"Your father asked me to inform you—the Seruth Monster will be revealing the location of the Chosen Destiny tomorrow. He wants to reveal it to the whole world at the same time, claiming he wants to be fair. But I doubt it's only about that," Nyx said.
Kairo sat up, a curious expression on his face. After a glance at his phone, he noticed several missed calls from his father and Mirelle. He hadn't wanted to talk to either of them. That's why she was the one bringing the news.
"The Seruth monster, Chosen Destiny, and Card Zero. All of these names seem to be related in one way or another—but how?" Kairo was perplexed. A mixture of worry and anticipation grew in his heart. Very soon, the greatest expedition of their world would take place.
"No idea, but this will be really dangerous. One last thing, the Seruth monster asked to specifically talk to you before announcing it to the world. Right now, no one knows about this information. They only know he would reveal the information publicly. Any idea why he wants to talk to you first?" Nyx asked with a questioning look.
Kairo shrugged his shoulders, uncertain. Then he went on to explain everything he had learned about Card Zero and Sam's son to Nyx. Since they had come to a point of not hiding anything anymore, he told her everything.
"If we assume Card Zero killed Sam's son because of you—after finding the Deck of Origin was real—now the Seruth monster wants to reveal the location of Chosen Destiny but wants to talk to you first. Everything seems to be converging around you, Kairo. Or to be precise, around your card: The Eye of Truth," Nyx spoke, piecing every bit of information through her mind.
"He wants to talk to me first? Hmmmm." Kairo brought his mind back to the first time he met the Seruth monster in the chamber. The man had left a very disturbing impression on him. If he can truly answer any question he is asked, then he definitely knows more than any of us about the Deck of Origin, Kairo thought.
"Let's head home," Nyx proposed, rising back to her feet. With a sigh, Kairo followed suit and they left.
---
The next day, Kairo left their villa early. Far from what he had expected, his father was not home—visibly too occupied with the affairs of the Card Mage Police to bother about Kairo's feelings. Kairo wasn't surprised. This was exactly like his father. A man of duty.
"Have you noticed there are quite a few cars following us, Kairo?" Nyx said, glancing at the rearview mirrors.
"Why would they do that?" Kairo tilted his head out only to see several people trying their best to tail them unnoticed. But journalists were not exactly spies. One stepped directly in front of their car before Kairo could get to the gates leading to the other realm where the Card Mage HQ was.
"Officer Kairo Veyne, we have a few questions we'd like you to answer. Is it true that the Seruth monster favors you for the upcoming event? Why is that so? The card Chosen Destiny—can it really change or break card magic? Officer Kairo, please—the world wants to know!"
Journalists were dragging Nyx into the sea of camera flashes coming their way.
Once they went through the gates, their figures vanished, transported back into the HQ. "No wonder this place is held inside the Card Safe Vault. Otherwise, we'd have a hard time dealing with these people," Kairo sighed.
"How could they have known already? This was confidential information. Other than us and the higher-ups, no one was aware of it," Nyx asked, deep in thought, wondering if she might have made a mistake.
"No idea, but it's not impossible. It's another trick from Sam and Luve. We shouldn't forget our agreement concerns only Card Zero and his son—not this," Kairo guessed. He had no certainty, but this was the only possible explanation he could think of.
"I'm tempted to say it's just a card—why would they go this far? But I fear we haven't seen all that this rush for Chosen Destiny might cause. We'll have to be ready for this, Kairo. How about we make our deck composition together later?" Nyx proposed.
Kairo smiled, a spark of genuine surprise on his face. Deck composition was a crucial step in their world. The cards one selected before a mission could decide if one survived or died on it. This was usually done alone and privately—it required enormous trust for her to ask such a thing.
"I agree. This evening, then." Kairo nodded.
Kairo, you are here. I have been looking for you. Come with me—we need to place you in security. Now that everyone knows, we can't let anything happen to you before you talk with him," Mirelle said, followed by a group of officers. On each of their insignias, Kairo noticed the famous four stars. This was the elite of the Card Mage Police.
"Okay," Kairo had no choice but to follow them with Nyx