A month had passed since John's encounter with the mysterious card holder. Life hadn't become any easier. If anything, it had become even more exhausting. John had realized that simply possessing the cards wasn't enough. If he wanted to survive, he needed control, strength, and the ability to master his emotions. Every evening after finishing work, he cycled to the abandoned junkyard on the outskirts of the city. There, surrounded by rusted vehicles and twisted metal, he trained until long after sunset. The training pushed him beyond his limits. It wasn't only physically demanding but mentally draining as well. Since the cards drew their power from emotions, forcing himself to recreate fear, determination, and focus over and over again left him completely exhausted. There were countless nights when he returned home with aching muscles, trembling hands, and a pounding headache.
Despite the pain, the results were undeniable. Compared to a month ago, John had improved significantly. He could now summon his main card almost instantly and use several of its attacks without losing control. His movements had become sharper, and his confidence had grown with every passing day. Although he was still far from mastering the card's true potential, he no longer felt like the helpless college student who had barely survived his first battle.
That evening, John became so absorbed in his training that he completely lost track of time. One practice session turned into another until the sky was blanketed in darkness. When he finally checked his phone, his heart sank. It was already past midnight. Muttering a curse under his breath, he quickly packed his belongings and hurried home. The streets were nearly empty by the time he reached his house. As he quietly opened the gate, he froze. Sitting on the front doorstep was Emily, fast asleep while hugging her knees against the cold night air.
A wave of guilt washed over him. He slowly walked over and gently shook her shoulder. "Emily... wake up." Startled, Emily's eyes flew open, and years of martial arts training took over instinctively. She grabbed John's wrist and twisted it before preparing to throw him over her shoulder. "Ow! Emily, it's me!" John yelped. She stopped immediately, her tense expression melting into relief. "John?" she said, letting go of his arm before punching him lightly on the shoulder. "Idiot! Do you have any idea what time it is?" John rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile. "Work took longer than expected. I picked up a few extra deliveries." Emily folded her arms and glared at him. "You don't have to work yourself to death, you know." John smiled teasingly. "So... you were actually worried about me?" Emily instantly looked away. "Me? Worried? Don't be ridiculous. I was just making sure the front door didn't get lonely." John laughed. "That's a terrible excuse." She puffed out her cheeks. "I'm worried about my pocket money, you dumb idiot. If you collapse from overworking, who's going to buy me snacks?" John chuckled. "I see. So that's all I'm good for." Emily tried to hide a smile before her expression softened. "Just... don't come home this late without telling me again." John nodded sincerely. "I promise."
The following morning, John arrived at the café earlier than usual. Over the past few weeks, the city had become noticeably quieter as reports of increasing crime spread through the news. People still went about their daily lives, but there was a cautiousness in the air that hadn't existed before. When John entered the café, he found only a handful of customers scattered around the room. Lucas was already preparing the morning deliveries and greeted him with a grin. "Perfect timing," he said. "The delivery orders are covered, but our regular waiter called in sick, so you're working inside today." John sighed dramatically. "Guess I'm a waiter now."
With so few customers, the morning remained peaceful until the café door chimed open. John looked up and immediately recognized a familiar face. It took him a moment to remember where he had seen her before. The young woman smiled brightly as she approached the counter. "Mr. Charming," she teased. John frowned in confusion. "I'm sorry... have we met?" She laughed softly. "Seriously? You forgot me already?" Then it clicked. "The fashion show..." John said. "Exactly," she replied with a smile. "I'm Mia. I wanted to talk to you that day, but you and your sister disappeared before I got the chance. Actually, I came because I loved the outfits you both wore. Were they custom-made?" John nodded proudly. "Yeah. Emily designed them herself." Mia's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? I'd love to order one from her someday."
Before John could respond, a stern voice interrupted their conversation. "John." He turned around to find Mr. Benjamin standing outside his office with his arms folded. "My office. Now." John excused himself and followed his manager inside. Mr. Benjamin closed the door and looked at him with a serious expression. "John, I believe I pay you to work here, not to spend your shift chatting with random girls." John tried to explain, but his manager raised a hand to stop him. "I don't want excuses. If I catch you neglecting your duties again, you can forget today's wages." John lowered his head respectfully. "Understood, sir."
When John returned to the counter, Mia had already left. Her coffee cup was empty, and beside it lay a small tip along with a neatly folded note. Curious, he unfolded it and found a phone number written beneath a short message. 'Tell Emily I'd love to order one of her designs. Call me when she's free. — Mia.' Smiling to himself, John carefully slipped the note into his pocket before returning to work.
By the time his shift ended, the sun had already begun to set. John locked up, grabbed his bicycle, and started riding home, completely unaware that inside his pocket, the black card had begun to flicker with a faint blue glow. Once. Twice. Then again. A silent warning echoed through the system.
Another card holder was nearby.
