Sciro: Book One - The Mage World

EPISODE SEVENTEEN

Kane, still in his crystal cage, watched with wide eyes, a grin spreading across his face. He felt the surge of triumph course through him as he realized Xedence had turned the tides in their favor. With his friends now protected by the dragon’s formidable presence, he finally allowed himself a moment of relief.

MYSTERY OF THE WIND KINGDOM PT.2

The leader of the armored men staggered back, his confident posture faltering at the sudden appearance of the massive dragon before him. Xedence, scales gleaming in shades of silver and cobalt under the dim light, opened its jaw and released a thunderous roar. The sound reverberated through the battlefield, shaking the earth beneath their feet. Moments later, a storm of water surged from the dragon’s mouth, forming colossal waves that crashed across the battlefield. The force of the torrent swept everything away in its path, the soldiers and their weapons tumbling like twigs caught in a river’s current.

Aldine, Hitoshi, Loer, and Kane stood safely behind Xedence, the mighty dragon acting as their shield. Water droplets shimmered around them, catching the glints of magic and light that filled the air. Xedence's enormous, bead-like eyes glowed with an intense blue, the color deepening as it focused its gaze on the soldiers who now lay sprawled and drenched, their armor dented and their expressions frozen in shock.

“Stay away. From my master,” Xedence commanded, its voice deep and hollow, echoing through the silence that followed the roar. The words sent shivers down the spines of everyone present, and the soldiers scrambled to their feet, fear replacing whatever determination they had moments ago. Without hesitation, they turned and fled, their armor clanking noisily as they retreated into the distance.

The towering figure of Xedence began to fade, its shimmering scales dissolving into particles of light before it vanished back into the card. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the labored breathing of Loer, who sank to the ground as exhaustion overcame him. The sand and snow barrier he had maintained crumbled away, the loose particles falling like a gentle rain around him. His body trembled with fatigue, every ounce of energy drained from the battle.

Aldine dropped to her knees, her own strength sapped from the clash. She pressed her palms against the wet ground, trying to steady herself. The battle against the armored men had been overwhelming, and the relief of surviving it washed over her in waves. Thank the stars, they had Xedence on their side. The sight of the mighty dragon had lifted a weight from her chest, if only temporarily.

Hitoshi stepped forward, the magical glow in his eyes dimming as he undid the crystal snow barrier that held Kane. With a soft crackle, the transparent walls melted away, and Kane stumbled out, taking a deep, shaky breath. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he processed the chaos that had just transpired.

Kane looked at his friends, his eyes wide and weary. “Hey,” he said, his voice breaking the silence. “What is going to happen to us now?”

Aldine glanced up at him, strands of her hair clinging to her damp face. Her emerald eyes were shadowed with fatigue, yet determination still flickered within them. She shook her head slowly. “That, I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper. “But let’s get out of here.”

Before they could move, a soft, lilting voice drifted through the air, so delicate it was almost musical. “Why do you want to leave? Our town is nice.”

The suddenness of the voice sent a chill down Kane’s spine, and he instinctively reached for his Sciro cards, the edges of the deck cold beneath his fingertips. Loer and Aldine, still struggling with their exhaustion, shot up to their feet, each holding their grimoire at the ready. Hitoshi’s eyes narrowed as he stood beside them, one hand clutching his own grimoire while the other conjured a small, swirling ball of snow in his palm.

Kane’s heart thumped as he scanned the surroundings, his gaze darting nervously. Out of thin air, a figure appeared, stepping gracefully forward. Kane jumped back, startled by the sudden manifestation. The figure was a girl, seemingly no older than ten. She wore a pristine white frock that brushed just above her knees, and her jet-black hair was tied into two high ponytails that bobbed as she moved. Her eyes, large and innocent, sparkled with a mischievous glint, and a sweet, dimpled smile played on her lips. The contrast between her appearance and the ominous circumstances sent a jolt of unease through the group.

“Oh damn,” Kane muttered, taking another step back. The suddenness of her arrival had been a jumpscare, to say the least.

Hitoshi positioned himself beside Kane, his gaze unwavering as he kept the snowball suspended in his palm. “Careful,” he warned, his voice low and serious. “That’s mist magic.”

Kane’s eyes widened, his confusion evident. “Mist magic?” he repeated, glancing between Hitoshi and the girl.

Hitoshi gave a sharp nod, his expression hardening. “She can reappear behind you without you even noticing.”

Kane’s pulse quickened, a shiver crawling down his spine at the thought. The girl’s sweet smile remained unchanged as she watched them, the silence stretching between them like a taut wire, ready to snap at any moment.

"Why do you want to leave?" the girl asked, her head tilting slightly as she spoke, a delicate smile still resting on her lips. Her voice, soft and almost melodic, seemed to hang in the stillness of the air. The group exchanged quick, nervous glances but remained silent, their bodies tensed and ready for whatever might come next. The girl’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of innocence and something far more unsettling as she tilted her head to the left, repeating her question with the same, unyielding curiosity. "Why do you want to leave?"

Kane’s breath hitched, and he whispered under his breath, "Oh, she is scaring me..."

Hitoshi stood at the front, eyes locked onto the girl with a calmness that belied the tension crackling through the air. "We don't belong to Orleans," he said, his voice steady and low. "We are not from here, and now it's time for us to leave."

The girl’s smile widened, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she found amusement in his words. "Oh?" she cooed, her tone light and teasing. "You can just be a part of the family then." Her voice sweetened as she took a small step forward, the hem of her white frock swaying gently.

A shiver coursed through Kane’s body at her words. "Wh-what do you mean?" he stammered, his eyes darting nervously to his friends. Before anyone could respond, one of his SCIRO cards slipped from the deck in his hand and fell to the ground with an audible thud. Kane's eyes widened in shock as Ximce, the half-human, half-fox creature, materialized in front of them.

Ximce stood taller than any of them, his fur bristling and sharp, black eyes glistening with a predatory glint. His ears twitched, and the corners of his mouth curled into a sinister smile as he leaned close to Kane. "Yo, master," Ximce whispered, his voice a rasping, guttural sound that made Kane flinch and sent a shiver down his spine. The pain that followed the creature’s voice was sharp, stabbing at Kane’s temples like needles.

Kane clenched his jaw, struggling to keep his composure as Ximce’s voice continued, indifferent to the agony it caused. "That kid is no ordinary mage," Ximce hissed, his hot breath tickling Kane’s ear. "You better be careful of what you get yourself into."

The girl watched with interest, her expression unchanging, as if the appearance of the terrifying Sciro meant nothing to her. Kane swallowed hard, the weight of Ximce’s warning pressing heavily on him as the girl’s eyes flickered with an unreadable light. The air between them crackled with tension, thick and suffocating, as they waited for what would happen next.