Enchanted University of Magemenos

chapter 91:Familiar spark

I finally sit down, my body tense, trying to calm my racing thoughts. The moment I take my seat, the cards are distributed, and I gather my manny and the lone card in my hand—a green 1.

The sudden flicker of the red light above me catches my attention, making my heart skip. The system announces that I'm the first to play, and instantly, the room goes quiet. I can feel the weight of everyone's gaze, like they're all waiting for me to make a fool of myself.

I've heard the rumors—the first person to put down a card is considered the "luckiest," but why does it feel like the opposite for me? It's the wrong kind of luck. I still have so much manny left. What's the point of being lucky now when it's all going to waste? I can't even shake the feeling that I'm being watched too closely, the pressure growing with every passing second.

With a deep breath, I place my card down. The light blinks off, and the game begins. I just hope I made the right choice.

The game continues, tension rising with every turn. The 5th player, the one sitting across from me, stares at the deck for what feels like an eternity. They don't have a matching card, so they reluctantly reach for the card pile and purchase one for 10 manny.

Now, with two cards in hand, they're more dangerous. And, as luck would have it, I'm not far behind. I glance at my card—my power card, tucked safely in my pocket. It's a constant reminder of the stakes, but also the potential. Having two cards could give me an advantage, but it could also put a target on my back.

He pulls a red 8, completely out of the box. His eyes widen in disbelief, but there's no time to dwell on it. With a swift motion, he reaches for the deck again, this time forking out a hefty 20 manny, double the manny. The price of desperation, it seems.

In the corner of my eye, I see the calculation in his mind. We were all given 90 manny to start with, but buying cards? That's the real trap. It's the most expensive move, and once you're out of manny, you're done. No more buying, no more chances to play. Supplies, though? They're a bargain. Less than 10 manny for the essentials, but cards? They're where the real cost lies. And the worst part? Each card gets exponentially more expensive with each purchase. First 10 manny. Then 20. Who knows how much the next one will cost? This game's rigged to drain us dry if we're not careful.

The game finally ends, and as players begin heading to find dinner resources , I sit there, feeling strangely full. I practically gorged myself on the buffet earlier. I'm stuffed—there's no way I could eat another bite for the next two years. Of course, that's just a figure of speech, but still, I'm completely over it. I'll skip dinner tonight, no problem.

Just as I'm about to turn and retreat to my table, someone grabs me from behind, pulling me into a tight hug.

I pull back, blinking in surprise. It's Kate—her face glowing in the soft light of the room, her eyes alive with that familiar spark. I can hardly believe she's here, standing in front of me. After everything that's happened, after all the madness, here she is, not just alive, but laughing.

"Baby, how are you?" she whispers in my ear, her voice soft but filled with so much warmth. I can feel the weight of her words, the way they wrap around me, making everything feel a little more bearable.

"I'm not dead yet!" I say, my voice a little hoarse, but I'm grinning despite myself. "What about you, miss? Missed you."

She pulls back, her laughter ringing out, clear and bright. "I'm also thankfully not dead!" she says, shaking her head, her smile wide and contagious. It's like hearing that laugh for the first time again—relieving, comforting.

We stand there for a moment, just taking each other in. After everything—the danger, the challenges, the uncertainty—seeing her here, alive, is like a small miracle. My heart feels lighter than it has in days, but it's also heavier with the realization of how much I've missed her, how much I still need her in this game.