Cards Of The Silent King-Chapter 61: Deck at Eleven

The apartment was quiet. The streetlights outside cast bars of orange across the floor. Kaito sat at his desk. The wood was worn. The lamp was dim. He did not turn on the overhead light. He preferred the shadows. They were comfortable. They were honest. He opened his jacket. He reached into the inner pocket. The fabric was stiff. The cards were lined up in a specific holder. He pulled them out. He laid them on the desk. One by one. They made a soft sound when they touched the wood. Like rain on a window.

There were eleven cards. They lay in a semi-circle. They faced him. They were not objects. They were not tools. They were partners. They were guests. They were burdens. Kaito looked at the first card. The Ace of Spades. Kuro. The edges were worn. The ink was faded. Kaito had held this card the longest. Two years. It felt like an extension of his hand.

Kuro said: "You are counting."

Kaito said: "I am checking."

Kuro said: "We are not going anywhere."

Kaito said: "I know."

Kaito moved to the second card. The King of Fangs. Fenrir. The artwork showed a wolf made of blue energy. The card was warm. It vibrated slightly. Fenrir was loyal. Fenrir was loud. Fenrir made the silence less heavy. Kaito thought: He bites for me.

He touched the third card. The Queen of Ice. Yuki-Onna. The card was cold. It frosted his fingertip. She was ancient. She was calm. She warned him when he was wrong. She did not coddle him. She respected him. Kaito thought: She sees the end.

He moved to the fourth. The Seven of Hearts. Ember. The card glowed faintly. Orange light pulsed under the paper. She was small. She was curious. She sat on his shoulder when he was sad. She did not ask why. She just burned. Kaito thought: She keeps me warm.

The fifth card was heavy. It sank into the wood. Atlas. The Mythical card. It had no artwork. It showed only a silhouette holding up the sky. The rank was printed in gold. It was the newest bond. It was the strongest anchor. Kaito thought: He holds the weight.

The sixth card was black. It absorbed the light from the lamp. NYX. The Legendary void. It had no image. It had only a name. It was cold. It was empty. It was dangerous. She had not stated her terms. She waited. Kaito thought: She waits for payment.

The seventh card was light. Zephyr. The wind spirit. It was common. It was fast. It was used for scouting. It did not speak much. It liked high places. It liked the roof. Kaito thought: It likes the wind.

The eighth card was green. Sakura. The healing spirit. It was rare. It smelled like spring. It did not fight. It mended. It closed the wounds the others made. It was gentle. It was necessary. Kaito thought: It fixes the damage.

The ninth card was dark grey. The Hunter. The Adaptive. It was captured in the alley. It learned. It changed. It was useful for strategy. It was cold. It was calculating. It was like the enemy. Kaito thought: It thinks like them.

The tenth card was white and gold. The Bone King. The Legendary Hunger-Born. It was hot. It hummed. It was powerful. It was dangerous to hold. It cost stamina to keep sealed. It was the prize of the last fight. Kaito thought: It cost me hair.

The eleventh card was steel grey. Akira. The Wandering Blade. It was epic. It was honorable. It did not speak unless spoken to. It respected strength. It respected silence. It was a ronin. It was a guardian. Kaito thought: He guards the back.

Kaito looked at the eleven cards. They were arranged by rank. They were arranged by trust. They were arranged by cost. He knew every personality. He knew every preference. He knew every price.

Kuro said: "You know them well."

Kaito said: "I have to."

Kuro said: "Why."

Kaito said: "They are not weapons."

Kuro said: "They are entities."

Kaito said: "They are friends."

Kuro was silent. The shadow shifted on the wall. He did not argue. He knew the truth. Kaito picked up the Ace of Spades. He turned it over. The back was plain. The front was familiar. He knew the scratch on the corner. He knew the smudge on the edge.

Kaito said: "You are tired."

Kuro said: "We are all tired."

Kaito said: "Rest tonight."

Kuro said: "We will."

Kaito put the card down. He picked up the Queen of Ice. He wiped the frost from the surface. He picked up the Seven of Hearts. He warmed it in his palm. He picked up the Mythical card. He felt the weight. It pulled at his wrist. He thought about the battles. He thought about the blood. He thought about the ninety seconds. He thought about the laugh at lunch. The cards were part of both. They were the violence. They were the protection. They were the reason he could sit in the cafeteria. They were the reason he could walk home. Kaito thought: I know you.

He knew Kuro liked high perches. He knew Fenrir liked meat. He knew Yuki-Onna liked silence. He knew Ember liked warmth. He knew Atlas liked stability. He knew NYX liked secrets. He knew Zephyr liked speed. He knew Sakura liked rain. He knew the Hunter liked patterns. He knew the Bone King liked power. He knew Akira liked honor. He knew them. They knew him. They knew his silence. They knew his scars. They knew the white patch in his hair. They did not judge. They did not ask. They stayed.

Kaito said: "Eleven."

Kuro said: "It is a good number."

Kaito said: "It is enough."

Kuro said: "For now."

Kaito gathered the cards. He stack them. He aligned the edges. He slid them into the holder. He secured the strap. He placed the holder in his inner pocket. He buttoned the jacket. The weight settled against his ribs. It was familiar. It was heavy. It was home. He stood up. He turned off the lamp. The room went dark. The streetlights still cast bars across the floor. He walked to the window. He looked out at the Grey District. It was quiet. The cracks were sealed. The hunger was sleeping.

Kaito said: "Tomorrow."

Kuro said: "Tomorrow."

Kaito said: "We walk."

Kuro said: "We fight."

Kaito said: "We survive."

Kuro said: "Yes."

Kaito turned away from the window. He walked to the bed. He lay down. He did not take off his jacket. He kept the cards close. He closed his eyes. The darkness was not empty. It was full of eleven presences. They were watching. They were waiting. He thought about the school. He thought about the friends. He thought about the laugh. He thought about the coffee. He thought about the white hair. He thought about the cost. Kaito thought: It is worth it.

He drifted. The sleep came slowly. It was deep. It was dreamless. The cards hummed softly in the pocket. They were alive. They were ready. The night passed. The sun rose. The light hit the desk. The wood was bare. The cards were gone. They were safe. They were hidden. They were eleven. Kaito woke up. He sat up. He stretched. His body was stiff. His muscles ached. He stood up. He walked to the mirror. He fixed his hair. He covered the white patch. He looked human. He looked normal.

He put on the jacket. He checked the pocket. The cards were there. He opened the door. He stepped into the hallway. The building was quiet. He walked down the stairs. He passed the second floor. The step was empty. He walked out into the morning. The city was waking up. The people were moving. The life was flowing. Kaito joined the stream. He was one among many. He was invisible. He was the keeper. He touched his pocket. He felt the eleven cards. He felt the eleven hearts. He felt the eleven souls. They were his. He was theirs.

Kaito said: "Ready."

Kuro said: "Always."

Kaito kept walking. He did not look back. The shadow followed. The light remained. He was ready. The day began.