Before Shali lay a thick stack of cards.
The cards in the iron box had been exquisitely arranged, with a stack in each of the four corners and two cards laid one atop the other in the center. Since all of them faced away from Shali, she could not make out their contents for the moment. She could only see that their backs were identical, filled with geometric shapes and all manner of lines and patterns, somewhat like the view inside a kaleidoscope.
"What are these?" Shali looked at Angel in confusion. Were these something used exclusively by magicians? How had she never known about them?
Angel did not explain, merely gesturing for Shali to take them out and look for herself.
Shali hesitated for a moment before reaching out to touch one of the cards. The instant she touched it, the cards inside seemed to have all been activated. They flew out of the iron box and arranged themselves in an orderly formation, revolving around her.
Only then did Shali finally see what was on the cards.
There were four different suits: Hearts, Black Spade, Diamonds, and Clubs. Each suit had thirteen cards, every one marked with familiar numbers and symbols. At that moment, they all rotated around Shali at a uniform speed.
The sole exception was the two cards that remained in the box, resting quietly in its center. Though the patterns on their backs were the same as those of the other cards, Shali inexplicably sensed a gravity to them that distinguished them from the cards of the other four suits.
Even now, Shali still did not know what these cards were. Yet they gave her a faint sense of familiarity, as though they were exceptionally well suited to her.
On the other side, a glimmer of