Don't rush, let's play a round of Arcane Cards first

Chapter 24: Don't Rush—Let's Play a Game of Arcane Cards First "I hope my arrival hasn't disturbed your studies, Fi."

After the maid announced him, Anvis entered with a smile, dressed in fitted pure-white Formal Attire and carrying a silver magic book at his waist.

"Not at all. I'm very happy you came to see me, Brother."

The light golden-haired Girl happily shook her head, delighted to have an excuse to escape the situation. Annie could only smile helplessly; she certainly did not dare interrupt the siblings' conversation.

"All right, dear Fi. Want to play a game of Arcane Cards?"

Noticing Annie's expression and the Book beside the Girl, Anvis smiled softly and pretended not to see through her little thoughts.

"Of course—Annie, bring our decks and the duel table."

Miss Fiona's Lake Blue Eyes lit up. She liked Anvis's suggestion.

Arcane Cards was a collectible card game, with two main modes: turn-based and real-time.

In either mode, Players had to rely on the effects of the cards in their hands. Reducing the opponent's health to Zero meant victory.

Thanks to the existence of magic, the cards in this world could summon Magic Projections corresponding to the images on their faces.

Arcane Cards was a very popular game among nobles, and Anvis and Fiona were naturally quite skilled at it. However, due to their low ranks, the two usually played the turn-based mode.

Normally, their win rate was roughly six to four, but since it was Fiona's birthday today, Anvis decided to go a little easy on her.

One Magic Hour later.

At this moment, Fiona activated the secret art card Dragon's Covenant, Sacrificing every entity on the field to summon Frost Giant Dragon Sinshis, with nine health and ten attack.

The frigid giant dragon descended amid an illusory dragon roar. With a single Extreme Cold Roar, it sent Anvis's sole remaining Undead Magister back to the graveyard, while also reducing his remaining ten health to seven.

The Girl proudly declared her turn over, intending to take Anvis out in a single wave next turn.

Although the Undead Magister had summoned three Skeleton Archers upon dying, three cards with one health and one damage were practically the same as nothing before the giant dragon.

What was more, when the Frost Dragon entered the field, it came with four Frost Kobolds, each with four health and five damage. Even if the three Skeleton Archers focused their fire, they could not kill even one of the little monsters.

The Girl cupped her fair, rosy cheeks adorably in her hands, gradually sinking into some sort of fantasy.

What if Anvis begged the smart and adorable Miss Fiona, saying, "I surrender. Go a little easy on me." What should she do?

Even though her brother, who had no gentlemanly manners at all, had won three games in a row! Gentle and kind Fiona was a qualified lady, so she would not hold it against him—

Going easy on him for just one game~~ should be fine, right?

Mm, then it was happily decided~

Watching the Girl, who thought victory was already hers and had no idea what she was fantasizing about, Anvis revealed a strange smile.

"Then, it's my turn."

"Spell card Dimension Banishment activated. Applying the metamagic technique Spell Maximize to banish Frost Giant Dragon Sinshis into the void."

Frost Giant Dragon Sinshis had nine health, reducing the banishment duration to one turn.

An illusory Black Hole appeared in Midair, suddenly swallowing the imposing Frost Dragon circling above Fiona's field. Only an angry, startled dragon roar remained on the field.

"Secret art card Deceiver activated. Freeze one unactivated enemy secret art card this turn."

An Arcane Card on Anvis's field suddenly flipped over, and an illusory bronze chain bound the sole secret art card remaining on Fiona's field, making the Girl secretly grind her teeth.

"Spell card Death Cloud activated. All enemy creatures take five poison damage. Races that need to breathe air undergo an additional suffocation check."

Yellow-green mist immediately blanketed Fiona's field. A transparent magic barrier flashed once, but failed to completely block the spreading deadly cloud.

The four Frost Kobolds that had come with Sinshis were immediately poisoned. Although the magic barrier reduced the damage by two, the Frost Kobolds, with only four health each, still collectively died from suffocation damage.

"Secret art card Balance Scale activated. Exchange five health for five mana."

A bronze projection of a scale appeared above the Crystal Rune representing Anvis, and the side representing spells sank downward.

The Rune's sky-blue glow immediately dimmed to nearly nothing. His health, which had originally been seven, was reduced to a pitiful two.

"Spell card Corpse Explosion activated. Based on the number of corpses on the enemy field multiplied by two-thirds of the corpses' maximum health, deal damage to the entire enemy field."

The four recently deceased Kobold corpses suddenly turned an eerie Dark Green, their bodies gradually swelling and twisting before violently exploding amid a miserable green radiance.

Since there were no creatures left on the field, the terrifying damage landed entirely on Fiona's Crystal Rune. The Rune's previously bright blue glow instantly fell to a dangerously faint level.

But at the same time, Anvis suddenly noticed Fiona's tearful gaze, and his heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, I accidentally forgot about going easy on her!

Other than the first game, where he had gone easy on her, he seemed to have been winning ever since...

Brother is bullying me—

Facing the silent accusation in the Girl's eyes, cold sweat began to form on Anvis's back.

But by the time he noticed, it was already too late. As his casting turn ended, the three Skeleton Archers immediately drew their bows and fired.

Three tiny projections of bone arrows instantly struck Fiona's Rune.

The Rune flashed brightly, then let out a crisp crack before going completely dark.

Watching the Crystal Rune representing her health shatter completely, the Girl's gaze immediately turned blank.

The hard-won advantage she had painstakingly built was overturned in an instant. Fiona pursed her lips, her Lake Blue Eyes gazing at Anvis with aggrieved sadness, while even her pale golden hair seemed dimmer than usual.

Anvis hurriedly spoke, trying to make up for it.

"Let's call it here for today."

That first sentence instantly raised Fiona's resentment by another level.

You're running off after winning!? Fortunately, Anvis's next action made the petite girl cast aside the unhappiness of her losing streak.

"I have a gift for you."

Meeting Fiona's brightened gaze, the pale-skinned young noble smiled elegantly. With a light turn of his slender right hand, an exquisite gift box appeared out of thin air in his palm.

The box was pure white and perfectly square. A pale blue gemstone was set into its lid, with two simple golden lines stretching across the lid from either side of the gem. There were no seams anywhere on the box.

Fiona happily accepted the gift box, but after looking it over, she had no idea how to open it. Her watery eyes looked up at Anvis, full of confusion.

Anvis smiled, took the girl's soft little hand, and gently tapped the gemstone in the center of the lid.

"Fi, happy birthday—"

The gemstone emitted a faint blue glow. Mysterious azure patterns spread gradually across the entire box like tender sprouts and vines growing from a Seed.

With a soft snap, a neat seam split open across the seamless box, and it slowly unfolded in Fiona's hands like a hinged case.

"Meow—"

A layer of silk padding lined the box. A fluffy little head poked out from inside and met the girl's expectant gaze.

It was an adorable Little Cat with blue-gray fur on its back and a snow-white belly. Its two fluffy white paws restlessly clung to the edge of the box, while its round mismatched eyes—one blue, one green—looked at her curiously.

"Wow! So cute! Thank you, Brother—"

"Meow~"

The little girl cried out in delight and cradled the fluffy, adorable cat in her hands. Her softly glowing pale golden hair complemented Little Cat's white belly beautifully.

The little fellow sniffed Fiona's delicate fingers, gave them a light lick, then let out a soft, babyish meow and meekly allowed the girl to hold her.

"She's a four-month-old Karkasa Shorthair Cat. I've already asked Father for permission, and he agreed to let you keep her in the castle."

Watching the warm and lovely scene before him, Anvis could not help feeling a faint warmth rise in his heart. A sincere smile appeared on his face.

"You know, Fi, there's an ancient legend about them—"

Hearing that Anvis was going to tell a story, Fiona immediately perked up. She scooted over to sit beside him, her Lake Blue Eyes fluttering excitedly as both girl and cat stared at Anvis.

Even though she had reached an age where she could stand on her own, the girl still loved listening to Anvis tell her stories.

"According to the legend, their original birthplace was not this world at all! They descended into this world from the infinitely distant stars, following in Purple Moon's footsteps."

Anvis gently patted the girl's little head. She comfortably narrowed her eyes and leaned against his shoulder like a little cat.

"It is said that even today, on Emis's dark side, there are still several mysterious Kingdoms that belong only to cats..."