“Yes, I’m Keiko. Sorry if I haven’t actually introduced myself right.”

“You’re the girl who was the first to take the mantel of Ishimoto and Okazaki when I left, correct?” a grin spreads across her face.

“Yeah, yeah, you can say that. I met them on a playground one day in the summertime. I remember they were talking about some girl and how they missed her.”

“What darlings they were missing me even after that long of a time. I didn’t feel any different from them. I don’t remember a whole lot from that time, but I remember how hard it was for me to make friends in the new city. It was like learning a whole new thing that I had already known once before.”

Okazaki grips a dagger this time, swinging it at Usagi, the old-fashioned style missing her cheek by a hair. She lunges in a backflip, retreating for a moment before cascading forward with a flurry of jabbing kicks as he dodges and hits them off with his hands.

“Both of their spirits are like Hercules finding his strength. Okazaki always struck me as akin,” she says.

“That really strong guy? Yeah, he’s definitely the type, I can see him as that too.”

“Strength, though, isn’t as clear cut as mythological beings, I find. He wasn’t born that way.” She ganders at her cards. “If I may be so forward, can I see one of those cards?”

“Oh yeah, sure, here you go!” She hands over the jester card. It is her favorite, having her favorite anime girl MC in a jester outfit and in a funny pose.

“Oh my, I know this girl. She looks absolutely adorable dressed in that outfit. What a funny pose… from Tati Tati Kingdom, correct?” She laughs, recognizing her.

“You know Tati Tati Kingdom! Oh my goodness, we have to watch it together, pretty please, please!”

“We can do that, yes.” She continues to smile, flicking the card upward. “Your Remnant has to do with these cards? Can you show me what you can do with them?”

“I- oh, I…” She hesitates.

Okazaki throws a bevy of twelve knives at Usagi, each miss sticking to the trees. She uses one to bound forward, blunting him in the side. His body goes flying, hitting the bark and making him cough blood. He is unfazed despite the impact, showing his tough and persistent nature as he goes back in.

Angel smiles, offering her hand out. “Would you mind holding my hand for a moment?”

“Hold your hand?... I mean… that’s a bit of an odd request, but sure.” Keiko puts her hand into hers. She has a soft touch. She can tell she lotions her skin daily. “Else it gets the hose again…” Keiko whispers.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“Huh?” Angel questions.

“Nothing! Your hands are just well-maintained. You’re almost like a doll.”

“I don’t think I’d make a good doll. I’m quite alive, just like you.” She giggles, and her hand slips the card back into Keiko’s, sliding across. She flips it upward. “Come now, show me that magnificent power inside you. I believe you have a great bestowed gift withering inside. Let it loose against the trees, as your friends are.” She leads her hand to aim at a nearby tree. Keiko feels at ease around her. Her voice is soothing and calm, like that of an old friend she held dear for another lifetime. This must be how Ishi and Oki feel. How wonderful.

The card floats ahead of them as if by second nature, moving slowly but surely. Keiko has her eyes light up in excitement. She hasn’t been able to do this so efficiently and controlled before. It’s as if she’s unlocking a new facet of her. “It’s floating! I’m actually doing it. I can’t believe it! I feel like this is even easier than the other day!”

“You truly are. What you’re capable of is amazing. I can’t say I know your true potential, but from what Kubo told me, you’re someone with abilities that apply in a wider sense than most Remnants.” She smiles down at her.

“More than other Remnants? What do you mean by that?” She tilts her head.

“Kubo believes if you nurture your gift, you have a higher ceiling then most others. Your cards, he believes, have multiple uses and abilities beyond the stagnated sense of some. For example, the one called Mr. Pond is limited to water and, more often, the water of a pond or lake. It is unlikely someone like him can harness more than that. Judging from him, his personality, and current level, it is also highly unlikely he’ll go beyond the powers of water-based combats and abilities.”

“Are you saying that it’s possible to go beyond what our charms are?” She looks down at her card.

“You’re a sharp girl for noticing that. Yes, some Remnants can evolve their powers. From what Kubo told me, some of Mr. Nuke Happy’s lieutenants are able to do this. Miss Bones is one of them that Kubo has seen firsthand.”

“That’s right.” Kubo steps over, watching the card float, seeming impressed by Angel managing to get that out of her so easily by herself. “Though it’s hard to explain. Whenever I saw her, it was like a gush of wind, a blinding light that I couldn’t process. Part of me thinks that was her sheer speed because when she used it, all I saw was the other person falling over. His body parts slipped off his limbs, his flesh leaking from his bones. He was a Remnant. It justified using that move against him.”

“That sounds terrible!” Keiko can’t believe her ears.

“That’s not cool at all. You expect us to go against someone who can do that to other people like her, man?” Shoji trots over, the fight continuing in the background as neither has yet been able to make a significant advantage.

“Don’t worry. He was significantly weakened before reaching his demise. If she had started out the fight with that move, it wouldn’t have worked. Dare I say, it’s the reasoning behind why your friends have been in this stalemate.” The truth is clear. They go blow for blow, Okazaki slams his fist into her cheek, but she returns back with a trip up of his legs and a kick to his belly, to which he quickly recovers, stammering back to his feet in a flash. The clash between them lacks an advantage on either side.

“It won’t work if they continue this way. They’ll both lose. Though Remnants have stamina greater than humans, even they have their limits when it comes to attrition. Look.” Staring back at them, their bodies are slowing down at an equal pace. Their moves aren’t as swift as Okazaki hits Usagi with his blade. It punctures her skin, and she returns a massive kick to his hip.

“Their physical strength isn’t enough. It will only get them so far before they aren’t able to take the burden of their untamed powers.”