Chapter 1:

The Missing Candidate

Empty Wand , Full Tricks

“Tch… two days left, and I’m still missing the tenth candidate.

Enshin walked down the crowded street. Coat too loose on his shoulders. Eyes stuck on the list.

Hope the one I’m looking for is here… he thought, flipping files with quick, sharp glances.

He stopped and blinked.

“…They’re good. … Very good, even.”

Each profile showing young exorcists from sixteen to nineteen, all skilled and strong.

“The director really picked the best,” he admitted. “They all deserved the tournament, no doubt. But…”

He exhaled, tightening his grip just enough for the paper to crumple.

“My gut tells me none of them are the key I’m looking for.”

And why do these guts matter so much?

Well… it had saved him more times than he could count. Some joked it was like divination, though he hated that word. Still… it had never been wrong.

And right now, it was screaming at him.

Something was coming. He didn’t know what. Didn’t know when. Only one thing was certain … the missing candidate will play a big role in this battle.

But time was running out.

“One more kid won’t change much anyway…” he muttered. Not really believing it.

Eyes down on the list, he kept walking, lost in thought.

And then—

BOOM.

A sharp explosion cracked above the street. Loud enough to freeze him in his tracks.

He lifted his head.

Smoke bloomed, twisting in the air. Slowly, a blurry shape took form.

The crowd gasped, voices overlapping, fingers pointing upward.

“Oh, look!”

“Is that… a flying rabbit?!”

As the smoke faded, a white rabbit with long wings hovered in the air, blue eyes shining, a glowing blue symbol on its forehead. Faint lights ran through its fur like tiny sparks.

Enshin’s jaw tightened

A yokai… in broad daylight? Impossible.

His hand slipped into his coat pocket, closing around the lighter, his source of power. One spark was all it took to cast a spell.

“Step closer, step closer, dear humans,” the rabbit called, playful but strange, echoing as if the air itself hummed.

“Are you ready to see something impossible?”

Enshin pushed forward, weaving through the crowd, every step measured, heart hammering.

Shit. I need to get close. Fast. Before this thing makes a mess.

Finally, he reached the edge, ready to strike,

Then—

BOOM.

A blast erupted to his right. This shape was bigger. Taller. Almost… humanoid.

His breath caught.

“Another one? Why can’t I feel them? Something is wrong.” he muttered.

Grip tightening around the lighter, ready to burn whatever stepped out of the mist.

The cloud thinned. Slowly, a silhouette emerged. A young man stepped forward, dressed in black, red bow tie, top hat, white gloves.

Enshin blinked. “…A magician?”

The crowd cheered, phones raised, laughter echoing down the street.

He froze, lighter half-raised.

“Ah. Shit”.

Play it cool.

He pulled the lighter out properly, leaning the flame to light a cigarette.

Smoke curled from his lips. Shoulders loosened.

“…Tch. Almost roasted a street performer.”

The magician bowed, tipped his hat, smiled wide.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s add a little magic to your day!”

The white-winged rabbit hovered at his side, obedient and calm like a pet.

No real threat. Yet Enshin stayed. Eyes sharp. Heart hammering.

The show began.

A wand appeared in the magician’s hand.

Classic trick.

Then a red ball hovered above his palm, flickered, burst into flame, and vanished. Cards spun through the air, objects popped in and out of existence, and fire twisted as if it had a mind of its own.

Enshin leaned forward, eyes narrowing.

Is this really only tricks? How is he doing this…? Or maybe …

The tricks kept coming.

Each one looked like a spell: fire bending, light shooting, air swirling.

Enshin’s eyes widened.

Don’t tell me… he’s an exorcist?

Impossible!

An exorcist could master only one element. This boy controlled three, effortlessly, as if the rules didn’t apply to him at all.

But that wasn’t the most disturbing part.

No mana. Not a trace. Yet the illusion was flawless.

Enshin’s gaze stuck to the magician, unblinking , the candidate list slipping from his mind.

Time slipped.

After a moment, the sky darkened.

The magician tossed glowing beads into the air. Snap. They burst into sparks, painting the street with fleeting colors that danced across the crowd’s faces.

Finally, he bowed.

“That concludes tonight’s show. Thank you!”

The crowd sighed in awe and applauded.

He held up his top hat.

“Time to go home.”

The rabbit hopped inside, a small wisp of smoke trailing after it. Then he turned the hat upside down. Empty.

A little girl tugged at her mother’s sleeve, eyes glistening with tears.

“B-Bunny… where is he?” she sniffed

The magician froze, then knelt, a red rose appearing in his hand as if by magic.

“He’s tired … here, takes this gift instead.”

“Bunny… gone?” she sobbed. “No… I want Bunny back!”

No way he could leave her crying like that.

“Alright , alright … I’ll call him back … just so you can say goodbye, okay?”

The girl’s eyes lit up.

“Really? Thank you, big brother!”

The magician held the hat out toward her.

“Since you want to see him, you should call him.”

She shouted into the hat, and the rabbit popped out.

Cheers erupted.

The little girl squealed and hugged him tightly.

Everyone seemed happy… except Enshin.

“It’s impossible,” he muttered, frowning. “Yokai can only be summoned by their master.”

After a moment, the rabbit closed his eyes and stopped moving, settling calmly in the kid’s arms.

“W-What happened to Bunny?” the girl asked worried.

“Ah… he used too much energy. Guess he got tired.” the magician chuckled, placing the rabbit back in the hat.

He tipped his hat and passed through the crowd.

Coins clinked.

The crowd slowly dispersed, but Enshin’s eyes stayed glued to the boy. Mind racing, heart still hammering.

Then he stepped closer, dropped a coin in.

“You’re quite something. I’m Enshin Yosuke. And you are…?”

The young magician bowed slightly, one hand on his heart, the other raised gracefully.

“Rei Genma,” he said, a polite smile stretched across his face.

Enshin nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He studied the boy carefully.

“You know, I’m a magician too. Some of your tricks… they looked almost like real magic. Especially that flying rabbit. How did you do it?”

Rei’s eyes lit up.

“Oh! A fellow performer! But… you know, a magician never reveals his secrets, right?”

Enshin chuckled softly.

“Too bad. I wanted to invite you to a magic tournament. The biggest in Japan. The best young magicians from all over.”

Rei’s jaw dropped, he bounced lightly on his heels. “Really? Me? Here? The biggest…?”

Then he looked at the man in front of him, burgundy messy hair, a few days of stubble, tired eyes. Honestly… he looked more like a homeless guy than a prestigious magician.

“But how do I know you’re really a magician? Not… some conman?”

Enshin smirked.

He flicked the small lighter from his coat. The flame twisted and danced. Then, with a wave of his hand, fire formed into a woman, hair like molten gold, moving as if alive.

Rei’s mouth fell open.

“Wow… that’s… incredible!”

“Is that proof enough?” Enshin teased, eyebrow raised.

“Yes… I believe you,” Rei said, still excited.

Enshin’s eyes softened.

“Good. Can we talk somewhere quieter? The park nearby?”

Rei nodded eagerly. He packed up quickly and they walked side by side, night falling softly around them.

“So… your performance, really impressive. How old are you?” Enshin asked, stepping over a low branch.

“Sixteen,” Rei answered.

“Perfect,” Enshin said, a faint gleam in his eyes.

“Perfect? For what?”

“The tournament. Only candidates sixteen to nineteen.”