Shuffling the Deck

The Magician Arc

Even after a death, life eventually returns to normal. The stairs need sweeping, food needs cooking, dogs need bathing. Cats need… well, whatever it is they need. Attention, probably.

And people need saving.

Far from the eyes of the people in the city, Magical Girls roam the rooftops at night. Protecting people from threats they can’t understand, can’t fight, and can’t stop. Putting their lives on the line again and again, all to protect the world. And all with a smile, because they know that it matters. To someone out there, on the worst day of their life, that little bit helps.

*            *            *

There’s an office in the Magical Realm. Like others, it has walls of white marble, gold engravings, and trees that sway gently in magical breezes that don’t exist. Unlike others, it has a large real wood desk, a drawer full of snacks and video games, and a cushy leather-and-velvet chair.

The chair is unoccupied. The snacks are uneaten.

There is one chair in the room that is occupied, though. A smaller chair made for guests is sat upon by a Magical Girl in a nebula-purple dress, with matching hair that glitters gently. She has her hands in her lap, and is staring at them wordlessly.

“Upon release, Queen-Side Bishop has resumed duties, and taken up residence in Tokyo. Magical Girl Rinrin’s Resonance remains, as yet, unknown. The location of The Hermit is, as yet, unknown. All further ends have been tied up.” She finishes her long report, hollowly, her thumb in her palm, rubbing the lines.

There is another Magical Girl in the office. She looks like she’s maybe ten or twelve at most, and she stands in front of the purple magical girl, staring at her.

SilkSwan gently rubs the top of Constellation’s head, in a kindly way.
“...You survived it. I’m sorry about your friends.” She says. Constellation shakes her head.
“They died fighting evil and protecting the innocent. That is the best end a Magical Girl can hope for.” She looks up into SilkSwan’s eyes.
“Isn’t it?” She whispers.

SilkSwan gives a gentle hug, and lets Constellation cry for a while longer, patting her back.
“There, there.” She whispers, before leaning back.

“I have some good news, but only if you’re ready for it.” She says, with a gentle smile. Constellation takes a moment, before nodding.

“Your transfer into the Inspection Bureau is complete. You’ll be able to start working there as soon as you return from your mourning period.” SilkSwan says, encouragingly.
“Thank you, Lady N.” Constellation bows her head formally.
“No need for thanks. I will be relying on you as my eyes and ears within Inspection.” SilkSwan brushes Constellation’s hair behind her ear.
“Do you… still think that’s necessary?” Constellation asks.
“I do.” SilkSwan gives a small nod.
“What will happen to Hokkaido?” Constellation bites her lip as she thinks over the situation. SilkSwan gives a small shrug.
“A Fairy has been dispatched. Before long, it will begin the cycle of selecting a new group of Magical Girls. They will likely have their hands full, though. Youkai activity is on the rise.”
“Are the Youkai… working with the Maniacals?” Constellation freezes up. SilkSwan scowls at the mention of the word.
“No. They remain, as ever, independent bodies.”
“Is there any threat of further Maniacals?” Constellation purses her lips, looking deep into SilkSwan's eyes.
“No. I'm sure of it.”

*            *            *

Constellation had gone back to the mundane world, and left SilkSwan to think. This whole thing had started because Bishop was lying about something. But it clearly wasn’t Necromancy. SilkSwan herself had barely managed to dodge blame for the incident. She’d sent three top agents into the city, and two had been killed.

She reflected, feeling a little guilty, that maybe she could’ve prepped them more. But she expected them to be dueling with two newbie Operators and one rogue Inspector, not… that.

Silkswan leaned back in her chair, and pulled out a single card. It was burned in half, the top missing. The bottom read “Card 0” in fine print.

According to the official list of things that were reclaimed from Bishop during her arrest, it had been thrown out by mistake, assumed to be trash.

SilkSwan knew that, somehow, it held the secret to what was going on.

It was just about working out the how part.

*            *            *

“The Magician is dead.” The queenly voice of the one called Fifteen boomed through the dark void. The figure before her was cowering slightly, kneeling. Clad in rags, the Hermit looked terrified to be before this figure. She’d tried to hide among homeless populations across various cities, changed countries, and then they’d come for her anyway.

“And to make things worse, your face is known.” Fifteen threw down the top half of the burned Magician card, and the Hermit squeezed away from it in fear.

“It is clear to me that you, dear Mio, are no longer a safe place to keep the Hermit.” The Hermit began sweating in fear as she looked up at Fifteen, the ornately dressed woman looked like a queen, and ruled with the authority of one.
“And it’s such a shame, too. You were without doubt the most creative Hermit we’ve had in some time.”
“M-my Lady, if I may! I was-”
“I have had quite enough excuses.” Fifteen stares at the girl.

“Mio. Okuda Mio. Your voice wears on me.” Fifteen stared deep into the girl’s eyes. Placing a delicate hand on the Hermit’s chin, she forced her head up. Fifteen brought her face closer as the Hermit stopped talking, eyes wide in fear.

“Won’t you bite your tongue off, for me?” There was a wordless, voiceless scream as blood squirted from the Hermit’s mouth. She lay on the floor, writhing, screaming, blood gushing from her mouth until she went still. Slowly, her body leaked dark ooze and became a normal college girl. A rotating Tarot card floated from the corpse, spinning lightly in the air.

With careful, delicate movements, Fifteen took the card and placed it into a small card pack.

The pack still had many cards left.

End of The Magician Arc
To Be Continued…