Chapter 81 - Stygian Cards

"So, let me get this straight, you came out of the card, right?" Geraldine's eyes grew wider when Bagha nodded his head.

"Yes, master. I belong to the Stygian Cards that is summoned by the master holder," Bagha explained then paused. This makes Geraldine run to the bed and get the book and the remaining four cards.

"So you are saying that you came out of this card, it means that these four cards can also transform into a real-life person?" Geraldine pitched voice raised in excitement at her newfound discovery.

Bagha stares at her for a while before kneeling on one knee so that they are level in height, "Master, since I'm the first card that you choose to summon first. I'll explain to you everything about the Stygian cards." He said and looked at her in the eyes.

"The Stygian cards are created in the abyss of a black magic user in an attempt to make summoning easier but to fully activate the cards, sacrifices have to be made," Bagha paused as his face shows sadness.

"So she sacrifices her life just to activate the cards?" Geraldine continued which Bagha nodded.

"Yes, the cards can only be activated if a black magic user drops her blood on the book which will be acknowledged as its owner but not all black magic-user can activate the book. The person must contain a higher level of mana to be the master since summoning a single card eats a lot of mana from the master."

"We are spirits from the dead that made a contract with the Summoner before she died. Since the original owner died and the news of these cards spread among the black magic users, each one was eaten by greed and wanted to claim the cards as their own, and that is how the internal war on the black magic user starts. Each of them took a card and keep it for themselves and that explains why there are only five cards left on the book which was originally more than hundreds."

"Celia, took care of this book since it got into her hands but her mana is too low to become a chosen master. Then you have arrived and become our master after such a long time."

Geraldine was amazed by the story Bagha told her and look at the book, "So much bloodshed in an attempt to get the ownership of this Stygian cards. So tell me, do you know where are the other lost cards?"

Bagha shakes his head, "I don't know where they are hidden now but you will feel their presence calling for you if you're near them since you are now their master. It's one of the information that the thieves missed." 

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"The cards can only be activated in the hands of the master which means that even though they have the cards, they couldn't summon it. So, it becomes useless," Bagha smirked as if he finds it amusing.

"I see," Geraldine giggled in excitement, "You said that you made a contract to that summoner, can you tell me what is it?"

"We are spirits that died hundreds of years ago and we came from different worlds and dimensions. We're further divided into six classes - Tank, Fighter, Assassin, Mage, Marksman, and Support. There are also different tiers - S, A, B, C, D. The classes and tiers can be seen at the bottom of the card."

Geraldine looked at the card in hand, it's a woman in a ponytail and holding a bow and arrows, "Marksman, tier S." Those words make her eyebrow raise, "This is an S tier, it means that she's powerful among the rest?

Bagha nodded and gestured her to flip the card, "Look closely at the center of the diamond."

Geraldine followed his instructions and that's when she saw a word engraved to it, "Miah."

"That card's name is Miah, an S-tier Marksman."

"I understand now, Bagha," Geraldine smiled and looked back at him to continue his explanation.

"Even though we are dead, the burning flame inside us screams to fight. Some of us yearn for justice, revenge, or to destroy. Reasons can be good or bad but we're combined with one goal," Bagha stands up to his might and his strong aura radiates from his body, "We wanted to live once more and if this is the only way to see the world once again then we will take it to the bottom of our hearts even if the exchange is to fight the battles that our Master request."

Geraldine smiled, "Don't worry, I'll take care of you and the rest of the cards," She said and put the four cards back on the book.

"Master, please find all the cards and return them to the right place which is in your hands. I trust the Stygian cards in your care, Master Geraldine Gauthier." When Bagha finished his words, a light engulfed his body and was returned to a card.

Geraldine looks at it for a while before she picks it up and stares at the picture of Bagha, "Five out of a hundred cards. That will be hard work HAHAHA!" She laughed loudly and sighs when she thought about the work she'll gonna do to get all the cards but it also added to the thrill she's feeling.

"If I'm able to summon all of them at once, it's like having an immortal army of my own!" She said while grasping the book tightly, "Now, I need to condition my body and cultivate my mana so that I can fully use all of it someday."

***

A month has already passed and the weather started to get colder. The constructions continued and they are nearly done with the work.

Geraldine focused on training the kids in swords and observed each one of their skills on where they are good at. Then she'll assign them designated roles that will favor the growth of their group.

As for Alexjin, he has been training himself individually after he finished teaching the kids so that his skills won't be rusty and do workouts that strengthen himself.

They also build a greenhouse for the rare plants to protect them against the harsh winter that was about to come. 

It was currently 2:00 in the afternoon and Geraldine went out of the storage room with an ax in hand. She dressed in pants and a shirt and walked towards the forest.

"Master!" Daisha run next to her with a basket, "Where are you going?" 

"I'll be chopping some wood in preparation for the upcoming winter," She smiled and continued walking.

"Master, can I come? I want to gather some wild berries in the forest," Daisha raised her basket as Geraldine nodded in approval. Then she heard noise from behind and Maxwell appeared.

"Master, can I come as well? Our training is already finished and I wanted to help," He said while catching his breath.

"Sure, now you two tag along with me and don't explore too far. If you get lost, it's not my fault," She shrugged and entered the forest to find trees that she can cut.

"I'm still amazed that a house like ours exists in this part of Bagyoo Town. It's completely hidden and near the forest. It's like a personal forest space just for us!" Daisha said happily as her eyes roam around the trees and plants. 

It's the first time for the two kids to venture inside the forest and see its glory. Even though Geraldine walked in front of them, she still tried to take a peek from time to time and see if they're gonna go somewhere.

After a few minutes, they have arrived at the location where they'll gonna cut trees for firewood. Geraldine went ahead and put down her ax and took out a trowel and started digging on the soil.

"Master, what are you doing?" Daisha asked when she saw her master digging on the ground.

"If we'll gonna cut trees then we need to replace it to balance the nature. That's why I'm planting a seed as a replacement," She said with a smile and blessed it with her magic after she was done.

"Remember this Daisha, don't expect to receive if you're not willing to give. Give and take is a fair play," Geraldine patted her head and went to get her ax, and started cutting the tree she chooses.

"Master, that's a man's job. I'll ask brother Jin to do that instead," Maxwell said in haste when he saw Geraldine cutting the tree.

"Your brother Jin is busy, besides I think I'll be able to do this job pretty well," A smile formed on her lips as she gathers her energy on her arm, and in one slide, she was able to cut it in half which makes the kids looked in amazement.

"Wow…" Maxwell was surprised that a woman was able to do a man's job which is very rare in the Empire.

"Master, I want to try that as well," Daisha dashed towards Geraldine in excitement as she wanted to cut trees as well.