C12 – Spiritual Card
“You’re setting out on a long journey tomorrow, and I don’t have much to offer as a parting gift. However, I can give you these two Spiritual Cards.”
While speaking, Mr. Qian extracted the only two Spiritual Cards from the final pages of the Grimoire of Demon Spirits, presenting them to the pair.
“Grandpa Qian, what exactly are these Spiritual Cards?” Qin Hongyu inquired, holding one of the cards with a look of bewilderment.
“These cards are crucial for your advancement as Battle Spirit Fighters and for combat. They can significantly enhance the combat power of your battle spirits. They’re exceedingly rare; you might not get one even from ten Demon Beasts. But be aware, this one is merely of the lowest Gray Iron Rank. Try not to rely on such low-level cards when you level up,” Mr. Qian advised earnestly.
“I might not grasp all the details, but I get that they’re important. I promise to keep it safe, Grandpa Qian,” Qin Hongyu said earnestly, scratching his head in confusion.
He grasped the significance of the Spiritual Cards—they were tied to their future growth and battles as Battle Spirit Fighters, and these cards were sourced from Demon Beasts beyond the city walls. Presumably, the more formidable the Demon Beast, the more powerful the Spiritual Card it would yield.
“Don’t worry if it’s not clear to you now. Once you’re officially enrolled at the Battle Spirit Academy, there will be teachers to explain everything. Don’t stress over it,” Mr. Qian reassured them, hoping to alleviate any anxiety they might feel.
They examined their Spiritual Cards; Qin Hongyu’s depicted a black vine with the words “Demon Vine — Resilience” inscribed on it.
Bo Miaojiao’s card featured a green mantis with “Cyan Mantis — Sharp Blade” written across it.
“It’s getting late, and you need to rise early tomorrow. Head back and get some rest—I’ll make sure to wake you up early,” Mr. Qian said, glancing at the nearby clock which showed it was nearly half-past ten. He then sent the two youngsters off to their respective dormitories.
Qin Hongyu escorted Bo Miaojiao to the entrance of the girls’ dormitory before returning to his own, as their dorms were separate, in keeping with the proprieties of gender.
He gently pushed open his dorm room door to find his roommate already sound asleep.
He had intended to pack his clothes, but noticed a suitcase already by his bed.
Clearly, Mr. Qian had taken the time to pack his things for him. A wave of warmth flooded his heart.
After a quick wash, he settled into his bed, careful not to wake his roommate from the lower bunk.
Lying there, he used the dim glow of his phone to pen a goodbye note to his roommate, leaving it on the nearby table.
He then retrieved a faded photograph from beneath his pillow, the phone’s light casting a soft glow on his face, which broke into a sincere smile.
It was an old family photo, with his younger self joyously cradled by his parents.
But after finishing sixth grade, his parents had disappeared as if they’d evaporated, leaving him to search in vain.
The transition from a happy family of three to a solitary orphan nearly turned him into a troubled child.
Without Mr. Qian’s unwavering support and the long-missed warmth of a home, he might have ended up in a juvenile detention center.
“Dad, Mom, it’s been three years. Where did you go? Don’t you want me anymore?”
“Dad, Mom, you must have had your reasons, right? It has to be!”
“If only I become strong enough, you’ll definitely see me…”
As the boy was lost in his longing, his consciousness began to fade, and he slowly drifted into sleep.