Shinji: *Cough*! *Hack*! It's like a damn swarm in here! Just endless stream of those fairy men!
???: Who goes there?!
Shinji: Give me a break already.
???: I swear if you won't stop moving down my soldiers, I'll—
???: Ah...
???: Oh crap! It's a lucid dreamer! Code red! I repeat! Code red!
Shinji: Huh??? Since when that become an issue?!
???: I've seen you humans trying to deface and invade our homeland! That is completely unforgivable!
Shinji: I mean, I guess I caused quite a havoc, but it wa—
???: And worst of all, you seek to completely destroy it! Either by tower or the space that separates us!
Shinji: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you misunderstoo—
???: I understand exactly what you came for! To destroy us once and for all!
???: Elite Guards! Smite that human dreamer, pronto!
???: Grrh! You're way stronger than I thought. Perhaps I've misjudged the situation.
Shinji: So can we talk this over?! I didn't mea—
???: Never! I won't be manipulated this easily! Never again!
???: Listen well, human, or rather, lucid dreamer.
???: Ingrain that name deep into your brain.
Sanbou: Sanbou Shinpou, the captain of Ephemerals and the dearest creation of her Majesty—
Sanbou: The one that's more sturdier than any diamond, sharper than any peak, luckier than any club, and resilient than any heart!
Sanbou: I will not let ANYONE harm my only queen. My life be damned! I shall not let you pass!
Sanbou: It is my duty to stop you at your tracks! By any means necessary! En garde!
Shinji: Gee, finally you finished your intro...
Shinji: Tango down.
Sanbou: In my crushing defeat... You chose to humiliate me like that...
Shinji: Come on, it sounded cool right?
Sanbou: ...
Shinji: Anyway, you've completely misunderstood my intentions. I do not intend for a destruction of the world.
Shinji: Sure I may have shot some casualties here and there - but I'd like to argue self defence.
Shinji: However what I do want is to learn the secrets of that red tower and learn what the hell is going on in here. Heard there was some kind of peril going around...
Sanbou: The world I call home is in danger. I cannot afford to discriminate.
Sanbou: Beyond those gates and on the very top of the tower - resides the queen of this world. She's the one who keeps this place as stable as it is now.
Sanbou: We've already had run-ins with hostile and ignorant dreamers alike, we can't afford to let our guard down for that one chance that someone of pure heart would appear.
Sanbou: Not to mention -*him*; the most dangerous of them all.
Shinji: ... I see...
Sanbou: I do not recognise you, and most likely won't be able to remember your face for long - however on the account of your mercy... I shall let you in.
Sanbou: Please be kind to our queen. She's the most treasured and beloved person of this land.
Shinji: ...
Shinji: (This is it. The final destination.)
Shinji: (From what I have heard, it seems a rather foreboding, yet important place.)
Shinji: (The queen of this world... The current state of peril...)
Shinji: (What kind of answers await me beyond those gates...?)
Sanbou: You coming?
Shinji: R-Right!... Sorry.
---
???: Look what I got here!
[___]: What the?! Hey! Aren't those illegal?! Where did you get those?!
???: Rela~ax, they're just cards. What harm can they do?
[___]: Aren't those cards used in like poker or whatever you call it?!
???: Come on, it only depends on how you use them! Unless...—
[___]: Nope! Nope!! We're not doing that!
???: Tch, you're no fun~! Anyhoo, doubt that they'll even notice or care about these cards now that there's only two of us in the study room. Can still borrow it before professors or another group comes in.
[___]: If only I had such carelessness... Guess the rich folk are just like that.
???: Aww~... Anyway, let me show you a magic trick I learned with them.
...
[___]: Heeh... Amazin' stuff.
???: See? Those card's aren't so bad now, huh?
[___]: I wonder if the same can be done with hanafuda cards...
???: I thought you didn't like cards that much.
[___]: O-Oi! I jus' don' wanna get you too obsessed with westerners!
???: Well they're smaller and a tad sturdier, so I doubt many tricks can be done with them
???: But I'll see what I can do.
---
???: Alright... With the knowledge I got from the tower's records... I should be able to create my first original being.
???: My own first creation. One that is not bound by my inner thoughts, emotions and worries; but through my genuine mind and will.
???: I remember... My grandparents would typically make those paper dolls to house various spirits to bless our house... I remember how upset at me they would get if I accidentally crumpled them.
???: They were called shikigami, right?...
???: Please, being that is about to be - heed my call, that no matter what happens - you'll protect the tower and guard this bizarre world.
???: The tower is the beating heart of this world. The keystone that holds this place together. And I'm the unwilling prisoner of it.
???: And by that extension - if that keystone is to be destroyed: then everything ceases to exist.
???: Now I shall draw you forth from my thoughts to come to my aid!...
I don't know if I made that incantation right. Come to think of it, I think I've messed this up real badly.
But through my will and desire, the paper doll began to float.
And from it formed a small young man with fae wings.
[■■■]: M... Mo... ther?...
???: Welcome, my dear creation. Your name... Your name...
I've always loved those card tricks. They were quite mesmerising...
And I remember also going to circuses and magician shows with a certain someone...
Those were my cherished memories...
Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen anything magician or card related just yet in this world.
I'm not particularly good giving anything a meaningful name. For such unique name that I have now, I have a habit of naming things the way they are.
???: "Ahem! Your name will be..."
"Sanbou Shinpou"
"You will be warrior that embodies the four suits and their virtues."
"A miracle magician."
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