A heavy silence filled the great hall.
It wasn't the silence of confusion or hesitation, but the silence of respect and acknowledgment.
We all stood in an orderly line, our eyes following Noble Valis, who still stood before us—tall and imposing in his usual dignity, as if he were a part of the castle walls themselves.
Then his blue eyes turned toward the employer, Andrew, and he said in a low but firm voice:
"Andrew… tell them what their final task is before they leave."
Andrew simply nodded.
No words—just that small gesture, which was enough to convey the message.
The noble then turned and quietly departed with his niece, Roshin, ascending the stone staircase that led to the second floor.
Their footsteps produced a soft sound as their shoes brushed lightly against the hard floor.
Andrew remained standing before us for a moment.
Then he stepped forward, looking at us with his serious eyes before speaking in his steady voice.
"Before you leave… there is one last task for you to carry out."
Another silence followed.
But this time it was a silence of anticipation.
He paused briefly, as if giving us time to prepare for what he was about to say.
"Noble Valis will depart this castle at three in the afternoon—two hours from now. Until then, your final duty will be to guard him. No one knows if danger might appear suddenly… and we do not wish to take any risks."
Some raised their heads attentively, while others nodded quietly.
Then he added in a more relaxed tone:
"You may go now. Spend your time however you wish until then—rest, eat, talk… but if any of you notices something unusual, report it to me immediately. Understood?"
We all nodded in agreement.
The task sounded simple on the surface.
But it still carried tension.
Guarding a noble like Valis—even for just two hours—was not something to take lightly.
After that, the group began to disperse.
Some guards headed toward the guards' room on the first floor, likely to rest or simply chat.
Others went up to the third floor, where the forest horizon could be seen from the windows.
And those who went to the second floor were probably heading to the kitchen—because after a long day and a fresh reward, nothing was more tempting than food.
As for me, I stayed where I was for a moment.
Then I noticed Cairo preparing to leave as well
.
He turned toward the staircase with his usual calm steps, but I hurried after him.
"Hey, Cairo… wait a moment."
He turned to me calmly.
"What is it?"
I stepped closer and said:
"There's something that's been on my mind since last night. When you used your visible shield to protect Noble Valis… how did you activate it so quickly? There wasn't even time to think."
He raised an eyebrow slightly, as if my question had surprised him, then smiled faintly.
"Ah… it's actually pretty simple. When I point at someone and say 'Visible Shield, activate'… it activates immediately on that person."
He pointed forward with his finger as he mimicked the motion, then added:
"There's no need for long thinking or preparation. Just the direction and the words."
I stood silent for a moment.
On one hand, the simplicity of it surprised me.
On the other, the ability itself was incredible.
How many lives could be saved in a single moment if someone possessed such a power?
"What an amazing ability…" I murmured quietly.
Cairo smiled slightly, seemingly pleased by my words, and said calmly:
"Well… I suppose you're right. Sometimes I forget how useful it is."
Then he tilted his head slightly and asked:
"Was there something else you wanted to know?"
I shook my head with a small smile.
"No, nothing else. Just… curiosity."
He chuckled softly.
"well then, I'm heading to the kitchen."
He waved lightly before turning and walking up the stairs, most likely toward food and a bit of rest.
That conversation left me thinking.
Not just about Cairo's ability, but about many things—about Noble Valis, about the final task, and about the two hours that separated us from the end of everything…
Or perhaps…its beginning.
I stood in place for a short moment, observing the hall, which seemed quieter than usual.
I took a deep breath, then decided to use the remaining two hours to pass the time somehow.
So I headed toward the guards' room.
I pushed the wooden door open and stepped inside.
My eyes immediately fell on Tyros and Luxian.
They were sitting at the old round table in the center of the room, deeply focused on a card game.
Colorful cards were scattered between them, and their eyes burned with excitement.
As soon as Tyros noticed me, he looked up and smiled.
"Oh, hey! Want to join us?"
I nodded and gave a small smile.
Pulling a nearby wooden chair, I sat down beside them.
Tyros began explaining the game in a simple tone.
"The rules are very simple. There are sixty cards in total. Each of us takes ten cards, and thirty remain in the middle. Those are used later as reserve or for redistribution."
He spoke like someone who clearly knew the game well.
Meanwhile, Luxian was busy arranging his cards, occasionally glancing up to keep track of the conversation.
Tyros continued explaining in more detail.
"The cards contain fifteen different symbols: cake, chair, bread, pizza, apple, potato, table, mirror, stone, scissors, knife, pepper, shirt, grass, and fire. Strange combinations—but that's what makes the game fun."
I took a moment to look at the drawings on the cards.
They were illustrated in a slightly humorous way, their bright colors making the game seem almost childish despite its apparent complexity.
"I understand the symbols," I said. "But how do we actually play?"
Tyros answered immediately, as if he had expected the question.
"At the beginning of each round, each player chooses two cards from their hand and combines them. For example… if you pick a potato card and a fire card, you can merge them to create something new: a burned potato."
I laughed lightly at the simplicity of the idea.
"Alright… and what's the use of a burned potato?"
Tyros waved one of the cards as he replied.
"If your opponent has something weaker than a burned potato, you win the round.
Then your opponent must discard their merged card. The game revolves around creativity in combining things—and understanding the strength of what you create."
I asked my next question.
"What if we both place the same combination? Like potato and fire?"
Tyros answered calmly.
"If the merged cards are identical, then the round is a draw. Both players must discard those cards immediately."
I nodded slowly, trying to process it.
Then another thought came to mind.
"What if I have two identical cards? Like potato and potato? What happens if I combine them?"
Tyros laughed.
"Then you'd get a double potato. Its strength depends on logic… do you think a double potato is weaker than a burned potato?"
This time Luxian spoke, his voice calm.
"It's simple. Just imagine the scenario. Which one would be stronger if they clashed? Burned potato or double potato? Obviously the double potato. The strength depends on the idea behind the combination."
Feeling the game was more complex than it first appeared, I asked another question.
"So how do we determine the winner? When does the game end?"
Tyros arranged a few cards skillfully as he answered.
"The winner is the last person who still has cards. Once a player loses all their cards, they're out. The goal is simply to keep as many cards as possible while using the best combinations to defeat your opponent."
Their explanation was engaging, and despite all the details, it was clear enough.
So I nodded.
"I think I understand most of the rules now… it sounds fun."
Then I placed my hand on the table and smiled.
"Let's begin."