Chapter 5 – The Constellation Cards
The two sat down at the marble table that Shaula had summoned from thin air. The table shimmered with a silvery glow, like starlight at dawn, casting gentle halos on the ground. As both players touched the table's edge, the space around them trembled ever so slightly.
An illusory night sky immediately unfolded. Brilliant constellations drifted slowly across the heavens, circling around the center—Pleiades—shining cold, ancient, and distant.
"Astra Arcana – Pleiades Trial – Round 1, Match 1 begins."
A voice echoed through the air—like a whisper from a faraway galaxy. Each player received a set of 44 cards—blue light rose from the tabletop, swirling and forming floating decks before them. With both hands extended, they drew their first five cards. Each drawn card released a radiant burst, like falling meteors across the cosmos.
The Wanderer's Hand:
1. Leo – Lv. 9 – Element: Fire
With a low growl that rumbled from the depths of the earth, the fiery image of a lion appeared behind the wanderer. Its flaming mane curled wildly, amber eyes glowing with fierce intensity.
2. Pisces – Lv. 5 – Element: Water
Two silver fish circled each other in a gentle whirlpool, twisting gracefully in the mist that clung to the player's shoulders.
3. Draco – Lv. 12 – Element: Darkness
A long serpent dragon coiled through the night sky behind the wanderer. Its dark violet scales shimmered like spiral galaxies, and its eyes blazed like twin stars from the northern pole.
4. Libra – Lv. 8 – Element: Light
A golden scale floated above the wanderer's right hand, perfectly balanced and ringing softly like celestial wind chimes.
5. Aquila – Lv. 7 – Element: Wind
A meteor eagle streaked across the sky, leaving behind a sparkling trail like a shooting star's path.
Shaula's Hand:
6. Cancer – Lv. 6 – Element: Water
A massive, transparent crab shell rose from the earth, etched with glowing runes of an ancient tongue.
7. Orion – Lv. 10 – Element: Earth
A star hunter appeared, holding a bow made of cosmic debris, aiming skyward. His eyes seemed carved from meteorite.
8. Phoenix – Lv. 11 – Element: Fire
A blazing phoenix soared behind Shaula, its wings fanning waves of searing heat. Beneath each flap, miniature suns ignited and roared.
9. Puppis – Lv. 4 – Element: Wind
A silver compass floated beside Shaula, its needle spinning rapidly, tapping stars before shifting course again.
10. Beatrice – The Archivist – Lv. 13 – Element: Ether
A girl in a flowing librarian's cloak emerged slowly, her eyes holding the knowledge of galaxies. Wherever she stepped, the ground turned into unfinished pages of a living book.
Shaula gave a faint smile and gracefully placed the Orion card on the table. A subtle tremor rippled across the floor, as though someone had just stepped into an arena. At the same moment, the wanderer raised an eyebrow and played Draco—a dense shadow poured across the table like fog from the abyss.
MATCH RESOLUTION
Levels:
Draco – Lv. 12
Orion – Lv. 10
An explosion of energy erupted in the center of the arena as the two astral images collided. Draco roared, its long tail sweeping through Orion like a galactic vortex. Orion tried to draw his bow, but the darkness engulfed him. The ground cracked open, and Orion disintegrated into stardust—vanishing into the void.
Skills:
Draco's ability only activates upon losing – NOT triggered.
Orion draws a card if he wins – NOT triggered.
Reality Effect:
The night sky behind Shaula briefly flickered. A star representing Orion fell from the celestial dome, leaving behind a sorrowful streak of light as it plummeted to the ground—burned to ash and cast into the discard pile.
Shaula loses Match 1.
Remaining cards: Cancer, Phoenix, Puppis, Beatrice.
Discard pile: Orion.
The wanderer wins Match 1.
Draco soared once through the sky, then descended to the "used zone," resting its claws as its eyes glinted with starlight.
The atmosphere fell still for a moment. The gleam of Pleiades above dimmed ever so slightly—acknowledging the first point scored.
Shaula said nothing. She simply lifted her hand, and the remaining cards began to orbit her. The light in her silver hair blended with the glows of Puppis and Phoenix.
"Next match," she said, her voice like winter wind weaving through ancient trees.
"Let's see what the stars have to say next."
The space beneath Astra Arcana's celestial dome exhaled softly. The stars silently shifted in color, reflecting the rising tension between the two opponents.
On the table—a spiral-shaped board with swirling nebulae moving beneath a crystal glass layer—Round 2 officially began.
Shaula narrowed her eyes at the wanderer, casually turning a card in her hand.
"You go first. This time, I want to see strategy, not just luck."
Her voice was soft as cold silk, but her hidden battle intent was unmistakable.
The wanderer said nothing. He calmly drew a card and held it before his eyes. Celestial glyphs etched on the surface of the card—"Pisces – Lv. 5 – Element: Water"—glowed faintly with a pale blue light. A real stream of water trickled out from the card, flowing onto the board like a gentle brook.
Pisces was summoned.
A girl appeared, her long hair made of flowing water, her eyes like tranquil deep lakes. In her hands was a glass goblet containing fragments of shattered constellations. She stepped forward and stood to the wanderer's right, like a spirit of Mercury awaiting command.
"This one's meant to soothe you..." the wanderer murmured, eyes never leaving Shaula.
Shaula chuckled softly. She laid down her card so gently it barely touched the table—but at that very moment, a phoenix's cry tore through reality itself.
The card: "Phoenix – Lv. 11 – Element: Fire".
The flame didn't erupt—it blossomed. A phoenix of Ether fire coiled through the air, its burning wings stretching into radiant solar flares that crowned Shaula in a cosmic halo.
The match began.
Step 1 – Level Comparison:
Pisces – Lv. 5
Phoenix – Lv. 11
Shaula tilted her head, a faint smirk forming.
"You chose your weakest? What a shame."
But the wanderer simply nodded and gestured toward the dancer—Pisces.
Step 2 – Elemental Clash:
Water vs Fire.
The fire of Phoenix touched Pisces' flowing stream—and was extinguished. No explosion, no resistance—only calm. Gentle waves wrapped around the Phoenix, smothering its flame. Embers fell like burning petals.
Shaula's eyes widened.
Phoenix was defeated.
Step 3 – Skill Activation:
Pisces: Soothing Stream
→ The wanderer had won the previous round.
→ Skill activates: Lowers the opponent's card level (Phoenix Lv. 11 → Lv. 10) – though Phoenix had already lost by element, the effect applied anyway, as if to add insult to injury.
Phoenix: Rebirth
→ Though defeated, Phoenix will return to Shaula's hand after one round.
A tiny flame egg hovered on the table—waiting for resurrection.
Result: Round 2 – Wanderer wins.
Score: 2 – 0
Shaula pulled her hand back. A single bead of sweat rolled down her temple—and hissed into steam. She remained composed, but her gaze had shifted. No longer detached—now, deadly serious.
The surroundings began to shift.
The sky inverted. A warped streak of the Milky Way curved overhead, beginning to move—signaling that the match had surpassed casual play. No longer a game of stars, but a true Pleiades Trial.
The spiral table reshaped itself for a new round. Blue light swept across the surface, announcing: ROUND 3 BEGINS.
Shaula said nothing, but flipped two cards simultaneously:
Cancer – Lv. 6 – Water
Puppis – Lv. 4 – Wind
"Fusion: Ghost Pirate Ship – Summon: Hydra Astralis."
A storm rose within the cosmos. The two cards shattered into stardust, merging in a ritual akin to ancient magic. From the heart of the arena emerged a sea beast in the form of a ghostly warship, bearing ten dragon heads erupting from its deck—each one symbolizing a fallen star.
Hydra Astralis – Lv. 12 – Element: Hybrid (Water/Wind).
The wanderer frowned.
At this moment, he chose the only card powerful enough to counter:
Libra – Lv. 8 – Light.
"Balance," he said in a low voice. "If our levels match, all your cards are revealed."
Shaula smiled.
THE CLASH.
1. Level Comparison:
Hydra – Lv. 12
Libra – Lv. 8
→ Hydra wins decisively.
2. Elemental Clash:
Hydra (Water/Wind) vs Libra (Light)
→ No elemental advantage.
3. Hydra Skill Activation:
→ "If opponent is Light: negate their skill."
Libra's Balance was nullified. The divine scales cracked in the hands of the goddess of justice. Shards of mirror glass scattered through space like a shattered curtain falling from the stage.
Hydra attacked—twice.
The first head shredded Libra into stardust.
The second struck reality itself—tearing a rift through the sky like cracked glass.
End of Round 3 – Shaula wins.
Score: 2 – 1
The air turned suffocating.
The wanderer clenched his fist. Libra vanished before his eyes, leaving behind only a faint glow in his palm.
Shaula stared at him, violet light flickering in her gaze.
"You're good... but I didn't come here just to lose one round. From now on, I'm playing for real."
The sky turned Mars-red.
The match entered its danger zone—Round 4.
Metaphysical pressure surged. Reality bent like crumpled paper.
A siren rang out from the nebulae:
"Entering Alpha Phase. Hidden abilities will unlock from the next round."