Chapter 559: Pink Horse

She walked to the largest table, where three Mystic Cards were laid out.

The cards were about palm-sized, made of some special plastic, their surface emitting a faint glow.

The first bore the silhouette of a rider on a horse, the second showed a cloaked figure with an obscured face, and the third depicted a figure holding a long spear, its tip flashing with a cold gleam.

A Xing picked up the card with the spear and examined it repeatedly.

(What is this?)

But she noticed something.

The Mystic Card in her hand was faintly glowing.

A Xing held the card up to her eyes, and the light dimmed.

She moved the card to her chest, and the light grew brighter.

She moved it back again, and it weakened.

She moved it forward again, and it intensified.

A Xing tilted her head, staring at the card.

"... What the heck?"

She tried pressing the card against herself.

The moment the card touched her, it glowed faintly, then... vanished.

A Xing lowered her head to look at herself, and touched her chest.

It seemed there was no change, huh?

She wiggled her limbs and turned her neck.

Still, she felt nothing.

A Xing was about to pick up the next card when a thought suddenly sparked.

She instinctively raised her right hand.

Flame ignited out of nowhere!

A crimson long spear coalesced in her palm—Flame Gun!

That familiar weight, that scorching temperature, that sense brimming with power—

All returned.

A Xing lowered her head to look at the Flame Gun in her hand, a flash of... surprise passing through her hollow golden eyes.

Since arriving in this world, the Flame Gun could still be summoned, but its power was pitifully weak, incomparable to its former might.

But now—

She grasped the Flame Gun and could feel her own power surging within her body.

A Xing thought it, and the Flame Gun vanished.

A Xing picked up the second Mystic Card—the cloaked one.

Pressing it to her chest, a faint light flickered, and the card disappeared.

The next second, A Xing suddenly felt something atop her head.

She reached up to feel—

A hat.

A Xing took the thing off and examined it.

It was a dark Top Hat, its brim slightly upturned, the crown adorned with golden patterns.

The hat's style was somewhat retro, yet it looked exquisite with a fine texture.

A Xing stared at the hat for three seconds.

(What is this?)

She had never seen such a hat.

But she knew that after wearing the hat, she felt she had gained something extra.

She couldn't say what, but it was indeed something extra.

A Xing placed the hat back on her head and adjusted its angle.

(Alright.)

Then she picked up the last Mystic Card—the one bearing the rider on a horse.

Pressing it to her chest, the card vanished.

A Xing stood where she was and waited; nothing happened.

She lowered her head to look at herself, then glanced around.

Still no change.

At that moment—

A loud screech exploded beside her ear!

A Xing spun around sharply and saw a massive pink silhouette materialize behind her!

It was a horse.

A pink horse.

Its whole body was muscular and well-defined, lines smooth, its four hooves sturdy and powerful, standing there two heads taller than A Xing.

Its mane was a deeper pink, shimmering like silk in the light, and its Tail was long and fluffy, swaying gently.

Yet the strangest thing was its expression.

Those large eyes stared blankly ahead, devoid of any emotion, stiff as a dummy.

A Xing and the Pink Horse locked eyes for three seconds.

Pink Horse: ".... Lost"

A Xing: "......"

She takes off her hat and puts it back on.

Pink Horse is still there.

She puts the hat on again, takes it off, and puts it on once more.

Pink Horse does not move a hair.

A Xing steps forward, stretches a hand and places it on Pink Horse's head.

That head is huge, larger than her face, warm to the touch, with soft fur.

Pink Horse shakes its head a bit, nudging her hand.

"Lost~"

A Xing remains silent for three seconds.

(So strange.)

She thinks a thought, and Pink Horse vanishes instantly.

A Xing can feel three new streams of power within her body.

The three Mystic Cards float quietly deep in her consciousness, each emitting a different glow—one blazing like fire, one gentle as light, one surging like the tide.

She now possesses three kinds of power simultaneously.

Flame Gun in hand, Top Hat on her head, and a pink horse that could spring out at any moment.

A Xing stands where she is, pats the Top Hat on her head, and feels the surging power inside her once more.

It feels okay.

She is about to leave when she suddenly notices something.

A Xing walks to the window and looks down.

On the street below, many... yellow things appear.

Monkeys.

A large group of Monkeys.

They surge from the end of the street, big and small, densely packed, like a tide of yellow.

A Xing raises an eyebrow.

(What is this?)

She doesn't know what these Monkeys are, but she knows one thing—

She must seize the time.

A Xing withdraws her gaze, turns, and walks toward the door.

The Top Hat remains on her head, its brim pulled low, covering her hollow golden eyes.

Her silhouette stretches long in the dim room.

Very cool.

Perspective shift.

The evening street is tinged with warm orange.

The setting sun stretches shadows long; two girls walk side by side on the sidewalk, one ahead of the other.

Lin walks at the front, hands in pockets, twin ponytails swaying lightly with each step.

Fujimura Lixiang follows beside her, orange short hair ruffled by the wind, a few strands clinging to her cheek.

The two walk silently for a while, finally stopping in front of a closed shop.

Lin turns and looks at Lixiang.

"Fujimura classmate."

Her voice is a bit lower than usual, "Earlier... thank you."

Lixiang is startled, "Thank me for what?"

"For sending my mother away."

Lin says, "In that situation, you didn't run away yourself, but helped take care of her."

Lixiang scratches her head, a familiar, slightly embarrassed smile appearing on her face.

"There's nothing to thank for. Aunt Tohsaka is very kind. And—"

She pauses, "At that time, I couldn't just abandon her and run off, could I?"

Lin looks at her, saying nothing.

The sunset light falls on Lixiang, warming her orange short hair a few more shades.

A speck of ash still clings to her face, from earlier dodging, unnoticed by her.

Lin shifts her gaze, looking into the distance.

"Anyway... thanks."

Lixiang smiles lightly, no longer being formal.

After a few seconds of silence, Lin speaks again.

"By the way, how's Saber over there?"

Lixiang is startled, then closes her eyes, as if sensing something.

A few seconds later, she opens her eyes, brow slightly furrowed.

"It seems... not very good."

Lin's heart sinks.

"How do you say?"

"I can't explain it either."

Lixiang scratched her head, "It just feels… her side's Magic Wave is chaotic, like she's fighting a hard battle. And I can sense her condition isn't good, as if she's injured."

Lin fell silent.

Saber is still fighting, and the situation is grim.