"Ancestor, it's reacting. There really is a Clow Card nearby."
Yanagi Shōma stared at the compass in his hands as a faint arrow surfaced beneath the spell's glow. His voice carried unmistakable excitement. No matter how composed he tried to act, he was still a child. Confirming that the legendary Clow Cards truly existed, and that he had found one with his own efforts, made his chest burn with pride.
"Then let's take a look," Rowan said after a brief pause.
Their arrival had already nudged events off their original course. They were ahead of schedule, even if only by a few hours. For now, it was safer to stay close to Shōma and see things through properly. Rowan had no intention of letting this turn into an outright confrontation over the cards, especially not with the wrong people.
The two left the villa and moved across the rooftops, following the compass's direction. The Yanagi family's training didn't stop at spellwork. Even without magic, their physical conditioning was enough to let them leap from roof to roof with practiced ease.
"It's the art museum," Shōma said once they reached a taller building near the town center.
Rowan's memory stirred. That narrowed it down. The card waiting inside was Silence, a troublesome one. It didn't just suppress sound. Anyone who made noise within its domain would be forcibly displaced. Efficient, elegant, and deeply irritating. Clow Reed had supposedly created it out of sheer annoyance.
"Remember," Rowan said calmly, "if you want a Clow Card to accept you, you have to earn it yourself. I won't interfere unless things go truly wrong."
"I understand," Shōma replied without hesitation. He drew his ritual sword and prepared several talismans, confidence clear in his stance.
That was when a pink van rolled to a stop near the museum entrance.
Two girls slipped out and headed inside. One wore an odd, winged costume and carried a bird-headed staff. A small yellow creature perched on her shoulder. The other followed closely, filming everything with an almost reverent enthusiasm.
Rowan recognized them instantly but said nothing.
Shōma frowned. "Who are they? And why does one of them feel like she's carrying Clow Card energy?"
The compass needle wavered, swinging between the museum and the girl with the staff.
Shōma closed the compass, leapt down, and landed directly in front of them. Rowan followed, touching down a step behind.
The girls yelped in surprise.
"I'm Yanagi Shōma," he announced, sword raised. "Why do you possess Clow Cards?"
"The Yanagi family?" the small creature fluttered into the air. "You mean Clow's relatives?"
Shōma stiffened, eyes snapping to the talking mascot. "What are you supposed to be?"
The creature puffed up indignantly. "Watch your mouth, kid. I'm Cerberus, guardian of the Sun!"
Shōma stared, then slowly lowered his sword. "You're the legendary guardian? You look like a stuffed toy."
That did it.
Cerberus lunged and bit his finger. Shōma shook his hand wildly before managing to pry the creature off.
"I'm weakened," Cerberus snapped. "Once Sakura recovers the Earth and Fire Cards, I'll be back to full strength. Don't underestimate me."
Shōma turned his attention back to the girl with the staff. "You're collecting Clow Cards?"
Sakura hesitated. "Almost two months… I've found eight so far."
Shōma's brow furrowed. "Eight in two months? Then you're clearly inefficient. Hand them over. Clow Reed had Yanagi blood. His legacy should return to our family."
Sakura clutched her staff, helplessly glancing at Cerberus.
"She's my chosen mage," Cerberus declared, planting himself on her shoulder. "She opened the seals. She's the rightful one, whether you like it or not."
"Then we'll settle it properly," Shōma said, affixing a talisman to his sword. "A duel. Winner takes responsibility for the cards."
Sakura froze. She had no idea how to fight.
Before things could spiral further, Rowan placed a firm hand on Shōma's shoulder.
"That's enough," he said evenly. "You don't challenge a girl to a duel five minutes after meeting her."
Shōma stiffened but didn't pull away.
Rowan gestured toward the museum. "There's still an active Clow Card inside. Deal with that first. Everything else can wait."
If he didn't step in now, Rowan knew exactly how this would end. And some mistakes, once made, burned for years.