by Eden Redd
“The third turn is used to assess damage and strategy. It is also during this turn you can decide to continue or admit defeat. If both parties continue, we go back to the first turn and may play another phantom card and spell effect. Any questions?”
Dax could barely keep his excitement at bay. Despite the strange game he played with Nuria in the Raven Tower months ago, this felt a little more precise. The mage also noted that Noss’s previous nervousness seemed to go away, the kobold staring directly at his challenger with an already formed strategy.
“The rules are simple and easy to follow, but do you think it might be a little too simple?”
The kobold nodded. “Since there are twelve spheres of mana, the variables meant that extra cards could make the duels chaotic. Until we are sure the rules work, we made them as streamlined as possible. It will make learning it easier for any who join the alliance. We don’t want to scare off potential members and thought this was the best solution.”
“I’m impressed,” Dax grinned.
Noss smiled. “Thank you. Now, Master Sage, please pick your four cards.”
“Please, just call me Dax,” the mage said as his fingers worked, touching cards and gently pulling them from his robe.
Dax held his four cards before him, glancing down to each one.
Name: Troll
Element: Life
Degree: 2
Ability: Damage
Special Ability: Tough
Name: Time Speed
Element: Time
Degree: 1
Ability: Increase time for several seconds.
Special Ability: None
Name: Mana Shield
Element: Life
Degree: 2
Ability: Create a Shield Aura
Special Ability: None
Name: Mind Lick
Element: Mind Lick
Degree: 2
Ability: Anticipate Attacks
Special Ability: None
I wish I had more time. I would have made extra cards when I improved my mana spheres. I know this is a friendly duel, but I have to make an impression if Noss and his friends want to form an alliance with my blessing.
Dax looked up. “I’m ready.”
Noss nodded before picking up one card. “I’ll begin with placing my champion.”
The kobold spoke an arcane word and black mist poured from the card. Everyone watched as the mist slammed down and slowly parted. Three dark green skeletons appeared, all facing toward Dax in a triangular formation.
Dax raised an eyebrow, “I thought we were only supposed to play one champion?”
Noss nodded. “This is one phantom but it’s a 3rd degree card. Necromancers cannot create or summon powerful undead with early sphere magic, but what we lack in power, we make up in numbers. My one card can create three skeletons, the weakest of the undead.”
Dax smiled. “Nice surprise.”
The necromancer smiled. “I’ll play my spell effect now,” Noss said and pulled another card.
The air took on a chill as energy snaked out from the card. Dax watched as the three skeletons raised their hands and ice began to form. In a blink of an eye, swords made of ice filled their boney hands as the three skeletons stood at attention.
“I wish I had some popcorn,” Symon grinned.
Vance, Fern, and Zarra nodded in agreement.
Dax looked to his cards and back up to Noss behind his skeletons. “A strong approach. With two remaining cards, I’m assuming they are spell effects, but considering what you just said, the other two cards might be more undead.”
“You will have to defeat me to find out,” Noss said with a serious edge.
Dax lifted a card and whispered the arcane trigger word. Energy snaked out from the card and slammed down on the floor before the mage, forming into a hulking troll. The troll lifted its club and leaned it against its wide shoulder as it eyed the three skeletons with ice swords.
The numbers are against me so enduring the challenge might be my best option right now.
Dax pulled up another card and activated it. A pale blue aura appeared around the troll as it stood at attention.
Noss’s large eyes squinted. “A mana shield for your troll. Excellent choice against many foes.”
“Turn one is over. Shall we move onto turn two?”
Noss nodded. “We haven’t decided if battles should be simultaneous or one for one. I’m open to how you want to play.”
Dax nodded as his mind worked. “Attack for attack would lend more to strategy, but simultaneous attacks might add a chaos element to the battle. Since the rules you set don’t allow us to use any more cards, it might move the battle quicker if the champions attack at once. We give them a strategy and they follow it.”
The mage looked to his fellow club members, “My friends here can judge.”
Noss bowed his head, “With all due respect, they may judge in your favor.”
Vance stepped forward, “We are honorable members of the Heroes of Kinarth. It wouldn’t do to be dishonorable during a challenge. We will be fair and impartial.”
Fern also stepped forward, “And if Dax does anything underhanded, I will kick his ass.”
Noss’s thin lips pulled back in a toothy smile.
Dax shrugged. “You see? They are my friends and will still beat me up.”
“We can allow it for this challenge,” the kobold chuckled. “Prepare and attack.”
Dax eyed the three skeletons. Mentally, he instructed his troll to focus his attack on one. The troll nodded as it acknowledged it’s directives.
Noss eyed the troll. The three skeletons bent at the knees, ice swords up and at the ready.
“Attack!” Dax and Noss said at the same time.
The three dark green skeletons rushed at once, swords pulled to the side and ready to swing. The troll charged with its club. When both sides met, power thundered. The troll’s club swung down, caving in a skull. The phantom’s body cracked and shattered into bits of light. The troll began to pull up its club when an ice sword stabbed at the troll’s mana shield, causing it to flare. The troll pulled back a step as another sword point struck the shield and shattered it to pieces.
Time stopped and the troll and two remaining skeletons took two steps back and waited for their next orders.
Noss’s eyes were wide as saucers. “This is excellent. Very good that the champions on each side followed their orders to the letter.”
“Shall we continue?” Dax asked with a smile.
“Yes, we shall.”
Noss chose a card and whispered a command. Dark green energy spiked and slammed down next to the two remaining skeletons. It formed into a decayed man with sunken eyes and mouth hanging open.
Noss wasn’t finished as he played his last card. A mana shield appeared around the zombie. The two skeletons were bent low, their empty eye sockets gazing toward the pale blue troll.
“Your cards are all used up,” Dax smiled.
“Yes, but your champion is outnumbered and you have two cards left. I’m betting that you have two spell effect cards in your hand but you will only be able to play one. Even if your troll survives this turn, it may not survive the next one. The odds are in my favor.
It’s a good strategy, but Noss hasn’t seen me use my cards in actual combat except for maybe during the Trial Exams. If I had thought of it, I could have picked direct spell cards to whittle down his numbers, but it still would have been difficult. He’s using pure numbers to overwhelm, but he doesn’t know what spheres I have learned.
Dax pulled up his card and whispered the command word. A cyan glow appeared around the troll before it disappeared.
Noss was silent.
“I’m ready,” Dax said.
The kobold nodded. “Attack!”
The two skeletons and zombie rushed at the troll. Dax’s troll let out a small roar before he charged ahead, club swinging. Time slowed down for everyone but the troll construct. Its body became a b
lur as it flashed forward, club smashing in a skeleton’s ribcage. Before it crumpled, the troll’s club swung again, smashing the other skeleton to pieces.
The zombie rushed in, its mouth open with jagged teeth. It grabbed the troll and bit down on his shoulder. The troll grunted as the zombie clung to him.
Dax chewed on his tongue as he watched. Dax’s friends stood with bated breath. A long second passed before the zombie let go and took a few steps back. Dax’s troll did the same, but its shoulders were a little low.
“Zombies have an infection bite that makes those bitten weaker. I assume, your troll won’t last another turn or two,” Noss said with an analytical tone.
Dax nodded as he felt his troll getting weaker with each passing moment. From Dax’s own studies, different mana spheres can have a greater effect on other spheres. Much like water and fire are polar opposites of each other, life and decay are very much at odds with each other. Dax’s troll was a life construct and Noss’s zombie was a decay construct. The bite is weakening Dax’s troll at a faster rate. If the troll landed a blow on the zombie, it wouldn’t have survived the attack.
“I have no more cards, so it is up to you,” Noss stated.
Dax could still feel the Time Speed effect still in place. There was still a chance. The mage played his last card, a violet aura appearing around the troll.
“I’m ready,” Dax said.
The mage and necromancer nodded before they both shouted “attack!”
The zombie burst forward, decayed hands out and mouth wide open. The troll charged again, its club low. When the two met, the zombie lurched forward. The troll sidestepped the attack like it knew it was coming. Noss’s eyes widened to the size of saucers as the troll lifted its club and brought it down with a loud crunch!
The zombie’s head caved in as it stumbled forward. The undead made one small, whimpering moan before it fell to the floor and shattered into wisps of dark green light.
The troll fell to one knee, leaning on its club as it looked up to Dax with a small smile.
“You won,” Noss grinned as his eyes returned to normal.
Dax’s troll vanished before the mage stepped closer and held out his hand.
“Great first duel!”
The kobold looked up and clasped the mage’s forearm. “It was great. I thought maybe I had the edge, but clearly, I have much to learn.”
The two let go of each other’s forearms and bowed.
Dax’s friends rushed over with smiles.
“That was fun to watch!” Fern jumped.
“It was educational and enlightening,” Vance added.
“You were great,” Symon directed it to the kobold.
Noss looked up at the spellsword with a weak smile and backed away.
Symon’s smile faded. “Was it something I said?”
The air took on an uncomfortable gloom as Noss couldn’t make eye contact with the spellsword.
“Noss?” Dax said.
The kobold bowed. “I’m… I’m sorry. I still remember the Trial Exams.”
Dax’s eyebrow went up in confusion until it all came rushing back. The clerics and spellswords were fighting against the necromancer class. Symon was in the lead, taking down necromancers while Zarra was keeping them busy.
Symon seemed to remember as well, the tall man falling to his knees in stark realization.
“Noss, I’m sorry. You were one of the necromancers I…”
The kobold sighed. “Yes, the flat side of your sword sent me flying through the air. My senses were still ringing and I didn’t know we lost until I was dragged from the arena.”
“I…” Symon began but the kobold lifted a small clawed hand.
“No need to apologize. We are all students here in Kinarth. I shouldn’t take it personally.”
Vance walked away from those gathered and stepped toward the table with the wine and spirits. The mage poured into many cups and picked up a few. Walking back, he started to press a cup into Noss’s hand and Dax’s hand.
“I think we should celebrate our possible new partnership. That duel shows that card magic can be used in a civilized manner and may safely teach it to the world. The knowledge may be out there, but the sooner we start the rules, the better Ikkudran is for it.
“Members of the Heroes of Kinarth, do we agree to partner with Noss’s new club, the Card Alliance?”
“Aye!” Fern smiled.
“Aye,” Zarra said as she brought over more cups with spirits.
Symon stood up, giving Noss a kind smile. “Aye!”
Dax bowed to the necromancer, “It would be an honor. Aye!”
“We have voted and it is agreed. The Heroes of Kinarth and the Card Alliance are now officially partnered clubs,” Vance declared.
All raised their cups and took a deep sip.
Noss bowed his head to the group, “I shall put in the application tomorrow and spread the word.”
“Thank you, Noss, for taking this on. It can really help bring order to this kind of magic,” Dax smiled.
“It is I who must thank you. You have inspired many since that day during the Trial Exams. Many felt, after learning how to create card magic, there had to be some order.”
Dax smiled. “We will help anyway we can.”
Cups were raised in another toast before drinks were consumed. It didn’t take long before laughter began to fill the club room. Noss tried to make a hasty exit but, surprisingly, Zarra stood close to the kobold and prevented him from leaving.
“Stay with us little one,” the cleric grinned.
“Do I have a choice?” Noss asked with a small smile.
“No,” the dragon cleric grinned.
Laughter erupted again as another drink was pushed into the kobold’s hand. Bodies began to lounge in chairs and chatter turned into slurred chatter. Two hours slipped by as the group spoke of the possibilities of a rule system between drinks. With long moments slipping away, it was soon just down to Vance and Noss, drunkenly discussing the rules and forgetting what they just mentioned minutes before.
“Extended… battles… can’t be simply more cards,” Noss said as he barely stayed on the chair.
“Maybe… two spell effects… I think I’m going to be sick… during a turn… or is it round. A turn around!” Vance laughed.
Symon laughed with the mage and necromancer.
Dax sat in a chair, not too far away. Fern was leaning on his arm, looking up like a lost kitten. Dax looked to her, trying to keep his head steady as he saw a ring of glowing lights appear around the fairy’s head.
“Uh oh. I know what that means,” Dax slurred.
“It’s…been too long,” the fairy whispered, her transparent wings fluttering.
Zarra stepped closer and looked down on Dax and Fern. “It is late. How about we continue in my room?”
Fern lifted her chin off Dax’s shoulder and looked up to the cleric. “I sooo want to continue to your room. I’ve missed you both so much, I can’t stand it.”
The fairy stood up from her chair, wobbled and flashed with light. Dax blinked the flashes from his eyes as he saw Fern in her eight-inch form fluttering clumsily around in the air. The tiny berserker could barely keep herself up as her wings would stop fluttering and she fell, only for her wings to catch her and barely keep her afloat.
Dax reached up and caught the fairy with both hands. Fern stayed in his hands, falling onto her back, legs and arms hanging over the sides.
“I can still fly!” Fern mumbled but made no move to sit up, much less fly.
“We’re heading out,” Dax said out loud.
Vance, Symon, and Noss waved, but didn’t turn to look at them, the three still deep in conversation.
Zarra led the way, Dax following with Fern in his hands. The trio made their way down the stairs and out of the Commons building. When they were outside, cold air washed over them. Dax shivered slightly, holding Fern close to his chest. The fairy curled into a ball in his hands, her eyes closed.
Zarra walked as she was unaffected. The three of them made their way across the courtyard to Zarra’s dormitory. No one gave them a second glance as they made their way inside to the stairs and began to climb. A few short moments later, Zarra opened the door to her room and Dax stepped inside with Fern in his hands.
The dorms in the academy were eerily similar. The room was cozy with two beds, each one across from each other. The left one was made, but the desk and dresser were bare. The right bed was messy, blankets bunched up and pillows in disarray. Thick tomes stood on the desk with more on the nearby shelves. A holy staff leaned against a corner while a small shrine to Umus stood on a shelf over the bed. A small lit lantern hung high in the middle of the room
Fern stirred as warmth caressed her tiny body. The fairy struggled to sit up, Dax helping her along with one of his hands.
Zarra stepped in further, her white robe slipping from her shoulders. Dax looked up as the cleric let the robe fall to her hands and she pulled it from her body. Heat touched Dax’s entire body as the naked cleric moved with liquid grace to her desk and draped her robe over the chair. Turning around, her golden eyes shined in the dim light as her large breasts defied gravity. Pink nipples stood in arousal as Zarra allowed the mage to look upon her naked body.
Fern was up, the crown of lights glowing around her head. The fairy looked to the naked cleric and her own eyes took in Zarra’s hourglass form.
Dax was stunned, admiring Zarra when Fern leapt from his hands and light flashed. The fairy stood in her taller form, hands grabbing at her leather clasps and nearly ripping them open.
“I dreamed of both of you the entire time we were apart,” Fern hissed as she sobered up and unbuckled her top.
Dax’s entire body relaxed as blood rushed to his manhood. He watched with warmth as Fern’s clothes fell away to the floor and Zarra approached. Fern had just stepped out of her boots and dropped her leather leggings when Zarra bent down and kissed the fairy on the lips. Fern let out a whimper, the lights around her head glowing brighter. When their lips parted, Zarra was the one looking to Dax with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
“Fuck,” Fern cursed as she stepped out of the remainder of her clothes.
