PRECISION AND POWER ・ ✦

we in here like a pack of sardine

ashenprofessor

It had been a good pitch, enough to get the professor to enter the room. What they hadn’t expected was the slam of the door trapping them in here. This instantly raised their hackles, Byleth despised confined spaces, especially being trapped in one.

They weren’t alone in here either. As well as numerous padlocked items, there was a fellow faculty member who was already checking out the surroundings. He seemed to be staring intently at a wooden box. A booming voice caused them to back away from it, hands in the air.

“Oh” they’re a bit startled by the sudden interjection. All seems good as he backs away from the box. “I think magic would count as cheating” Byleth says. “This is a test of brains not brawn”

Going over to the edge of the room, the professor checks out the bookcase. It looks ordinary until they start reading the titles of the books. “Is religion key to our understanding of the world?”, “traps, locks and snares: hunting in the wild” “mission lock and key: the dispatches” and many other titles referring to keys or locks. “Over here” they call to get Kagetsu’s attention. “Take a look at these books. I think they might be a clue”

#✦ ・ I am full of vigor! [IC]#✦ ・ My prediction has come to pass! [Threading]#Thread: we in here like a pack of sardine (Authority +1)#✦ ・ Let us become one! [Supports]#Support: Byleth #ashenprofessor #//the dice roll in his favor…#//he survives another day book-free…

Kagetsu raises an eyebrow at the idea, but heads over to stand by his coworkers side all the same. The logic certainly makes sense, he supposes, a test of brains is typically one books would be involved in one way or another, but… Scanning over the bookshelf and taking in the sheer number, he can already feel his attention span practically melting.

“Of course, we must ‘escape’ as they mean to torment us…” The swordsman sighs, resigned to his fate. Forced to read. Ugh.

Still, he forces himself to reach for a book all the same. He can’t allow his teammate to suffer alone. Teams work together! Bonding through strife! The fact he chose one of the lighter books was entirely coincidence and not at all a purposeful decision!! “I suppose we have no choice, then. Let us—“

Kagetsu’s sentence dies before it can be completed, action dying alongside it. This time, though, the interruption comes from inside the room — more specifically, from the sound of something small and metallic crashing onto the floor. Something that, upon closer inspection, has uncanny resemblance to a key.

“Oh.” He blinks. Then silently picks the key up off the ground. Oh. Well that. That works too. Okay. Sure. “J-Just as planned! The key is revealed! One step closer to freedom! Hooray for books!”

What Do We Do With a Baby Sailor?

Anniversary | Any +1

Nasir cocks his head to the side as the other boy stumbles over his words. Did he not speak the common language? Hm, he would have assumed that all beorcs spoke in the same tongue, but perhaps it was not that way after all.

His words were stilted, as he was unused to saying them. It must have been another beorc tongue that he spoke natively then, one that Nasir did not know.

Well, they seemed to be able to communicate well enough. Though, judging by the look on the other boy's face, he was unable to fully understand Nasir. Was it his fault then?

He smiles at the other boy, reaching over to pat him on the head. Like his father did with the young children who always gathered aroung him at the pier to ask him about his ship, including Nasir himself, "My name is Nasir," He already knows well enough to not introduce himself as a dragon of Goldoa, that Goldoa's borders were sealed for a reason and that he must keep that secret with his life, "You said you were lost earlier, correct?"

He is speaking slower now, hoping that may help a young child who seems to not know the common tongue well yet. At the very least, more of his words may come across this way.

"It's okay. Like I said, I'll take care of you. You can even call me big brother, if you want. And if we need to speak to adults, allow me to do the talking," Despite his young age, Nasir had already been praised by his mother for having a silver tongue. Perhaps that would come in handy someday in his future. Who could tell though? The future was unknowable, at least for Nasir.

#✦ ・ I am full of vigor! [IC]#✦ ・ My prediction has come to pass! [Threading]#Thread: what do we do with a baby sailor? (Any +1)#✦ ・ Let us become one! [Supports]#Support: Nasir #yukyunotabibito

“Na..sir…” He mumbles the name to himself, unfamiliar syllables feeling strange on his tongue. If the language they were communicating in wasn’t enough to prove the foreign-ness already, the name certainly was.

The other boy puts his hand on his head — which he does not quite understand, but he assumes must be a greeting in their culture, so he returns the gesture in kind. No matter how strange it feels to casually touch a stranger on the head. Foreigners were always said to be more open than they were.

Kagetsu beams. Nasir is speaking slower. He appreciates that. “Nice to meet you! I look forward to working with you!”

Though a slower speed can only do so much when half the words are unfamiliar. He heard… ‘brother’? Big brother. Elder brother. Has he lost his older brother here too..? Well, all the more reason to stick together, in any case! As an elder sibling himself it’s his job to look after any and all younger siblings, even if he isn’t entirely sure what said younger sibling is talking about!

“You should talk, yes. I know little. I am sorry.” Curse the limited learning material back home holding him back from his true potential… “Where should we go? Do you know where your home is?”

im number two on the fruit ninja leaderboard. get on my level.

raijintosworn

There is peace in silence if one looks for it. The rhythmic chopping breaking the silence is like a heartbeat. It’s soothing. It’s a respite from the constant hustle and bustle of the rest of life at Garreg Mach. Not that he minds it, but he’s enjoying this moment. He’s sure his partner-in-slicing is feeling it too, as he’s been silent beside him.

Or at least, that’s what Ryoma thought until he opened his mouth. He furrowed his brow.

“I disagree,” Ryoma says. “It may be faster, but it’s far more dangerous. Did you know it takes the same force to cut a carrot as it does to cut a finger?” He looks down at the vegetables. He supposes it could be rather tedious to cut all these by hand. It could be kind of fun to grab a sword and try to cut the vegetables that way. But it wouldn’t be responsible. Responsibility may be boring, but Ryoma is boring.

Yes, he sees Shiro’s point about him being a boring nag. He also isn’t about to change that.

“And don’t you think this is rather relaxing?” Chop. “You should try to get into the rhythm of it.” Chop. “It isn’t so terrible.”

#✦ ・ I am full of vigor! [IC]#✦ ・ My prediction has come to pass! [Threading]#Thread: im number two on the fruit ninja leaderboard (Sword +1)#✦ ・ Let us become one! [Supports]#Support: Ryoma #raijintosworn

Kagetsu can’t stop the sigh that escapes him at the immediate denial. Of course the other is right; there are rules around the use of swords for a reason, and as professors they are expected to strictly adhere to said rules, but…

His gaze shifts back down to the pile of sliced produce he’d created over the course of what feels like years of his life trapped in this kitchen. Then to the unsliced pile. Then down to his own hand, paused on the half-sliced remains of his current culinary victim in a clawed grip to prevent its escape.

A hand held not too terribly far from the most recent slice, now that he’s focusing on it…

“Well… If our fingers are of the same strength as a carrot, then we should be keeping them away, from the blade, should we not? And yet, look!” He gestures his free hand down to the cutting board, and by association, his other hand and its distance to the end of the fruits remains. “Is this not more dangerous, then?”

The swordsman steps back from the counter, giving himself enough room to pull the thing that allows him to put ‘sword’ in his title from off his back. Then, position it just above the fruit close enough to where the knife would have been next if he weren’t so determined to prove a point right now, both hands firmly on the sword’s grip.

“Were we to use our blades, our hands would remain in place well out of range. If anything, this would be the safer course of action. I see no downsides.”

Activity Check [October]

Total Skill Points: (7) —> (9)

[+1 Any (Monthly), +1 Flying: Thread (Dropped)]

Skill Up: Flying (E) —> (E+), Sword (C+) —> (B)

Claims: Wo Dao

Threads

Waiting for response: (Take your time!)

I am ashamed of myself. (none)

In drafts:

we in here like a pack of sardine — w/ Byleth

im number two on the fruit ninja leaderboard. — w/ Ryoma

What Do We Do With a Baby Sailor? — w/ Nasir

If you don’t see your thread here, please DM me. It may have gotten lost in my records.

#✦ ・ Metal has something to report! [OOC]#Placeholder activity tag #toaactivity #//YES IM AWARE I WAS GONE HALF THE MONTH IM SORRY :sob:#//in my defense I had midterm prep/actual midterms until like 3 hours ago #//anyway fly high Zelkov I just saw he died you’ll always be my best buddy rip #//ANYONE WHO SAW I FORGOT TO CHANGE THE TEMPLATE NO YOU DIDNT SHUSH

falling with *style*

Well, if he'd had any questions about whether or not this was really Kagetsu, he certainly doesn't now. With Kagetsu's swordsman arms half-crushing Zelkov's organs in a tight hug, he is both surprised to find his fellow retainer here and... not surprised at all. This does sort of seem like the kind of place Kagetsu would gravitate toward. It's chaotic... it's noisy... it's full of people getting into each other's business...

Zelkov's usually flat expression breaks just long enough to give Kagetsu a small smile. Despite it all, he's terribly glad to see a friendly face--and especially to see this friendly face.

"It's good to see you, too," he says. "I have missed having you around." He hasn't encountered Ivy here, yet, and didn't know she was on-site too until this very moment--so he files that information away for later use.

For now, he says, "Yes, I want to try this new activity. It seems interesting, and perhaps even a useful skill to learn. ...it also seems unnecessarily dangerous, but I'm sure that doesn't bother you?"

#✦ ・ I am full of vigor! [IC]#✦ ・ My prediction has come to pass! [Threading]#Thread: falling with *style* (Flying +1)#✦ ・ Let us become one! [Supports]#Support: Zelkov #thiefknight

Slight a change as it may be, the smile on the other’s face does not go unnoticed — something that only makes his own smile grow wider in turn. “You know me well indeed. Of course I am not!” The swordsman laughs loudly, as if the notion itself is completely absurd. To think there had been a time where he was once worried Zelkov hated him, to now hearing that he actually missed his company? That itself has already made the experience worth whatever injury may or may not end up occurring in the next few minutes. Whatever happens next can’t top that. It’s impossible. “Failure is how we learn. If I must be injured in order to fully understand this activity, then so be it!”

He turns his head a bit, watching the ever approaching front of the line before them. No obviously injured participants or wyverns, parachutes (or at least, what he assumes must be the parachutes) still intact and functional... Everything seems to be fine to him. He doubts Zelkov of all people would be feeling nervous, but who knows? A little reassurance never hurt anyone. “I doubt this could be too dangerous, anyway. Judging by the amount of students in line, they must be adhering to a fair number of safety protocols.”

Kagetsu’s brow furrows slightly as he inwardly cringes, the memory of the far-too-large book that he still has yet to read given to him upon his arrival bubbling to the surface. Along with the memory of numerous lectures from his superiors for not reading said book. Even though literally no one has gotten hurt as a result, but whatever. “The academy is… surprisingly strict about these things.”

Though it does make him wonder why they’re allowing this, but not him giving out real swords on the first day instead of training ones…

What Do We Do With a Baby Sailor?

Anniversary | Any +1

"Lost... yes, that sounds correct," He puzzles over the word for a minute, repeating it quietly to himself a few times as if testing its shape upon his tongue, "Yes. Lost. I am lost."

Lost... what did it mean to be lost? To be unable to find one's way, to not know one's whereabouts. In that way, Nasir would supposed that he was indeed very lost. Because he hadn't the slightest idea of where he was. He did not know his whereabouts, and therefore:

He was lost.

"This is... not my homeland," He says quietly, small hands grip tightly at the hem of his upper robes. Clearly it was not. His family farm, by the shore of Goldoa, did not have such regal looking buildings. His family farm was surrounded by the sound of waves crashing against the sand constantly, but he cannot hear the ocean at all here. Not nearby, at least. He doubts that this strange place, with all its heavy stone buildings, is anywhere near the ocean.

This place reminds him more of the far off Castle Goldoa than anything he knew in his quiet life with his parents.

Now... this other child. He is beorc, Nasir notes. Though they looked to be about the same age, that meant that Nasir was far older. And that he was going to have to act as a big brother for this kid. Not that Nasir knew anything about being an older brother. He was an only child after all.

He holds out a hand to the other boy, smiling as softly as he can, "Come with me, we can be lost together. And perhaps if we look together, we will be able to find our parents. Or at least someone we know. Don't worry, I'll take care of you; okay?"

‘Homeland’? Kagetsu’s head tilts slightly, child brain working overtime in an attempt to decipher the word. ‘Homeland’ sounds like ‘home’ and ‘land’ combined, so… it probably means the place he’s from! Unless it’s one of the kind of words that sound the same and mean something completely different, but those are stupid so he’s choosing to believe they don’t exist.

“Yes! This is not homeland!” The child nods, cheerful voice not at all matching the words he’s saying. This isn’t so bad so far! It’s pretty easy, actually! He’d thought his first conversation would be more challenging than this. Maybe he’s just a natural!

…oh that was a lot of words really fast. Uh oh. Okay, he heard ‘lost’ in there, he thinks?? He got that one right earlier so it means what he thinks it means. He thinks. Uh. He takes it back, he is absolutely not a natural and he has no idea what’s going on.

A beat passes as he stares at the other blankly, before finally resolving to taking his hand anyway, even if he isn’t quite sure why. It’s fine, he can just introduce himself! He knows how to do that! That fits at any point in a conversation, right? This is fine. “…My name is Kagetsu! What is your name?”

falling with *style*

The stranger had certainly piqued Zelkov's interest with his speech about this new concept of "skydiving." Most new activities could, of course, get his attention; it didn't take much for Zelkov to want to try new things. His mind was always latching on to something and then focusing on it for days or even weeks at a time until he felt like he had gotten the full experience out of whatever it might be. Perhaps skydiving would scratch that mental itch for a little while.

So he had signed up gladly for the opportunity to give it a try. Yes, there was some chance he could get himself hurt, but he wasn't that worried. At the monastery, he was surrounded by healers, and he knew how to take a fall besides. In a worst-case scenario, he might have a broken bone or two that needed to heal via magic over the course of a few days, and he could live with that.

Standing in line, fidgeting with the key around his neck and trying to patiently wait his turn to be thrown off the back of a wyvern, he became suddenly aware of a very large and very familiar presence nearby. A presence he had known for a long time... and would recognize anywhere.

Turning toward the source of the boisterous chatter, he said, "Kagetsu. Is that you?"

#✦ ・ I am full of vigor! [IC]#✦ ・ My prediction has come to pass! [Threading]#Thread: falling with *style* (Flying +1)#✦ ・ Let us become one! [Supports]#Support: Zelkov #thiefknight #//ZELKOV MY BUDDY MY PAL MY FRIEND

Fodlan truly is a place full of wonder. Falling out of the sky on purpose? For fun? Who comes up with this?! Truly, innovations never cease.

Kagetsu has never been one for flying. It was never something he had the opportunity to learn back in his homeland, and even after he left there was never really a good moment for it. What better opportunity to learn then when it doesn’t matter if you fail or not! He wins either way! The perfect plan.

Or, it would be, if the lines were not so painfully slow. Seriously, how could falling take so long?? You just go! …At least the person he found himself next to was willing enough to strike up a conversation to pass the time. “I could hardly believe it myself—good morning Zelkov— and so then I— Zelkov—? ZELKOV?!” He has to do a double-take, and even then it takes him a moment.

The prior conversation is immediately abandoned, the swordsman sprinting towards his fellow retainer with little thought to anything else. Including the looks he gets from those he pushed past and cut in front of in his quest to hop over the lines barricade and force his former coworker into a reunion hug. Not the most polite or professional thing he could’ve done, but that’s not just his fellow retainer. That is his BEST friend.

…At least, he is Kagetsu’s best friend. He doesn’t know if Zelkov feels the same. They haven’t had that talk yet. The regular ‘are we friends’ talk was difficult enough.

Pulling back almost as abruptly as he had started it, his already bright expression somehow manages to light up even more at the familiar face. “Ahaha, so it is you! I had known with Queen Ivy present, you would not be far behind!” He, in fact, did not know that. He had hoped, sure, but he hadn’t ever heard anything that would confirm that hope to be true. Unless this counts, but he’s pretty sure it doesn’t.

He gives a pat to Zelkov’s arm before stepping back fully, finally returning his personal space to it’s rightful owner. “It is good to see you, my friend. I will admit, things have not quite been the same without your company. Are you here for the ‘sky-diving’ as well?”

What Do We Do With a Baby Sailor?

Anniversary | Any +1

It happened out of the blue one morning: a huge gaggle of young children toddling all over the Monastery! It doesn't take long for someone to fill you in on the nitty gritty: that these are indeed the same students and staff everyone knows, and no they don't know how this happened to make them like this. All that matters for now is that there are way too many children to watch over until this wears off and not enough hands left. Are you one of the lone adults left battling exhaustion and tantrums, or are you one of the children wondering why the grown-up looks about ready to cry? [Grants Any Skill +1]

This was not Goldoa. That is Nasir's thought as he blinks awake upon a strange lawn. The grass at his family's farm was far from this green, and the strange buildings that surround him are not Goldoan in origin.

He stands, dusting off his stained pants, sharp blue eyes scanning around for anything that looked even vaguely familiar.

Nothing. This place was completely and entirely foreign to him.

Well, that was alright, he supposed. He has always wanted to see the world beyond Goldoa. Whatever has happened to bring him to this place, he shall accept it with open arms.

But there is something that he wonders...

"Father?" He asks quietly, not wanting to bother anyone with a meaningless query. There was no answer. He waits a moment before trying again a little bit louder, "Father...?"

Again, no answer.

Then, his father must not have been transported to this place along with him. But... the last that he remembered, he had definitely been with his father. How in the world did he end up here?

The young Nasir stops in the middle of the lawn, surrounded by other children - beorc children, he notes, interesting, he had never met a beorc before.

What was he supposed to do? His father was the wise one, not him. How was Nasir supposed to figure this out on his own?

@onigirisamurai

“Huh?” The child blinks. Once, twice, then a third time. Yet the sword in his hand doesn’t change. He could’ve sworn he’d had his training sword just a moment ago, yet this thing’s almost as big as he is. Weird. Not that he’s complaining. Weirder still, literally none of the surrounding area even begins to look anything close to Pale Sands…

Did he accidentally wander past their boarders?? No, that couldn’t be it, he has too many guards following him after last time for that to have been possible. He’s nowhere near stealthy enough. Plus, he promised he wouldn’t try that again after how much his family freaked out.

….HIS FAMILY IS PROBABLY FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW AREN’T THEY??? OUUUGHHHH HE’S GONNA BE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE……

He cringes at the thought for a moment, taking a deep breath. To ‘refocus’ himself, or whatever that’s supposed to do. It doesn’t really work, but the aircertainly does. The feeling is distinctly different from the air in Pale Sands, somehow.

It’s different. He’s not in Pale Sands. He’s out. He’s actually outside! He knew it — he knew he wasn’t meant to be in there forever! This must be the work of fate itself!

His legs take him before he can pick a direction, sprinting in the direction of the closest person, brain scrambling for every scrap of knowledge he had managed to ever dig up of how the world beyond their borders communicated. His family will forgive him, surely. “O— uh, hello!” Kagetsu stops just shy of running straight into the boy, beaming from ear to ear in excitement. This one has blue hair like him (sort of)! And looks just as confused as he felt a moment ago! Fate must have brought them there together! A destined friendship!!

“Are you… um….” oh dragons, what was their word for it?? THINK KAGETSU, COME ON. THIS IS YOUR ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FOREIGNER FRIEND. “Lost? Are you also?” Is that correct? He thinks that’s correct. It must be. He hopes.

im number two on the fruit ninja leaderboard. get on my level.

Students in the cafeteria have decided to make a game of eating their fruits and veggies-which is to say, instead of simply eating their food as a cooked ingredient or a snack between classes, many of them have decided to make it a game! Inspired by the ninja of Hoshido, it is called: Produce Slicer! Students compete to slice the most food in just a minute, earning bragging rights for being the top scorer. The staff don't seem to be too fond of all the mess though-are you on the side of the game or the dining hall staff who have to clean up afterwards? [Grants Sword +1]

Every day in a new place brings new experience, and every experience is a new lesson. Today’s lesson; slicing fruit is boring.

Kagetsu doesn’t mind cooking duty, he really doesn’t, he had plenty of time to get used to it during his time on the somniel, but the somniel was different. ‘Cooking duty’ on the somniel was only making food for like, 10 people during a shift. Maybe. He never counted. But he doesn’t need to count to know just by the sheer mountain of fruit there is a lot more than 10 people in Garreg mach.

chop, chop, chop.

The knife slices through another fruit, though the slicer’s attention has long since wandered away. They’ve mostly been working in silence this far, but he can’t help but sneak a glance at his partner for this out of the corner of his eye. He seems strong. Almost reminds him of King Diamant in a way, for whatever reason. Maybe it’s the red?

Of course, no matter how much he may want to (and he wants to, SO bad), he can’t exactly challenge him to spar in this situation. Both for job reasons and fire safety reasons, not a good idea. But on the other hand… if he doesn’t do something interesting soon he will probably die. He has to do what he must. To survive. “You know… These knives are rather small. We could get through this much faster if we used our swords.”

@raijintosworn

we in here like a pack of sardine

#✦ ・ I am full of vigor! [IC]#✦ ・ My prediction has come to pass! [Threading]#Thread: we in here like a pack of sardine (Authority +1)#✦ ・ Let us become one! [Supports]#Support: Byleth #ashenprofessor #//this was not supposed to be this long oops #//kagetsu muse was silenced for too long i guess he has a lot of yapping to make up for

A new establishment has popped up just outside the monastery grounds, run by a mysterious proprietor. What is it in the business of? Encouraging team-building and leadership skills through cooperation! And how do they do that? Lock you in a room and force you to use your combined wit to escape! Rumor has it that some of the puzzles you will be confronted with are brain-bendingly difficult... but surely you can escape a room, can't you? No brute force allowed! [Grants Authority +1]

Kagetsu frowns, lightly shaking the locked box held in his hands. One of many locked things in this room, if the (what he thinks was) excessively long explanation on what does and does not as a ‘clue’ is anything to go by. Front door included. They weren’t lying, it was most definitely locked. Though the door didn’t rattle the same way the box does when he had initially tested it.

It’s definitely a better indicator that the box has some level of importance than nothing would be, at least. Not a great indicator and one he has absolutely no idea what to do with, but better! He’s on the right track! Now he just has to figure out how to open the box with no key!

His eyes narrow, staring down his rectangular enemy as though he could intimidate it into giving up. Which of course does not work on the box because it is a box. Though it apparently works well enough for the box’s owner to feel the need to project their voice into the room with them, words slightly obscured by the spells magical static (or, that’s what he assumes that sound is), but still clear enough to get the message across. “Please don’t break the box.”

The box is almost immediately freed from his grasp in favor of raising his hands in the air, sputtering a little as he steps back from the box to further prove his innocence. “I was not going to!” How could they come to such a conclusion?! The audacity. Sure, okay, he was considering it maybe, but…!

He lets out a sigh, crossing his arms since apparently they don’t trust him touching things and turning his attention instead to his teammate for this challenge. They’re faculty as well, if he remembers right, and they seem smart. So they must be smart! Smart enough to have not gotten yelled at in the first five minutes, at least. Though in his defense it would’ve gotten it open…

“How go things on your end? Any progress?”

@ashenprofessor

Activity Check [September]

bro I just got here

#✦ ・ Metal has something to report! [OOC]#Placeholder activity tag #toaactivity #//does. does this count.

He is just here for the food.

Decorations —

Kagetsu can give: White Feather!

Black feather: White feather: String of pearls: Small bell: Teardrop crystal:

Outfit —

#✦ ・ Metal has something to report! [OOC]#toaball2024 #//THIS SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE BUY THIS IS GENUINELY THE BALL OUTFIT I DECIDED ON #//IT WAS GOING TO BE EITHER A SERIOUS OUTFIT ATTEMPT OR THIS BUT THIS WAS SO MUCH FUNNIER #//the duality of muses……#//never fails to a*muse*s #//haha get it because it is— *death*

haha yugioh reference

peerlessscowl

Raven was only in the market for some parchment. Perhaps some more ink, and maybe a quick detour to the smith to look into a change in his usual combat armor or for some oil for his weapons. A pop into a public house to check the bulletin board for any new postings.

But the city centre was more bustling than usual, and it took him a little while to figure out exactly why - his usual haunts were more busy, bar the smith, and by faces younger and brighter than might have been there before. Less tired wizened arcanists and students of the academy crunching for exams or certifications, more…people having fun.

It took him that much longer to navigate the shops, declining the extra charges for booster packs - the purpose of which he didn't bother to ask for - before he finally had the opportunity to return to the Academy's gates.

He almost collided with the young man who skidded to a halt before him, and his hand came up on instinct to stop the pile of cards in his hand from spilling. They didn't, blessedly, but that seemed neither here nor there in the face of Raven's confusion.

"You want…what?"

"The lad wants to play y'in a game, my friend." The merchant looked amused, and seemed to be reaching under the counter for another stack of cards.

"Oh, no I don’t - " He did not have much further chance to decline, to continue his path back to his dorms, before the shopkeep steered he and his apparent foe to a low table beside his cart and dumped the deck into his hands with a friendly clap on his shoulder.

"Rules're here," the merchant said, pointing to the play mat as he got Raven's opponent situated as well. "This guy just bought a hell of a deck, so let's see if you can match him. Ready?"

He did not give Raven the chance to say no.

"DUEL!"