“I draw!” Sarah’s hand did not look too great, but it was just enough for her to possibly turn this game around. Her opponent, probably the best she faced today, took the last round after her commanding lead on the first. At turn 6, this game was going to be over in a few minutes, netting her a fifth victory in the opening tournament today. Fantastic for her first foray into card games, and just barely within her expectations.

Using three play points and flipping over the three fish rocks used to represent the resource, she played the card she drew in front of her, “I summon Christened Collie.” The young man looked at the card he had face down, deciding whether or not to use it on the freshly summoned creature. He glanced at the creature on the yellow card and it’s pitiful 1 attack point, weighing the option to use the trap card he had set the previous turn. While still new to the game, he seemed to have picked up almost as fast as her.

Just as he was about to flip the card, Sarah put a finger up, proudly signalling to stop him, “Don’t think about it, man. Christened Collies effect only allows ‘Miracle’ type spells and traps to be played!” Like many ‘Miracle’ type creature cards, Christened Collie did not have to rely on a high attack rating for the cost of playing it, but for the stun type effect, limiting the cards your opponent can play.

Letting him set his card back down, Sarah continued her turn. Having only used three play points on turn six meant she still had three more to use to play cards, as indicated by the three remaining fish rocks. Each player gained one play point per turn and had their resource refilled at the beginning of their turn, limiting the number of plays one can make.

Quickly deciding on her next play, Sarah used her remaining three play points to summon a ‘Noble’ type creature from her hand in addition, “I summon Dishonest Rogue as well!” While this creature had one attack point as well, Sarah grinned with anticipation.

Turning the card sideways, she pointed at one of the two remaining shields on her opponent’s side of the field, “Dishonest Rogue attacks your shield!”

“Wait, I thought creatures can’t attack the turn they’re summoned?” The large man sat up straight, scratching the fresh buzz cut on the side of his head.

“Why do you think I’d pay three mana for a 1 attack creature again? This one’s got [Sonic Strike], meaning it can attack the same turn I play it!” Sarah crossed her arms and confidently laughed. Despite the game just coming out today, she had picked it up just recently. But even more recent is the lead she took, knocking him down to one last shield to her two remaining.

Begrudgingly, the baby-faced Korean man picked up his shield card. His expression quickly changed as he added the card to his hand, “Hey, if I get a card added to my hand after it was broken as a shield and it has [Shield Skill], I get to play it for free, right?”

“Yeah? But remember Christen-”

“I play Victorious Claim, a ‘Miracle’ type spell. Since it was added to my hand after you broke my shield and it had [Shield Skill], I get to play it immediately for free!” The man was beaming.

“Woof. Lucky move there,” she looked at the man still smiling after turning the game around, “What’s your name?”

The young man stopped smiling, “Ronnie. I work down at the warehouse.”

“Well Ronnie, don’t think you’ve won just yet.”

Sarah turned her other card sideways. Normally a six play point spell, Victorious Claim turned all cards on her side of the field sideways leaving it in a state called ‘Strikeless’. Whenever a creature attacks, it ‘strikes’ leaving it ‘strikeless’, making it open to attacks from other creatures and disallows it from attacking again until it regains it’s strike at the beginning of her next turn. Dishonest Rogue already used it’s strike, but this left her Christened Collie open for attacks as well, ending the “‘Miracle’ spell only” effect when it leaves the field. This would allow her opponent to play all sorts of spells and traps to affect the battlefield.

“I end my turn.” Sarah smiled as things looked like they were finally heating up.

“Alright, my turn! I draw!” It looked like Ronnie was getting into the game too, finally having a chance to stage a comeback. Since it was the start of his turn, he also gained one play point, bringing his total up to seven.

Shuffling through the cards in his hand, he finally picked a card he wanted to play. With a flourish of the card he was to summon, he paid his seven play points, “I summon Gramadoron, Nature’s Bounty!”

The holographic card depicted a tyrannosaurus with what appeared to be blood-red crystals glimmering underneath the creases in it’s ebony hide. At 6 attack power, it certainly was quite strong, especially during mid-game.

“When did you pull this guy?! He looks fucking rare!” Leaning in to get closer, Sarah’s eyes glimmered along with the shiny piece of cardboard. “I’ll trade you whatever you want for him!”

Scoffing, her opponent leaned back and away, “You don’t even play ‘Behemoth’ cards. You would never get the chance!”

“I’ll build a deck for him! He’s one of the coolest cards I’ve seen!” Sarah did all she could not grab it to get a closer look.

“I just pulled it right before we started, so I’m calling it my good luck charm. Of course, I think you might need that luck more than me!” With the sounds of his gloats, nearly all the other players in the room encircled their table.

“Wait, this guy’s gonna beat Sarah?”

“I doubt it, Sarah’s nuts when it comes to this game!”

“Dude, she’s been unbeatable all day. It’s about time someone knocks her down a peg!”

Taking a deep breath, Sarah made a note to hit that guy upside the head later. “How about this? If I win, you hand that card over to me.”

“Nah. Besides, you’re not gonna win. Gramadoron gains [Sonic Strike] while I have more play points than you. And now we both know what that means!” At seven play points, he certainly had more than her six. “Plus, he’s got [Power Strike +2] meaning he gains 2 more attack power when he strikes a creature on your field. Gramadoron attacks Christened Collie!”

Sarah picked up her card and put it beside her deck in a place known as ‘The Graveyard’, a place where cards go when they are defeated, as he turned his creature, indicating it used it’s strike. Damn it. I wanted him to break a shield, letting me attack with my two creatures to break his last shield and hit him for game.

“You know Gramadoron’s 8 attack is WAY more than Collie’s 1, right?”

“Oh yeah, I just wanted to make sure you know what Gramadoron does, since you’ll never get one of your own.”

Tch.

“Alright, I end my turn.”

“My turn.” Sarah smiled, despite hating to lose, this was the most fun she had all day, especially while still wearing her stupid work uniform. Her hand was terrible last round, causing her to lose pretty quick, but this was a good back-and-forth. This is what made card games fun.

After straightening her Dishonest Rogue and adding a fish rock to indicate her number of play points is now seven, she drew the top card of her deck and added it to her hand.

I think it’s time for the big play…

“I use all seven of my play points to summon Sunlifter, Herald of War to the field!” The ‘Noble’ card glittered as much as her opponent’s. With this card, her prized ace-in-the-hole, the match was as good as hers. “Having actually read what my cards do before putting them into my deck, Sunlifter has both [Sonic Strike] and [Double Strike] letting me attack this turn AND break two shields! Not that it matters, you only have one left!”

Sticking out her tongue, all she had to do was attack with Dishonest Rogue and Sunlifter to break her opponent’s last shield and attack directly before winning the game.

“Pfft…” Ronnie flipped over a card. The same card that was stunned by Christened Collie’s effect. Since Collie was not on the field anymore, her opponent was free to play every faction’s spell or traps, including the ‘Noble’ trap being activated. “In response to your summon, I activate Spike Trench. Spike Trench lets me destroy an opponent’s monster when it’s summoned, while ignoring its [Arrival] effect. Not that it matters, Sunlifter doesn’t even have one!” He stuck his tongue out, imitating her.

The crowd took his side, prompting a number of “ooh”s and other calls.

Putting her best card into the Graveyard, she bit her lip. “I- I still break your shield with Dishonest Rogue!” Turning her creature, Ronnie picked up his lone shield. One more attack and he’s done for!

As he looked over his card, Sarah sat back as the crowd came back over to her side. With the opening day for World Game, came a swath of excitement and hype over the shop. Far different to the sparse showing she saw when dipping her head into the strange storefront yesterday.

“Alright, my turn again!” Ronnie shouted as he drew another card off the top of his deck.

The crowd began to murmur when they saw the card he drew. Sarah grimaced. This could be the end of her streak. Thankfully, while her opponent ran a Noble/Behemoth/Miracle deck and played Victorious Claim earlier, she too ran Victorious Claim in her Noble/Miracle deck. With her last shield left, all she had to do was hope that one of the four copies she had in her deck found its way into one of the five shields she placed face down at the start of the game and activate it as a [Shield Skill], protecting her if he summoned more creatures.

“Okay, I’ve got eight play points and Gamadoron regains it’s strike again.” He straightened the tyrannosaurus, “Gamadoron breaks one of your shields.”

Picking up the card Ronnie selected, her heart sank. Victorious Claim was where it was supposed to be, but with Gamadoron as the only creature on his side of the field already strikeless, the effect would be pointless.

“No Skill?” He asked, barely able to hide his excitement.

“No Skill.” Sarah confirmed.

“I was asking about you, not whatever you picked up.”

This sonnova-

After the crowd doubled in size and finally calmed down, the young man continued his turn, “Hey, thanks for explaining what [Sonic Strike] does, it makes beating you a whole lot easier!” He flips over a single fish rock and slams down a card onto the table, causing Sarah’s soda to shake. “I summon Nix, Firma- Firmaman…”

“Firmament.” Sarah sighed.

“Yeah, Firmament’s Blade!” He beamed as the crowd cheered along with him..

Sarah looked at the new combatant. The card was not impressive. One play point for cost and only two whole attack points. ‘Miracle’ creature with the [Guard] keyword. Having pulled most of their cards from starter decks, this card has been seen in nearly every game.

All I need to do is draw another Dishonest Rogue and he’s dead meat.

“Ya done with your turn?” Sarah leaned forward, causing her opponent to stagger a bit.

“Ye-yeah.” He quickly glances away.

“Alright, let’s see if I can end this from here.” Sarah drew the top of her deck. While technically tied, Ronnie’s new card can stop and redirect all incoming attacks towards it, preventing her from sending Dishonest Rogue in to deal the finishing blow.

Leafing through her hand, the crowd snickered. Sarah added her eighth fish rock to the line and flipped them over, “I summon Melina, Cunning Matron, I guess.”

While an expensive card sporting a decent five attack points and allows her to activate traps like Spike Trench directly from her hand, she had no such cards in her hand.

Maybe he’ll fall for the bait?

Sarah turned her ‘Noble’ card, “Dishonest Rogue attacks you directly.”

“Nuh-uh! Nix goes for the block!” Turning his card sideways as well, the crowd cheered.

When a card declares a strike, a card on the opponent’s side of the field with the [Guard] keyword can intercept and do battle with the striking card. With Nix’s two attack points versus Rogue’s one, Sarah picked up Rogue to set it in the Graveyard.

The card shop goers pat Ronnie on the back, “Alright! Good job, man!”

“I can’t believe you beat Sarah!”

“Bro, play me next!”

Ronnie smiled and playfully waved them off, “Sure, sure. But I gotta win this one first, guys!” Setting his cards straight, Ronnie drew the top card of his deck “Okay, I’ve got nine play points now and Gamadoron and Nix regains thei-”

“Alright, just fucking hurry up and finish it!” Sarah set her cards on the table.

“Looks like someone’s calling it quits!” Ronnie smiled as he flipped all nine play points on his field, “I summon Wielder of the Dawn Blade!”

“Ugh…” Sarah exaggeratedly threw herself back against her chair.

“Don’t complain, you did the same thing to me earlier today!” One shouted.

“Yeah, me too!”

“Bruh, just keep BMing her!”

Taking another deep breath, Sarah made a note to hit that guy twice upside the head later.

Ronnie put his finger to his chin, “Nah, she can just get the right card and win this. I don’t wanna risk it.”

Finally, turning his ‘Behemoth’ dinosaur card sideways, Ronnie won.

The Missouri sky was seared with the swansong of the setting sun. Flipping through her cards, Sarah sat on in front of The Card Cache. It was her first time sitting at the bus stop, but after the day she had, it would certainly be the last time she used this one.

Her eyes burned as she looked through the expensive distraction she bought today on a whim. The first taste of relief in over a week now.

“Hey, is this seat taken?”

Sarah quickly set her deck down, wiped her eyes and turned around in a singular, swift motion, “Uh, sure. My brother’s on his way to pick me up any minute now.”

The older man moved with a certain grace would not expect from one his size. Scooting over in her seat, Sarah felt he could take up the entire bench by himself. Thankfully, he took just the corner nearest to him, granting a safe cushion of space. His green Hawaiian shirt clashed tastefully with his sharp red hair. His matching full beard barely contained the bright smile he held underneath.

“It’s cool, I just saw you leave the shop in a hurry and figured you could use someone to vent to.”

Sarah flashed a fake smile, “Uh yeah. They were being stupid.” She shifted in her seat, “My brother should be just around the corner.”

“No, yeah. I think they just didn’t like someone coming in and sweeping them all up. Us nerds can be pretty defensive in our hobbies…” The man shifted in his seat as well, pulling something from his back pocket. “Regardless, you’re pretty good. I don’t think anyone else has a chance of winning that tournament.”

Sarah looked at what the man was holding. The green card glimmered in the last rays of the sun brighter than anything she’d seen that day. “Is this the tournament prize? Do you work at the shop?”

“Uhh, no and no. I’m just a friend of the owner’s.”

“Not gonna lie, that’s pretty fucking creepy then.”

The man’s laugh caused Sarah to jump, “Naw, I’m happily married thank you very much!” Finally quieting down, he continued, “Nah, you just seem like someone who can get more use out of this than me. This here card’s pretty special.”

Glancing at the card, Sarah’s mind raced as years of “stranger danger” lessons came back to her, “No thanks, I think I’m done after today…”

The bear of a man stood and placed the card on the bench, “Well, I’ll leave this here and you can choose whether or not you want it.” Turning to walk back to the shop, he shouted, “The name’s Richard Johnson, by the way! Ask the owner about me next time you come in, he’ll tell you a good story!”

Sarah watched as the man continued to The Card Cache, not once turning around. “There better not be anthrax on this thing.”

Scooting back over to pick up the card, she held it in the light. Within the green border, a holofoil picture of a grey rabbit-like creature with what appeared to be a hole in its forehead as if something belonged in there. It shimmered and shone as she turned it over, captivated by the reflections.

A ‘Behemoth’ card, the text on the side read, “Gemless Carbuncle”. At only three play points and one attack power, it was pretty similar to the rest of the cards she played today.

As she began to read the description, the sound of metal-on-metal rattled towards her. Despite the new gingerberry blue paint job, no amount of facelifts could make the truck seem younger than World War II. Behind the wheel, elbow leaning out the window, sat a similarly bearded man, blonde instead of red. “Hey worse sister, how was Dungeon and Dorks?”

Pushing off a copy of ‘Hayboy’ magazine from her spot and putting on her seatbelt, Sarah groaned loudly and slumped in the passenger seat. "Why must the good be punished? For what crimes have I committed to be wrought such a grave injustice?"

“I’m guessing you aren’t exactly world champion material yet?” The blonde man asked, turning the key a couple times in the ignition.

“No, I lost to a guy who cheated and had his parents buy him all the best cards!” She bemoaned, emphasising a whine.

Stifling a chuckle, Albert tried to look dismayed while turning the knob on the radio. “Well, that’s funny coming from-” He stopped, glancing at his sister who looked out the window. “Yeah, I hate people who do that.”

The truck rattled past fields of wheat, corn, and sorghum as the last rays of the sun danced through the stalks onto the rough country road. While Albert seemed to be humming along with something, Sarah only heard the clattering of steel on steel, questioning how the truck even stayed together. She thumbed through her new cards, looking at the art. Her newest card glimmered and shined in the rays that streaked by.

“Hey kid. You feel better?” Albert asked, putting a huge hand on her shoulder.

The cards hypnotically sparkled in her hand, “Yeah. Just bummed out with everything. I had a bit of a rough day at work.” Sarah leaned back in her seat, rubbing her forehead, “Why didn’t anyone tell me old ladies are the worst?”

Albert chuckled, keeping his eyes on the road, “I still can’t believe you actually got a job… And let’s be honest, you’d be the same way when you’re older!” He lifted his hand to the scruff on his chin, “Actually, you’re already like that…”

“Nuh-uh!” She retorted, jumping up, “I do it because I know how things are supposed to be done! They just do it because they just want to be difficult!!”

“Worse sister, you really need to practice some self-awareness…”

Squeak squeak squeeeak!

Sarah jolted in her seat. Looking around, she felt as if the sound came from inside her head instead of joining the orchestra around her. “Hey, shut up.”

Albert glanced over at his sister’s sudden attentiveness, “Is everything alright, Sarah?”

“Yeah. I just heard some weird squeaking.”

The big man leaned forward, “I don’t hear anything…” Albert slapped the dashboard, “Ol’ Trucksie here is the best she’s ever been!”

Sarah leaned back in her seat, “Yeah… I think you might need some self-awareness yourself…”