The Gambler

Training

The area that Aurelian leads Hiro to, is just a mostly empty field outside of the Castle region, with one small log house on the edge of it.
"This is where you'll be living for the next five years. You will eat, train, eat, train, eat, train, then sleep and repeat." Aurelian says, sitting on the vibrant green grass.
"Can't we damage the beautiful land that we stand?" Hiro asks, still in awe by the beauty surrounding him.
"You're naive, Hiro." Aurelian chuckles, he stands with no use of his hands, just floats to standing position again.
"How so?"
"Attack me."
"What?" Hiro is obviously confused.
"Attack me. If you can land a single hit on me, you're automatically qualified and deserve to be in the Royal Guard right now. We won't have to go through all this training and you can go back to being with the Princess." Aurelian smiles. His arms are open wide, staff still in his right hand. Hiro knows this is obviously a trick somehow. There is no way he can land anything on the Great Aurelian, right? Though, he isn't one to pass on a gamble. He focuses all his energy on the thought of the cards coming out, but nothing happens. The cards remain still in his pocket. He grunts and tries to think harder and put everything he has into them coming out, but they just refuse.
"See? This is why you need training. I am sure you're starved. Let's eat." Aurelian chuckles as he begins walking towards the cabin. 
"Jokester." Hiro mutters as he follows behind Aurelian.
"Don't get used to it. I'm just having fun while we can." Aurelian's voice became very serious in that moment. As they got closer to the cabin, crafted from sturdy timber logs, exudes rustic charm and cozy simplicity. Its wooden walls are adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes from elven folklore, adding an enchanting touch to the humble abode. Hiro realizes just how intricate the cabin really is. A small pathway, lined with smooth pebbles, leads up to the cabin's doorstep, inviting visitors to step inside and experience its warm embrace.
Through the cabin's windows, sunlight streams in, casting a golden glow over the interior. Within, a cozy hearth crackles merrily, filling the air with the comforting scent of burning wood. Soft, plush furnishings invite weary travelers to rest and rejuvenate, while shelves adorned with trinkets and treasures collected from distant lands tell tales of adventures past. There is a table with two seats in the corner of the room besides the hearth. There is already a plate of cooked meat over a bed of fresh lettuce, and potatoes. While the other plate has mushrooms, some berries that Hiro can't quite place, and honey drizzled over them.
"Woah. This place is awesome." Hiro lets out.
"It is your home for the next five years, so do get comfortable." Aurelian sits at the seat with the mushroom plate in front of him.
"Please, join me." Aurelian motions to the other plate.
"Woah, meat!" Hiro says as he sits.
"It is a special meal. This will be the only time you see such a vile thing. The King insisted we make you feel welcomed at first, rather than forcing you into our customs immediately. It is deer steak. Please enjoy." Aurelian says, he has no smile on his face, in fact, he looks quite angry at the meat in front of Hiro.
"I have no issues conforming to your customs immediately. I will eat this, just because it was already butchered and cooked. It would be a waste to not eat it, but from now on, please allow me the honor of eating what you eat." Hiro smiles. In reality, he just didn't care for food. He ate whatever he could get his hands on for the past couple years of his gambling addiction. He doesn't have a preference. He just wants to eat. Aurelian lets out a slight grin, then begins eating a mushroom covered in honey.

After eating, they began the five year journey into Hiro becoming a Royal Guard.
"You must not think of the cards as separate entities. They must become one with you, an extension of your limbs. Such as when I cast 'Frost aura' it is not an ability, it is a part of me." The ground beneath Aurelian begins to freeze, while no noticeable changes happen to him or around him.

Two weeks have past and Hiro still can't control the cards, nor get them to move. As Aurelian and Hiro are sitting down enjoying a dinner of fresh fruits, nuts, and honey, Aurelian stops eating and looks up at Hiro.
"Hiro." Aurelian is very serious.
"Yes?"
"Are you really a Human Mage?"
"Y-yes." Hiro begins, he stops eating and sighs, "No."
"You're not a mage?" Aurelian looks confused.
"No, I am a mage. But I am not a Human Mage from wherever the Princess thinks I am from. Can I be honest with you, Aurelian?" Hiro has a deep sadness in his eyes.
"Sure." Aurelian doesn't sense any lies from the boy, but just incase he has a spell forming under the table.
"I am from a different world. I was transported here when I failed to protect those in my world that I cared about. I hurt so many, and hurt the person I cared about the most in the worst way possible. She died, and it was my fault. When being transported here, I realized it was a chance for me to not forget my mistakes, but to attempt to make up for it. I loved her so much, and yet her last moments were spent hating me. I refuse to fail like that again. I found the Princess and she assumed since I was Human, and a Mage, I was from that place. Then when I saw her in danger, I couldn't help but act. Being as I couldn't think of anything other than failing my mother." Aurelian stops the spell under the table.
"Mother?" Aurelian's eyes have a tear glimmering at the end of them.
"Yes, mother. I failed her, she trusted me, gave me everything back and died for it. Now I somehow have the power to protect the ones that I care about, and I REFUSE to let go of it. I want to get better. I want to get stronger, I WANT TO PROTECT PEOPLE." Hiro says as he slams the table upon standing up. Aurelian chuckles.
"How is any of that funny?" Hiro says, a little bit annoyed.
"It seems your conviction is the missing piece I couldn't figure out." Aurelian says as he stands, and puts down his staff.
"My- conviction?"
"My boy, look behind you." Aurelian says, pointing to the wall behind Hiro. As he turns, he sees all 40 of the cards once in his trench coat pocket near the door, were pointed at Aurelian's seat.