The Heroes of Avalon

Asaad the Boy who Lost

Asaad was surrounded on all sides. He hadn't expected his opponent to be so skilled. He couldn't lose now his family name was on the line. He sighed. It was all or nothing. He had been hoping he wouldn't have to go this. The less people who knew about this power the better. Attack zero. Defense 1000. Asaad smiled under his hood. This was it. 

"I call forth dark phoenix! Good luck beating that," Asaad laid down his collectible card on the playing table. Everyone circled around the table let out a gasp. Asaad was undefeated and today wasn't going to be any different. He would take home the two small silver action figures and add it to his collection. 

"I call forth the dragon of Avalon. Defense 2000 and attack 5000," his opponent laid down a one of a kind  card. Asaad stood up to get a closer look. Everyone else started whispering among themselves. How did a Rogue manage to get something as legendary as this? Asaad picked up the card to check it's authentic.  He poured some of his raw magic into the card. A circle with the word Anaron glew with the magic. 

"I don't believe it. How did you manage to get this?" Asaad handed him back the card. He picked up his cards from the table knowing he had lost. 

"It was given to me as a gift. I didn't start playing Anaron until I got it a few weeks ago." Asaad flinched. Not only had he lost, but he lost to a newbie. 

"Well that was a good game. I've never been challenged like that before." Asaad stuck out his hand and waited for the Rogue to shake it. 

"The book," the Rogue demanded. Asaad let his hand drop to his side. 

"You can't be serious. That's my families magic book I can't give it away. 

"Then why did you bet it," The rogue asked with a smile. His tattoo slithered across his bare chest. 

"Because I didn't think I would lose," Asaad admitted. His parents would kill him if they knew he even brought up his magic book in a conversation outside of his race. "I can't give it to you. I'll give you something else instead." 

"I want the book. Besides you don't have a choice you're under a contract," the Rogue laughed. Asaad went into his bag and grabbed his family's legacy. He ran his fingers over the spine before handing it to the rogue. He was dead meat. 

News had reached his parents when Asaad got home. It was only his mom who was there. His dad left to bargain with the Rogue who now had their book. Generations of collecting spells lost to a card game. His own mom had risked her life to add to the book. 

"Veni ut kheli Avaron cards!" The cards tucked away in his bag and some of the ones up stairs floated into his mom's hand. 

"Mom! Please don't. I'm sorry I didn't think I would lose. Just give them back to me," Asaad pleaded. He tried to grab them from her. His mom held them away from him. Her thick eyebrows were smushed together and her thin lips were pressed. Asaad fell back. When was the last time she was this angry?

"You will join la caza or you will be disowned. Do you hear me Asaad? My aunt did not die for you to give it away for a silly card game."

"If I join la caza I will die mom."

"You should have thought about that before. Go to your room and pack your bags. You guys leave for the enchanted forest tomorrow morning." Asaad didn't bother fighting his mom. She would win in a heartbeat. He went to his room like he was told.

I'm going to die. They don't even care. The la caza is for  jocks. The best of the best. 

Asaad looked into the mirror. Sure he had put on some muscle since he graduated school, but it wasn't enough to face what was out in that forrest. Even his magic was weaker than everyone else's. Asaad sat on his bed and got out pen and paper to write his will. He left everything he owned related to Avaron to his friend Kye. He even wrote a letter confessing his love to Kiri.

Oh god Kiri. How did he forget that she would also be joining la caza. She graduated the top or their class. Her grandfather was the elder of the clan. She once went into the forest as a dare and came out unscathed. Could Asaad really spend months alone with her? Well her and eight others their age. If she didn't think Asaad was a wimp she would after la caza. Maybe she would take pity on him and fall madly in love. 

Asaad groaned and started to pack his bags. He tucked the letters under his pillow and grabbed his home work where he had written basic spells down. He struggled to fall asleep that night. He tossed and turned and even got up to run in place. 

"Asaad are you ready? I made you breakfast." Asaad woke momentarily forgetting the events of the night before. "You'll want to eat as much as you can now," his mother called out to him. Asaad got out of his bed and got dressed. He went into the kitchen where his mom and dad waited. They were legends in the mage comunity. His dad was the one who discovered raw magic in other living things. Which lead to in door plumbing and even unnatural light.

His mom is one of the only people to finish la caza. In the history of ever. You wouldn't be able to tell now. They waited to have Asaad in their 40's. At this rate they were going become elders before Asaad had children. 

Asaad sat down at the table and his mother served him fish and rice. His dad sat across from him. Breakfast was silent and his dad didn't say goodbye when him and his mother left.  He pretended it didn't hurt him as much as it did. 

"Your father is just frustrated that's all," his mother broke the silence. "He never got the chance to have a book. So when you gave away ours he felt like he didn't belong again. When you get back  he'll be over it."

"When I get back I will be dead. There's no way I'm going to be able to survive out there."

"Here I packed you some food and some other things I know you will need. Don't forget you wont be alone during this journey." His mom handed him a leather bag. Asaad looked inside and was surprised at what he saw. 

"My cards?"

"You never know when you'll need them." His mother smiled  and gave her son a hug. She prayed to the gods that he would stay safe. 

"Asaad? What are you doing here?" 

Asaad pulled away from his mother's embrace and fixed his hair and clothes. His mother chuckled being reminded of how her husband used to act around her. 

"Hey, Kiri. The same as you." She was beautiful. Her hair was black and fell right above her shoulders. She was petite but still had a good bit of muscle. Her eyes were almond shaped and dark brown. Her skin was pale and flawless. She always kept a hood on hiding her face. 

"Really?"

Asaads grin fell. Is that really how she saw him?

"Yes really," Asaad deadpanned. His mother slapped him upside the head. 

"I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way. You just never seemed to care about this sort of thing in school," Kiri apologize. 

"You noticed," Asaad said starstruck. He could feel his the blood flow to his cheeks. Kiri stepped back. 

"I have to go say goodbye to my family." Kiri left towards where her grandpa was. Asaad sighed. 

"You could use some practice with that," Asaads mother said. She gave her son another hug. "Please be safe."

Asaad pulled away. "No crying at my funeral."

"Shut up. Your going to jinx yourself."

Asaad finished his goodbyes with his mom and then headed out with everyone else. He said a final prayer to the gods.