Duel Lyceum

Swords and Sorcery, Blood and Hell.

The next morning Lyder, Emily and Jones sat at their desk amongst all the other first grade students, facing towards Professor Jackson. The class was divided into three section, one for each dorm. Jones sat as close as possible as he could to dormitory A's seating area, telling anyone that passed by him that he was only sitting here temporarily, and that the higher ups had made a small, albeit frustrating mistake.

'These cards are more than just cards,' Professor Jackson said, 'many have reported that their deck mysteriously changed following a life changing moment, and this is why these are the cause of much debate and controversy. Somehow these simple plastic cards have communicated with a human's soul.'

Jones leaned back on his chair. 'I reckon that's all crap,' he said to Lyder and Emily.

'This is why,' Jackson continued, 'being able to master this game is seen as such a pivotal thing as society progresses. There is no denying that these are quite magical cards, but that also raises the question of what else can happen as a result of these cards. And you, at the back, stop talking.'

Startled, Jones lost his balance and fell to the floor, much to the amusement of those around him. Lyder, who sat next to him cracked up laughing, slamming his fist on the table.

'I'm sorry, sir.' Jones pulled himself up, met eyes with the professor, and snorted in mirth. 'Sorry,' he repeated.

'So, as I was saying.'

Jones, catching sight of Lyder's mocking expression, mouthing 'as I was saying' in silence, burst out laughing. Lyder followed. Emily was trying her hardest not to laugh, with her teeth clamped down on the inside of her mouth.

'Right, you two. Come up here.'

Jones and Lyder felt the eyes of their fellow students on their back. Those of dormitory C and B found the interruption a humorous and much needed break from the hour and a half lecture they had just experienced. Those in dormitory A refused to show any sign of amusement, looking grumpy at Lyder and Jones' distraction.

'Your names?'

'Lyder.'

'Jones.'

'I think, since you both seem to know so much about duelling, you should duel each other. The loser will have to spend a month in after school detention. How do you feel about that?'

'It seems interesting, sir,' Lyder said.

'Interesting, how so?' Jackson asked.

'I'm not a big fan of duelling for fun, but I love a duel when there are stakes involved.'

'What about you, Jones. Why do you duel?'

'I duel to prove myself, sir.' Jones' eyes flared in determination.

'Then prove yourself. We were end of the lecture, anyway.'

Jones and Lyder stood at two separate ends of the stage, inserting their decks into their duelling device.

'Lyder, I'm going first, ok?'

'Sure.'

Five cards appeared in front of them.

'Alright. I summon Hell Gluttonous in defence mode. If this monster is attacked, I can heal two life points. Next, I play the field spell Babylon, which increases the attack and defence of all Hell monsters by two. I end my turn.' The slab of flesh that was Hell Gluttonous groaned as the field around them turned into a dark-toned desert. While his tempo was not nearly as close to Sebastian's, the two attack and six life mammoth still required careful consideration and planning on how to overcome it while still conserving as much life and resources as possible.