Against The Current

Prologue

"Sir Alister please wake up"

A voice of one of our maids said  as she found me dozing off in the gardens of our mansion.

I am Alister Rouge Forheigh, I belong to the royal family of Forheigh in the kingdom of Sandeith the wealthiest among its neighboring kingdoms of Regara and Euphillia only second to the kingdom of Lachrimore and I as the eldest son is appointed as an heir for the throne.

Honestly I don't really care about the throne I'm sure The King's son would do much better than I could but sadly he was not gifted by the immense magical power granted to noble blood and I am told I have a talent for it.

"Truly a genius that boy"

"I'm sure he will be a good candidate as king"

"He is truly the pride of Sandeith"

I hear comments like that quite often from noble men or people of power but it's all pretend to be honest.

"Truly a genius that boy, (maybe I'll have to make him marry my daughter for the throne) "

"I'm sure he will be a good candidate as king, (That's why I must have him killed before the choosing of an heir)"

"He is truly the pride of Sandeith, (unlike that failure son of the king)"

With their sweet tongue they are able to hide their fangs but such is the truth of politics, which is exactly why I don't want to be an heir to this corrupted kingdom but instead live as an adventurer and go on quests like my friend Pent Stylus who ran away from Sandeith and became an adventurer in the kingdom of Euphillia.

Sadly I'm stuck here unable to even have a break in the garden.

"Sir Alister I'm sorry but Master Baron has summoned you"

"I see I'll be on my way thankyou"

I then left leaving the maid and going to Master Baron's training area. Master Baron is my teacher who has been teaching me everything from magic to politics. He is a very strict but passionate mentor who truly loved magic. Master Baron is a man in his fifties with a glistening silver eyes grey hair, pointed nose and a scar in his neck shaped like a V, Master Baron often wears his cloak with an feather pen marked in its sides not easy to notice but the peculiar thing about it is the way both of the emblem in each side of Master Baron's shoulder seem to point to Master Baron's scar.

Little among us know much about Master Baron's identity other than father who never talked about it.

"You look at me as if you intend to paint a portrait of me boy"

"I'm sorry Master I was just fascinated by that scar in your neck"

"The scar again? Come on Alister surely you better things to do than ask about an old man's scar"

"On the contrary there are no better stories than the one of a veteran's battlescars"

"Ho! Using my own words against me are you, fine I'll tell you if you can beat me little boy"

Master always treats me like a child but it is way better than my parents who see as a tool or my siblings who wished I was dead and although I know very little about Master I still see him as a father seeing as he was the only on who genuinely cared about who I am rather than just using me for personal gain.

"Fine then Master what would it be? Magic casting? War tactics? A game of chess maybe?"

"No I have taught you everything at those things but I'll challenge you to the game of men!"

"The game of men?"

He then took out something in his bag. When he said the game of men I would have thought something close to a fistfight or magic duel but what he took out was a deck of cards.

"What exactly is this game of men Master?"

"Poker" He said with full confidence

Being quite confused and dissapointed I just let out a sigh.

"Listen boy this is how a man plays betting everything he has for something even greater"

"It's a game of luck"

"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity hence luck is also a part of a man's strength!"

Seeing as there was no other point arguing we decided to play. But I didn't have to rely on luck in this one since I had magic so using sleight of hand I managed to put in my hand the 4 aces, a 4 of a kind.

As Master looked at me and smiled as he said

"All in!"

Betting everything he had at the very beginning was insane even more because I was the one dealing the cards, surely he was suspicious but I rushed to my victory as I accepted and as we showed our hands I was confident with mine until I saw his.

10,9,8,7 and 6 of spades, a straight flush! The best hand and he had it in his first try, I was dumbfounded losing even after I cheated.

He then burst into laughter as he saw my reaction.

"What? How?"

"Hahaha your lacking experience now let's see what shall I have you do?"

"What that was not in our agreement!"

He then looked at me seriously and said.

"In every wager that has a benefit can also have a cost now going back on this you will also be going back in your word as a man!"

Pressured by his intense stare I conceded defeat.

"Fine! I Alister Rouge Forheigh swear I  will do anything you say, Ut Mihi Sepulcrum"

That's just a spell only known by the noble families it means "to my grave" saying only death will break this promise.

Master then smiled and said

"Good now follow me"

Somehow I feel tricked but I still followed him and he brought me to the garden where a girl was sitting silently.

"Alister I will only say this once so listen"

"Ok "

"This is Viollette Saluray, from here on you shall be her guardian and you will never harm her or let be in any immence danger for if you break your promise you shall die! "

And as he said that a sudden blur in vision came and I passed out.

The moment I woke up I was laying in the garden as I was earlier and the maid came.

" Sir Alister please wake up"

What is this really happening again how odd.

"Am I being called by Master Baron?"

As I said that the maid had a worried, confused expression in her face.

"I'm sorry Sir but I don't know any Master Baron"