Deception: A Tactician's Card

A Glimpse of Heads and Tails

"Me as a tutor? I don't think I have anything in me to be qualified as one."

"Eh!? Why are you belittling yourself? You've got tons of traits qualified for that!"

Snow and I were in the cafeteria as she asked me if it's possible to become her tutor. I'm not that confident to tutor anyone anymore — it's been a long while ever since I did one.

"Weren't you supposed to doubt strangers? We've just met once...no, twice this time. You should stay on guard. I might be a psycho that will bit you hard someday."

"Well, I am doubting that statement just now."

"Sarcasm?"

"Sort of."

"For real?"

"Yes."

And with that, our conversation stopped.

The cafeteria workers are now present and were busily preparing for, of course, food for the students and faculty members alike. I'm thinking of ordering a couple of loaves, so I stood up. Snow followed suit and ordered something for breakfast.

Huh? That amount is...? Where does she put the rest of it?

"What are you looking at? By any chance, if you're looking at my breakfast, i-it's not like I wanted to eat this many! It's uhh, I'm still growing so I need a lot of nutrients!"

"I didn't say anything. I'm just looking at it. That's all."

Leen did tell me not to criticize anyone, particularly the females, on their servings. It might end up getting in bad terms with an individual who's sensitive to this topic. But I definitely am starting to get curious about their way of eating. Could it be due to their fast metabolism? I don't know. All I know is that I need to buy a new freezer for additional food stock — one month worth of stock is equivalent to two weeks consumption in our home. Leen's always hungry, I guess.

Girls surely have it rough.

Both of us sat the same way we used to be and enjoyed our little break. Snow is a fast-paced eater, something that I could enjoy watching upon. It's like she's eating fast she could compete with my sister.

"What's with that stare? It's rude to stare at someone who's eating for a brief period of time."

You shouldn't have sat on that chair opposite to my seat for lesser chance of me staring at you.

"Nothing. Just watching you made me remember to restock our supply this afternoon."

"Wha-?"

"Anyway, I need to go to my classroom and get some sleep if possible. It's still 6:45 in the morning and the class starts in eight o'clock."

"But what about the proposal?"

"I'll think of it, don't worry. Please give me some time. For now, enjoy your food before it gets cold alright?"

I'm not lying. I really want to take a nap since I'm pretty sleepy. I slept late and I suffered the consequence. Ugh, my eyes...

"Ah well, see you later Yukti."

Snow went back to munching her meal happily. As of me, I'm searching for my cell card in my bag. I need to contact the chairperson regarding THAT matter.

•••

In an isolated land, far away from the civilization, is an abandoned facility. It's one of those original facilities that produced some of the rune card series known today. This place was shut down for good after an incident that involves a certain worker killing his workmates with a smile on his face. The case is still unsolved up to this day, and the madman who did the killing disappeared without a trace.

In its seemingly creepy hallway, one of the rooms got its door opened and the one who did it is no other than the one who initiated the infamous Dawn Edge Incident. He's 6'1" in height, currently half-n***d, and his pants were in tatters. He scratched his scruffy blonde hair while yawning and greeted the other guy who's about to get in the room next to his.

"Yo, Nefario! How's it going?"

The being he greeted is Nefario, a corpse golem reanimated after a long series of experimentations. He's made with different parts of creatures that were under the pure strength catalog. His arms were from an Platinum Lion; his feet, Ash Tiger; has powerful wings of the Metallic Gargoyle; the body, which may be identical to a human, is from Swamp Men — these are beings that are tough enough to withstand a fatal blow coming from the three aforementioned monsters.

"Nefario. Fine. Nefario. Sleep."

"Eh~ that's a bummer. I want you to come with me and play around with the civilians out there~"

"Tomorrow. Nefario. Go."

"If that's what you want, then deal!"

The guy jumped with joy after getting Nefario's response.

Footsteps are heard along the empty hallways. The depressed fellow is the source of it. He's staggering as he walked, with him is another being -- a Wraith. It wore a dark purple cloak and the part where the face should be located was replaced with an oozing, sinister dark aura.

The ever-cheerful villain greeted him with a maniacal smirk pasted on his face.

"Yo~ how's it going? You tamed that Wraith, did you? Right? Right?"

"Ah. Yes. I, uh, I did. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. B-but..."

"Yes? I'm listening."

"Is is really alright to kill people?"

Nefario who's still outside crackled his laugh. Just his voice alone made the facility rumbles. The cheerful man acted like he's startled by his voice, though in reality, he's pretty calm.

"Oy, oy Nefario! That won't do! You'll destroy our home!"

"Nefario. Sorry. Nefario. Fun."

"Yeah, yeah... I know. Go to your bed now and get some rest."

"Nefario. Agree."

The corpse golem took his leave as the villain diverted his attention towards the gloomy person.

"You see here, mister gloomy guy. Rune cards are sacred and therefore could only be used by holy men such as we are. Killing people? Pfft, that's not the proper word! It's their salvation you know? They'll meet the Creator, so I'm pretty sure that those guys will thank us!"

"Uh...Yeah."

"You get my point, right? Anyway, you're still gloomy huh... I'll call you Gloom from now on!"

"Uh, yes. I'll be fine with that. B-by the way, may I know what to call you?"

"Me? I'm Hero Zlasier. You can just call me Hero! That's what my parents named me! I gotta go and get something to eat. See ya~"

Hero walks away, whistling as he started to prance. He left a dumbfounded Gloom — while toying with a head of a human lying on the floor.

Gloom muttered, "What in the world did I get myself into?" as he went inside his room.