Luke trembled before the haunted soul, his rapid, ragged breath echoing in the arena. Yet, the more he fixed her empty eye sockets and the scarlet tears pouring down from them, the more his stomach churned, and the acrid taste of bile filled his mouth.
"Why did he force me to compete?"
A wail escaped his lips as water clouded his constricted pupils.
But the memory of his mentor's firm expression and grip on his shoulders flashed in his eyes. Then his words resounded in his ears.
"Take this card and win the tournament. Defeat is not an option."
"Why did he choose me?"
Even after five days, the question plagued him. He had simply wanted to study astral magic to discover new species in peace.
A torrent of murky water drowned his heart. But despite his fears, he had to play.
Fingers shaking, he drew his next card and placed it in the desk slot.
