“... because the man who most seeks power is the man least likely to keep it, in my experience.”

- Excerpt from Ponderings of a Prosperous Prodigy, by Veigus Witsbane

“My lord!” the servant outside the door called as he knocked. “Lord Myrek is here to see you.”

The king frowned. He couldn’t help but be annoyed at the servant despite the fact that it was really Myrek who needed to learn not to interrupt the mock battles between him and his family. Though, if the servant was willing to risk upsetting the king, the matter must’ve been urgent.

Sighing, Galdi called back, “Let him in!” He turned to his daughter. “Sorry, honey, it appears as though we’ll have to take a break.”

Internally, the king was relieved. Surveying the state of the board, he almost shuddered. His daughter Annalissa was truly a monster of strategy. Despite the clear advantage his Monarch had given him, she’d managed to drop his Health below half and had completely obliterated his board state. At least, he consoled himself, there was a way to recover in his hand. But he would have to play out the next few turns very particularly if he wanted to survive.

The door swung open and King Vrose stood up to greet his important interloper. An older man wreathed in a red cloak with golden waves decorating it strolled into the room. Two golden earrings hung from the sides of his head, yellow serpents swirling around jade hedrons. Grand Summoner Myrek.

“Myrek! My friend, what could you possibly need from me at this time?” the king greeted with a cordial mask, though he spoke the last words through gritted teeth.

“It’s more so what you need from me, my king,” Myrek responded with a bowed head. “The answer to that apt question is ‘news’.”

“News?”

“Indeed, my king. I have rather important news to share with you.” The Summoner glanced sideways at Annalissa. “Which is perhaps better told in private?”

Without another word, Anna stood, collecting both her dragon plushie and her hand of cards. She glared suspiciously at her father, muttering something about touching her cards, then headed out the door, her bare feet slapping against the polished stone marble of the hallway. Myrek failed to hold back a smile.

“So, what news then?” King Vrose asked impatiently.

Myrek’s smile vanished, and he turned to look the king directly in the eyes. “Celeste Valania has fallen. The Dark Summoner approaches.”

The king frowned. “And? What does that worry me for? He wouldn’t challenge us in our own domain, would he?”

The Grand Summoner nodded, his earrings shaking. “That is correct. But think, my king. Where is the royal family most vulnerable right now?”

The king rolled his eyes. No matter his age, nor his position, Myrek could never shake that Master’s habit of making everything a lesson. He couldn’t stand it. It was almost as annoying to him as it was to his daughter. She could never get a straight answer out of the man.

Then, his eyes went wide as he realized. “My daughter.”

Myrek nodded.

“Change of plans, Anna, my dear!” King Vrose called as he hastily threw on his own cloak. Striding across the room, he opened his wardrobe.

Are we going somewhere, Gal-gal? Fayleeka asked excitedly as she floated over to the him.

“We’re going to the Testing Grounds,” he idly answered, running his fingers through the stacks of deckboxes on the shelves until he found the one he was looking for.

“We’re going to the Testing Grounds?” Annalissa’s voice repeated as she opened the door and entered the room. Galdi sighed. Of course she’d heard him say that.

He turned to the little girl standing in the doorway, cradling her dragon, cards in hand. He was about to say no when he thought it over. The last time the king had left the palace without notice, assassins had breached the defenses. He’d returned to their attempt to kill him. They failed, of course, but ever since, King Vrose hesitated to leave the palace so suddenly.

“Yes, we’re going to the Testing Grounds,” he told his daughter. Regardless of the danger around her, the safest place for Annalissa was by Galdi Vrose’s side. The safest place for any individual was by his side. Unless that individual was the Dark Summoner, of course.

Annalissa smiled widely. She’d probably heard the entire conversation despite Myrek’s wishes. She was well aware of the danger. Yet, for some reason, she didn’t care. The king shook his head as he turned back to the wardrobe and grabbed his choice of deckbox. It was made from sapphire dragonskin with blue gems at each corner.

Fayleeka tilted her head. The water deck? Are you sure?

King Vrose snorted. “If what I hear is correct, we might need to be putting out some fires.” He strapped the deck box to his waist without another thought, then turned and grabbed the massive red and gold gauntlet hanging on the wall.

“I may be able to fend off the Dark One, my king,” Myrek said, tapping the box at his own waist. “Or any other truly capable Summoner. The academy still has a few on staff.”

“That’s fine,” the king responded as he equipped the gauntlet. “I’ll do it myself. I’ve been looking forward to putting that dog down for a long time.” He smiled. “And I won’t just be trusting my daughter’s safety to Faderius Blask. I haven’t seen that man duel in a very long time.”

“Of course, my king,” the Grand Summoner conceded. “Though I do vouch for Headmaster Blask, I look forward to witnessing your epic combat. Is today the day Alyster Oble is finally defeated?”

“One can only hope.”

Anna was excited, though she didn’t show it. She’d heard all about the magnificent magic of the Testing Grounds—the fragmented clones of parts of the world all connected simply on an architect’s whim. Her feet pattered against the ground as she sprinted down the hallway. A servant chased after her.

“Lady Annalissa!” he called, trying in vain to slow the seemingly bored child. Why she was running, he didn’t know. The girl rarely even smiled. She was impossible to read.

Anna zipped through the halls, stopping by a servants’ kitchen to steal herself a cookie. She arrived at her room, changed her clothes, and was back to her father’s study just as he began to ask where she’d gotten off to.

Myrek was gone. He was probably finding servants to prepare the carriage, perhaps even getting himself ready for combat.

“Can I bring my deck, Papa?” Annalissa asked her father.

The king pursed his lips and mulled it over for a moment. “Get it and get your gauntlet. But Lord Myrek will hold onto them unless you need to use them."

Anna couldn’t believe it. A smile crept across her face until she was grinning wider than anyone had ever seen her do before. If today went right, she’d get to see the Testing Grounds. But if it went wrong, she’d finally get to really duel someone. Who cared about the Dark Summoner? He was just like the “dragon that named the world”. Nothing more than a fairy tale adults believed for some reason. Today could only be a good day.