Grinning with certain victory I watch Electri contemplate about what card to choose. She goes around the table looking at different angles, one time even going underneath it to look for the trick.

Finally she I see a glint in her eye and a smile appears on her face. “It is under the cup isn’t it.”

My smile quickly turns into a scowl as I stare into her eyes. “If you really thinks so then flip it over.” I really wish she didn’t pick this option but of course she has to do it the hard way, I will complete the scam.

Gleefully she picks up the cup and turns the card.

“What the …. why is there another Joker” After realizing her folly she flips up the only card left and it reveals yet again a Joker.

“Meanie you cheated.” with rage she storms off towards me ready to unleash hell upon me but yet again is surprised when I close the distance between us.

I walk up to her slowly and right before she strikes me I place my hand behind her head and bring her to my chest. The raging storm calms as I hold her snuggly in place.

After a moment of silence I let her pull her ruby face away and we stare into each others eye. “Meanie where did you put that card.”

“Do you really want to know.”

“uh huh”

I slowly bring my head closer to hers and gently kiss her forehead.I then step away. “I am sorry but it’s a trade secret”

“Meanmmmmmmmm”

In the middle of her word something papery in her mouth stops her. She reaches in her mouth pulls out a folded card. Opening the card carefully she reveals the Jack.

When she looks up at me I take my bow.

“I hate you” With that she disappears leaving me alone in the middle of no where.

“Love you to” I scream back.

Dangit two days in a row that I have to walk all the way to town.

Picking a random direction I start walking till I finally stumble upon and dirt road with an old wooden sign.

Herdsmill 21 kilometers

Rostern 73 kilometers

Sytran 134 kilometers

I keep walking to dusk when I finally meet another intelligent species. As the sun descended I came across a farm family that agreed to let me stay the night in their barn.

The head of the house Gregory, and his family, harvest elf wife and five halfling kids lived on the outskirts of Herdsmill about 5 Kilometers out. For Years they have been living here growing wheat for the village. They were an important part of the community that helped kept the village full and happy.

I was invited to dinner by Sarah the wife and enjoyed a nice hearty meal of bread, go figure, and potato and ox stew.

Afterwards I went to the barn and made myself comfortable. As the moon rose in the sky I sunk into my soft hay bed.

ROAR!!!!

“What in the world.” As I exit the barn I see a fearsome sight. Standing in front of me two figures, the first a big burly minotaur standing four meters high and holding an axe so big it could split a cow in half, in front of it a child six years of age and peeing his pants.

Overcoming my moment of shock I spring in to action. Summoning an aura shield to block the strike from the behemoth that was heading for the bow.

Two spears appear in my my hand and I launch them into the beast’s calfs. As it rears its head towards me it finds a dagger that I threw lodged in it forhead (uni-minotaur).

Even with the dagger piercing its skull it still charges at me. Raising its axe above its head it takes a steamy breath and swings down with enough force to create a vacuum behind it.

As it meets another shield a giant gust of wind erupts from the contact. The force was so strong the field of wheat around us flattened for a good twenty meters out.

Stunned by the impact the beast backs away. In front of it is now nothing but air for now i was ten meters up in the air behind it.

My arms are now surrounded by energy the form of bear claws. As I fell towards the beast I slashed its back leaving ten long bloodied streaks. The beast falls forward upon its knees as it roars with pain from the now gushing wounds on its back.

The beast tries to reach behind it but to no avail. As its tree trunks arms flail around trying to grab me I use the rapier now in my right hand to severe all of their muscles in its legs and arms.

After it stops struggling I finally end its life by lifting its own axe with both arms and decapitate the minotaur.

I make my way to the porch where the family now cradles it almost lost member in their arms.

“God Bless you Spade. Thank you for saving my son, if there is anything we could do for you please just ask. I owe you our lives.”

“Please just go back inside and relax I will stay out and keep watch over the night.”

I calm the family and usher them back into the house then proceed to sit on the porch till the sun came up.

After everyone was awake we ate breakfast in silence. Everyone was too exhausted from the previous night to speak.

Done eating we washed our plates and put them away to dry and all went outside. The carcass of the minotaur still remained in front of the house covered in dry blood and dirt. The adults me included moved the remains to a pit and set it ablaze.

“Well Gregory I have to go now it is going take me most of the morning making it to the village.”

“If you ever find yourself in need please call upon us and we will help.”

I say by to each member of the family and leave the farm, but not before I set a permanent barrier around the farm that scares off monster and summons a sprite to protect the farm when monsters do enter.

I can’t help but feel for this family. Is this what my family could have been like. Did my parents love me that much to worry if I almost died.