CH 20

While Eddie explained the contents of his new time table, Aster felt as if someone was slowly placing Jenga pieces at the crown of his head: one quick shake, and all would fall apart.

"...Every Sunday, I'll give you a new deck, and you'll train using said deck."

Eddie wrote a line under the months of September and October which was sloppily scribbled in the white board.

"8 decks in total" he calculated.

He then circled November and December.

"With all the cards you have used until that point, I want you to come up with 8 different decks...one for every week."

Aster turned to look at the window, as Eddie kept talking. The grey clouds in the sky quite fit with Aster's mood: bored. His thoughts going back and forth between between Eddie, the city and the Championship of the Americas.

To fit with the classification process, Aster's schedule had had been changed completely. The hours occupied with participating, were substituted with more classes and training, meaning his finishing hours were much later than previously. He mentally took note of his routine back at home switching for one hour later, while his waking hour would be an hour before. He shook his head trying not to think too much about it as he jotted down in his notebook.

When D's returned to city as champion for the World Series the household celebrated with a luxurious meal. Aster sat slightly uncomfortable next to Eddie, trying to behave as polite as possible. It was the first time he saw him outside training...in what was supposed to be his free time. He was thankful that the man talked to him about anything but their practices, and asked Aster about his hobbies.

"I wanted to meet you, Eddie" D commented as he pour a glass of white wine on the man's cup. "Given that you may travel a lot with Aster for his upcoming tournament, I think it's fair I get to know who will supervise him." While his tone was kind, and his concern genuine, Aster noticed his expression was serious.

"I understand your concerns. However, I think it would be good for Aster if you accompany us sometime, specially in further trips...he talks a lot about you."

The boy slightly blushed and turned towards Sartorius, and began commenting on the food in front of them as an excuse to turn the attention away from himself; while the older man carried on their conversation. He noticed that they both got along pretty well, watching them laugh and compliment each other on their dueling abilities.

With knees slightly trembling, Aster entered the arena to face his first opponent. The sunlight shooting from the open ceiling of the arena made him squirt his blue eyes slightly. At first glance, his opponent looked a few years older than him. Aster shuffled his feet slightly uncomfortable; he was standing on sand.

An awkward silence. Aster imagined his opponent had expected...someone else. Perhaps an adult or a teen: with his short legs and chubby cheeks, Aster look younger than he actually was.

"How old are you?" his opponent asked. Aster didn't consider his opponent was mocking him, instead, the tone of amusement in his voice.

"Eight" he answered tiredly rolling his eyes. Ever since beginning his training it was a question it popped up often.

His opponent smiled, showing crooked teeth held between braces.

"I won't play nice just 'cause of your age, got it?"

"What a coincidence" Aster snapped back. "I wasn't going to either!"

As he watched his opponent scanning his hand to open the duel, Sartorius prediction kept repeating over and over. "You are going to classify to the Championship of the Americas."

He had seen D ask for Sartorius advice for every match, and he had always been right. The man would always asked the same question:

"What's the outcome?"

And Sartorius would reply:
"Victorious"

Although he didn't understand tarot reading Aster tried to pay attention to the cards which Sartorius would reveal… perhaps, D was picking always the same cards? Not that he considered Sartorius a sham, part of him truly believed the teen had something special about him. Perhaps it was his stare, his violet eyes, a very intense color which shone with a certain peculiarity in them. Aster sometimes wondered how Sartorius saw the world, he could see the future, where his eyes constantly showing him events before it happened like a film?

The cards drawn by D were never the same. Even cards which at first glance even scaring sounding like "Death", reflected victory.

"It depends on the context, of course." Sartorius explained when he noticed Aster's eyes widen and looked at D scared.

"I see victory, but I change of strategy for your next duel is recommended" Sartorius explained looking at Aster's tutor. The man half smiled satisfied with his answer. No more questions asked.

So if Sartorius had predicted that he would classify...it meant he would win this match, right?

"Hey kid!" He heard the sound of fingers snapping. "Your turn".

Looking back at the field, his opponent had used Fusion Gate and summoned, Skull Knight (ATK 2650/DEF 1700). He stared blankly at the cards on his hand. He knew his time was running out. Yet, mind seemed completely blank, his hand frozen in Destiny Hero Drilldark.

"Summon it, come on" he told himself. It was as if his hand was completely glued to his card, but he couldn't move the card to his duel disk. Sartorius had said he would make it to the championship of the Americas, he had told him he was destined for great things and that had predicted his journey would come full circle, he said...

"Hey!" his opponent called impatiently. Slightly unsure he summoned the card, which materialized itself on the field. Destiny Hero Drilldark had an attack of 1600 and 1400 defense points. He placed two cards face down and ended his turn, a cold sweat running across his back. His opponent began laughing.

"If you are trying to gain pity points from your pathetic little act you are mistaken!"

His opponent activated his spell card, Spiritualism and Aster's trap card, D Counter, was returned to his hand. He then activated his field spell Yami, increasing the attack points of his monster. Skull Knight had in total 2850 of attack points while its defense points were of 1900. He proceeded to summon Aqua Madoor in defense position. Because of Yami's effect it had a total of 1400 attack points and 2200 defense points.

The first thing Aster noticed was that while Skull Knight had low defenses, Aqua Madoor had low attack. If only he had Sword and Shield in his deck...

His opponent began his battle phase by attacking Aster's card, leaving him with 2750 life points, while his opponent remained with 4000. Aster was surprised to find his mind much sharper than the beginning…perhaps was the feeling of being cornered. He was not going to lose, and most of all, he was not going to lose during his first match as a professional duelist.

"Remember, the crowd also likes a good show...you better keep them engaged!"

Eddie had told him that during their first match. First, Aster drew Pot of Greed. There were two cards in his deck he needed to turn the duel around. A slim chance of getting both of them, but if he did…Aster almost choked: Guard Penalty and Polymerization. Exactly the two cards needed. What were the odds?

"Seems this destiny thing is on my side this time" he muttered to himself surprised. .

"What did you say?" His opponent shouted impatient. His opponent seemed to become agitated if he was not given attention or acknowledged constantly. Aster rolled his eyes again, ignoring him.

First, he activated his spell card Guard Penalty, changing the position of Skull Knight, he drew one card. He was surprised to find his opponent reveal one of the two cards face down, Guard Penalty. He felt un unjustified sense of jealousy, as if someone was playing with one of his toys. Of course, Guard Penalty was created by his dad. Yet, as it was not a spell card directly linked with his Destiny Heroes, anybody could use it; that was the agreement his father had reached with Pegasus to allow exclusivity for his deck. His opponent drew one card as well as Aster.

"What? I'm not copying you!" his opponent complained, crossing his arms. Aster continued his turn by summoning Destiny Hero Celestial (ATK 1600/DEF 1400) in attack position. Finally, using Polymerization and fusoning Dogma and D-Cube he summoned Destiny Hero Dangerous (ATK 2000/DEF 2000). Finally, the last card in his puzzle, Dark City, which he had drawn using Guard Penalty's effect.

Beginning his battle phase, Aster launched an attack with Destiny Hero Celestial to his opponent's defense monster. Because of the field spell, Dark City, as Destiny Hero Celestial attacked Aqua Madoor, it had an increase of 1000 attack points. The monster was destroyed without issue, and using his monster's effect, the spell card Yami was destroyed, with 500 points of damage. In his second attack, using Dangerous, he attacked Skull Knight. Once again, with the field spell of Dark City, Dangerous attack was increased, and Skull Knight was destroyed. In one single turn, Aster had managed to completely empty his opponent's side of the field. Well...almost, there was still one card in his magic and trap zone. His opponent was left with 3500 life points. Aster placed one card face down, ending his turn.

In his turn, his opponent placed Ancient Brain in defense position (ATK 1000 /DEF 700). Even if his opponent had chosen not to attack, Aster prefered to be more careful. He drew his card D Chain which he instantly placed face down. Using Celestial, and equipping it with his trap card, he attacked his opponent's monster. As he braced himself to launch a direct attack with Dangerous he stopped himself. He noticed the smirk of "gotcha!", in his opponent's lips. Aster remembered one of Eddie's main differences between a Professional and an amateur:

"The best duelist is also an excellent poker player."

His expression should never give away if his opponent was falling in a trap, even if his drawn hand was awful, he had to pretend everything was going smoothly. He had failed that aspect at the beginning of the duel. He imagined Eddie would probably ask him what the heck happened back there...yet, if he won an outstanding victory, he would maybe let it slide. Not if, he would. He mentally noted the position of the card: the card on the left space next to the middle. His opponent had 2500 life points, from his monster's attack and the effect of D Chain. Aster remained with 2750. The tildes slowly turning in his favour.

His opponent activated his spell card on the field, Ancient Runes, special summoning The Earl of Demise (ATK 2000/ DEF 700) in attack position, and Aster noticed: another monster with outstanding attack, but poor defences. As the monster declared an attack on Celestial, the silver haired boy activated his face down, D Counter, destroying the monster. He heard the crowd "ohhh" at his movement, feeling a slight twist on his stomach. While the arena was mostly empty, Aster suddenly remembered he had expectators. He briefly rose his head glancing around the seats of arena. Not that the stadium was big in itself, actually, it was one of the smallest, and he imagined less than 5% of it was occupied in that moment. In his turn, Aster glanced at the trap and spell zone of his opponent. He two cards on his magic and trap zone. The card of interest was now in the middle of the two. Aster imagined it was a ploy to confuse him. He activated Mystical Space Typhoon, targeting that card he had noticed previously, ignoring the newly placed ones. As the card disappeared he briefly could read the name: Drowning Mirror Force. Had Aster declared an attack he would have been exposed to all of his monsters being shuffled back into his deck. He would probably have lost. Or probably would have to somehow hold on longer as he gathered a new new hand, as at the moment he only had one card left in his hand. His opponent looked surprised, but Aster didn't waste time in enjoying his dumbfounded expression.

He launched an attack with Dangerous, his opponent's life points turning zero. He didn't bother to look at his opponent who was kneeled on the floor as he walked as in autopilot back to meet Eddie. His tutor had not told him anything about opponent etiquette of any sorts. D had never bother to look at his opponent's either. When Aster asked about it he simply said:

"I didn't cheat, so why should I send a message of fair play when there is no need to?"

Eddie greeted him by messing his hair. As the man opened the door of the limo, the boy noticed the Eddie's chipped nails. He imagined his mentor was watching the match from the first row while furiously biting on his nails, hopping no one noticed. He, who always spoke about peak condition and the importance of taking care of one's hand as a successful duelist. The boy choose not to comment about it. Instead he choose to enjoy a few moments of peace, he imagined Aster's victory also inspired Eddie for a tougher and stricter training.

Despite the tiredness, he returned with a wave of satisfaction which made him ignore his eyes half closing during dinner. He spoke cheerfully, about his strategy, the badly kept stadium and his annoying opponent as D, Sartorius and Serena listened. The brother and sister duo mostly nodded and commented "oh I see", "interesting", while D kept asking him questions, about his alternative strategies. He hadn't expected D watching his match. But it made him feel happy.

Happy reading!

See you next chapter :D