Prologue

It was a rainy night, but even though it drizzled down on the garden, there was not a cloud in site. A thin cresent moon shone beautifully overhead, cast out in a sea of jewels. But the serene atmosphere did not reach everyone; sitting amid the beds of roses, all on her own, was a girl...

From the outside looking in, one would think she was crying. Sadly, she was. But the most peculiar thing were the fifty cards, floating around her in circles with a soft glow.

Hiding the garden from the prying eyes of onlookers, was a large mansion, and whether by coincidence or chance, a dark figure stood illuminated in a doorway. Watching the girl from afar did not satisfy the figure, it seemed, for he started along the path to greet her.

"That is the last one," the girl sniffled as she let go of a card, and it joined the ever lasting circle. The figure stopped, admiring her with a smile.

"There's one left," he said gently, causing her to jump. She looked up at him with confusion and sadness in her crimson eyes.

"What do you mean?" She asked, looking away to cleanse her face of her tears.

"One last card to bless," he said as an explination. He stepped into the circle of light, revealing what he held in his arms: a thick red book with intricate gold designs, an hour glass pendant, and a single card. "I am not going to let you leave until you've blessed my last creation."

The girl looked up at him once again, biting her lip, but she stood from where she sat kneeling to face him fully. With another mysterious smile he let go of the card, and it floated in front of him. She bekoned it forwards with her eyes, and it slipped through the circle, and into her hands.

"Illusion," she whispered it's name, sadness temporarily forgotten. She shut her eyes. "May you serve your master well, and be strong..." she placed a kiss on it's name, and let it join the circle between Mirror and Shadow. She looked to the ground again, silence cloaking over them.

"You are leaving," the figure said knowingly. The girl only knodded. "You know that Yue didn't mean it..."

"He sounded like he meant it," she muttered, tears falling down her already tear-stained cheeks.

"He is a very convincing actor, yes," he agreed, opening the thick book; one by one the cards placed themselves into a gutted opening. "But you must remember that he isn't human."

"Neither am I," she hissed, angrilly wipping her cheeks again. "Yet I love him..."

"It is easier for you," he sighed. "But he is only playing his part in the game."

"Then he must learn the difference between the game," she said fiercely, tears threatening to spill again. "And real life!"

"He will learn with time," he said calmly. "Between you, him, and Cerberus, he is the youngest, and you being the oldest should not pressure him to grow beyond which he was created for. The three of you work well together, and all of you will need to help the new Master once I am gone."

"Yes," she nodded again, controlling her composure. "I promise to help the new Master... but only after the cards are comfortable with him, and completely under his control... deal?"

"Actually..." he grinned boyishly. "I was hoping you would help with my final message to you all... I was going to wait to tell you, but I feel that you and I shall not meet again in person..." she nodded again.

"I shall do anything you ask, Master."

"Then one last game you shall play," his eyes twinkled as he held up the hour glass pendant and turned it. He pushed it into her hands as the sand started to fall with a soft rhythm against the glass. "And you shall not draw as you usually do, but win... and then I shall give my final mesage." she nodded once more, and turned to leave the gardens for the last time. "Oh, and Chi?" She paused, "remember this... everything comes down to the last in the end."

With little contemplation over his words, she left.