Zoran wakes up to an unfamiliar ceiling. There was chaos all around him. Naiko was arguing with Amaia and Cecelia was trying to break it up. Yet Asta kept nagging them on. As his eyes open, the room goes silent. Trying to move his arm he looks at it, it’s been replaced with crystallized energy. Zoran just mutters, “How long have I been sleeping…and how did this happen.” Asta says, “When we were replacing your arm…energy sprouted out from the stub and replaced your old arm. We tried removing it but it kept reforming it over and over. You’ve been asleep for 3 days. The last battle really took its toll on you.” Zoran looks up at the ceiling frozen. His arm was gone. He lost a part of himself forever and there is nothing he can do to bring back. But something else lingered, pain. Not the physical pain, but a deep searing pain that ravishes his body and thoughts. Even if he wasn’t physically aching his body was tearing itself apart on what he could’ve done differently. If he had done something different would he be able to convince Rue to stop. If he searched for Rue, would that save him. All of these questions, yet deep down he knows that he can’t solve it. There is nothing to be done. He grips his new hand and says, “No matter what…I’ll save Rue.” Asta looks at him confused and says, “Who is Rue?” Zoran snaps out of his thoughts and says, “He was my best friend in the village I come from…that boy who attacked us was him.” Asta looks at the ground and says, “Sorry for shooting him with the Annihilation Arrow…” Zoran waves it off and says, “It’s fine…you were only protecting us anyways.” Naiko shoves Asta aside and says, “Asta told me your Aspect! I couldn’t believe it when I first heard about it!” Cecelia shoves him out of the way and says, “He just woke up Naiko…if you swarm Zoran with these questions you’d just overwhelm him.” Cecelia takes a breath and says with a small smile, “Take a rest day…” Amaia grunted and said, “We will duel tomorrow. Your swordsmanship is extremely sloppy. Asta also asked me to teach you so I might as well accept.” Asta then chimes in, “Oh yes, due to the certain situation that Zoran is in. Before he heads out, he needs someone else to accompany him. Amaia already volunteered for tomorrow. This is mostly a safety precaution just in case he gets attacked by Rue and the strange man that accompanies him.” As they left the room, Zoran was alone with his thoughts once more. He looks at his new arm then looks outside through the window. People were shopping, kids were playing on the streets, and family’s walking around. Images of Rue courses through his head. Memories of their childhood swiftly flashing through his head. 12 years of memories. They fought with sticks when they were 8, when they used to play for hours in the pristine lake near their homes, when Rue first got rejected, and all the times they confided in each other. It was paralyzing. It hurt harder than any sword could even imagine. He tightens his grip on the hospital bed and his heart races faster and faster. Images of Rue’s face flash through his head until all Zoran could muster is a pitiful scream. When he was finished, the world didn’t stop. It kept moving. Despite all of his losses in the past 10 days, the world didn’t stop once. Zoran chuckles to himself and mutters, “For being the Aspect of Life…I am beginning to lose any meaning in it. How funny is that?” He slumped back down and muttered to himself, “I’ll save Rue…no matter what it takes. I don’t know what he is talking about calling me a murderer…I’ll save him. Saving him would ease the burden of holding the memories of my parents and friends easier…wouldn’t it. After I am done…I plan on joining them.”

Zoran rested for the entire day and as he woke up the next day he found Naiko, Cecelia, and Amaia waiting there hovering above his bed. Zoran mutters, “What do you want…” Cecelia spoke first and says, “I had a fun idea…we barely know each other so why not play a little card game.” Amaia speaks up and says, “I wanna play poker…I need some money from you chumps to buy a sick weapon I saw the other day.” Naiko sighs and says, “We already said no to the idea…I don’t wanna lose my journal money. Plus…I wanna buy a cool decorative dagger.” Cecelia rolls her eyes and says, “What do you wanna play Zoran. Personally, I don’t mind what we play. I just don’t wanna bet real money…” Zoran looks at them and says, “I never really played card games or board games…but I guess we can play Van Holiz’s Gambit.” Naiko looks down and says, “That takes forever…and I am scared Amaia might cheat.” Amaia scoffs and slaps the back of his head and says, “I am a very honorable person. Don’t even try with that shit.” Naiko retorted back, “You dumped a bucket of water on my head!” Amaia shrugs with a cocky smile and says, “So?” Naiko laughs unsteadily and says, “You will eventually be hit by karma…just wait.” They set up the board game on top of a table as they help Zoran rest on a chair and he says, “I think I played this before but it was around when I was 10…can I get the rulebook.” Cecelia hands him the rule book and Zoran looks through the rules. It was a property selling and trading game. The one who is left standing and not go bankrupt is the winner. Zoran mutters, “Ready.” Everyone pit’s their pieces on the board and so began the game.

Cecelia goes first and says, “Man I guess I must be lucky…” Amaia scoffs and says, “Put’s a target on your back. Honestly, this was part of my plan to destroy all of you.” Naiko rolls his eyes and says, “This plan must be shit then.” Cecelia moves her character to a space and buys the space. Naiko goes next and be rolls to buy the next space. The game goes like that until 20 minutes in Cecelia looks at Zoran and says, “I wanna make a trade. You have the last space I need to buy off the entire color…I’ll trade you this blue space for you to complete your space. Since it’s a higher value can I also get 50 Silver…” Naiko scoffs and says, “Zoran…don’t do it. Cecelia is scamming you because your space is statistically-” Amaia interrupts and screams, “I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE NERD SHIT WITH STATISTICS.” Naiko sighs and glares at Zoran. Zoran looks down at the board in thought and then mutters, “Deal.” As soon as they exchange the properties, Cecelia puts down Aspect Hunter boxes on her properties and has a proud smile. Naiko was the next roll but he somehow manages to land on one of Cecelia’s spaces. Naikojust whimpers, “Damn it…how much do I owe you.” Cecelia smiles brightly and says, “You owe me 10 Gold Pieces!!” Naiko slams his fist into the table and whimpers, “Cecelia…you are a monster.” Amaia laughs at his misfortune but as soon as she rolls she rolls doubles, doubles again, and is sent straight to prison. She screams and slams her fist into the ground. Zoran just snickers at her misfortune and says, “There is your karma.” Finally, it was Zoran’s turn and it was time for his masterplan. Throughout the game he only aimed for the highest property values and now he has them all. He laughs manically as he uses his wild card that granted him cheaper Aspect Hunter boxes and with all of them combined he formed the ultimate box…the Van Holiz tower. Naiko looks at that space in fear and says, “You madman! You are going overkill…” Amaia then immediately get’s confident and says, “It was actually my plan to roll doubles so I can avoid those spaces.” Cecelia glares at Zoran as he has a cocky smile that usually contrasts his withdrawn and insecure attitude. Asta walks in the room casually saying, “What are you all-” His sentence is interrupted as he stares at Zoran’s property. Asta says with a hint of fear in his voice, “What the fuck Zoran…that is overkill.” Zoran says smugly, “I know…when I saw this space I realized no one can afford the rent and with that in mind I had the single minded determination to get it.” Cecelia then says with fire in her eyes, “Zoran…I’ll defeat youl. I was reigned 5 time champion of this game in my family. I will be the one to defeat you.” She throws down a card that advances her to the next Carriage Crossing and she looks at Naiko and says, “Naiko…hand me all of your carriage crossings. This is the only way we can beat him. You still have your “Flower Field” spaces. I need those carriage pieces in order to defeat the monster. We are friends…right?” Zoran winces and says, “Give me 2 Gold and we have a deal.” Naiko and Cecelia exchange pieces and coins and then she looks at Amaia but before she even speaks Amaia bluntly says, “I don’t need your help. I don’t want to win off the backs of others…even if it looks bad for me. I won’t win just by accepting someone to help me. I don’t care if I lose…I WILL EXTEND THIS GAME UNTIL THE MORNING RISES.” Asta chimes in, “When I was losing this game…I even had the honor to break down. Amaia, you are detestable!” Amaia laughs manically, “I DON’T GIVE A SHIT. IF I LOSE…I WILL MAKE SURE ALL OF YOU SUFFER WITH ME.” Ceceia rolls her dice and lands on one of Amaia’s spaces. She hands her the money and now it’s Naiko’s turn. He takes a deep breath and rolls his dice. It’s doubles but now he has the chance to land on Zoran’s space. He takes a cautious breath and as he rolls…he lands onto of the most expensive spaces on the board. Naiko just takes a deep breath and calculates how much he can mortgage. He lost. Looking at Cecelia and just says with a pained smile, “Defeat him…” Naiko backs off to the couch to watch the rest of the game and Zoran starts saying, “Naiko is gone Cecelia…what about your precious hope. Amaia is gonna remain in prison and when she gets out…she will land on my space and lose! Where is that precious hope!” Amaia winces and says, “Pipe it down man…I know I can be intense but jeez.” Naiko bluntly says, “Didn’t you go on a whole monologue about not losing?” Amaia retorts. “Shut up last place!” It was Zoran’s turn now. Buying all of those properties were a risky move but he just got lucky with Naiko rolling on his space. He rolls his dice and lands on one of the railroads. He gives Cecelia the coins as the game rages on.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The sky outside slowly turned into night as the fight between Cecelia and Zoran rage on. Amaia somehow keeps rolling into staying in prison and she will stall out her entire jail visit. Every property has been bought and Naiko has fallen asleep. Cecelia tiredly mutters, “This will never end…give up Zoran.” Zoran still wearing a cocky smile just says, “Never…I need to win. I just need one win in my life.” Cecelia’s eyes widen as she looks at the vulnerability and pain in his eyes. Cecelia looks down and says, “I…see.” She rolls her dice…by some fate she landed on Zoran’s most expensive property. Cecelia collapses to her knees and says softly, “I…lost?” Zoran smiles slightly and says, “You were a good fighter…Cecelia.” They shake hands but Amaia says, “IT’S NOT OVER I AM STILL IN THE GAME. NOW HERE COMES OPERATION : COMEBACK.” Amaia pays out of jail as she lands on one of the Cecelia’s deserted property and buys it. Then she pulls out a wild card…she can to the next property. She spams that until she bought off Cecelia’s property.” Zoran winces and says, “So this was your plan…you were stalling the game and waiting until either me or Cecelia fell.” Amaia tapped her head and manically says, “EXACTLY. Cecelia letting herself lose to you instead of mortgaging her properties was her mistake. If you really need the win…YOU HAVE TO FIGHT ME FOR IT.” Naiko sleepily mutters and says, “Shut up…it’s just a game.” Cecelia teased him and said, “Well said, last place.” Naiko just groans.

It seems like the game went on for hours as Amaia repeatedly tried to land herself in jail and Zoran just slammed his head into a pillow and screamed. Amaia with sleep deprived eyes says, “Gonna call it quits…” Zoran looks at her with twitching eyes and mutters, “Over my dead body.” Finally, it was Amaia’s turn to roll. As she rolled her dice she realized she was out of prison. As the dice rolled down the numbers, she got doubles. Amaia rolls the dice again and mutters, “Give me doubles again…please.” It was over. She landed on Zoran’s most expensive property. As she landed on the space, the shine from the sun rose. A beautiful daybreak for the neverending board game. Amaia says bitterly, “The game ends when I give you the money and…” She takes out her burning glaive and cleaves the board game in two as she laughed deliriously. Amaia cackles and says, “Man I guess no one is the winner now!” Zoran just looked at her blankly as Cecelia and Naiko looked at her in horror. Zoran just says, “Alright. Naiko, I am gonna get some sleep.” Naiko just gives him a weak thumbs up as Zoran leaves the room. Zoran walks to his room and sits on the edge of the bed staring outside and mutters, “I’ll win someday. Someday…” He looks down at his new arm and says, “Maybe…later today I can win. Something…anything at all.” He grips his wrist and winces as he mutters to himself, “Time will still go on…even if it feels like I am drowning.”