I don't know what is inside of this mail but I do hope that there is nothing worth mentioning. Otherwise, I am really messed up. The intent was real where he did send me a letter with a stamp on it. At first glance, it seems authentic - no signs of fabrications. The morning is about to begin, from the initial peeking towards the valley to the east. The ray of sun is starting to somehow radiate into this plain. And from the windowpane, I can clearly see the dark scenery turning into apparent blue skies. Still, I am nervous about how to interact with this missive on my hand.
"What's this, in the first place?" muttering, asking myself.
I am sweating. I don’t know what that guy is implying to. Of course, there is a definite danger lurking behind this letter if I open it now. My throat is starting to itch, however, both of my hands are still glued on this stupid goddamn letter. After minutes of contemplating, I put up the courage to break the seal of this missive. And somehow, nothing worse is going to occur. I played that dubious gent in a game of chess which I lost and we played a while ago with coin-toss. The score, as of now, is 1:1 - a deadlock. The outlook is… it is just a game. I thought he was just having fun - wasting time and forsaking the world for a bit with me but his face says, otherwise.
“Alright, I have made up my mind. This is not the time to be chickening out. Let’s do this, Aisla!” after moments of pensive squandering, I am thinking.
I am about to split the stamp in two, my vision darkens. Even though it is absolute pitch-black scenery… I blink my eyes twice. I can sense that my eyes are moving its lids - from both eyes, as my muscles are registering the actions. Out of nowhere, in an immediate occurrence. Meanwhile, I am transported to the dimension where there’s an equilateral square table. There are four (4) seats on the table and I believe as I am aware that I am sitting on it. By the looks of it, I am solely the one who is in this space. Two (2) lads join the table - one from each of my sides. One on my left side and the other occupies the opposite. They place their bet on their fronts, as it signifies they are ready to play the round. I feel the man who is approaching ‘our’ table and in front of me from my perspective.
“What is he doing here?” I recognize that face, and hell, what is he really doing here, actually?
“What a coincidence, milord!” he exclaims, where I think the communication is solely-derived from an exclusive two-way conversation. The people around us, these two gentlemen with us,... as it seems that they are unaware between our staredown with the man standing in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” as I speak verbally, asking the same question what I'd had in mind prior.
“Alas, we are here to play in this saloon and if you’re willing to enjoy with me.” he grins, in an elegant manner he sits on the chair eloquently.
“Sure, what do we have to folly ourselves, dear stranger?” I ask.
“You know cards?” he questions me, as I nod by replying to his inquiry “Tarot, Diamond-oriented based, ‘Brianic’, or the standard-52 card deck?” then, I choose the latter which I assume all of the players, including me, know what to base in.
"What game are we going to play, then?" I ask, indeed, if I am too familiar with the rules he wishes to play.
"You know the Diamond Throne, eh?"
"Uh-huh."
"Well, milord. We are going to play their game. You know how to play 'poker', eh?" he reconfirms by asking me if I do know the typical stipulation of a pub card game… Of course, I do!
"Well, we are going to play the poker of what Diamond Throne-leaned rules." he follows, where he speaks beforehand, as I don't seem to fathom what the 'Diamonds' are playing at.
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"Sure. Mind to enlighten me?" I give the man the biddings to educate me.
He claims that the Diamond Throne exists in both worlds of Geböþæð but not from here. Though, the name echoes still in this dimension. It looks like that border beyond our perception is too vague. As for the basics of this poker, there's a base, a middle, and a head. They are called setting; from base to head - base will be foundation which means, in order to build a house, the ground must be firm. And as for common sense, thus, to one's however a floor to build - base is always important and crucially vital. From base to head, base should be higher and head should be lower. The painting of each card is similar to the standard poker. There are: pair, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, full house, straight, and so on and so forth.
He claps his hand where he calls for the dealer: "Ayo, my friend!" in a genial mood.
The man places the cards on the table near me and the guy on my left side. The dealer then shuffles and flourishes the deck on the double. After the gentleman finishes flourishing the cards, he puts the deck on his off-hand… his left hand. Furthermore, he cuts the deck showing five of diamonds (5◇), the first start of spread begins on my seat; the numbers are: 1, 5, 9, and 13.
"Let's begin." declares by the dealer himself and then he begins to distribute the cards accordingly.
(Please refer to this shared link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LNoBwodExy0X61doYWYzxfIT40E7Wly6)
The subsequent suits and numbers are as follows: A♤, 6◇, A♡, 6♤, 10♤, 9♡, Q♡, 7♡, 4◇, 5♤, 5♧, A◇, and finally 7♤. (Arrangement from right-to-left, according to the first image in the shared link.)
Well, in this hand, I set my base with a full house - a three-of-a-kind ace and a pair of five. In the middle, I put two pairs of seven and six while there's a Queen of hearts, nine of hearts, and ten of spades at the top. (Arrangement of the setting - base, middle, and head; according to the second image in the shared link.)
Of course, I have the confidence in my hands, since each setting themselves have a pretty solid line-up, in my purest opinion. Not having a single doubt or having a second thought, I drop my arranged cards face down signifying that I am done. With my hands on the back of my head, I am partially aware that I am going to win this round. The integrity of my middle is not as fundamental akin to my base, though. Two pairs is good in relative terms. The head makes me irksome since a King or an Ace would definitely secure the spot in that setting but I would be dismantling my hand if I ever do that.
“Time is up!” upon the instructions of the dealer, to put down and show the hands of each player.
From my left - the gent’s cards have been exposed from base up until the top: straight, a slightly weaker two pairs than mine, and a Jack of hearts, seven of diamonds, and nine of diamonds. (Arrangement of the setting - base, middle, and head; according to the third image in the shared link.) And from my right side... he displays his strength derives from luck, where he destroys me at the top and at the middle with: J♡, Q◇, 7◇ and 4♤, 3♤, 8♧, 8♡, 3♧; respectively. All in all, he defeats my hand. (Arrangement of the setting - base, middle, and head; according to the fourth image in the shared link.)
And as for the man who always creeps and stalks me, he shows his cards - where he obliterates me 2:1 in a near face-off finale. (Arrangement of the setting - base, middle, and head; according to fifth image in the shared link.)
"Milord, you lose." as he cackles in a frantic style as where his laugh is fading out, and in an instant I am traversed back into my room by a flashing light on my sight.
I tear the stamp in two. The first thing that I see in the parchment, opening the mail, is my name: Aisla.