Pain and Tears

For a moment, the runic scriptures coalesced into those 3 words before releasing a sanguine wisp of power that tentatively stretched at the constraints of the 3 words' lettering.

Meeting no resistance, they smoothly glid from the words inscribed on the monolith into Dean. There was no pain, no discomfort, and no feeling at all really when the wisps flowed into him which was a stark contrast from what he'd expected.

As the last vestiges of the sanguine wisps disappeared from the 3 words on the monolith, they became especially dull before writhing once more and unraveling into the original runic scriptures.

He still couldn't understand any of the runic scriptures that constantly writhed and tumbled across the monolith's surface, but he inexplicably felt as if some knowledge was seared into his mind.

"And it is done," the monolith intoned through the haunting collective voice of the humanoid horde.

"Wait, that's it? That was the test you wanted me to take?" Dean was flabbergasted at the absurd ease of the test despite the situation he was in.

It was like a college student worrying over an exam only to be greeted by questions for elementary students.

Too easy.

"Yes, the test has been taken and passed. Like most things in life the profound is often simple."

...

...

Dean waited expectedly for the monolith and the horde to continue speaking, but everyone just sat there in silence. He stood and stared at the hoard and they just stared right back.

Opening his mouth to ask what came next, the silence was broken by the horde.

"Constructs such as myself can survive anywhere, but our inherent characteristics mutate depending on the environment in which we find ourselves.

I've spent eons in this place of absolute depravity and suffering but you are the first that has been able to withstand the burden of this place and accept a seed of Truth from me.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Eons I've waited, and finally, I've discovered someone worthy to inherit a Truth and become a Card Summoner."

"Card Summoner? That term sounds somewhat familiar." He was never a huge fan of Magic the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh but he'd played enough of both to have a rough understanding of the game mechanics.

Magic the Gathering in particular always released amazing cinematic trailers that really hyped him up to play. There was even a time when he envisioned himself as a planeswalker that traversed the multiverse with strength and freedom.

'Hmm, wait a minute.' Dean chuckled ruefully. 'Wasn't I terrible at those games?'

It was embarrassing to admit but Dean failed to even get past the Magic the Gathering tutorial when he downloaded the gaming app on his phone. The rules seemed simple enough but the complex interactions between the different card types and card effects were just too much and he abandoned the game in favor of Fortnite.

He faired a bit better in Yu-Gi-Oh but the introduction of new game mechanics like Synchro Summons and the insanely high skill level of the players on its gaming app similarly deterred him from his childhood card game.

It was one thing to spend an afternoon playing Duel Monsters with your friends but after two back-to-back instances of losing in one turn he just gave up.

'Wait, I'm doing it again.' Dean had the terrible habit of making assumptions before he had all of the facts.

However similar a Card Summoner may sound to the games he was familiar with he was not about to make any assumptions.

For all he knew, the term he was thinking of and the reality of being a Card Summoner may be totally different.

"You've heard of a Card Summoner?" The hoard shook their collective heads before continuing. "Highly doubtful. But perhaps, your world produced some poor facsimile of the term. Stranger things have happened after all.

It may be a facsimile, but if it allows you to comprehend what it means to be a Card Summoner quickly there is little harm with this foreknowledge.

The seed of Truth has been implanted, and your time in this realm draws to a close.

Even as we speak, this realm seeks to expel you and send you into the ether that lies between realms. I can assist on this front.

The realm I will send you to, I can not follow. However, I can offer you a few simple gifts to aid you on your path.

The first of which is the seed of Truth that has already been given.

The 2nd is the gift of knowledge regarding the nature of the seed of Truth you've recently acquired.

It must be understood that while I have provided the 'seed' of your Truth the manifestation of its exact form and potency is beyond my ability to control.

Rather, it is the result of the merger between your soul and the Truth.

The 'seed' distinction merely exists as a means to denote that your Truth is undeveloped and in its infancy.

I will not pollute your mind and impede your path by providing unwarranted tutelage on its nature but I'd advise you to always reference its name as you delve into its deeper meaning.

Remember that the profound is often found in simplicity."

.........

..........

..........

"Yeah... uh, that sounds helpful, but is there any way we could make a minor alteration to your gift? I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I think it would be in both our best interests if your gifts also included something more... practical."

Learning from his past mistake, Dean took the initiative and raised this issue before the monolith could continue.

There was another pause before the horde responded. "Hmm, you may have a point. I often forget how needy young mortals like yourself are.

I will offer little else because it is unneeded. You are ignorant so I will exemplify your interactions with the world and make them more readily apparent.

With the potential for strength and knowledge, you are now prepared.

Rest, and once you awake your path will begin in earnest."

Throughout this sentence, Dean was struck with an inexorable feeling of drowsiness and he found himself falling asleep despite the mountains of questions and fears he still had.

And yet, despite his best efforts to remain awake, he sank further and further into unconsciousness. His awareness teetered toward the brink of oblivion when he felt as much as read a notification.

Deck Core: Pain and Tears has been acquired