Elden paced back and forth in Gertrude's study, his brow furrowed in concentration. The afternoon sun cast long shadows through the stained-glass windows, painting the room in a kaleidoscope of colors that seemed to dance with each of his steps. He had been training intensively for weeks, trying to unravel the mysteries of his father's pendant and master the intricate weaves of emotion magic.

Gertrude sat behind her desk, watching him with a mixture of concern and amusement. She could sense the turmoil of emotions roiling beneath Elden's surface, threatening to break free at any moment.

"Elden, dear," she said, interrupting his pacing. "I'm afraid we've run into a bit of a snag with your training."

Elden paused, turning to face her with a raised eyebrow. "What kind of snag?"

Gertrude sighed dramatically. "We've run out of emotion orbs, I'm afraid. And without them, continuing your training in emotion magic will be... challenging, to say the least."

"Emotion orbs?" Elden asked, his curiosity piqued despite his frustration.

"Ah, yes," Gertrude said, launching into lecture mode. "You see, mages often use specialized items to aid in their training and comprehension of complex magical concepts. These enchanted orbs are particularly useful for those studying the intricacies of emotion magic. They help focus and amplify emotional energies, making it easier for novices to perceive and manipulate them."

Elden nodded slowly, remembering the glowing spheres Gertrude had been using in their lessons. He had assumed they were simply a teaching tool, not realizing their true importance.

"So without these orbs," he said, "we can't continue my training?"

"Well, we could," Gertrude replied, "but it would be much slower and more difficult. Ideally, we need to purchase more. But therein lies our problem." She paused for effect. "We're a bit short on funds at the moment."

Elden's brow furrowed. "But surely as a member of the Empath Council, you have access to resources for training?"

Gertrude waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, the Council's budget is tied up in all sorts of bureaucratic nonsense. No, I'm afraid if we want more emotion orbs, we'll need to acquire the funds ourselves."

Elden ran a hand through his hair, his streak of white standing out starkly against the dark strands. "And all my funds are back in Mnemosyne, which might as well be on the moon right now."

"Precisely," Gertrude said, leaning back in her chair. Suddenly, a mischievous glint appeared in her eye, one that Elden had come to both anticipate and fear over the past weeks. "But don't worry. I have an idea."

Elden groaned. "Why do I feel like I'm not going to like this?"

Gertrude rose from her chair with a grace that belied her years, practically gliding around the desk to stand before Elden. "Now, now. Don't be so quick to judge. Have I ever steered you wrong?"

"Well, there was that time with the emotion-threading ritual and the cat—"

"That was an isolated incident," Gertrude said quickly, waving her hand dismissively. "This is foolproof. We're going to earn our coins the old-fashioned way."

Elden raised an eyebrow. "Academic awards?"

Gertrude's grin widened. "Gambling, of course!"

For a moment, Elden simply stared at her, waiting for the punchline. When none came, he burst out laughing. "You're joking, right? The esteemed Gertrude Soulsinger, venerated member of the Empath Council, wants to try her luck at the tables?"

"Don't look so surprised," Gertrude huffed, crossing her arms. "I'll have you know I was quite the card sharp in my youth. Besides, we're not going to rely on luck alone."

Understanding dawned on Elden's face. "Emotion magic," he said slowly. "You can use it to mask your own emotions, make it impossible to tell if you're bluffing."

Gertrude nodded, looking pleased. "Exactly. And in theory, one could also influence the emotions of their opponents. Not that I would ever do such a thing, of course. It would be terribly unethical."

"Of course," Elden agreed, trying to keep a straight face. "So, where exactly are we going to engage in this completely above-board venture?"

"There's a charming little establishment just outside Empyrea's borders," Gertrude said, already moving to gather her things. "The Sly Sylph, it's called. Neutral territory, so the Council turns a blind eye to its... activities."

As they made their way through the winding streets of Empyrea, Elden couldn't help but marvel at the contrast between the serene, emotion-infused architecture and the decidedly less reputable destination they were heading towards. The crystalline spires and flowing, organic shapes of the city gradually gave way to more mundane structures as they neared the outskirts.

Finally, they arrived at a nondescript building that seemed to shrink away from attention. A weathered sign swung gently in the breeze, depicting a winking fairy holding a hand of cards. The Sly Sylph.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Well, this looks... quaint," Elden said, eyeing the establishment warily.

Gertrude patted his arm reassuringly. "Don't let appearances fool you. Some of the most interesting people in the realms frequent this place. Now, remember, we're here to earn funds for your training, not to start a geopolitical incident. Let's keep a low profile, shall we?"

As they stepped inside, Elden's senses were assaulted by a cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells. The air was thick with pipe smoke and the heady aroma of spilled ale. Raucous laughter mingled with the clinking of coins and the shuffling of cards. Humans and mages from across the realms crowded around various tables, their faces illuminated by floating orbs of magical light.

A burly grunt manning the door held out a meaty hand, blocking their path. "House rules," he grunted. "Maximum winnings of 1000 Nexus coins per night. No exceptions."

Gertrude's face fell slightly. "Well, that's inconvenient. We need more than that for a decent supply of emotion orbs."

Elden, however, was already scanning the room, his mind working overtime. "Maybe we don't have to stick to one night," he murmured. "If we both play, we could potentially double our earnings each night we come back."

Gertrude's eyes lit up. "Elden Vortis, you devious boy. I knew I kept you around for a reason."

They made their way to a relatively quiet corner of the room, where a group of Solarian merchants were engaged in a spirited game of cards. Elden recognized it as a variant of a game popular in Mnemosyne's lower districts.

"Ladies first," Elden said with a grin, gesturing for Gertrude to take a seat.

Gertrude settled into a chair, her posture perfect, a serene smile on her face. "Gentlemen," she said to the merchants, who looked up in surprise. "Might an old woman join your game?"

The merchants exchanged glances, clearly unsure what to make of this elegant newcomer. Finally, one of them shrugged and began dealing her in.

What followed was, in Elden's opinion, one of the most painful displays of card-playing he had ever witnessed. Gertrude, for all her confidence, seemed to have grossly overestimated her skills. Her attempts at bluffing were painfully obvious, and her strategy (if one could call it that) seemed to consist mainly of hoping for the best.

After an hour, Gertrude's initial stake had dwindled to almost nothing. She rose from the table with as much dignity as she could muster, patting Elden on the shoulder as she passed. "Your turn, dear. Do try not to embarrass us both."

Elden took her place at the table, feeling the weight of expectation on his shoulders. He had played similar games back home, but never for high stakes. As the cards were dealt, he felt a bead of sweat form on his brow.

His first few hands went better than Gertrude's, but not by much. The merchants, sensing easy prey, began to up the ante. Elden found himself struggling to keep up with their rapid-fire bets and raises.

It was during a particularly tense hand that Elden had an epiphany. He glanced down at his cards, then at the discard pile, his mind racing. With a start, he realized he could use his memory magic to memorize every card played, calculating probabilities on the fly.

As the night wore on, Elden's fortunes began to change. He wasn't winning every hand, but he was holding his own, slowly but surely building up a respectable pile of coins. The merchants grew increasingly agitated, muttering among themselves in their native language.

Gertrude, who had been watching from the sidelines, leaned in close. "Well done," she whispered. "But I think it's time we called it a night. We've earned enough for now, and it's best not to overstay our welcome."

Elden nodded, grateful for the excuse to leave while he was ahead. As they made their way out of The Sly Sylph, coins jingling satisfyingly in their pockets, Gertrude fixed Elden with a knowing look.

"You know," she said casually, "I could have simply used Council funds to purchase those emotion orbs."

Elden stopped in his tracks, staring at her incredulously. "Then why did we go through all this?"

Gertrude's eyes twinkled with mischief and warmth. "Because, my dear boy, you needed a break. Your emotions have been in turmoil lately, threatening to overwhelm your control. Sometimes, the best way to reset is to step away from training entirely and engage in something... unexpected."

As understanding dawned on Elden's face, Gertrude continued, "Besides, wasn't this more fun than another day of grueling practice?"

Elden couldn't help but laugh, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. "You're a crafty one, Empath Soulsinger."

Gertrude, who had been watching from the sidelines, approached with a proud smile. "Well done, Elden. I think it's time we made our exit while we're ahead."

As they stepped out into the cool night air, Elden felt a mixture of exhilaration and guilt. "Gertrude," he said hesitantly, "I'm not sure how I feel about this. It almost feels like we cheated."

Gertrude's expression softened. "I understand your concern, Elden. But consider this – in that room, you were surrounded by humans from across Aethoria, each with their own unique abilities and advantages. The Solarian merchant could sense the heat of excitement from his opponents. The earth mage’s stone sense allowed him to detect the slightest tremors of nervousness. You simply used your own gifts to level the playing field."

Elden nodded slowly, considering her words. "I suppose you're right. But still, using magic for personal gain like this... it feels like a slippery slope."

"And that," Gertrude said with a warm smile, "is precisely why I brought you here. Understanding the implications of our abilities is just as important as mastering the abilities themselves.

As they made their way back through the shimmering streets of Empyrea, Elden felt a new sense of purpose settling over him. The night's adventure had taught him more than just how to read emotions in a high-stakes environment.

"Thank you, Gertrude," he said softly as they approached her quarters. "For the lesson, and for trusting me with this experience."

Gertrude's eyes twinkled with affection and pride. "You're welcome, my dear boy. Now, get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll put those winnings to good use and continue your training with some new emotion orbs. After all," she added with a wink, "we can't let all that 'luck' go to waste, can we?"

As Elden drifted off to sleep that night, his dreams were filled with swirling patterns of emotion and memory, intertwining in ways he had never before imagined. The challenges ahead were daunting, but for the first time since arriving in Empyrea, he felt truly prepared to face them.