"Yuhl," the small black-haired woman screamed, her voice echoing as she clutched a basket tightly. The sun cast long shadows behind her, making her seem larger than she was.

The tall hazel-haired boy who had just stepped out of the small wooden hut, didn't answer or look back. His worn backpack, heavy on his shoulders, seemed to anchor him to his decision. “Yuhl,” she insisted, her voice cracking as she rushed to the door, but the boy kept his back to her. Their almost identical facial features, except for the hair color, revealed their relationship - mother and son.

"Yuhlarian," she screamed one last time, her voice sharp with a seriousness that promised retribution.

Yuhl turned, annoyance surging on his youthful face. But at the sight of his mother's fierce expression, his annoyance faltered into a flicker of fear. "Mom, I told you. I won't stay. I want more than this," he said, his hand gesturing to their humble house and the surrounding huts.

His mother's face fell, a shadow of guilt passing over her features, making Yuhl's heart clench with a similar emotion. He scrambled for words to soften his earlier ones, but they hung heavily between them, unchangeable. What's wrong with wanting more?

He didn't mean to belittle his parents or their community - humble people living a simple life with fewer cards. It was an honest and respectable life, but not the one he yearned for. "I’m sorry," he said, his voice softer. "I didn’t mean it like that. I just... I need to experience something different, Mom. I need to try. If I don’t, I'll always wonder, always regret not trying. Please, let me?"

"Why don’t you wait for your dad?" she pleaded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"You know why," the boy replied, his voice showing both resolve and sadness. "He won’t let me. Last time, he even used a Bind card to keep me here."

The woman's face was in conflict, her eyes reflecting a depth of emotions, long-lived sadness and unspoken fears. Yuhl thought he saw a trace of deep-seated anger in her gaze. "You really want this? You know it's dangerous out there, not like here," she said with a trembling voice.

"I do," he affirmed.

"Then go," she said finally, her voice breaking as she turned away, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Yuhl watched her retreating back, his eyes misty and throat tight with emotion. After a moment, he took a deep breath and turned, his steps leading him toward the village entrance, each step heavy with the weight of his decision and the unknown path that lay ahead.

Leaving one's family was never easy, but Yuhl knew his future wasn't in the village. Destiny called to him. He trudged along the road to Sylbrook town, the largest settlement near his village. This well-trodden path, smoothed by countless footsteps and wagon wheels, connected his humble farming village to the bustling town. Despite its relative safety, villagers rarely traveled it alone; the threat of thieves and, more frighteningly, monsters, was always there.

As Yuhl reached the midpoint of his journey, a rustling in the leaves caught his attention. His steps became cautious, eyes darting to every shadow. His hand instinctively clutched a worn card in his pocket. His collection was limited, not enough for even a decent stay and meal in town. But life was priceless, and he had no intention of losing it today.

The rustling grew into sounds of crashes and collisions. Yuhl hesitated, considering a retreat, but the thought of his father's wrath – and the inevitable grounding that would follow – gave him the extra courage to keep going. As he edged closer, the sounds clarified into the unmistakable rhythm of battle: the clanging of metal and monstrous growls.

Panic knotted in his stomach. This region was supposed to be safe, cleared of dangerous monsters. Only the weakest monsters lurked in these parts, none that should pose a real threat. So why the sounds of conflict? A duel between card users, perhaps? Yuhl tried to convince himself it was nothing serious, maybe even a friendly duel. He forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow in the still air.

Curiosity overpowered his fear. With each step, the battle sounds grew clearer, and Yuhl's interest deepened. He had always been fascinated by battle cards, a passion that fueled his decision to leave the village. He dreamed of witnessing powerful card users in action, of encountering cards beyond his wildest imagination. Somewhere out there, he might even fulfill his secret ambition – a goal he hadn't dared share with anyone, not even his closest friends or family. The dream of becoming a Card Maker.

Just thinking about it sent a thrill through him, quickening his heartbeat. He glanced around instinctively, as if someone might be watching his daydream. Stupid, he chided himself with a wry smile. He was alone on the road, with only his thoughts and the distant sounds of battle for company.

As he walked closer to the tumult, his heart raced with fear and exhilaration. From a distance, he could see the chaos unfold in the wilderness: trees and rocks uprooted, thrown about as if they were mere twigs. This was the kind of spectacle that could easily kill the reckless. It was the kind of situation a sane, responsible person would avoid at all costs. Unfortunately, he was driven more by curiosity than sense.

Promising himself he'd only take a quick peek from a safe distance, Yuhl crept into the wild, cautiously threading the uneven ground. As he moved closer, a part of him scolded his recklessness, echoing his father's frequent admonitions about his lack of responsibility.

Yuhl halted when the terrain became treacherous, littered with debris from the battle. Ahead, a ravine offered a vantage point to witness the fierce clash between a human and what looked like a monster. His instincts screamed at him to flee, yet he was rooted to the spot, too curious to move.

The human, a bulky figure wielding an enormous sword, darted and clashed against the monster with impossible speed. That sword should be heavier than Mom. His eyes widened in awe. The monster, shrouded in black fur with lethal claws, moved too swiftly for Yuhl to discern any other features.

Suddenly, the man was hurled backward, crashing through several trees before slamming against a rock. Debris flew in all directions from the impact. So, that's why everything's getting tossed around.

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As the man lay against the rock, injured and panting, Yuhl could finally see his features clearly – it was definitely a human. He watched as the wounded fighter pulled out a handful of cards. Three of them glowed and disappeared into his most severe injuries – a gash in his abdomen, a wound on his back, and at the back of his head – staunching the bleeding miraculously.

Yuhl's breath caught in his throat at the sight, his eyes fixed on the scene below, the danger of his position momentarily forgotten.

The man, leaning heavily on his sword, wiped the sweat and blood from his eyes. He quickly shuffled through another set of cards, some vanishing upon touch, others tucked away carefully. Then, with a deliberate motion, he placed the final two cards on his sword, which had been resting heavily on the ground, its weight leaving deep impressions on the earth. As the cards touched the blade, it seemed to lighten, and the man effortlessly raised it again.

Suddenly, the sword burst into an aura of flames, glowing red and fierce. The monster, previously hidden from Yuhl's view, burst forth from its cover in the vegetation, charging at a shocking high speed towards the man.

The man threw a pair of cards into the air, stepping through the ripples they created as they vanished. In a powerful leap, he met the monster midway. Their collision sent sparks and flames scattering, the sound of metal clashing against claws echoing through the air. They were pushed back, only to lunge forward again, their rapid exchanges leaving Yuhl's head spinning in an attempt to follow.

Amidst the blur of motion, he caught glimpses of the ripples left by the cards, but the man's movements were too swift to discern clearly. This is so fast, I can't even understand what's happening. Then, with a horrifying crunch, the man was slammed into the ground, the sound of pain and breaking bones chilling Yuhl to the bone.

The monster, relentless, closed in for a follow-up attack, not giving the man a moment to recover or use his cards. From his distant vantage point, Yuhl sensed the man's desperation, the resolve in his eyes hardening. The man drew a single, brilliantly shining card – its frame and luster unlike anything Yuhl had ever seen. With no time to spare, the man activated the card.

In an instant, the sky darkened, and a furious thunderbolt descended, striking both the man and the monster. The force of the impact was overwhelming; Yuhl was momentarily blinded, the shockwave sending him tumbling back from his hiding spot. He crashed into bushes, pain radiating through his body.

Struggling to stand, he was overcome with dizziness, his eyes stinging and tears flowing freely. His ears rang with the remnants of the thunderous assault. Bruised and disoriented, he patted his body, searching for serious injuries. Relieved to find none, he lay there, trying to regain his senses, the aftermath of the battle still echoing in his ears.

Yuhl struggled to his feet, each movement revealing a new painful spot. His eyes, still stinging, took their time to focus, and he sighed in relief as his vision cleared. His ears, however, continued to buzz, and when he touched them, his fingers came away with blood. Great, I probably blew my eardrums.

Surveying his surroundings, Yuhl was met with a landscape of utter devastation. Everything was flattened, charred remnants of the lightning's fury. Stumbling, he turned to head back towards the path, but his way was suddenly blocked by something. The black-furred monster from before, still majestic in its form, was glowing, almost ethereal, as if it were fading from existence.

He tried to run, but his body was unresponsive, held in place by fear and injury. The monster approached with a terrifying elegance. His voice failed him; he couldn't even muster a scream. All he could do was inwardly berate his own foolishness. Dad was right. I'm not ready for this. Now it's too late... My dreams, my life, all gone.

He thought of his parents, wondering if they would ever learn his fate. Maybe it was better if they didn't, to spare them the pain. As the monster leaped towards him, Yuhl braced for the end, shutting his eyes tight.

But then, nothing. No pain, no rending claws. Confused, he slowly opened his eyes. The monster was gone, leaving only the ravaged landscape. Where did it go? He searched around in fear.

With urgency, Yuhl hurried back to the path. He wasn't going to waste another second in this dangerous place. The brush with death had a clarifying effect; he made silent promises to himself to be more cautious, to value his life more.

As he walked, a voice suddenly cut through his thoughts, chilling him to the bone. "Oh, don’t fool yourself, human cub. You will always be stupid." It was a voice filled with arrogance and malice, seemingly coming from nowhere and everywhere at once. Yuhl stopped dead in his tracks, his heart pounding. Where was it coming from? Who was speaking? The voice seemed to mock him, echoing through the desolation around him.

Yuhl spun around, his eyes darting in every direction, seeking the source of the voice. But then it hit him – his ears were still buzzing and he couldn't hear anything at all. What the hell? How?

"See? Being stupid again," the voice taunted, its presence unmistakably inside his head. Panic surged through Yuhl as he realized the voice was emanating from within his own mind.

"No use guarding against me. I’m already inside you, human cub," the voice declared.

A chill ran down Yuhl's spine, his fear escalating. Inside me?

"Yes," the voice answered directly in his thoughts.

Frozen in place, Yuhl stood motionless, unsure of what to do or think. Time stretched into long, awkward minutes filled with silence – no sound, no movement, just the weight of his buzzing deafness and the voice in his head.

"Say something, stupid human cub," the voice finally snapped, breaking the tension.

"I... don’t know what to say," Yuhl admitted, feeling embarrassed.

What could he say in a situation like this? When faced with a monster, you run. But when the monster is in your mind, what then?

"Such... strange and... plausible thoughts, human cub," the voice mused, almost contemplatively.

"You're a strange and maybe even interesting human cub. I wish we could talk more, but I need to enter a long slumber to recover," the voice said, sounding almost weary.

Really?

"Don’t worry, human cub. You’re my host now, I won’t hurt you," the voice assured, though the emphasis on 'hurt you' made him shiver.

"However... You’re too weak, human cub. If you die while I’m sleeping, it won’t be good for either of us," the voice added with concern.

"How about I give you a gift? Something to help you defend yourself?" it proposed.

"A gift?" Yuhl echoed, curiosity spiking despite his fear. Then, quickly, he said, "Yes. I want it. Please!"

The monster seemed taken aback by his swift change in attitude. "Such a strange human cub you are."

"What do you want?" the monster inquired.

Without hesitation, Yuhl replied, "I want to be a Card Maker!"

"Card Maker?" The voice sounded puzzled, then began rifling through Yuhl’s memories to understand the term.

"Interesting," the monster pondered in Yuhl's mind. "I can't make you one, but I can help make your work stronger," it offered.

Yuhl waited, feeling a strange sense of anticipation.

"Let me see," the monster said, as if it were sifting through possibilities in some unseen realm.

After a moment, the monster announced, "It's done. I don't know the specific effect, but I can guarantee that all the cards you create will be special. Farewell, human cub. I need to sleep. See you in a few decades."

"Bye," Yuhl responded, still struggling with the surreal nature of the conversation.

Special? What does 'special' even mean? He considered, his steps unconsciously quickening. The lack of explanation was frustrating, but the thought that his cards could be enhanced by a mysterious, powerful being was thrilling.

The monster's strength was unquestionable. Whatever it did, it has to be incredible. With renewed determination, he headed towards Sylbrook, unaware that the bizarre encounter would forever alter the course of his life.