The legend speaks about a magical organization known as The Order of Arcana. Its wizards confronted each other in amazing sorcery duels to prove their skills. Summoning vicious monsters, aiding their armies with mystical spells, tricking their rivals with shameful traps, the goal was to end with the opponent’s life. Winning meant to acquire the sealed knowledge of the defeated duelist, while losing meant death, and to have your soul engulfed by the darkness. Nobody knows when or why the order disappeared. However, there’s the belief that all the magicians’ wisdom was sealed in mysterious cards, whose location remains unknown...
Yu-Gi-Oh! - The Order of Arcana.
Card I - The Magician.
Part 01
Edward was an annoyingly easy-going young man with just one thought on his mind: to win. Having no goal in his life other than living it in a simple way, he always believed that the only path to reach it was winning on everything. Be it at games or sports, he has never lost, not even once. Still, every person he meets finds only one word to describe him: fool.
It all started one night in a bar on London. The crowd was enjoying the strong rhythms of classic rock, while tasting a variety of alcoholic beverages. The jukebox was playing Guns and Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle", which seemed to be the appropriate song for the appropriate moment.
“Read ‘em and weep, the dead man’s hand again!” Edward grinned while showing his two pairs to his three opponents.
One of them decided to quit. “I should’ve listened to the guys that were here before. There’s no point in keep losing money to this fool!” He stood up and walked away, angered.
“C’mon dude! We’re having fun here! Aren’t we?” Asked Edward to the other rivals.
One of them answered. “Sure, buddy, there’s nothing i like more than getting beaten by a brat.” He lighted a cigar.
“Shut up, I’m 22. Now stop whining and give me one of those.” He extended his hand and a cigar was given to him, along with the lighter.
The third man on the table spoke. “We heard there was a fool in here that never loses. Guess it was the truth.” He was the second to leave.
Edward shady smile appeared once again. “And I’m happy the way I am.”
“Rejoice while you still can, lad. Sooner or later a guy will cross that door and beat the crap out of you.” The last opponent left the table.
“But it’s not gonna be tonight.”
The Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black” played on the jukebox.
The gambler gathered his earnings as the bartender walked to him. “If I had an euro for every time I've heard some loser say that to you I would close this damn place.” He said.
“Fuck you, Freddy! Here’s where I make my living.” Edward yelled. “Now shut up and pour me a glass of scotch.”
“Relax man, you know I wouldn’t do that.” He served him the drink he asked, then took out a pack of cigarettes and lighted one. “After all, how can i live without the smell of smoke, alcohol and vomit filling my lungs?”
“I know I can’t.” Edward exhaled the smoke of his cigar one more time before putting it out.
David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World” started playing when a strange man entered the bar. He slowly walked towards the young gambler. He wore a cape and had his face covered by a hood, so it could hardly be spotted, but had a large black beard that couldn’t be ignored.
Some customer shouted. “What’s up gramps! Lost your way to the costume party?!” Some other equally bad jokes were screamed. Still, the man kept walking until finally being face to face to what appeared to be his target. The crowd decided to continue minding their own business.
“I see it in your yellow eyes. You are that famous never-losing fool.” Said the hooded man.
The pride in Edward’s face was evident. “The one and only.” He howled.
“I am here to give you the chance to bet in an ultimate gamble.” Declared the stranger while taking a chair and sitting on it. He then spoke to Freddy. “Would you mind serving me a cup of wine, gentleman? The most expensive if possible.”
“Ri...right away sir!” The enthusiast bartender went for it.
Edward was intrigued. “So, what are you talking about, old man. What’s an ultimate gamble?”
Freddy put the cup on the table. “Leave the bottle, please.” Requested the hooded person.
He drank it in one gulp. “An ultimate gamble is one where you can not afford to lose.” He poured himself another cup. “Because if you do, you die...” Again drank it in a gulp.
The young guy took a sip of his whiskey, without looking away from the one sitting in front of him. They remained silent for a while. The jukebox’ song changed to Queen’s “I Want it All”.
For the first time in the night Edward looked serious. “I don’t give a fuck about what happens when you lose. Tell me about winning.”
“That is something I can not tell you.” He drank another cup. “But everything will be clear for you once you get your ‘bet’.”
The unnamed man took out a strange looking, golden box from under his cape. A pentagram was engraved on the cover.
“My ‘bet’?” Asked Edward.
“This is what you need to take part on it. We will play a game. Win and it is yours. Lose and...well, you probably do not care about that.”
Edward’s mind was assaulted by doubt. No matter how much he looked into it, there was nothing “simple” about the situation he was facing.
“You have to decide, young man. Are you willing to take the risk?
Even so, his blood was boiling for passion. He wanted to know what was the ultimate gamble, he wanted to participate in that ultimate gamble, he wanted to win it...and he believed he would. AC DC’s “Thunderstruck” played.
“Don’t fuck with me and bring it on, old man!” Said Edward as the pretentious smirk appeared once again on his face.
The stranger took off his hood, revealing his face completely. His left eye was apparently blind. “I will give you the advantage. We are playing your game.” He said as he took the card deck from the table and started shuffling it.
None of them took the sight away from each other until the cards were dealt. Edward looked at his hand: ten of spades, ten of hearts, jack of clubs, jack of hearts, jack of spades.
“I am staying. What about you.” The stranger looked pretty confident.
Edward had a respectable hand, but it wasn’t enough for him. He could either take the risk with it, or change some cards and expect a miracle. He made his decision and changed three cards.
“Ready to face your destiny, young boy?”
“I was born ready, old man!”
The two of them revealed their cards.
