The second round began, and Luxian still held a clear advantage.
He didn't bother hiding his arrogance; he carried himself as if this were an official match, not just a casual game to pass the time.
I let out a quiet sigh, then looked back at my cards—now reduced to eight after losing the first round.
I examined them one by one:
An apple, a potato, a chair, bread, a cake, another chair, a shirt, and grass.
I hesitated for a moment.
I wasn't confident about the combinations this round.
None of my cards seemed powerful or offensive.
Everything felt weak… an apple? A shirt? Grass? What was I supposed to do with all this?
Still, I decided not to overthink it.
After all, this game relied as much on instinct as it did on logic.
My eyes settled on the two identical cards before me… chair and chair.
A faint smile formed on my lips as I picked them up and placed them on the table.
"Double chair," I thought.
Maybe it would be strong enough… or at least sturdier than a roasted apple or a grassy table.
I noticed that Tyros and Luxian had already chosen their cards as well.
Then Luxian said indifferently:
"Flip them."
We turned our cards over at the same time, revealing:
Tyros: Table + Grass
Luxian: Cake + Apple
Me: Chair + Chair
A brief silence filled the room.
Then Tyros leaned forward slightly and said in a thoughtful tone:
"Well then… we have a grassy table, an apple cake, and a double chair."
He paused, as if picturing it in his mind, then added lightly,
"Who do you think wins?"
Luxian rested his chin on his palm, thinking out loud.
"Let's be logical… apple cake, as delicious as it sounds, won't last long in a fight. I mean… it might get eaten before it even attacks."
Tyros chuckled.
"A graceful admission of defeat."
Luxian smirked
.
"I don't lose… I simply acknowledge reality."
Tyros then gestured toward the remaining two combinations.
"Now we're left with a double chair and a grassy table… that's a bit tricky."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Which is stronger? A table with grass on it… or a double chair?"
Tyros thought for a moment, then said slowly:
"Honestly… I think the double chair wins."
I looked at him in surprise, so he explained:
"The grassy table seems unstable… grass isn't solid or useful offensively. It might even make the table slippery or unusable. But the double chair represents stability and balance—perhaps even strength, especially in a defensive position. Two chairs combined mean more support and structure… against a grassy table? I don't think it would hold."
I paused, then asked:
"So… I win?"
Tyros gave a small smile and nodded.
"Yes, it seems you've won this round."
There was no envy in his tone.
Meanwhile, Luxian remained silent, as if trying to accept the outcome despite his pride.
He didn't comment or look at me—he simply discarded his cards into the pile.
Tyros did the same calmly.
Now it was my turn to discard one card...which chair should I let go?
I stared at them.
Both identical. Same gray shading, same simple lines.
Practically, there was no difference.
And yet… I hesitated.
Which one should I discard?
I let out a soft laugh.
As if one mattered more than the other.
In the end, I picked one and placed it onto the discard pile.
A small sense of satisfaction settled in.
Maybe not because I won… but because I proved to myself that I wasn't the weakest.
Even if the game itself was ridiculous.
Tyros shuffled some cards and said:
"Well… that was fun. Now—round three."
And just like that… the next battle began.
The third round started.
A faint fatigue began creeping into our minds, yet a silent sense of challenge still lingered between us like thin smoke in a closed room.
I looked at my remaining cards—seven now.
I reviewed them:
Apple, potato, bread, cake, shirt, grass, and chair.
I stared at them.
Apple? Potato? Shirt? Cake?
They looked more like items from a lazy breakfast than tools for a battle.
I muttered sarcastically:
"I think… I'm going to lose this round."
A slight frustration crept in.
I didn't have a single card that gave me confidence… not even an interesting combination.
Honestly, my mind didn't feel capable of thinking logically right now.
I let out a short breath, closed my eyes briefly—like someone surrendering to an unknown fate—then reached out randomly and drew two cards without looking.
Let's see what luck does this time…
I placed them face down on the table, still unaware of what they were.
Luxian waved his hand lazily.
"Let's finish this quickly… these cards are starting to lose their flavor."
He said it as he placed his cards down with practiced elegance, like a martial artist performing a flourish.
Tyros, on the other hand, placed his cards calmly, that usual focus in his eyes—as if each card held a secret story only he could read.
I exchanged a glance with them.
Finally, Tyros nodded.
"Flip them."
My heart skipped a beat.
I still had no idea what I had chosen.
Curiosity burned inside me.
I flipped my cards.
Potato + Shirt.
I stared at them in shock.
A potato… and a shirt?!
What kind of combination was that?!
I almost laughed.
Was this my fate?
To attack my enemies with a potato wearing a shirt?
There was no time for regret.
Tyros read the results in a near-formal tone:
"The cards are:
Me: Mirror + Apple
Luxian: Stone + Fire
You: Potato + Shirt."
Then he raised an eyebrow.
"Wonderful… a shirt-wearing potato versus an apple mirror and a burning stone. What a battle."
Luxian chuckled mockingly.
"Well then… let's analyze this disaster."
Before he continued, Tyros raised a hand.
"No mockery. Let's judge objectively."
He rested his chin on his hand and said:
"Apple mirror? A reflected fruit… perhaps capable of deflecting attacks, but still just a fruit in the end. A burning stone? Now that sounds dangerous… a stone infused with fire… possibly explosive. As for the shirted potato…"
He paused.
Then burst out laughing.
"I have never imagined something like this in my life."
I laughed with them.
"Maybe it can survive winter?"
Luxian smirked.
"Or maybe… it's going to a job interview."
Tyros continued laughing.
"Well, amusing as it is… I think the burning stone wins this round."
I nodded, not bothered—just enjoying the absurdity.
"I agree. Your burning stone, Luxian… crushed me."
Luxian leaned back proudly.
"Of course. Strength is always mine."
I discarded my cards without hesitation, feeling oddly at ease—like I had rolled dice rather than fought.
Luxian removed one card as usual, placing it aside without revealing it.
Tyros, having lost as well, discarded his cards quietly.
And just like that… the round of blind luck ended.
Now, we prepare for the fourth round…
And somehow… things were getting more intense, despite how ridiculous it all seemed.