"But why can't I use the draw four card to make the next person draw six?" Daylen asked in frustration.
Esdras had invited four of his friends over for dinner and a game night. When dinner was done, Esdras took out a deck of Uno cards and began to explain the game.
He had these cards custom made with great difficulty, if not for his identity as a member of the magic tower and the fact that he gave clear instructions and designs for the cards he wouldn't have seen the cards for a year at least.
Celine, David, Daylen, and Vivi looked at each other, a bit confused. Esdras demonstrated how the game is played by shuffling the cards and dealing them out. Since they were all people who participated in the escort mission together they grew closer as a result.
He explained that each player would draw and discard cards. He went over colors, numbers, and the four special action cards.
As the four of them began to play, Esdras kept an eye on the game and was ready to answer any questions they might have. He was patient and made sure everyone was getting the rules.
Esdras and the others were in the living room of his apartment. The room is filled with laughter as the friends gather around a large table. On the table are four decks of colorful Uno cards, ready to be shuffled.
Esdras began explaining the rules of the game, as the other four friends listen intently. He explains which cards are used, how the points are tallied, and what actions are available for each move. Celine, David, Daylen and Vivi can hardly contain their excitement as they applaud Esdras for his thorough lesson.
"How could you have thought of such a detailed system?" Vivi asked in astonishment, "you must have a lot of free time while the rest of us are busy preparing for the Rite of passage. I'm so envious!"
"Hehe hehe," Esdras chuckled, "do still need me to spell it out? I'm a genius, a genius I say!"
"How wonderful," Daylen sighed in melancholy, "I still remember when this great genius used to get beaten black and blue… I wish I could have a near death experience too!"
Esdras's eyebrows twisted, "that can be arranged I assure you."
"Oh, that sounded ominous just now, please spare him o'powerful mage!" David mocked along and Celine laughed too.
"Can you guys not bring up my dark past or what? You know what? I will explain the rules as we play but don't blame me for being merciless!"
Esdras was determined to crush these insolent fools.
"Esdras, don't be so petty!" Celine complained to Esdras but he wasn't going to budge on this.
It's Vivi's turn to play first, and she confidently deduces which card to pick from her deck. Esdras is hovering near the table, providing assistance and aiding in the planning of moves when it's Celine's turn. He explained to her the advantages of matching a color or making a reverse move, and points out that it's better to do this earlier in the game.
The laughter and excitement of the players grew as turns went by. They were beginning to understand how to play. Vivi even yelled out "UNO!" before anyone else did. The smiles that filled the room were contagious. The game was a success, and their friendship was even stronger.
Although it's Esdras' teaching that brought the game together, he's gladly taken a back seat to let the others play. He's content to just watch, only entering the conversation again to offer tips and reminders of what's been said previously. After he won the first game shamelessly…
By the end of the game, the four friends have each taken something away from the game, thanks to Esdras' knowledge. They thank him for taking the time to teach them, and watch as he briskly shuffles the cards for another round. The room is reverberated with cheerful laughter again as the game begins.
This was a method to bring some entertainment to this world, after all, without the internet and a phone life is somewhat dull. At first it didn't bother him because he was fighting for survival basically.
After the group left Celine and Esdras spent some time together and had a wonderful night. She had her period last week so they couldn't be together but now she was fine and on Mother's bane.
This is a drug used by women to prevent pregnancies, she started using back when they got to the capital. This is why they could be a little more daring. Of course, the effects of the drug were not permanent, it wanes every month.
It could also be reversed by another drug called Moon's blood.
In the morning Esdras woke up to the noise of Celine struggling and turning aggressively on the bed so he calmed her down and she went back to sleep after drinking some water.
Celine has been having nightmares every night for the past two weeks and although Esdras asked her about them she didn't want to talk about it and he didn't force the issue.
Seeing as he couldn't go back to sleep he washed up and started meditating. For the past week he didn't stop using Tara and as a result his negative energy soared exponentially.
The pharaoh told him that he was close to achieving the first threshold.
He was practicing using illusion in daily life on everyone and it was a great success, he could add an extra object that didn't exist in the minds of others. He couldn't change too much or the skill will fail.
Telekinesis was was also doing great, he could hold a man in the air for a few minutes.
As for possession he didn't try it out as it was too dangerous and he didn't want to take such a risk in the headquarters of the Octarine tower. To be honest he didn't feel very comfortable with this skill.
After achieving the first threshold, the increase in the quality of each skill wasn't the only thing that will happen. He will also be able to combine the skills and use them in tandem to greater effect.
Unfortunately the second threshold was also the last level he could achieve without being consumed by the negative energy.
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