After lecturing Tidelys, Simon shoved his hands into his pockets and pursed his lips slightly.
"The effect of 'Ghoul Colossus' activated, but since neither graveyard holds any minion cards, its stats remain 10/10."
A flash of light rippled across the gray giant—then nothing happened.
The other card he’d just played was a spell, so the Ghoul Colossus devoured nothing.
Still, missing the effect didn’t matter. His real goal was pairing a high-star undead minion with the 'Ghoul Shepherd'; the effect was just a bonus.
"Discard a high-star minion to the graveyard, then revive it."
"Your use of resurrection effects is far more flexible than the Luminous Order’s," Atris remarked, not rushing her next move.
Simon hadn’t expected praise for this and wore a flattered expression.
*Big sisters really are that gentle.*
After a brief pause, he replied modestly, "Just a small trick. Even if they didn’t know it before, they’d pick it up within one duel."
Atris shook her head. "No. They wouldn’t learn it. To them, resurrection isn’t strategy—it’s faith."
"And faith… is unshakable."
Simon: "?"
This statement left him utterly stunned.
*Could this really be framed as faith?*
*Are ancestral laws truly unchangeable?*
Perplexed, he asked, "Surely not. It’s just tactical—how does it tie to faith?"
Atris propped her elbow on her hand, gazing at her slender fingers splayed outward. "When dueling becomes daily life, necessary—or unnecessary—beliefs cling to the cards. Like refusing to let minions die easily, or only running high-star creatures in your deck."
Simon instantly understood. Back in his previous life, card players had quirks too—some happily piloted even the weakest decks. Here, those quirks hardened into habits, even dogma.
If the Luminous Order truly revered this effect, no wonder his judgment of them had been off.
Simon nodded. "I’ve learned something. But let’s return to the duel."
Atris snapped back, her brown hair swaying gently. "As you wish."
She tapped the leftmost card and dragged it forward. "I play the field spell: 'Verdant Courtyard'."
*Verdant Courtyard ★★★★ (4-Star) Grade B*
Thick roots and ivy erupted from the earth, weaving a natural sanctuary. Four of Atris’s mana crystals dimmed to gray.
Brushing hair from her ear, she continued, "While 'Verdant Courtyard' is active, Elf, Treant, and Beast minions on my field are immune to spell damage."
Simon’s face paled. "Overpowered! One card covers three races?!"
Not only absurdly broad, the effect itself was brutal—spell immunity practically erased Grade-B-and-below duelists. Before Grade B, most spells killed via damage; direct-destroy effects either carried drawbacks or were Grade B+.
"This is only the beginning."
Without pause, Atris flicked another card. "I summon 'Elven Spellcaller'."
*Elven Spellcaller ★★★ (3-Star) Grade B*
*Elf · 4/4*
The pointy-eared mage chanted as she stepped onto the field. Atris’s mana limit dropped to three.
"When 'Elven Spellcaller' enters, draw one random spell card of 3 stars or lower."
She caught the popped card deftly, glanced at it, added it to hand, then revealed another: an elf blowing a horn.
"I cast 'Elven Rally'."
*Elven Rally ★★★ (3-Star) Grade B*
"Usable with an Elf minion on field: summon an Elf minion from hand, no mana cost."
Woo—
An ethereal horn call echoed. One card shot from her hand.
"The winds of conflict stir the forest. Raise your swords for nature…"
As Atris chanted, a gentle breeze swirled. Simon felt sudden pressure—as if nature’s will had locked onto him.
*Another card like the 'Envoy of Morowen'?*
"Appear, 'Princess Aria of the Elves'!"
A golden-haired elf in a white gown rode the wind, tracing light through the air. Landing with a faint smile, she hummed softly and leveled a gleaming longsword before her.
*Princess Aria of the Elves ★★★★ (4-Star) Grade A*
*Elf · 4/4*
"So beautiful!" Tidris gasped, utterly dazzled.
Witnessing such a duel made yesterday’s all-day teacher interrogation worth it. Even before battle began, her heart raced just watching the minions arrive!
Viana, too, was captivated—until she saw the card’s naming format. Envy shattered into shock.
"Teacher Atris owns a Legendary card?!"
Tidris strained to recall her lessons. "Legendary cards… are cards where only one copy exists worldwide?"
Atris clapped twice. "Correct. Miss Tidris hasn’t neglected her studies."
"Hehe…" Tidris offered a shy smile.
Just then, Simon’s voice piped up timidly. "Um… could someone explain?"
Viana turned, stunned. "Simon… you don’t know?"
Three pairs of eyes locked onto him. He wanted to vanish into the floor.
*Oops. Total card-game illiterate.*
Atris gently clarified, "A Legendary card can grow in power. Only one copy of each exists—unreplicable. Since I hold 'Princess Aria of the Elves', no other Cardmaker may create a card bearing Aria’s name."
"I see." Simon finally understood. Self-taught, he’d missed these deeper rules. Unnoticed, the duel had become Atris’s lesson—and he was genuinely learning.
"Now that we’re clear," Atris said, glancing around before her lashes lowered slightly toward Aria, "the effect of 'Princess Aria of the Elves' upon entry permanently grants +1/+1 to all Elf minions on my field."
