The Card Junkie

"SURRRPRRRIIIIISE!!!" His sister bellowed at him as she hit his face with confetti. "Happy Birthday." She added shortly after in her usual nonchalance.

His mother came around from the kitchen area holding a giant cake. "Happy Birthday to you…."

Sparks were flying everwhere.

Just then, the dreaded singing began. He had never liked it in either of his lives. But he loved his family, and he accepted it.

After the short burst of song, he blew the candles out and stamped the floor, putting out the rogue flame that had just arisen on the posh carpet.

Smiling, the three walked over to the center table as they began to cut it up.

While their father might be declared missing in action during the Great Insect Wars, at least they were still granted a government pension, and a sizable one at that.

Reveling in his mother's cake, he laughed and joked with his family. As the night settled, he subtly became aware of the truth.

He never aged. He never became 18. He would never become 18.

Life was sad sometimes, but often worth it in the end.

He smiled and began to play a round of Star Cards with his family. 'Star Cards' was a game that used Card Creators' designs to allow players to create a deck and battle for supremacy against your opponent.

The virtual edition the Jaywalkers owned allowed them to simulate the cards' effects on their holopads.

As usual, his sister won. She had been studying the effect of large-scale arrays, such as the asteroid arrays, as a way to move forward in the Honored Star Military of the Insectosidal Galaxy.

Like their father, she held a military contract. Unlike his, however, it wasn't top-secret. The military was planning to turn her into a star admiral if given the chance.

As for Luke, he had already promised himself to never join. He held a duty to his mother to stay safe; otherwise, how would she cope?

Getting back to the remains of his shattered deck, he smiled. One day, as long as he made the right cards, he would defeat her. One day.

Saying their goodbyes, the three fell asleep as they slept in the well-kept beds of the five-star hotel.

As morning came, Luke slept in. As it was vacation, he used the extra time to dream about flying through the skies. The romantic fantasy had never faltered for him.

Like the majestic alien of lore, he put his fist forward and flew like a king.

A knock on his door rustled him to wakefulness. It was his mother. "Hey, Luke. Is there anything you want to do today while we're here? We leave tomorrow morning."

He stretched. Yawning, he spoke. "No. Unfortunately, I have some studying to do before I get back to school."

His mother gave him a look of disappointment. "Alright. Well, maybe we can do something together after your graduation."

There was no way he was going anywhere near that beastwoman.

Scarred, he shook off his heebiejeebies.

It was time. Standing up, he went to the desk and began to create another energy card. When he completed all ten, he'd have enough to make a small advance on his future spirit card stock.

With his mother in control of his father's pension, and seeking true independence, Little Luke had planned to start his own business as quickly as possible using his own funds.

As he began to create another energy card, he sought focus and clarity. His hand pressed lightly against the pen as it flowed across the paper.

Creating the rune for 'Storage,' he connected it to the various runic lines he had created. Then, using 'core' lines, he formed a small array and centered it around the 'Storage' rune. Completed, he sealed it using his Origin Card.

Seven down, three to go.

While he waited for his energy to refresh, he continued his studies. The complexities of runic arrays were profound.

Every curve, every corner, every connection changed something- and that something could be as small as an earthworm or as large as the military's golden flagship, which was the size of all seven of Xilec's seven moons put together.