Jakon thought his heart stopped for a moment.

No.

More than a moment.

Several moments. Well beyond … well …

The card in his hand was gone.

Before him was a puff of bright red smoke, as large, no, a bit larger than he was. Taller and wider, like a bubbly boulder of smoke. And the smell, it was … cherry musk? Yeah.

It was so much like what he read elf girls should smell like, well, if they don’t wash enough, they smelled fruity and that muskiness, like a feminine version of what that elf boy Ramsel smelled like.

The puff of smoke was billowing out and circling around just like a proper monster card summoning. He’d seen this hundreds, no, thousands of times, back as a little dwarf with Gunter, and his heart raced so quick, so amazed and … even just a while ago, with his other card, the new one with the crisis snake orc thing.

(Never mind Azura and her … antics.)

His boots were solid on the stone floor. He was steady, in his slacks and jerkin, yet that cherry sweet musk, no, the round room was so silent, and not from the padded walls.

All the dwarfs were so shocked they couldn’t even gasp. Yank their beards. Even if they were young dwarfs, so their beards only came down to their waists and were right by their thick hands.

There weren’t even any coins clinging.

(Yet.)

But by … by Gelgorn’s Hammer! Jakon could barely gasp. Just like many of the young chubby dwarves.

The orcubus archer girl was … only a pace away and she was … was … as drop dead deadly gorgeous as her illustration and very much right in front of him, and so, so close, he could feel her warm cheery breath and it was crazy fresh and refreshing.

She even giving him an intensely cherry sour pour. Her wicked sword bow pointed down, to the side, yet clearly ready in her slim hands to feather down anything in less than an instant.

Her cowled bra top and short-short skirt of bright violet and very form-fitting scales … curved slim in the right places, obese in the chest places was right. Her top barely fit that chest, and his stupid cheeks were blazing hotter, had to be even redder than her bright red and beautiful skin.

Her cherry musk was just the topping of the cherry dessert she was to the eyes and loins.

“Master Ogle,” she said, and flicked her long beautiful cherry hair to the side. Sending him another breeze of her cherry sweet musk.

She even gave him another sly knowing smirk. Even with the silence. So deafening.

Except for the thunk thunk thunk of his own heart.

“I … I …” Jakon said, and finally, he gulped. Loud and clear.

Too clear. Loud.

Who would be the master and ... and … gulp.

“Orders?” she said, and so sultry suggestive even the oldest of the dwarves here blushed redder than her skin.

Even Ramsel did. Enough to almost hide his utter shock.

Almost.

His swords were still out and floating around him.

“Um …” Jakon said, “Ah, name?”

“Sure,” the orcubus archer said, “You may name me. Please grant me a name as cute as me, hmmm?”

Wha … she didn’t … or she did, and preferred a new name?

“You … don’t have a name?” he said.

“Master Perv,” she said, “You may name me whatever you like.”

Uh huh … she even huffed that obese chest of her out toward him. Her breath. So cherry warm and fresh. Her beauty …

Gulp.

“Do you …” he said, “Wish to be free? As a living monster card you … well … a dwarf …”

“Oh, I know,” she said, “But no. I choose to go living monster card. Quite a while ago, in fact, if you catch me drift, hmmmm?”

Jakon nodded. “Immorality, beauty, and power all at the cost of your freedom, ey? Well, until you’re killed in deck combat, or worse.”

“No one is truly free,” she said, and smirked far too knowingly, “Your dwarven … morals are restrictions you choose to live by, hmmm? And life can do worse without deck battles. At least as a living monster card, I … ah, you truly don’t realize that yet, hmmm?”

“That?” Jakon said.

“Oh,” she said, “I won’t spoil the surprise. Enjoy me serving and pleasuring you, please, alright?”

That smirk of hers … Jakon … he knew better than to take this all at face value yet …

“Alright,” he said, “But if any of my orders are too … unpleasant then–”

“No matter,” she said, “Orders are orders, and the perks of going living card monster, come with a price, yes?”

“But some prices …” Jakon said, and grimaced.

“Risk and reward,” she said, “If you aren’t pleased with me, then return me to the boy who gifted me to you. I don’t mind. But I’ll only serve who I choose, and how. Living monster cards aren’t exactly slaves, unless … you have a compulsion complex card?”

The way she raised her black eyebrow … so calm yet all too attentively …

“No,” Jakon said, “I don’t think …”

“Too bad,” she said, “Making you waste one …”

Her smirk. Okay. She was enjoying this far more than he himself ever could in her situation.

But … something was off. Azura too. Both girls were far too confident, too sexually suggestive despite their comprised situation, unless …

“Fine,” Jakon said, “To each their own, Scarlet Death.”

That name got him nice happy smirk from her. It was from a heroine from those dime dreadfuls. One of the ancient Seven Deadly Serpents, actually, even if technically, that one wasn’t a serpent but a scarlet vixen beast elf, who burned her serpent masters all too avenge her clan.

“Ooo, nice name,” she said, “Thanks. I’ll be sure to be their deaths. Your enemies, that is.”

The orcubus archer even giggled sultry nice.

“In return for such a nice name,” she said, “I’ll give you a warning. My precious master … isn’t as nice as he seems.”

Ramsel grimaced, but said nothing. He simply waited a few paces behind Scarlet. The whole time. He hadn’t even ogled her. Not once. Just a look full of scorn, but orcs and elves never got along well, so having an orc living card monster … sigh.

Jakon scratched his beard stubble. “I appreciate the warning,” he said, “but I’ll make my own decision about him.”

Scarlet chuckled. Nodded.

“Card time?” she said, and slumped slightly, and very cutesy sultry.

“Exactly,” Jakon said, nodding, and–

PUFF!!!!

Scarlet puffed into a cherry cloud? He didn’t even … sigh. She must really have far more freedom that she let on. Azura too.

It was better that way, probably, but Jakon hoped he’d learn just how much, since both of them were darklings that … no, betraying their deck master … no. Some restrictions … no, just no.

She returned to her velvety foil card in his hand, and he slipped her into his dozen card deck.

Well, baker’s dozen now.

Ramsel was clearly holding back a scowl, so Jakon gave him a respectful curtsy.

“Thank you for helping my classmates,” Jakon said, “and for this orcubus archer card. I’ll cherish her greatly.”

Ramsel returned the curtsy, but his swords vanished. Finally.

“Maybe another time … Jakon, is it?” Ramsel said.

“Yes, I’m Jakon. Ramsel, I hope to see you again.”

“Pity you arrived too late,” Ramsel said, “Maybe after lunch I shall return and spar with you, but for now, I must fulfill the rest of my duties. I take my leave.”

“So formal,” Jakon said, “So thank you again.”

And Jakon bowed deeper this time. Very formally too.

A final curtsy and Ramsel was off.

Yet Jakon, his stomach … even more uneasy now.