The prodigal sorcerer stared over at the other mage, who seemed to be deeply in thought.

He turned to his master, a seasoned planeswalker.

“What do you reckon he’s doing?”

The planeswalker shrugged.

“Trying to figure out if he’s got lethal, I guess. He’s dead next turn if he doesn’t do anything.”

The sorcerer scratched his head. “Lethal, sire? I think he’s pretty much dead. I reckon that I could just throw a bit of my magic at him while he’s just sitting there, and…”

The planeswalker interrupted. “No, we have to let him have his turn. If he takes too long, we’ll report him for slow play.”

“Report him to who, milord?” the sorcerer sputtered. “This is a battle to the death between two incredibly powerful magical beings. If we lose this, evil will rule triumphant for a thousand years.”

“Well, it’s only game one, there’s still another chance if I lose this time.”

“I…” The sorcerer realised that the other planeswalker had started doing something. “Wait, what’s going on down there?”

His master stared intently for a moment. “Looks like he’s doing a magic trick.”

“…A what now?”

“Yeah.” The archmage nodded, the air around him crackling with magical potential. “Sleight of hand. I think he’s trying to dig for another spell to help him.”

“Dig?” The sorcerer looked at the scene in disbelief. “He’s just standing there doing a magic trick. And now he’s… Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like he’s just standing there ranting at himself.”

“Desperate ravings. Interesting. He’ll be able to flash it back and… Yep, he’s doing it again.”

“Am I the only one who realises how completely insane this is?”

“Hm, looks like he summoned a goblin electromancer.”

The sorcerer threw his arms in the air. “Finally. Something I can actually kill. Let me deal with him, please?”

The planeswalker shook his head. “No can do. It’s not my turn yet. And besides, it would just regenerate the damage once the turn passed.”

“I can guarantee you that it will not regenerate the hole I’m gonna put in its chest.”

“It’s got 2 toughness, so yes it will.”

“IT’S JUST A BLOODY GOBLIN.”

“With 2 toughness, yes. So no point.”

Their enemy suddenly ignited in a flash of blinding light, flames engulfing his entire body. The sorcerer watched and felt a shiver run down his spine.

“Sir, I’m fairly certain that I could kill him right now. He has been grievously injured. All it would take is one of my magic missiles.”

“When it’s my turn. You already attacked, so you can’t tap for damage this turn.”

“No, I’m pretty sure I can actually do both. It’s been a few minutes now, I’m pretty sure I could do that.”

“Have to wait for my turn first.”

“But sire, I can totally do it, just let me.”

“No, you’re all tired out, you have to wait.”

On the other side of the battlefield, it seemed as if the other mage was doing a magic trick again. The sorcerer didn’t really care. He was just gonna wait and see what hap-

“Oh, looks like I’m dead. Good game.”

The sorcerer looked up. Nothing had happened. On the other side, the enemy mage seemed to be holding a piece of paper. The sorcerer looked at the enemy, then at his master.

“He hasn’t done anything.”

“Yeah, I know, but he’s got lethal.”

“So why don’t you try to fight back? He’s practically dead. I could kill him in one shot with my magic. Why just resign yourself to death? What’s wrong with you? Where’s your honour, your… What are you doing? Stop! No! Please!”

The sorcerer screamed as the world around him disappeared. The battlefield, covered in holes and scars from spells evaporated in an instant, and the summoned creatures in the planeswalker’s army, beings that he had fought and bled alongside, his friends, all disappeared into nothingness. The sorcerer cried a single tear as he felt himself fading away, his body evaporating a moment before his mind followed.

John looked at Curt, who was shuffling his deck.

“Why are you even playing with a card like Prodigal Sorcerer? It’s so bad.”

Curt shrugged. “I dunno. Feels like an old friend, you know? Nostalgia and all. And it’s pretty good when I’m not playing against some filthy Storm player.”

John chuckled. “Yeah, well, he’s not gonna last long if you keep playing without sleeves.”

Curt looked down at his deck. “Eh, it’ll be fine. Go for the next one?”

John smiled and picked up his deck. “Sure, why not?”