Ace of Swords

Obsidian has been used since the Stone Age as a cutting tool; thanks to its lack of crystal structure, shards of this volcanic glass have a cutting edge that makes surgical steel scalpels look like rusty butter-knives, with edges as narrow as 3 nanometers. The art of making blades from stone is called knapping, a craft which still inspires people to this day.

The Ace of Swords wants you to know all this. It wants you to understand the incredible precision our minds are capable of, which at our best moments puts even obsidian to shame. The art of honing in and separating this from that, of striking a devastating blow with the barest touch, will come to anyone whom the Ace favors. But beware-- in undisciplined hands, this skill can result in catastrophe.

If the image above looks a little familiar, then you're already pretty sharp: the suit of Swords in the Tarot corresponds to the suit of Spades in a deck of common playing cards. The Ace of Spades has historically been associated with luck, death, and victory, obviously hearkening to the Swords' original emphasis on gaining a mental edge over your opponent. Just remember when you strike that precision is a mercy you owe your enemy; as doctors have noted, wounds inflicted with keen obsidian blades result in far less tissue inflammation, and leave smaller scars.