Chapter 50. Miscommunication.
The leader returned my scowl, as did the other Egyptian looking soldiers. “Why have you broken-” He stopped and stared behind me with an astonished gate, and I noticed the other soldiers laying down their arms, and falling to their knees. I looked to my left, and saw Dark Magician Girl floating beside Blair, ready to keep her safe. “You are the pharaoh’s…”
He couldn’t even finish his sentence before she interjected. “Yes, I have gone my own way, to protect this girl.” She then glanced at me with a frown. “As well as to keep the seal on Zorc’s power stable.” The soldiers turned their gaze to me with terror, many trembling too much to grab their weapons. Seeing them all kneel at my feet in fear, taking a complete 180 in attitude towards me made me grin. I quickly placed my hand over my mouth, and brought my expression back down to normal.
The commander dropped to his knees as well, unable to keep strength in his legs. “My deepest apologies, great student!” He yelled to try and gain mercy from her. “Are you sure they are not more frightened of you, eh Teacher’s pet?” Zorc’s gravelly voice filled the room, followed by a rumbling chuckle that echoed through the room. Dark Magician Girl scowled at me for the comment. I just shrugged at her, and sighed from his big mouth at times. It was clear that ever since he spoke the men were definitely more terrified of me.
The fear that they held now filled me with a strange sense of disgust and anger emanating from Zorc. I didn’t understand where this was coming from. One moment he reveled in their fear, the next he hated it. My thoughts were cut short from the commander again. “Please allow us to showcase our hospitality towards someone of standing, such as yourself!” He used his spear to help lift himself up, before motioning outside this small house, towards the large temple structure behind himself. Blair tugged my jacket, causing me to ruffle her hat in response. “Accept their offer. They trust in Dark Magician Girl, so they won't hurt us now.” I whispered to Blair while keeping my eyes trained on the shivering soldiers.
“Ok… Please excuse us.” Blair spoke a bit worriedly, but clearly put faith in my judgment. By this time Alexis was only half awake, not fully understanding of our situation, almost drunk. I grabbed her outstretched arm that she was using to maintain balance while she was wobbling herself up, and placed it around my shoulder to help her walk. “Getting a sense of Deja-Vu…” I mumbled, causing her to smack me in response. I scoffed while we started walking. “Getting better already I see.” I snarkily said while a couple soldiers carried both Syrus and Banner behind us.
They guided us towards the base of a large pyramid. Once there, the commander stopped, and silently used his hands to communicate with the troops. They set Banner, and Syrus down and left us. “Commander, I have found a trespasser, he claims to be with them.” Suddenly a woman wearing pristine Egyptian clothing appeared with Jayden, fit as a fiddle. “Sup guys!” He chuckled while scratching the back of his head. The commander looked towards Blair, and mostly Dark Magician Girl for their response. “He’s friends with this one.” Dark Magician Girl nodded while pointing at Blair.
The commander nodded, and Jayden was brought towards us. “Hey, you guys ok?” He asked worriedly while inspecting Syrus slowly waking up. “They’ll be fine. Just-” Before I could finish my sentence Jayden yelled. “Woah! Is that Dark Magician Girl!?” I frowned while slapping his head. “I was right not to worry about you.” I grumbled while placing Alexis down gently. Unaware of the conversation Blair was having with the commander.
I finally listened in when he yelled. “Now, let us Duel!” My vision snapped towards Blair getting her Duel Disk out of her bag. “Wait what?” I asked her, confusion clearly evident on my face. “He said that I had to Duel him for his necklace, and Dark Magician Girl said I should do it for a charm to keep me safe.” I blinked a few times in surprise at how little I had to influence the Duel to happen, and shrugged. ‘This will be a good test for her deck, Gravekeeper decks shouldn’t be too dangerous.’ Just as I was about to agree, I felt a pull in my jacket pocket. I instantly knew it was a spirit that wanted to join Blair. I frowned with more confusion, mostly why it waited until now to ask. But I ignored it and quickly checked my pocket for the source of the pull.
Magical Plant Mandragola/Spellcaster/Flip/Effect/Level 2/ Atk:500 Def:200 Mandragola
I gained a small smile seeing the spirit bow it’s pedaled head in thanks before handing it to Blair. “Here. Take this before you start.” Blair glanced at the card, and gave me a large smile followed by a singular nod. She didn’t say anything, but it was clear how happy she was to get another Spirit to join her. She then turned around and shuffled her deck as Alexis and Syrus groaned, gathering my attention. “Morn’n.” I scoffed while helping Alexis sit up. Jayden was asking Syrus how he felt, making sure that he was ok. “Sy? You ok?” “I think so… Everything’s spinning still.” He mumbled while his eyes were swirling, making me nauseous just looking at him.
I sighed and took a piece of mint gum from my jacket, giving him a piece. “Here, close your eyes, lay down, and chew.” Syrus took the gum, and carefully took a bite of it until he understood what it was. I decided to give a piece to Alexis as well, she seemed better than Syrus, but anything to help. “Where’d you get gum?” Jayden asked, holding his hand out for a piece. I sighed while giving both of us a piece. “I always carry gum, an old habit…” Jayden scoffed before popping a bubble. “You sound like an old smoker that quit!” I shrugged in response, making Jayden double take at me. “Really?”
I already stopped smoking a couple years ago, and the best way for me to do that was gum. Something about tricking the body into thinking you're eating or some other stuff I didn’t care about helping offset the withdrawal. I also knew that it helped with nausea, a common problem I had in the first few days. I focused on the mint flavor, almost identical to my favorite brand back home. Taking me back to my old high school. I had to stop since my mom found out. Talking my ear off about how unhealthy it was, not that I cared. I just needed something cheap to make me feel good once in a while.
There was no way to hide the smell, so my only option was quitting cold turkey. Luckily my dad also used to smoke before meeting my mom, helped by giving me some advice, ‘Gum helps’. I never did fall off the wagon when living at home, but I did have to spend more money on gum than cigarettes to keep myself under control for the first week. After I moved out I started smoking off and on again for a bit, but the gum always stayed, either for helping my breath or to help keep me away from smoking in the first place.
I sighed remembering bits of my life I would rather forget, and shook my head chewing more violently. Trying to stop myself from thinking too much of why I used to smoke, and especially the last event that made me stop forever. “Doesn’t matter now.” I grumbled while focusing on Blair, her Duel just starting up. Avoiding Jayden’s piercing gaze behind me, or the feelings of the spirits hovering around me invisibly.
Jayden stared at Rakki as he looked towards the starting Duel. He wondered a bit about Rakki's past, and how he spoke like he used to smoke years ago. ‘If he just became a student here… How young was he when he started?’ Jayden felt a little sad, a picture was forming in his mind. One that made him think of his own life. His life had been good. He had plenty of laughs, awesome Duels, and generally had fun. But Rakki always hid his nicer side, even going so far as to cover his smile, and force it down with his hand. Jayden couldn’t help but feel there had to be a reason why he did that now.
Alexis felt the same as Jayden, they both shared a quick side-glance behind Rakki’s back. One filled with intrigue, but also worry, and pity. Because someone living a good life wouldn’t pick up smoking before high school. However they both knew Rakki enough at this point, and understood that trying to get him to talk would just make him clam up more. Jayden gave a nod to Alexis, and she returned one in kind. The message was clear. ‘Help him so that he wouldn’t need to cover the pain’.
Alexis laid back down to rest while letting the mint help ease the spinning that was only partially from the nausea now. Even after losing her brother, Alexis still grasped onto hope that he would be ok. It was hard some days, especially on the anniversary of his disappearance, but she was strong. Able to keep persevering, and not give up until she knew for a fact where he went. Alexis glanced at Rakki, tapping his finger against his lip while gazing far ahead. She wondered if he lost anybody, like her.
Jayden focused on the Duel alongside Rakki, giving his usual resting frown. Unaware of their misconception over his life. “Let’s Duel!” “Let us commence!”
4,000 Blair ---- 4,000 Chief