Chapter 52. Sacred Beasts
As soon as the Duel was over, Blair rocketed over to me, and latched herself into my sternum. I let out a cough from the amount of force this small girl could hit me with, but just let her enjoy her victory. “I won! I won! This is all thanks to you!” She cheered while rubbing her head against me. I then felt an arm rest on my shoulder, and turned to see Jayden’s smirk. “I see you’ve been giving your roommate some Dueling help to not tattle about your girlfriend.”
I frowned at how dense he was, and shook my head with a sigh. “Can you just lay off on my personal life?” Jayden laughed and hit my back. “Nope! That’s what friends are for!” By this time, I noticed that during our celebration, Chief came over with his female associate. He looked down at Blair, and only spoke when she turned her head. “Well done. I can see why she chose to protect you.”
He then reached into his collar and brought out a large piece of a medallion. It had a long leather strap to use as a necklace, and a shining red orb in the center, adorned with Egyptian hieroglyphics all around the edges. “Please take this. If you ever find yourself in a shadow game, this will give you strength.” Blair stared at the pendant as she held onto the leather cord, getting lost in all the detail this strange pendant had.
I also grabbed onto the pendant to take a closer look myself, but the moment my skin made contact a sharp pain came right to my hand. “Ow!!” I yelled while pulling my hand back. ‘Isn’t this supposed to be a protective charm?’ “Yes… Protection from beings such as I.” I shook my hand to ease the dull throbbing, I grumbled at my own stupidity. “Yea that makes sense…” “What’s wrong with you?” Jayden asked while also taking a look at the pendant.
I sighed while glancing at Blair’s worried gaze. “Nothing, just nicked myself on a sharp edge. Try to be careful with that thing.” Blair nodded with understanding, however a quick glance at Alexis showed that she wouldn’t be fooled. Her deep scowl was impossible to look at directly, so I slowly turned my head away, only to be punched in my shoulder. I coughed to move the conversation along. “Is there any way out of here now?”
We were then taken to the edge of this strange place, just as Professor Banner woke up. ‘Or maybe when he was done pretending…’ Walking to the strange lighted anomaly, we all stepped inside one by one. The feeling of nausea hit me again, but it was soon overtaken by waking up. I opened my eyes towards the bright blue sky, and the singular sun up in the air.
I then looked down at my surroundings and found everyone all fast asleep. Jayden and Syrus were sleeping a few feet from each other, while Banner was off on his own. However my attention was more on the two girls I had on either arm. I was already expecting Blair to be somewhere near me, but Alexis was a bit of a surprise. They each were mirroring the other. Using my arms as pillows, and the rest of my body as a large pillow to embrace in their sleep.
My arms were already fast asleep, not allowing me to put any strength in them. It amused me that even with my new found strength, I could still have my arms asleep. Blair was the first to wake, and glanced over at Alexis than me. “I can’t move my arms…” Blair smirked in response, and took the opportunity to hug me tighter while I couldn’t stop her. The bumping seemed to have woken Alexis next. I noticed her suddenly tense up, and glanced over at her frozen expression.
I scoffed at her reaction, while getting enough power in my arm to caress Blair’s head. “Mornin.” Alexis didn’t make a noise, as her face quickly turned a deep red. However, she never made any attempts to get up, or make me get away from her. She just stared between Blair and I. I smirked at her, and let my head rest back onto the ground. Content with just resting in the calming air surrounding this place. I felt Alexis move her head to look at me, then back up towards the sky. She seemed much calmer after the initial shock, and decided to take my lead.
The trip back was much more slow going. After everyone woke up, Alexis slapped me awake as she quickly got up. (Inadvertently standing up with a skirt right above my head. Not that I would remind her, unless I wanted her heel in my teeth.) Most others felt sick and lethargic after the trip, causing us to only get back to school after sundown. Luckily it was a full moon that night, helping light our way while we trudged through the forest. What made it most difficult for me, was how Blair had fallen asleep, and refused to wake up. Making me have to carry her the whole way back. I was fairly certain she was faking it about half the time, but just kept my mouth shut.
“It’s been a long day. Make sure to get plenty of rest tomorrow.” Banner said to all of us before heading off to the dorm first. “Totally! I’m beat, and starving!!” Jayden left next with Syrus right behind him. Leaving just Alexis and I. Along with Blair most likely sleeping by this point. She awkwardly fidgeted in place while looking around. “Umm… Blair mentioned you helped her out with her deck?” I nodded at her with a grin, knowing how highly she viewed good duelists. “Yea, after Dark Magician Girl joined her, she needed spellcaster monsters to go along with it. That’s why we got all those cards with your DP. Thanks for that by the way.”
Alexis scoffed with a shrug. “Once you get to Obelisk, and have your deck picked out, points just accumulate.” I nodded in understanding, hoisting Blair further onto my back. She groaned from the sudden jolt, but tightened her arms around my neck. Alexis stared at Blair in silence, a complex expression on her face. “I can always help out with your own deck. You still haven’t picked out your card yet.” I said to interrupt her thoughts.
Alexis jumped a bit at my sudden advance, but nodded with a calm smile. “Sure, I’ll be waiting for you to reach Obelisk.” With that promise, Alexis left me to get back to her own dorm. Watching her leave, gave me a small frown, knowing what would be happening soon. “That is… If you even have time for me while catching up after lost time.” I mumbled with a sigh, a little jealous she would be reunited with her family, while mine was gone, in all senses of the word.
The next day came around, and besides the large storm last night, everything appeared normal for another day of classes. However, I was waiting for the shoe to drop. During class when I would normally sleep, I was instead looking through my PDA, gathering a few looks from Blair, Alexis, and Jasmine.
“What’s his deal? Shouldn’t he be passed out?” Jasmine asked Alexis as they both glanced at Rakki, scowling at his PDA in thought. Last night’s promise ran through Alexis’ mind, causing her face to warm. “No clue…” Alexis shook her head, trying not to let her face showcase her strange sense of happiness. While she was fighting the urge to smirk, Professor Banner called out her name. “Alexis!” She perked up in her seat and looked over at Banner. “You have also been called to the principal’s office along with Rakki, Chazz, and Jayden!” Alexis, confused, looked at her two friends also just as in the dark about this sudden event.
My heart quickened at this set up, but my focus was soon lost from Jayden tugging on my neck, pulling me along. “Sweet! I bet it’s a tournament! I’ll be the one to take first this time, Chazz!” “Not on your life!” Chazz quipped back as we all left the class a bit earlier to avoid the crowds of students.
We met up with Zane and Crowler outside the principal’s room. Crowler looked over at Jayden and me, instantly removing his smile at the sight of us. “I sure hope that I wasn’t brought here for tutoring.” I rolled my eyes while Jayden spoke with Crowler, obviously trying to tick him off. Zane looked over at me, and used his head to tell me he wanted to talk personally. We both stepped aside from the others, and he spoke with his permanent scowl that always begged to be re-adjusted with help from the pavement.
“I hear that Blair is still here.” I sighed at him and waved away his concerns. “Don’t try and be the ‘older brother’. You suck at it.” His frown deepened at the sore nerve I touched, but he kept his composure with a sigh. “I’m just wondering why an underage girl is at this school.” I shrugged in response. “Because she wants to, and she can keep up with the workload.” Zane raised an eyebrow. “Is she even old enough to understand the repercussions of her actions?” I paused, and scowled at Zane while pointing my index finger towards his face. “Don’t… Don’t you dare, try and make that decision for her. You can try and talk to her about changing her mind, but don’t use her age as leverage to do whatever the fuck you think is best for her…”
“Everyone! Welcome!!” Zane and I, both were interrupted by the principal opening the door to his office, hurrying us inside. I sighed while slowly moving my hand down from my forehead to my chin, trying to calm myself down from that part that hit a little close to home.
The principal spoke to us about the Sacred Beast cards, the ones that could throw the balance of the world into chaos. ‘Even though in the real game, they were nerfed so hard they were mocked for even going near anybody’s deck.’ “Oh their powers are real, boy… But they’ve clearly gone mad over the years…” I glanced around at Zorc’s voice, but he was gone, leaving me wondering what the cards were supposed to be like.
“- so they were hidden here.” The principal finished explaining the cards, just in time for me to pay attention again. “That’s why I’ve called you all here. As some of the best Duelists in the school, I’m asking you to protect these 7 keys from the shadow riders, hoping to gain all the keys and release the sacred beasts from their slumber.” Chazz spoke up with a frown. “Doesn’t that just make us have targets on our backs? What does Dueling have to do with it anyway?” The principal nodded a bit shyly while taking out a small box from his desk. “Indeed. I’m sorry to say, but if you do take a key, you will be targeted by these shadow riders. However! The keys have ancient magic that prohibits being forcibly taken from the owner, outside of a Duel.”
Jayden nodded slowly in understanding. ‘At least he’s trying to act like he understands… A lot can go past that guy without a thought.’ “That’s pretty rad. Get to save the world, and have some awesome Duel’s while doing it? Sign me up!” I sighed at his reaction to his life being threatened, as he took a key from the box. “If the world is at stake, I guess I have no choice but to help.” Zane said with a slight smirk, eyeing one of the larger keys. ‘He just wants to Duel a strong opponent too! This place is full of main characters with plot armor…’ I thought while everyone took a key, leaving me for last.