Yu-Gi-Oh! - Duelists of the Rose: Rose Academy Arc Ch 1

by Scarred-Eye

This story is filled with my own characters but with all the cards of the official game of Yu-Gi-Oh, along with some of my own made up cards. It is about a society called the Order of the Rose Circle, how they use the game of duel monsters to protect the world from dangers. A young boy returns from abroad, haunted by his past, and now must face his demons once and for all.

1. Chapter 1

Yu-Gi-Oh! - Duelists of the Rose: Rose Academy Arc Ch. 1

Kingdom City, a grand metropolos that has stood for centuries; through war, sickness, and despair beyond words to describe; and because of all they had suffered, the city grew stronger and stronger, defeating every foe that stood against it and its allies, until peace was finally achieved, yet warriors are still born and bread through the legendary world of...

Duel Monsters.

In the common world of the public, it is just another card game for children and those who see it as a game of strategy and respect among peers, but to those who know its true history, it is way to keep the peace in the hands of the Rose Circle: a game corporation to the public, but in the shadows, a secret society that dedicates itself to protecting the world from the dark forces of the Monster Realm, and those would use its power for their own evil deeds. Few are chosen to join its ranks through the generations, save those who are born within the circle, and share a sense of familiarity with the heart of the cards; the ability to actually commune with the spirits of the cards. It is this sort of power that many covet above all, and the power that the Rose Circle wishes to protect or teach those how to control this power, so that they may be both warriors and guardians in their society and for the world. Such has been for generations.

Far to the west of Kingdom City is a large estate of hills and fields, wide rivers its veins beneath the veil of a vast, thick forest. Hidden within its shroud did a line of hooded children follow with their masked chauffeurs, who carried a torch on both sides, treading calmly and coolly along a smooth dirt path, the warm winds blowing softly behind them and the trees bend above, as if leading them; when the pathway straightened, the feel of stone steps appeared beneath their feet, and in torch light, stone pillars, snaked with vines, could be drawn, reaching above their heads as the steps lead them onto a large plateau; while children were led in the center by the front chauffeurs, the others spread out in opposite directions, drawing the edge of the plateau, wide as it was, more than they thought it would be.

Upon this blackened stage did the honored stand, and all fell silent.

"Welcome," said a group of proud and booming voices, and with their presence known, the flames roared and flew from their torches and dived into the plateau, filling the crevices within the plateau, drawing a detailed mark spoken only in legend and myth; the mark, the face of…

The flames then swept around the plateau, striking at the oil bowls that hung from the chain of statue monsters both from above and in front of their pillar, each of a different color of brown, blue, red, green, and gold as they shined upon a high throne and gleamed upon those that filled the void. All eyes were upon these five figures as they rose to their feet and stepped down to greet the honored who looked upon them in return, dawned in armor of different color, a great cloak draped from their massive shoulders, and their eyes aglow from within their masking helm.

"The Monarchs," a child whispered in awe.

"Whisper not, for this is an honorable night; a grand night where your voices shall be heard," said Granmarg the Rock Monarch of Earth.

"You who have stand before us are now of the Chosen, those who are blessed to become one with our realm," said Mobius the Frost Monarch of Water.

"Long will be your journey as you train to become more than what you are now, to sign your mark upon history, as did those before," said Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch of Fire.

"The challenges will be great, and the responsibilities heavy, but know that in these trials you will not be alone for each step that you take, you shall take it together with us," said Raiza the Storm Monarch of Wind

"Remove your hoods and look upon the face of those next to you for now, as you stepped upon this plateau this night, you have become brothers and sisters," said Zaborg the Thunder Monarch of Light.

The children removed their hoods, all of them between the age of 10 and 15, looking upon those beside them, and recognized one another who was friend and family, relieved and excited that a moment has this was shared together.

"Now is the time to for the moment of beginning," said Zaborg, a gently hand gesture down, and the children lined before the Monarchs and kneeled as they looked upon them. "Will you swear to uphold the law of the Houses of the Rose, to protect those in need of us, to wield your power with honor and respect to both friend and enemy?"

"We swear," said the children.

"Rise now, and present your card," said Zaborg.

The children rose to their feet and pulled out a decorative deck box were they drew their top card and held it high above their heads. At the same time, the Monarchs spread out their arms with palms up, glowing with their aura.

"Through Earth, may your foundations be firm and strong," said Granmarg, and his brown aura began to circle around the children.

"Through Water, may you find the strength to overcome all trials set before you," said Mobius, and his blue aura began to circle around the children.

"Through Fire, may you be fierce and know the true meaning of power," said Thestalor, and his red aura began to circle around the children.

"Through Wind, may your feats be known and learned for generations to come," said Raiza, and his green aura began to circle around the children.

"Through Light, may your paths be clear before you, and know the good in others," said Zaborg, and his gold aura began to circle around the children.

With each blessing, their auras merged with those before them, and a roar echoed in the air, a cry, a whinny, a distorted warble, and growl, a figure growing from the light of the aura but then appearing to vanish until revived by the new aura around and above the children.

"With this blessing we bestow upon you, you are now one of us," the Monarchs chanted. "You are Knights of Rose."

The auras merged in a ball in the center and then exploded with glorious color and glitter that quelled the growling flames. The robed figures approached the children, standing before them with a chest in their arms and opened them.

"Remove your robes and dress these cloaks that you will be seen," said Granmarg. They unbuttoned their robes and threw on their cloaks, few dawned a cloak of silvery white and others dawned a cloak of crimson red.

"Wear these hexors and be recognized as a brother and sister by your family," said Mobius. Beneath the cloaks, in the chest, was a long box that opened itself and revealed a six-sided pendant, bearing the rose mark of their new house on a silver chain, light around their neck as they helped one another with snap in the back.

"Dawn your armor and always stand ready to defend for all," said Thestalos, and a cloth was snapped aside, revealing a brand new duel disk and gazer, decorated with the color of their house. Together they fitted their disks and gazer and stood tall before the Monarchs as the robed figures stepped aside.

"Now you shall join as one for all to see, for this is your night," said Raiza.

"Arm yourselves and let the world know that a new force has come; that you will stand your ground for what you believe in and defeat any who will take it from you," said Zaborg. "Go!"

They knew what they meant, and they immediately chose an opponent and took a place around the plateau, locking their decks and their blades opened; determination filled the air as the winds howled and the fires roared with such anticipation and excitement. They watched as the Monarchs raised their hand high, waiting for that moment to come, and then…

"DUEL!"

"I summon Gagagigo!"

"I summon Machine King!"

"I Fusion Summon! Multiple Piece Golem!"

"Ritual Summon! Come forth, Sword Dancer!"

"Synchro Summon! Strike true, Colossal Fighter!"

"Xyz Summon! Charge, Grenosaurus!"

"Activate Trap: Raigeki Break!"

"Activate Trap: Defense Draw!

"Mirror Force!"

"Bottomless Trap Hole!"

"Light of Intervention!"

"Activate Quick Spell: Mystical Space Typhoon!"

"Continuous Spell: Messenger of Peace!"

"Equip Spell: Lightning Sword!"

"Swords of Revealing Lights!"

"Ring of Defense!"

"Xyz Dimension!"

Each card was played one after another, monsters of all shapes and sizes appeared, battled, and rose the victor or fell the defeated, traps that bound and destroyed cards, spells that empowered the monsters in their favors, realms of valleys and mountains merged together, shaking the earth beneath their feet with every blow struck between monsters with swords, flames, and lasers, bombs and spears, of fish and sirens, and lightning from on high, until the last blow was struck. All was now at peace and the children stood before the Monarchs.

"You have done well," said Zaborg. "All of you have shown a great deal of potential, unparalleled to anyone here, in your own way. Share it with one another, and those before you, for you are the inspiration that will strengthen your house as they will inspire you. Go now, for your destiny awaits."

"Peace and strength!" the children said together, standing tall and bowed to the Monarchs, and they in turn, before the children were guided by their chauffeurs away from the plateau, cheering one another on in their duels just as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"A most promising group," said Thestalos. "It feels like they are getting younger and younger every year."

"Imagine how strong will they become as they become older," said Mobius. "Perhaps one of them shall surpass and succeed us."

"A frightening notion, when you think about it," said Granmarg.

"I will be happy knowing that they will grow up with the love of the game, as we do," said Raiza.

"Hopefully we have not added anymore pressure than what they will face next week," said Zaborg.

"Private school!" they groaned.

-

Far west of Kingdom City was a vast country property owned by the Rose Circle, a private school for members of the circle from the ages of 11 to 18. It was the beginning of the new school year and buses from all over the city were arriving, packed with kids both new and returning, passing through the main gate and down the black paved driveway towards a large building at the end of the circle that was the administration building and museum with a garden park, filled with flowers arranged to form a Petit Dragon, the three Kuribohs, Key Mage, and the other cute little monsters while the hedges were cut into bugs and beasts and statues of warriors and fiends.

Close to a hundred new students came hopping out of the buses, looking for their designated spots; however, those who were seen wearing duel disks were immediately challenged by the older students who were sitting at the front stairs of the admin building, watching the new students like hawks eyeing their prey, and came at them like a raging bull, showing no mercy; neither did those young students who really knew how to duel. The prfects and staff didn't mind as long as they all played fair. Despite all of the new blood, there was one small group of girls of both houses that continued to just sit aside and watch.

"Hey, Gina, how come we're not out there dueling?" a girl in a red blazer asked.

"You wanna duel small fries, knock yourselves out," said Gina, leaning back on top of the stairwalls with her left leg crossed over her right. "They're all new students, and they barely put up a challenge."

"And take a look at the groups," said another girl, pointing out to the various small, and obvious, group of students: tech, newspaper, jocks, warriors, zombies, aqua, Fire, Winds, Fableds, Archfiends, Toads and Frogs; representatives of various groups of school, Attribute, Type, and Archetype, lookong for new promising members to continue the prestigious legacy of their own little circle.

"I hardly see why anyone bothers trying," another girl scoffed. "Everyone knows that the Student Body Council is in charge. No one can beat us."

"And if they are all so weak, why do we have to sit out here?"

"To keep an eye for new potential, just like Justin said," Gina replied. "Even if they do look weak, we still got to give them a chance."

"So what are we doing just sitting here?"

"Ah, I just don't feel like dueling a bunch of one-stars," Gina yawned with her arms stretched over her head and she turned and lied down against the slant wall.

"Hey, do any of you want to duel?" a couple boys asked the girls, psyched and raring to go.

"Beat it, one-star, we're busy at the moment."

"Ah, come on, please," they begged. "We're really good."

"Tell you what: meet us at the auditorium entrance in five minutes, and we'll duel you there."

"You got it." And the boys bolted inside the schools.

"Hah, what a bunch of Kuribons." And the girls laughed, knowing that none of them were going to duel them.

"Hey, whoa, whoa, look at that," a girl pointed out, all of them shocked.

"Hey, Gina, check it out."

"Leave me alone," Gina groaned, nudging herself away from their hands hitting her waist.

"No, seriously, Gina, look at the ship! Come on!"

"What?" Gina snapped, sitting up and snared down at her crew before she looked at the last bus in the back and watched the obvious last passenger walk down the ramp behind everyone else, trying to remain unnoticed with no luck.

"Oh-ho-ho, no way," Gina laughed, watching the last passenger step off. "Girls, we just drew our Pot of Greed. Let's go see what he's got for us."

Gina grabbed her bag and ran to the docks with her crew following behind her as they fitted themselves their Duel Gazers, using the tracking program to keep a lock on him as they pushed through the crowd.

The last passenger was quiet and somewhat distant, trying not be too obvious about it; after he pointed his name to one of the registration officers, he was kindly greeted by a prefect and staff member here and there; as good as it was to see some familiar faces, part of him wished that they didn't recognized him. When he was finally left alone, he thought it would be smooth sailing her on out as he tried to blend in with the crowd in the back, but just a few feet from the stairs...

"Hey, there" a teasing whispered in his ears, catching him completely by surprise; he felt a quick and sudden jerk at his bag strap, pulling him out of the crowd and threw him back into a couple of girls who caught him and then pushed him to where he stumbled and fell to his hands, where his knee was just less than an inch from the ground.

"Damn, I gotta tell ya, no one expected you to come back after last year," Gina laughed, looking down at the boy with her crew surrounding him. "Figured you would have just stayed home, and boxed your cards."

"Sorry to disappoint," said the boy, rising to his feet. "I have a right to attend this school as everyone else does."

"You think so, huh?" Gina asked. "You realize how close you are to being decked out?"

"Does it look like I care, Gina?" the boy asked, seeming unintimidated by Gina and her crew, as he fixed his bag and jacket and attempted to walk passed them, but two of Gina's girls stepped ib his path to stop him.

"Uh-uh, you want admitance into this school, then you got to pay the price," Gina grinned. The boy only sighed and reached into his bag, pulling out an old modeled duel disk; at the same time, Gina reached into her bag and pulled her current-style duel disk.

"Maybe you might get lucky this time," Gina smiled. Both fitted their disks and gazers; the moment they inserted their decks, and their fields opened...

"Student Council duel!" a voice shouted. The word passed on and a great crowd grew around Gina and the boy, everyone wearing their gazers, locking on on the duel, some placing bets on who would win. Gina and the boy held their duel disks out front so that they can watch the other's deck being shuffled as their stats screens appeared above. When the shuffling stopped, they grabbed hold of their deck at the middle, cut it, and looked at the face card with their gazer.

"Card Exchange," Gina called out. A hologram of the card appeared above her a proof.

"Yami," the boy called out, his card appearing above him. Gina laughed as she and the boy reset their decks and drew their hand.

"I'll go first," said Gina, drawing her first card.

Gina Guiles
Life Points: 8000
Hand: 6
Monster Zone: 0
Spell/Trap Zone: 0

"All right, let's start small," said Gina, looking at her hand. "I summon Warrior Lady of the Waste Lands in Attack Position."

She laid her monster card in the center field; the winds blew and small tornado of dust and sand grew in front of her; when it finally settled, the sands revealled a young woman in blue clothing, wearing a tattered cloak on her shoulders and tipped her tattered hat to the boy with a friendly smile.

"And I'll end my turn with just that," said Gina.

"My draw," said the boy.

Life Points: 8000
Hand: 6
Monster Zone: 0
Spell/Trap Zone: 0

The boy looked at his hand for a moment then picked two cards.

"I set two cards face down, and end my turn," said the boy, inserting two cards in the field slot and two face-down hologram carss appeared at his feet.

"Thinking of a strategy, are we?" Gina asked. "I'm game; let's see what you can do." She drew.

Gina Guiles
Life Points: 8000
Hand: 6
Monster Zone: 1
Spell/Trap Zone: 0

"I set a monster face down, and place one card face down," said Gina, two facedown cards appearing on the field. "End turn."

The boy drew.

Life Points: 8000
Hand: 5
Monster Zone: 0
Spell/Trap Zone: 2

"I place one card face down," said the boy. " End turn."

Gina only scoffed as she drew her card.

Gina Guiles.
Life Points: 8000
Hand: 5
Monster Zone: 2
Spell/Trap Zone: 1

"Bad hand, huh? Happens to all of you, sometimes the best," said Gina. "Here, let me give you a new one. I Flip Summon Morphing Jar."

She flipped up her face-down monster and a bronze jar appeared as did a pair of eyes and snide grin, chuckling at the boy before it shot and reached for the boy's hand and snatched it from his grasp with it its gaping mouth; when it went to Gina, she only placed her hand on its tongue and they shared a smiled before it retracted itself back in its jar, still grinning at the boy.

"Now we each draw five new cards. I hope you got a better hand than your last," said Gina she and the boy drawing five new cards from their decks. "I'll end my turn with a card face down."

The boy drew from his deck.

Life Points: 8000
Hand: 6
Monster Zone: 0
Spell/Trap Zone: 3

As the boy looked at his hand, the crowd kept urging him on to summon a monster and make sime kind of cool move to make this duel exciting.

"Did you get any good cards, or do you need a little more help?" Gina teased.

"I summon Queen's Knight in Attack Position," the boy called out, placing his monster in the center. Four playing cards appeared with suits facing out as they revolved in a circle, shining brightly until they overlaid in front of the boy and his Queen's Knight leapt out from the cards with a war grunt, aiming her sword at Gnina with a challenging glare. Some of the spectators cheered and urged him to strike.

"Queen's Knight, attack Warrior Lady of the Wasteland," the boy commanded. His Queen's Knight twirled her sword before she lunged at her opponent; she raised her sword over her shoulder and slashed down, striking the ground when the Warrior Lady flippee over herto evade, thinking herself safe, but the Queen's Knight swiftly turned with her sword pulled in to her shoulder and lunged, sticking her blade in the Warrior Lady's chest and then she exploded in shards when she fell to the ground.

Queen's Knight: ATK/1500 = Warrior Lady of the Wasteland: ATK/1100

Queen's Knight wins. Battle Damage: 400

"I activate the effect Warrior Lady of the Wastelands," Gina called out. "I summon Hayabusa Knight."

Her disk shuffled her deck and pushed the top card out, and she placed it next to her Morphing Jar. A circling shadow grew at their feet as a strong screech was heard in the wind. All eyes looked up and saw a shadowy figure dive down to the field and stop short just five feet above the ground, casting a gust of wind and dust, and landed in front of Gina and bowed ever so chivalrously to Gina.

"Thank you," Gina said to her knight, letting him rise. "And thank you for helping me summon my favorite monster; he was buried so deep in my deck."

"I set one card face down and end my turn," said the boy.

"Really? I thought you would give a little more than that," Gina scoffed, drawing her card.

Gina Guiles
Life Points: 7600
Hand: 5
Monster Zone: 2
Spell/Trap Zone: 2

"Time to put some spice into this duel," said Gina. "I play Reinforcement of the Army." As her card appeared, her deck shuffled and top card was pushed out, and held that card out in front as a hologram appeared above her head. "I choose the Marauding Captain, and summon him to the field."

Gina places her card on her board and the monster appeared with drawn swords and a determined look on his face.

"With Normal Summon, I play his effect, allowing me to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my hand. I choose Blade Knight."

At the play of her card, a silvery knight with a sword and shield rose from a circle of light with a loud grunt.

"Next, I set two cards face down," said Gina. When her two set cards appeared, Blade Knight's ATK increased by 400. "So long as I hold one card, or less, in my hand, Blade Knight's ATK increases by 400. And now... Attack, Blade Knight," Gina commanded. "Slay his Queen's Knight!"

Blade Knight gripped his sword tight as he charged down the field. The boy's Queen's Knight held her shield up, but it was knocked out of her hand by the brute force of the Blade Knight's thrown shield; with her front open, the Blade Knight slashes upward across the Queen's Knight armor, knocking her back, and shattered before she hit the ground.

Blade Knight: ATK/2000 = Queen's Knight: 1500

Blade Knight wins. Battle Damage: 500

"Morphing Jar, attack hum directly!" It stuck out its head with its grin and its eye aglow, shooting a bronze beam at the boy's chest that made him flinch inward.

Morphing Jar: ATK/700 = Duelist: Life Points/7500

Morphing Jar hits.

"And I'll end my turn with that," said Gina.

The boy drew his card.

Life Points: 6800
Hand: 5
Monster Zone: 0
Spell/Trap Zone: 3

"I place a monster face down along with another card," said the boy, both set cards appearing at his feet.

"Oh, come on, is this really the best you can do?" Gina laughed, as did her friends and some of the spectators while others groand and jeered at the boy's dueling style. "I've practically been giving golden oppurtunities to do some damage to me, and this is how you thank me; this is the show you give to all of these duelists?"

"Guess I'm having a bad draw," said the boy.

"We'll be sure to add it to your talley," said Gina, drawing her card, just as the first bell rang from the school as multiple screens appeared in the sky of a young boy with loose auborn hair reaching to the base of his neck and blue eyess.

"Attention, students, this is the first call for orientation for all first years," said the boy with a strong and smooth, welcoming voice. "Please follow your homeroom teachers in an orderly fashion. Second Years and above may go to their dormintories; I also remind you to please avoid the areas around he auditorium until the orientation is finished. Thank you."

The screwn vanished and names were called out, all not wanting to leave for desiring to see the duel finished.

"Guess we've run out of time," Gina shrugged. "Luckily, this turn won't take long." She drew her card.

Gina Guiles
Life Points: 7500
Hand: 2
Monster Zone: 4
Spell/Trap Zone: 4

"I Summon Command Knight in Attack Position," Gina called out, summoning her monster at the far end; from a ring of light did a another female warrior apeared, dawning red armor and a sword, and with her appearance, every Warrior-Type monster, Command Knight included, gained 400 ATK.

"Then I play two of my face down cards: The A. Forces and Legendary Sword to my Command Knight."

Two facedown cards rose: one, a Continuous Spell Card, bearing an image of waariors and the second was an Equip Spell Card, immediately changing into a broadsword that flew into the Command Knight's hand, raising her ATK by 300. The crowd was cheering at Gina's combo, knowing she was going all out while the boy just stood there.

"Now, let's see what you're trying to hide," Gina smiled and her third face down stood up, revealing a Spell Carc with an image of a warrior with a white 'X' crossed over him. "Stop Defense," Gina called out. "Now your face down monster is flippes face up, and in Attack Position!"

When his card flipped up, itwas blown away aw smoke in the wind, swirling around him as an eerie blue mist before reforming in front of him, growling and snarling with a pair of red eyes, into a...

"Soul Tiger? That was your defense?" Gina laughed. "I can't believe you are still so pathetic."

"Then what are we waiting for?" the boy asked, still unaffected, and Gina scoffed.

"Morphing Jar, attack his Soul Tiger," Gina commanded. Morphing Jar stuck out its head and fired another eye-beam at the boy's Soul Tiger.

"Justi-Break," the boy called out, and one of his face down cards stood erect: a Trap Card. "When you attack a face-up Normal Monster that I control, all monsters on the field are destroyed, except for Normal Monsters in Attack Position."

Soul Tiger crouched down and shot four electrical bolts at Gina's monsters.

"Don't bet on it," Gina laughed, throwing her left hand out to her last face-down card. " Trap Stun!"

When her Trap Card rose, it fired a bolt of lightning at the boy's Justi-Break, canceling out its power and turned it to stone.

"Trap Stun negates the effects of all Trap Cards on the field this turn, which means my monsters are safe, and you can't play any other of your Trap Cards for the duration of the turn," Gina laughed, as did her Morphing Jar, who shot another attack at Soul Tiger, which roared to the energy being built inside of it before its form was destroyeds.

Morphing Jar: ATK/700 = Soul Tiger: ATK/0

Morphing Jar wins. Battle Damage: 700

Life Points: 6100

"Now, Marauding Captain, attack!" Her monster chaeged heas on lunged with his arms crossed in front of him, and then cross-slashed the boy's chest.

Marauding Captain: ATK/2400 = Duelist

Marauding Captain wins. Battle Damage: 2400

Life Points: 3700

"Now, Hayabuse Knight, it's your turn. Attack with your Dual Talon Strike!"

Hayabusa Knight drew his rapier as he let out a charging screech and took to the sky with his sword reach over his head, and dived down at the boy with a swift slash across the boy's chest, pulled his rapier back to his shoulder and thrust his blade into the boy's heart, all in one movement.

Hayabusa Knight's Effect: This card can attack twice during the same Battle Phase.

Hayabusa Knight:ATK/1800 x2 = Duelist

Hayabusa Knight wins. Battle Damage: 3600

Life Points: 100

"Time to finish this duel. Command Knight, strike, and bring him to his knees," Gina commanded. Her Command Knight twirled her Legendary Sword as she lunged at the boy; she gripped her sword with both hands as she held it at eye-level and slashed the boy's chest, close to the base of his neck, throwing him onto his back as he let out a strong grunt, losing his hat when he hit the griund and some of his cards from his deck.

Command Knight: ATK/2700 = Duelist.

Command Knight wins. Battle Damage: 2700

Life Points: 0

Gina Guiles wins.

The crowd cheered as Gina held her handa out with a cheerful laugh, accepting their applause and cheers as her monsters vanished and she walked over to the boy, who was gathering himself, rubbing the back of his head from being knocked to the pavement.

"You lose, again," Gina smirked, looking down at the boy like the bug she and her friends knew that he was.

"So I did," said the boy.

"So pay up, like usual," said Gina, holding out her hand. The boy took out his deck and and searched through it, taking out nine of his rarest cards and gave them to Gina.

"Nice haul," said Gina, looking through the cards. "If you drew half of these cards during our duel, yo might stood a better chance, if you knew how to actually duel."

"Do yourself a favor, and get out of your ditch before your buried, one-star," said one of Gina's friends.

"Seriously. It's not like you can't get any lower." Gin's whole crew laughed as they, and the crowd left him in the dust as they whispered about him and stepped all over his fallen cards before he could get a chance to pick them up. At least none of them were greatly damage outside a shoe print. After he closed his duel disk and tucked his deck back in its belt-box, he reached for his cap, but it was picked up by a broad black hand with a familiar face.

"Need a hand?" he asked.

"Thanks, Oenamaus," said the boy, taking his cap and Oenamaus' hand to help him get back on his feet.

"I was hoping to catch you being the first off the ship," said Oenamaus.

"Thought about that, but I figured I would spotted too easily," said the boy, fitting his cap onto his head.

"And being one of the last wouldn't?" Oenamaus asked with a grin.

"Next time I merge with the middle," said the boy, dusting himself off.

"How about breakfast? My treat."

"Thank you."

Oenamaus helped helped the boy with his other duffel bag as they walked to the school coming behind the rest of the crowd through the front door and into the grand foyer where voices merged with the padding of shoes and rolling suitcase wheels, filled with new and returning students, groups set apart around a ten foot fountain, each ring and sprout decorated with Water and Wind Attribute monsters; small ones at the top growing bigger at the bottom. The five stairwells leading to the seven stories above were also decorated with statues of Earth and Fire Attribute Monsters, and Light and Dark Attribute Monsters standing guard at every hallway entrance. Finally, marking the great wall above the office entrance was a red rose with a scroll and tree branch crossed behind it, and a white rose with a sword and shield behind it: the coat of arms of the Rose Circle.

"Welcome home."