I own nothing. Warning, may contain Out of Character moments.
After freeing herself from her bindings, Iris and Yuya found themselves an eerily long and empty marble hallway. Their footsteps echoed around them, the only noise that could be heard between the steward and the appointed Vassal. This kind of air didn't sit well with Yuya, it reminded him of those times where he would hide to cry his troubles away…
"You know, for a castle or wherever we are, there's not a lot of people in it." Yuya commented, trying to fend off the unnerving ambience.
"This place used to be very busy, a lot of people running about serving Lord Zarc. But when he went to sleep, all but a small handful were sent out and now this place is almost empty. There are a lot more in the inner sanctum, about sixty, but only fifteen others are still here maintaining the castle. Besides, we're in a restricted area, only stewards and Vassals are allowed in here." Iris explained.
"Why are you guys serving Zarc anyway? Isn't he crazy?"
"Lord Zarc is a bit of an eccentric… But we have our reasons for pledging our loyalties to him, we'll explain it once we meet up with your fellow Vassals my Lord."
"Okay… And you're still not going to tell me who these guys are? I mean you're kind of my servant right? So don't you have to listen to my orders or something?" Calling Iris his servant left a bad taste in Yuya's mouth since Yuya never liked to assert any kind of power over someone else, believing that everybody should be treated as equals. So he hoped that Iris would give him something before he's forced to act all menacing like and solemnly give out orders… Kind of like how Reiji does it.
"I am, but I like surprising people."
"Right… Could you give me a hint at least?"
"All I could say is that they're like you my Lord." Before Yuya could ask to elaborate, he forced the question back down his throat, knowing that Iris probably won't answer. So the entertainer now Vassal began to comb the folds of his brain for qualities similar to him. When that failed, he turned to people who were similar to him… And three individuals, who shared his connection with Zarc, quickly came to mind.
"I know who they are." Yuya said.
"What!? You already figured it out!?"
"I mean it's kind of obvious with the hint you gave me."
"Oh… Well I suppose it is… Anyway, at least you have some familiar faces to look forward to my Lord."
"There's one I'm not going to like at all…" Yuya mumbled.
"What was that my Lord?"
"Nothing, nothing."
Before long, the two came to the other end of the hall and stood before the door into the next room. Yuya could feel the anxiety rise in his chest as he's about to come face to face with an old friend, an old enemy, and an old… Something. Yuya wasn't sure what's his relationship to him was, but he took care of Yuzu while she was in the Synchro dimension, so he's definitely a good guy. Iris reached for the doorknob and firmly grasped it, slowly turning it open.
"I present to you the Vassal of the Standard Domain! Sakaki Yuya!" Iris announced cheerfully, bursting through the door. Meekly following his Steward into the atrium, Yuya can't help but feel slightly embarrassed by the girl's introduction. But that soon faded when his eyes saw that there were only two others in the room, one his age and the other a rugged man.
The rugged man wore armor that covered some of his body, namely his chest, forearms, and legs. He also wore a tunic over it that had a coat of arms printed on it. There also seemed to be something hanging off his back, a weapon made of black metal that gleamed in the room's light. He also had a book similar to Iris' hanging off his hip, swaying ever so slightly every time he adjusted his stance.
But Yuya was focused more on the other person, who also looked at him. The person's choice of clothes were dark colored and stylish but had a few accessories that gave him a rebellious air. And while they had different hair and eye colors, his black/purple and grey eyes to Yuya's red/green and red eyes, his face structure completely mirrors the entertainer's, confirming the identity of the man.
"Yuto!"
"Yuya!"
The two of the counterparts approached each other and gave each other a quick hug, seeing that neither of them had any physical contact with the other since… Well, since that moment where Yuya inadvertently absorbed Yuto and the man's spirit became a resident in his body. Never the less, the two bonded over similar philosophies and became fast friends over the course of their adventure. And despite knowing that Yuto would be one of the Vassals, Yuya sighed in relief knowing that he wasn't wrong.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes. I mean seriously, seeing you here is like finding an oasis in a desert." Yuya said, hands on his counterpart's shoulders.
"What do you mean by that my Lord?" Iris asked.
"I'm guessing you had some problems with your steward?" Yuto asked, looking over to Iris.
"He did not!"
"Like you wouldn't believe… She almost killed me."
"Is that true Iris? Did you almost murder Lord Yuya?" The rugged man asked.
"N-No…"
All the man did in response was give the much smaller girl a stern glare, making her shrink and falter in his imposing presence.
"It was an accident okay! Lord Yuya tripped the trap I placed on the door between the hall and his changing room and I panicked! I thought someone made it in!"
"No one could even get in without the two Keys and both pairs are inside the castle, so what you just did was completely unnecessary. Not only that, you recklessly endangered Lord Yuya in a misguided attempt to protect him." The man criticized.
"I'm sorry…" Iris said as she held her head low.
"I wouldn't be too harsh on her, everyone's like that. During Academia's attack on Heartland, I came up with these crazy plans for impossible circumstances for the first few months. So I get why she was so paranoid and nervous, she simply doesn't want anything to go wrong on her first day on the job." Yuto commented.
"Lord Yuto…" Iris cried.
"Anyway, let me introduce you to my steward Yuya. This is Galahad, he used to be a lieutenant in one of Zarc's armies. He won't tell me which one or why he served under that monster, but he seems nice enough."
"Greetings Lord Yuya. I understand that you have plenty of questions on your mind, but I must ask that you hold onto them for a moment as they will be answered later, after we group up with the other Vassals and stewards." Galahad said.
"Okay… But I expect both of you to explain why you worked for Zarc because he started a lot of problems for a lot of people." Yuya replied.
"Of course my Lord." Iris answered.
"As you wish Lord Yuya." Galahad answered.
"Good. Anyway, Yuto, this is Iris. She's twelve and an Aaraung acolyte training to master her magical skills. Still have no idea what that means but her magic is legit magic, like stuff you find in a game."
"That's pretty crazy, but I think it'll be covered with everything else. Too be honest though, that's the least of our worries… Have you thought about who the other Vassals are?" Yuto asked.
"I did, and I'm not looking forward to one of them…"
"Umm... Which one are you referring to my Lord?" Iris asked, tilting her head in confusion. From one of the other doors in the atrium, a figure came bursting through it and caused the others to look in his direction. Yuya and Yuto noticed that both Iris and Galahad immediately reached for their weapons but soon relaxed. As for the person who came in… He wore a multi-colored motorcycle suit, complete with matching gloves and boots. Combined with his wind swept blue and yellow hair, it gave him an air of reckless freedom and unyielding stubbornness. However, his ice blues were strangely focused and immediately darted to Yuya and Yuto.
"It's you two! Quick! Help me out!" He shouted, clearly in a panic. Yuya and Yuto simply looked at him, then each other, and finally back at him, confused as to why he so distraught.
"No time to explain! We've got to go right now!" He yelled as he started to run again. However, the moment he took his first step, familiar ropes of light coiled itself around the man, causing him to fall over before Yuya or Yuto could catch him.
"The shit is this!?"
"I'm sorry Lord Yugo, but it's important that you stay and listen, it'll help you with your duties as a Vassal." Iris said.
"It's not Lord Yugo! It's just Yugo! I didn't sign up to rule the world! Now let me go so I can run off, find my girlfriend, go home, and take a nap!" He shouted, squirming towards the closest door.
"She won't release you with that kind of declaration Lord Yugo." Galahad replied.
"Whatever! Are you guys helping me or what!?" Yugo said, looking at his Standard and Xyz counterparts.
"I… Don't think we can… We'll just end up like you, it already happened to me once." Yuya replied nervously.
"And I don't think the Vassal thing is negotiable…" Yuto added.
"Screw that! I don't want that kind of power! It's too much work!"
"Lord Yu – Why is he on the ground?" A voice asked. Yuya and Yuto looked and saw a young woman, about their age, standing in the doorway. She wore a blue white dress that went down to her knees and had an opaque mint colored scarf on her shoulders. Her pink hair was in a loose pony tail, tied around an intricate hair pin, and she had the same big book as Iris and Galahad on her back. The woman looked at Yugo, then his bindings, and then at Iris, face going from confusion to understanding.
"Thank you for stopping Lord Yugo Iris, he's a pretty fast runner." The woman thanked.
"Anytime Cassy."
"You should take this as a sign to improve your own physical prowess Cassandra." Galahad added.
"This is a conspiracy! You're all against me! Why can't you just set me free!? Listen to those words of wisdom! Let it be!" Yugo shouted.
"And he's rhyming because why?" Cassandra asked.
"I think he's trying to annoy us into letting him go." Yuya replied, still looking at his flailing counterpart.
"That's because I don't want to deal with any of this!" Yugo yelled.
"Then the feeling is mutual Lord Yugo. I'm known for having the patience of a saint, but having to put up with your poor temper are causing that well to quickly run dry. So please, for the benefit of both you and I, stop acting like a child and take a moment to actually listen to what I'm saying." Cassandra replied.
"Who says I'm acting?"
Another rope of light appeared around Yugo's mouth and gagged him, muffling the profanities he started to spit out. And as a result, the Vassal began struggling even harder against his restraints, but to no avail.
"That's enough out of Lord Yugo for now. I feel so bad for you Cassy, you got the loud one." Iris commented.
"It's fine… I knew what I was signing up for… Anyway, it's a pleasure to finally meet you my Lords. My name is Cassandra, and as you may have guessed, I'm Lord Yugo's steward." The girl said with a bow.
"I apologize for any headaches he caused you." Yuto said.
"Why are you apologizing Lord Yuto?" Galahad asked.
"Because he's basically the same person as Me and Yuya, so it's like I'm causing her grief and I really don't like that."
"He's got a point… I'm really sorry about that guy." Yuya replied, bowing to Cassandra.
"Wow Cassy, you got Lord Yuya to bow to you! Way to gain that notoriety!" Iris said.
"Notoriety's bad." Yuto replied.
"Oh… Right."
"It's okay my Lords! There's no need to apologize! I had a prediction that this would happen, but I just didn't expect it to be THIS bad!" Cassandra said nervously, gesturing to the still struggling Yugo.
"Predict? Gut feeling?" Yuya asked.
"Nothing like that Lord Yuya. Cassandra's a clairvoyant, someone who could predict the future. She has just finished her training a few days ago, but her readings have yet to catastrophically fail." Galahad explained.
"Those were minor glimpses only a few minutes forward, I have yet to foresee a major event weeks or months ahead. And the more predictions I get right, the more likely the next one will fail."
"That's still amazing! Now I really want to know what's going on!" Yuya exclaimed.
"Me too! Like holy shit! Now that's something I could listen to!" Yugo agreed.
" What the…!? I thought I gagged you Lord Yugo! How are you talking so soon!?" Iris asked, looking at the still bound but not gagged Vassal.
"I ate it."
"You ate it?" Yuto asked, looking confused at his Synchro counterpart.
"That's what I said."
"I don't think you're supposed to eat it…" Yuya commented.
"Like that's going to stop me. Hey kid, you think you could make me more? It's kind of like warm noodles and I'm pretty damn hungry right now."
"You want more!?" Iris just stared at the bound Vassal, not sure whether he was serious or not. But that half pleading expression on Yugo's face just confirmed it, he wanted more magic rope to eat.
"I wouldn't recommend spoiling your appetite Lord Yugo, we've planned a grand feast to welcome you and your fellow Vassals. Once the Fusion Vassal and his steward arrives, we may proceed." Galahad explained.
"You serious!? Let's just go now and ditch the guy! No skin off my bones!"
"How cruel of you friend… And here I thought we were starting to get along…"
Yuya, Yuto, and Yugo's blood ran cold at the sound of a familiar voice, one that was soft yet arrogant. They slowly turned to the owner of that chilling sound and their worst fears have been realized. Where his old clothes resembled an officer's uniform, his new clothes were slightly more regal in appearance but the colors remained the same. With insect like purple and pink hair, combined with his perceptive amethyst colored eyes and calmly gleeful demeanor, his presence was conspicuous and unnerving.
"I thought you would be the last Vassal… Academia's number one attack dog… Yuri." Yuto growled.
"Is that contempt I hear in your voice?" Yuri asked. No one was sure what tone he was giving, but it certainly didn't calm his counterparts down. The stewards could sense a conflict brewing, but before they could intervene, it escalated.
"You can bet your effeminate ass it is! Do you know what you just did!?" Yugo shouted.
"I'm aware, though I see no point in arguing over it. I was given orders and I followed them, what do you expect me to do?"
Yuya wanted to refute that point, but there was this odd glint in his Fusion counterpart's eye. He wasn't sure what it was, or if it was something bad, but he begrudgingly decided to not be part of the shouting. Yuto and Yugo were still on the offensive however as Yuri continued his passive defense.
"Anyone with a hundredth of a heart would go against them! Against Akaba Leo! But you decided to follow him anyway! I lost my home and my friends because of you! And now look what happened!" Yuto yelled, angrily gesturing to their surroundings. The Fusion Vassal slowly looked left and then right, slowly scanning the room and its current dwellers.
For Yuya, he paid attention for any cues his counterpart could give off, something to decipher the weird feeling the entertainer has. It wasn't fondness or anything intimate, those were reserved for a special someone, the feeling was more like an instinct. One that told Yuya to approach Yuri not as an enemy, but as a friend… And that thought quickly made him nauseous. But alas, nothing meaningful could be salvaged from the Fusion Vassal.
"… This doesn't seem so bad."
Yugo lunged forward at his Fusion counterpart with surprising speed despite still being tied up. But Yuri simply raised his leg and intercepted the attack with his foot, knocking the Synchro Vassal back onto the ground.
"You asshole! Take it back! And get on my level so I can chew that smug look off your face!" Yugo yelled as he tried to squirm forward in a slow attempt to take a bit out of Yuri's ankles. The Vassal simply rolled his eyes and placed his foot on Yugo's forehead, preventing the advance on his lower extremities.
"You really are artless aren't you Fusion…"
"GOD DAMN IT YOU EFFEMINATE BASTARD! IT'S YUGO! YU! GO! GET IT RIGHT!"
"Yes, yes… Now, let's properly introduce ourselves to one another since we never got formerly acquainted. I am Yuri, Academia's finest, and I hope you treat me kindly in the months ahead." Yuri greeted, giving a bow while keeping the still thrashing Yugo at bay.
The Xyz Vassal kept his mouth shut and simply glared at the man who caused him and many others grief. But with a sigh, Yuto conceded as he's unable to do anything to the man now, lacking his duel disk to card him and the combat experience to directly confront Yuri. Even then, the stewards would stop him before the Xyz Vassal could do anything and not speaking would only make himself look bad. So he takes his only option…
"Yuto… And the displeasure is mine…"
"Sakaki Yuya, nice to meet you?" He wasn't sure what to say, so he just blurted the first greeting that came to his mind. It also infuriated Yuya that he's being so polite to his Fusion counterpart, the same man who kidnapped Yuzu and carded his father right in front of him. What was this feeling that Yuya was having and why is it stopping him from spiting Yuri?
Yuto seemed to notice the strife going on within his friend, but couldn't find a moment to bring it up… Especially when Yugo was shouting at the top of his lungs.
"YUGO! YOU GOT THAT! YUGO! MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER IT YOU GIRLFRIEND SNATCHING MOTHERFUCKER!"
"And what about you over there? May I know your names as well?" Yuri asked as he looked over to the stewards.
"C-Cassandra my Lord. I'm Lord Yugo's steward."
"My name is Galahad my Lord, I'm responsible for looking after Lord Yuto."
"Iris Lord Yuri, and I'm with Lord Yuya… But where's Albertus my Lord?"
"Galahad! Pull Lord Yugo out now!" Cassandra shouted. Without hesitation, the burly man grabbed Yugo's feet and dragged him away from Yuri. Before Yuya or Yuto could blink, there was a deep cut in the floor where Yugo's neck was just moments ago.
"Don't worry my dear, for I am here."
A new figure appeared out of the doorway behind Yuri, one in a purple and forest green robes. A hat covered his head and a red tinted visor covered his eyes, though it still left his ghastly pale face open. In one of his hands was a whip with a blade for a tip, uncoiled and laid limp along on the ground. In the other hand was the same large book the other stewards carried, allowing the Vassals to identify the man as Yuri's steward.
"Albertus! You almost killed Lord Yugo!" Cassandra shouted as the man began coiling his whip.
"Oh please my dear, I knew you were capable of foreseeing that assault."
"Dude! I almost lost my head!" Yugo shouted.
"But you didn't my Lord, so there's no issue to be had."
"You son of a-! Does anyone else have a problem with this!? Or am I the only one!? Also, thanks for the save." Yugo asked before turning to thank Galahad.
"It's Cassandra you should be thanking my Lord. But I share the same sentiments as you… That was incredibly irresponsible of you Albertus, Lord Yugo could've died right then and there had Cassandra not intervened."
"And you do remember what would happen right? Lord Zarc would've ripped your ribcage right out." Cassandra added, annoyance lacing her voice.
"Also, the rest of us would've ratted you out no matter how you bribe us." Iris said.
"I'm fully aware the consequences… But you must remember that I'm more than willing to perform actions to test a particular hypothesis I have on my mind. And since you were here Cassandra, I was willing to risk my life by attempting to take Lord Yugo's in an experiment to test your capabilities. And you passed flawlessly, Lord Yugo is uninjured and, as of now, are feeling more confident in your abilities of foresight." Albertus explained.
"But that doesn't mean – I don't – Yes I… Forget it. Are we done here my Lords? We need to move on as soon as possible, I'm in need of a coffee or seven to make it through the rest of today." Cassandra said, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Could you give me some as well? I need a good slap to the face after witnessing that…" Yuto grumbled, rubbing his temples.
"Make that three…" Yugo said.
"I'll join you as well, I could use a good drink." Yuri replied.
"Then do us a favor and keep your mouth shut…" Yugo groaned.
"But then how will you all hear my lovely, inviting voice?"
"If it's to invite us to your funeral… Then go ahead, talk all you want…" Yuto answered.
"Ohhh, caustic. I could tell that this is the start of a beautiful friendship."
"You have a weird definition for friendship Lord Yuri…" Iris replied.
"I'm pretty sure this isn't friendship…" Yuya mumbled, feeling as though the day just got longer.
And that is Chapter 3 of Act 1! Behold! The most obvious reveal of all time! Still, what do you think? The first version of this chapter wasn't too good, but hopefully this is a bit better.
"That last one was terrible, too much describing."
That was T2's problem with it too, but I managed to fix it... Maybe. Speaking of fixing, I've edited the summary so that I have room to add stuff to it. For me, I like to update the summary with info as the story progresses, so new readers know what they'll be getting into at that given moment. Alternatively, should I just dump all the info right off the bat?
"I think it's better to update as you go, it's better for surprises."
I guess you have a point, but that's up to them. Anyway, I don't have anything in particular to say this week. What about you Eris?
"Absolutely zilch."
Then I guess we can close up now.
So, until next time. T1.