A week later, Jounouchi and his companions arrived outside the gates of Modina.

Barely a month had passed since Jounouchi escaped and he couldn't tell if so much or so little had changed. They stayed to the outskirts, heading towards the grate that Yami had described to them. The wall was still in disrepair, but it was clear there were guards posted around, keeping watch as they begun to rebuild to the city.

What was once a fortress had now become a prison. He could only hope that Shizuka had decided to lay low for the time being. Jounouchi narrowed his eyes, moving slowly through the icy swamp. The low-level water had frozen overnight, but the ice wasn't thick enough to support their weight. They had done their best to avoid the freezing water, but as they drew closer to the location Yami describe, the water only grew deeper.

Mana huffed angrily, pulling her coat closer. Though she wore boots, her dress and leggings did little to keep her warm. For someone travelling in the woods during winter, her attire seemed less than ideal. "Didn't you pack a pair of trousers? Surely that would have been warmer than what you're wearing?"

Mana snapped her head to glare at the blonde. Jounouchi didn't see what the issue with his question was, so he figured he would be easier if she just said what was on her mind. Mana let out an annoyed sigh. "I would have brought better winter clothes if I had time to actually pack! Unfortunately, I was in a bit of a rush to escape."

Honda pushed through the undergrowth, the wall now closer. "That does remind me – how did you escape the city? Did you use this passage as well?"

Mana shook her head. "No, my teacher used his magic to help me escape."

"Who's your teacher?" Jounouchi raised an eyebrow. He wasn't an expert on magic, but to be able to teleport someone outside of the city required a lot of magic. He suspected that he would be fairly strong.

"Mahado." Mana gave a sad smile, one that reflected both her pride and grief for her captured mentor.

Jounouchi stopped walking, gaping for a moment. He knew that name. Everybody in the city did. "Wait… You don't mean Priest Mahado, do you?"

Mana's smile widened, more confident as Jounouchi recognized the name. "The very same! He's the best – he's so powerful and incredible. He actually restrains himself because of his prowess."

Honda swore under his breath as a thorn caught on his sleeve, scratching him. "If he's so great, how did he get captured?"

Jounouchi rolled his eyes. He may not be the sharpest tool, but even he had enough tact not to bring up that topic. As if on cue, Mana punched Honda in the arm, an annoyed look crossing her face. "He got captured trying to save me!"

The annoyance slipped from her face, her eyes casting down. "It's my fault he's caught. I have to free him. I have to save him."

Jounouchi stared at Mana, a strange realization dawning on him. Though very different in their situations, their motivations were the same. Jounouchi had let down people and sought to redeem himself and save those he cared about. Mana felt a similar sense of guilt and desire to restore her honor and rescue her teacher.

Before Jounouchi could gather and express these thoughts, Mana perked up, snapping her head back. Her disappointment was quickly masked by her usual chipper smile. "Here it is! The grate that you're mentioned!"

Jounouchi and Honda drew close, allowing the trees and bushes to cover them from view. The grate was only five feet tall, but it was wide enough that they would be able to enter. Jounouchi turned to Honda, grinning as he drew close. Yami mentioned that the bottom right corner was loose – he only hoped that still held true.

Jounouchi braced himself against the frame, raising a foot to kick. He felt the metal shift, creating an opening but not yet wide enough. Two more kicks and the grate opened up enough just for them to slide through. Mana grinned, her fists resting on her hips as she admired their handiwork.

"Great! Let's go!" Before Mana could march in, Honda grabbed her by the arm. She snapped her head around, a perplexed look on her face.

"The grate's open – but it's pitch black and we don't know where to exit. Maybe we should come up with a game plan?" Honda asked, his words more pointed towards Jounouchi than they were Mana. Jounouchi felt his ears burn. They had been lucky that they didn't run into any trouble on the road, but it was no secret that Jounouchi hadn't thought out anything further than getting into the city.

He honestly hadn't really expected to make it that far.

So as Jounouchi considered how they should approach, his never-ending luck failed to disappointment as Mana spoke up. She wore a cocky grin, pulling out a pair of gloves. "You forget about my magic! A dark corridor is not a problem."

A quick flair of her fingers and a light danced in front of them, levitating just over Mana's palm. It wasn't overtly bright, but it would be enough to light the way. Honda raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Jounouchi, who just grinned. Mana glanced down the tunnel, her bright eyes glowing. "Besides, I know exactly where to go."

Jounouchi stumbled over his words, not really believing their luck. "You do?"

Mana nodded, slipping around the grate as she stepped into the low tunnel. "Yeah. When I was younger, me, Mahado and Prince Atem would escape outside the city to play."

Jounouchi blinked, crawling into the tunnel after Mana. "You know the prince?"

Mana smiled. "Yeah! We're very close! This was our little secret actually. Nobody else knew about the tunnel – how did you guys find out?"

Jounouchi frowned, reflecting back. "We rescued a traveler whose caravan had been attacked… His name was Yami…"

Jounouchi glanced back at Honda, who wore the same, blanched expression. Jounouchi wasn't no scholar, but something didn't line up quite right. Between the secret tunnel, the prince, and their mysterious guest, all the stars suddenly aligned.

Mana stopped walking, turning around. Jounouchi jerked back so as to not crash into her, bumping his head against the low-hanging ceiling. He swore, rubbing at the back of scalp when Mana grabbed at his sleeve, a desperate note in her voice. "Wait, did you say Yami?"

"Uh, yeah… I take it this Yami is someone you know?"

Mana's smile widened. She stumbled back, wrapping her arms around herself as a delighted laugh broke out. "Yes! That was a code name we used as kids! That's our prince! He's alive!"

Jounouchi felt his heart skip. This whole time as they wondered if the prince truly escaped and if he was alive and well, the prince slept in the spare bedroom of Yugi's home. He chuckled, shaking his head. He wondered if Yugi had figured out his secret, but he suspected his friend had already known. "Yeah. He's doing okay. He's heading to Roca with one of our friends."

Honda nodded, a smile growing on his face. His usual wariness fading slightly at the news. Jounouchi didn't have time to feel like an idiot for not realizing the truth before when the truth brought such joy.

Mana raised her free hand, wiping away the tears that had formed in the corner of her eyes. She chuckled, nodding as she considered Jounouchi's words. "Roca… I bet he's meeting up with Odion and Ishizu. That's good."

Jounouchi frowned, watching as Mana continued to weave them down the tunnel. A thought crossed his mind. "If you know where he is, wouldn't you want to go after him then?"

Mana sighed, a heavy note in her voice. "Of course, I do. He's one of my closest friends and my lord. But I'm still a novice in magic and would only get in the way. I can do more help here by freeing my teacher and finding Seto. Rumor has it that Priest Seto never left Modina and is leading the Resistance against the Sennen. I can do more help trying to liberate the city than trailing after him and hoping I'll find him."

She glanced back to Jounouchi. "Knowing he's alive is enough reassurance for now. I need to do my part to help him here for when he finally comes home."

Jounouchi grinned, nodding. "So you're joining the Resistance as well?"

"Of course! They'll need all the help they can get. What about you?"

Jounouchi chuckled, pausing as Mana stopped. She looked around as she tried to identify the path to take. "We're joining as well. But I'm more here to find my sister. She lives in Modina and word has it that she never got out."

Mana paused at that. "… I'm sorry. Want me to help?"

The fact that Mana would offer help without any question of what might be required was rather nice. They barely knew each other, having only spent the last few days slowly trekking through the forest trying to find the capital. "Perhaps. I need to figure out how to find her first."

Honda snorted. "You could just count on being stupidly lucky. That's worked out for you so far."

"I haven't ruled that strategy out so don't tempt me, Honda."

Mana bit back a chuckle as she stopped, turning back as she raised a finger to her lips. Both men remained quiet as Mana looked up, carefully peering out the grate above them. They remained quiet as she narrowed her eyes, carefully looking for any observers. When she gave a quick nod, Honda and Jounouchi scooted over.

They both quietly braced the metal entrance before lifting together, a slight scrape the only noise that escaped. They slid the grate to the side, Jounouchi scooting back so Honda could hop out. Jounouchi quickly followed before the two of them helped pull Mana out. A silent exchange was all that was needed that shifted their focus. Now that they were in the occupied city, the danger was more clear and evident than ever before.

The three towards the nearest alley, cloaking themselves in shadows in the late evening sun. Jounouchi frowned at how quiet the streets were – nobody was out. The sun had not yet set, and yet the streets were barren instead of bustling with activity. This alone gave him the sense of a ghost town, left for dead and haunted by the night.

"Any ideas where to go?" Honda whispered, his eyes darting around both nervously and curiously at the sprawling city.

Jounouchi turned to Mana, who gave him a puzzled look. "I don't know where Seto would be hiding, but the best place for information would be the tavern."

"Any specific one we should check out?"

Jounouchi watched Mana, seeing if she knew. She just gave him a blank stare. "Don't look me - I never pried in Seto's private life or his personal preferences."

Jounouchi sighed, trying to think back to some local pubs that could work. "Well… There's the King's Rose. My comrades and I used to retire there after a long day of work. I doubt Seto will be there, but maybe we'll find some familiar faces."

Mana nodded. "Well, lead the way."

Jounouchi flicked his eyes out into the open road. Though nothing kept them from moving through the streets, he decided to not take their chances and continue through the back alleyways. He suspected the city was on curfew and they would be trouble if they were discovered as they night went on.

He also suspected that a former soldier and the apprentice of one of the priests would not be welcomed.

The memory of the city still remained fresh, Jounouchi surprised by how much remembered. He forgot about how elevated the capital was, being so close to the mountains. While it served as a natural barrier to opposing forces, it did little to protect them from the threat within. Jounouchi led them up closer to the capital, eyes flicking up at the stone fixture that was shadowed in the dusk lighting. What once felt reassuring and grand now felt ominous and threatening.

"So… anybody to keep our eyes out for?" Honda asked quietly, glancing around.

Jounouchi thought for a moment. "Well… The innkeeper we can probably trust. Espa Roba – he and his brothers run the place. They're a bit odd, but they're good people. Ryuzaki often frequented the place, though he was also a snitch and in it for the money. I wouldn't put it past him to jump ships when this city went to shit."

Honda frowned, pausing when Jounouchi stopped walking. "Any fellow soldiers to look for?"

"… Most everybody I know was killed."

Jounouchi didn't look back, keeping his eyes forward. He could see the tavern from their vantage point. Though he could barely see through the clouded glass, it seemed… quieter than usual. Most everything in this city seemed quieter and Jounouchi hated it.

He looked back at his companions, inclining his head slightly towards the inn. The three quietly scampered across the open road, hating the open sky that seemed to scream of their existence. The shadows had provided a sense of safety away from unwanted eyes.

As Jounouchi stepped inside, he could tell something was wrong. He paused, holding his hand out towards his companion. They paused, Jounouchi not yet removing his hood. He didn't fear being recognized, but someone knowledgeable might know who Mana was. The fact that Espa Roba wasn't behind the bar was the big warning sign.

None of the Roba brothers were there. Instead, a new blond man with a red and black bandana wiped down the counter. There were a few people sitting at a table in the corner, having a drink. They glanced over when they saw Jounouchi enter in. The bartender looked up, a small smile on his face but said nothing as the three of them looked around carefully.

Jounouchi suspected this would be foolhardy but stepped forward towards the bar. Despite his reservations, he needed answers. Mana and Honda hung back, eyes sharp and alert. Jounouchi approached the bartender, who smirked as he approached. "What'll it be?"

"… Whatever stout you have." He slid a few coins across the table, not having enough coppers to pay evenly and settling for some silver. The bartender swiped the coins before grabbing a glass. Jounouchi watched a moment longer, eyes flicking towards the table in the corner. "Where's Espa Roba?"

"He left. Packed up house and got out of town with his brothers. I bought this place off his hands," the bartender said without missing a beat. He slid the glass across to him, exchanging out the silver coins for the copper ones. "Name's Keith."

"… Jounouchi." He offered the name, raising the glass to his hands. He noticed the coins rolling back. His lip had just touched the glass when he noticed one coin showing a different face from the others. An Eye.

"Shit."

Jounouchi let go off his glass, jumping back. Keith narrowed his eyes, drawing a knife. Jounouchi swore at his own knee jerk reaction, twisting away just as the blade swiped at the air next to his ear. Blood coursing, Jounouchi gave a swift left hook, catching the bartender by surprise as he stumbled back against the wall.

Jounouchi didn't waste any time, turning around to escape. Mana and Honda hadn't wasted a second after seeing Keith draw a knife. He chased after his companions, swearing as he felt a sudden burst of heat from behind. He should have known better than to think that the table in the corner had been nothing but simple travelers. The Sennen had eyes everywhere and Jounouchi had led them straight into a trap.

The late evening light greeted them, casting red as the three fled the tavern, a pack of mages at their heels. Jounouchi realized only now after they were being pursued that he had acted too impulsively. The Sennen emblem struck a chord of fear in him, causing him to lash out and flee before he could think.

He should have played along and gotten information. Stupid!

Jounouchi didn't have time to berate himself any further as a flash a fire flew over them. He swore, feeling the heat graze at his back as he tried to run faster. "Fuck! I hate magic! Mana – can you do something about this?"

Mana struggled to catch her breath, a scowl on her face. "I'm working on it!" She snapped, pulling her gloves on. She turned around long enough to hold both hands forward. Jounouchi glanced back, noticing what appeared to be a glassy shield separating them, the shards splintered allowing them to see both their approaching enemy as well as their own reflection.

Jounouchi felt her tug at his arm. "Move it!" He stumbled after her as she pulled both men into an alleyway. Whatever shield she casted was doing a good enough job in giving them some distance. They winded through the alleyways, blindly as they tried to make some distance. A sharp crack let them know that their glass wall had fallen.

Honda jerked to a stop in front of Jounouchi, causing the blond to run into him. The three froze as they had run themselves into a deadend. The towering buildings were too tall to climb. Honda turned back around, the sound of whistles informing them that their hunters had just called for friends. "Hey Mana, how about some of teleporting magic your teacher used? That would really useful right?"

Mana huffed, turning a corner as they tried to put some more distance between them and their pursuers. "I can't do that – that's high-level magic."

Jounouchi panted, searching over his shoulder for any signs of dangers. "Well, what can you do?"

"Illusory magic. That was Mahado's speciality."

The three halted again, running themselves into a loop with no escape. Jounouchi swore, realizing that they were losing time the longer they waited out in the open. They needed to find somewhere to lay low or escape from view. "Can you turn us invisible?"

Mana turned head around wildly, still searching for an escape. "… Not exactly – my magic focuses on using elements to hide what's obvious from plain view, but I can't camouflage with non-obstructive scenery. There's a principle of vanishment-"

"Mana, I'm thrilled your super smart on magic, but do you think you can, oh I don't know, find some spell to help us now?!" Honda yelled, a desperate note in his voice.

Mana blinked, realizing her tangent. "… I can send them through an illusory tunnel under the impression they are approaching me. It'll be tricky, but it'll put them in a loop- I need a moment to prepare the spell though-"

A glowing light from afar that wasn't the sunlight indicated that time wasn't something in their favor. Jounouchi rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Perhaps metal would do little to combat magic, but if Mana needed time, he would go buy them some. He crouched, bracing himself for the danger as he saw Honda draw his crossbow…

"Quick! In here!"

The new voice startled them, the three snapping their heads to a door hidden away. It had been shadowed in the darkness and they saw a pair of green eyes peering out, waving them closer. Despite having already burned once tonight, Jounouchi nodded, following his two companions as they raced through. He felt his breath freeze when he heard the latch on the door click into place.

The three of them panted as they caught their breath. Their rescuer remained pressed against the door, holding it close even after the door was locked. A silence fell over them, as the heard the scuffle of the mages searching outside. Jounouchi noticed a small window letting in a shadow of red before disappearing, darkness taking its place. It was only after they heard their pursuers leaving that he finally released the held breath in his chest.

"Tonight was your lucky night. I'm normally not at my shop this late, but I had some business to take care of."

Jounouchi turned his attention to the man who rescued them. He watched as he stepped forward, lighting a lantern to give them a better view of the shop. They were in the storage room of what looked like some sort of mechanist shop. There were metal tools spread about, but none of which looked like weaponry.

Jounouchi's eyes settled on the man with long black hair and glowing green eyes. He had a light smile on his face, though it reminded Jounouchi of a cat watching a mouse piddle around the floor. Everything about their rescuer reminded him of a cat. He casually adjusted his shirt, brushing off his burgundy vest as he waited for Jounouchi to explain himself.

"I'll take it you're no friend to the Sennen then?"

"Hardly. They've been terrible for business."

Jounouchi chuckled, a smile playing across his face. Honda had once jibed that if Jounouchi kept up his good fortunate, accomplishing their goals would be a cinch. And it appeared Jounouchi had the gods' luck. "It looks like we have something in common. My name's Jounouchi – we're here to fight the Sennen."

The smirk widened on the green-eyed man. He held out a hand to shake. "Ryugi Otogi. Welcome to the Resistance."