Chapter One: Soft Girl in a Hard Place
Mariena stared at the large building in awe. This was going to be a long nine months. She'd be getting lost for days. But she knew she would have her cousin Syrus Truesdale there to guide her. Syrus, I'm scared What if I make a fool of myself in this place? I know next to nothing in dueling! And now my friends are all going to a normal school, and here I am, stuck at a dueling academy because Mama and Daddy decided to give your brother the rights to me. Well, if that's the way you want it, fine. Just don't think I am not angry! The morning had gone by too fast for her. She had been woken up at six o'clock to get ready for the ferry. Zane and Syrus had already left hours before. Mariena guessed that Zane had insisted on this so that they couldn't be associated with each other. It had hurt to realize she'd be arriving alone in this strange place.
She listened to everyone else's idle chatter, while she looked around for her cousin. She smiled at some of the kids she passed, as she made her way to the front, where the mentors were.
Syrus was really busy that morning. He had already checked in more than half his group. He was still waiting for the other half, including his cousin. Mariena had gone off later in the morning so that she could get there in time to make it seem like she wasn't with them. Syrus hadn't really approved of that, but Zane was her guardian, not him. When she didn't show up a few minutes later, Syrus began to worry. What if she had gotten lost? It was more than possible. "Zane…" He turned to his elder brother, reluctantly.
"What." Zane grunted, peering at his younger brother. Syrus was still a thorn in his side at times, but this time...he looked really troubled. "What's the matter?"
"Mariena isn't here yet. I knew I shouldn't have let her come on her own…" He looked over worried to Zane.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic! She's probably just wandered off somewhere around this island. She'll turn up"
Syrus' eyes widened. "Horrible..." He couldn't see how Zane could be so careless. Mariena hadn't even wanted to come here. It wouldn't have surprised Syrus a bit if she had purposely gotten off on the wrong island. He was about to call a boy named Leon Watts when he spotted his cousin coming forward. "Mari! Thank goodness you're alright!" He ignored his brother's snort.
"I'm here." Mariena spoke softly, pushing her long teal hair in its ponytail over her shoulder as she gazed up at her cousin. "This place is huge! I almost got swallowed." She smiled, but it seemed to be forced. This whole thing felt wrong. It was like she didn't belong in such a place, with or without family.
"It can seem pretty overwhelming at first, but it will be alright." Syrus gave her a reassuring smile. "We're glad you're here, Mari. Don't worry. Zane and I will keep an eye on you."
"Where is Zane?" Mariena asked now. She pushed her hair back once more. It was always falling over her shoulders unbidden.
"Over there." Syrus gestured quickly. "I...I need you to stand over by that guy to my right for now. I have to check everyone else in." Syrus tried to speak with more authority, but he was still feeling bad about his younger cousin's circumstances. "I'll be over there in a couple of minutes." He watched her go, and sighed. What a bad first day she must be having. He could understand why his aunt and uncle had been forced to give her over to Zane, but what he couldn't get passed is that Zane had enrolled Mariena into this school without first seeing if it was what she really wanted to do. Syrus was certain that Mari didn't want to be there. Oh well. There was nothing to be done about it now. Syrus went back to checking in the rest of his group. After turning his clipboard into Zane, he led everyone inside to get their room assignments.
Jaden smiled amiably at the group that was with Syrus, and then turned to his friend. "Hey Sy. How's it going?"
"About as good as can be expected." Syrus replied, looking a little flustered for some reason. "Things have been crazy this morning."
"I bet it has. I don't envy you, pal." Jaden smiled at his friend's younger cousin. "Hey, Mari. You ready for the first day yet?"
"Maybe a little…" Mariena was hanging close to Syrus, while trying to remain confident. "It could be fun, learning a new game…"
"It's the best, trust me." Jaden would've said more, except Alexis was gesturing to him from the throng of students watching the newcomers. "Well, have fun. We'll catch you later, Sy."
"Sure, Jaden!" Syrus smiled, and began to hand out the assignment cards to his group. When he got to Mariena, he noticed how withdrawn she was becoming. "Come on, Mari. I'll introduce you to your roommate. She came in last year. She's a really nice girl." He put an arm around his cousin, smiling amiably. "You remember my friend Bastion don't you? He's still here." He led her over to a group of girls that he recognized from his cousin's assigned dormitory. "Excuse me, girls. I just wanted to introduce Kali to her new roommate."
Mariena could tell just by looking at her that this Kali had no desire to have a roommate. She hung closer to Syrus, but cleared her throat, and spoke clearly. "I'm Mariena Ushida. It's nice to meet you. I'm sure we'll get along just fine."
Kali snorted, eyeing the girl with conviction. "Sure. Just stay out of my way, and we'll be just fine." Her friends behind her laughed, and the silver haired girl smirked. "I don't have time for newbies or the like. I'm on my way out of Slifer red, to join my friend Chazz in Obelisk Blue."
"Yeah, well…we'll just see about that." Syrus replied, before Mari could. "For now though, Mariena is your roommate, the rules state you have to at least get a long for that reason."
"Get real, Truesdale." Chazz Princeton spoke up now. "No one really pays attention to those rules except you and your loser friends." He peered at Mariena, and snorted. "I don't believe it. It's that girl that beat Bastion by one move last week."
"One move or not, she still beat him." Syrus smiled. "Bastion was honored to have had dueled her." He put a hand on Mari's shoulder. "Besides, dueling isn't really her thing. She's more of a Capsule Monsters Chess person anyway."
"That's not going to do her a lot of good here!" Chazz called out; as Syrus led his cousin passed them.
Mariena sighed. It's always the same, no matter where I go. I get picked on because I'm soft. But then they shut up when I show them up on the chess board. But can I do it here? True dueling Bastion Misawa had been thrilling, but can I keep myself strong enough to excel in a school that is all about it? Why did it have to be a Dueling academy, Zane? Couldn't you have just sent me to a regular private school? I would've kept you informed by letter! She suddenly became aware that Syrus was talking to her again. "Huh?"
"Zane is over there." He pointed. "He wants to talk to you for a minute, before we go into the dorms."
"Alright." Mariena swallowed, and headed over to her eldest cousin. She played with the end of her ponytail nervously. She and Zane hadn't spoken much since her arrival to his manor. She stopped in front of him, looking to the floor.
"Don't address me as your cousin at all while we're in this building. Don't act as if we're friends, and if something goes wrong, don't expect me to help you. I have a reputation to keep, and I will not let some soft spoken, worthless weakling like you ruin it. If you do run into trouble, Syrus will be more than willing to help you."
Mariena merely nodded, chewing her bottom lip. "Is that all?" She looked up at her cousin now, sadly. What could've happened to Zane to make him so cruel and unkind?I don't remember him ever acting so cruel before. Sure he'd brush me and Sy off, but never like this. I just wish there was something I could do to prove myself to him.
"You better go now." Zane replied in answer, walking off to join some of his Obelisk friends. Mariena watched him for a moment, before running off in the direction Syrus had gone.