Chapter 9: The Passionate Protector, Guardian Airtos
Love that is not madness is not love.
Pedro Calderon de la Barca
It was Lindsey turn now. She was pretty sure that the monster Kyle summoned with the shallow grave was cyber jar. However, she had a surprise for him waiting facedown on her field. "It looks like I pass this turn Kyle" announced Lindsey. "Fine, you're loss then. I FLIP SUMMON MY CYBER JAR!" "Not so fast Kyle! My warriors will be protected with my set magic card, my body as a shield! By paying 1500 life points, I can negate and destroy any card that destroys monsters on the field." The magic card nullified the jar's sucking and caused it to bust. Kyle growled in frustration. Fine, I activate the magic card dark hole!" A black vortex appeared in the middle of the field and sucked all the monsters on the field into it. "And as you know, my wife will return next standby phase ready to destroy your defenses, you better brace yourself" said Kyle with a confident smirk. "Don't be so sure, my witch of the black forest was once again sent to the graveyard so I this time I search Siren, one of the harpie lady sisters and add her to my hand." Lindsey drew and was very satisfied with her draw. I summon Siren to the field, and then I play the magic card, elegant egotist. This magic card allows me to summon all threes harpies to the field all at once where they all can attack as a team. Siren rose up and magically split. Now her sisters, Curtain and Sydney joined her. And I can't fail to mention that Siren gives all wind monsters on the field 300 attack points. "Siren! Attack Kyle directly!" Siren dived bomb Kyle and with one slash of her claws, did major damage to Kyle's life points, then Siren attacked again with her sisters, giving a fatal blow to Kyle with their talons. Kyle fell onto the floor suffering from the huge gashes, courtesy of the harpies. The three harpie sisters received a head nod of appreciation from their general Lindsey. All three returned back to Lindsey's deck for the time being, hoping to get special praises from their king. Lindsey went to check on Kyle. Before she got close however, Nephthys shot out of Kyle's deck and screamed. It then glowed a brighter red-orange hue and dive bombed Lindsey. Lindsey backed away in fear. She would not be able to counter this. "NEPHTHYS! STOP!" commanded Kyle as he got to one knee. Nephthys looked back at him and dimmed down until she returned back to her humanoid form. "Why did you stop me Kyle?" she asked in indignation. "She won fair and square. You know what this means…" "No, Kyle, don't do it!" pleaded Nephthys as she went to embrace her husband. As she held him, he started to dry up and shrivel and even break in some places. "You know this has to be done" said Kyle in a caring voice. Lindsey stayed back, wondering how this was going to end. She armed her bow and had it ready just in case something happened, although she knew that if Nephthys really wanted to destroy her, she could. "Don't cry for me. My love for you is eternal. I want you to help this woman in her task. Please grant this one last wish of your dying husband" "I swear" said Nephthys as she held his hand. Kyle smiled and then crumbled. Nephthys now held a beautiful crafted sword. Nephthys dried her tears and walked over to Lindsey with sword in hand. Lindsey armed her bow and aimed it at Nephthys. "Don't come any closer. I won fair and square. Let me see this treasure that Zelda spoke of. "You're looking at one of them" said Nephthys as she handed Lindsey the sword that was once her husband. When Lindsey took the sword in her hands, she felt the power within flowing through her. It was as light as a feather, glowed a fiery orange hue around the edges, the blade appeared just like water, and the handle was rock with vines growing all around it. "Is this it? The phoenix blade?" asked Lindsey. "Yes, I want you to use it well. Also, as the honor my husband's last wish, I would like to ask you to please allow me to serve you." Nephthys bowed to one knee with her head down in submission. "Nephthys…" said Lindsey in sympathy. She was silent for a few seconds and then held out her hand to her. "Sure, come on." Nephthys accepted her handshake and then turned into two cards, which contained her phoenix form and her human form. Both flew into Lindsey's deck. Then there was a beacon of light that illuminated a door with an odd hole in it. "That hole looks just like the shape of this sword. I wonder if the sword is some kind of key." Lindsey walked up to the archaic door and placed the sword so it would fit in the hole. She heard a clicking sound and she saw the sword flood red power throughout the grooves in the door. Then it creeped open. What she saw was the most incredible sight she had ever seen. In the room were seven weapons, two swords, and a pair of smaller swords, a bow, a staff, a double sided axe, and a green, emerald dagger. A statue of a woman with eagle headwear and dress was to the very back with a slender sword in a pedestal. The other six weapons were lined up in two rows, each containing three weapons "Wow, I had no idea so many weapons were in the spirit temple. Maybe I should get some expert advice." Lindsey searched for Nephthys from her deck and summoned her. "Nephthys, what is this place?" asked Lindsey. Nephthys walked toward the weapons. "This is the resting place of the ancient guardian monsters. These spirits were banished here by Shinato to remain here forever. Only the legendary Elemental Master Dryad could open this door. That sword that you used to open this chamber was not created by her, but it was given to her. Dryad felt that the sword would be better left in the spirit temple and assigned me and my late husband to guard it. As long as there was a sword to guard, Kyle would remain immortal. With me of course, age is never an issue." Nephthys stood by the eagle woman's statue. "I want you to approach this statue. She is very eager to meet you" Lindsey carefully walked toward the statue. As she passed the weapons on either side of her, more beacons shined over them as well as more lights on the ground leading to the statue. Lindsey finally was in front of the statue. Then the chamber started to shake. It was slow at first but then got more violent. While Lindsey tried to keep her footing, she noticed that a beautiful winged woman rose upward out of the statue with her arms raised outward and her eyes closed. Soon after, other spirits rose out of the statue. Lindsey was started and reached to her deck to summon the guard. "Don't not be alarmed" said Nephthys in a comforting voice. "Lindsey, I would like you to meet the guardians. They have much to discuss with you." The women with the eagle outfit floated down and meet Lindsey face to face. My name is Guardian Airtos. I am here to protect you…"