Hello Everyone! I hope you're enjoying A Second Chance for the Soulless, I'm going to need some OCs for later chapters so if you have an OC idea let me know through either a PM or a review! I'll be needing a name, appearance, personality, and what they play.
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A Second Chance for the Soulless
Chapter 2: An Unwelcome Addition
"Alrighty, Cammy, here we are." Orion presented the front gates to the Obelisk Girl's dorm. Camula's new home for the time being. Looking past the solemn gates Camula was surprised—the Obelisk Girl's dorm was grand and extravagant, with marble white walls, and castle-like roofs above a crystal blue lake. The dorm looked more like a French château than reasonable student lodging.
"Hmph, this school seems to spoil their students," Camula lamented with a scoff, her hands on the gate's bars as she stared at the dorm. Her old manor was nothing compared to this royal palace; it was like comparing an old cottage to the Vatican.
"When you get a good look at the Slifer Red dorm...You girls get the good stuff," Orion replied with a mumble.
"And you're saying that I can simply waltz in? No background checks? No security?" Camula asked, skeptical of the lax control of the academy. It can't be that easy to masquerade as a new student, especially if Jaden and his friends know what Camula looks like, minus the pointy ears and maroon dress.
Orion gave Camula a nod before he forced a chuckle, "Y-yeah they kind of don't do any of that...Oh! I almost forgot! since you don't have a PDA..." Orion scrambled around his belt for a small cell phone-like device and handed it to Camula.
"Y-You can use mine, it tells you class schedules and curfew times, and it can be used as a neat Personal Messenger!" Orion explained as he demonstrated several of these features with a few touchscreen buttons and wipes, actions that were alien to Camula.
To her, this PDA was like a magical hand mirror, but instead of a reflection, it gleamed with shifting images, words, and colors.
"This technology is strange...But I will manage," She said, more to herself than to Orion. "But what about yourself? Wouldn't you go on without this then?" Camula realized. Orion put his hands up and shook his head, not thinking much of it.
"I can get another one tomorrow...Speaking of w-which, I'll study up on your situation, Cammy! I bet the school library has something," Orion said. Despite his shaky voice, Orion sounded oddly hopeful—hope that Camula would frown at.
'This fool genuinely believes that...Like my soulless being was nothing more than the common cold...' Camula lamented with a tired sigh.
"It's a foolish endeavor..." she cynically admitted, "...But thank you." She added earnestly, giving Orion the smallest of smiles.
"A-Anyway, I'll see you at class tomorrow! Have a good night!" Orion bowed to Camula before heading off in a skittish run; he would stumble on weeds and shrubs before he became a spec in the distance.
Camula waved a light goodbye before she turned back to the grandiose dorm past the iron-wrought gates.
She must try to be hidden and not stand out as much as possible, or else she'll be discovered by the group she endangered.
She took a deep breath before she pushed it open.
"Welcome to my new life..." Camula told herself as she stepped forward.
The Obelisk Girl's Dorm was as grand inside as it was outside, the rooms and halls were well-furnished, lavished with gold chandeliers, ornate furniture, marble carvings, and oil paintings.
Camula was taken aback by the giant fountain in the main hall and the Obelisk the Tormentor stone carving in the middle of the splitting staircase. It seemed like the Academy didn't spare any expense for the girls of this academy, no doubt the other dorms were nowhere near as extravagant, especially that Slifer Red Dorm Orion mentioned.
A scoff escaped from Camula's lips, she was expecting to hide out in the abandoned dorm or dank cave during her tenure as a soulless mortal, so she'll happily take this dwelling instead.
Camula's nose was brushed by a thin scent of delicious food, which made her empty stomach growl, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since she was revived. She was going to snack on the jar of honey Orion gave her, but she couldn't remember where it went after their duel, so she was starving.
And so Camula followed her nose, leading her to a large dining hall. It was like a standard school cafeteria except for the fine dining tables, silverware, and chandeliers.
Despite the decadent banquet resting on top of a long table, there were only a couple of girls in the hall having supper, and even then, they only had the desserts.
Camula scoffed, these girls have been given a feast that a commoner would kill for and all of them are taking it for granted. Camula saw one of them throw away a half-eaten strawberry cake, apparently finding it too sweet for her tastes.
Nevertheless, Camula ignored the other girls and made her way to the banquet. She eyed the options available before greedily stacking what she wanted and went to a lone table at the corner of the room; a perfect place for her to eat alone.
So there Camula sat, ravenously munching on a big plate of food, not caring for manners or properness, she was starving beyond belief and as her first meal as a mortal, she was going to be as decadent and greedy as she wanted.
Camula was going to be as decadent and gluttonous as she pleased. She was supposed to be passing herself off as a student, and bad table manners are a dead giveaway that you belong to the student body, so it's not like she had to keep her true appearance to everyone here.
When a plate clattered against the side of the table she was seated on, her culinary reverie was interrupted. While still chomping on a cream puff, Camula carefully turned to see who had joined her.
There were many empty tables in this dining hall and of course, they picked the table where Camula was.
A tired growl escaped from Camula's stuffed mouth as she got a good look at the unwanted table guest. It was a muscular girl with a head of black hair neatly tied in a ponytail with tan skin, her plate was unlike the other girls, mostly consisting of a large stack of well-done steaks sided by hills of mashed potatoes, it made Camula's generous meal look small by comparison.
"Hello, you look new! I'm Tawna!" introduced herself with a warm smile, her light gentle voice contrasting her well-toned frame. She reminded Camula of Tania; her former Amazonian comrade, the only shadow rider that wasn't a fool.
Camula was ready to tell this stranger off but when she was about to say something nasty, a logical idea popped into her mind.
Perhaps she should TRY to be affable. The last time she tried to be herself she manipulated a fool into an impromptu shadow duel and would've been sent back to square one if it weren't for his compassion.
Camula doubted that there were students that bore the same kindness Orion had. She doubted they were just weird as Orion as well. With his strange fashion, his love of pests, and his constant apologetic bowing, Orion was one of a kind…For better or for worse.
"Hello…I'm Cammy…And yes, I'm a new student," Camula answered slowly, still trying to gauge the new person sitting beside her.
"Nice to meet you, Cammy, I'm glad I'm not the only one who wants to dig in!" Tawna exclaimed with a chuckle before slapping Camula on the back, causing her to almost choke on her food.
"While you've missed the starting ceremony I can totally show you around!" Tawna insisted cheerfully as she pointed at herself.
Camula growled under her breath as she wiped some, she was already regretting her decision.
But once again her reasoning won out. If she's going to masquerade as a student, she'll have to act like one.
"I would appreciate it…" Camula answered back.
What's this girl's deal? She must be part of student leadership, maybe like a class president or something, to ease the newbies in before they get hazed by upperclassmen.
That could explain her peppiness despite it being supper time. Camula will indulge this girl's offer for now but after she has fulfilled her purpose Camula won't bother with remembering this muscle-bound girl.
"So what kind of deck are you running?" Tawna asked as she begin to eat, just as voracious as Camula if not more.
"Zombies, nothing more," Camula answered quickly, not wanting to give out too much.
"Bony Boys huh? I like using Beasties, we should duel someday, what do you say?" Tawna asked with her hands together, excited at the prospect.
Camula gave it some thought. Her loss to Orion; it's a sign that her dueling was rusty, being dead and dwelling in the afterlife does that to you.
"Yes, we should…But not now, I'm still trying to get my bearings" Camula answered half-honestly, less about getting used to the academy and more so about being brought back to life.
Tawna gave an understanding smile "No Worries dude, now let's go back to doing the important stuff!" She then went back to chowing down.
Camula gave a scoff but nonetheless joined her as she finished her meal.
Unaware that a pair of girls, one brunette and one redhead watched from afar.
Camula found herself…Back at her manor, wearing her favorite maroon dress, and with a glass of wine in her hands.
Camula's heart sank as she realized what was happening.
Her nightmare, whether mortal or spirit, will never end.
Camula felt her legs walking with a will of their own, forcing her to retrace the same steps she took time and time again. She went through the hallway decorated with paintings as her eyes found themselves glued to one painting in particular; It depicted Camula wearing a white dress, alone, posing on the top of a barren vista.
She watched as her hand raised the glass to her mouth. She desperately tried not to drink, but her body forced her to take a sip.
The wine tasted foul and burned her throat, it was so awful that it made Camula cough and gag.
This confused Camula, the wine was always delicious, the only form of respite within these horrid memories.
Why can't she have this moment of relief? Why must she suffer even more?
Like before she heard the same paranoia and saw the same rocks and torches crashing through her windows.
Like before, the flames roared.
Like before, Camula fell under a pile of burning billows.
Like before, and like after.
Camula couldn't take it anymore.
"H-HELP! PLEASE! ANYONE!" Camula screamed at the top of her lungs. Her tired resignation turned into wailing despair. She's alive, isn't she? Hasn't she suffered enough? Her people are gone, her soul is gone, and now she's nothing more than a husk of a human being.
But unlike before, she was heard.
The sounds of crackling wood suddenly stopped, the heat of the flames quelled, and light leaked into Camula's eyes. The light slowly enveloped her entire being as more pieces of her tomb were pulled away. She felt no burns, no scars, just a sense of life-giving warmth.
Her savior would finally appear after scraping away a large panel of wood. He was a tall man covered in patches and rags, poorly hiding the black-plated chitin that eked out of his skin.
He looked at Camula silently, one human eye cerulean and one compound eye amber.
The creature offered Camula his hand, half-laced with chitin and spikes. Camula hesitated, expecting her savior to be nothing more than an illusion, a figment of false hope before she would be pulled back into Hell.
Yet it was very real, as Camula took her savior's strong but gentle hand.
Camula shot up from her bed, her listless slumber broken by her never-ending nightmare. Her breath was heavy, and her head was damp with sweat.
She felt her mortal heart beating rapidly, not used to the rush of blood that fear and panic brought.
She looked around to remember that she was in the dorm room that Tawna showed her, it was bit humbler compared to her old bedroom, but it was a better comfort compared to what Camula was going to reside in; outside.
While her memories still haunted her, she couldn't help but be intrigued by them. During her stint in the afterlife, she would try to change her fate, but to no avail. However, this time was different; there was a savior, warmth, and hope; perhaps this meant she had made progress? She wasn't sure.
Camula hugged herself as her mind lingered on her savior, the stranger was no doubt an anagram of Orion, but for what reason? He's a weird but mundane boy. Camula had doubts about whether he had a say in the grand scheme of things.
Camula shook her head at the thought of Orion being something more than he was, he was a fool…A kind-hearted fool, but a fool nonetheless.
Camula slowly laid back down and went back to sleep, hoping to get a dreamless slumber after the nightmare.
She'll need it, tomorrow is her first day as a student at Duel Academy. Hopefully, it will be quick and uneventful.