Dark Magician Girl awoke to the familiar sound of a Kuribo at her doorstep.

He was the weakest monster in the entire deck, but Dark Magician Girl still envied him. He rarely saw the duel, and if he did, it was from the confines of the Lord's hand. He was often discarded, allowed to retreat without fighting. In that respect, he was perhaps, the luckiest of all the Lord's monsters.

"Hey there, little guy." Dark Magician Girl patted the small brown monster on the head, as if he were a small dog. "What brings you over to the spellcasters' barrack?"

Kuribo chirped seriously, holding a scroll in his small green hands.

"Oh!" Dark Magician Girl sat up quickly. "It's a message from Mystic Elf!"

She took the scroll immediately, and unrolled it as fast as she could.

"Maybe she's already finished healing Master!" Dark Magician Girl hoped for the best, but good news wasn't often sent via Kuribo. "… or maybe not… The scroll just says Mystic Elf wants to talk to me…"

She automatically feared the worst.

"Oh, we could be summoned any minute! I've got to hurry!"

Kuribo chirped again, as Dark Magician Girl grabbed her wand. He seemed a little impatient.

"Thanks, Kuribo!" she added frantically. "Cookies are in the jar by my bed. You can help yourself!"

Kuribo chirped under his breath, before climbing hopping onto her bed, and pulling down the entire jar. Dark Magician Girl was already sprinting down the hall. It was in Kuribo's favor, that in her frenzy, the young spellcaster probably wouldn't even remember owning a jar of cookies later.

Dark Magician Girl didn't slow down until she approached the Graveyard.

"Mystic Elf?" she called softly. "Mystic Elf? Are you here? You wanted to see me about something?"

"Yes, Dark Magician Girl." The healer answered softly, coming out from behind the tent. "I do."

Dark Magician Girl followed the elder woman around back. Mystic Elf kept her voice quiet. Above all else, she did not want to arouse panic in the deck.

As she passed the open flap she could see her master lying on the far cot. His deepest wounds had been bandaged. His torso was wrapped tightly, to hopefully remind the powerful spellcaster that extraneous movement would only bring more pain. His right arm hung limply over his chest, as though he could barely move that if he tried. At least he was finally getting some much-needed rest.

"About what?" she finally asked, nervously tilting her wand back and forth.

"About your master…" Mystic Elf whispered softly.

"You… you were able to heal him, right?"

"I did as I promised I would, young one." Mystic Elf replied. "I tried my best. But in many circumstances, even with the best of intentions, my best is not good enough."

"But…"

"I healed his injuries to the best of my ability, but you see… he cannot take many more battles like that."

Dark Magician Girl nodded silently.

"Even the strongest duel monster can only stand up to so much. He has no time to heal before he is forced back into the duel." Mystic Elf explained. "His wounds were very serious. He… I almost lost him a couple of times before I finished with the fastest healing spell I know."

Again, Dark Magician Girl nodded silently, physically stunned at the healer's terrifying report.

"Even he does not know how close he came to being removed from the duel… permanently." She sighed. "Another blow like that, and he will not survive…"

"No…" Dark Magician Girl gasped.

"He must not fight again!" Mystic Elf demanded. "Not in this condition. Not until his body can heal from the relentless abuse he has put himself through!"

"But… w..what choice does master have?" Dark Magician Girl shouted, forgetting Mystic Elf's intention of keeping things low key. "It's not like we can just… just turn down an order from the Lord! If we're summoned, we're summoned!"

"Calm your voice child, or…"

"My apprentice is right, Mystic Elf." A familiar voice cracked behind them. Dark Magician leaned weakly on his wand, barely managing to stand.

"What are you doing up?" Mystic Elf shrieked, spinning around. "I told you to lie there and rest until your wounds are healed! This is not some kind of game, you know…"

"Master, please… do what Mystic Elf says!" Dark Magician Girl pleaded, rushing to her master's side. She put an arm around him for support. "You're badly hurt. You need to rest."

"Apprentice… Rest is not a luxury we can afford." He answered weakly. It hurt to speak. It even hurt to breathe, although he would not admit it. "Can you not feel… the uneasy silence in the air? Another duel is starting."

"Oh no…" Dark Magician Girl gasped. She had felt it, but hoped against fate that her premonition was wrong.

"Even so, I want you in bed." Mystic Elf demanded. "You may not even be summoned, in which this getting up and wandering around will only hurt your recovery…"

"Rock Spirit has already been summoned." Dark Magician answered. "Obnoxious Celtic Guardian was summoned into the Lord's hand as well."

"All the more peace and quiet for you, then. Aren't I right?" Mystic Elf returned quickly, carefully turning the powerful spellcaster back towards the Graveyard. He slowly walked back towards the tent, but not for that purpose.

"I know my place in the deck." He whispered, sitting on the edge of the cot. The other duel monsters watched the small spectacle, hoping they were far from the top. "Brace my injuries… and help me put my armor back on… please. I will fight for the Lord."

"Master…"

"The duel is already underway. I am third from the top. It will not be long before the Lord calls for me."

Mystic Elf lowered her head. She knew there was nothing she could do to protest. If Dark Magician were going to be summoned, he would be summoned. It was as simple as that.

"Lift up your robe, Dark Magician." She sighed, bandaging his shoulder again. "Perhaps a brace will give you at least some protection."

Dark Magician winced and bit his lip, burying his pain as the joint moved. Even Mystic Elf's gentle touch was painful.

"Now, don't even think of lifting your wand with that arm!" she scolded. "And do your best not to take any hits, please…"

Mystic Elf carefully lifted the plates of armor over Dark Magician's head, fastening them in place. To the injured spellcaster, it was an almost unbearable weight, but he forced himself to endure it. She helped strap his hat under his chin, and fasten his gauntlets over his bruised arms.

"I… do not know if I will be able to heal you again…" she finally admitted. "Your injuries are very very serious."

After an agonizing minute, Dark Magician stood up.

"I am the Lord's eternal servant." He bowed respectfully. "If that is my fate… then so be it."

And he weakly made his way into foyer, where the other duel monsters were already waiting.