Going Pro

Chapter 16: Taken by Storm

"Bi-bi-bii?"

"Nuh…" Jesse tried.

"Ruby-bi-bii!"

Jesse slowly woke up with a groan. As he lifted his head from his desk, a paper was stuck to his face and his hair was flipped in odd directions. "Huh?" he managed to utter with his eyes half-opened. A pair of glasses was crooked on his face.

Ruby Carbuncle jumped and circled in front of him. "Bi-bii!"

Jesse blinked at the spirit's apparent distress before he pulled the paper off his face. "I fell asleep?"

"Bi-bi!"

Jesse looked around and realized the time. "Oh no!" he shot up. "I'm going to be late!"

He quickly changed into his uniform and ran a comb through his hair. Then he grabbed his toiletry bag and ran to the bathroom, which was already empty since the other boys probably already left for breakfast. The one time a loud intrusion by Ray would have been helpful would have been today. Not that Jesse blamed him or anything.

When Jesse got back to his room after he was ready, he picked up his deck and his duel disk and ran outside. He lined up with the rest of his dorm mates when opening announcements were about to start.

"Welcome back, North Academy students!" Chancellor Foster began. "I hope everyone had a refreshing break and is ready start the term strong. As many of you know, we have a transfer in the first year class, Jesse Anderson, would you wave, please."

Jesse was surprised to be singled out so quickly. He raised his hand.

"Both arms high up, so everyone can see you," Foster told him, so Jesse lifted both his arms and waved a little. It seemed to work. Some of the boys whispered, some simply turned forward again when Foster began to talk again. "I am also proud to announce we have some exciting events this term. First of all, Family and Friends Visitation Day is only a month away, so we must make sure our campus stays in pristine condition. Then we are having some Pro League and industry guests from around the world to teach in your classes, so be respectful and take many notes, because it's for your futures. And lastly, something I am sure you boys will look forward to the most, our school was invited by Perennial Garden Academy, a girls boarding school, for a social mixer. In preparation for such an event, there will be some seminars and lessons on being a gentleman, so be sure to make our academy look good and make a good impression during each of these events!"

Some of the boys were confused by that last event. From what Jesse could gather, they hadn't attended such an event before. Soon the confusion was replaced by excitement when someone pointed out they were going there to specifically meet and entertain girls. Based on Foster's expression, Jesse thought there was more to it than that. He had no idea what it could be. What could a rich girl's boarding school have to do with a duel monsters and a gaming academy?

Foster wished good luck to the boys in their studies and duels, told them to do their best, and then dismissed them to attend their first classes for the term.

Jesse wasn't sure what he was expecting from the classes. There were ordinary classrooms in many of the other buildings on campus. Rows of tables served as their desks and the professors stood at the front with a whiteboard and projector to lecture. The first half of the day was like this. Just listening to the professors and taking notes.

Halfway through the day, they were released for a free period. Jesse had already learned that this was when most of the students got lunch at the cafeteria, but some went back to the cabins, dueled, socialized, crammed for quizzes, and other things.

"Jesse!" Ray called out and waved enthusiastically when Jesse entered the cafeteria.

"Hey, I'm going to get food," Jesse said simply as he passed by Ray. He heard Ray tell him to hurry or something like that, but Jesse didn't rush or anything. He already figured out that Ray was high energy and always said stuff like that.

When Jesse sat with his dorm mates once again, he wondered if he should branch out while he was still new to the school. He had met many other students already today, but he knew he couldn't befriend them if he didn't speak to them.

"How's it going, Jesse?" Ray asked with his mouth full.

"It's fine," he said. "I nearly slept in this morning because I was studying so late."

"Oh I was going to wake you this morning but Sean told me not to," Ray whined.

Sean looked at his friend. "I didn't say not to, I said you shouldn't go barging in there."

"Isn't it what you meant?" Ray said.

Sean sighed. "You're hopeless."

Jesse looked over at the other boys. His attention settled on Daniel, because the brown-haired male was reading and his meal was getting cold in front of him. "Daniel, aren't you going to eat?" Jesse finally inquired.

"Huh? Oh, yeah," Daniel chuckled and put his book down.

"What were you reading?" Jesse asked.

"Just a story," he said. "It's a nice break from text books and study material," he smiled.

"So you like to read?" Jesse asked.

"Yep," Daniel said casually and started eating. "Books with plots and stories are way better than boring text books," he added.

Jesse didn't actually read much outside of what he had to. He had some books, both fiction and nonfiction that he always meant to pick up and read, but he always found something else he'd rather do, even it was read Duel Monsters magazines.

He kept talking with Daniel, and learned that he was a third year student. Jesse was surprised, but Daniel was quite a bit taller than him and did have an air of familiarity with everything around him. He seemed like an average guy, both in intelligence and appearance. There wasn't really anything that stood out about him. Ray was high-energy and talkative, and had dirty blond hair and bright green eyes to help him stand out. Sean had his fake orange hair and lots of helpful information. Then his own blue hair, green eyes, and the Crystal Beasts helped him stand out against the rest. Jesse was already witnessing times when Daniel would fade into the background of a crowd, and he wondered if Daniel knew this was happening.

"What are you hoping to do when you graduate?" Jesse asked. "I'm looking to travel as an international duelist myself."

"Hmm," Daniel thought. "I haven't quite decided yet," he shrugged. "I'll just be happy being a part of the Duel Monsters professional world, even if it's as support staff."

"Well I hope you find yourself in a position that makes you happy," Jesse smiled.

Jesse finished eating and checked his PDA. His afternoon classes were in a different building, because the afternoons were practical learning and fitness. He checked his messages and found two from Ray. The first one was something about chili, and the second one was an apology for sending it to the wrong person. Jesse deleted them right away. Then he got another message and thought it was from Ray again. It was from Julia. Jesse had set up a message forwarding to his PDA so he only had to carry around one device, aside from his duel disk.

"Hope your classes at NA are going great, study hard!" – From Julia.

Jesse smiled as he entered his reply message, telling her he would do his best.

"Why are you smiling?" Evan asked. Evan seemed a bit spacy and was always asking questions. Mostly simple ones, but every once in a while he ask something interesting, and everyone else at the table seemed to think this was an interesting one.

"My friend from back home sent me a message," Jesse answered honestly. They seemed satisfied with his answer.

"What kind of friend?" Evan asked, and everyone had their attention on Jesse again.

"Just a friend from my old school," Jesse said as he put the device away.

"A girl?" Evan asked.

"Yes, a girl friend." Jesse froze, realizing how they heard it when they smirked or grinned. "You know what I meant, geez," he sighed. Of course, that didn't prevent the teasing that followed.

When he went to his next class, he was surprised to find they were dueling against computer ran simulations of specific challenges instead of each other. Jesse did understand that this way guaranteed diverse practice for all levels. It was a good way to make sure the students understood how rituals, fusions, and all sorts of combinations worked. Since Jesse was a transfer student, he started out on level one, but he as he passed each level he already noted how each one got more difficult.

For the most part, this class was dependent on the student to learn and problem solve, just like they would be required to in real duels when they face against someone challenging using complex moves. The instructor walked around to each station to check on the students' progress and walk them through any problems they had.

For the end of the day, Jesse had two hours of physical activity. He and the others dressed down and went outside to play soccer for over an hour and then Jesse went inside to use weights. For some reason this school decided physical ability and fitness were important. Jesse didn't mind this since he actually enjoyed it so far. He had plenty of energy to spend.

He went back to his cabin to shower and then to his dorm room where he flopped on his bed. "Phew, what a day!" he said as he stretched out on his back. "Good thing that activity block is at the end of the day."

"We're happy you like it here," Amethyst Cat said after she appeared beside him. She had one paw neatly draped over the other.

Jesse smiled and nodded as he looked up at the ceiling as he laid there with his towel under his head. "They're probably making up for the fact there's no sports otherwise, so no clubs or teams."

"Like how you were thinking about joining Track and Field in the spring?" Topaz Tiger remembered as Jesse nodded.

"What is Track and Field anyway?" Cobalt Eagle asked.

"It's a lot of running, but there are also different types of jumping and throwing, it had options, which I liked," Jesse explained.

"I wouldn't know much about that kind of stuff," Cobalt Eagle joked as he opened his wings. Jesse smiled at that.

Jesse closed his eyes as he combed back his damp hair with his hand. "I suppose I should try hang gliding or something like that, that's something you and I can do together Cobalt Eagle, and Sapphire Pegasus too if he'd like that."

"That would be fun!" Cobalt Eagle praised.

"Jesse, what about me?" Amethyst Cat whined as she bumped him with her head.

"Down girl," Jesse laughed. "We spend lots of time together relaxing and you get to be on my bed," he reminded. She just smiled as purred next to his head. Even with the constant reminders, Jesse would still forget that she was just like a normal feline in many ways. He thought he should find a large cardboard box to see what she would do with it.

Jesse felt a chill and noticed his window wasn't closed completely. He figured he was being careless last night and didn't lock it up either. It wasn't even opened a crack, but it was enough to keep the room cool. With the window locked and the curtain drawn, the room was already feeling warmer. Once he dried off his hair some more and hung up his towel, he sat at his desk and found where he left off in studying the night before. He never considered himself an overachiever before, but he really wanted to do well so he could prove himself and have more opportunities later on.

It wasn't long before his stomach got his attention and alerted him to dinner time. He actually beat Ray to his door and saw the other boy coming towards him in the hall. They gathered up some of the other boys that were in the cabin and headed to the cafeteria.

The conversation was normal. Some were already complaining about the workload they were expecting this term in the classes and others were discussing changes they were thinking about making to their decks. Jesse didn't have much to change in his Crystal Beast deck besides some choice spells and traps, but he was considering his other options for higher level monster cards until the Rainbow Dragon was located. He still had to talk to the Crystal Beasts about how to go about that and what they thought about it.

Since they had been talking about making changes to their decks, some of them went to the card shop on campus. Jesse thought they had a pretty good selection for the size of the room everything was stuffed into. He ended up buying just an equip spell booster pack. Even if there wasn't anything that would work well with the Crystal Beasts, he still had his other deck which was now on standby in case he needed it, or just wanted to use it again.

Ray and Sean dueled right outside the cabin, with Sean earning a fast victory when Ray started out with a supposedly terrible opening hand. Sean's magicians made quick work of Ray's fire deck when he didn't have any counters or ways to stop Sean's monsters in the beginning.

Jesse spent the rest of the night procrastinating from his studies and ended up playing a game on his computer. He didn't even realize how long he played it until he got tired and went to bed.

He couldn't remember his dream very well when he woke up the next morning. All he could recall was a white light. If he had bothered to think on it further, then he might have thought it was ominous.

His day was much like the previous one, but this time they had more work in class and more notes were taken. Exam material was already being given so he had to do his best to absorb it all. Instead of soccer, he warmed up by running around the inside perimeter of the campus and then he played baseball with the other boys.

After his shower back at the cabin, he returned to his dorm room to lie on his bed. "I told you it wouldn't take very long, I didn't get as sweaty today as I did yesterday, so I cleaned up faster," he told the Crystal Beasts.

When he didn't hear a response after a minute, he finally looked over to his desk where his deck case and duel disk were resting. Amethyst Cat wasn't on his bed yet either so he scooted over to make more room for her.

"Hey guys?" Jesse asked and when none appeared, he quickly got up and went over to his deck box to look inside. His cards were there, but he took them out anyway and looked though them, just to check on the Crystal Beasts. He reached the end of the deck and his heart sank. They weren't there.

He felt a chill and looked over to his window. It was open a crack again and he knew for sure he didn't open it since closing it up yesterday. Quickly, he dropped everything and grabbed his coat, throwing it on as he dashed outside. He nearly pushed Ray and Evan out of his way as he rushed passed them in the hall.

Jesse looked around and didn't see anybody. When he took a moment to close his eyes and think, he could still hear Ruby Carbuncle somewhere nearby. She was still close, somewhere on campus.

"Jesse! Are you alright?" Ray called after him and ran out of the cabin after him. Evan and Sean appeared behind him. They were all confused.

"What happened?" Sean asked.

Jesse didn't look at them. "Someone took the Crystal Beasts," he said plainly. He didn't wait for them to respond before he took off to run through campus.

He reached the back wall and could feel them on the other side, but they were moving away. He could also hear Ruby Carbuncle calling out to him. With his hands on the cold wall, he ran alongside it, trying to find another way out. Up ahead, he saw a ladder that went all the way to the top. He didn't even think before going straight up.

At the top of the wall, he was able to walk along the path the wall created. It was too windy at the top, so he didn't dare move too much. He just needed to see them. However, he knew they were now caught in this wind and he could see the snowstorm drawing near. There wasn't going to be much time.

When he went back down the ladder, he ran through campus again and pushed open the gate.

"What are you doing?" An older nearby student called out to him and made like he was going to stop him.

"I have to get them back!" Jesse ran outside once the gate was open enough for him to get through.

"You can't go out there at a time like this, you'll freeze!" The older boy shouted as he ran after Jesse, but it was too late.

Jesse heard what his senior said, but he didn't care what happened to himself. He was far more concerned with the Crystal Beasts. If something happened to them, he wouldn't be able to take it. He was trusted to take care of them. At the moment, finding them was the only thing on his mind.

He finally got around to the backside of the campus and the wind was already beating against him. Pushing through, he started off into the snowfield. The icy air felt like it was cutting his skin. His still damp hair from his shower had already developed ice chips that were eventually blown away. He squinted against the wind and tried to shield his eyes as best he could while looked around.

He heard Ruby Carbuncle again.

Jesse spun around and tried to pinpoint where it came from. He didn't even realize he couldn't see the walls of the school anymore. The snow and wind were whipping his coat around and he couldn't be bothered to zip it up. His hair was getting in his vision too.

"Ruby!" He called out as loud as he could. The spirit didn't answer him. "Where are you?" Were the cards still being carried away in this storm? Would he be able to catch up to them?

"Jesse!" Emerald Tortoise called out with relief.

Jesse looked down and saw the card was already getting covered in snow, so he picked it up. "I've got you, where are the others?"

"I don't know, we were scattered in the wind," the emerald spirit told him.

Jesse carefully tucked the card into his coat's chest pocket meant to hold cards. He raised his arm up to shield his face some as he pressed on forward. At least he thought he was going forward. He couldn't exactly tell. The wind was beating on him hard and he couldn't walk straight.

Jesse gasped when he saw a dark spot in otherwise white snow. He ran to it and found Amber Mammoth.

"Please find the others, Jesse," the amber spirit pleaded.

Jesse soon found Topaz Tiger and Amethyst Cat close to each other. His fingers were numb. He wished he had gloves for this. A hat would have been nice too, but there was no time to think about that kind of stuff before this. He couldn't feel his face. If he was thinking straight at all, he would have gone back already.

"Cobalt Eagle, I found you!" Jesse called out when he kneeled for the card. That was five. Two more to go. "Guys, are you able to sense either of them?"

"They're close! Please find them."

The storm was getting worse. Jesse was knocked down multiple times. He resorted to keeping really low. "I can't see anything," he complained. The snow was building up fast now, even a layer kept trying to form on his body. He wondered if he'd be able to find the last two in these conditions. They could be buried by now. It would take luck to find them.

Jesse thought he heard his name being called out, but the wind was too loud in his ears. When he looked up, he saw Sapphire Pegasus's spirit form standing in the snow.

"I'm over here, my card is right here!" he called out. Jesse had shuffle through the snow to find it.

"Yes!" Jesse said in relief when he had it his stiff hands.

He put the card with the others in his coat and tried to warm his hands. When he looked at them, the nails were already turning blue. His ears were burning from the cold. He got back to his feet and pressed on, praying he would find the last one very soon. He didn't know what he would do if he lost it.

"Ruby!" Jesse shouted as loud as he could, hoping the small spirit would call out to him. He hoped she could show her spirit right now and give him a better clue when he got close.

It hurt to move. Breathing had become painful. He couldn't see or feel anything and what he could feel of his own body was a burning sensation. Low on energy, but still high on willpower, he wasn't going to stop until he found every single Crystal Beast card…

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Author's Note:

I'm having one of those instances where my muse for the story is slipping away as soon as I get to the parts was most excited about writing. Ug, why does this happen? I'm going to keep pushing through until I get my muse back. I've been writing other things on the side more, just to take a break from this story and see if the muse comes back on its own, but it sure is taking its time.

Sorry for any leftover typos. I'll continue fixing them as I find them.