My eyes fly open at 6 as usual, despite the late and unusual night. I see Lisa and Camilla sleeping softly, and quickly change into my favourite black zip jeans (they have zips covering the whole thing), a navy tank top with my azure duelling coat. I brush my hair and put it into a quick side French plait, put on my usual eyeliner (with no flick), mascara, and concealer. I finish with my shade lip balm and head out the door, just as Lisa and Camilla are flicking their eyes open.
I decide to head to the library, I mean, I can't think of a better place right now, plus there's still… 2 ½ hours till the first duel. I head straight in to the deserted library, and decide to go for the Ancient Egyptian Duel Monsters book. It's all about how the ancient Egyptians played duel monsters, as they didn't have the same technology as we do. I sit down in the corner and start to read myself away. Just as I get past Chapter 1, I hear a rustling noise and look up. It's a girl from duel academy, wearing obelisk blue uniform. I study her closely, and realise she's one of the competitors. I think her name is… Rhodes was it? Alexis Rhodes? I think so. It looks like that's her name. Pushing my wandering mind out of the way and get back to my book.
"Alexis." I hear a slightly familiar voice and look up. Oh no! For heaven's sake! Why do I keep on seeing him at random places!
"Oh, hi Zane." Alexis replies smiling. "What are you doing here?"
"Getting a book." He says bluntly. Wow, this guy gets to the point. They continue a quiet conversation and I try to get back to my book. (They used Stone Tablets…duel…) I attempt to carry on reading but of course I find it easy to eavesdrop on conversations.
"The line up's quite tough this year." Zane says truthfully.
"That's true. I don't like the look of that Czar. But then there's also 4 freshmen competing, which is weird. Jaden and Bastian are really good duellists, then there's me, and-" Alexis replies. I've already picked up she makes up most of the conversation.
"Azure Roarke. The youngest competitor. Her birthday's in June." He says, interrupting. How does he know my birthday?
"Yeah, she seems awfully shy. I don't think she would've talked to anyone last night if Jaden hadn't spoken to her." Alexis added.
"If you want to ask any questions, go ahead. She's over there in that corner." Zane says in the same tone. Wait what? I carry on staring at my book, and quickly turn the page as I hear them approaching.
"Hi. I'm Alexis. Sorry, I didn't know you were in here. And of course Zane forgot to mention it till now." She said nicely, grumbling about Zane though. I conceal a smirk and look up.
"That's okay." I reply softly.
"So what are you doing?" She carries on, trying to make a conversation.
"I was reading." I answer shortly, trying not to emphasise the "was". I look up to see their faces. First I look to Alexis, who was smiling kindly, and then slightly frightfully to Zane, who to my horror was smirking.
"What?" I ask, confused, yet secretly being pissed off.
"I've noticed you like to be alone, in deserted places where you can think. I've also noticed I seem to bump into you a lot." He replies, his smirk stopping instantly after 3 seconds. Ignoring the urge to roll my eyes, I answer politely.
"Well, apparently you notice everything."
"Now that I can agree with! He always knows when something's strange, you should try trying to surprise him." Alexis says, rolling her eyes.
"I've been here just over a day, seen him 3 times randomly, been completely silent and invisible, yet still he knows." I agree, feeling slightly more comfortable. Wow, who knew criticizing the victor who I panic at every time I see him would help me make a conversation.
"Alexis." We hear Zane call her name through our chatter. "Firstly, we should go and get something to eat; secondly, I can't pick up on everything." He argues, yet without a hint of emotion in his voice. Jeez, this guy is stone hard. He doesn't flinch at anything.
"Yeah, I suppose so. Azure do you want to come with us?" Alexis asks, realising I'm technically in their dorm at the moment.
"No thanks, I'm not really hungry after watching Jaden last night." I say dishonestly. She nods and waves before following Zane out the library.
After catching a quick snack 30 minutes after, I head to the duelling arena. I decide to stand at the top next to the railing, ensuring a great view. After 10 minutes the stands are full up and the commentator was holding the microphone.
"All right! Is everyone ready to get this duel underway!" He started. The huge crowd roared as the first two duellists came up on stage. "Please welcome… Sandy Scheck from South Academy! This third year may be a laid back sunbather, but she has skill when it comes to duelling!"
"And now, Jaden Yuki from Duel Academy! He's a freshman Slifer, but his duelling record is absolutely crazy! Let's get this duel underway!"
"Hi! I'm Jaden! Nice to meet you Sandy!" Jaden starts. "Sorry to have to do this, but you better get your game on, cos I'm gonna win!"
"Nice try freshman, but nothing you do can match me!" Sandy shoots back.
"Let's duel!"
"I'll go first! I summon elemental hero Avion!" Jaden says. "Then, I activate the card Polymerisation, with Avion and my Elemental hero Burstinatrix to form… Elemental hero flamed wingman!"
"Wow, Jaden really is going for it. Full out with one of his best monster in his first turn!" I look to the side and see Bastian with Alexis, standing not too far away.
"Yeah, I guess so. I just hope he doesn't get too carried away with the fun of it." Alexis replies. She turns her head and I quickly turn away, focusing my view on the duel.
"Hey, Azure! Why don't you come over here and join us?!" Alexis says, noticing me and waving. I look to her and nod shyly, shuffling over closer to them.
"Oh hello Azure, I see you and Alexis got aquainted." Batian says, spotting me after Alexis called my name.
"Yeah, we bumped into each other in the library." I say with a small smile at Alexis.
"We bonded over other people's annoying features." Alexis adds, smirking, and I see her shoot a quick glance at Zane Truesdale, who's sitting watching the duel attentively. I chuckle and turn back to the duel.
"Look there, Sandy's fighting back with that almost seamless combo." Bastian says interested, leaning over the railing.
"Now with Wynn the wind charmer powered up with a few more attack points, attack Elemental hero bubbleman!" Sandy roars, taking Jaden down to 800 life points.
"Wow, I didn't think Jaden wouold go down that fast. I thought he would be better at standing his ground when I met him." I say, coming out of my shell more with Alexis here.
"You just wait, he'll find his way back on top." Bastian replies with a smile.
"Wow Sandy, I'll admit it, you're good!" Jaden says smiling at Sandy.
"You're only realising that now, freshman?" Sandy replies unamused.
"I guess so, but now, you're going down!" He answers grinning, and draws. "Now, using Polymarisation, I summon elemental hero Thunder giant! I also use the spell card, warrior returning alive to resurrect elemental hero Avion from the graveyard. Then, I activate Mystical space typhoon, and destroy your facedown!" Jaden pauses while Sandy's facedown is revealed. It's a Negate attack card.
"Now Avion, attack wynn the wind charmer!" Wynn the wind charmer gets destroyed and Sandy's life points go down to 1800. Sandy just stands there slightly shocked.
"It's been a great duel Sandy, but I'm going to end it! Thunder giant! Attack Hiita the fire charmer!" Thunder giant destroys the fire charmer and Sandy is out of life points. "That's game!"
I stare at Jaden in amazement, then start joining in the applause.
"Talk about a comeback. It may come out as a lucky draw, but Jaden actually has skill behind it." I murmur.
"Yes, the first few duels he took part in, everyone thought he was just lucky, but after he won 10, people started to believe that he actually belonged here, despite the weird endings." Bastian says intellectually. I nod. "You, know, I think you're the first person I've met since getting here who has a high enough intelligence level to even understand me half the time." He says smiling at me.
"Well, if you have friends like Jaden, I guess I can see why." I say in my usual quiet voice, yet with a smirk tugging on my lips.
The duels go by, and it gets to my duel. It's in half an hour, 9 duels have already taken place. My deck's ready, but Lucien Grimly… I've overheard a few rumours that he uses a reaper deck, and has been on a winning streak for a while. I mean a reaper deck! It forces cards onto the field so it can wipe them out in one go, dealing a lot of damage. I'm going to have to step it up if I want to win this one.
"Hey, Azure, are you going to the duel arena?" I turn round in the corridor, to see Jaden, Syrus, Bastian and Alexis coming up to me.
"Yeah I guess." I say, not being able to keep the nerves out of my voice.
"Don't worry! You'll win for sure!" Jaden says grinning, and I hide a secret smile for his optimism.
"Yeah, don't worry Azure, of course you'll win!" I hear a horribly familiar voice and feel the presence of HER behind me. "I mean, no pressure. It's not like you're the youngest competitor or anything. Really, I would've asked to swap with Ryan if I were you."
"Hey, you're Lisa correct? You're duelling later on aren't you! Well Azure, we better get to the stands, we don't want to miss your duel-"
"Excuse me." I say quietly before dodging out of Lisa's way and hurrying to the duel arena.
Okay, here we go. All the preparation done, all the tactics. All the possibilities thought out in my head in case he has a different deck or doesn't do anything usual.
"Please Welcome our youngest competitor, Azure Roarke from east academy!" I hear the commentator shout my name, and I head out onto the duel stage. I look across at my opponent, dark hair and a scowl set on his face, and the duel begins.