A few weeks go by and I find myself settling in at Duel Academy very comfortably. I'm good in classes, I have fun chatting and laughing with Alexis, have quite a few friends, and then at night I go to see Zane. Every time I even think his name my stomach buzzes and I want to murder myself for being such a girl.
However, it's easy for even me to see how happy I am when I'm with him. We talk for around an hour, but I guess I'm never really checking for how long we talk. He knows a lot, I can definitely see why he's such a good duellist. He knows about literally all duelling card types, monsters, and special abilities in quite a lot of depth, and I hope I'm as knowledgeable as him in my last year. And of course, at the end of our conversations, he walks me back to my window, where we share a short but sweet kiss before I climb up the vines and the white-painted pipes as lady-like as possibly can be through my window, before watching him walk away after making sure I don't fall.
Now I really sound like a girl. Oh well. I've seen Tom quite a lot lately. Well, actually I guess it's not much, but it feels like too much since I haven't seen him for such a long time. But something I didn't expect, is that it's never awkward.
"Hey Az!" I hear my name called from across the green grass and look up from my book to see my brother walking across to me, smiling. Out of the corner of my eye I see Elly walking away, a sad frown on her face.
"What's up Tom? And don't call me that! Your girlfriend doesn't seem to be in a good mood." I reply, nudging my shoulder to the entrance of the Obelisk blue girls dorm, where Elly had just disappeared into.
He shrugs, and sits down next to me.
"Well, I guess I've been preoccupied trying to decide what to say to mum. And Hunter. God, he must hate me right now." Tom mutters resentfully. I hesitate.
"Actually, last time I spoke to Hunter the only thing he had a real opinion about was when you got your first girlfriend." I say sheepishly. He grins.
"16 and a bit. That's how old I was when Elly and I got together. Hunter was seventeen wasn't he?"
"Wouldn't that be convenient for you? I think he was 16 as well…" I say, trailing off.
"And don't worry about Hunter. The letter you sent to Mum was by far enough to get her happy, and if she's happy Hunter's happy." I say supportively, and Tom manages a small smile. "I've got to go see Professor Banner. I better go. See you later."
A few days afterwards, I'm visiting the Slifer red dorm with Alexis.
"I'll knock." I say, about to tap the door lightly when it burst open, Jaden, Sy, and a larger boy I don't recognise in a heap on the floor.
"No! I want to-"
"It was mine first!"
"No, mine!"
The three boys argue, and I see a sweet of some kind roll onto the floor.
I pick it up and examine it.
"You're arguing over candy?" I question, and the boys look up, finally realising we were there, and grin sheepishly. Suddenly I feel the sweet slip from my fingers and I look to Alexis who has just taken the sweet from it's wrapper and popped it into her mouth.
"Hey! I wanted that!" Jaden says outraged, as the boys stand up, straightening their uniform slightly.
Alexis shrugs, and I grin.
"What are you doing here Azure, Alexis?" Jaden asks, and I answer.
"We were bored after todays' classes, and I realised we hadn't seen you for a while."
"Well, why don't we walk up to the courtyard? I haven't had a good duel for ages, we can find a duel there for sure!" Jaden says enthusiastically.
"Okay, why don't we start walking!" Alexis says, and we all turn onto the dusty path.
"Hi, my name's Chumley. You are?" Slightly startled as the boy I don't know speaks to me, I reply.
"Azure. I transferred here recently from East Academy." I say smoothly. It's kind of refreshing to have someone not know who I am around here.
"After winning the Duel Tournament!" Alexis adds, and I blush at her praise. 2Honestly Chumley, did you ever even leave your dorm during that time?"
"So you won the duel tournament huh? And only a freshman. I'm a senior. But I'm not very good… especially since I've been flunking classes for a while now…" He trails of.
So, another one of Jaden's friends with confidence issues… seems to be a trend.
"Well it's nice to meet you Chumley." I say. Our surroundings have slowly gotten filled with students of all colours, despite the late hour, and soon Jaden's looking for an opponent.
"What about that guy Jaden, he looks tough." Syrus says softly, and I watch from behind. I'm surprised at how late it is, nearly 7, it'll be dark soon, but quite a few people are out duelling, or watching duels.
"Hey!" I here a slightly familiar voice, and turn around.
"Elly! Hey, how are you?" I ask calmly after seing the blonde's aggravated face.
"How am I? Well, since you've been distracting my boyfriend with what not, not exactly amazing!" She says irritated.
"You mean Tom?" I say surprised, soon a small crowd has gathered to listen in.
"Yeah, him!" She says in a "duh" way. "I've worked my butt off for ages to keep him happy, and now you come and take him away!"
"I had no intention to." I say apologetically.
"No intention? Well why don't we see. I still don't see what the big deal is about you. Tom lost to you because he was confused, everyone else you beat were just flukes. Let's duel." She challenges me, and I raise my eyebrows. There's a few moments of silence, and everyone looks at me as if I would decline. I ponder the thoughts in my head, and take a step forward.
"Meet me at the harbour, at sunset. Which is 8:47 for those who don't know. I'll be there."
I turn and walk towards the girl's dorm, to go and research. I hear footsteps behind me, and realise Alexis is following.
"Azure, are you actually going to do this?" She asks incredulously, and I frown.
"Why wouldn't I? I need to set something straight with her." I say obviously.
"Oh… you don't know." She says, looking down. I stop to face her.
"I don't know what?" I ask, puzzled.
"Azure, you're a top-rated duellist here. I don't know what rank you are overall, but your top out of all freshmen, and top 5 at least overall. Plus, you're the most recent tournament winner. A lot of people have filed in challenges to you."
"What? I'm confused. This is the first challenge I've received." I say, even more puzzled.
"Things work differently here. There are so many more students, that there's an application system for duels. Especially against the top duellists. It all goes through the Professors before it actually happens though." She explains.
"So people have asked to duel me… without me even knowing?" I suddenly realise.
"Exactly. For instance Zane, as the top-duellist of the whole academy, he only duels students in the top 10. The competitors in the tournament weren't even the top 10. Quite a few duellists opt out of those tournaments. But Elly… I have no idea what rank she is, but nowhere near even the top 50."
I suddenly realise what Alexis has explained, and I turn back to the dorm.
"No matter. I'm not backing out of this." I say confidently. "Come on, why don't you help me prep?" I say finally, and go to my room.
As I arrange my deck, I try and think about what Alexis said. I guess it makes sense… like a pro wouldn't duel a random challenger. Especially since so many people would want to duel a pro.
"Where did you get your deck? It's not in any books, it's never even been used before in any known duels! But it's still registered?" Alexis asks and I try to find a good lie. I fail miserably.
"I don't really know." I shrug, and she raises her eyebrows at me.
"Ugh, fine. It was made for me. My duelling teachers gave it to me as a gift." I admit to her.
"You had duelling teachers?" She asks, and I give a small smile.
"Yeah. For two years before I started going to East." I say, but not really wanting to say anymore, I look to the clock. "Come on, it's nearly sunset. Let's go."
As I walk up to the port, flanked by Alexis, I catch sight of Jaden, Syrus, Bastian and Chumley waiting.
"Hey Azure, we came to support you!" Syrus says smiling.
"Thanks guys, but there was no need." I say, but smile gratefully.
"No worries, it's our-" Syrus' words stumble, and I frown. "p-pleasure." He finishes, and I turn round and see Zane walk up to the lighthouse. He acknowledges me, and nods, before turning to look out to sea.
"What's the top-duellist doing here?" Chumley wonders, surprised.
"How did he even know?" Jaden adds. "We barely even heard."
"Didn't you hear? Zane's top-duellist, he knows everything that happens around here." Alexis says.
"Of course, and who knows why he's here." Bastion says. I catch his eyes, and I know he'll be watching out for me.
"Azure!" I hear Tom's voice unexpectedly and turn on my heel.
"Tom… and Elly." I address the two coming towards us, and nod my head slightly.
"Az, what are you doing?" Tom asks me outraged.
"She wanted to duel." I say bluntly.
"Wha..Why?" He splutters, looking between me and Elly.
"Thomas, just let me handle this. I'm just trying to show her that she can't barge straight back into your life!" Elly says, and activates her duel disk.
My stomach growls with irritation, and I slide my duel disk from my pocket, and activate it.
"You heard her Tom, get out of the way." I say, and glare at Elly. Tom takes one look at my stare and takes quite a few steps back.
"Let's duel!"
"My turn first!" Elly says with a girlish squeal. "I summon Gemini Elf (1900/900) in attack mode. I set one monster in defence position and place two face downs and end my turn."
"Good, I draw!" I slash my card out in a clean line, and take a look at my cards. " I summon Dark Shadow Hunter (1600/1600) in attack mode. This monster's special effect allows me to look at the cards in your hand." Her hand appears in front of me, and I make sure to memorise each one. " I now place the field spell Limbo, which adds 1000 attack points to all shadow monsters. Now, Dark Shadow Hunter, attack Gemini Elf!" The attack hits, and Gemini elf is destroyed and Elly takes the hit, bringing her down to 3300 life points. Maybe this is going to be easier than I thought it was.
"I place 2 face downs and end my turn." I say calmly, and wait for her move.
"I draw, and I summon Dark Elf (2000/800) in attack mode. I activate the spellbook of power, which adds 1000 attack points to my Dark Elf. Now, Dark Elf, attack Dark Shadow Hunter!" Damnit. I'm going to have to take the hit! I have a trap down, but I need a monster in my hand to use it! Dark Shadow Hunter is destroyed, and the wind whips past me, my hair blowing in the wind. However, I stand tall, and don't move a muscle. I know not to let any opponents know what I'm thinking.
I can't believe I underestimated her though. I need to focus more. Cos I really can't lose this duel.
"I end my turn." Elly says smugly.
"I draw." My voice is clear, and crisp, and I hide behind my hair so people can't see my anxiety. I tilt the card to the perfect angle, and after seeing it, look up.
The victorious look that was plastered on her face disappears as my head rises, a smirk unable to hide.
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