Happy holidays, I'll still be needing some OC duelists for an upcoming chapter, if you guys want to submit one, either pm me or review a character name, appearance, personality, and deck.

Second Chance for the Soulless

Chapter 4: A Reasonable Agreement

Camula sat as she silently watched Chancellor Sheppard try to calm down Crowler who was screeching at him like a banshee

After the Academy Security surrounded her, she had to go to the Chancellor's office for questioning. Camula sat on a distant sofa and eavesdropped Sheppard and Crowler's conversation.

"I was kindly, but firmly telling an unruly student to take a different seat until this horrible vampire returned and told me that my classes were useless!" Crowler described.

Camula glared at the man as he recounted his blemished tale. 'Respectfully?' She scoffed. She recalled Crowler singling out Orion and doing nothing as the students bullied him.

"Now, Crowler, I assure you that this was some trauma when you dueled Camula, she may look like her, but I doubt she's the real deal!" Chancellor Sheppard reassured, trying to make sense of this situation.

"She has green hair! she has crimson eyes! Just check her mouth, and she'll have fangs too! She is Camula!" Crowler insisted.

As the two headmasters argued, she felt several eyes staring at her; she remembered she wasn't sitting alone.

Across from her on another sofa, with a coffee table between them, were several of the spirit key holders, eyeing her suspiciously.

While she could remember their faces, she couldn't remember their names except one. There was the blonde girl, the stoic blue-haired one, and Jaden, who, in complete contrast to the three, looked at Camula with wide-eyed curiosity than distrust.

"Wow, you look exactly like that Camula gal!" He exclaimed.

"That's because she is, Jaden," Zane corrected as he stared at Camula.

Camula stared back, trying to get a read on his listless face but getting nothing. Zane was an enigma, like Orion, except more quiet and stoic.

There was a knock on the office door.

"Come in!" Chancellor Sheppard called back with a curved brow; school faculty don't need to knock to enter his office.

The door meekly opened with a loud creak as Orion peaked his head into the room.

"H-Hello, C-Chancellor Sheppard; this is Orion Yew," He meekly introduced himself, still hiding behind the door.

"Not now, Orion. This is an important matter," Sheppard said.

There was a pause from Orion as he mustered up the courage. "But C-Cammy is my friend, please Chancellor Sheppard, I can p-provide insight on t-this…" He paused again as he chose his words carefully.

"M-Misunderstanding," Orion finished.

"Hmmm, you are quite the curious type. You can come in; wait by your friend until I can get some sense from this," Sheppard replied, seemingly convinced.

"Oh, not that troublemaker again!" Crowler groaned.

With permission granted, Orion entered the room, now wearing his bug-catcher mantle with his mask tied to his hip.

Camula gave Orion a look; why would he wear his silly outdoor stuff now? Does he think it'll make him look intimidating?

He bowed in greetings before he joined Camula's side. Then, already sensing the hostility between the two glaring sides, he tried his best to get a conversation going.

"So uh...D-Do you guys like h-honey?" He asked in a mumble. The rest of the students stared at Orion, confused by the random question.

"...Well, I do, Orion," Camula replied, more so to not leave him to feel unheard than out of genuine interest.

Orion perked up, taking it as a sign to continue. From the back of his mantle, Orion pulled out a small bag fastened by string.

"You remember the honey jar I gave you, Cammy? You left it after we've dueled, so I made..." With a little tug of the string, Orion would loosen and reveal the bag's contents.

"Cookies?" Camula questioned as she grabbed one; it was shaped like a flower, crumbly to the touch, and smelled of almonds.

"Yep! I like to bake and stuff; you guys want some?" Orion offered to the opposing side.

"Oh yeah! I'm starving! Thanks, dude!" Jaden responded as he happily took a handful.

Curious about Orion's cooking, Camula took a nibble of the cookie to test its taste.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. It was delicious!

The crunchy almond and the smooth honey made a balance of flavors that brought a giddy feeling to Camula's heart. This little cookie thing was better than that whole feast she had yesterday, and that was high-quality food.

Without a second thought, Camula quickly munched on the rest of the treat.

She couldn't help but let out a little squeak of joy as she finished. Orion's cookies made her smile, made her feel excited, and it made her want another one!

But before she could snatch another one, Camula needed to remind herself that she is a woman of grace and properness; no confectionary treat should make her swoon like a petulant schoolgirl. So, after Camula regained her composure, she gave Orion her verdict.

"These are...Acceptable," Camula concluded stoically.

Orion pouted in response, not expecting to hear that. "D-Darn, guess it's back to the drawing board," he sighed.

Camula cursed herself at the sight of a disappointed Orion. 'Why are you doing this, Camula?! These treats are fabulous! Swallow your pride for once!' She growled to herself.

"No, no...They're good, Orion. I misspoke," Camula admitted as she gently took another one.

Orion's sighed in relief, "That's good coming from you, C-Cammy..." Orion replied, happy to curry her favor.

"Yeah, these are good!" Jaden added on, putting extra emphasis on the 'are', as if expecting to not like it. Jaden then, without permission, gluttonously took the rest of the cookies.

"Hey, the baker, at least gets one," Camula growled in protest.

"Sorry about that, haha! They're just too good!" Jaden said back as he gave Camula a wink before he stuffed his face with the rest of the treats.

Camula blinked several times, dumbfounded. "That doesn't solve the issue..." She grumbled.

"It's okay, Cammy, as long as you had one, then it's fine," Orion insisted as he smiled at her, motioning her for to calm down.

Camula then looked at Orion, taken aback by his generosity, "We can't just let him have his way! This twerp is taking advantage of you!" She barked back.

"Sort of like you?" Alexis remarked.

Camula paused as she took in what Alexis said. Then, Camula glared daggers at Alexis, enraged from what she was insinuating.

"How…Dare you…" Camula seethed; she looked ready to jump over the coffee table and lunge at Alexis with claws and teeth.

"That's not true." Orion came to Camula's defense without skipping a beat.

Camula looked to see Orion brushing a hand through his hair, fixing his messy bangs into a single waning curve; as he set his hair, the rest of his form soon followed; his back straightened, his eyes sharpened, and his voice clear as he turned into his serious persona.

"Cammy is my friend…My only friend in this Academy," He declared sternly.

"Only friend? That can't be true, dude," Jaden responded, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Since the three months I've been enrolled, Cammy is the only person who didn't reject me, bully me, or call me names." Orion claimed.

"Dude, you're looking at this all wrong-"

"loser, freak, weirdo, idiot, fool. These were the most common labels I was given." Orion listed them off, wincing as he said each one.

"Only Cammy…Did not, out of an academy of over a thousand." He Finished, he almost laughed at the last part, like it was a joke that he was so rejected.

Camula cringed as she listened to Orion; what he said wasn't true.

Camula has called Orion a fool many times, both openly and internally. Her calling him a fool has an entirely different meaning if he had to experience three months' worth of others doing the same.

So why is he lying to himself? Orion knows Camula has insulted him several times, yet he said she had done none of what he mentioned.

"You know she almost killed Zane and Crowler, right?" Alexis retorted.

Camula glanced over at Orion; she did not tell him anything about that.

"By threatening to kill my little brother," Zane said coldly.

Orion looked away for a moment, slowly taking in this new information before refocusing his gaze upon the three spirit key holders, seemingly unconvinced.

"To resurrect her fallen people, a noble goal." Orion shot back, taking Camula's words to heart.

"And I recall you all damned her to a horrible fate because of it, reaping her soul like heartless monsters," Orion accused.

Camula winced. The events that led to her demise were just one of the many lies she fed to Orion.

Zane, noticing Camula's hesitation, decided to tell Orion the truth. "Your friend lied to you. She put that on herself; she offered her soul during the duel against Jaden," Zane explained coolly.

For once, Orion's eyes shimmered as a mote of doubt entered his mind. He glanced over to Camula, hoping for her to clear things up.

"I…I…" Camula tried to speak, but she felt her throat seize.

"Yeah! She was crazy! I remember during her duel with Zane, she took Syrus hostage so she could win!" Jaden chimed in, not helping things.

"Alright, everyone!" Chancellor Sheppard suddenly announced, ending their confrontation abruptly.

With a beaming smile, Chancellor Sheppard walked up to the tense group. "Let's work out a solution for this problem, I have confided with Crowler, and it's too much of a coincidence." He gave a surprisingly somber look to Camula.

"And so, we'll enroll you in the academy!" Sheppard declared as he shifted into a cheerful grin.

"WHAT?!" Everyone else exclaimed.

"S-Sheppard! You were saying that you would ship her off the academy!" Crowler protested as he crazily flailed his arms around.

"That was until I saw Camula's friend defend her!" Sheppard said as he looked at Orion.

"You showed me that she means a lot to you! And in Duel Academy, creating friendships and memories is our top priority!" Sheppard declared.

"But Chancellor Sheppard! She tried to kill Crowler AND Zane!" Alexis argued.

"Come now, she's practically harmless now," Sheppard said with a chuckle.

"Let's look forward instead of back, we have a new student in our hands, and this new student has made a connection with someone alone!"

Orion and Camula were taken aback, both surprised by Sheppard's leniency.

Camula then, as she regained her senses, bowed her head to the Chancellor "...Thank you for understanding," She said graciously.

Orion glanced at Camula and smiled at her, happy with the outcome. He, too, bowed his head to Sheppard, and like a cat withdrawing its claws, Orion's waning curve ruffled back into a messy mop as he returned to his usual awkward and clumsy self.

"T-Thank you so much, Chancellor Sheppard! C-Cammy is my friend! I'm glad you could see that!" Orion thanked him.

Jaden seemed fine with the outcome, amused even, "Huh, I guess your right, Shep! They make a cute couple anyway!" Jaden teased with a chuckle.

Camula and Orion flushed into a deep shade of red as they looked over to Jaden, "W-We're not a couple!" They both protested.

Jaden raised his hands defensively, "Sorry, but I just call it how I see it!" He claimed innocently.

While the two students stumbled over themselves from Jaden's insinuation, Zane and Alexis stood back, speechless.

They just witnessed their Chancellor, the great authority of the academy, show compassion to someone who attempted to MURDER their friends.

"You can't be serious, Sheppard…" Alexis growled as she facepalmed. "Mark my words; if someone disappears in the Girl's dorm, you know who to blame," Alexis then left in a huff, taking Zane with her as she did so.

As the two took their leave, Zane glared at Camula, silently promising she wouldn't get out of this scot-free.

Camula ignored the two as they left but couldn't help but think about what Zane had said to Orion. He planted seeds of doubt in Orion; she'll have to make sure they don't come to fruition.

"But only if she beats Crowler in a duel! To get into Duel Academy, you must pass your entrance exam!" Sheppard added on.

Crowler eye's lit up deviously from Sheppard's words. "Are you saying that I can get my revenge?!"

"Ah, Sweet! I can't wait to see Crowler get crushed again!" Jaden remarked with a chuckle.

"What the!? Whose side are you on?!" Crowler shrieked back.

"I'm on no one's side, teach, but the more duelists in this academy, the better!" Jaden answered honestly.

"So be it. I thank you for the opportunity, Sheppard," Camula agreed, okay with the conditions Sheppard has set forth.

"I've flunked many students before! But this one, I'm going to enjoy this!" Crowler declared with a gleeful smile.

"I shall not falter; Orion and Sheppard gave me a second chance. I will not waste it here," Camula responded seriously, determined to duel and stay at the academy.

"Y-Yeah, you got this, Cammy!" Orion cheered from the sidelines.

"DUEL!"

"I shall begin! I summon Zombie Werewolf in Defense mode!" In a puff of black clouds came the howling of a crimson-eyed werewolf, its claws sharp and its fur matted with dried blood.

Zombie Werewolf

Level 4, DARK, Zombie, ATK: 1200, DEF: 1200

"I end my turn, your move." Camula finished as two set cards appeared before her.

"Haha! It looks like you haven't changed a bit! Too bad I added some more cards to my deck! I draw!" Crowler declared as his duel vest gave him a card.

"I activate Ancient Gear Castle!" Behind Crowler came an old Germanic castle adorned with giant silver cogs and gears.

"But I'm not going to it any counters! Because I activate this! Ancient Gear Catapult!" Joining the old castle was a red-eyed ballista of bronze and iron.

Ancient Gear Catapult

Normal Spell Card

While you control no monsters: Target 1 face-up card you control; destroy it, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Ancient Gear" monster from your Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions. You can banish this card from your GY, then target 1 face-up card you control; destroy it, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Ancient Gear Token" (Machine/EARTH/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0). You can only use 1 "Ancient Gear Catapult" effect per turn, and only once that turn.

"I will destroy my Ancient Gear Castle to bring out..." Crowler flashed a devious smile as the castle behind exploded into pieces.

"My Ancient Gear Golem!" The rubble and scraps molded and formed a gigantic golem of dark iron armed with a massive crushing fist. Between the slits and gaps of the Golem was a network of gears, all clicking and moving together to bring the Golem to life.

Ancient Gear Golem

Level 8, EARTH, Machine

ATK: 3000, DEF: 3000

Cannot be Special Summoned. If this card attacks, your opponent cannot activate any Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step. If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage.

Camula scoffed in annoyance. Crowler has improved since their last encounter.

The Golem looked down upon Camula and her field with a single unblinking red eye before it lifted its dominant hand to the sky.

"Now attack my Golem! Mechanized Melee!" Crowler ordered.

The Golem struck the werewolf in a hammering slam, shattering the beast to pieces. The leftovers of Zombie Werewolf flew over to Camula in a wave of shards, forcing the girl to shield herself from further harm.

Camula's LP: 2200

"Zombie Werewolf's effect activates! I can summon one from my deck with an extra five hundred attack points!" Camula responded as a copy of Zombie Werewolf appeared on the field.

Zombie Werewolf's ATK: 1200 - 1700

"Not like it matters! I end my turn!" Crowler declared, allowing Camula to start her turn.

Camula drew a card from her deck. "It will matter, you wretched thing," She promised in a growl, annoyed.

"First, I activate Overpowering Eye! My Zombie Werewolf can directly attack this turn" Camula's zombie werewolf's eyes started to glow ivory white, allowing the beast to bypass Crowler's monster and attack him directly.

"Then, I shall activate a continuous spell card of my own! Vampire's Domain!" As Camula activated the card, a red haze loomed over the field, covering everything in a crimson hue, darkening the office so that the spectators became invisible to the two duelists.

"It allows me to pay five hundred lifepoints…" A single bat suddenly appeared and latched onto Camula's neck with its fangs, draining her strength.

Camula's LP: 1700

"To normal summon an additional Vampire monster, so I summon two Vampire Bats!" Two swarms of red-eyed bats came down from the red haze, covering Camula's field in a fog of wings, fur, and fangs.

Vampire Bats

Level 3, DARK, Zombie, ATK: 800, DEF: 1200

"And as my bats swoop in, they give all of my zombie-type monsters an extra two hundred attack!" With the swarm of bats came the smell of blood, maddening the entire field into a frenzy.

Vampire Bat(1)'s ATK: 800 - 1200

Vampire Bat(2)'s ATK: 800 - 1200

Zombie Werewolf's ATK: 1700 - 2100

"Now! Attack Zombie Werewolf!" Camula ordered.

On all fours, The wolfman sprinted to Crowler, nimbly dodging around his Ancient Gear Golem before leaping at him in a claw swipe.

"Not only do you take damage, but I gain lifepoints because of Vampire's Domain as well!" Camula explained as red moonlight shined down upon her, healing her wounds.

Crowler's LP: 1900

Camula's LP: 3800

"Using Overpowering eye before boosting Zombie Werewolf's attack, g-good one Cammy!" Camula heard Orion compliment from the cloudy sidelines, still able to watch the duel despite the gloomy atmosphere.

"I end my turn with a set card!" Camula finished.

"This changes nothing! My Ancient Gear Golem still stands strong! It was a mistake not to get rid of it when you had a chance!" Crowler declared as he drew a card from his deck.

"Like right now! I summon Ancient Gear Statue!" A gearless husk of the Ancient Gear Golem hoisted upon a spiring stand materialized on the field.

Ancient Gear Statue

Level 4, EARTH, Machine, ATK: 500, DEF: 800

"And if I tribute it, I can summon another Ancient Gear Golem!" Crowler threw his hands to the sky. The statue grew arms and legs as before a blinding red eye appeared in the darkness of the statue's helmet, lighting the effigy to life.

"Yes! With two by my side, I'm unstoppable!" Crowler declared as he threw his hands up and laughed, now flanked by two golems.

"Not if I do this! I activate my trap card! Spirit Barrier" Camula was then covered in a brilliant white sheen.

"As long as I control a monster, I take no battle damage. This includes your Golem's piercing damage effect," She explained.

Crowler let out a haughty laugh. "You're only delaying the inevitable! I attack your Vampire Bats with my Golems! Twin Mechanized Melee!" In unison, the two giants smashed the bat hordes to smithereens.

"You forgot about how my Bats work. I can send a copy of it to the graveyard to keep one alive," Camula reminded with a scoff.

The third cloud of skittering bats joined the duel, replacing one of its fallen brethren.

Zombie Werewolf's ATK: 2100 - 1900

Vampire Bat's ATK: 1200 - 1000

"It doesn't matter! You will fail like a Slifer Slacker! I end my turn!" Crowler promised, smiling ear-to-ear.

"Damn it, I draw!" Camula cursed as she drew her next card.

'This fool's golems are stronger than anything I can muster right now; I'll need to play defensive until I can draw some removal,' She contemplated as she checked her field and compared it to Crowler's.

With Spirit Barrier up, she'll be safe from any damage until Crowler destroys her last copy of Zombie Werewolf, but if Crowler draws any back row removal, she'll be in a lot of trouble.

Her Vampire's Domain is useless if she doesn't have any of her tribute monsters in her hand; even then, none of her monsters could match Crowler's Ancient Gear Golem, except for her Vampire Genesis but she has yet to draw it.

"Damn it, I end my turn," Camula cursed, upset at having to pass her turn and endure another wave of attacks from Crowler's monsters.

"Looks like your true skill as a duelist is unveiled when you're not cheating! I Draw!" Crowler mocked with another scornful laugh.

"Since you're not going to do anything, I might as well summon this Ancient Gear Soldier!" In a cloud of dust, a tall robot of cerulean gears and old iron rose beside Crowler. The machine had a rifle on its firing arm, its magazine looking like a giant revolver case.

"Now, attack Vampire Bat Ancient Gear Soldier!" The Soldier aimed and fired a volley of bullets, emptying an entire round on Camula's bats.

The bats screeched in pain as they dropped one-by-one; they turned to dust when the last one fell.

"Now, Ancient Gear Golems! Attack Zombie Werewolf with Mechanized Melee!" Like before, the golem threw a wide left hook, shattering its foe in a single strike.

"I shall summon another Zombie Werewolf from my deck with the previous one's effect!" Camula retaliated as the last Zombie Werewolf appeared on the field.

"Say goodbye to your last Werewolf! Ancient Gear Golem number two! Attack with Mechanized Melee Part Deu!" Crowler declared.

The other Golem copied the same motion as its brother did; a wide left hook with its hammer arm that slammed itself upon a defenseless werewolf, shattering the beast to bits.

"And now you are alone! Just like how you will be when I'm done with you!" Crowler promised gleefully.

"I end my turn with a card face-down!" Crowler added as a set card appeared in front of him. The face-down card taunted Camula with its unknown presence; it could be a trap or spell card that could decide the outcome of the duel or a trick to have Camula waste a card on.

"I'm…Not alone," Camula said back as she glanced over to the sidelines.

There, she saw Orion amid the darkness, still cheering her on. The boy gave Camula a nod as he noticed her attention, confident that she'll pull through.

Despite all her lies, cruelty, and name-calling, Orion was still with her. In the darkness, she was not alone.

"I have a foo-" She bit her tongue.

"I have a friend by my side," Camula corrected herself as she shared a sideways glance with Orion.

"I…Draw!" Camula shouted. She's got to make this next turn count.

With an emblazoned determination, Camula drew her next card, her hand swinging like a waning pendulum.

Camula got a glance at the card, and she smiled. "It's over."

"I activate the field spell! Zombie World!" Mountains of bones and corpses rose from the ground, and a horrid stench of death and decay loomed over the field, wrinkling Camula and Crowler's noses.

Crowler's machines began to shift and warp, their iron armor hardening into gravestone granite and their gears becoming disgusting transfusions of flesh and bone.

"Damn it, guess without my powers, the stench of death is too pungent for me," Camula complained as she covered her nostrils.

"But no matter, spell card activate! Zombie Necronize!" Crowler gasped in shock as one of his Golems suddenly burst into blue flames.

"I shall take control of one of your Ancient Gear Golems!" Then, like an actor wearing a suit of armor, the blue flames forcibly move the golem to Camula's side of the field, now under her command.

"B-But…But How?!" Crowler exclaimed, dumbfounded by the theft.

"Zombie Necronize requires a Level five or higher Zombie-type on ANY field, but because of my Zombie World, I can take control of one of your golems!" Camula explained with an accomplished grin on her face.

Zombie World

Field Spell

All monsters on the field and in the GYs become Zombie monsters. Neither player can Tribute Summon monsters, except Zombie monsters.

"This doesn't change anything! I still have a golem of my own!" Crowler pointed out.

"Oh really, well, how about this! I attack your Golem with mine!" The two Golems charged at each other before colliding in a storm of punches, grapples, and swipes, each time blocking and deflecting each other's blows.

The two giants fought in a massive brawl before pulling each other apart, evenly matched.

"From my hand! I Special Summon Vampire Fraulein!"

Vampire Fraulein

Level 5, DARK, Zombie

ATK: 600, DEF: 2000

When a monster declares an attack: You can Special Summon this card from your hand in Defense Position. You can only use this effect of "Vampire Fraulein" once per turn. Once per battle, if your Zombie monster battles an opponent's monster, during that damage calculation (Quick Effect): You can pay LP in multiples of 100 (max. 3000); your battling monster gains that much ATK/DEF during that damage calculation only. At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card destroyed any monster(s) by battle: You can Special Summon them from the GYs to your field.

A beautiful woman with peach red hair and a dress of black and cyan laces drifted down from the red haze with her black parasol before she gently landed on the mind-controlled golem's shoulder.

"I shall pay exactly ninety-hundred lifepoints! To give my Ancient Gear Golem the same amount of attack points!" The Vampire Madame spun her parasol around, splashing her protector with a shower of red rain.

Camula's LP: 1900

These droplets seeped into Ancient Gear Golem's armor, emboldening its dull grey iron frame into a blazing crimson. The golem's single eye glowed a sickly green, now fully empowered with unholy strength.

Ancient Gear Golem's ATK: 3000 - 4900

"End this duel Ancient Gear Golem! Zombizied Melee!" Camula called forth. Crowler was about to reveal his set card until he realized something.

"Wait! Since it's an Ancient Gear Golem…" Crowler then looked at his set card.

"I can't activate my Negae Attack Trap card!" He shrieked helplessly.

The brainwashed golem attacked his loyal twin brother with an empowered uppercut, sending its foe into the air.

Camula's golem then grabbed onto its brother's heel, and with another roar, threw them to the ground, ending the duel in an explosion of broken gears and metal scraps.

Crowler's LP: 0

Winner: Camula!

The bloody red filter seized, the smell of carrion disappeared, and the monsters turned to dust as the duel was over.

In the aftermath stood Camula, triumphant. "And that's that," Camula remarked coolly as she looked down on a whimpering Crowler.

"Don't take my soul! I don't wanna be a doll again!" Crowler pleaded, crying in fear.

"Even if I could, I wouldn't," Camula spat back venomously.

"...Because I promised Orion not to," she whispered.

"What a fantastic duel!" Chancellor Sheppard said with a clap.

"Yeah! You turned Crowler's offense against him! Now that's smart!" Jaden complimented.

"Good j-job, Cammy that was amazing!" Orion congratulated her as he ran up to her.

"Oh please," Camula then gave Crowler a smug smile. "Was there any doubt?"

Between the whimpering and groveling, Crowler growled at Camula, "You haughty little brat…" He seethed.

"That's what you get for treating the foo-" She bit her tongue again.

"For treating Orion so poorly," Camula corrected herself.

"Crowler's teaching methods aside, a deal's a deal! Welcome to the academy, Camula! Camula…" Sheppard paused.

"Do you have a last name, perchance?" He asked, unsure.

Camula gave Sheppard a nod, "As a noble, my family name is sacred, but I shall share it this once."

"Sheridan, Camula Sheridan is my name," Camula announced.

"Then it's settled! You are now officially enrolled in the Academy Camula Sheridan!" Sheppard then gave Camula a hand which she graciously accepted.

"Look, Cammy! Your necklace!" Orion pointed out.

Camula looked down at her pendant.

Within the heart-shaped crystal was a single mote of blood, wistfully floating inside the gem like a fish in a bowl.

"That wasn't there before. Does that mean we're on the right p-path then, right?" Orion asked.

"Defeat the ones that led to this empty despair…" Camula recalled from the book as she eyed her necklace suspiciously.

Without thinking, Orion wrapped Camula in a hug before sweeping her off her feet.

"I-I c-can't believe it! We were right to trust that b-book!" He chirped ecstatically.

As Orion embraced Camula, she couldn't help but feel the same unknown red-hot sensation flood her cheeks. "H-HEY! Let go of me! You foolish oaf!" She demanded with a growl.

"That means no soul-taking, you guys!" Orion shared with Jaden and Chancellor Sheppard, not caring to add context.

"Soul-Taking? Don't make me regret this already, Camula Sheridan," Sheppard remarked with a chuckle.

"D-Do not worry, Orion's only jesting-UNHAND ME!" Camula shouted as Orion spun her around, still trapped in his embrace.

"I'm s-sorry Camula! B-but I thought I was going to lose you!" Orion replied ecstatically, unable to resist twirling around and jumping with joy, taking Camula in this two-person merry-go-round.

"I am the heiress to a noble family! I shall not be carried around like some princess-Eep!" Camula let out an adorable whine as Orion threw her into the air.

Camula covered her face in fright as she slipped back into Orion's arms. When Camula unfurled her hands away from her face, she glared at him.

"N-Never do that again!" Camula demanded as she flicked Orion on the forehead.

As the two duelists celebrated their victory, Crowler glared at the two as he laid crumpled on the ground.

'I'm going to expel those two if it's the last thing I do!' he promised before he got up and sulked away.