Chapter IX

Prelude to a New Era

Somewhere in the suburbs of Domino. A can bounces on the ground and rolls, tinkling on the empty, dark alley. The stink of the trash rising in the air, a cat hisses and jumps away from the bin near the big containers. A group of men smoke, cackling while telling stories. Their chains and rings shining under the dim moonlight.

Suddenly, a shadow flashes, a heavy thud destroys the trash container, they're surprised and immediately look at the place, an ominous figure is kneeled amidst the smoke of the impact, it stands up menacingly. Neos strains his muscles with a gargantuan growl.

"What the heck-?!"

"It looks like an alien!"

Preparing in a position to run, he darts into them, they attempt to summon, but all the energy emanating from their gems converges into the sapphire imbued in Neos' chest. The men cower, stepping back, he moves quickly, grabbing the neck of one of them, he strangles the man.

His gems losing their color as he flings, his friends watching in terror, a shriek pierces the night. Whatever happened to those men is hidden by the gloomy veil of darkness in the alley.

Southern lands,

Rex peeks into a room from the immense, eerie hallway, the light coming from the room casts the shadow of the door as he opens it more, scanning both sides before entering there. There's a single man sitting at the only desk on the side of the door.

"Hey, doc, there's an emergency at the destroyed site! They found more wounded, you gotta go fast!"

"U-understood!"

The man gets up with a startle and runs off disappearing in the corridors, leaving him alone.

The walls of the room are made of pure white, a set of curtains hanging loosely forming a protection around a bed, some machines nearby, none of them are on. A wicked grin infects his lips, he walks across the cold stone floor, shoving the curtains to the side with a slide of his hand, approaching the bed where the green-haired woman lays unconscious. A sleeping beauty.

There was a certain charm to how her green eyelashes contrasted to her skin, and the peaceful aura as she slept. Her upper body is covered in bandages, her lower body dressed only in black underwear, the doctors performed a quick operation, but no one cared to dress her after.

He hounds the bed, to ascertain she's truly asleep, then, his hand crawls on the sheets, he bends his torso over her, his shadow covering part of her figure. His fingers brush on her face, a disturbing silence as a response, his grin enlarges, his hand sliding from her abdomen up, his hand fondling a handful of her breast, he climbs on the bed.

"You ain't that special after all, are you?"

Standing on his knees, he looks down on her, unfastening his belt, opening the zipper on his pants, a devilish smirk that didn't hide his intentions. A sound comes from the wall on the side, he blinks once in reflex. A black-hole opens mysteriously, his eyes widen as he sees a figure coming out of the void.

"Nightshroud?!"

He stutters, feeling the glare of the man under that odd mask, before he can say more, Nightshroud stretches his hand, sending some sort of invisible attack, Rex is knocked away into the air by a shockwave, hitting the farthest wall from the door, falling to his bottom on the ground.

"Ugh… You…" He touches his pained shoulder, grimacing.

The next he sees is the man standing near the infirmary bed, he takes a brief glance at her state before taking her onto his arms, casting a last glare at the criminal.

"Keep your hands away from her, vermin."

"W-wait you can't just take her-"

Darkness walks to the portal unfazed by the words, entering it and vanishing along with the hollow on the wall. The room is completely white and empty again.

"What the hell?!"

Rex exclaims, standing up confused. Since when that twig had so much power and how dare he ruin his fun? His fists clench, not only he stole his Black-Eyes trademark card, he keeps an eye on Cleah and doesn't let anyone come close, what's up with this guy? He is always annoying! Next time, he'll give him a lesson!

Somewhere

Cleah sees a younger version of herself as if watching a memory, she stands in grassy fields; colorful flowers fluttering at the gentle breeze on the sides. She's a kid, maybe nine or ten. A few steps away from her, a boy a few years older, around twelve or thirteen, his back turned at her, his hair a different hue of green.

"Brother, where are you going?"

Her voice is bland, like her expression, not a sign of emotion, her starry eyes transfixed on him.

"Why did you follow me here? Are you going to snitch on me?"

"I saw you leaving before the training. You can't miss it, brother, you'll be punished."

"I don't care… I'm not staying here any longer."

"What do you mean?" Her cold eyes probe his words, he takes a look at her, feeling analyzed.

"If you want to tell the leaders, you can go and tell. I'm going."

"You can't go. You'll be the next leader, brother. It's the utmost honor, I do not understand why you wouldn't want that."

"You never understand anything!" He whirls around indignant. "You're not…"

Her face is blank, just as he imagined, of course, she doesn't understand. She never does. His annoyance builds up, why did she have to come here? He should've expected she'd find out about his escapade, yet he wanted to avoid meeting her. It's all written on his face and she can read his thoughts clear as day.

"Forget it! I'm not staying!"

"Where do you plan on going? This is an island, you can't escape that easily." Her speech comes off as harsh for a kid her age. "Let's go back. They'll be lenient if you acknowledge your disobedience, brother."

His fists clench, biting his lips before answering, holding back his tears, unlike her, he had plenty of feelings to expose, lashing it all out:

"Don't call me that! I don't know what you are…" His blue eyes gaze at her, filled with tears that trickle down, angst, confusion and so many emotions she can't grasp. "You're not my sister…" His voice fails.

She was told many times that her brother was a sensible kid, unlike her, but she never comprehended what it meant. Why is he angry, indignant and confused?

"Why are you saying this?" Her question is still placid, as if the words don't bother her all that much. "We're the same blood, we have the same parents. You are my brother."

"Do you not see? What are they doing here? I've read the secret parchments of the clan… I've read the things they registered as 'progress'. This is no legacy to be inherited! I don't want to take part in this… What they're doing, what they did to… you. All those atrocities and sins… I'd be better off as a summoner somewhere very far away than leading those assassins. I don't want to be like them."

"I don't get it, brother…"

Her reply has a hint of curiosity, her eyes latched on his. He sniffles once, wiping his nose, turning his face away, his fists closing roughly, he sees no need to waste saliva with her. He's tired of it. They'll never reach a mutual understanding. Yet, his consciousness doesn't allow him to leave without a word.

"I'm going to the Duel academy. I'll study to be a summoner there. You can tell whatever you want to the family, I'll be out of here before they can do anything, I pulled contacts to help me escape. Being free from this place, this is my only dream."

Gulping his tears, he walks away, not looking back, leaving her a last message, or rather, a warning.

"You should flee too, Cleah. They're just trying to use you… This isn't a life for you."

What is this feeling in her chest? This unbearable pressure as if it wants to explode. This is strange. It's… New. Without noticing it herself, she stretches her hand, calling out to him.

"Brother! Come back here!"

He ignores, distancing himself more and more, her eyes falter briefly, what is this sensation growing in her chest? She runs fast, to catch up to him, he should be no match in speed for her, right? Her speed was always praised. Then why are her legs feeling so weak and wobbling? As if she'd forget how to walk. She won't reach him like this.

"Yu-Yusuke! Yusuke, come back!"

Her lips tremble while stammering his name as if it was a foreign word to her. Is he angry because she referred to him by a title he disliked? She just called him, but it isn't working, he's no longer listening to her.

"Please, don't go! Explain it to me… Why are you going? I don't understand! Brother!"

She stops rushing after his back, her stretched hand slowly lowering at realization he's not coming back.

"Please, don't leave me alone here..." Her voice comes out of breath.

Why? Did she do something wrong? Did she say something he dislikes? No matter how much she thinks, she sees no problem anywhere, not in her, in their clan, or whatever they're doing. This is how she was taught, this is all she knows. He was taught the same. Then why did he go? Why does he believe he's not free here?

I don't… understand, brother.

The wind blows past along with that memory. Cleah opens her eyes in a flinch, sweating profusely while sitting on the bed, panting as if she'd wake up from a nightmare.

"I told you it wouldn't work."

A grave, calm voice attracts her gaze to the side. It's Nightshroud, he's sitting on a stone armchair on the opposite side of the room. Her eyes quickly scan the place, it's not her chambers, but his, her alert state attenuating, the emotions placating into a neutral semblance.

"And I told you I wouldn't die just trying…" Her fingers crease the bedsheets.

"The Light rejected your body. Of course it wouldn't want a vessel that already belongs to another. Not even I could try and inhabit your body if I wanted, I'd be expelled likewise. You could have avoided this."

"I had to try. You won't tell me anything about Yusuke, if you don't know, I thought the Light might know…"

"We've had this conversation before, Cleah. I'm tethered to this body here due to a complication."

"Yes, we've been trying to find clues about my brother and a way to send you back to your original world because this would allow the owner of your current body to emerge and he can tell me everything. Supposedly."

"It's not a supposition. I can only speak through what I saw in his memory, that alone does not suffice to find your brother and if we don't know where he is, we can't bring him back."

"What about Atticus Rhodes? He knew my brother, you said that yourself, but you never let me speak to him."

"I have his memories from after I was channeled, and I've seen all his memories from before, but he isn't accessible now..."

"I have been following you for three whole years and never once have I seen this Atticus you talk about! Why are you not letting him take control?" She glares at him, despite the stoic semblance, he can feel her wrath.

"It's not as simple."

"You always say this! What is not simple?! Make yourself scarce, Darkness! I want to speak to him! To the true owner of this body you hold hostage! We've tried so many things and nothing works! I don't believe you!"

"He's not ready to come. He doesn't have the strength to do it, Cleah. You must understand the war took a toll on his mind, he's not able to face reality for now. I'm shackled here as long as he's shackled to his mind. I know how long it has been, but this is how it is!"

"Excuses!"

She shoves the bedsheets away, gliding off the bed, gritting her teeth, gorging the next words, lurching her way to him, grabbing him by the collar, lifting him up and pinning him against the wall with a thud.

"Bring him here, now! I'm done with waiting, I want answers!"

"Your wishes bear no influence on his mind as of now."

He slowly wraps his hand around hers, unfazed by her outburst. His eyes under the mask gazing at her from above. She stares deeply into him, he knows what she's trying to do. Read his mind, scavenge through it like she did to that bandit they killed on the way here. It won't work.

"You're not a child anymore, Cleah. I won't tolerate your behavior. It only brings harm to you and you know fighting me here won't solve anything."

A dark aura spreads from him, her hand twitches, gradually letting go of his clothes, letting him down in frustration.

"You're all…"

Turning around without much balance, she totters to the door, closing it with a bang behind her. He lets out a deep sigh, this isn't his best moment, but he cannot free himself from this receptacle as it currently stands and he shouldn't let Cleah alone to her devices in the organization, she will stray from the path and be nothing more than a tool in their hands and this… This isn't something he shouldn't allow as an Ancient bound to them.

He plops onto his chair again, entering a meditative state, his hands supported on the rocky armrest, his head toppling down limply as he drifts into the shell of his consciousness.

In a dream

The corridors of the duel academy bustle with life, the kind sunlight bathing the floor through the glass windows. All the students walking have tidy uniforms, but they're faceless, only their smiles can be seen. Among the unidentified people, a lone man stands, watching them pass by. His long brown hair spiking slightly at the tips, his sharp, brown eyes have a sorrowful, gentle glint.

He's dressed in a military uniform, a navy-blue coat with two sets of silver buttons over a black middle, his pants have the same tint of blue; and his shoes a jet-black.

His gaze roams attentively to the surroundings, as if waiting for something, then, in a blink of an eye a purple, dark portal materializes a couple meters distance from him. None of the passerby students seem to notice it beside him, chatting nonchalantly.

The one who trespasses the portal is another with blue gemstones instead of eyes.

"Atticus." He calls out cordially.

"I'm having the same dream again." His brown eyes avert to the side woefully.

"This isn't a dream, Atticus." He steps onwards.

"You always say this, but you're just wasting my time. Listen, I don't know who you are or why you look like me… But I need to get back to the battlefield, to defend my family, get it?"

"Atticus, the war is over." He spits bluntly, causing a shocked gasp from the other man.

"Why do you always use the same sentences? You're just trying to make me cower, aren't you? Keep me here… So I don't need to go out there and see the real world. I know this school and all those people… They're fake! It's not real! I'm not here now! Stop toying with me!"

"I'm not toying with you. I protected you, but this can't go on any longer."

"What are you talking about?! Why do you keep me here in the dark?!"

"No, Atticus. It's you who's doing that… I've been coming here to wake you up, to give back your body." He threads faster and angrier, pulling the collar of his other "self" menacingly. "You're the one escaping reality!"

"No, I'm not! I wandered through those corridors countless times! There's no way out! You have to be the one doing something to me!"

"So many people wait for you outside… They have hopes and expectations for you…" The faces of Alexis and Cleah flash on his mind. "And what are you doing? Hiding here, in this cozy darkness of your heart, making a fool of yourself…"

"I'm not… Ugh." He closes his eyes in pain, both his hands to his head, it feels like it's splitting apart. "I don't… Understand what you're talking about… I need to go back to my friends, they're waiting for me!"

"Your friends are not there anymore! Some of them are out, waiting for you to return, but not in the war!"

"Leave me alone!"

His shout repels Nightshroud away, he's pushed back by an invisible force, his feet skidding on the ground. The masked man recovers his tall, dignified posture, a deep grunt coming out of his lips as he gazes into Atticus' eyes.

"You can't feed on this past forever, Atticus. One day, you'll need to get over it and it won't be joyous. The longer you refrain from accepting the truth, the more suffering you'll face when you have to return… I won't be here to babysit you your whole life… Remember that."

Turning around, a dark portal appears in front of him, he disappears, swallowed by it and the portal closes, only silence remains as Atticus is left alone there with those unreal students.

When Nightshroud awakens, he's greeted by the grey, rancid walls of his room, his lips curving down. A deep sigh, when will he come back? So many times he tried and as many times he failed.

He looks at his hand, he's been far too long into this body and albeit it wasn't his intention, the more he stays, the more Atticus loses grip of reality and his own existence drifts away. This can't be good, he has to find a more efficient way to awaken him.

Central Region, Domino city

The sound of machinery beeping at intervals interrupts the silence. Zane's eyelids open sluggishly, all is a blur of white, his vision fading as he casts his eyes to one side. There's some sort of IV bag attached by a needle to the joint of his arm. He closes his eyes for a moment, recollecting the facts and trying to endure the headache making him dizzy and the dry throat. His head topples to the other side, there's a silhouette.

Tiny yellow hands hold onto his face, a strange ugly creature with big lips, a disproportionate body and slug-eyes shouts:

"He woke up!"

"Hey, Zane! Do you hear me?!"

The familiar voice rings on his ears, his sight recognizing the man that stands up and the creature beside him.

"Chazz… Could you tone your voice down? And you too, Ojama Yellow…"

"That's no way to greet your savior!" He crosses his arms grumpily.

"Thanks for helping." He forces himself up, Chazz panics by the side, promptly helping him sit up while the yellow Ojama brings him a water cup.

"Frankly, how old are you?! Your wounds are not fine yet! It was a lot of trouble transferring you here, you're lucky you had a companion helping you before I arrived! You should've waited for me!"

"I'm twenty, soon to be twenty one and I'm very aware of how bad my wounds are… I'm feeling it literally under my skin."

He leans his back against the head of the bed, relaxing his muscles. He's dressed in plain blue hospital trousers and a short-sleeved upper piece that crosses over to close like a kimono, his skin tone exposing he'd not recovered all the blood he lost yet, and the bandages on his torso cover up to his neck.

"Zane, we're so happy to see you alive! Master Chazz was so worried about you!" Ojama breaks into tears, hugging his arm.

"Hey, you! Yellow, stop wasting my duel energy! Your job here is done, go away!"

He grits his teeth and attempts to slap it, but the creature is agile, covering his smirk with both tiny hands and giggling while avoiding his attack, turning around with teary eyes.

"We thought you were a goner, you shouldn't do that to our frail hearts."

"I appreciate the concern."

"You lousy-"

Chazz slaps it again, but it floats away, hiding behind Zane, the teal-haired man interrupts, he can't take more of the silly quarrels of the other summoner:

"What was that about me and a companion? Where are we?"

"We are in the central public hospital of Domino's. It's been three days, your wounds were so bad and you caused such a ruckus in the east, we thought it was better to just transfer you immediately, they'd probably try to kill you in a hospital if we left you there. Your companion didn't have grave wounds, she's fine."

"A pretty girl! You're such a lady killer, Zane!" He elbows Zane's arm suggestively.

"That's not funny, Yellow, he was really killing her by using her powers, you know?" He flicks his finger on the small forehead of the monster, leaving a red mark there.

"Wow, wow… Slow down, you two…" He puts a hand to his forehead, taking a deep breath, his vision becoming turvy and the world around swirling. "Who is this 'companion' you keep talking about? I didn't have any reinforcement besides you. I was alone there."

"You hit your head very hard, didn't you?" He gawks, amused and fearful at the same time. "I expected the whole Underground King stuff wouldn't get to your head, but here we are and you've sunk so low as to use a human catalyst."

His eyes widen at the accusation, what is he talking about? He couldn't be referring to… Rie, could he? If he didn't die, then she is probably alive, but she should be far away now with the other slaves if she was saved by them. Unless…

"Hey, last I remember it was my energy being drained out, I wasn't using any catalyst, in fact I was robbed out of every single gem I had in my pocket and even of my own duel energy. Why do you keep saying I had a companion?"

"I even let my prey escape to save you, then when I found you and your partner, you were both unconscious…"

"I don't have a partner."

"But she was…" He blushes faintly, clearing his throat. "Holding your hand, it was very romantic, I admit... I thought you were using her power to keep that monstrosity of yours in our realm, you were also clutching a garnet, but I doubt a single gem was enough for that."

"How do you know I had a garnet?"

"Are you trying to insult me?" He huffs, scowling at the friend. "I'm a summoner too, I know what gems look like and their names, okay? I recognize a garnet when I see one!"

"Chazz the garnet you speak of should have been depleted, it looked like your common rock, not like a gem."

"Well, then you remember it wrong, because that garnet was your lifeline, a bit more of summoning without a gemstone and you'd be five feet under the earth now, those were the doctor's words!"

This is impossible, his gem was completely drained out and so was he. Rie took every last drop of his energy, willingly or not. He had accepted his fate when he summoned Chimeratech Overdragon to die there and take Bonaparte and all he owned with him and by a miracle, here he is. A tense drops of sweat form on his face.

A myriad of calculations going through his mind, the possibilities and theories, his jaw slowly dropping, his eyes flashing to the side.

"Where are my belongings?"

Fasting forward some time, Chazz sits on the chair near the bed, a blue Ojama sits on Zane's lap, smiling happily:

"All the slaves are safe and sound, don't sweat it, you should rest. The scariest part was calming Chimeractech down, he was so angry I thought I'd become monster puree to feed him, he was really sad, don't do this again, master Truesdale."

The green, sharp orbs of the summoner stare at the bold creature making his leg a cushion, the summoner of the creature barges in:

"Blue! What are you doing here?"

"I was feeling lonely here, just me and Zane, so I called my brother." The yellow Ojama floats right in front of his master's face, swinging his hips abashedly to confess his crime.

"You little…! Stop using my duel energy without my permission and calling your siblings! And stop bothering the sick!"

He slaps his hand in the air, the Ojamas escape, hiding behind Zane's shoulder. The older summoner ignores the scuffling in the background and checks the objects Chazz brought, his old clothes are still bloodied, there are some holes on it too, but what puzzles him is the garnet. It's vibrant red color, enthralling his eyes and he moves it around, looking from all angles to inspect its veracity.

"What happened to the girl? Did she get out of the mansion safely with the others?"

The sudden inquiry makes the infighting between him and his spirits cease, he straightens his posture in an earnest manner and pokes his thumb on his chest, proudly:

"Don't worry! The great Chazz arranged it all so you both came here safely! I brought her to this hospital too!"

There's a disturbing pause, Zane gapes in disbelief at him, as if he's making no sense, a drop of sweat rolling down his cheekbone.

"What do you mean you brought her here? You mean she's in a hospital somewhere in the south, safe under lady Kisara's care, right?"

"N-no… I told you, I thought she was your personal catalyst, which by the way, is terrible even for a guy like you. Beware Syrus' lecture when he finds out."

"Take me to her room."

"Okay-" He stops himself before fully nodding firmly. "Do what?! No! You're wounded and the nurse will kill us both if she knows we're sneaking into the room of another patient."

"I'll go alone, then. Just bring me that."

He slides with difficulty on the sheets, his legs dangling from the bed as he points at the wheelchair on the corner of the room, Chazz exchanges a worried glance between the Ojamas.

"You can't be serious!"

He helps Zane sit down on the wheelchair, the teal-haired man grabs the metallic pole with wheels holding his IV serum bag fearlessly.

"You need to recover! I won't support your antics, Syrus already lost his head at you for what you did in Deltora and I heard the scolding!"

"Are you refusing to help a wounded man, and a war veteran that fought for you too in the past?"

"You're not wounded because of that war! And bringing that up is a dirty move!"

"And what do you think I've been learning in the underground if not the art of filthy strategies?"

He rolls the wheel of the chair with one hand, a grunt of discomfort at the throbbing coming from his wounds, his other hand holding his serum. Chazz feels a chill run down his spine, he doesn't even want to think about the pain, his eyes squinting in disagreement for letting himself be manipulated.

"Ugh! You…! Fine! I'll take you there! You two, keep an eye if anyone will come!"

He steadily grabs the hand grip of the wheelchair, driving it out of the room, commanding his two Ojamas that giggle at his mischief. Zane has a faint, smug and victorious smile on his face, laxed on his seat, holding his serum like a true king while Chazz leads their ride.

"What happened to the mansion?"

They start a conversation, the rhythmic movement of the wheels on the corridor, on the sides, muffled whispers of nurses blushing and low squeals are the only ambience sound.

"It burnt into ashes thanks to you. And your monster also went into country-wide news, it was a lot of trouble to put mosaics over the images so people wouldn't recognize it, but it's likely the big fish of the underworld noticed it and the citizens of Deltora won't forget it either. It was the most abhorring incident they ever witnessed in their city for the past century."

"Good."

"This isn't a joke. Bonaparte died in the flames, you've broken the balance of the slave trading in the whole region and sent it into chaos, and the Empire had connections to him. They won't be happy and you'll face retaliation when they reorganize their crime ruling over the East. You've just earned yourself more enemies."

"We wanted to get their attention, this will work. As a bonus, I'm not even dead."

"You would be if that gem hadn't saved you."

"Right, the gem…" He trails off for a brief second before changing the topic quickly. "You told me before your 'prey' escaped? Who was your prey?"

"Mad Dog, also known as Inukai, you know him. I stumbled upon the guy, he was the one who told me you two were dying there, I couldn't fight him and save you two, I've made my decision as you can see…"

Zane bends his head up to look at Chazz, the black-haired man flinches at his curious and inexpressive stare. His hand comes up and taps his friend's hands a couple times.

"I'm proud of you. Lives cannot be reclaimed, but you'll come across that guy again even if he escaped this time and seize your reward. You're doing well, Chazz. I'm sorry for ruining your hunt."

"Humph, I have priorities, of course!" His cheeks become slightly pinkish at the praise.

"Why was your client interested in Mad Dog anyways? Did you do a background check?"

"As if I would ever forget the background check, professor Crowley was always nitpicking about it! Many people weren't happy with the King of the underground of the East and his deals of getting human catalysts to shine in the underground world, it seems he killed a bunch of them in the process of becoming a king and some human activists weren't happy about it as well as some infiltrates on the underground."

"So he was also abusing the powers of human catalysts and killing them, huh?"

He is reminded of the scene when Mad Dog used Rie's power, it was painful to watch. For a moment, his green orbs falter, Chazz notices the gloomy mood in the air, using a purposefully loud voice to snap him out of it:

"Here we are! This is the room. You have five minutes, I'll watch the door. If the doctors find it out, we're doomed." He stops and reels the chair to adjust it.

"I understand. Thank you for your help."

The younger summoner rubs his nose abashedly, crossing entrance and putting Zane in the room, fulfilling his mission. The pink-haired girl is the only person in there, she's startled upon seeing both of them intruding out of nowhere.

"I'll leave you two alone."

With those last words, he hurriedly walks out, shutting the door behind, a palpable tension swells in the air, the girl gulps under the intense stare of the summoner. What does he want now? And what will be of her?