The main question I find myself wrestling with, regarding duel monsters, these days … is how sentient are they? How aware are they? There's clearly strong magic involved in every aspect of the story, and that bleeds into the monsters themselves.

I suppose this story, or at least this part of it, is my answer to that question.

To wit: they are as sentient, and aware, as any of us.


.


Yuki spoke first: "Do people from . . . the, uh, living world . . . visit this place often?"

Mahad shook his head. "Not in recent memory." He gesticulated randomly. "That said, time fluctuates. What may seem to be centuries, millennia, to us may only be a smattering of years for you. It is not an easy thing, to sustain living souls in the Barrier." Upon seeing Yuki's face tighten with panic, he added quickly: "Worry not! My apologies." He cleared his throat. "I am sure that you will not be spending near enough time here to present a danger."

"How long does it usually take, for a living person to run into trouble?" Yugi asked.

"I am no expert in medicine," Mahad admitted, "but I should guess anywhere from four to six cycles of the moon, depending on the hardiness of the person. You seem quite intent on moving along, and while scaling the Mountain of Furious Lights will take some time, I find it hard to believe you will be occupied for months."

"True," Yugi said, nodding.

"Are there . . . I dunno, signs we should look out for?" Kohaku asked.

"If you find yourself taking ill, or else inordinately hungry or thirsty, while here in the Barrier." Mahad gestured around him again. "This is still the world of the dead, after all. Vibrant and . . . adjacent to your world as it may seem to look upon, the souls and spirits here are not beholden to your laws."

"Will we get tired?" asked Sotaro.

"Yes." Mahad nodded. "Magic lives in the very air here, and it will sustain you longer than you are accustomed to. But your bodies will still require fuel. You will find yourself fatigued, and you must remember to take food, drink, and rest. However, if it comes to pass that you are in desperate need of any of these things, it is a possible sign that your presence here is more taxing than would be considered safe."

"If this happens," Yuki said, "what should we do?"

"You will be kept in contact with myself throughout your time here," said Mahad. "If you find yourselves in danger, of any sort, I will send you back home forthwith. I should not like to be too cautious, however. The spell to remove you from the Barrier is not without its own complications, and too many trips between dimensions will hurt you no less than anything you will find here."

"Danger of any sort," Yugi repeated. "What other dangers should we keep an eye out for? What about this mountain? What obstacles will we be facing, on our way to the queen?"

"Most of your times on the plains will be calm," said Mahad, "but I will not pretend to know what hardships you will face. I can warn you that the queen-mount will be difficult. It will strain you. The Mountain of Furious Lights is a holy site, and to scale it is sacrament. You will be provided with all you will require to defend yourselves, but you will be pressed upon to defend yourselves."

"Defend ourselves," Kohaku mumbled.

Mahad nodded. "It would not do for me to lie to you, ser. There are dangers here in the Barrier, as there are dangers in your own world. I only seek to inform you, that caution will guide you and see you succeed." He smiled. "The Court will provide you with an escort. Given that speed is of primary importance, I believe it best to move forward with minimal numbers." Mahad reached into his robes and pulled out something that looked like a simple stone. He handed it to Yugi. He repeated this gesture with Yuki, then Kohaku, then Sotaro. "I also offer you these. If you have need enough, His Highness will know how to reach me. The High Court stands behind you."

Yugi nodded. "Thank you, Mahad."

The stones were carved with some kind of rune, which Yuki could not read.

"What's the Queen of Dragons like?" Sotaro asked.

Mahad blinked, then rubbed at his chin. "In honesty, young one, that is a question not easily answered. To most, I would warn that the White Wyrm is volatile. She is quick to anger, she lacks patience and decorum. She has few social graces. A life of hardship and betrayal has made it rare upon rare for any of us to see her among others, even of her own brood. She is solitary in the extreme, and I think most would find earning the right to call themselves her champion to be an impossible feat. Most would find her difficult to deal with, to put it simply, and that assumes they were not moved to terror by her mere presence. To most in your place, I would insist upon another course."

Sotaro's eyes narrowed. "To most," he said. "But not to me."

Mahad's smile returned; his eyes sparkled anew. "As I would expect, your mind is keen. You are correct. To most, these are the warnings I would offer. To most, I would say that requesting her assistance is a futile gesture, and that earning her assistance is a feat that would take years if not decades to achieve. There is danger even in the asking, and I think most would-be pilgrims would be better served anywhere but the Mountain of Furious Lights."

There was a pause, as this information settled upon them.

"We're different," Sotaro prodded.

"You are different," said Mahad. "To you, my answer is wholly different. To you, her chosen, I only say this: approach her with patience and humility, but be firm. Speak with conviction. Do not cower. Match her eyes with your own and let not your gaze waver. You will be heard. You will be heeded."

"Her chosen." Sotaro hummed. "Is this because of . . . because of my older self? Mister Kaiba?"

"It is." Mahad nodded sagely. "The man you are sure to become, and have become in many and many realms like yours, has earned her respect and her favor too many times to chronicle. Across time and space eternal has he prevailed. You, young one, are ever welcome in her presence. Regardless of your mission or circumstance. This I say with utmost confidence. If I am wrong, may my soul wither and break, and may my memory ever be stricken from reality."

Sotaro seemed to soak this in, and then something else struck him.

He tilted his head, like a curious bird. "Is she pretty?" he asked.

Mahad laughed. "Child, she is as beautiful as the dawn."