Spirit Caller
Chapter Six
6
Ready Or Not
-

Connar groaned as her head lay heavily on her desk.

She had tossed and turned all night long, bothered from her heated conversation with her father... She still felt shaken inside, afraid she might have screwed up before she even started...
But even that wasn't nearly as front and center in her mind as the venom spat from Princeton's lips...
Those words still coursed through her.
His words stung.

To her right side, Jaden snored away... nestled soundly into his arms.
She had no idea how he could be so casual and carefree...and just...sleep where ever.
"What on earth has gotten into Jaden?" Connar whispered to Syrus,"Does he not know how to sleep in bed?"
"Actually I think Jaden can sleep about anywhere, anytime." Syrus stated, "But I also think he might just be tired from last night."
"Last night? Why? What happened last night?"
"Chazz Princeton called Jaden out for a duel at midnight last night,"
"Midnight!?" Connar gasped, "Princeton did? Really?" She pondered to for a moment.

Princeton challenged Jaden to a duel at midnight?
Were those Princeton's "previous arrangements"?

"So...what were the results?"
"Actually the result was never determined." said Syrus,"We were about to be busted by Campus Security so we had to run out before we found out who actually won."
"I see."
"Yeah, Jaden said he was about to win, but it looked like it could go either way."
"You don't say..."
Someone was actually able to match Princeton in a duel?
I haven't really seen anyone be able to match Princeton aside from me at one point-
But then the events of Last Summer happened and...
...I haven't really been able to hold my deck properly since...
...Not yet...

Her eyes narrowed sadly and she kind of pouted to herself.
I'm jealous...

Wish I could have seen that myself...

"Ms. Connar!"
"Ah-Y-Yes sir!?" She panicked and stood when Dr. Crowler called her name.
"Since you seem so eager to have an endearing conversation with young Truesdale, perhaps you can share with him- and the rest of the class- the categories of the Monster cards in Duel Monsters!" he huffed with his arms cross.
Perhaps Red is a suituable color for her after all...
He thought to himself

"O-of course, sir!" Connar stuttered and let out a nervous gulp.
The thought of speaking in front of the class made her nervous...
The pressure was heavy.
As she parted her lips to speak she could feel herself choking up, haunted by the memory of the previous night.

"Are you ashamed? Is this some kind of rebellion against Daddy~?"

she bit her lip, trembling slightly, clenching her fist so tightly that she could feel her nails digging into her skin.
"Pssst, Connar..." Syrus tried to show her comfort.
But she was too zoned out to notice.

"Remember, Connar...You represent Kaiba, now."

Her father's words weighed heavily on her mind at the worst time...

"Be present. Stay pleasant. And stand proud."

As his voice resonated within her, she could feel her heart rate calm itself and her fists, loosened.
The scars in her palms burned, but her eyes burned hotter with a more serious expression.
She looked fierce.

"In the game of Duel Monsters, the monsters of the game can be labeled in these categories-" she began, "Normal Monsters. Effect Monsters. Fusion Monsters and Ritual monsters." she said, "Effect monsters can be stated as flip effect monsters, permanant effect monsters, or effects that are met only under certain conditions." She paused for a moment to allow for her words to sink in to those taking notes before continuing, "Next we have Fusion monsters, which is a new monster formed or unionized with two or more fusion material or union type monsters." She explained, "Union monsters fall under the category of 'effect monsters'. An example of these types would be monsters like the XYZ or WXYZ machine based union monsters." Some of the students looked at her in awe as she continued her explanation," While Fusion monsters can also be categorized under 'effect' monsters, they do not fall under 'flip effects' which occur when a set monster is attacked or flipped face up." she explained," Finally we have Ritual monsters, which have the same possibility of also being 'effect monsters' only these monsters are special monsters which can only be summoned under the right circumstances and proper ritual spells."

Once Connar had finished her spiel she let out a long and slow breath, allowing the jitters to leave her body as she was greeted with a class wide applause.

"Wow, Connar, you really nailed that answer!" said Syrus,"There's no way I would have even been able to come close!"
"Yeah...tell us Connar- did you eat a text book and then throw it up?" Jaden laughed, "I think I learned more from you than I did from the teacher~"
"Jaden!" Connar and her blue haired friend both chirped in surprise.
"You were awake!?" she asked.
"Nah." he chuckled, "But I'm always listening~" he said teasingly glancing up at her and gifting her with a cheeky wink.

"Yes. That was very good." Dr. Crowler stated as he cleared his throat, "With potential like that you ought to be able to move up in the ranks in no time~" he stated,"...However I would appreciate if you with-held all personal conversations until after my class, thank you."
"O-Oh uh...yes, Dr. Crowler." she blushed as the classroom filled with chuckles.
"Class adjourned." he said as he gathered together his teaching materials, "Now get out."
xxx

"Wow that Connar girl sure is smart huh? I wonder if she tutors..."

The chatter echoing in the halls was burning Chazz's ears...

"Yeah, and she's kinda cute right? Maybe I could set up a study date with her forAnatomy~"

His ears wiggled and then twitched when he heard that tasteless joke-at least it hadbetterhave been a joke forTHEIRsake-while he slammed his boot into the wall and stared them down...startling the other first year guys who let Connar's name slip from their lips.
In a rush of intimidated discomfort after being caught under Chazz's intense glare- they quickly shuffled out of his sight.

"Haha man you really put teach in his place~!"

Jaden's "right on" attitude caught Chazz's attention really quickly- and just as quickly- got on his nerves.
Listening to his cheery conversation with Connar made him grind his teeth.

"I'll catch up with you guys later then." She said sweetly smiling as she waved her friends off to wander the hall.

"Hmph. Good to see you don't hold back in class lessons." a low grumble startled her from behind and she turned to find Princeton leaning against the wall leering at her."Now let's see you do the same with your talent." he scoffed as he stormed off down the hall, the clicking sound of the raised heels on his school boots echoed around her and receded away.

Connar sighed as she as she placed her hand over her custom holster.
It hovered there...trembling...reluctant and resistant to grab hold of it properly, and instead once again, she curled her fingers back into her hand.
Princeton is right...
She thought to herself.
Eventually I will have to unveil my deck and duel...

She sighed, as she stopped, pulling a certain card from the neatly stacked deck.
She had held back from dueling since Prep School...
...Sinceheleft...

She never stopped practice... but playing against yourself wasn't the same as playing someone else...
I stacked this deck myself...

So there's no one else to blame...but-

"Well done~"

That voice on the day I met Jaden...
I tried to play it off as though I were hearing things...
But I am almost certain that Dark Magician Girl was talking that day...
she sighed and trembled softly.
I thought I was past this incident...
I thought once I had met him...

And he helped me...

That this was all over-
But...what if I'm not?
she trembled, gripping her deck tightly.
What if now that we...

That it gets worse again?
If I duel...

Will I be ready and able to handle the situation...

if it happens again...?

To Be Continued