Spirit Caller
Chapter Nine
9
Top Versus Top
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Bastion and waited for Connar in the hallway.
Apparently word had gotten out to her father about her tardiness and performance in class-
Had she not aced her written exam things would have ended up a lot worse after having been released from that phone call with her Uncle that she had taken in the hall.

"So...how'd it go?" he asked.
"Well...they weren't psyched." said Connar.
I sure am off to a rocky start...
she thought to herself and sighed as she pressed the End Call button upon her return.
"I don't understand, how your family even found out so quickly?" asked Bastion, "It's not like you failed the written portion...nor were we late getting to the field part of the exam."
"Let's just say... my dad has eyes and ears everywhere when it comes to me, and leave it at that." Connar said awkwardly.
"Wow...strict family." Bastion muttered.

You have no idea...

Suddenly Professor Banner and the Chancellor made their way toward the twosome.

"I hear you have been off to a rocky start this morning, Eh Connar?"
"Sorry, Chancellor Shepperd." she bowed apologetically.
"Well...I suppose these things happen." he said, "You're here now, just try to keep track of your class events."
"Thank you, sir." Connar chimed, and Chancellor Shepperd smiled as he gave his nod of approval.

"The field exam, it's about dueling..." said Professor Banner, "However, Finding an Opponent for you might be a bit difficult to find" He states, "Everyone in your dorm has already been assigned a partner...We would have to make someone duel twice-"
"Well- I'm sure Jaden wouldn't mind dueling again." he chuckled, "Though he did just take down one of our school's best Duelists...I wouldn't feel right asking- even if he would be enthusiastic about it..." said Shepperd.
"Well- I could volunteer." said Bastion.
" Duel against you? But you out rank me- and the top of the class- wouldn't you be cutting yourself short?"
"Hmm...Nice try my dear." He chuckled, "But clearly you are not as fool hardy as you pose to be~" He hummed, "You scored perfectly on the written exam...despite being late, and as for our rather inteligent conversation, it's left me curious on how you duel." he said with a smile before turning to the two older gentlemen, "So if you would allow it- I will gladly volunteer to be her duel partner."
" But- while the field test is about dueling, the way it's organized is that your duelist choices are limited to your own dorm." said Professor Banner.
"That is correct." said Chancellor Shepperd, "With that, since you were almost late, we couldn't assign you other partners from your dorm early enough-" he stated, "But then...stranger things have happened." he stated, "Jaden was assigned Chazz Princeton, an Obelisk, as a Duel Partner...which already threw off the pairings-" He hums, "So I don't see how Pairing a Slifer with a Ra student could be any worse."
"What!?" the girl gasped.
Jaden was assigned Princeton for the Field Test!?
Indeed...that really wasn't a common occurance.
Something definitely seemed odd about that-

"So there we have it then." Bastion hummed, "So what say you Connar, Care to face me for the sake of you grade?" He grinned.
Connar could feel the lump in her throat as her heart sank a little.
I don't have time to focus on Princeton and Jaden right now...
She thought to herself as she shifted her focus on the Ra yellow student before her.
Now...

I have to face Misawa...
And Hope I can Last.

"What'd we miss!?" asked Syrus, as he slid his way into the seats with Jaden.
"Not much, yet." said Alexis. The blonde who normally watched from the top, seemed interested in a closer seat this time-
, "Apparently Connar was late this morning...she arrived to the duel field with Misawa, and due to the weird shuffling of student pairs, now the two of them are to face each other for the field exam." she said, "It's way out of protocol, But I guess we're just saying To Hell with the rule book today." She shrugs, "They're about to begin shortly-"
"It's not too far out of Protocol, Alexis." said Zane as he sat just on the other side of her, "Slifer students and Ra students aren't too far apart on the skill ladder." he stated, "Besides...we're talking about Connar- Who I can tell you is more talented than her rank will allow you to believe."
"R-Really?" asked Syrus.
"If you want my personal opinion, " said Zane, "She should be facing much bigger fish than Ra students."
"Hmm...sure sounds to me like you're actually a little jealous that it's not you down there facing off against her, Zane~"
Not that Zane was going to be honest about that-
He just scoffed a little to himself and completely ignored her accusation while Alexis giggled teasingly.
"Not that I really blame you or anything~" she hums, "Even I'm a little curious...I haven't seen her really duel much, not even really back in Prep School." she stated.
"Sweet!" said Jaden, "We'll finally get a chance to see what kind of decks they're packing!"
"Always the game, with you..." said Syrus, "Has it not occurred to you that Bastion Misawa is said to be the TOP DUELIST in our grade?" he huffed, "He's a Ra student, Connie is a Slifer, and now those two are forced to duel each other!?"
"No. Why should it?" said Jaden, "Things like that just makes the whole experience more fun!"
"Says you..." said Syrus as he looked upon them with concern, "However...Connie doesn't look so good..."
"Yeah...she was a little out of sorts this morning." said Jaden.
"I see...I guess that explains why you all were late then." said Alexis, "I hope she'll be okay."

Each student stood on either side of the Duel Field.
Bastion seemed bound, ready, and determined as he shuffled his deck and slid it into the duel disk.
Meanwhile, the pit in Connar's stomach only grew.
Chazz, sitting in the higher rows, propped his feet up and folded his arms with a scoff.
Eyes leering down upon the two Duelists about to bust out their decks.
Something doesn't seem right with Connar, today...
In fact she actually looks sick as hell...
And in a lot of pain...
What's going on?
xxx

What is this...feeling?
Connar thought to herself.
Her chest constricted...and her heart was beating in an unusual pattern...
It was painful- devouring her from within.
This wasn't a nervous pit...
This felt more like...something missing...and it attacked her from the inside out-
"Are you ready for me, Ms. Connar?"
"Huh?"
His voice came out in a wavering tamber...
There was an echo making her head pound with each reverberation of his words-" Oh...right." she said and slid her deck inside, triggering the mechanism on on her arm.

"DUEL!"

Bastion Misawa: 4000
Connar Rose K.: 4000

To be Continued