[Snippet] Climbing the Ladder (Yugioh): Chapter 4 (Patreon)

“Welcome, welcome, everyone!” Professor Satyr welcomed all the new members of Ra Yellow as the last off the ship had finally arrived.

Theodore and Bastion were among the last due to dueling as soon as they stepped onto the island.

“First, I would like to congratulate you all for passing the exams and making it to Duel Academy. Just behind here, many doors have now opened that were previously unavailable. However! Do not take this as thinking you can slack off. This is only the beginning; the competition at Duel Academy is cutthroat, and I expect each and every one of you to set your sights higher.”

He held his finger up towards the sky, sweeping his gaze across the crowd of new students. “I may be the proud head teacher of the Ra Yellow house, but more than that, I am a teacher at its core, so I want all of you to succeed. That means I want all of you out of my house by the end of the year!” He chuckled good-naturedly. “I expect each and every one of you to make it to Obelisk Blue by this time next year. Am I understood?”

“Yes, Professor!” Many students spoke at the same time.

“Excellent!” Professor Satyr clapped his hands together. “Then allow me to explain what will be expected of you during your first year.”

Theodore straightened slightly as he was curious. While he had knowledge it was fragmented, he didn’t know about the day-to-day life that he would be living for the next several years.

This was the part he was particularly interested in.

The anime hadn't exactly spent much time explaining the administrative minutiae of Duel Academy.

“First and foremost, you are students.” Professor Satyr held up a finger. “Not professional duelists. Not celebrities. And despite what some of you may believe after receiving your acceptance letters, you are most certainly not masters of Duel Monsters.”

The Professor Smiled.

“I expect you to behave like students, do you understand? I don’t need any of you swaggering around because you won a few duels, or you have some powerful cards. You are here to learn; that is your job, that is your responsibility. When you duel, it’s a learning experience, win or lose. And I expect all of you to act like the ladies and gentlemen that you are. I expect excellence from you all, not just from studious behavior and applied learning, but from you as people and duelists.”

He gave everyone a moment, letting his words sink in.

He looked at each and every face in the crowd, making them all feel specifically noticed, giving each and every new face the proper attention.

His eyes on Theodore, and Theodore gave him a polite nod in acknowledgement.

Theodore fully believed in the philosophy presented.

“There are rules here at Duel Academy; there are requirements. Classes, curfews, taboos, and unwritten rules. I won’t be telling you any of those. For the majority of them, they’re written on the bulletin board in the common room. I will not be treating you all like children; you will be treated like adults, like proper duelists, so there will be no hand handling. If you can’t acclimate, you will fall, and you will have no one to blame but yourself.”

A small warning to every newcomer.

Duel Academy wasn’t here to hold your hand, to pick you up when you fall, or to pull you past the finish line. If you broke the rules, that’s on you; they were clearly written down. If you broke some taboo or some historical unspoken agreement and got publicly shamed, that was your fault.

It fit Theodore just fine.

“Now, I’m sure you’re all hungry. A feast is set up in the cafeteria. As Ra students, your meals are free and available all day and night; we have staff manning the cafeteria at all times of the day. So, go and enjoy.”

Many of the students cheered, and Theodore felt his own stomach rumbling.

They started to file out into the connected building, into the Cafeteria, as Professor Satyr yelled over the commotion. “Your names are on your dorm rooms! If you can’t find it or get lost, come see me; my room is at the end of the hallway! My door is always open for my students!”

He just spoke about no hand holding, yet he couldn’t hide his own affection to his students for even a few minutes.

Maybe most didn’t catch it, but Theodore recognized a good teacher when he saw one. A teacher that was willing to walk the extra mile to help their students.

Theodore quickly joined the others in the Cafeteria. Though it was called that it was much more like a proper restaurant. 

Long tables set up, dishes that wouldn’t look out of place in a high-end restaurant were placed all over. Lobster, sushi, steak, pretty much every 'high-end' meal you could think of was on the table. Maybe the ingredients weren’t the absolute most expensive, but it was more than enough.

Professor Satyr joined as everyone began taking seats or filling their plates across the tables.

“Tonight, you’re not students yet. So, enjoy, have fun, introduce yourselves, and stay up late. Feel free to cause a commotion, be loud and joyous. You all got here; that’s worth celebrating. Becoming proper students can wait until morning.” He smiled warmly at everyone.

Theodore made a plate, sitting down next to Bastion

“A wonderful first impression, is it not?”

"Definitely," Theodore agreed. “I’m surprised. This is only the second best; I can’t imagine what Obelisk Blue must be like. Do they hand you solid gold silverware?”

Bastion chuckled. “One hopes. We will see soon, won’t we?”

“That we will.”

It felt good to him, because now it felt like he was proper friends with Bastion.

“Hey, you guys are the ones who dueled those Obelisk Blue guys.” A Ra Yellow sat down across from them. “I’m Julian Cross, a first year like you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Julian Cross. I’m Bastion," Bastion introduced himself.

“Theodore.” 

Very quickly another Ra joined them. “Hey, I’m Vincent Ward!” A larger boy joined in.

“I’m Audrey.” A girl slid in next to Theodore. “Your duel was great.”

Everyone began to introduce themselves.

Theodore could only smile.

This was everything he wanted, wasn’t it? He didn’t have any dreams of protecting the world or some grand inspirations of becoming the ‘King of Games.' What he strived for was what he could grab with his own hands.

Recognition, fame, status, and money. He wasn’t overly materialistic, he wasn’t overly prideful, and he wasn’t someone who yearned to be looked up to.

What he wanted was to earn all of that himself, for it to be his.

And it felt like he finally took his first step forward.

@***@

The meal had been wonderful, and after meeting his new schoolmates, Theodore had no complaints.

Of course, he wasn’t satisfied just yet.

Making his way to Obelisk Blue wasn’t a matter of if, but when. But that was still for the future, and as Professor Satyr said, he could worry about being a proper student in the morning.

That is, since he technically wasn’t a student yet, that meant curfew didn’t apply to him, didn’t it?

Theodore stood in front of a large map of Duel Academy Island.

Next to the bulletin board with the rules and other necessities, the map showed where they were, the Ra Yellow Dorm, and it marked every important location on Duel Academy Island.

It even showed the ‘Abandoned Dorm' and labeled it absolutely off limits, among other taboos that couldn't be approached.

“Theodore, are you going to find your room?” Bastion exited the cafeteria, finding Theodore.

“In a bit, I’m just familiarizing myself with everything.

“Ah, a smart decision. However, I will choose to settle into my room first, then wake up early to study everything in the morning. A fresh mind will absorb it faster, I believe.”

“I won’t keep you.” He held his hand out. “Let’s duel sometimes.”

Bastion smiled. “I will look forward to it.” He shook it before heading off towards the dorms section of the Ra Yellow building.

Theodore’s smile faded and he looked back at the map. It wasn’t just the major locations marked, but many smaller locations, historical sites, listened, or hand-drawn indicators here or there.

One specific is what caught his attention.

The Reject Well.

It was towards the Obelisk Blue Dorm, and he had a general idea of where it was now. Looking around the room, he saw that no one was paying attention to him, so he quickly snuck out the door.

It was already night time and he fumbled around in his bag for a flashlight, happy that he decided to bring one along with him, along with some other emergency survival supplies just in case.

There was something oddly uncomfortable about the night on the island though.

There was a sort of…air that permeated the night that made him uneasy.

Fear?

No, he wasn’t afraid.

Because behind him a two-headed dragon loomed above, scaring off anything that would even think about trying anything funny. 

The Reject Well wasn’t particularly difficult to find; there was a half-path to it from the main pathway between the two dorms. And it stuck out of the ground high enough that he noticed it from the edge of his flashlight.

It looked exactly like he recalled in his memories. But just as well, there was a very eerie feeling coming from it. At first he questioned why some of the cards down there were left forgotten for so long, but just standing here, he understood.

Anyone who had the intention of trying to dive down for cards, well, they most likely got scared away fairly quickly.

A small snort from his Dragon, and that eerie feeling dispersed.

Theodore gave his dragon a small smile before taking out a length of rope from his pack. 

He tied the rope to a nearby tree, making sure it was tight before descending down the well with the flashlight in his mouth.

It wasn’t too deep; he touched down on the soft dirt after a few moments. He took the flashlight from his mouth, pointing it outwards, and he saw cards scattered everywhere. Dozens, hundreds of them, all thrown about, wedged in walls, half covered in dirt and grime.

And slowly, things started to seep out.

Duel Spirits.

Not all the cards here had one, but it was more Duel Spirits than he had seen in one place.

And they didn’t look too friendly.

“Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, please introduce yourself.” 

At his ushering, the dragon fully emerged from his shadow. It was a fairly large Duel Spirit, larger than every other one in the well, and it roared, sending all the other Duel Spirits quivering and retreating back into their cards.

“Now, I would like to say a few things. If any of you are willing to come with me, I would gladly take you out of this place. I cannot guarantee I will use you in duels, but at the very least, you would not have to be hidden away from the sun for many more years to come.” He expected some sort of reaction, but not one of the cards so much as quivered.

He sighed, knowing he couldn’t force it.

However, there was something at the far corner of the cave.

A light was shrill, almost like a dragon, but not quite, and with a yellow flash, it came barreling towards him. To his surprise, Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon did nothing to stop it, and as soon as Theodore saw it, he knew why.

“Why, hello there.” Theodore greeted. “You are a beautiful one, aren’t you?”

It was Thunder Dragon.

“You are so small. That won’t do.” Theodore held out his hand. “Take some of my Ba; you must be starving.” He offered it freely, and the Thunder Dragon drank from it gladly.

Theodore felt the drain more than when he gave Ba days before, but he didn’t stop it. The Thunder Dragon became more and more solid before finally stopping.

It had grown in size a tad as well, but now it didn’t look like it was about to disappear if he touched it the wrong way.

The Thunder Dragon rubbed against him.

“Of course, you’re always welcome.” Theodore told him, understanding what it wanted.

“Did my words before flow through one ear and out the other?” A familiar voice reached him. “I believe I had warned thee not to offer Ba willingly. Yet, you do so, blatantly.” A witch of the Black Forest stepped out of the shadows.

“I heeded your warning, madam. It just so happens that Thunder Dragon is one that I trust unconditionally.” Theodore smiled.

The Witch huffed lightly. “Thou art right, I suppose. Thy smaller dragon is connected to thy larger dragon.”

Twin-Headed gave her a look but didn’t make any noise.

“I am here to fulfill my promise, Madam. I will be taking you away from this place.” He held out his hand.”

“Thou art so full of thyself. Do you think I will take thy hand because it is extended?” The Witch crossed her arms, but her lips were curled in amusement. “Thou hast to earn the right.” She said it hastily, but it was clear she was being less than adamant in her words. 

“I see.” Theodore nodded. “Of course, a woman of your stature, you must be properly wined and dined, isn’t that right? I would be remiss if I did not give you a night you would never forget.”

The Witch let out a laugh. “Thou art arrogant yet still. To speak so flatteringly, yet so audaciously. Thou hath fulfilled your bargain, finding mine discarded remnant within this hellish place. A task I had thought would have taken many more moons.” The last part left her feeling exasperated. “However, thou must prove thyself.” She held her hand up, and a duel disk appeared on her arm. “We shall do so in the manner you are familiar with. If thou wilt wish this maiden’s hand to whisk me away, then show me if you can.”

“A duel for your hand then.”

“Thou art making jests at my expense.”

“If I had known I was being proposed to tonight, I would have dressed more appropriately.” He smiled, seeing her look indignant and cute. “Then let me prove myself; I will not hold back, and I’ll defeat you as quickly and thoroughly as possible.”

Was it meant to say he was going to defeat her as harshly as possible? No, because it was a promise from him to her, the ‘proof’ of his 'courtship,' as they joked. As a Duel Spirit, a Duelist must prove their worth, and so it was the most proper way to show his desire to have her at his side.

“Then let us battle.”

"Duel," Theodore acknowledged as his Duel Disk came to life.

Theodore Blackwell [4000 LP] / Witch of the Black Forest [4000 LP]

Something felt different though.

It wasn’t’ a shadow duel, but he felt it was heavier than normal.

“Then, I shall begin. I place one card face down, and I summon Breaker, the Magical Warrior in attack mode. When he is summoned, he gains a spell counter, increasing his attack by 300.”

[Breaker the Magical Warrior: 4 Stars]

[1600/1000] -> [1900/1000]

“You may go.”

“Draw.” Theodore pulled his top card. “I’m sorry, Madam. But our first time is going to be a bit rough for you.”

She looked scandalized. “Thou art a brute of the lowest class!”

Theodore just laughed. “A deck responds to its user, and my deck knows how much I want you to come with me, so it gave me the hand I needed to win on my first turn. First, I activate, Pot of Greed! I can draw two cards.”

He looked at them and made his next play.

“I play Harpie’s Feather Duster, destroying all your spell and trap cards.” He saw her one back row get destroyed. “Mirror Force?”

The Witch just looked away in amusement.

“Just for that, I’m not going to feel guilty.”

“Laughable. You would not have felt guilty about being rough with me regardless.” She huffed.

She wasn’t wrong.

“I discard Thunder Dragon to get one thunder dragon from my deck! Next, I discharge Thunder Dragondark to search up and add one Thunder Dragondark to my hand. Now—a noticeable energy all but erupted around Theodore.

The window in this underground cave had kicked up, and the hood on the witch's face was blown back.

Her eyes widened as she felt the presence that was about to descend.

“I banished my Thunder Dragon and my Thunder Dragondark to special summon Black Luster Soldier—Envoy of the Beginning!”

It wasn’t a mere hologram.

The second of his Duel Spirits made its appearance. It was still vague, like an echo of the real thing, but it appeared at his call.

[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning: Level 8]

[3000/2500]

Even as the summoner, Theodore could feel the oppressive aura that Black Luster Soldier radiated off of him.

That wasn’t all; he could feel the fatigue at summoning him. This wasn’t a ‘standard duel'; thus, the power he supplied was directly injected and taken by his Duel Spirit.

“Thou showest no mercy to this weak and pitiful Witch.” She sighed reluctantly. “Go ahead, take what you want from this defenseless witch.”

“Black Luster Soldier attack her, Breaker, the Magical Warrior!” Theodore commanded, and her Breaker was cut through with ease, shattering its holographic body into pieces.

Witch of the Black Forest [4000 LP] → [2900 LP]

“Now, I activate Black Luster Soldier’s special effect; when he destroys a monster by battle, he can attack again. Black Luster Solder, attack her directly.” He called out but paused slightly. “Gently, please.”

Black Luster Soldier, who was about to attack, stopped, giving him a look. He had no observable expression, but instead of a heartfelt attack, he walked over to the Witch.

“Thou art a gentleman, sir knight.” The Witch gave him a smile as he ever so slightly poked her with the hilt of his sword. “It is unfortunate that you are with such a ruffian.”

The Black Luster Soldier smiled lightly as her life points dropped.

Witch of the Black Forest [2900 LP] → [0000 LP]

The battlefield dissipated.

Theodore let out a long breath; his legs felt a little wobbly. “Did I meet your expectations?” He asked, and some sweat dripped down his brow.

The witch was before him, reaching out and cupping his cheek with her hand. “How much of a fool art thou? Summon such a spirit with such little practice. Very well, if thou hast put so much effort into acquiring my hand, how can this poor Witch reject thee? For henceforth, this Witch will accompany you for a lifetime. Our pact is sealed.” 

Theodore’s eyes widened because she leaned in and sealed it more literally than he expected, with a kiss on the lips.

It was very brief, just the blink of an eye before she disappeared and her card floated in front of him.

He caught the card from the air and quickly inserted it into his deck, into its new home.

“I’ll make sure to take care of you for now on.” He promised out loud. “But I haven't forgotten about you.” He reached out and stroked the Thunder Dragon that had been quietly at his side this whole time.

It wasn’t even scared away by Black Luster Soldier.

Theodore guessed it was because of Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon’s presence.

“Would you like to come with me?” 

The Dragon let out a cry before it burrowed towards his deck, presumably finding his Thunder Dragon card and making it its new home.

Theodore let out a breath. “Well, there are some good cards here; I may as well take the ones without owners.”

@***@

A/N

Theodore acquires a cute witch. It’s his first step to mastering his Ba, and she will be able to help him since she’s more versed on the magical side of things.