A new life at duel academy

As night fell, I prepared for a clandestine meeting with Alexis. The abandoned dorm loomed in my thoughts, a place shrouded in mystery and secrets waiting to be unearthed. I slipped a few essential cards into my pocket, ensuring I was ready for anything.

The clock ticked steadily, heightening my anticipation. The glow of my desk lamp reflected off my Duel Disk, its sleek design a comforting reminder of my skill. At midnight, I quietly left my dorm, the campus bathed in faint moonlight as I made my way toward the enigmatic structure.

The path was eerily silent, save for the soft crunch of my footsteps on the gravel. As I approached the dorm, its dilapidated facade seemed to watch me. The stillness was suffocating, and a chill crept up my spine.

Footsteps behind me broke the silence, and I turned to see Alexis jogging toward me, her breath visible in the cold night air.

"Sorry I'm late!" she exclaimed, urgency lacing her voice. "I wasn't sure if I should come."

"You did the right thing," I reassured her, my tone firm yet calming. "Let's uncover the truth together."

We stepped into the shadows of the abandoned dorm. The air was colder here, heavy with a foreboding stillness. The faint scent of mildew lingered, and the creaking floorboards seemed to amplify the tension.

"So, how was your brother before he disappeared?" I asked as we ventured deeper.

"He was a nice guy," Alexis began, her voice softening. "A bit annoying and playboyish, but he was a good brother. He was the No. 2 duelist at this school before he disappeared."

"No. 2, huh? Not bad," I remarked, glancing at her.

"Yeah," she continued, her tone tinged with nostalgia. "He's the one who made me fall in love with dueling. He used to challenge me all the time, pushing me to get better. I remember the first time I beat him—it felt amazing." A small smile flickered across her face, but it faded quickly as the weight of his absence returned.

The stillness deepened as we moved further in, the air pressing against us like a heavy shroud. Ancient scriptures and symbols etched into the walls caught my eye, their intricate designs illuminated by the dim glow of our Duel Disks.

"This dorm was used for studying the Shadow Games," I explained. "Look at the carvings of the Millennium Items. They're not just decorations—they're remnants of something much darker."

Alexis ran her fingers over one of the engravings, her curiosity shifting to dread as she noticed the depictions: duels fought not for victory, but for survival. "Shadow Games," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"When Jaden dueled Titan here, a mark appeared on the floor," I said, breaking the silence. "It wasn't random. It's called the Mark of Shadows. In ancient Egypt, it was used to seal demonic spirits into the Shadow Realm."

Alexis's eyes widened. "Are you saying my brother is trapped in the Shadow Realm?"

"It's possible," I admitted. "This place was a hub for forbidden games, and your brother might have been drawn here by someone promising power."

Her fists clenched. "Then we have to find a way to bring him back."

I nodded. "That's why we're here."

We descended a narrow staircase to the basement, the air growing heavier with each step. At the bottom, a partially ajar door creaked open to reveal a vast chamber. Crumbling shelves lined the walls, filled with ancient texts and relics. In the center stood a circular stone platform, its surface glowing faintly with the Mark of Shadows.

"This is it," I said, stepping closer. "This is where it happened."

Alexis followed hesitantly. "What are we supposed to find here?"

"Anything that can lead us to the truth," I replied, crouching to examine the platform. "Marks like this don't appear without reason."

"You have quite a lot knowledge on this Kai." 

"I have been all over the world and did a lot of exploration." 

We searched the room, sifting through debris. I picked up a tattered book filled with cryptic texts and sketches of dueling monsters. Hours passed, and frustration began to build.

"This is pointless," Alexis muttered.

"Yeah, you might be right," I said reluctantly. "Let's head back."

As we turned to leave, a faint glimmer caught my eye—a small hole in the wall, almost hidden by shadows.

"Alexis, wait!" I called, rushing toward it.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice edged with curiosity.

I inserted my fingers into the hole, pulling at the wood until it splintered and gave way. Behind it, a hidden passage stretched into darkness.

"A secret path," I murmured, glancing at Alexis.

We both stepped into the passage, the air immediately cooler and thick with a strange, metallic tang. The dim glow of our Duel Disks illuminated the narrow corridor as we cautiously made our way forward. The walls were lined with ancient carvings, their meanings lost to time but emanating a sense of foreboding.

At the end of the passage, we emerged into a hidden lab. The room was cluttered with alchemical equipment: beakers, vials filled with luminous liquids, and ancient texts scattered across a large wooden table. Flickering candles cast long shadows, giving the space an eerie, almost otherworldly atmosphere.

"Bizarre," Alexis muttered, her eyes scanning the room. "It's like someone's been living here."

"Yeah, you're right," I agreed, noting the freshly lit candles and neatly arranged tools. "This place isn't abandoned. Someone's been working here recently."

Alexis's gaze landed on the far wall. "What are those markings?"

I turned to follow her line of sight and saw a massive stone tablet covered in intricate engravings. The symbols seemed to hum with latent energy, drawing me closer. I studied the inscriptions, the words slowly piecing themselves together in my mind.

"The Three Sacred Beast cards?" I read aloud, my voice tinged with awe and disbelief.

"Sacred Beast cards? I've never heard of them," Alexis said, stepping closer.

"I've heard rumors," I replied, my fingers tracing the carvings. "But I thought they were just urban legends."

"What are they?" she asked, her tone shifting to curiosity.

"Three Duel Monster cards said to possess power rivaling the Egyptian God cards," I explained, my voice dropping as the weight of the revelation settled in.

Alexis was silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. "But why are they here?"

Before I could respond, she pointed toward a table in the corner. "Kai, there's a diary over there."

I walked over and picked up the weathered book, its cover embossed with alchemical symbols. Flipping through its pages, I found detailed notes on transmutation circles, cryptic formulas, and scattered references to the Sacred Beasts.

"Amnael," I muttered as a familiar name caught my eye. "This is about alchemy. Amnael was an alchemist who sought immortality, if I'm not mistaken."

"Immortality?" Alexis repeated, her tone skeptical but intrigued. "Maybe we should ask Professor Banner about this. He knows a lot about alchemy."

"Yeah," I agreed, though my thoughts were racing. Something about this lab felt deeply connected to Banner—and not in a good way.

"Kai, there's a tomb over there," Alexis said, pointing to a stone sarcophagus tucked against the far wall.

I handed her my Duel Disk. "Hold this for me."

Walking over to the tomb, I examined its surface. I began opening the sarcophagus. "Pass me the torch," I said, and Alexis handed me the flashlight she was carrying.

The beam of light revealed a mummy resting inside the tomb. Its wrappings were pristine, as though preserved by some unnatural means. A small metal tag on the chest caught my attention, and I leaned in closer.

"Banner..." I murmured, the name etched into the tag sending a chill down my spine.

"What?" Alexis asked, stepping closer to look.

I pointed to the tag. "Look at the name. It says Banner. And the mummy—it resembles him."

Alexis's face paled. "That doesn't make any sense. Banner's alive. He's our alchemy teacher."

"Maybe not," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The implications were staggering, but the evidence was undeniable.

"If this is Banner... then who's the man teaching us?"

"Listen Alexis let's leave this place and just act as if nothing happened." 

"What but why?" 

Alexis's voice was laced with confusion and disbelief. Her eyes darted between me and the sarcophagus, clearly struggling to process what we'd uncovered.

"Because," I said, keeping my tone steady, "whoever—or whatever—that is teaching us, it's better to not draw attention to ourselves until we know more. If this goes wrong, we could end up like your brother—or worse. You understand?" 

"But maybe Banner knows what happened to my brother?"

"Maybe...maybe not. If you go ask him about it, there are high chances you disappear just like your brother. So just act normal at school." 

Alexis hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Fine," she muttered, though her eyes betrayed a storm of emotions—confusion, anger, and a faint glimmer of fear.

We exited the secret passage cautiously, retracing our steps through the abandoned dorm. The oppressive silence that hung over the place seemed heavier now, as if the building itself had witnessed our discovery and wished to keep it hidden.

As we reached the outside, Alexis stopped and turned to face me, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kai, what do you really think is going on?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I think we've stumbled onto something bigger than we can handle right now. Your brother's disappearance, the Sacred Beasts, Banner… they're all connected somehow. But we can't rush this. If we make a wrong move, we're toast."

Her fists clenched, and for a moment, I thought she might argue. Instead, she nodded reluctantly. "Okay. But I'm not giving up on Atticus. If there's even a chance he's alive, I have to find him." 

"I get it," I said. 

"Trust me I know how it feels losing someone close to you but don't make any stupid mistake." 

Alexis's eyes softened for a moment, and she gave me a small nod of acknowledgment. "Thanks, Kai. I appreciate you helping me with this… even if you're being overprotective."

"Overprotective?" I smirked. "I just prefer keeping my neck attached to my body, thank you very much. Let's not turn this into a horror movie where we both disappear because we got too curious." 

Despite the heavy atmosphere, Alexis cracked a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"You want me to drop you to the Obelisk Blue dorm." I asked her. 

Alexis hesitated, glancing back at the shadowy silhouette of the abandoned dorm. 

"Yeah...maybe just this time, I feel a bit weird." 

"Alright then let's get moving."