A new Ally

Holding hands, Minkus and Abby walked toward Abby’s dorm room at Fuel University. Minkus was still surprised by the day’s events—the movie, the latte, and the unexpected connection they had shared at the coffee shop.

“I had a wonderful time this evening,” Abby said, looking Minkus in the eye.

Minkus stood frozen, nervous and unsure of what to say, as Abby reached for the door to her dorm.

“We’re going to have to do this again,” Abby said with a smile before leaning in and kissing Minkus on the cheek.

River lay sprawled across her bed, her Duel Magic cards spread out before her. She studied different combinations of monsters and spell cards, searching for the strongest strategies. Ever since the vision, she hadn't been able to relax.

Somewhere on campus, a great danger was gathering.

The five duelists had seen only fragments: a figure hidden in the shadows, whispering words of hatred while releasing dark magic that twisted people's minds. During her last Shadow Duel to free Zelmore from that corruption, River had heard a single name echo through the darkness.

Arachnir.

The name had haunted her ever since.

A sudden knock at the door shattered her concentration.

River instinctively swept her cards into a neat deck and held them tightly. If another Slifer student had fallen under the influence of the evil magic, she would need to be ready for a Shadow Game at a moment's notice.

"Who is there?" River called.

"It's Zelmore."

River frowned.

Why is Zelmore here? she wondered.

Keeping one hand on her deck, she slowly opened the door just enough to see him. She positioned herself so she could slam it shut if anything seemed wrong.

"What do you want?" she asked cautiously.

Zelmore looked confused more than anything else.

"What happened this evening?" he asked. "Some of the Slifers said we disappeared together, but I don't remember any of it."

River didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she closed her eyes.

The mysterious symbols branded across her shoulder began to glow with a soft silver light. Ancient magical runes circled around her arm as they reached out, silently scanning Zelmore for traces of corruption.

Several tense seconds passed.

Then the light faded.

The symbols had found no sign of evil magic.

Zelmore was completely free from Arachnir's influence.

River opened her eyes and let out the breath she had been holding. Lowering her guard just a little, she slipped her deck back into her pocket.

Before River opened the door any farther, she hesitated.

How am I supposed to explain this? she wondered.

The truth sounded impossible.

She would have to tell Zelmore that his mind had been consumed by evil magic, that he had planned to attack Abby without realizing it, and that the only way to save him had been to challenge him to a Shadow Duel in the Umbral Realm. There, surrounded by darkness and fueled by ancient magic, River had defeated the corruption controlling him and shattered its hold over his mind.

River stepped out into the hallway and quietly closed the dorm room door behind her. She glanced up and down the corridor before turning back to Zelmore.

"Let's go for a walk," she said. "I'll explain everything."

I hope I can, she thought.

Without another word, the two began walking across campus. The evening air was cool, and the sidewalks were nearly empty as the last of the students returned to their dorms.

Zelmore kept looking over his shoulder, making sure none of the other Slifers were watching. The rumors that he and River had disappeared together had already spread through the dorm, and the last thing he wanted was to give his classmates more reason to gossip.

River noticed his uneasy glances.

"Worried about your reputation?" she asked with a faint smile.

Zelmore rubbed the back of his neck and gave an embarrassed shrug.

“You know how the Slifers are," he admitted. "If they see me walking around campus with you this late, I'll never hear the end of it."

Despite everything weighing on her mind, River couldn't help but laugh softly.

"I think your reputation is the least of your problems," she said.

Zelmore looked at her, puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

River's smile faded. She took a deep breath, knowing there was no easy way to begin.

Because, Zelmore... the last thing you remember isn't what actually happened," River said quietly. "Someone used evil magic to take control of your mind. You were planning to attack Abby, and the only way to save you was to challenge you to a Shadow Duel in the Umbral Realm."

Zelmore stopped walking.

His expression shifted from confusion to disbelief.

"...You're serious, aren't you?"

River met his gaze and slowly nodded.

"I wish I weren't."

Zelmore searched her face for any sign that she was joking, but all he saw was concern.

"That... that's impossible," he said. "I would never attack Abby. She's never done anything to me."

"You wouldn't," River replied. "Not by your own choice. The evil magic twisted your thoughts and preyed on your anger and fear. It wasn't really you making those decisions."

Zelmore looked down at the pavement, trying to make sense of what he was hearing.

"So... if what you're saying is true... why don't I remember any of it?"

"Because the Shadow Duel broke the spell," River explained. "When the corruption was destroyed, the memories connected to it disappeared with it. The last thing you remember is from before Arachnir's magic took hold."

"Arachnir?" Zelmore repeated.

River nodded.

"That's the name I heard during our duel. Whoever—or whatever—it is, it's hiding somewhere on campus. The five of us all saw the same shadowy figure in a vision. It whispered words of hatred while spreading evil magic that takes control of people's minds."

A chill ran down Zelmore's spine.

He had dismissed the strange gaps in his memory as exhaustion, but River's explanation fit too many pieces together. The uneasy feeling he had carried all evening suddenly seemed to have a reason.

"If Arachnir can control me..." he said quietly, "then no one on campus is safe."

"Exactly," River replied. "And that's why I finally decided to tell you the truth.”

Zelmore walked beside River in silence, his thoughts racing. The weight of her words settled heavily on his mind.

I was going to attack Abby...

The idea alone made his stomach turn.

"What... what would have happened if you hadn't stopped me?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

River didn't answer right away.

"I don't know," she admitted. "The evil magic was growing stronger every minute. By the time I challenged you in the Umbral Realm, it had almost completely taken over your mind."

Zelmore lowered his head.

"I could have hurt her," he said, guilt creeping into his voice. "Or worse."

"You didn't," River replied firmly. "The person who wanted to attack Abby wasn't the real Zelmore. It was Arachnir's magic speaking through you."

"That doesn't make it any easier to accept."

River understood. Even though he hadn't been acting of his own free will, the possibility of what might have happened still haunted him.

"You saved me," Zelmore said after a long silence. "You risked your own life in a Shadow Duel to bring me back."

River gave a small shrug.

"I did what any of our group would have done."

Zelmore looked at her with a newfound respect.

"Then I owe you more than a thank-you."

River smiled faintly.

"If you want to repay me, help us stop Arachnir before anyone else falls under that evil magic."

Zelmore nodded without hesitation.

"You won't have to ask twice. If Arachnir is still somewhere on this campus, then I'm going to help you find whoever is behind all of this."

For the first time since their conversation had begun, River felt a glimmer of hope. They still didn't know who Arachnir was or where the next attack would come from, but now they had another ally who understood exactly what was at stake.

River glanced around the quiet campus. The walkways were nearly deserted, and the lights shining from the dorm windows suggested most of the Slifers had already turned in for the night.

"It's late," River said. "The Slifers are probably all in their dorm by now. What do you say to getting a latte?"

Zelmore instinctively looked over both shoulders, scanning the nearly empty campus to make sure no one was watching them.

"Only on one condition," he said.

"What's that?"

"No one ever finds out this happened."

A smile tugged at the corner of River's mouth.

"Agreed."

She held out her hand.

Zelmore shook it, and for the first time that evening, the tension between them eased.

"Then let's go before the coffee shop closes," River said.

The two headed across campus together, no longer as opponents who had faced each other in the Umbral Realm, but as allies united against the growing threat of Arachnir. Though neither of them knew what dangers lay ahead, they shared the same goal now: uncover the source of the evil magic before another student fell under its influence.