Chapter Text
A dull trickle filled the vast blackness beyond the boundaries of the universe where neither gods nor devils dwelled. It was the steady thunder of sand grains sifting through the hourglass of time. It was the noise which accompanied the forming of the worlds, the birth of civilisations and fall of empires. If one listened closely they could hear it in the chime of the tallest belfry as well as the ticking of the tiniest pocket watch.
Mercilessly the hands moved forward, driven by their little gears, drawing circle over circle around the clock face. Now the slimmest of them approached its larger brother and for a moment they met, before the slim one hurried on, leaving the other behind on the light green ground. For a blink the green disappeared, but it returned immediately, following the movements of its original on the other side of the glass. After the hand had passed a few seconds the eye blinked again.
Its owner was able to hear the flow of time. She had had more than enough of it to learn how to listen. She had stopped sighing long ago. It had been useless. Complaining didn’t change anything for her. That’s why she did nothing but lie on her hard bed and stare at the clock on the wall.
Aside from the bed and a little wardrobe it was the only thing filling the tiny room. There also was a window leading to a small yard which was planted with rose bushes. From time to time other students passed through it on their way to the next classroom or simply to spend their lunch break here.
Their merry laughter could be heard from the long corridors, though it was quickly drowned by the firm clacking of boots on stone. It was a ubiquitous sound at this place, resounding throughout the halls and stairways and even the classrooms when the teachers strode up and down in front of their students. It could be heard from the deepest vaults to the highest spires whose roofs glistened in the sunlight, sending a golden glow across the waves which engulfed the rocky island. That was the only thing which a watchful eye could see from the mainland.
Right now there was such a watchful eye. A torn black cape fluttered in the wind which blew over the roofs, tousling with a thatch of black and purplish hair.
He drew in a deep breath of the salty sea air and gazed grimly over to the island.
Finally… Finally he had come this far. Finally he could bring back the person who was most dear to him.
Serenity…
He felt as though the whole world was enveloped in it, a mocking contrast to the torn grey buildings around, the crooked street lights that lined the deserted road, as well as the scruffy figures who stood or squatted on the slanted remains of a car park.
They were less than twenty, all wearing dark, mostly ragged clothes. Here and there a red scarf shimmered beneath the cloaks. It was the sign they had given themselves. A sign for the blood that had been spilled already and for their will to survive, as Shun had put it.
But… survival was easier said than done. They all were aware of that.
They didn’t look at each other. He knew why. If they did, a terrible question popped up in their minds.
Will that person still be able to look at me tomorrow?
That question was followed by an even more terrible one.
Will I still be there to look at them?
They couldn’t fool themselves anymore. Some of them would disappear today. That was a fact. The only question left was… Who?
He wondered if he would ever be able to abandon asking himself these questions. Ruri had once said they would surely see Heartland the way it had been. It was a nice dream, but he couldn’t find the confidence to believe in it. Not the way it was today.
But… When he had looked into her face, he had still agreed. He hadn’t dared to be so cruel as to strip her of that delusion. She deserved whatever little piece of happiness came across her. In the meanwhile he would deal with the hard reality. With the gathering of food and water. With the fighting against academia. Whatever was necessary to survive.
Only those who survived could see a better future. A future without war. A future where people were free to laugh again, without having to fear for their lives.
Every creature has a will to live. When he grew up, he thought it was natural to think that way. Never had he imagined there could be people who didn’t understand that, who didn’t care about the lives of others.
Academia…
They had attacked without provocation. They had killed without justification. Cold soldiers without the slightest willingness to talk. There had been a few people who tried, who wanted to negotiate with them, but… Well… None of them was ever seen again.
It hurt. Every comrade who disappeared hurt. Every face he knew he’d never see again left a little emptiness in his heart.
Their enemies on the other hand seemed to multiply with every week. As if there was an endless supply of soldiers they could send. Some said it was hopeless. That they couldn’t win. But… he believed if they started to think that way, they had lost already. Even if despair was the only thing that pushed them on, they would fight until the very end. And that was the reason they were here today.
“Yuto.”
He turned to the tall young man who approached him, his long blue coat wafting in the wind. His face was hidden beneath a military mask and the red scarf that was wrapped around his neck.
“What about the enemy?”
“Still no sign of them”, Yuto replied and took a deep breath. “It is quiet. Like always.”
The young man clenched his fist as he gazed down into the streets. “Damn. Where are they? They should’ve been here five minutes ago.”
“Don’t get so worked up, Shun. They’ll come.”
Shun sighed. “I don’t think I can be a leader like Kaito. He could keep his calm, even when something went wrong.”
Yuto allowed himself a weak smile.
He and Shun had been friends for as long as he was able to remember. They had done all kinds of things together, even before the war had forced them to. Even before their parents had been killed in the firestorm that had ravaged this city which they had called home and turned it into the drear wasteland it was today. Since then Shun and his little sister had taken him in. They had been his family in a world that was falling apart.
At least… until that day one month ago that had changed everything.
“Yuto.”
He felt a stab in his heart whenever Ruri’s smiling face flashed before his eyes. If only… If only he had been there in time. If only he had been able to protect her.
“Don’t blame yourself.”
Yuto started a little. Sometimes it was unsettling how well Shun could read his expression.
“It’s not your fault.”
“I… I know, but…”
“We’ll get her back”, Shun said firmly. “Even if we have to send every one of these bastards to hell to do it.”
“Yes. Yes, you’re right.”
Ruri… She was more than a friend to him. Maybe even more than a sister. Yes. If there was one thing that was certain in this messed up world, it was the fact that he’d see her again.
“Hey! Do you hear that?” Allen asked and Yuto felt how a sudden tension seized all of them.
And then he heard it, the distant roar of motors as well as the heavy pound of metallic feet that hit the road.
“Alright, everyone”, Shun said loudly. “You know the plan. Let’s make them pay for having set a foot in our city!”
The others agreed firmly and then everyone crouched down so the roof would shield them from their enemies’ gaze. Yuto silently counted the seconds. Before he reached twenty, the noise had approached far enough he dared to risk a look.
Below, flanked by a pack of mechanical hounds, drove a convoy of jeeps, each crammed with four or five soldiers. Some of them wore the blue uniform of the elite, but more wore the red or yellow of the lower ranks.
He could feel anger boiling up inside him. Anger at their presence here, anger at what they had done, at the countless people they had carded.
There wasn’t a way to end this conflict peacefully. He had realised that long ago. They didn’t spare anyone they found, neither man nor woman nor child. This war would not end before one side was entirely wiped out.
“And now attack!” Shun shouted as he straightened up. “Make them pay for our friends and families!”
Yuto let the grimness seep into his heart before he leapt over the edge. And once again the serenity before the storm was replaced by the madness of the battlefield.
He couldn’t remember how often he had felt it since that day, how often he had felt the mixture of dust and ashes burning in his eyes. It was a perpetual companion whose presence he had gotten used to. Even here, at this place that was farther away from his old home than any other he had been before, it was still by his side, embracing him like an old, but bitter friend.
“Antique Gear Hound Dog! Hit him with 600 points of damage! Hound Flame!”
Yuto leapt out of the way before the fire blast could hit him. Nevertheless he could feel the searing heat on his skin.
“Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon! Counter attack! Lightning Disobey of the Rebellion!”
His black dragon let out a roar, thrust its fangs into the ground and flapped its wings, leaving a deep rift in the ground as it tore apart the hound. The soldier across him jumped back and flinched angrily. Still, Yuto didn’t have time to relax because a barrage of bullets zipped by and he ducked behind a piece of debris.
“You sure are skilled”, one of the three soldiers said with a wide grin. “But you should’ve surrendered when you still had the chance. I tribute two Antique Gear Soldiers and Advance Summon the mighty Antique Gear Golem.”
Yuto looked up as the ground began to shake and a giant of steel arose above him. Its eyes began to glow and they wandered around until they locked on him. The giant brought up its mechanical hands, interlacing them above his head. For a moment Yuto felt as though time was standing still. Then it brought down its fists, smashing Dark Rebellion into the ground. He leapt aside in time but was nevertheless enveloped by a cloud of dust and noticed the next attack too late.
The giant’s punch hit the ground in front of him and sent him crashing into a wall. Hot pain flooded through his body and when he coughed he felt the taste of blood in his mouth. Blinking away the tears in his eyes, he squinted up at the soldiers who approached him from all sides, triumphant smiles written all over their faces.
“And now for the final blow!” The golem raised its fist, ready to crush Yuto. He tried to move, but his body didn’t respond.
Was this it? Was it his turn to disappear now? Shun would surely be angry at him. And Ruri… He wished he could’ve seen her one last time.
“I am sorry”, he muttered, closed his eyes and prepared for the inevitable.
“Moonlight Blue Cat!”
The giant’s fist struck the ground, making stone and concrete fly in all directions and raised a huge cloud of dust.
Yuto opened his eyes, surprised that he was still able to, and gasped when his gaze fell on a feline face, covered entirely with light blue fur. One of the eyes was hidden beneath a golden, crescent-shaped mask. Then he noticed the strong arms that had grabbed him, pressing him tightly against a female-looking chest. Behind he heard angry shouts, but they faded quickly as the blue feline carried him away with wide leaps.
When she finally set him down again, his legs gave way beneath him and he slumped to the ground. Worried, he noticed the red stain that was spreading on his shirt.
“That’s all”, a foreign voice said.
The feline bowed her head and disappeared in a shower of sparks.
“Now to you”, the voice said again. It sounded cold and sharp and Yuto could hear a hint of hostility in it.
Darkness crept at the edge of his vision as his eyes darted around, trying to make out the owner of that voice. At last he heard footsteps and saw a figure approaching him, a girl as far as he could tell.
“Who… Who are you?” he rasped, a streak of pain blazing through his chest and making him choke.
She opened her mouth to answer, but then she hesitated, her eyes widening a little as she looked down at him.
“Who… Who…” Yuto tried again, but her face began to blur and he heard a faint ringing in his ears. Then his head sagged to the side and everything went black.
Damn! Damn Damn Damn! This was not how she had planned this out.
Xyz… Everything about him screamed out that word. From the shape of his duel disk to the dirty, tattered clothing he wore. She had been so excited the moment she saw him, being cornered by the guards. Finally her patience had paid off. Finally she had received a chance, a chance she must not waste.
But if she really wanted to prove herself, she had to fight him alone without any of the other soldiers. Then, if she handed him over to the professor, he would have no choice but to admit she was ready.
At least that was what she thought. This, however, was not what she had expected. First of all he was much younger than she had imagined, maybe fourteen of fifteen years old. Second, he was injured. There was a large red stain on his chest, his ribs had suffered a heavy blow and he was covered over and over with little scratches and bruises. He wasn’t even able to stand. A fight against someone in this condition would hardly serve to prove her strength.
So, what was she supposed to do? Should she let him go? No. This was a unique chance. The only chance she would get.
Suddenly an idea struck her. She could simply card him without a duel and tell everyone she defeated him in a fierce battle, right?
Her finger wandered to the button on her duel disk. It was so easy. Just one twitch of her finger and she’d be free to escape this boring cage and join the world of battle and glory she was craving for. Just one twitch…
After a while she sighed and lowered her hand. It simply didn’t feel right. She wanted to prove herself with this, wanted to prove her skill. Even if everyone else would believe her, she would still know it had been a lie. No. Only with an honest fight she’d be able to prove herself.
That meant…
Her eyes wandered down to his messy, black hair, the battered cape of the same colour that was covering him like a burial shroud, his soot-stained, exhausted-looking face.
That meant she would have to make sure he didn’t die right away.
“An intruder?”
“Yes, professor. An Xyz. Apparently he reached the island as a stowaway on one of the supply ships. The squadron which discovered him managed to wound him, but he suddenly disappeared and we haven’t been able to find him.”
The man known as the professor leaned back in his arm chair and gazed up at the ceiling. “I see. If he’s an Xyz, he’s probably after one of the pieces. Increase the guards at the towers. And take a few squadrons to search the island. I want you to find this intruder.”
“Yes, Sir.”
He wasn’t disturbed by the hardness in the professor’s voice. Even before he had come to academia, he had been a soldier for a long time. He had fought countless battles and served under many different commanders, but all of them had one thing in common. A voice which was used to giving orders.
The professor gave him an inquiring look. “Is there anything else, Barrett?”
“Umm… Yes, Sir”, he answered. “The soldiers believe the intruder has received help from inside. They say someone from academia has betrayed us and helped him to escape.”
The professor nodded slowly. “We’ve had a few runaway students lately. It is not unreasonable to assume that. Or… do you have a concrete suspicion already?”
This was the moment Barrett hadn’t prepared for. Should he tell the professor that Serena had been absent shortly after the alert and risk he would lock her away again? Or should he investigate this himself and try to convince her should it really be her who was behind this?
It wasn’t like he had started to like that girl, but he thought he had found a congenial spirit in her.
She had the courage, the determination as well as the discipline necessary to become a soldier. And she wanted to prove herself as badly as he had when he was younger.
“No, Sir. I haven’t”, he said. “I just wanted to know what was to happen with them should we be able to confirm it.”
“The same as what happens to the other runaways”, the professor said and turned around. The light of the Arc-V reactor sent a deep green shimmer over his face. “If they are willing to come back, bring them back. Otherwise…” He turned his head and gave Barrett a last glance over his shoulder. “…you know what to do.”
“Yes, Sir.”