"Awoo."
By the time Jaden emerged from the dry well after searching for clues, the sky was already growing dark. Pharaoh's bloated body was still lingering outside the well, eyes squinted as he waited for Jaden.
"Big brother! Please, take us with you!"
"Yeah, big brother, get us out of this dry well! Don't let our looks fool you; we can actually fight!"
"Big brother!"
As Jaden gripped the vines to climb out, a cacophony of wailing spirits filled his ears. A colorful assortment of spirits surrounded him, howling and begging incessantly. Ojama Black and Ojama Green were practically clinging to Jaden's legs, sobbing.
However, the moment Yubel's silhouette flickered into existence, the spirits that had been wailing and begging vanished without a trace.
"Ac—actually, it's probably better if you go on ahead, big brother. The well is quite nice..."
"Yeah, yeah, we're actually most comfortable staying right here in the well."
Looking at the two Ojama monsters shivering at the bottom of the well, Jaden couldn't help but twitch his lip.
"Don't worry. Sooner or later, someone will come to take you out of this well."
Grasping the vines, Jaden cast a glance at the mountain of discarded cards inside. "The time for someone to take you back is probably close."
"Really? Big brother!" Ojama Black and Ojama Green were instantly excited.
"Yes, of course it's true," Jaden said with a bitter smile.
However, the person who was supposed to take them out should still be drifting at sea right now, shouldn't they? As for Jaden himself, he already had Yubel by his side, who was prone to "explosions." Adding a Winged Kuriboh was already enough to make her grumpy for a long time. If he brought this entire pile of spirits back with him, Jaden felt he'd be courting death.
Griping the vines, he nimbly flipped himself up and out of the well. Jaden looked at Pharaoh as the cat walked over, and he smiled as he picked him up.
"Whew, you're heavy. I really don't know what Professor Banner feeds you every day."
"Meow."
Pharaoh let out a cry, letting Jaden carry him as they headed toward the Slifer Red dorms.
"Awoo?" Pharaoh suddenly tilted his head.
He seemed to see a glowing white shadow in the forest behind Jaden—a glowing ghost with rabbit ears. It was silently staring at Jaden's back.
Pharaoh shuddered and turned his head away. Even a cat could feel that such supernatural phenomena were exceptionally terrifying.
When they arrived at the Slifer Red canteen, the students had mostly dispersed to rest. Only a few remained, gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing.
"Professor Banner."
Jaden walked into the canteen with Pharaoh in his arms. The moment he called out, he felt a burning gaze directed at him.
Looking toward the source of the feeling, he saw a student sitting in the corner wearing a brown hat. The student was quite petite and dressed in a Slifer Red uniform, but they quickly lowered their head.
Jaden felt the outfit looked familiar, but for a moment, his memories of the original plot were a bit blurry. He frowned, but before he could dwell on it, Banner's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh, Jaden! Thank you for looking after Pharaoh again."
Professor Banner pulled back the curtain and walked out, smiling as he took his fat cat from Jaden's arms.
"It was no trouble. By the way, Professor, for the next few days, you should try to keep the students away from that forest with the dry well."
Jaden decided to give Banner and the Red students a warning. After all, the Slifer Red dorm was closest to that well. Given that the students in this dorm were often "unstable elements," there was no guarantee someone wouldn't wander into the woods out of boredom.
"Did you find something scary in that forest, Jaden? I've heard there have always been bad rumors about that place. Surely they aren't all true?" Banner suddenly looked frightened.
Duel Academy was full of ghost stories. Aside from the rumors of Shadow Games at the Abandoned Dorm, the most famous was the rumor that the cries of card spirits could be heard in that forest at night.
"It's not that serious." Jaden shook his head helplessly, secretly admiring Banner's acting skills. Who would have thought this cowardly teacher was actually the final member of the Shadow Riders from the Three Sacred Beasts Arc?
"Well then, I'll take my leave."
Just as Jaden was about to go, the student who had been sitting in the corner suddenly stood up and walked over to him.
"Um... are you Jaden Yuki?" the student stammered.
"Yes..." Jaden glanced at Banner. In his memory, he didn't seem to have any impression of this person.
"Ah, this is a transfer student who just arrived today, Blair Flannigan," Banner introduced quickly. Then, he put on a troubled expression. "However, the Slifer Red dorm is very crowded right now. We've run out of space."
"Even though Blair joined the academy after passing the entrance exam, all new transfer students are supposed to be settled in Red temporarily. It's quite a headache..." Banner looked at Jaden. "If you could talk to the people over at Obelisk Blue and see if they can help out..."
Blair... Flannigan.
Jaden suddenly remembered his little fangirl from the original show. So, we've reached this part of the timeline? I've been so focused on the Three Sacred Beasts that I've lost track of the minor plot points.
Jaden rubbed his temples. However, he remembered that in the original story, his little fangirl had come to Duel Academy specifically for Zane Truesdale. It was only after Jaden dueled her that she became attracted to him.
Overall, in Jaden's impression, she was a semi-marginal character a girl who was a bit of a "love-struck fool."
"Yes, I'm Jaden. Do you... want me to help you find Zane Truesdale?" Jaden thought it over and decided to throw this burden onto Zane. He didn't want too many complications right now. After resolving the academy's current crisis, he had much larger plans for the future.
"Zane Truesdale?" To Jaden's surprise, Blair blinked blankly. It took her a long while to remember who that was.
"No, no, no! I... I don't know any Zane. I'm not looking for him... hehe." Blair waved her hands frantically, her face turning red as she scratched her cheek, looking at Jaden shyly.
She doesn't know Zane? What are you talking about?
Jaden was stunned. Did the plot change? How could Blair not know Zane? And... if she isn't here for Zane, why is she at Duel Academy so early?
According to the plot, she should still be a sixth-grade elementary schooler. Her official appearance wasn't supposed to happen until next year. Though Jaden didn't want to follow the old path, he was still confused when things deviated so wildly.
Especially when he saw this girl in disguise staring at him with a look of pure adoration. Jaden felt a headache coming on.
Oh no... I've become Zane Truesdale.
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