Watching the Magical Scientist's departing back, Alicia remained frozen in place.
So the Duel just ended like that! Then they must have still lost!
"Stop overthinking, little girl!"
At that moment, Aleister, who had been maintaining the isolation barrier high above, slowly descended.
"Since he agreed, just focus on learning well from here on out! And if possible, see whether you can squeeze a few rare cards out of that old man. After all these years, he must've hoarded plenty of good stuff."
"Anyway, go back and rest early! This old man needs rest too!"
As he spoke, Aleister prepared to leave.
Abruptly, then, Yuui hurriedly called out, "Hey, what about the issue with the Crown Prince? You're not really planning to let him attack us, right!?"
Hearing the words "Crown Prince," Alice, who wasn't far away, immediately pricked up her ears.
Yet, Aleister only gave a mysterious smile.
"Relax. Since this old man promised to protect you, I naturally won't let forces currently beyond your ability to resist lay a hand on you. I've already arranged for people to guard you. You can go anywhere you like!"
With that, Aleister flew off toward the Academy. Finally, only Alicia and Alice remained at the scene.
As for Yuui, once he heard Aleister's assurance, he could no longer hold on and retreated into Alicia's body to rest.
Manifesting Magma Neos from scratch during the Duel had consumed nearly all his magic power. He absolutely needed a good sleep.
As for Alicia's safety: since Neos, Stratos, and Odd-Eyes were present, he didn't need to worry too much.
The early-summer night wind carried a trace of warmth as the two girls stood a short distance apart, facing each other under the moonlight.
One wore a cold expression, her eyes full of complicated emotions; the other lightly bit her lip, wanting to say something but not knowing how.
In the end, Alicia forced a stiff smile and said, "Alice… let's go back."
"…Alright."
They returned to the dorms in silence. Alicia watched Alice walk straight into her own room; Alicia merely pressed her lips together and went back to her own room in disappointment.
…
The next day, Alicia attended class as usual. Her classmates were discussing how they heard what sounded like monster roars last night—but after checking around, they found no signs of anyone Dueling, leaving everyone puzzled.
The topic didn't last long, quickly replaced by the ringing of the class bell.
Today's subject was the Academy's most basic yet most important course: Magic.
"Magic is a power naturally possessed by all life on Planet DT. This power is not limited to living creatures; even the earth, rivers, mountains, forests, and animals have their own magic."
"Magic can achieve many things—creation, destruction, resurrection of the dead, revival, even the creation of new life. If one possesses enough magic and the required methods, all of these can be accomplished."
"For us Duelists, Special Summons and Flip Summons require magic. Activating Spell and Trap Cards requires magic. Strengthening Spirits and increasing your chance of drawing desired cards also requires magic. If your magic is insufficient, you won't even be able to Summon monsters or activate Spells and Traps during a Duel."
"So, during Duels, always calculate your magic carefully. Do not let insufficient magic be the reason you lose a Duel."
The morning classes passed in a blink as Alicia zoned out. During the afternoon Duel class, while Dueling against Chuck, Alicia was clearly distracted, nearly losing because she missed the timing to activate a card.
Everyone in Class E could tell her concentration was gone. They whispered among themselves… was she feeling down because she lost to Nash two days ago?
However, that didn't make sense. Yesterday and the day before, Alicia was still ferocious during Duel class. Ace had challenged her again and still lost.
If it wasn't that, then what?
Chuck, Ace, and Nash all frowned as they watched Alicia sitting alone in the corner of the stands after class, staring blankly.
After class ended, Alicia originally planned to study in the library as usual, but today she had no motivation at all. So she returned to the dorm to lie down.
More than an hour later, Yuui—finally recovered after resting through the entire night—flew out from Alicia's body.
Seeing Alicia's exhausted face and lifeless eyes, he jumped in shock.
"What happened, Alicia? Did something happen while I was gone today?"
Hearing Yuui's voice, Alicia slowly turned her empty eyes toward him—then tears at once poured out, soaking the bedsheet within moments.
Alicia choked out, "(T▽T) Yu… Yuui-san… I think I lost my only friend… uwahhh~~"
Hearing her sobs, Yuui pressed his lips together tightly. He had no comforting words… he could only hold the little girl as she cried from the pain of losing a friend.
Alicia sank into a dream, recalling her childhood.
From as far back as she could remember, she had always been alone.
She did not know who her parents were, nor where her home was. She didn't even have a name. Thus, the girl wandered the world completely by herself.
When thirsty, she drank from rivers. When hungry, she searched for wild fruits or caught small animals or sneaked into towns to steal food.
She had no name and was, in the truest sense, a "Nameless One," despised by all.
Until one day, she encountered an elderly woman in the wild who couldn't walk due to a sprained ankle. After helping the woman back to her small home deep in the wilderness, the old woman took her in.
The old woman named the girl Alicia—a name meaning "joy, happiness, and peace"—her wish for the child.
As for a surname, the old woman herself had none. She lived in the dangerous wild precisely because of that, and thus, she could not give Alicia a family name.
Those days were the happiest Alicia had ever known before meeting Yuui. Even though she still couldn't eat her fill, she now had a name, she had someone who loved her, and she no longer had to sleep alone in desolate wildlands.
To her, it was paradise.
Nonetheless, fate seemed determined not to let her rest. In the very first winter after the girl met the grandmother, the old woman—already frail from age and long-term malnutrition—did not survive the cold.
For the first time, Alicia lost family.
From confusion to calling out endlessly to crying until her tears dried, the old woman still lay unmoving in the bed, covered by a single thin blanket.
The girl stared helplessly, then buried the grandmother under the large tree where they often sat together for shade.
Recalling those brief yet shining days, the girl chose to stay in that empty home.
Albeit, fate seemed intent on tormenting her. Mischievous town boys wandered in by chance and discovered that the nameless girl they used to bully actually had a home.
They burned it. The place most precious to her.
Their cruel laughter and her collapsing screams dyed that day's sunset a bloody red.
Covered in wounds and blood, the girl left the place she once loved most and began wandering once more.
Day after day, year after year, the nameless girl drifted like fluff on the waves.
Until, chased into the wild by a bun shop owner after stealing food in desperation, she encountered the slab—her fate finally changed.
Alicia opened her eyes and found herself still lying in Yuui's arms.
"Yuui-san!"
"Mm. I'm here."
"I don't need friends anymore. As long as I have you, Yuui-san, that's enough!"
...
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