I'm starting to think two weeks was a little optimistic.

A mere few days after having to tell the group where I had actually come from, going into the weekend, the domino effect I had predicted had already happened for the most part, and a great many students had been accepted into Mindy's 'club'. It was either that, or a vast number of students were having problems with bleaching their uniforms.

In class on Friday, the Society students were all sitting together in one large group, taking up at least a third of the class. Some of them still seemed to be their normal selves, but others seemed a little off. Whether this had to do with differing circumstances of joining or not was something I'd have to figure out later.

Unfortunately, the trouble didn't stop merely with the number of students already joining the Society, as a number of conversations I could hear from nearby the white group told me that even in class they were trying to convince their friends to join up as well.

The predicted prospect of someone trying to recruit me into the group, however, had fallen short, as I hadn't had direct contact with any member of the Society since I spoke to Jasmine that day at the arena when Alexis joined.

"Well, that's just unsettling." Kyle commented as our group left class, once we had been finished for the day. "At this rate, the whole SCHOOL will be in that 'Society' by the time your two weeks is up."

"Why shouldn't we be?" Mindy then piped up from next to us as we attempted to leave. It was a little surprising, as she was normally hanging around with Alexis and Jasmine, typically flanked now by some other Society members. "We SHOULD all be together, don't you think? The whole aspect of ranked dorms is kinda divisive, right?" With her cheerful tone still intact, I was starting to see how she, with her upgraded deck, was perhaps MORE useful to Sartorius' plan than Chazz was.

Hell, if I didn't know better, I might have bought into this whole thing by now.

"Unfortunately, that depends who's running it." I commented dryly, taking another few steps from them. "Well, just be careful, all right?" This had been directed to Mindy, though I doubt she'd listen right now.

Continuing to walk away, I could hear a tone of disappointment in her voice as she responded "Oh..." a moment before speaking "…the tryout offer is open to anyone who wants to try, okay?" At this point, I heard her walk away from the group. Perhaps she'd just wanted to re-iterate that once Kyle had commented on what was going on.

"Come on, guys." Jaden now gestured for the rest of us to follow him, as our group had fallen silent after Mindy had left.

Nodding at this, I followed the rest of them, taking a look over at the Blue Dorm building, which was still visibly blue at the moment. "It looks like we've still got a little time. They haven't re-painted the outside of the Blue Dorm." I observed, "We need a way to actually beat Sartorius, boys."

"You know a lot about what's going on…" Kyle started to observe, looking visibly worried "…and you knew all this was going to happen, if in a different way…" now turning back to me, he stopped walking "…so I've gotta ask: why didn't you try to stop it?"

At this, the rest of the group simply stopped, turning to face me, as if each of them had been thinking of asking this question, but hadn't yet brought themselves to do so. Each of them seemed curious now as to why I hadn't done so. "Yeah, bro. If you knew he was gonna start brainwashing people, why wouldn't you cut it off before it happened?" Jaden had decided to add to the question.

"Well, unfortunately…" I started, now having to explain myself "…by the time I actually knew he was on the island, he'd already gotten to his first victim. So stopping it from happening beforehand wasn't an option." Taking a moment, I shook my head "Now, we have to concentrate on actually beating him before whatever he has in mind this time can succeed."

"But how DO we actually beat him? Is it the same way he recruits people?" Bastion now asked me, putting the pieces together rather quickly.

"Exactly. It's the same thing in reverse: You have to beat the member you're trying to help in a duel. Though to beat a light-wielder, you have to beat them in what is basically a shadow game. It's the same idea, but much higher stakes. Any true duel against Sartorius would be far more dangerous than curing any one member of the Society would be." I informed them as to the true nature of the challenge that would await.

"That's why I've been somewhat hesitant to take the fight to him. We need to be ready to take him down in one move in order for this to work." I admitted, as I was unsure if I would be able to defeat him myself, my strategy more likely to barrel into a trap than any of the others.

"Yeah, we've been there before. It's a tough decision, bro." Jaden nodded understandingly, before adding "But we're gonna have to put a stop to it eventually, right?"

"Yeah." Chazz commented, standing a little ways away from the rest of the group. "I was listening to a couple of them talk earlier, ranting about 'the light'. From what I've heard, they've gotta be brainwashing at least some of those guys."

"Exactly." I agreed. "Even if they don't all seem like it yet, eventually every member of the Society will be believing the same thing. Even if they're not ranting about it, it'll be there."

At this, however, I felt Chazz grab ahold of my coat "You knew that, and you STILL let Alexis take Mindy's challenge?! Why didn't you do something about it!?" He then demanded. I knew he had a thing for Alexis, but I forgot it was this powerful. "They went and turned her into an ice queen!"

Bringing my arms up, then down to break his grip on my coat, I shook my head "Do you think she'd have actually taken me seriously if I'd warned her? You didn't take it seriously even AFTER she lost that duel. If I had warned her, she'd have only been MORE motivated to take her challenge."

"YEAH, ONLY SHE MIGHT HAVE WON IF SHE KNEW THE STAKES!" Chazz then shouted at me, looking downright livid.

"Calm down, private…" Hassleberry started, attempting to defuse the situation.

"You're right." I started quietly.

"No, I'm not gonna calm down, Bumbleberry! What's the point of knowing what happens if you don't lift a finger to stop it!?" Chazz then demanded angrily.

"That's going a bit far." Bastion started.

"You're right!" I snapped back, this time loud enough for all of them to hear. "You're right, Chazz. I 'knew' no one would believe me if I warned them, so I didn't even try to take action. I 'knew' Alexis would definitely win against Mindy, so I wasn't worried that she was getting recruited. I 'knew' Sartorius would be onto me from the beginning, so I didn't take immediate action to try to stop him! I thought I knew what I was doing, trying to let events play themselves out so that I wouldn't have to step in and stop it. I'm going to have to change that, or we're going to lose here."

"Not much good, figuring that out now." Chazz observed bitterly. "We still have most of Blue recruited into the White Dorm. Now our job's going to be much harder than if you'd found a way to stop him before the whole thing got out of hand!"

"Actually…" I started, getting an inkling of an idea, "…it may not be that difficult."

"Have you gotten something?" Syrus now asked hopefully.

"Yeah. At least, I think so. The Society is a cult. One that completely relies on its cult leader to keep the members directed. Regardless of the number of members, if you remove Sartorius, the man with the ultimate plan, from the equation, then the followers will scatter and be much easier to bring back from their state." I suggested, stepping over to the door of the Yellow Dorm building, attempting to mull over an internal plan to actually get myself into that position. "I'll see you guys later, I've got something to take care of."

After all, I'm the one in the best position to actually stop him, right?

"A fair point, assuming everything works the way you think it does." Bastion stated with a nod. "However, if things vary, the situation may become worse."

Not sure what can happen for things to get WORSE.

Once I returned to my room, I took some time to think things over, the idea in my head starting to come to a more definite form, deciding on the best way to take down Sartorius and thus end this absurdity.

A short while later, with me now on the way over to the Red Dorm to go over the details of my plan, a familiar voice called out from behind me, "Marcus!"

A quick heel-turn brought me face-to-face with Miranda, who was currently beaming at me as if she were feeling on top of the world at the moment. "Oh, hey Miranda. I haven't seen you in a while. I was starting to wonder if you'd up and left on me."

Shaking her head with surprising energy, she exclaimed "No! No! Not at all! I'd never do that!"

Mentally contrasting the girl in front of me with the calm and quiet girl I'd duelled a while back, I attempted to ponder exactly how this happened. "I believe you." I then responded, before asking "Did you call out for me to ask something, or did you just want to see me?"

"A bit of both." She then answered, smile not budging. "I finally got permission from Master Sartorius to ask you to join the Society of Light! Please do!"

At this, my mood turned. "Oh, gave you permission, did he? Why might that be?" I asked her, annoyance plain in my voice.

"Does it matter?" She then asked me plainly, still seeming bright from getting to ask me this, though looking as if she hadn't expected this reaction. "We can hang out together like we did before I joined up! Come on and come to the arena so I can give you your tryout duel!"

Suddenly getting an idea from the last part of her statement, I nodded "All right, I'll take that challenge, on one condition: I get to pick the opponent for my tryout."

At this, her face fell, looking as if I'd just outright turned her down. "Wait, this was supposed to be ME bringing you in! Who did you have in mind, Mindy? I heard you were talking to her before!" Sounding somewhat paranoid now, as if she'd suggested a date and I'd decided to take someone else to the same place.

Not the same thing at all.

"Actually, I want to duel Sartorius." I then told her directly. "If you want me in the Society, then I'll only accept a trial from your leader."

Hearing this, her look switched now to confusion as she tried to piece it together "You want to test yourself against Master Sartorius? That's not what I was expecting."

"How about this?" I then offered to her "If you bring me there and I have a trial against Sartorius and win, then I'll duel you afterward for a second trial. Would that work?"

After all, once I've beaten Sartorius, I could save her as well. Win-win at that point. After all, I wasn't going to lose, I couldn't.

I can't believe I didn't do this before: I would end this whole absurdity in one swift strike!

"All right! If you lose to Master Sartorius, you'll be in the Society anyway and I can have my duel with you after anyway as a friendly game, right?" Miranda then asked as we started to walk toward the dorm building, where my plan was now going into motion. She was going to have to tell him about the change of plan, and I would get my chance to beat him before things get worse!

I'd just have to tell the guys later on that I'd taken care of it.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" I agreed with her. "I never saw your own trial duel, what happened?" I then asked as we continued.

"Oh, that? Well, Jasmine was the one who got me into the Society, but I don't think the how is really that important. Do you?" She asked as we continued.

Oh, right, they don't typically remember what happened before their induction into the Society.

"I suppose not, though I'm somewhat curious what deck she was using." I admitted as the two of us continued, trying to fish out some information about another of our opponents as we walked.

"Not important. I've changed up mine though, so you're in for a surprise during our duel!" she declared proudly, the two of us not taking much longer to get to the still-Blue (for the moment) Dorm building.

As we entered the building, there were a few other Society members in the front entrance hall, most of whom looked over my yellow uniform with what I would assume was a mix of confusion and a sense of their own superiority. Most of them I doubted even knew who I was, since I hadn't made many grand moves to make myself noticed.

One of the few exceptions was a man I thought for all the world wouldn't be on the island.

"Mr Schmitt?" I asked in surprise, seeing the man who'd been out with a headache that had lasted over a month now just standing there calmly, even acknowledging me when I addressed him.

"Ah, Marcus! How are you faring? You seem to be doing well!" he then told me in a friendly tone.

Odd, I was certain he'd found me grating and annoying when he'd given me my exam, and more so afterwards.

"Even more for you, sir!" I found myself saying respectfully. Actually, I was relieved he was able to just have normal conversations and he looked to be all right. "I thought you were out with medical trouble."

"I was!" he answered happily "But that was before Master Sartorius found me. He managed to help with the headaches when nothing else would! Great man, that guy! So, what are you guys here for, your trial duel? Wouldn't be looking for me to test you again, would you? I might have to use my real deck this time."

"Actually, I'm here to challenge Sartorius for my test duel!" I declared, loud enough for the whole hall to hear.

I was stunned: the whole hall had suddenly gone dead silent, every eye had turned over to our position and then, a laugh, one that carried among all the Society members present except Miranda.

"Seriously?" One member asked between laughs. "Master Sartorius has far too much to do to be bothering with some random Yellow like you!"

"On the contrary..." A calm, ethereal voice then spoke from the top of the stairs at the end of the hall. The sound of his voice immediately silenced the laughing before everyone seemed to be standing at attention. "…I would be more than happy to accept young Mister Kolstet's challenge. Provided he is aware that should he lose, he will join the Society of Light."

"Yes, I'm aware of what your trial duels involve. I'm also not accepting the duel with anyone but you yourself, so please don't try to pass it off to a third party." I directly told him.

"Pass it off? Why 'Marcus', she could not be dissuaded, despite your low number of duels since arrival, she sees something in you that most of the instructors do not." Sartorius informed me, at which point I turned to her and she simply looked embarrassed at now having the attention of the Society and I on her. "Though I wonder, why have you not been drawn to conduct more duels than you have? Perhaps there is something about you that you cannot adequately describe." Sartorius then continued, now sounding as if making a point, but not one that I could see.

I kept to myself when it came to duels, trying not to conduct too many challenges, but that was me trying to keep a low profile! I have a practically flawless record of duelling here, both on these disks and on simple tables. Admittedly, I still did that more because it was easier, and one could get more rounds in without having to find an open space and make a lot of undue noise.

"If you have a point beyond the one atop your head, please get to it." I then commented, not amused by his current attitude.

Though, at this point, it was clear they weren't at all amused with me either, Alexis in particular having an expression I never thought I'd see on her, even with her brainwashed like this. "If you're going to disrespect Master Sartorius, then you can just get out!"

"Please, Miss Rhodes. As if I would be shaken by such petty remarks. My point, Mister Kolstet, is that you haven't identified stakes for if you have won, beyond your promise to Miss Hastings to duel her again." He then stated, already knowing somewhat what we'd talked about.

Seriously, did he BUG his members or something?

"True. But I already know what I want, and I'm assuming you already do as well." I then responded to his request, smiling across at the brainwashed man currently corrupting the students.

"Of course. But that will not happen, so I am simply giving you a chance to name something else you might wish should you win." Sartorius then clarified, clearly assuming I'd never actually be able to push the Light from him.

"All right then, how about this? If I win, then you tell me what I want to know. No tricks, no nonsense. Just the truth." I then asked him, deciding there was indeed something else I could get out of this, though driving the light from him would ultimately be the best reward for being able to pull this off.

"Very well, then, Mister Kolstet. I accept your challenge. But do not be surprised if you hear something you do not wish to should you win." Sartorius then stated calmly before going back up the stairs.

A few moments after he went back upstairs, most of the Society members went back to whatever else they were doing, though Alexis clearly had something else to say at the moment.

"I don't know what you think you're doing here, Marcus, but you're nuts if you think this ends in any way other than you in white." Alexis commented with a smirk, this sentiment seeming to be shared by the rest of the White Dorm apart from Miranda, who merely looked curious.

"See you there." I told the group of students assembled, before turning on my heel and making my way over to the duel arena, fully prepared to put an end to this whole thing right now.

On my way to the arena now, I was able to spot Jaden and the others coming down the path toward the building behind me, calling out to me "Marcus! Wait up!"

The group was everyone I expected to see: Jaden, Syrus, Bastion, Chazz and Hassleberry. However, there was someone else I hadn't expected to see at this point: Aster.

"I didn't expect you to be here." I commented to him before anyone else spoke.

"Really? You give a timetable of two weeks, and it happened in a few days. It's pretty convincing." Aster observed, not looking as pissed at me as he usually had. "So, going to duel your girlfriend?" he asked with a smirk.

When this question was asked, Jaden added "Yeah, what's going on, bro? I heard Miranda found you in the woods and challenged you to a duel, is that where you're going?"

Shaking my head, I looked over the group of them and declared "Don't you worry, boys. I'm going to the duel arena right now and ending this nonsense, today! I'm going to beat Sartorius and cut this whole thing off at the pass like I should have the day he showed up!"

There was a general reaction of surprise going into mild shock from the rest of the group, except for Chazz, anyway. "About time you decided to act." Chazz commented, now leaning against a tree with a slight nod.

"Do you really think you can do it?" Kyle asked nervously.

"Of course he can!" Jaden exclaimed, doubtless in an attempt to be encouraging.

"I agree. Out of anyone, he is in the best position to actually defeat Sartorius at the moment." Bastion agreed. However, he seemed to be hesitating to say something else, though I was unsure what that might be.

"Well, if we're all in agreement, then let's get to the arena. I get the feeling I won't exactly be the crowd favourite." I stated, now resuming my walk toward the duel arena.

Once we got there, and I was on one side of the arena, the Society of Light members began flowing into the seats on the other side of the arena. They weren't the all-encompassing combination of Blue and Yellow that they pretty much were from my memory yet, but the number of them was still surprising and impressive.

Once most of them had entered, they began jeering and taunting me from the seats, though most of the actual words were lost in the overall shouting. Some things like 'lose' were obvious, but I still didn't quite get most of it. Strangely, Miranda was currently sitting with Jaden and the others: likely the only Society member who actually wanted me to win.

Did she know something the others didn't? Or was she simply more independent-minded than the rest of them?

Either way it didn't matter, as the stands fell completely silent upon a solitary figure entering the arena: Sartorius. As he moved calmly to the other side of the arena, he spoke simply "There is still a chance for you to simply resign, 'Marcus'. Why subject yourself to such a contest as this?"

He was messing with me. That was all right, though: there was no way I was letting him get to me.

I wasn't going to duel him, I was going to crush him with overwhelming force and defeat him before his mind games could get to me.

"No, that's perfectly all right, Sartorius. I can relax once I've won, and you've finally told me the truth. My next duel with Miranda should be fun." I responded simply, shuffling my deck idly.

"Oh, I do not cast doubt on your skills, Marcus. I merely state that there is more involved here than simply a duel, or simply whether or not you join the Society of Light. You know what I am talking about." Sartorius then told me in his ethereal tone.

"Indeed I do." I answered him calmly, smiling a bit at this. "In fact, I told them about it already."

Raising an eyebrow, Sartorius then responded "Indeed? Your trust in your fellow students is admirable. However, I doubt you were able to tell them the whole story, since you do not know it yourself. Now, shall we begin, and see if fate is on your side?"

"Oh, I have no doubt it is! Let's do this!" (My LP: 4000 / Sartorius LP: 4000)

"I'll start us off! I draw! I'll begin with the spell card Charge of the Light Brigade! Sending the top three cards of my deck to the graveyard…" Looking them over, I scowled at the sight of a Solar Recharge going to the graveyard alongside the two lightsworn monsters I hit. "…to add Jain, Lightsworn Paladin to my hand, whom I will now summon! (ATK: 1800) After that, I set one card face-down, and end my turn! At which point, I send two more cards from my deck to my graveyard!"

"Ah, that monster. I wonder, do you notice how often that particular monster comes into play? Did you consider there is some meaning to that?" Sartorius asked me, clearly starting on something.

"None whatsoever." I retorted abruptly. I wasn't about to give him a chance to worm his way into my head. "Coincidence, that's all."

"Oh? Dear boy, fate has a hand in everything that happens. Everything has a deeper meaning, regardless of whether you dismiss it as coincidence. But perhaps it is better if I simply show you." Sartorius lectured to me, thinking he was being intellectual.

"You're more than welcome to try, Sartorius." I offered, shrugging across at him.

"Very well. It is my move." Drawing a card with all the care of someone playing against an opponent who'd never even seen the game before, Sartorius seemed rather detached at the moment. "I shall begin with three cards face-down, then I activate the spell card Cup of Ace! You are, of course, aware of how this works? If you have forgotten…" he started, as the figure of the card over his head began to rotate, "…then you simply tell the card when to stop, and the effect is determined by whether it is right-side-up or upside-down. Of course, there is only one possible result: that which was decided by destiny."

Chuckling a little to myself, I nodded "Yeah, I'm aware of how it works. It's so simple it's downright absurd. Aaaaand…" I started, waiting for the right position "…stop!"

As the card reached its upside-down position, it froze. "Very good. The card is upside-down, meaning my opponent gets to draw two cards. Take your prize, Marcus." He said this in a rather condescending tone – one that made it sound as if it was actually still his gain, yet I had no idea how.

Drawing my two cards, I looked them over as Sartorius resumed his turn. "Now, I shall summon Arcana Force III – The Empress! (ATK: 1300) Now, the same rules still apply, so you may choose your fate once again, Marcus."

Shaking my head in annoyance, I waited once again for my opportunity. "Very well then. Stop!" I declared, the card once again stopped in the upside-down position. Timing this was a joke with how slowly the cards spun, so I was starting to wonder now what his angle was: did he WANT to lose?

"Oh, dear. It seems that destiny is kind to you in this duel. Now, each time you summon a monster, I must send a card from my hand to my graveyard. Most unfortunate. With that, I shall end my turn." Sartorius then informed me. It still seemed as if he was not taking me seriously, and that smug expression on his face was really starting to piss me off.

However, the mindless peons behind him were still cheering as if he were kicking my ass at the moment, despite soundly thrashing himself with his own cards. The morons!

"All right then, my turn! Draw!" My hand, now containing seven cards, had more than enough that I was left with multiple options for putting a stop to Sartorius' scheme before it really got rolling.

"Allow me to venture a guess at your move…" Sartorius then started "…you will summon a lightsworn monster, and when I attempt to react to your summon, you will use that Royal Decree you have face-down in order to stop my response, correct?"

"It seems everyone's convinced that I don't change my deck around between duels." I commented, slightly amused at the assumption. "I'll begin by tributing Jain in order to summon Gragonith, Lightsworn Dragon! (ATK: 2000)"

"Well then, prove me wrong, Marcus! I activate the trap card Bottomless Trap Hole! It will not only destroy your monster, but remove it from play as well!" Sartorius then declared, looking over at my face-down card as if daring me to prove him right.

I couldn't help but smile a bit, "Sorry, Sartorius, but I'll have to disappoint you. From my hand, I activate the spell card My Body as a Shield! I pay 1500 life points in order to negate the destruction of my monster and retain its presence on my field! (My LP: 4000 – 2500) Also, since I normal summoned a monster, your Arcana Force III forces you to discard a card!"

As he started to send his last card from his hand to his graveyard, Sartorius seemed to feign a sense of loss "Oh well, unfortunately, it is the price one pays for the whims of destiny."

What is going on with this guy!? I'm kicking his ass, and he seems completely fine with it! Is he even being affected by the Light of Destruction right now!?

"You think so? Well, it seems like your 'destiny' is directing you toward a rout at the moment!" I vented at him, making my frustration known.

"To the uninitiated, it may appear so. However, when one knows all the factors at play, then things take on a far different meaning." Sartorius stated cryptically.

"All right then. Now, since my Gragonith is on the field now, it gains 300 Attack and Defence points for every lightsworn in my graveyard, giving it a current boost of 900 points! (ATK: 2000 – 2900) All right then, Gragonith, attack his Empress!"

Looking at his two face-downs, I couldn't help but wonder if he would try to stop this play, as my current plan was completely clear in my head.

A little surprised that the attack went through, I watched as the dragon destroyed his monster, now starting to wonder what exactly his face-downs were. (Sartorius LP: 4000 – 2400)

"Is that all?" Sartorius asked, completely unfazed by the situation.

"Afraid not! Now I activate my face-down card: Call of the Haunted! Using this trap card, I revive Jain, Lightsworn Paladin! (ATK: 1800) If that summon is not opposed, then Jain will now attack you directly, as it is still my battle phase!"

I was even more surprised that this attack went through, though Sartorius was again, completely unaffected by the situation. (Sartorius LP: 2400 – 600) "Any further surprises? You do, after all, still have a full hand of five cards. Or, perhaps, could you have won already were you more certain of my face-down cards?"

Glaring across at Sartorius, I knew he understood the way I duelled well enough to know I had more things I could have done if I wanted to explode at him, but considering the stakes of this duel, I had to be more careful than I normally would be, having to hold the call of the haunted, so I couldn't summon the Guardian of Order I presently had in my hand.

"I'll set one card face-down and end my turn." I then informed him, before stating "With Jain and Gragonith on my field, I now send my top five cards to the graveyard." Placing my next five cards in the graveyard, my smile remained in place "Since I sent two more lightsworns to the graveyard, Gragonith gains an extra 600 points! (ATK: 2900 – 3500)"

"Indeed. A powerful dragon. However, with Jain no longer in your graveyard, your dragon is slightly weaker." (ATK: 3500 – 3200) Sartorius saw fit to remind me of as he began his turn. "Tell me, Marcus, what do you know of destiny?" When I didn't answer him immediately, he resumed speaking "You seem to be of the belief that fate has no bearing on your actions, yet everything you have done since arrival has been the work of someone else: your arrival here, your understanding of things you should not, the effect you have had on others around you, all constructs of someone else's design."

"That doesn't even begin to make sense! I've done everything since arrival on this island on my own!" I retorted, waiting for him to make his move.

"Very specific choice of words, 'Marcus'…" Sartorius observed with a smirk. "…you are at least aware of that much. I will now activate one of my face-down cards! Suit of Sword X!" As this card as well began to rotate, Sartorius smirked "Now, let's see you win this 'childish game' once again!" he then challenged.

Shaking my head a bit, I commented "This again? I'd think you would eventually learn that isn't going to work! Stop!" I then directed. However, the card kept rotating until it landed right-side up.

"What a shame. It seems your 'timing' is not as impeccable as you thought. Now, due to the right-side-up effect of my Suit of Sword X, all of your monsters are destroyed!" Sartorius declared, before both of my monsters were shattered. "Now, I summon Arcana Force I – the Magician! (ATK: 1100)" As the card began to rotate, I heard him challenge me "Go ahead and try again. Do you think you can outsmart destiny?"

Shaking my head in irritation, I then watched it carefully, waiting until it was in the perfect position before saying "Stop!"

I had timed it just after it passed its top-most position: there was nowhere for it to go but the bottom, which it did quite easily. "Very good, it seems you are still in the duel after all. Now, whenever a spell card is played, you gain 500 life points! However, you will still have to take the magician's attack!" before I was then struck by the creature. (My LP: 2500 – 1400)

"Do you understand now?" Sartorius asked, amused "You may believe you have control over choices that lack meaning, but when it comes down to the most important things, destiny is the one in control!"

Sighing heavily at this, I shook my head again "Seriously? You keep talking about destiny, and yet all I'm seeing is sub-par play with cards based on luck. At this point, you've no cards in hand, one face-down and a monster with low attack power that gives me life points if I play a spell card. If this is what having destiny on your side looks like, I think I'll stick with what I'm doing." Telling him this, I couldn't help but smirk across at him.

I was ending this right now. On this turn.

"I draw!" I then declared, despite the jeers from the audience, looking at the card. "It seems destiny might have chosen it's favourite, then. I summon Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner! (ATK: 1000) Now, I activate her effect, sending a card from my hand to my graveyard in order to revive Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress! (ATK: 1700)" With the two monsters now on my field, I got ready to summon my game-ending monster, Guardian of Order, well, at least once I'd removed that last face-down from his field. "Now, I'll activate her effect-"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Marcus. You have stepped directly into my trap! Torrential Tribute!" Sartorius then commented, now revealing his last face-down.

Was it just me, or did he play more staple traps than anyone else I'd seen here?

Was he just toying with me right now?

He'd regret that.

"Now, all monsters on the field are destroyed. With three cards left in hand, and your normal summon spent, I wonder, is there a card you can defeat me with, or did you require to over-extend yourself to win?" Sartorius then asked me, a smug tone clearly expecting me to not have a retort. "Or perhaps your means to victory is such that you do not wish to use it?"

I did have one card left: my face-down had been a bluff: a Solar Recharge without anything to discard. A perfect way to stop me from being able to play the Gorz I still had in hand. The Guardian of Order was now dead weight in my hand, which meant my only route to victory now was the Judgement Dragon I hand in my hand, but I was still trying to figure out just what it would do were I to summon it, particularly against Sartorius of all people.

"Come now, 'Marcus', are you going to make a move, or do you yield your turn?" Sartorius then asked, clearly enjoying my inaction and indecision.

The jeering from the stands had grown like a roll of thunder, seeming to echo through the arena, and through my head, a drumbeat that only served to intensify my frustration with the current situation, since he'd stopped my conventional win condition.

There was nothing for it: either I play the Judgment Dragon and win this turn, or I risk him drawing into any monster of use and pulling it out from under me next turn!

I wasn't having that.

"All right then!" I started, glaring across at the man I aimed to rid of the Light's influence, right here, right now. "Since I have four or more lightsworn monsters in my graveyard, I call to the field my Judgement Dragon! (ATK: 3000)" I could feel the wind of its summoning now whipping past me as the creature took shape right in front of me.

There was no more restraint: I couldn't afford it. I had to end this now.

"Very impressive." Sartorius complimented, though his smirk seemed to expand "Come! Let us see its power up close!"

"You want it!? You've got it!" I declared angrily, "Judgement Dragon, attack! Bring this home, Judgement Hammer!" A bright beam of light now surrounded Sartorius as the attack struck home. (Sartorius LP: 600 – 0)

Holy crap.

I actually did it.

I won!

I beat Sartorius already.

It felt… actually, it felt anticlimactic to be honest. For it to be over already, I couldn't believe it.

But that hardly mattered, now did it?

Smiling still, I looked down at my duel disk to take my cards off it when I noticed something: I was GLOWING!

It was only slightly, and it was just for a moment after I looked, but it had been there! A white aura had been around me for a moment there. Was that because I summoned Judgement Dragon in this duel!?

It had sounded like the group were starting to cheer for me, but must have noticed the glow emitting from me for a short time, which had led to complete silence from them.

From the other end of the arena, despite the shock of the Society members at seeing their master lose like that, they soon calmed down, as everyone heard the quiet laugh that grew in volume from Sartorius on the far end of the arena. "Very good, 'Marcus', you defeated me soundly! Such a powerful monster is, of course, guaranteed to shift the outcome to your favour."

Seeing no change whatsoever in Sartorius, I wanted to ask something, but could not find the words, in my dumbfounded surprise. Seeing this, he asked "What? Did you expect some manner of alteration from defeating me in a duel? Unfortunately for you, it is not that simple. After all, how can you hope to drive the Light from me, when you are affected by it as well?"

Wait, what?

Sensing my current feeling, Sartorius smirked from across the field "You did, of course, declare that I would have to tell you the truth should you win. Since you did, I will do so. Unless you wished that I do so privately. But, since the Society will know regardless, you would only be keeping the truth from your friends."

Heaving a sigh, I knew there was no way they would trust me if I actually tried to keep that a secret, I shook my head "Go ahead! What are you talking about? Why can't I actually win, then?"

Smiling across at me, he responded "It is quite simple, 'Marcus'. Firstly, your arrival in this world, while I did see it coming, I did not aid your entry. Secondly, I wonder, what did you see just before you arrived?"

Thinking on this a moment, I heaved a sigh "I saw a wall of hard light that tried to crush me against the barrier." I had to inform him, starting to get what he was getting at, and knowing without the truth, nothing would be properly understood.

"Ah, but what if that were not 'hard light' as you put it, but simply THE Light? The pressure that drove you into the world, while entering with you as you did so. Allow me to ask you another question: how many people have you defeated in duels since you arrived? Not counting simple table duels?" Sartorius then asked, clearly pushing me toward the conclusion he had come to without directly saying it.

"Not many, just Mr. Schmitt and Miranda…" I reflected aloud, looking from the Society stands to the group, where the whole was looking surprised and confused at the conversation we were having.

"Indeed?" Sartorius asked aloud. "Also, the same two people who both had sudden changes to their mind afterward? Mr. Schmitt developed quite the headache after you defeated him. It lasted quite a while, and medical science could not determine the cause. That would be because the Light is not something you can assail with science. So when he came to me, I was able to clear his mind quickly. That is when I understood what you were doing: you inflict the Light upon those you defeat, Marcus. However, because you are unaware of it, it merely intensifies their immediate mental state when you defeated them. Mr. Schmitt's brief irritation turned to a strong, lasting headache, while Miss Hastings' curiosity about her opponent turned into a much stronger intrigue, bordering on obsession."

Turning to look at Miranda, she looked rather confused, though the rest of them seemed to be quite shocked by this whole development. I couldn't really blame them for that, though.

I was still trying to figure out if he was telling the truth or not.

"That's nonsense!" I blurted out angrily.

"Is it, though?" Sartorius asked with a smirk. "You told me to tell you the truth. That is all I am doing. That is the same reason I did not seek to recruit you into the Society. After all, you were already in a position to bring others into the Light even without my guidance! The value of manipulating the power structure to place you here was actually greater than I could have anticipated. You have been walking the path of destiny all this time, and I look forward to seeing where you will go from here. Will you join the Society, now knowing that you serve its interests regardless? Or will you attempt to defy destiny and merely bring more misfortune upon your friends from the inside? Take your time, I am not going anywhere." Giving a light laugh, he now walked off of the arena floor.

"Marcus?" a voice now asked from behind me. Turning to see Miranda standing directly in front of me now, I was somewhat taken aback.

"Miranda. I think he might actually be-" I started to get out, before she shook her head.

"Don't be dumb, Marcus. I'm not interested in you because of any silly thing like that. I like you, you dummy! Now, let's have our duel!" she then declared.

At this, Sartorius gave what sounded to be a surprised reply "Oh, that IS correct. Your friend did wish to duel you once ours had been decided. Once again, the same condition applies: should you lose, you will join the Society of Light. However, the outcome is of little consequence. You are free to do whatever you wish."

No wonder he lost so easily!

He didn't actually care about our duel, since I CAN'T drive the Light from him, just like I can't drive it from Miranda now.

Winning might mean making Miranda's state of mind even worse, yet losing would simply mean putting the label on something that's already there.

This whole thing is absurd!

"All right then. Let's go. I did say I'd duel you, now didn't I?" I informed her, then put my deck back together, re-shuffled it, and drew my initial hand.

"Marcus! What are you doing!?" Jaden the called out from the stands, surprised I was actually getting ready to accept her challenge.

Turning to them, I stated simply "Carrying out what I already promised to do." I knew she wouldn't let me out of this, even if I tried to leave. She had been looking forward to this, and I wasn't going to let her down.

"If he was telling the truth…" Aster then started from the stands, a short way behind Jaden "…then you're playing right into his hands!"

"If he was telling the truth, then it makes little difference, now, does it?" I asked him, though I was rather surprised by him being the one trying to offer advice.

"Let's duel!" both Miranda and I then declared. (My LP: 4000 / Miranda LP: 4000)

"I'm going to begin! I draw!" Miranda began, drawing her card. "I set three cards face-down, and summon Banisher of the Radiance! (ATK: 1600) Now, any card that goes to the graveyard is removed from the game instead. Go ahead." She then stated with a smirk.

Banisher? Oh, come on, Miranda.

She REALLY wants to win, if this is the way she went.

"So, custom built your deck to fight me, then?" I asked her, shaking my head a little.

"Do you have a point? Set your deck up with such an obvious weakness, and SOMEONE is going to exploit it~" she told me cheerfully. "Don't worry, you'll be joining me in the Society soon~"

"We'll just see about that! I draw!" Now starting my turn, I looked over my hand. There was little doubt at least one of her face-down cards would stop me from attacking her banisher.

"Now, I'll start by summoning Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior! (ATK: 1850) Garoth, attack her banisher!" I started simply, knowing I couldn't do too much until its 'banish everything' effect was off the field. I had to be careful.

"You're a little predictable, Marcus! I activate Magic Cylinder! Now, you take the attack of your monster as damage!" Miranda declared. There was very little I could activate from my hand in response to such a card. Well played. (My LP: 2150)

"Perhaps if you've observed me that thoroughly, I might be. I set one card face-down and end my turn." I responded to her calmly, still looking across at her.

"Marcus, I'm a little surprised you're still resisting. After all, you're already helping the Society in everything but name, so why not just put the coat on and make it official?" She then asked me with a smile on her face.

"Because I'm nobody's pawn, Miranda! I have no intention of calling anyone 'master', much less a cult boss like him!" I retorted angrily, the idea starting to raise my ire.

"All right then! I draw! Now, I summon Thunder King Rai-oh! (ATK: 1900) Now, Thunder King, attack his Garoth! (My LP: 2100) Banisher, direct attack! (My LP: 500) Go ahead, Marcus!" She then told me, looking absolutely giddy at my current state.

"You're kinda letting me down here, Marcus~" She then chided me, though still sounding on top of the world right now. "At least put up a fight!"

Heaving a sigh, I shook my head a little "I'll admit, I wasn't quite ready for someone to hard-counter my deck. However, there's no way I'm just going to give up!" I then told her, drawing for my turn.

"I'll start by activating my face-down card: Royal Decree!" I declared. "Now, I'll summon Jain, Lightsworn Paladin! (ATK: 1800) Let's see you stop this! Jain, attack her Banisher! Once she declares her attack, she gains 300 attack points! (ATK: 1800 – 2100)"

Watching as this second attack met with success, I nodded, content with the current state. (Miranda LP: 4000 – 3500) "Now, after my battle phase, I activate the spell card Solar Recharge! I discard Wulf, Lightsworn Beast in order to draw two cards, then send two further cards to my graveyard!" Looking at my hand, I nodded a little "Now, I activate a second copy of Solar Recharge, discarding Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner to draw another two cards, then send another two cards to my graveyard! I'll put one more card face-down, and end my turn. Now, I send a further two cards to my graveyard due to Jain's effect!"

"Not bad, but you'll have to do better than that if you want to beat me!" Miranda then responded, smile not fading, considering she had seven times my life point total, that was fully justified. "I draw! Now, I activate the spell card Dimensional Fissure! Now, any monster that would go to the graveyard is removed from play instead. Now, Thunder King, attack his Jain!"

Shaking my head a little, I looked down at my duel disk, and pressing the button to remove a card from my graveyard "By the effect of my Necro Gardna, I remove it from play, and negate your attack!" Watching the lightning dissipate before hitting Jain, I waited for her to make her move.

"All right, but let's see you get another one into your graveyard!" Miranda challenged, before informing me "I'll set one card face-down, and end my turn."

"All right then, my turn! I draw!" I then started, beginning my turn. "Now, I'll summon Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress! (ATK: 1700)"

"Oh, your mistake, Marcus! I activate my face-down card, Book of Moon! This will put your Lyla into face-down defence mode! You won't be destroying my fissure this turn!" Miranda then informed me with a smirk. "You didn't think I'd have ways around Royal Decree, even without my means of getting rid of it?"

Nodding at this, I couldn't help but admit, "Not a bad play, Miranda, but that won't stop me getting rid of your Thunder King! Jain! Attack! (ATK: 1800 – 2100)" (Miranda LP: 3500 – 3200)

"All right, then, now I'll have to let you go." I admitted with a sigh.

"Don't forget..." She then started, smiling at me "…by Jain's effect, you have to send your top two cards to the graveyard, and remove from play any monsters you send." Watching me send the cards, and remove the Ryko I sent, before nodding.

"Okay then! My move! I draw!" Miranda declared, starting her turn. "Oh, too bad! I activate the spell card Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying your Royal Decree! Now, I set a monster face-down, and let you have it."

Now she was finally top-decking, and I still hadn't lost. I might have a chance, especially since she couldn't destroy my Lyla! I lost my decree, but I still seemed to have enough momentum to get something done!

"My turn! I draw! Now, I flip Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress back into attack mode! (ATK: 1700)" Waiting for her to make a move, she didn't respond. Now, I resumed my turn, "I now activate Lyla's effect! Switching her to defence mode, I'll destroy your…"

"Are you so sure about that?" A voice spoke to me in my head. Recognizing the voice as Sartorius', I heard it then again say "One more bad face-down, and you will find yourself losing this duel, will you not?"

Damn it, he's right!

"…face-down card! The one on your left!" (Lyla DEF: 200) I finished my sentence, destroying one of her face-downs, which I could glimpse from across the arena before it exploded.

Macro Cosmos? Looks like it would have kept up the banishing either way.

"Hmm, not bad. You still got my Macro Cosmos." Miranda ceded. "Though, I'd think you would have destroyed my fissure. If you had Charge of the Light Brigade in your hand, paying your cost would have come before I could counter it." She then commented with a smile.

"Or you would have activated it in response to my effect." I answered, looking over the field. She has one face-down card and a face-down monster, along with dimensional fissure. "Now, since I have two light monsters on my side of the field, I special summon Guardian of Order! (ATK: 2500)

"I'm not scared of your monsters, Marcus. I activate the trap card Torrential Tribute! Destroying and removing from play every monster on the field, unless that face-down of yours is My Body as- oh, wait, you don't have the life points to use it, even if that was the case." She commented with a giggle.

Keeping my face composed, I removed all the monsters from my field, still having a hand while she was top-decking, however, still left me at an advantage. "I now summon Ehren, Lightsworn Monk! (ATK: 1600) Ehren, attack her directly!" (Miranda LP: 3200 – 1600)

"Heh, not bad, Marcus." She commented, still smiling, confident she would still win, but to me, it looked as if she were in a rather bad position. Perhaps she figured as long as she had dimensional fissure in play, she would be fine.

"All right then. I now end my turn, sending three cards from my deck to my graveyard by Ehren's effect." Milling another three cards, sending a Judgement Dragon and a second Necro Gardna out of my graveyard since dimensional fissure was still in play.

"Okay then! My turn! I draw!" Looking at her only card, Miranda nodded "Perfect. I set one card face-down and end my turn."

Looking across at her, un-amused, I started my turn "I draw!" looking at my hand, shaking my head.

If that card is a trap, it would kill me. But, if I can get past that card, then I win! I wouldn't even need to summon a new monster, I could just attack now!

"Are you sure you want to do that?" The voice of Sartorius once again spoke in my head. "After all, if you win, then her condition, that fixation on you would certainly get worse. It could very well become dangerous, for the both of you."

"If I win…" I started, shaking a little as my brain made attempts to process what I should do. "…it'll get worse. But if I lose, then nothing."

"Of course not. You are already of the Light. If you join the Society, it just puts a name on that. You do not wish to bring further suffering to your friends, do you?" The voice asked me while I was trying to think.

"You're already on his side, Marcus!" Kyle then told me, the thought of this as real as anyone I could actually see.

"You brainwash people whether you know it or not!" A similar image of Chazz then declared.

"It doesn't matter. You are already here." A voice of the original, cold Miranda then stated.

Looking across the arena at her, I looked over my hand. "I switch Ehren to defence mode and end my turn." (Ehren DEF: 1000) Sending the three cards required, I remained silent now, as I knew it was the only real option: I HAD to lose, for her sake.

Besides, if I was already affected by the Light, then my induction into the Society wouldn't actually affect me at all.

"Oh? All right then, Marcus. Didn't know you could be so reserved in a duel! I draw! Now, that reservation will cost you! I activate Return From the Different Dimension! By paying half my life points (Miranda LP: 1600 – 800) I can summon as many of my removed from play monsters as possible! I summon Thunder King Rai-oh and D.D. Warrior!" (Rai-oh ATK: 1900) (Warrior ATK: 1200)

Warrior Lady, when did that- oh. That must have been the monster that got destroyed by torrential tribute.

"Now, D.D. Warrior, attack his Ehren! When the battle is resolved, by his effect, both monsters are removed from play!" Miranda thought to inform me, as if I didn't know what it did already, but I'd known that already. (Miranda LP: 800 – 400)

Once the monsters vanished, she looked across at me "Welcome to the Society, Marcus! Thunder King Rai-oh, attack him directly!" As the burst of lightning moved toward me, I braced for the final attack, engulfed by the arcs of lightning as I took the hit. (My LP: 500 – 0)

Well, that was it.

I lost.

I guess this is the way we're going to have to go now.