Thursday was Fusion Academy's weekly Monster Summoning class.

After three days of cultural studies, the Summoning class was one where students had to use their Spirit Eyes to participate.

However, today, what seemed like a routine second-year class suddenly took an unexpected turn.

"Hahahahaha! See this, Cyber Dragon Core! With this monster, my Cyber Dragons will become even stronger! This proves I've grown from facing a worthy rival!"

Over on one side, Deion Kaiser was bragging to Kaima Seth about the new Cyber Dragon monster he'd just summoned.

"Oh?"

However, Kaima wasn't paying attention to the royal heir in front of her.

Ignoring a royal was no small act, but Kaima knew that with Deion's personality, he wouldn't care about such things. Besides, as nobles of ducal rank, the Seth family wasn't all that inferior in standing to the royal family.

Kaima's focus was on Irena, who had been standing in the summoning circle, drawing her Summoning Array for quite some time.

It was just an ordinary summoning class, yet Irena's expression was grim, as if preparing for war.

About two minutes passed…

"I'm sorry, Professor Field. I don't think I'm in good shape today, so I won't summon a monster."

Still unable to complete the Summoning, Irena reported to the second-year homeroom professor and silently withdrew from the Summoning Array.

Given the random nature of Monster Summons, failed attempts weren't uncommon in class.

That said, this was the first time Professor Field had seen Irena, an honor student, fail a Summon. Undoubtedly, something was wrong.

"Return to your seat and try to relax, Irena. There's no rush. You can try again anytime before class ends."

"Yes, Professor Field."

Though she was granted permission for a second attempt, Irena's voice was noticeably weak.

Watching her sit back down beside her, Kaima asked with concern, "What's going on, Irena? You've seemed off for days. Any idea why?"

"I have a guess… I just realized it yesterday."

With that, Irena took out her dim Spirit Eyes and placed them in front of Kaima.

"This thing... seems broken. I can't use it anymore."

"What?"

To lose the ability to use Spirit Eyes—something that could affect a Duelist's entire career—and Irena just said it like it was nothing.

"You only found out yesterday? Why didn't you tell anyone then?"

"It was my first time experiencing this... I thought a good night's sleep might fix it..."

"Irena?!"

Her voice growing feebler, Kaima instinctively reached out to support her—and just as expected, Irena collapsed unconscious into Kaima's arms.

...

Second-Year Dormitory—

In the dorm room shared by Kaima and Irena, Irena lay feverish and barely conscious in bed, occasionally letting out faint whimpers.

"So Kaima and Irena are actually roommates..."

This was news to Miles—anyway, it seemed trivial compared to Irena's current condition.

"Senpai..."

Aisha's heart twisted at the sight of Irena this weak.

"Kaima-senpai, did the doctors find out what's wrong with her?"

"Professor Field already called the school medic, and even Grand Magus Fiona ran a full magical diagnostic… but neither found any reason she'd be unconscious. The only thing left is..."

"It really is the Spirit Eyes malfunctioning."

Aisha glanced at the dim device wrapped around Irena's arm.

Outside of Duels, the Spirit Eyes appeared just like a decorative armlet.

Only during a Duel would it transform into a deck-loading device that projected a Duel Monster's power.

Aisha had seen something like this once before.

Irene's brother Edigo had his Spirit Eyes damaged during a Shadow Game; thereafter, he could no longer use it.

Though Irena's Spirit Eyes wasn't broken, it was distinctly dull and lifeless.

Miles analyzed, "If not even the medic or Fiona could detect anything, and Kaima still called us here... then she must have a reason. Ask her, Aisha."

"Kaima-senpai, is there anything we can do?"

Aisha blurted the question promptly.

Irena had always been a kind, caring upperclassman. Of course, Aisha wanted to help.

"There is something I want to ask you."

Due to their height difference, Kaima looked down at Aisha as she spoke.

This time, however, her gaze shifted to the Millennium Puzzle hanging around Aisha's neck.

"That item you always wear... what exactly is it?"

"Huh? You mean the Millennium Puzzle, senpai?"

She hadn't expected Kaima to ask about that.

"I summoned it during the midterm as a Magic Tool. I felt a strong connection to it, so I kept it with me."

This kind of question was no trouble for Aisha since Kaima wasn't the first to ask about the Millennium Puzzle—hiding Miles' existence was easy with a partial truth.

"Oh? That's truly all it is?"

Kaima's eyes briefly narrowed in suspicion.

"But why ask about it now, senpai?"

Kaima frowned, thought for a moment, then sighed and looked back at Irena.

"Because a few nights ago, Irena brought back something that looked very similar. Especially the eye engraved on it—almost identical."

"Something similar... A Millennium Item!"

Aisha and Miles exclaimed in unison.

"What exactly did it look like, Kaima-senpai?!" Aisha pressed.

"It looked like a ring, with a circle of sharp spikes hanging around it."

"A ring and spikes—the Millennium Ring!"

The very Millennium Ring they had long been wary of… was with Irena all along. Not even in their wildest guesses had Aisha or Miles imagined such a conclusion.

...

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