"...But many refer to me as the Ancient One."
The words lingered in the air, and as soon as he heard them, Alexander remained perfectly still.
Outwardly, his expression changed little; inside, however, his thoughts raced, 'The Ancient Freaking One... Among the countless extraordinary individuals whose names have survived within the memories of my other self, few inspire the same degree of respect. Only, in my memories, the Ancient One was a sassy bald woman, but the one standing in front of me is an old asian man. However, despite that change, I'm fairly confident that the core of their identity didn't change too much. Someone who had quietly watched over Earth for centuries while countless threats came and went. Most importantly... Someone who never acted impulsively.'
Which was precisely why Alexander felt a knot form in his stomach as he considered, 'If the Ancient One has come personally... Then whatever has drawn his attention can't be insignificant. Was it the Shadow Game...? Perhaps. Or maybe my latest upgrade. After all, even Roland took notice of it, and he is a human with no mystical training... It could also be the YGO System itself...'
Alexander couldn't tell, nor did he particularly enjoy the uncertainty.
All that happened in a few instants before he noticed that Roland, who was still in front of the door, quietly looked in his direction, and Alexander understood immediately that the decision on what to do was his.
After a brief pause, he gave a small nod.
Roland returned the gesture almost imperceptibly before opening the door completely, saying, "Please... You are welcome inside."
The elderly man inclined his head graciously and stepped inside while saying, "Thank you."
His voice carried neither authority nor weakness but simply calmness.
The three quietly walked through the entrance hall. No one hurried or spoke, but the silence felt deliberate rather than awkward, as though conversation could wait until everyone had reached the proper place for it.
Eventually, Roland guided the guest toward one of the smaller dining rooms overlooking the mansion gardens. It was comfortable, private, and, more importantly, appropriate for conversation.
Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting warm golden bands across polished wooden floors. Beyond the glass, the gardens swayed gently beneath a cool breeze, the leaves rustling softly enough to become little more than a pleasant backdrop. It was an atmosphere that encouraged reflection rather than haste.
Once there, Alexander and the Ancient One took their seat before Roland asked, "Would you care for some tea?"
The elderly sorcerer smiled faintly and replied, "I would appreciate that."
Roland gave a respectful bow before leaving the room.
Silence followed, one that wasn't uncomfortable but simply patient until Alexander gradually realised something.
The Ancient One wasn't waiting for the perfect opportunity to begin speaking, nor was he examining the room.
He simply sat peacefully, perfectly content to let the silence exist.
It was oddly calming.
The sensation reminded Alexander of the sensation he felt after a particularly fun Duel, when excitement had faded, and only quiet satisfaction remained. There was no pressure to fill the room with words. Somehow, the Ancient One's mere presence made silence feel as meaningful as conversation.
Only a few minutes later, Roland returned carrying a silver tray with three cups and a porcelain teapot of freshly prepared tea, as the faint steam emitted by it showed.
The delicate aroma of jasmine gradually spread throughout the room as he poured each cup with practised precision. Steam curled lazily into the air before disappearing.
After serving everyone, Roland quietly stepped to one side of the room so as not to intrude, yet remaining available should anything be required.
Alexander wrapped both hands around his cup, appreciating the warmth against his palms before finally speaking, "May I ask what prompted your visit?"
The Ancient One looked toward him and said, "You may."
He took a slow sip before speaking, "Several months ago I perceived something unusual."
Alexander listened attentively as he continued, "A disturbance. An exceptionally small one that lasted for only an instant. It connected our world to another... Let's call it a dimension."
He paused to take another small sip before adding, "One previously unknown to Kamar-Taj."
Alexander remained silent while the Ancient One continued, "Ordinarily such an insignificant occurrence would disappear before it justified further investigation. It would simply become another curiosity."
His gaze remained calm as he said, "Then another appeared. And another. Every single one different from another."
Alexander immediately understood, 'The prototype cards... Each creation. Each negotiation with the Duel Spirits. Every time I have opened a bridge between worlds.'
The realisation sent a faint chill down his spine while the Ancient One kept talking, "They never remained open for long. They carried no corruption. No hostility and no trace of entities attempting to force passage. As Earth's guardian... I found no reason to interfere."
Roland listened without interrupting.
Although his expression remained composed, Alexander noticed the brief narrowing of his eyes. Even Roland, who had witnessed countless unusual events in his life, seemed intrigued by the explanation.
The Ancient One calmly folded his hands and said, "So I observed."
Alexander couldn't help smiling wryly before commenting, "Understanding before judgment."
A hint of approval appeared in the elderly sorcerer's expression, "Precisely."
Then he continued, "Over time, the disturbances became increasingly familiar as they followed a recognisable pattern. Each occurrence originated from the same individual."
Alexander already knew the answer; the Ancient One was talking about him.
"The fluctuations also gradually increased. The final confirmation arrived yesterday."
His eyes met Alexander's, and he said, "A very unusual form... Let's say ritual, but it also felt like a contest of both wills and skills..."
For the first time, the room fell completely silent as the Ancient One said, "That was no longer merely a doorway; it was interaction. Two worlds touching one another, imposing previously unknown rules upon reality."
Another measured sip of tea before he stated, "That was a sufficient reason for a personal visit."
He smiled gently and added, "Had I believed those events to be hostile, I would not have come alone."
Alexander quietly appreciated the implication. This wasn't an investigation nor a confrontation but simply a conversation.
It spoke volumes about the Ancient One's confidence. He had walked into an unfamiliar situation armed with little more than his own judgment, trusting his observations over assumptions.
Alexander slowly placed his teacup back onto its saucer before he said, "I suppose a fair share of honesty would save us both considerable time."
The Ancient One inclined his head and replied, "I believe so."
Alexander reached into the air, and suddenly a familiar card materialised between his fingers, Kuriboh.
He spent a single point of Duel Energy and the card between his fingers started to shine before it shattered into motes of light.
Golden light shimmered through the room before the tiny particles gathered above the table, drifting like fireflies.
The air itself seemed to ripple, and a heartbeat later, a tiny furry creature appeared.
"Kuriii!"
Kuriboh blinked several times before happily floating toward Alexander.
Without hesitation, it landed upon his shoulder, rubbing affectionately against his cheek before letting out another cheerful cry.
Alexander smiled despite himself as the tiny Spirit's enthusiasm had an uncanny ability to dissolve tension.
At the same time, Alexander thought, 'I should summon Kuriboh more often; it is so comfortable and relaxing having it by my side... On top of that, since it is only a Level 1 monster, I only need to spend 1 DE to summon it, something that I can easily afford now.'
While he thought that, the Ancient One watched quietly with curiosity.
His gaze remained fixed upon the little Duel Spirit rather than the summoning itself. After a few moments, he slowly extended one finger.
Kuriboh tilted its head, "...Kurii?"
It floated closer, carefully, almost cautiously.
The tiny Spirit sniffed his fingertip, and another second passed; then it happily rubbed against it while letting out, "Kuri!"
Seeing that, Alexander relaxed a bit more because Kuribohs were an exceptional judge of character, as their species bonds only with righteous or pure people, so the fact that it reacted like that to the Ancient One is further proof that he could at least trust him a bit more.
Meanwhile, a warm smile appeared upon the Ancient One's face as he commented, "Interesting..."
Alexander looked toward him as he analysed, "It possesses neither fear nor instinctive hostility."
His hand lowered once more and stated with certainty, "It trusts you."
Alexander gently scratched beneath Kuriboh's tiny body and said, "I'd like to think we've earned each other's trust."
Kuriboh gave an enthusiastic chirp in agreement before settling comfortably atop Alexander's shoulder.
The Ancient One nodded thoughtfully and agreed, "I believe you have."
Alexander spent the next several minutes explaining what he knew and deduced, but not everything, only the foundation.
Duel Spirits were living spiritual beings and independent existences. The cards merely served as contracts, a bridge allowing both worlds to interact safely.
Throughout the explanation, the Ancient One listened far more than he spoke, occasionally asking concise questions but never interrupting and always allowing Alexander to finish his thoughts first.
His questions were remarkably precise, mostly centred on relationships.
Whether Duel Spirits possessed individuality, whether they could choose their partners, whether they experienced emotions comparable to humanity.
Alexander answered each one honestly, finding himself increasingly comfortable as the discussion continued.
When the explanation concluded, the elderly sorcerer slowly raised one hand.
Orange sparks immediately burst into existence before countless tiny embers danced across the air.
They gathered, twisted, briefly forming a small circular construct before fading only seconds later.
The room returned to normal.
Alexander observed attentively and commented, "Eldritch Magic."
The Ancient One nodded and said, "One expression of it."
He continued calmly, "Sorcerers do not create this energy. We borrow it."
Alexander's curiosity visibly grew.
"We establish temporary connections to dimensions, higher beings, or other similar mystical forces. Then we shape that borrowed power."
As he spoke, Alexander found himself comparing the explanation against everything he understood about Spirit Energy. The similarities were obvious enough for comparison, yet the differences were equally striking.
Alexander considered the explanation before he concluded, "So magic... is fundamentally external."
"For us." The Ancient One smiled and added, "A simplified description but not an inaccurate one."
Alexander nodded before placing a hand lightly over his chest, "My abilities function differently. The source... is here."
He briefly explained Spirit Energy. The Ba. The role played by emotional bonds between Duelists and Duel Spirits.
Unlike borrowed magic, everything originated from the individual.
The Ancient One remained thoughtful before he commented, "That's quite remarkable."
He leaned back slightly and concluded, "Then what you practice cannot accurately be described as sorcery."
Alexander blinked and asked, "No?"
The elderly man shook his head, "No. It is..."
He searched briefly for the proper words before saying, "...An entirely different branch of mysticism. One rooted not in dimensions but within the soul itself."
Alexander couldn't help smiling, "I'm not entirely sure, but I like that description."
"So do I," Roland quietly remarked from the side of the room.
Both men glanced toward him.
Roland offered a small, apologetic smile before he said, "It explains Master Alexander's abilities better than any label we've used until now."
The Ancient One inclined his head and cryptically said, "Names possess meaning. They shape understanding. It is wise to choose them carefully."
Eventually the conversation shifted once again.
"There is..." Alexander hesitated, not fully convinced if he should, but he decided to trust Kuriboh's judgement, so he continued, "...One more thing."
The Ancient One quietly waited.
"I possess something called the YGO System."
Rather than trying to explain every function, Alexander summarised only what he truly understood.
That it had appeared together with memories that did not belong to this world, it guided him, assisted him, allowed him to create Duel Monsters, and beyond that, even he knew very little. Something that bothered him a bit, as he felt like it would suddenly turn into a time bomb.
"I still don't know who created it or why. I don't even know if it was actually created or is some form of natural force that emerged to facilitate the integration of the Duel Spirits... But I admit that it bothers me a bit, especially since it could be malicious. My knowledge is severely lacking, so I'd like to know your opinion."
For the first time since entering the mansion, the Ancient One remained silent for several moments. Not because he doubted the explanation but because he was carefully considering it.
"There are," he finally said, "many mysteries that predate even our oldest records. Some are eventually answered. Others... remain mysteries because mankind has not yet reached the point where the answers may be understood. But in my long, personal experience, such forces are much more subtle when malicious in nature. Yours seems to follow a rule closer to the Equal Exchange Law, which seems to indicate that it is closer to a neutral one."
Alexander found the perspective strangely comforting.
The Ancient One then added, "You made the right choice in asking me. There is wisdom in acknowledging the limits of one's own understanding."
Alexander nodded and said, "Indeed, I'd rather admit ignorance than pretend certainty."
"An admirable philosophy."
Silence comfortably settled once more.
Outside the window, the breeze stirred the branches once again. For several peaceful moments, none of them spoke.
It no longer felt like strangers sharing a room but rather like scholars contemplating a newly discovered truth from different perspectives.
Finally, the Ancient One set down his teacup and said, "I believe I have reached my conclusion."
Alexander looked toward him as he continued, "You are neither a sorcerer of Kamar-Taj, nor a mutant, nor any mystical practitioner known to our order."
A faint smile appeared as he declared, "You represent... Something entirely new."
Rather than feeling isolated by those words, Alexander experienced an unexpected sense of relief.
He had spent months wondering where he fit within this world's countless supernatural systems, but perhaps the answer was that he simply didn't.
The elderly sorcerer slowly rose to his feet, "There is one final matter."
Alexander stood as well.
"Kamar-Taj possesses centuries of accumulated knowledge. Souls. Meditation. Ancient civilizations. The relationship between dimensions. While we cannot teach you how to command Duel Spirits, our knowledge may nevertheless prove valuable."
He smiled gently as he said, "My invitation is simple, if you ever wish to visit, you shall be welcome."
He paused before adding, "And should you one day uncover truths concerning the Ba, the Ka, or these remarkable Duel Spirits, I would welcome the opportunity to learn from you as well."
Alexander couldn't help smiling.
The offer was genuine, not an attempt at recruitment or supervision but simply an exchange between two seekers of knowledge.
So he replied, "I would like that."
The Ancient One inclined his head and said, "As would I."
Moments later, Alexander and Roland accompanied him back toward the mansion entrance.
Outside, the evening air had grown pleasantly cool. The sky had begun its gradual transition toward dusk, painting the horizon in shades of amber and violet. A gentle breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass through the estate as birds settled into the trees for the evening.
The Ancient One took several unhurried steps away from the doorway, then raised one hand.
Golden sparks bloomed into existence, and a circular portal slowly unfolded before him.
The intricate rings of glowing energy rotated with elegant precision, illuminating the entrance hall in warm golden light.
Before stepping through, he looked back one final time and said, "I suspect... This will not be our last conversation."
Alexander smiled faintly and replied, "I have the same feeling."
The Ancient One returned the smile, then quietly disappeared beyond the portal.
The golden light faded, leaving only the gentle evening breeze drifting through the mansion grounds.
Alexander remained standing for several seconds after the portal vanished before Roland finally spoke, "Quite an extraordinary guest."
Alexander let out a quiet breath, "Yeah..."
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