Don't Speak

Returning home from the Dojo, Kira took out the "True Silent Magician" card, which the Master had just given him as the Dojo's treasured heirloom. He placed it on the table and examined it closely, looking it over from left to right.

Of course, it absolutely wasn't because the artwork depicted a curvaceous yet tall, pure yet seductive beauty. He was simply researching the authenticity of the so-called Spirit Legend.

He tried to recall the Original Work. In GX, after Judai got the Winged Kuriboh Duel Monster Spirit card from Yugi, it seemed like he didn't do anything special. In the first episode, Winged Kuriboh just floated out on its own, saying "Kuriboh Kuriboh" and talking to Judai.

But this one of his didn't seem to be doing anything.

"Hello?"

"You there?"

"."

Great, just as expected, there was no reaction at all.

Then, a thought struck him, giving him an idea. He immediately pulled out his Duel Disk and dramatically unfolded it.

Apparently, not everyone can see Duel Monster Spirits; "Spirit Affinity" is a talent only some people possess. Maybe the Duel Monster Spirit had already appeared, but he just couldn't see it.

But there was another way.

He could summon her using the Duel Disk's Stereoscopic Projection System. By using KaibaCorp's technological power to give the Duel Monster Spirit a physical form through the projection, perhaps he could at least communicate with her.

The Duel Disk's projection system activated, and with a flash of a magnificent magic circle, the valiant and graceful sorceress stepped forth. Her pure white robe's hem swayed gently with her movements, her long, slender white legs were subtly revealed, and her skirt danced like snowflakes.

Silent Magician, Summon!

She stood expressionless, as cool and aloof as a slender tree of ice crystals. Her snow-white face was like a glacier three feet thick.

Kira stared intently at the tall sorceress, examining her closely.

"Hmm..."

Perhaps KaibaCorp's projection technology was simply too realistic. The texture of her skin, the cool aloofness in her eyes – she truly looked like a real person.

But with such an unwavering gaze and completely still expression, she was surely just a stereoscopic projection...

Hmm?

Kira, who was circling around to observe her left side, suddenly took a step back and looked up at Silent Magician's eyes.

They were still as calm as an ancient well, staring straight ahead without blinking.

But he wondered if it was just his imagination.

Just a moment ago, he thought the sorceress's eyes had moved slightly?

It was as if she had glanced at him, but the instant he looked up, she immediately looked away again.

Returning to that emotionless, icy poker face.

But that moment was too brief for him to be sure if he'd seen it correctly.

"Could it be that there actually is a Duel Monster Spirit... but she's pretending to be inanimate?"

But no matter how he circled the stereoscopic projection afterward, there was no further suspicious reaction.

With no other options, he had to turn off the Duel Disk first, take the card out, and put it back on the table.

He planned to take a shower that evening, then go out for a walk to grab some dinner, come back to do some practice questions to prepare for the assessment, and then go to bed early.

Just then, another brilliant idea popped into his head.

He remembered hearing that music is a universal language in the biological world, transcending race and culture. Studies have shown that many animals and plants react to music, and some fantasy works even depict aliens communicating through music?

So, with the thought that there was no harm in trying, he turned on his music player and put on some BGM suitable for dueling. It was rousing heavy metal music, the drums pounding like a fierce storm, every note filled with passion and power, like thousands of warriors charging into battle.

It was exactly the kind of hype track for a Duelist; listening to it instantly made him feel full of power, as if his next draw would change the world.

Kira set it to loop playback with satisfaction, then turned to go shower in the bathroom.

The fatigue from the day was quickly washed away with the running water. Kira returned to his room, wiping his wet hair. But the moment he emerged, he paused, his brow furring slightly as he noticed something unusual.

The music was gone.

What was going on?

He went over to the table and saw that the music player had stopped at some point.

Could it be...?

He thought for a moment, then pressed the play button again.

Then he turned around and pretended to leave the room to busy himself elsewhere.

But after stepping out, he immediately doubled back, peeking into the room through the door crack.

He waited patiently for less than a minute.

Soon after, he saw it: a hazy, almost translucent figure appeared out of thin air, accompanied by a faint ripple emanating from the card on the table.

Her pure white robe, her skin looking even paler, almost transparent, in that ghostly state, appeared almost sacred under the moonlight streaming through the window.

Kira couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Well, damn. The Master really wasn't making things up.

There really are Duel Monster Spirits...

The sorceress, adorned with holy light effects, appeared somewhat divine, yet her silent, floating movement seemed a little shifty, glancing nervously left and right as if afraid of being discovered.

She stealthily reached out a hand and pressed the music player.

The music stopped.

Kira: ...

He reflected for a moment, feeling his consideration had been a bit lacking. There was probably a reason she was called the "Silent" Magician.

It seemed she didn't quite appreciate the music her master had thoughtfully prepared.

But by a strange twist of fate, even if the process was a bit bizarre, his music ritual had somehow managed to summon the Spirit after all.

So, Kira suddenly pushed the door open and appeared in the doorway.

Silent Magician: "!!!"

The silver-haired woman was startled, covering her mouth and taking a step back, a flush quickly spreading across her normally icy face.

It was like a child caught doing something mischievous at home when a parent unexpectedly walks in.

Then, with a sudden flash, the sorceress turned back into a white light and darted back into her card.

Kira: ...

Now he was certain.

His Spirit really had been faking it just now.

Why? Did her master look like a bad guy?

Kira only looked in the mirror for two seconds before his handsome face immediately dispelled that thought.

Absolutely impossible.

So, was there a possibility that perhaps this Spirit was simply socially anxious?

Everyone said the Bond between a Duelist and their cards was the key to victory, and encountering a Spirit was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kira felt it was necessary to seize it. So he returned to the table.

"Hey? Are you there?"

Silent Magician: ...

"Actually, I already know you're there."

Silent Magician: ...

Kira was a bit stumped.

All the Duel Kings throughout the anime history said dueling relied on Bond, but it seemed no one had ever elaborated on how to cultivate this Bond. It wasn't like Pokemon; he couldn't feed her or train her. The key was, she didn't even come out of the card normally, so what was he supposed to do?

After thinking for a moment, he tentatively asked, "How about... we find another song to listen to?"

Silent Magician: "!"

A faint ripple spread across the card's surface again.

Seconds later, the Silent Magician was floating there, holding her staff with both hands, head down and an odd expression on her face. She still didn't say a word, but her posture and reaction made Kira understand.

As long as he didn't speak, everything else was negotiable.

There should be cards tomorrow. Although it's a bit risky for a new book, I still want to finish posting in one go, trying to keep it under ten thousand characters...

It's on trial read promotion today, so I'm asking for follow-up reads one more time! Thanks!