[h1][b][center]Ethel's disappearance.[/center][/b][/h1]

Ignia knew that Ethel should be infirmary. Why wasn't Ethel here, where had her friend gone? Who took her friend? Ignia's head was spinning as she leant on the bed her friend should've been in. She had come bearing gifts! She looked at the small paper bag in her hand, containing some cheap chocolate. It was the best she could buy, considering she had little money on her. It was the thought that counted right.... right? Hopefully... 

She did one last check around the infirmary, fiinding just a trio of Dark Dorm students with, what looked like, the broken frizzled remains of pompadours and a couple of other students who'm looked to be in for various injuries, but they were all uninteresting to her. None of them were Ethel, after all. Ignia sighed as she slammed the Infirmary door behind her in a huff. She stormed off down the hallways, barely making a sound except for the light pitter of her feet.

Ethel grit her teeth whilst slowly climbing up the steps of the academy's stairwell, her sense of sight being almost nonexistant in the dim moonlight shining in through the windows. On the other hand, her sense of hearing was perfectly fine. She could hear two things; A door closing and a faint tapping noise off in the distance. The girl feared that she'd been found out already, so she sped up as much as she could. She could barely walk as is and needed to use both her arms to support her on the way up. When Ethel reached the next floor, she could see a faint shadow moving around and hiding into a nearby room.

The girl's mind was instantly thrown back to the week prior. Strange occurences, followed by the vague shadow of a person on a Duel Runner. Ethel's mind was clouded with rage an illogical fury, so she decided to give chase the moment she saw that. Keeping her breath in check, Ethel tried to speed up her pace to get into the same room as quickly as possible. Behind her, the tapping noise grew louder and louder. Ethel's Duel Disk was on standby mode, so it gave a faint glow in the darkness. No doubt whoever was behind her had seen it as well, hurrying towards the girl as she entered the same room the mysterious shadow had.

Ignia saw that which she was seeking. Ethel didn't look in any condition to be walking around by herself so haphazardly. She needed Ignia! Ignia sped up her pace, wanting to help her friend as quickly as possible. Her tapping increased in ferocity as she sped up. She couldn't let Ethel get into things like this by herself, she wasn't letting her friend get comatosed again! It wasn't that Ignia needed Ethel, It was just she needed a friend and well... Ethel was probably her only real friend in the entire Duel Tower. That was probably a sad thing, huh? ...Yeah, most likely. 

Ignia watched as a shadowy purple figure entered a room. She watched Ethel also turn and enter it. Instantly, her mind-gears whirled with theories. [color=80ff80]"Oh, Ethel what have you got yourself into...?"[/color] She muttered under her breath as she slowly reached the door in question. Pulling out her Duel Disk, it came online with a small thrum as she kicked open the door. [color=80ff80]"Who goes there!"[/color] She yelled, albeit still quieter then normal as didn't want to wake the teachers up. Her eyes locked onto the figure, although they took a momentary glance to be distracted by her friend. 

Ethel jumped as the door forcefully swung open behind her, turning her head quickly to see who it was. The girl muttered in disbelief when she saw who it was. [color=7ea7d8]"...Ignia?"[/color] The initial shock quickly faded, however. Ethel remembered the other figure who'd gone into the room. The lights were on, illumnating the arena. On the other end of the room was a figure in a purple jacket, arms crossed and looking down to the floor. Their brown hair was covering their face, so neither girl could get a quick look at their face.

Ethel noticed the purple motif and instantly her eyes flared up with rage again, extending her arm to let her Duel Disk activate. The girl growled. [color=7ea7d8]"[i]Yoooouuuu...![/i] I'll get you back for what you-!"[/color]

Ethel cut herself off. The longer she looked at the person, the more details she found to be off. That was an academy jacket, one of the Dark Dorm. The person is a male, while her assailant was a female. The Duel Disk on their arm was an academy licensed disk. All these things pointed to them not being who she thought it was, but there was one more odd detail. She [i]recognized[/i] them. Ethel went silent as her arm lowered again, eyes widening in realization to who that actually was.

[color=a36209]"What?"[/color] Vincent said, tapping his foot impatiently. [color=a36209]"Do you want something from me? I just got out of a stern talking to, from a man who's idealogies I barely agree with, so speak already."[/color] Vincent said, with a hint of annoyance in his voice. It was as if a blue haired fly had just started buzzing in his ear. He brushed down his purple Dark Dorm jacket as his eyes glanced over to Ignia, his bravado fading somewhat. [color=a36209]"Ignia?"[/color] He said with a sigh as he leaned back against the wall. [color=a36209]"What are you doing here? I thought you had gone to that prestigious school for higher learners."[/color] Vincent said with a hint of malice towards his estranged friend. He put his hand up in the air. [color=a36209]"So what is this? Some sort of intervention? Honestly, I don't need such a thing."[/color] He said, waving his hand as if to brush off a speck of dirt. [color=a36209]"So hurry up and explain yourselves already."[/color] He finished as he lowered his head, his hair covering his eyes.

Ethel looked back at Ignia, who seemed even more shocked than she had been. Did these two know each other? No, more importantly, than that... [color=7ea7d8]"...What's this? I thought you were one of the best duelists in Wind Dorm. What are you doing mingling with the trash?"[/color] Ethel scoffed at Vincent, then yelped as her arm stung. She was still weak and in no condition to act as high and mighty as she was, but the girl flet some kind of moral superiority. Everyone in the academy knew the Dark Dorm was the lowest of the low.

Ethel glanced over at her Duel Disk, her anger fading but not quite gone. [color=7ea7d8]"Tch. Here I thought you had potential... shows what I know. I don't owe [i]you[/i] an explanation."[/color] Ethel turned and wanted to walk away, only to see Ignia still standing there. The girl did not look like she was having a good time.

[color=7ea7d8]"...Hey, let's go. He doesn't deserve your attention."[/color] Ethel's tone was condescending, even if her body posture was pretty pathetic. She could barely stand and was trying her best not to show it.

Vincent shook his head. [color=a36209]"Honestly, Ethel, I thought you were better mannered than to throw Insults my way. In all honesty, don't bark if you can't bite."[/color] He said, tapping his duel disk. It had a Duel Chain now. He had looted it from another Dark Dorm Student. It was one less issue for him. Certainly, it wasn't in the best condition for a Duel chain, but he didn't care as long as it kept his opponent still. Nobody runs from the Chaos Ambassador. Nobody. [color=a36209]"Besides, you're in no condition to fight."[/color]

Ethel's head whipped back with renewed fury. She placed her index and middle finger on her deck and was about to draw her cards, but then a small breeze passed by her.

[color=a36209]"The real pathetic thing about you Ethel is - [b][i]Ooof[/i][/b]!"[/color] Vincent recoiled from the impact of a fist in his stomach. 

Ignia pulled back her hand. She then went for a second punch. [color=a36209]"Urk!"[/color] Vincent grunted as he went down.

[color=80ff80]"Vincent. Shut up."[/color] Ignia said as she brushed her hair back with her hand. He had gone too far in her book, so he deserved it. Vincent looked up at her with his hardened eyes. [color=a36209]"Good hit,"[/color] he said, winded and with one eye closed. [color=80ff80]"I'll go for another if you cross that line again."[/color] Ignia said down to him, her usual cheerful demenour replaced with a cold voice. [color=a36209]"Like old times, then?"[/color] Vincent laughed. Ignia didn't respond to the trash before her. She got up and brushed her hands down on her Wind Dorm jacket as if to wipe away some sort of stain.

[color=80ff80]"So, Ethel,"[/color] Ignia said as she walked over. [color=80ff80]"Need some help?"[/color] She smiled to her friend and outstretched her hand. Her cheerful demeanour was back as if nothing had happened. Ignia shot another glare at Vincent, who was getting up again. He gave her a cheerful, if not slightly bloodlusty, glance back. 

Ethel stood there, bewildered. This entire night had been... strange, with this event not helping. [color=7ea7d8]"...H-Huh? Yeah- I mean, no thanks. I'll be... fine."[/color] Her words was met by a slight look of disappointment by Ignia. Seeing the girl like that stung for Ethel too, even though she witnessed what they just did. The girl caved anyway and accepted Ignia's hand, letting her friend fling her arm over the shoulder to support her weight.

[color=7ea7d8]"...Thanks, Ignia."[/color] Ethel relunctantly said while looking away, just enough to see Vincent having gotten back up again. He sported an all-knowing grin, confident and hostile. The duo of girls left him all alone in the room, with something new to think about. Now the question was how they were both getting back to their rooms without being seen...