"Yes, to some extent. Now, it's your turn."
Yugo turned toward the familiar female voice and caught sight of a figure clad in a black robe.
Yui offered a brief explanation to the startled young man.
"Don't worry, she's on our side. She was the one driving the carriage. She also provided the flash that threw off our pursuers."
A hazy memory surfaced: a blinding burst of light had indeed staggered the academy members as they tried to give chase. Yugo realized then that someone else had been helping—someone to handle the carriage while Skull pulled it. Before his eyes, the robed figure pulled back her hood and greeted him with a smile.
"It has been quite some time, Yugo-sama."
"Claire...? Is that really you, Claire!?"
Her manner was as graceful as ever, her voice calm and steady. The beautiful girl smiling at him, her long golden hair shimmering, was Claire Rouge. She was his former fiancée, the girl who had left Luminous Academy some time ago. Surprised by this sudden reunion, Yugo watched as she gave a small nod.
"It is unfortunate that we have to reunite under such circumstances, but I am just glad to see you are safe," she said. "I will begin your treatment at once. Also, as a precaution, I should probably dispel any hypnosis Hypno might have placed on you."
"W-wait a second! Why are you here? For that matter, when did you and Ryuga—?"
While he was relieved to have Claire as an ally, the sheer number of questions following their sudden meeting made his head spin. Claire let out a soft giggle at his confusion. She reached into her clothes, pulled out a small, circular object that looked like a fluorescent bulb, and spoke.
"There is someone better suited than I to explain all that. Please, have a word with him."
"Eh...?"
She placed the magic item on the ground. It emitted a brilliant light. Yugo watched with wide eyes, his mind racing to figure out who she could possibly be talking about. Claire had left school specifically to follow someone else who had set out to travel the world. If that were the case, then the person about to appear was... Just as the thought crossed his mind, the expected figure materialized.
"Ah... it’s been a while, hasn't it? A long time... really."
The boy had dull grey hair and striking golden eyes. He seemed timid and looked even more exhausted than when Yugo had last seen him, but there was an unmistakable aura of growth about him, as if he had been tempered by his many experiences.
"Zenon...?"
"You remembered me. I'm glad, Yugo...!"
Zenon Ash—the man who had defeated the original Yugo and stolen his fiancée, Claire, sparking his initial downfall. Later, Zenon himself had been abandoned by everyone due to his own behavior, losing everything in an instant. However, he had eventually had a change of heart and set out on a journey with Claire, the only person who had stayed by his side. Facing Yugo now, Zenon wore a smile that was both joyful and tinged with sorrow.
As Yugo stood there dazed by the day’s endless surprises, Zenon began to speak.
"I should tell you first that the 'me' you're seeing right now is just a mental body. I’m only transmitting my consciousness here through a magic item. My real body is back at Luminous Academy."
"The academy? Why?"
"To infiltrate them. I'm the only one who can get close to Dogma and the others to gather information. Because I’m a reincarnator, just like them...!"
Zenon confessed his status as a reincarnator with startling casualness, then let out a small sigh. He looked again at Yugo, who still seemed completely lost, and his gaze began to wander nervously.
"Sorry... now that I'm actually here to talk, I don't really know where to start. How should I put this...?"
"Calm yourself, Zenon-sama," Claire said gently. "Yugo-sama’s treatment will take some time. You can start from the very beginning and explain everything at your own pace."
"Right... yeah, you're right. Thanks, Claire."
Despite his timid demeanor, Zenon didn't have the same brittle, broken look he’d had at the end of his time at the academy. Seeing him listen to Claire’s advice and thank her, Yugo could tell the two had built a healthy relationship during their travels.
As Zenon regained his composure, Yugo felt his own agitation settle while Claire continued her work. In the quiet of the cave, Zenon’s voice began to echo.
"First, I suppose... I should tell you about who I really am. I was never actually a person named Zenon Ash. My real name is Seto Haino. I was just a game otaku."