Editing Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG Stories Magistus Arc - Chapter 004

{{Infobox chapter
| image              = OCG Stories 023.png
| ja_name            = ゾロアとスプーン
| romaji_name        = Zoroa to Supūn
| ja_trans_name      = Zoroa and Spoon
| series             = Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG Stories
| arc                = Magistus (arc)
| number             = 4
| ja_magazine        = V Jump
| volume             = <!-- 1 -->
| ja_issue           = June 2024
| ja_release_date    = April 19, 2024
}}

"'''Zoroa and Spoon'''" (ゾロアとスプーン ''Zoroa to Supūn'') is the fourth chapter of the [[Magistus (arc)|Magistus]] arc of the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG Stories]]'' manga, and the twenty-third chapter of the series overall. It was first published on April 19, 2024, in the ''[[V Jump]]'' magazine.

{{Chapter summary|After [[Zoroa]] wakes up from a recurring nightmare, he reminisces with [[Spoon]] about his life up to their meeting and departure to find a place to build [[Graybeard]]. The following day, [[Rilliona]] acquires a crystalline meteorite which shows visions of a mountain that [[Aleister Crowley|Crowley]] recognizes.}}

==Summary==
[[File:12-year-old Zoroa using magic.png|thumb|left|300px|[[Zoroa]], using magic when he was 12, scaring [[Zoroa's mother|his mother]]]]
[[Zoroa]] has a dream in which he is confronted by another being who grabs him by the wrist. He wakes up at [[Zoroa's residence|his home]] sweating and [[Spoon]] comes into his room asking if he had that dream again. The narration says that a great crisis is about to befall [[Astrodia]] and Zoroa's awakening will be a big part of it.

A flashback shows Zoroa, aged 12 inadvertently using his [[Magic (Magistus arc)|magic]], setting a book alight and scaring [[Zoroa's mother|his mother]]. He is then pushed into a cellar to keep him out of trouble. While sitting alone, he conjures a small fireball above his hand, lighting the area around him. He lived a lonely childhood with nobody who understood him.

When his mothed died, Zoroa was sent to [[Sea stack institution|an institution]], which had people who feared and bullied him. One [[Zoroa's bullies|group of bullies]] acted disgusted by the fact that he had magic and watched as he was forced to carry a bag of goods up an extremely long set of stairs, while saying it should be easy for a monster like him.

<div style="float: right;">[[File:Spoon creates a portal for Zoroa.png|thumb|right|300px|[[Spoon]] creates a portal to try and help Zoroa with his heavy load.]]</div>
Four years later, Zoroa, aged 16, continues to carry stuff in heavier amounts up the stairs. This particular load includes multiple large crates, sacks, a suitcase, and sticks, all tied together and onto a ladder strapped to Zoroa's back. Spoon began attending the institution and took notice of him. He asks Zoroa why he endures the bullying. Zoroa replies that people are afraid those who are different and that he understands their fear of his magic. Spoon uses his own magic to conjure a portal and tells him that if he walks through that it will take him straight to the top. Zoroa is slightly surprised to see that Spoon has magic too, but declines his help and continues to carry the load the full distance.

Spoon picks up a stack of sticks to carry to the top, so that he can accompany Zoroa. He asks why he does not use magic and Zoroa answers that it is to discipline himself to keep himself human and that he would rather not use it again if he could. Zoroa's load begins to fall, but Spoon helps hold it up, causing him to drop his stack of sticks, which falls down the stairs. He sighs and laughs that he will now have to go all the way down. Spoon helps Zoroa bring his load to the top and always stayed by his side, while Zoroa had finally met someone who understood him.

One night, Zoroa's bullies surround him and one of them produces [[Zoroa's mother's hairpin|a hairpin]] he found in Zoroa's room. He teases Zoroa for owning a woman's item and Zoroa asks to have it back as it is a memento of his mother. The bully calls it junk and one of them others points out that it's a bit singed. A third bully grabs the hairpin and says that he can have it back if he wants it that badly, but then pretends to drop it as he throws it over the wall into the body of water.

Zoroa becomes enraged and unleashes his magic. He generates a large amount of flames and launches two giant fireballs at the bullies. However Spoon jumps into the path of the projectiles and was able to weaken them before taking the hit himself, while the bullies run away. Zoroa rushes to the aid of Spoon, who has one burnt arm, but was otherwise okay and relieved that nobody was killed.

[[File:Sealing charm used on Zoroa.png|thumb|left|300px|The [[Magic-absorbing charm|charm]] being used to absorb Zoroa's [[magic power]].]]
In a bedroom, Spoon's arm has been bandaged up. He gives Zoroa [[Magic-absorbing charm|a charm]] and explains that his parents had been worried about him possessing magic, so they spent a lot of money hiring many magicians who created this one-of-a-kind charm. The charm was to stop his magic from going out of control, like Zoroa's had against the bullies. The charm is placed on Zoroa's chest and he asks if Spoon is okay with giving him something that sentimental to him. Spoon says that it is okay, so long as it is of use to Zoroa. Zoroa notes that Spoon's parents loved him, even though he possessed magic and Spoon replies that his parents are also deceased.

The charm absorbs Zoroa's magic and quickly turns from white to black when it can hold no more. Spoon observes that Zoroa's magic is so great, it seems like the charm was not able to absorb all of it. However he feels it should be enough to stop Zoroa going wild again. Zoroa hands the charm back to Spoon, saying he entrusts his power to him and that he will always be by his side, but they cannot stay at the institution any longer.

The two agree to go together and leave by boat. They travel across different lands to find a place where people who posses magic can live in peace and end up building [[Graybeard]].

In the present, Zoroa asks Spoon why he helped him back then. Spoon replies that while he does not have much magic himself, he does have the ability to see the magic power swirling in others and when he saw Zoroa for the first time, he felt a completely unfamiliar magic power inside him and sensed that Zoroa might be in need of him. Zoroa ponders on the idea of an unfamiliar magic power and says that he does not know why he was born with such powerful magic. Spoon asks if his mother told him anything, but Zoroa responded that she died before she could and that he would love to know the true nature behind his magic. Spoon assures him that there is no rush. However Zoroa is concerned as the magic power inside him has been aching lately. Spoon asks if he thinks it has anything to do with the mysterious phenomena that have been happening lately. Zoroa is unsure, but has a bad feeling.

[[File:Endymion projects the mountain image.png|thumb|right|x300px|[[Endymion (character)|Endymion]] creates a projection of the mountain image seen in the [[crystalline meteorite]].]]
At [[Rilliona's residence]], a [[peddler]] arrives to do business and says he has something very special for her today. [[Rilliona]] says that she is not going to accept it if it is something boring. However the peddler assures her it will be to her liking and puts his sack on her table. He produces a large stone from the sack and says that he was told the stone suddenly fell from the sky and something like this is very rare.

Rilliona later shows the [[crystalline meteorite]] to Zoroa, Spoon, [[Aleister Crowley]], and [[Endymion (character)|Endymion]]. They wonder what it could be and Spoon that he can sense a mysterious power. Crowley says that he can see an image inside it, so Endymion places the sphere at the tip of his staff over the image and produces a magnified projection it. The image is that of a mountain and Spoon asks how something that fell from the sky could have this. Endymion suggests it could be some kind of messages and Rilliona asks if he means she was meant to find the stone. Zoroa thinks the message could be for her or for the group and Crowley suddenly remembers having seen the mountain before.

With Crowley's knowledge, Spoon creates a portal allowing the five to easily travel to the mountain. Rilliona is surprised and asks if Spoon always had this convenient magic. Spoon replies that the magic is rarely used or at least only he can only use it. He adds that it is better for people to walk with their own feet, using the analogy that if one keeps using magic to make tea, they will forget how to actually make it. Crowley senses a great magic power, much different than what he has felt before, coming from inside a cavern in the mountain. The group venture inside and find [[Theurgy]].

Zoroa stands close to Theurgy and [[Vahram]] communicates with him, saying that his voice has finally reached him.

==Appearances==
The following appear in this chapter. Bolded items debuted here.

{{Appearances
| characters = 
* [[Zoroa]]
* [[Spoon]]
* '''[[Zoroa's mother]]'''
* '''[[Zoroa's bullies]]'''
* '''[[Peddler]]'''
* [[Rilliona]]
* [[Aleister Crowley]]
* [[Endymion (character)|Endymion]]
* '''[[Vahram]]'''
| locations = 
* [[Astrodia]]
** [[Graybeard]]
*** [[Zoroa's residence]]
*** [[Rilliona's residence]]
** '''[[Sea stack institution]]'''
** [[Theurgy]]
| items = 
* [[Magic (Magistus arc)|Magic]]
* [[Magic power]]
* '''[[Zoroa's mother's hairpin]]'''
* '''[[Magic-absorbing charm]]'''
* '''[[Crystalline meteorite]]'''
}}

{{Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG Stories chapters}}