ã€ŠRegain: Revenge of the Greatestã€‹


 Prologue

    You were not known, but you were given the power to create magic. Not like them that obey the world to have power, no, you are more. You disobey the world, bend its laws according to your imagination. You¡¯re too capable, that the rulers of the world were afraid of you.

    Lucien, the power bestowed on you didn¡¯t corrupt you. You used it to destroy the demons running rampant in the world. You¡¯re too pure of intentions that you gave pity, a chance for the demons to redeem themselves. But you eventually realized that they are by nature, malevolent, capable of doing things you couldn¡¯t stand to witness. You did what you should, you destroyed them along with the ruler that governed them.

    And your greatness didn¡¯t stop there. You want everyone to live in harmony. You neglected the world¡¯s conventions. You didn¡¯t accept the separation of races, and so you wished to unite them. One world as one community became the aim of your person.

    The people didn¡¯t accept your ideals at first, but your kindness was way too bright that the people¡¯s mind got illuminated by your vision. You loved them, and you were loved back. With how much compassion you delivered, I wonder, did you ever get tired?

    Soon, you achieved your difficult ambition, and for that, the people exalted you, you became the sun to them. You didn¡¯t accept their praises, you were just a humble man. You did what you thought is right. You were tired, but the world became at peace, so you didn¡¯t notice your well-being.

    But, even someone as great as you didn¡¯t escape reality. You were not liked by everyone. The rulers were envious to the feat you did, and especially, the admiration that their people have on you. In their minds, no one should be exalted by their own people equal to how they are praised. How much evil is it then, to see someone getting so much admiration that the people worship him?

    ¡°Unacceptable¡±, the voices inside the rulers¡¯ heads echo. They wouldn¡¯t stand by it, rejecting your ideals, even if they sacrificed the welfare of their people. You must be eliminated, that¡¯s all that matters. Your destruction will give them joy.

    So they colluded among themselves, spreading false information about your inner malice. But the people didn¡¯t listen, much to the dismay of the rulers. They thought of killing you, but it¡¯s a plan with such an outstanding flaw. For you transcended among every being. No one can harm you, as much as no one can kill you.

    Still, they tried to figure out how to do the impossible task. Then, one day, an idea came to their minds. They thought it good to use you, and your gift. With haste, they arranged everything there is to be done, and called you to their domain.

    You accepted their request. You had the idea that they will give you praises and presents, and even though you didn¡¯t want to receive extravagant gifts, you still saw the rulers as the rulers they are. You obeyed not out of excitement, but of duty to obey the rulers of the world. You refused to acknowledge the growing turmoil inside you. It will pass like a smoke, at least for you.

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    And your eyes were opened to the truth. You were loathed by the rulers, as they shower you with hurtful remarks, claiming you wished to become far greater than them. Your tyranny is what they voiced, your confused as to where their judgements came from. You tried to calm them down, but your voice was not heard, your reason didn¡¯t travel to their ears. You felt anger for the first time, as you feel it unjust that you were accused of wickedness. And, Perhaps your burdens finally got to you, you feel irritated, wanting to silence the squabble.

    Yet, you managed to not listen to the growing anger within you. You desired peace, even among the people that resent you.

    Now, if you didn¡¯t desire that they accept you, eager to save the peace you work hard getting, your life might have been peaceful until your natural end. But you looked at the people in your mind, as they are joyful, living in some hardships, but peaceful nonetheless. You were blinded by your self imposed duty, just as you blind the people of your kindness. So you listened and obey the commands of the rulers.

    You wanted to appease them, so you gave the gifts they wanted, gifts of great powers, powers equal to what you had created. You gave them greatness, greatness surpassing their rulership. And so, if corrupted minds were to be given power, corruption emanates, poisoning everything without regard. You became the victim of your misplaced trust.

    They loathe you, so they grabbed the chance you had given them to kill you. You didn¡¯t have the time to see through reality. They were able to destroy you.

    As the last sight you saw were sinister smiles, you began to contemplate.

    ¡®Why? Why did this happen to me?¡¯

    You¡¯ve been too kind that the rulers didn¡¯t recognize your power.

    ¡®What did I do to deserve this?¡¯

    You trusted the people you shouldn¡¯t trust.

    ¡®Am I.. am I dying?¡¯

    It depends on your choice, you have the power to decide.

    In your seconds of living, you began to cry. Then it was changed by the visions of the people you helped. You¡¯re strange as you started smiling. At first you feel as though you¡¯re satisfied.

    But your mind wanted you to act within reason, so the blissful sight you saw were washed by the blood coming from you. Your kindness became regretful. Your regrets became resentment. Your resentment became loathing. Your loathing stayed, and became your driving force.

    As the last remains of your body fall into nothingness, the last cinders of your life escaped, and wandered. It has its darkness fighting over your remaining light.

    What had happened to you? Why did you let corruption get to you? Will you act on vengeance? Seek the lives of your cruel masters?

    How about the people? Would you let your light be extinguished? Will you fall on darkness too?

 Kael

    An ember of blue light appeared within the clouds. It was formed around a little orb, which houses a tiny golden seedling. It was hungry for more energy, drawing more light towards it. The darkness it had before was lost to time, which is a testament of the hero¡¯s incorruptible soul.

    The majestic azure radiance it possessed was brimming with life, and along with it, a solemn soul was revived. Lucien awakened from his years of slumber, ready for his second life.

    He wandered through the gray and silent world, which was presented to him in his wake. He can see the fine outlines of everything, but the only vibrant colors he can see are from the souls of living creatures.

    He traveled long, hovering above the land, looking for an empty vessel. He needs a body he can dwell in, not of trees that are immobile, but of creatures free to roam around. He desired to find a human host, but all he could find were bodies of dead creatures.

    Still, he didn¡¯t give up hope. He flew over great distances day and night, guided by the souls he came across. He enjoyed the journey, witnessing a world only he can see. The soft radiance of the souls presented stories of life devoid of most meaning. Stories of life in their purest form.

    Soon, the journey brought him to a peaceful dwelling. He found himself in a glade filled with straw-roofed huts. He saw people at last, but it saddened him. The people of the village have dimly lit souls. They¡¯re in their last moments of life.

    Lucien can see the faces of the people. They are all of old age, not a single able body tending to them. He felt pity, seeing that the village people forced themselves doing chores beyond their strength. He tried lifting one of the water bucket held by a crooked old man, but he¡¯s unable to touch it. He went around the village desperate to have some role, to be of help, to no avail. He flew around their houses, having no choice but to just observe.

    He forgot his objective. He tried constructing ways to help, and settled on fusing with a dead creature he can find nearby. He was eager to move, wanting to help the people like what he did in his first life. It was as if that same desire didn¡¯t lead to his demise. He didn¡¯t learn, looking for others more than himself.

    But perhaps the world remembered its valiant hero, it didn¡¯t let Lucien live his second life as a wild creature. The world prepared a perfect situation for him, the kind of situation Lucien was hoping for.

    A flickering light made itself known to Lucien. In one of the humble houses, he noticed a faint soul, far dimmer than all the other souls around. He assumed it was an old person at first, so he was surprised when his monotone sight revealed a child, laying down on a heap of straws.

    Lucien noticed that the child was suffering from a high fever. It was painful for him to see that the child¡¯s soul got smaller as the time went by. Though in anguish, he can¡¯t grieve for there¡¯s no tears to cry with.

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    Lucien placed himself on the boy¡¯s chest. He¡¯s probably trying to accompany the child in his last moments. He looked at the child¡¯s soul, relieved that it¡¯s still there. However, the weakening of the soul¡¯s light revealed something inside it.

    A little transparent orb was nested at the center of the child¡¯s soul. Inside it was a pair of tiny eyes, moving independent from each other. Lucien knew what it is. It is the child¡¯s innate magic.

    The child woke up before Lucien can examine the orb. He wanted to try if he can exchange what he has to the child¡¯s own power. Once again, he was going to attempt to sacrifice himself.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    Lucien heard a voice resonating inside him. He looked at where it came from, and saw that the child was looking at him.

    ¡°You can see me?¡±, Lucien projected in his mind.

    Lucien was surprised at first when the child lifted him up. But it didn¡¯t take long for him to realize why the child can do that. It¡¯s the power of the orb as he suspected.

    ¡°awesome..¡±

    Lucien smiled when he heard the child¡¯s feeble, and innocent remark.

    ¡°I¡¯m Kael, who are you?¡±, the child asked.

    Lucien projected his name to the curious child.

    ¡°Are you God? Can I make a wish?¡±

    Lucien didn¡¯t answer.

    ¡°Can you make gramma and grappa happy?¡±

    The light of little Kael¡¯s soul continued to dissipate. He waited for Lucien to say something. Lucien give in, wanting to entertain the child in his last moment.

    ¡°I will, I promise¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Lord Lucien¡±

    Just as little Kael said Lucien¡¯s name, his soul disappeared into nothing. His body became an empty vessel, a human host for Lucien.

    And so with a heavy heart, Lucien fused into little Kael¡¯s body. His soul scattered its influence throughout the body, bringing new vigor and life. He can move his hand, his eyes flooded with the colors of the physical world. But his hand moved to his eyes without his control, warm tears flowing down his face.

    ¡®Rest well, Kael. I will keep my promise¡¯, Lucien thought.

    Lucien¡¯s suppressed grief continued flowing. He forgot about the rulers¡¯ betrayal. His sense of duty won over him. He accepted the beginning of his new life.

    ¡®Kael¡­ that will be my name. I¡¯m Kael from now on¡¯

 Peace

    Kael was a delicate child. He was a dark-haired boy whose pale body was always lying down, suffering from a debilitating fever at birth. Many people told his parents that he will not survive for long, but his parents didn¡¯t listen. It happened that the people was right, but Lucien swooped in to live as the new Kael.

    However, the second Kael suffered the same fate. After fusing with the body, just the day after, he suffered an intense fever that almost killed him. But he was fortunate that he has two grandparents who cared for him throughout the day, and so his fever became bearable.

    He wanted to know what is wrong with his body, but even the people around him seemed to not have any idea as to what was happening to him. He looked at a bucket of water, and his dark eyes examined his whole body. He was hoping to see any hint of the disease, but there¡¯s not much he can gather.

    Kael didn¡¯t have an ability to separate from his frail body. He couldn¡¯t allow himself to die either as he didn¡¯t have enough power to be reborn again. If he die in his current state, it¡¯s over for him entirely.

    And so, he tried strengthening himself by doing what he¡¯s good at. He started meditating lying down, trying to feel the mana vessel of his body.

    As the first step of using magic, one must first feel the mana vessel that exists inside them. Then, it was to be filled with mana scattered around the world, which is also something every mage should be able to feel. Once full, a person¡¯s vessel will extend channels throughout the body, giving anyone the ability to use magic.

    No one can absorb mana past their vessel capacity, but if the vessel was always full of mana, the body will try to adapt, expanding the capacity of the vessel. It¡¯s a time consuming and focus intensive task, that¡¯s why most people were not capable to increase their capacity up until a certain age.

    Kael was aware of all these things, but he¡¯s a person of excellent focus. He felt his mana vessel just several seconds after meditating, and he unintentionally discovered what caused his body¡¯s illness.

    His vessel didn¡¯t have much capacity to hold large amounts of mana. It¡¯s a crucial thing that he has enough mana as to feed his innate magic. He was gifted in his previous life, but now, he experienced what a normal person has.

    Kael proceeded to fill his mana vessel, but his innate magic emptied it everytime. He can feel his fever calming down so he continued on absorbing more mana. The fever disappeared after days of concentration, his innate magic was finally stabilized. Kael went on to focus learning about his new life.

    Kael¡¯s guardians were his two grandparents. His grandfather was Amos, a wrinkled old man with a friendly smile. His grandmother was Cora, an old woman who barely speaks. His parents passed away from the stress of seeing their son so helpless. They were said to be just as kind as his grandparents, but they became averse to people when Kael was born.

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    As for the first Kael, he was a cheerful child despite his grave condition. He wanted to help the people around him, but he¡¯s more helpless than anyone else. All he can do is to make his grandparents smile, with his random antics from time to time. He can see the soul of living beings and so he thought everyone can do it too. He sometimes say something unusual to his grandparents that are genuine, but was received as humorous remarks or his wild imagination doing its thing. He had no idea that, that ability of his was the reason of his death.

    After recovering from his illness and integrating himself to his new life, Kael helped the people of the community as he wanted. His grandparents were surprised at his recovery, but they were thankful that he was now well and healthy. His grandparents were initially concerned about his desire to help them, but seeing that he was miles different from the Kael they knew, they allowed him to do what he wanted. So he helped, everyday, and the people loved him.

    Some months passed and Kael celebrated being four years old. The community arranged a humble feast. All the old people gave their thanks to him, in the form of little treats they made from the fruits they found. He was thankful that his second life had a good start. The day continued. They eat, and drink, and tell stories of their youth. When the night blanketed the land, the community was satisfied.

    The day after however, was a surprise to Kael. While he was doing his morning meditation, his grandfather told him that they will go out of the village tomorrow.

    ¡°We will go to Cleron¡±, Amos patted Kael¡¯s head. ¡°Let¡¯s give thanks to the lord that you are well¡±

    And so Kael spent his time daydreaming, while helping the people of his community. He¡¯s too focused on what his grandfather told him, that he messed up a lot while helping his community. But the old people didn¡¯t get mad, rather, they were worried about him. He eased their worries, telling them what his grandfather told him.

    ¡°Maybe I should go too¡±, an old man said.

    ¡°All of us should go¡±, another old man said.

    The discourse developed into a long deliberation, evolving into an agreement that the whole community should go to the town to give thanks to the lord. However, Amos, being the leader of the village, dismissed their requests. He reasoned out that they can¡¯t handle the difficulty of a week long travel. He declared that only a few people can go with them. Kael felt bad looking at the old people¡¯s sullen faces, but he agreed with his grandfather.

    At night, Kael couldn¡¯t sleep. He meditated to distract himself. The silent night gave him the best chance to attempt filling the need of his innate magic for mana. He felt the flow of mana going in to his center. His innate magic absorb the mana he acquired like a voracious beast, preventing him to conjure magic as he wanted. His concentration was too intense that he didn¡¯t notice that the sun was about to rise.

    ¡°Kael?¡±, Amos shook him gently.

    Kael looked at Amos like he was awoken from a nap. Amos lectured him, realizing that Kael didn¡¯t sleep the entire night. He apologized for his misdeed, and prepared for their travel.

    The travelers were eight people including Kael and his grandparents. Kael looked at the village, missing the old people he will leave behind already. As Amos said goodbye to the people, they made their way to Cleron.

 Cleron

    During the course of the first day, Kael spent most of his time asleep. He dreamed about his past life, recalling the blurry faces of his family, along with the people he call his friends. He was lying down by the side of the carriage, his grandmother holding him on her lap. Cora was amused looking at him smiling while asleep.

    On the following days after, he got to see the wonderful pathway that Amos, along with some of the old people made when they were young. Amos claimed that they made it for their devotion to the lord.

    Both side of the path were lined with alfris, which were trees with glowing rounded fruits. These trees came from the land of the elves, procured by Amos¡¯s ancestors to be used as ornaments. Amos found out its herbicidal properties, and decided to make good use of it.

    Kael became a little sentimental while looking at the alfris trees. He remembered someone, a person who supported him in everything he decided on. He was lost in thought for a moment, wondering if that person was still alive. He was brought back to the present when Amos called for his name.

    In a couple of days that passed, Kael tried looking for landmarks he knew from his first life. His aim was to find out if his past had some relations to the place. He didn¡¯t remember a town named Cleron, but he felt like it should be familiar to him. In the morning of the seventh day, they see the town on the horizon, but Kael didn¡¯t find what he wanted to know.

    Cleron is a small town. It is the smallest human settlement in the duchy of Levaldis. Most of its territory extended past its thick wooden walls, and were cultivated by the servants of the town¡¯s lord. Although a small settlement, the people of the town were well taken care of by the duke.

    Looking around the town, Kael still didn¡¯t recognize anything at all. With all its fields and structures introduced to him by his grandfather, there¡¯s not a thing that he recognized. He¡¯s confident that during his past life, he was able to see every human town that existed. It¡¯s a bit of a shock to him that the town of Cleron was too foreign to him.

    Depressing ideas came back to his mind. He recalled everything that happened to him in his first months living in his new life. During the past months, he does wonder sometimes, how long ago was his first lifetime? How long did it took him to regain his consciousness?

    Kael felt a little dread, thinking he¡¯s close to answering such questions. He had a hunch, but he didn¡¯t want it to be true. After all, if what he thinks was proven right, he will never see his family again. It scares him, to feel alone, to be the only one from the past. Rebirth does sound good back then, when he created it during the four rulers¡¯ betrayal. But now, it¡¯s a brash decision on his part, thinking it¡¯s the best way for revenge.

    ¡®I was lost, I didn¡¯t have a choice¡¯, Kael thought.

    Kael looked at every structure they went past, aimless and low-spirited. He couldn¡¯t hear Amos¡¯s jubilant voice introducing him to the different parts of town.

    ¡°Kael?¡±, Amos called, but Kael didn¡¯t hear it. ¡°Son?¡±

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    Cora stopped Amos, and hugged the regretful child. Kael looked at her, and she reassured the child that everything¡¯s fine. She brought back Kael who was lost in his regretful mind.

    ¡°Are you alright? Did the people scare you?¡±, Amos asked concerned.

    ¡°I miss our village¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will be back soon¡±, Amos patted Kael¡¯s head.

    ¡®Right.. they¡¯re my family too¡¯

    Their little moment was interrupted by a strange man. He was clothed in a simple brown robe, and was respectable in demeanor. He¡¯s tall, brown-haired, his irises lacking in color that it almost blended to the whites of his eyes. Aside from his eyes, he looked like a normal person, but Kael looked at him and was baffled to see him. Without his full awareness, Kael uttered a single word.

    ¡°Edrei..¡±

    ¡°What?¡±, the strange man said, equally as baffled as Kael.

    Amos looked at the man blankly, which made the latter to force a small cough.

    ¡°Good day, Amos, and my fellow faithfuls¡±

    ¡°Good day, Deacon Elalios, I apologize for our visit¡±, Amos said shrugging off the deacon¡¯s strange behavior.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, my fellow faithful¡±

    Every single one of Kael¡¯s companion greeted the man who they call a deacon. Kael was urged to greet the deacon too, which he does after he recovered from his bewilderment.

    ¡®He¡¯s not him, I messed up¡¯

    Deacon Elalios was introduced to Kael as someone important to their faith. The deacon claimed that he came from Ligdlan, which is considered the most important place for their faith. He became an important figure to the old people, and thus became their guidance in practicing their faith.

    ¡°What is the objective of your visit?¡±, Deacon Elalios said.

    ¡°We wanted to thank our lord for returning our grandson to good health¡±, Amos replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s an admirable act, I¡¯m sure your gratitude will please our Lord Lucien¡±

    ¡®Huh? Did I hear that right?¡¯, Kael thought.

    ¡°Thank you, esteemed deacon¡±

    ¡°By the way, did my fellow faithfuls brought donations for the community? Our lord will be well pleased seeing generous hands¡±, Deacon Elalios asked.

    ¡°We brought the fruits of our land, will that be enough?¡±

    Deacon Elalios looked at the carriage, and see the bags of fruits Amos mentioned. His gaze conveyed no emotion, but his voiced gratitude to the travelers was of great joy. He invited them to the community of faithfuls where Amos and his people originally came from. They talked about many things while getting to the place, but Kael noticed the deacon¡¯s unusual actions. The deacon was glancing at him from time to time.

 Turbulence

    In his first morning in Cleron, Kael found himself listening to Deacon Elalios¡¯s lessons. It was held in an open area in the middle of the faithfuls¡¯ lodgings. He was invited by his grandparents to introduce him to the people of the community.

    ¡°We need to be more generous and loving, my fellow faithfuls. The time has come, Lord Lucien will return to us! As his servants, we must serve him by letting ourselves be of service to the church. Let your faith be seen through your works¡±, Deacon Elalios said, lecturing the people of Lucienean faith.

    Kael was a bit uncomfortable hearing his name be praised like that. He thought that it¡¯s just a coincidence that some people worship someone who had the same name as him. He tried getting over what he felt, and decided that he wanted to learn more about the faith.

    The ¡°Lord Lucien¡± they worship apparently commanded them two most important things. The first is ¡°Magic was created by the benevolent lord, and so the people must use magic for goodness¡±, and the second is ¡°Every people were created by the lord, and so the people should live in unity, worshipping their lord¡±. These are the guiding commandments of the true faithfuls of Lucien according to the deacon.

    Kael also learned that the faithfuls believe that their lord disappeared a long time ago, and will return to an unknown time. He also learned that there¡¯s a specific region where the faith originated, which made him curious and wanted to see the said place. Most of what he learned didn¡¯t feel questionable for him, but he didn¡¯t like some of the deacon¡¯s commands to the faithfuls.

    For one thing, Kael learned that the village of the elderly was a means of pilgrimage, commanded by the deacon to ¡°isolate the faithful from the cultures of the world¡±. The faithfuls were commanded to surrender all their wealth to the church, and live the last of their lives in the village. It¡¯s apparently a form of ¡°letting go of worldly pleasures in exchange of serving their lord¡±. These commandments didn¡¯t sit right with him, as he witnessed how hard was the life of the old villagers, being tended to by nothing other than their weakening selves, and their fellow elderly people. But he knew they would not listen to the complaints of a child, being ¡°ignorant¡± to the mission of the church.

    The lecture was finished before noon, and then Kael was introduced to the people while the faithfuls were eating. After socializing with his fellow faithfuls, Amos invited Kael and their companions to go to the altar to pray, and say their gratitude to Lord Lucien.

    ¡°We say our gratitude to you our lord, that we have our strength to continue serving you. We say our gratitude to you our lord, for bringing back our son to good health, so that he may serve you, and glorify your great name¡­¡±, Amos initiated. The prayer continued for an hour, and then, Kael was invited outside to see the town again.

    <hr>

    At night, Deacon Elalios was seen going outside the establishment of the faithfuls. He was hidden in a brown cloak, letting no one see his face. He didn¡¯t look back, speeding up his pace towards the earl¡¯s castle. At the gate of the castle, he was stopped by the guards.

    ¡°State your name!¡±, one of the guards commanded.

    ¡°Elalios, servant of Lord Gideon¡±

    ¡°Your duty?¡±

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    ¡°Elimination of false faith¡±

    Elalios showed an iron medal hanging from a chain. It was engraved with his name on one of its faces, and his duty was carved on the other. The guards open the gates, but before he can enter, someone was asked by the guards the same question as his.

    ¡°State your name!¡±

    ¡°Seqina, servant of Lord Gideon¡±

    ¡°Your duty?¡±

    ¡°Gathering of information¡±

    The woman showed a silver medal with her name and duty on it. He went with Elalios after her introduction.

    ¡°You seem well, Seqina¡±, Elalios greeted.

    ¡°Mm¡±

    The two walked towards the earl¡¯s castle, and made their way underground. They saw an old man waiting for them in the dimly lit stone-walled room, greeting them as they arrived.

    ¡°Cadell, you seem well¡±, Elalios said.

    ¡°Likewise¡±

    After some time, they heard another person arriving. It was evident on their faces that they didn¡¯t like whoever was descending down the stairs. The torch¡¯s light revealed a man whose long hair and narrow eyes were both fiery red.

    ¡°Greetings! How lovely is the night!¡±

    The newly arrived person moved near Seqina.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it, my lovely lady?¡±

    The man tried to touch Seqina, but was interrupted by Elalios, moving between Seqina and the man.

    ¡°Since when did she became your woman, noble child?¡±

    The man looked at Elalios with a threatening gaze, making the latter to move back to his original position. But before Elalios can completely return to his position, they heard slow footsteps coming down.

    The heavy footsteps echo louder as it approaches the room below. The single torch illuminating the room formed the shadows of four people, bending their knees towards the only stairs leading to the room. The silence allowed everyone in the room to hear their own rapid heartbeats. They ready themselves to meet the one that¡¯s coming.

    The footsteps stopped, and in front of Elalios and his companions was a man, tall and dignified in stature. He wears an imposing black frock coat along with a heavy chain necklace. The necklace has a golden coat of arms suspended below it with the inscription ¡°Sword of the Divine Emperor¡± written in formal language.

    ¡°We awaited your return, Lord Gideon¡±

    Lord Gideon looked at each of his servants, stoic and with irrefutable authority.

    ¡°Stand¡±

    The servants stood in unison, their heads hanging low. The Earl took a sit on the only chair inside the stone-walled room.

    ¡°Cadell¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord¡±

    The old man went in front of the Earl and said his report.

 Change

    Cadell and Seqina said their report to the Earl, and was brought back to their positions.

    ¡°Elalios¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord¡±, Elalios went in front of the Earl, and was gestured by the latter to speak. ¡°I will send four of the faithfuls to the isolated village, thirty will be left, and as Seqina said, there¡¯s no more Lucien faithfuls to be secluded¡±

    The Earl nodded, and turned his face to the man that arrived last among the servants.

    ¡°Osbert¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord¡±, Osbert went in front of the Earl and continued speaking. ¡°The baron trying to assemble a rebellion against you was eliminated. The rumors were blaming his fellow baron, but some of his loyal followers were still unidentified. Forgive my ignorance¡±

    The Earl raised his hands looking at Osbert, and turned to look at Seqina.

    ¡°I will investigate, my lord¡±, Seqina said.

    After the reports of his servants, Lord Gideon let three of them leave the chamber, but Elalios was commanded to stay. Osbert wished to stay, but the Earl gave him a stern look. Osbert surrendered and followed Seqina and Cadell. After all three were nowhere to be seen, and their footsteps went silent, the Earl looked at Elalios.

    ¡°Seqina mentioned a child in your place¡±, the Earl leaned back on his chair. ¡°Is that right?¡±

    ¡°That you know, my lord¡±

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°The child must not be corrupted with such false faith¡±, Elalios said.

    ¡°Then, what will you do?¡±

    ¡°I will keep him away from the heretics¡±

    The Earl nodded in agreement. ¡°As the Divine Emperor commanded¡±

    ¡°As the Divine Emperor commanded¡±, Elalios repeated.

    The Earl then took something from his pocket, and gave it to Elalios. It was a small bottle of potion along with a tiny one. The Earl stood and walked to the stairway, but after setting his right foot on the bottom stair, he looked at Elalios.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let your plundering scheme get in the way of my commands¡±, the Earl turned towards the dark ascent. ¡°I don¡¯t tolerate disobedience¡±

    Elalios was left in the chamber, jarred hearing the Earl¡¯s warning. He waited for the waning footsteps to disappear before he made his way up to the castle.

    <hr>

    Kael and his companions stayed in town for a week. He spent most of his time experiencing Cleron, and was able to bond with his grandparents more. He didn¡¯t forget his daily meditation, but he had to do it at night as the faithfuls must do their worship early in the morning. And so his routine revolved around those activities reaching their final stay in town.

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    ¡°Deacon, when will you travel to the village?¡±, Amos asked.

    ¡°I just need to arrange some things in our community. As soon as I finished all of it, I will go¡±, Deacon Elalios said. ¡°When I arrive, I will help you make a holy altar so that you need not to travel back here¡±

    ¡°Thank you, esteemed deacon¡±, Amos replied.

    ¡°Now, set forth while it¡¯s early. May the lord guide you in your way¡±

    After saying their farewells, Kael and his companions set out to travel back to the village. Behind them however, was a red-haired man trailing them. He¡¯s looking at Kael, hoping to get the child before Elalios can do it.

    But Elalios knew that Osbert will do that so he followed Amos and his companions. He arrived near the travellers, and was able to see Osbert about to come out behind a tree to get nearer to Kael. He pulled Osbert¡¯s hand surprising Osbert, who jumped away from Elalios.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±, Osbert asked.

    ¡°I should be the one asking that question¡±, Elalios replied. ¡°Did Lord Gideon ordered you?¡±

    Osbert dodged the question. Elalios sighed, looking at Osbert disappointed.

    ¡°He will not like you disobeying orders¡±

    ¡°Mind your own, Elalios¡±, Osbert said, holding his dagger by its hilt.

    ¡°Okay, but don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you¡±, Elalios said while raising both his hands as high as his shoulders. ¡°If the child was harmed in anyway..¡±

    ¡°I know, now return to the town!¡±

    Elalios disappeared in the horizon at the same time the travellers disappeared from Osbert¡¯s sight. Osbert collected his mind and look at the direction of the travellers.

    ¡°Damn it¡±

    Without their knowledge of what¡¯s happening behind them, the ten travellers were enjoying their journey returning to their home. Their week long travel didn¡¯t meet any trouble along the way, and was back and greeted by the village.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Elalios along with four old people to arrive in the village as well. Elalios was greeted by the village people and was welcomed by a feast prepared for his arrival. He informed the village that his companions decided to surrender worldly pleasures as well, and was ready for their holy devotion. The village rejoiced, celebrating yet another good thing that happened to their home.

    After the day of celebration, Elalios didn¡¯t waste any time. He decided on a place where to make the altar, and guided the people in making it. He also initiated the building of four huts for the new residents of the village, as he always does. All of the structures were finished just a week after construction. Elalios then preached and lectured in the hut where the altar was sheltered in.

    ¡°Lord Lucien is a powerful, yet a humble creator. He didn¡¯t command his believers to be worshipped on lavish establishments like what other churches have. This house is a humble dwelling where he will bless all of those that believe in him..¡±, Elalios preached.

    The village celebrated the newly created establishment with another feast harvested from the bounty of the forest. However, Elalios could not wait anymore, and as such prepared his malicious plan.

    Elalios gulped down the contents of a tiny potion bottle. Then, after the potion was in full effect in his entire body, he felt the direction of the wind and started a fire. Then, he poured the contents of a small potion to the fire, changing its smoke¡¯s color to green.

    [Light Breeze]

    Elalios¡¯s spell scattered the smoke around the village. Everyone breathed the green smoke including Kael. The village people collapsed to the ground, which made Kael realized that breathing in the smoke was dangerous. However, it was too late covering his nose and mouth as Kael began losing consciousness as well. The last thing he saw was Elalios, still standing and looking around the village. He felt the deacon lift him, and all went blank.

 Lost

    Several weeks passed. Lord Gideon was walking in circles around his castle. He completed four cycles already, but he didn¡¯t seem to be tired. Clenched in his hand was the crumpled paper telling him to return to the battlefield tomorrow. He was about to burn the paper in his hand when Seqina went to him.

    ¡°My lord¡±

    ¡°Seqina..¡±, Lord Gideon examined Seqina¡¯s pleased expression. ¡°I see, you may go¡±

    Seqina excused herself, and Elalios went in front of the Earl.

    ¡°My lord, I a-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be¡±, the Earl said.

    ¡°But I..¡±, Elalios insisted.

    [Flame]

    Elalios froze on instinct hearing the spell, but the letter of command in the Earl¡¯s hand received the flame instead of him.

    ¡°You did your task¡±, Lord Gideon looked in a certain room. ¡°Assume guidance while I¡¯m away¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your mercy, my lord¡±, Elalios said.

    The Earl left his castle, leaving the servants by themselves.

    ¡°Osbert, I know you¡¯re there¡±, Elalios said.

    Osbert emerged behind a door.

    ¡°You think Lord Gideon didn¡¯t know you¡¯re there?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t compare me to yourself¡±, Osbert retorted.

    Elalios sighed and was attempting to walk away.

    ¡°Going away?¡±

    ¡°I have a community to tend to¡±, Elalios replied.

    ¡°I could have done it. Lord Gideon just needs to ask¡±, Osbert said.

    ¡°His lordship knows the best course of action¡±

    ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t do it?¡±

    Elalios attempted to walk away again after hearing the aggravated man.

    ¡°You think you¡¯re better than me!?¡±, Osbert expected a reply, but Elalios only paused for a bit and proceeded to walk away again. ¡°Face me when I¡¯m talking to you!¡±

    [Speed Boost]

    Osbert dashed in front of Elalios.

    [Strength Boost]

    Osbert punched Elalios to the stomach making Elalios to fall on his knees. He smirked after seeing Elalios coughing a bit of blood, and left the unfortunate man on his own. In his way out, Cadell went past him who was walking towards Elalios.

    ¡°He still hated you¡±, Cadell said, helping Elalios to stand. ¡°You should not meet him whenever his lordship is not with us¡±

    Elalios wiped his lips smeared in blood. ¡°Sometimes I have to¡±

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    ¡°That¡¯s a dangerous way of living, Elalios¡±

    Elalios smiled. ¡°By the way, what are you here for?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot. What did his lordship plan for the child? Should I care for.. uhh.. who is he again, uhmm¡±

    ¡°Kael¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Kael. Did Lord Gideon say something to you about him?¡±

    ¡°He ordered me to take care of the child¡±, Elalios paused, and had a little thought. ¡°It¡¯s possible that he will let Kael live with him in his manor, but he didn¡¯t say that to me¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s possible indeed¡±, Cadell reminisced on the past. ¡°He¡¯s still like that after all these years¡±

    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t talk like that, Osbert might hear you¡±

    Cadell laughed at Elalios¡¯s remark. ¡°Anyway, I want to meet Kael¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s in that room¡±, Elalios pointed at the room where Seqina came from. ¡°I should go now, so help yourself¡±

    <hr>

    Kael woke up from his sleep. The first thing he saw was an unfamiliar, bland, stone ceiling above him. He raised his head to sit, but was met with a headache, returning him to lie down. He heard footsteps while rubbing his temple. An old man emerged from the door of his room, and as he looked at the old man, a flicker of another came to his mind.

    ¡°Gran-¡±

    Kael felt a sharp pain, making the old man rush by his side.

    ¡°Kael! Are you alright?¡±

    Kael looked at the old man after recovering from the sudden pain. ¡°Wh.. who are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Cadell, your¡­ grandpa¡±

    ¡°Cadell? Grandpa?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Grandpa. Do you remember?¡±

    Kael looked at the old man with a confused look.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. An accident happened to you that¡¯s why you didn¡¯t remember. Don¡¯t worry, grandpa will make you remember everything, is that good?¡±, Cadell said placing his hand above Kael¡¯s head.

    In the few days that came after, Kael was taken care of by the four servants. Seqina clean him, and feed him so that he can recover his body¡¯s nutritional needs. Cadell told him the things outside the castle, and told him that his father was out in a battle. Osbert guarded him, but didn¡¯t talk to him that much. Elalios supplemented the memories that Kael apparently have. However, deep inside his mind, there¡¯s emerging broken memories whenever he see Elalios.

    Months passed and the Earl finally arrived from the battlefield. The servants taught Kael the way that he should greet the Earl. Kael was ready by noon, but the Earl only arrived at night.

    The castle was silenced in the night, as the sound of the gate hinges indicated the arrival of the Earl. The sound of carriage was heard closing in towards the castle. The carriage stopped and was replaced by footsteps. The guards open the doors for the Earl, and inside, the four servants along with Kael were seen waiting for the Earl.

    ¡°We awaited your return, Lord Gideon¡±, all five greeted in unison.

    The lord of the castle looked at each of them, and set his gaze towards Kael.

    ¡°Stand¡±

    The servants stood. They looked at Kael to signal the child to do his greeting. Kael was nervous, but he tried to do what they taught him. He went in front of Earl Gideon. He bowed like before and spoke his greeting.

    ¡°Welcome back, father¡±

    The Earl¡¯s mouth twitched a little. He looked at his four servants, and Cadell slightly bend forward holding his left chest.

    ¡°Stand¡±, Lord Gideon paused. ¡°Prepare, and let us eat. Cadell, call me when everything¡¯s ready¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord¡±

    The servants waited for the Earl to be far enough, then they brought Kael along with them, walking to the dining room.

    ¡°What did you think?¡±, Elalios asked Cadell.

    ¡°It¡¯s as what the lordship did¡±, Cadell said.

    ¡°Stop acting mysterious, what do you mean Cadell?¡±, Osbert joined in on the conversation.

    ¡°Are you sure? Even if his lordship doesn¡¯t want anyone to know?¡±, Cadell replied.

    Osbert went silent, looking at Cadell irritated. He wanted to hurt him like what he did to Elalios, but the Earl is in the castle. He distracted himself looking at Seqina.

    Seqina was paying attention to Kael, seemingly satisfied at what the child did. After the night feast, the Earl called for her. She reported everything significant that happened in the town, concluding at the end that the town is at peace at present.

 Innate Magic

    Kael spent his time with the Earl, being taught by morals according to the Rezelus church, the most widespread religious organization among the human kingdoms. By the influence of those around him, he forgot about his true family. Some memories of his family tried to come back to him, but the flashes in his mind were blurred images of people that his young self couldn¡¯t comprehend.

    The time passed that Kael only sees the Earl as his true family, but his mind keep on making him remember things of his past. He told his visions to Cadell, as he was what he knew as his grandfather, but Cadell dismissed all his memories as imaginations of a growing child. He accepted Cadell¡¯s explanations, leading him to get further away from the truth.

    However, there¡¯s something that the people around him should have been aware of. All these times, Kael¡¯s innate magic was being deprived of its need for mana. Forgetting everything included that Kael forget his meditation too, which prevented his body from dying for a long time. It was starving for nourishment, and little by little, its call for its need grew inside Kael. It became a little headache at first, which happen to be the same symptom that Kael has whenever some memories of him came back. But the day finally came that the debilitating fever returned to him.

    A month before being five years old, Kael collapsed on the ground while the Earl was teaching him. The Earl called his servants immediately, and they took care of him. He¡¯s burning, his fever warming up his bed in an instant. He can¡¯t open his eyes, as he endures the pain radiating throughout his body. He¡¯s squirming around, holding everything that comes into contact with his hands. When he does hold on to something, he holds it tight, expressing the suffering he endures.

    Kael called for the Earl many times, begging him to stay. The Earl did stay, giving orders to his servants. He held the weakening child by the hand, not letting go even if the child sometimes squeezes his hand too hard, or burning him with the fever. He called for a healer from the kingdom capital, but a high grade healer has yet to appear. All they have is Seqina¡¯s knowledge of potion making. That doesn¡¯t do much to calm the child¡¯s fever down. A week passed, and Elalios went to the Earl.

    ¡°My lord, I think I know what¡¯s happening to Kael¡±

    The Earl looked at him. ¡°Speak¡±

    ¡°My lord, is it not possible that Kael has an innate magic?¡±

    ¡°Unthinkable¡±

    ¡°My lord, if I may, it¡¯s possible that there are cases where the symptoms come out late for someone who has it¡±

    Lord Gideon was about to deny Elalios, but he stopped and considered what he knew about the nature of innate magic.

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    People with innate magic needed constant absorption of mana in their bodies, at least until their innate magic absorbed enough mana to mature. This need was fulfilled by either training the child to absorb mana earlier compared to their peers, or someone proficient enough transfers mana to the child¡¯s body in a nondestructive way. In general, the greater an innate magic is, the higher the amount of mana needed.

    The first method in stabilizing an innate magic is kind of hard, given that a child, much less an infant doesn¡¯t have the mental capacity to feel mana on their own, even with someone¡¯s guidance. Some parents with a child possessing an innate magic, will try to let their magic flow to the child to assist them in feeling the flow of mana. It¡¯s a good and direct way of making the children learn, if transferring actual magic, and not formless mana to anyone isn¡¯t as dangerous as possibly killing the recipient. No credible account was documented to support the effectiveness of transferring magic. The safer way is to just teach a child, and have faith that they can learn.

    The second method was easier, but with some factors to consider. First, people proficient enough to manipulate formless mana was mostly found in a single place. The city-state of Rezelus, the center of the most widespread church of the same name, is where most, if not all of the said people were located. The place is secluded, and the people that can enter it were limited to mostly nobility. Even if a child with an innate magic did get in, the parents will have to sacrifice their time with the child until their innate magic completely matured.

    Another thing to consider is the church¡¯s condition for anyone known to have innate magic. Anyone who have a child with such condition should agree that their child was to serve the church for a lifetime, and such agreement will not be broken even after the maturation of the child¡¯s innate magic. Innate magic is not just a rare trait, it is also perceived as the most superior form of magic. The church claimed that they wanted to lead the children to the proper way of living, as to not let them use their power to do evil deeds.

    All of these information pointed the Earl to various possibilities. If Kael did have an innate magic, someone must¡¯ve helped him in the past to replenish his innate magic¡¯s need for mana. Either the child himself, or a person in his outer circle can do that. His mind told him that both of those scenarios were too improbable, that it might as well be impossible.

    The Earl considered the strength of the innate magic. He thought that Kael has a weak one that doesn¡¯t need as much mana, but it¡¯s hard for him to wrap his head around that kind of assumption. Innate magic, being the most superior form of magic, should never be considered weak, and so he rejected that guess too.

    All that was left to him is to reject the assumption that Kael has an innate magic dwelling in him. He looked for other things that could cause Kael¡¯s sudden fever, but all of it came back to nothing. He looked at the child for a long time, not knowing that Kael heard their short conversation.

    ¡®Innate magic..?¡¯, Kael thought, his mind a hodgepodge of memories without coherent sequences. The pain still lingered, distracting him from looking on in his jumbled memories. Then, a single name popped out in his mind. Someone is calling to him by that name.

    ¡°Lucien..¡±, a voice said.

    Hearing the voice seemed to arrange his memories all at once. Clear memories of the past came back to him. Returning to his true self made him realize one thing. He forgot to do his morning meditation.

 Illuminated

    Kael stabilized his innate magic after absorbing mana for several days. The life threatening fever helped him regain his memories. He remembered everything. He was Lucien, and now he is Kael. He retained the memories he had inside the castle, and he knew Elalios was at fault that he lost his memories. He wanted to be angry at Elalios, but his longing for his grandparents won over. He didn¡¯t need to know why Elalios did what he did. All he could care about was how to return to the village.

    As commanded by the Earl, Kael spent the days after his recovery lying on his bed. The Earl wanted to make sure that he was indeed healed from the fever. He was attended to by Seqina, feeding him, and making him drink healing potions she made.

    However, he got into a little problem. Returning to his real self, being cleaned by a young lady was a little bit uncomfortable. Although he wanted to do it himself, he realized that a sudden change of attitude might attract suspicion from them. So he endured, and tried his best to get accustomed to it.

    He didn¡¯t get accustomed to it. His suffering went on for almost two weeks, but he endured quite well. He collected his mind, and he focused on what he should do next.

    Alone with his mind, Kael realized that there are many things he needed to consider before he could escape. First, he needed to know where he was. And so, every midnight, he took the opportunity to go up to one of the four towers of the castle. He tried several times, but several times did he try with no luck. There are always guards preventing him to progress. He was frustrated, but he didn¡¯t give up.

    He tried figuring out the routine of the guards. The castle was well guarded indeed, thanks to the Earl¡¯s proficient leadership. However, it is human nature to sometimes be neglectful, and be in need to relieve oneself. As he observe the guards one by one, there¡¯s two guards that became notable to him. One of them regularly doze off an hour after midnight. The other one was seen leaving his spot so many times, having conversations with the other guards. He decided that he will sneak past the sleeping guard, as the chatty guard was situated closer to the castle gates, and thus, takes longer to reach.

    After much deliberation, he acted on his plan. He waited for the guard to fall asleep, and was at first surprised that the guard didn¡¯t sleep at the time he expected. But soon enough, the sleepy guard finally took a nap. He walked upstairs, and stopped midway as he heard two guards talking to each other. He couldn¡¯t go up anymore so he decided that the height he reached was enough. He looked at the tower¡¯s opening. What he saw was a huge relief to him. The moonlight illuminated a town he was familiar with. He is in Cleron.

    Kael didn¡¯t let himself to properly rest, and started his next move in the days that followed. He needed to get a good grasp of the castle¡¯s layout, and so, he walked around the castle in the guise of him playing around. He spent a month doing so, revising his map of the castle everyday, filling missing details or fixing errors in his proportions. Seqina almost saw the map when she tried tidying up his bed, but he got to her before she can do anything.

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    After polishing the map that he created, Kael got a good picture of where he is. He already knew the guards¡¯ routines, so all he needed to figure out was the routines of the lord of the castle, and his four servants.

    First, the Earl, who was a man that valued order. His routine was pretty straightforward whenever he stayed at the castle. In the morning, he will do combat practice uninterrupted by anyone in the castle. At noon, after eating, he will teach Kael the teachings of Rezelus church. Then, in the afternoon, he will study and do paperwork in his room, once again uninterrupted by anyone. At night, after eating, he will call his four servants: Cadell, Seqina, Elalios, and Osbert.

    Kael attempted to observe the Earl at midnight, but he failed. The guards around the Earl¡¯s room during that time were too many for him to sneak past in. He gave up trying after attempting for several weeks.

    Meanwhile, the four servants vary so much on what they do. They were almost always outside, up until the Earl commanded them to do something in the castle. They do go inside every night to report to the Earl at a regular time. Kael tried so hard to see through, and establish regular routines that the servants follow. However, there¡¯s no recognizable pattern at all, so he gave up on trying. The only important thing to note about the servants was they will not bother checking on him once it was past midnight.

    After gathering every information that he might need, he pondered on how he will escape, and when will he do it. The most ideal time is at midnight, where no one monitors him. But during those times, the castle was closed shut, and no one can enter nor exit from it. The walls and towers are well guarded, and are way too high to be his viable exit points. After all the work he did, he realized a grave mistake. There¡¯s no point of exit due to his limitations.

    He was upset. All this time, he was too focused on what he thought he could use for his escape. He didn¡¯t think for a second if he can really use any of what he gathered. He couldn¡¯t figure out a good plan out of all the things he learned. It¡¯s a dreadful reality. He couldn¡¯t get out.

    All was lost to Kael. Several months of work turned into nothing. At some point, he wanted to just run straight to the castle gate, not caring whether people can see him or not. The only thing preventing him from doing so is in knowing that he will get caught immediately. He can only imagine what his captors will do to him once they knew he had his memory back.

    Kael distracted himself from the hopelessness. He meditated every midnight until sunrise, which warranted that he will fall asleep during the day. The people around him started to notice his unusual sleepiness. They checked on him, thinking his mysterious fever will come back. Of course, they didn¡¯t find anything proving their thought.

    ¡®What should I do? Why did this happen?¡¯, Kael thought while deep in meditation. ¡®I want to see them. I want to go home¡¯

    He imagined his grandparents¡¯ faces as he meditated. But his memories were all interrupted by what he felt within his body. A warm sensation scattered within him. His innate magic was satiated, no longer hungry for mana.

    Kael meditated once more, aiming to fill his mana vessel. Then, he felt the channels forming inside him, a feeling he was looking forward to all this time. He was smiling, looking at his palm. It seems like hope returned to his heart.

 Predicament

    ¡®This time might be different¡¯, thought Kael.

    All this time he was constrained by his inability to use magic. But now, the possibilities pile up, and he reconsidered his other plans that would otherwise not work with his former self.

    He wasn¡¯t able to use magic for a very long time. He needed to refresh, and relearn how to use it. And so, he spent several months exercising his magic, delaying his escape even further. He didn¡¯t mind it though, as he has hope that he can get out of the castle in his current state. He focused his mental energy on controlling magic with his current body.

    However, he discovered a problematic situation. His magical ability was limited due to his body¡¯s young age. Once again, he was reminded that he¡¯s in a regular person¡¯s body. He remembered his former self, someone who can easily demolish his way out of any fortified castle.

    After all the practice he did, he felt the need to test his current limits against the castle walls. He might¡¯ve been motivated by his excitement, but he thought it wouldn¡¯t hurt to play around while he¡¯s at it. Besides, he will run immediately before his flame attack hit and make a sound.

    At midnight, he went in a wall obscured from the sight of most guards. He touched the thick wall, and felt the rigidity of the solid structure. He knocked on it, producing a sound akin to what a person hears when knocking at their own knee. He looked around confirming that no one can see him.

    He wanted to test his strength first, by punching the wall itself with the help of enhancement magic. His body allowed only five units of mana to be used in an instant. He will need to wait to regain his mana after his strength test, before he can do the actual test he wanted to pull off.

    And so, he used five units, three for strength enhancement, and two for protecting his hand. He hit the wall, and an unexpected thing happened.

    A loud rumble was heard. Kael was repelled, blown back from the solid wall. A barrier appeared at the walls that vanished just as quick as it appeared. The time stopped for him in that instant, knowing that he could not continue the test.

    Kael was horrified, as the booming disturbed the whole castle. There¡¯s no time to heal his damaged hand. He looked at his room, and it was too far. Without another pause, he started running.

    One second, he runs, he zooms past the stone walls. Two seconds, he stumbles, scraping his knee, but that doesn¡¯t matter. He stands, he runs again, approaching the hall of the castle. There are guards running. He hides himself, his heart pounding fast, narrowing his chest. Three, then four, then five, the guards scramble looking for anyone suspicious. He can¡¯t go in, his mind repeating ¡°No¡± as fast as his beating heart. He¡¯s out of options. He runs back, and see one thing in his mind. He can only use his room¡¯s window to return.

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    ¡°Speed Boost¡±

    He tried enhancing himself, but he wasn¡¯t able to, as he didn¡¯t recover enough mana just yet. Eventually, he¡¯s under his room¡¯s window. It was high up, but it¡¯s the only way. He heard the guards approaching, and so, he started climbing.

    <hr>

    In the middle of the night, the Earl was sitting, reading a letter of command. He was being summoned again to the battlefield. He held the letter firm, gripping it harder as he looked at the words ¡°three months¡±. He folded the letter and put it in his desk, and was about to go to sleep.

    Then, before he can even touch his bed, he heard a loud rumble from the outside. He went out of his room fast, as he knew what caused the sound. A magical attack hit the castle walls.

    He ordered the numerous guards outside his room to look and investigate. He commanded them to cover every ground as they can. He commanded them to look for intruders, and apprehend anyone they can see as suspicious. After the guards were all mobilized, he rushed to Kael¡¯s room.

    [Speed Boost]

    The long way to the child¡¯s room took the Earl merely two seconds to travel. He saw that the door was closed, just as it is when he left Kael. He opened the door, and inside, Kael was sitting, blanketed in the corner of the bed, hearing the chaos outside.

    The Earl looked out the window. He saw his guards scrambling around, hoping to find any intruder. He looked at the child again, and released his restrained breath.

    The commotion was over after several minutes. The Earl called for Seqina, who, at the time of the confusion, was on a mission outside the castle. She was tasked to stay in Kael¡¯s room until sunrise. She made the child to fall asleep.

    But Kael couldn¡¯t fall asleep. His heart was still pounding with fear that he might get caught. He pretended to fall asleep, and waited for his caretaker to doze off. When Seqina did, he started healing the wounds he got from his misadventure.

    While healing his wounds, he began thinking about what just happened to him. The thing he just learned was probably the worst revelation he could imagine. He¡¯s lucky that his attack was too weak that it didn¡¯t give any mark to the castle wall, but he still thinks that the Earl will discover the truth in no time.

    He needed to decide. Will he stay and hope for the best, or will he escape as soon as tomorrow night? The first choice might be the best option, but it will cost him his life with his family. The second choice will give him what he wants, but dire consequences can happen to him if he fails. The situation was against him. He can¡¯t have what he wanted.

    In the morning, he completely healed his wounds without any scars left. Seqina checked on him, and invited him to have some breakfast. He accepted the offer, trying to distract himself from his predicament.

 Replan

    The night that came after Kael¡¯s blunder was filled with tension. The castle sheltered ever vigilant guards, seizing control over every inch of the castle grounds. There¡¯s no forgiving another attack, the Earl already said his orders.

    Kael couldn¡¯t move out of his room. There are guards now situated outside the door, and outside the window. It¡¯s as if the Earl didn¡¯t want him to get out at all, like he was a prisoner. He surrendered to the outcome of his mistake, and spent the night trying to sleep.

    But he wasn¡¯t able to. His routine for these past months destroyed his body¡¯s rhythm. An hour passed, and his mind was still conscious behind his closed eyes. The tiredness didn¡¯t get to him at all, which upsets his already troubled self.

    At some point he gave up on sleeping. He instead started thinking about what he should do next. Throughout the day he didn¡¯t get to plan anything, as he distracted himself from the guilt of what he did. Now that he was reminded of it, regret almost registered on his face.

    Meanwhile, the Earl was with his four servants discussing what become of their separate investigations. Of course, no one got to the bottom of who attacked them as there¡¯s no trace of any damage at all. They didn¡¯t even know where the magic hit, making any investigations useless.

    ¡°My lord, can I say something?¡±, Cadell said.

    ¡°Speak¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s not a trace of anyone during our inspection¡±, Cadell said. He continued with a slight hesitation. ¡°Would it be possible that a stray spell hit the walls?¡±

    ¡°My lord, if I may¡±, Elalios interrupted.

    ¡°Do you have another idea?¡±, Lord Gideon asked.

    ¡°As you said, my lord¡±, Elalios looked at Cadell. ¡°We couldn¡¯t just shrug off what happened. There are nobles still against his lordship¡±

    ¡°I feel your concern, Elalios, but we couldn¡¯t waste so much time over nothing¡±, Cadell paused. ¡°We have five mages on our side, and his lordship is a master mage. Ho-¡±

    ¡°Do you doubt the power of Lord Gideon, Elalios?¡±, Osbert said interrupting Cadell.

    The Earl looked at Osbert, the latter excusing himself from the discussion.

    ¡°Continue¡±

    Cadell bowed at the Earl, and continued. ¡°As I was saying, how much of a threat can several mages be?¡±

    Elalios couldn¡¯t argue, but his doubts still remained. Somehow, Osbert was smiling in triumph. The Earl looked at Seqina, and he gestured her to come forward.

    ¡°I apologize, my lord¡±, Seqina said. ¡°If you allow, I will observe the mages¡±

    ¡°Let me observe the nobles as well, my lord¡±, Osbert said.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    The Earl allowed both of them in their investigation. He concluded the discussion, and walked to Kael¡¯s room. He was greeted by the guards, who opened the door for him. The child looked asleep, at least for him, so he closed the door, and proceeded to go to his room.

    <hr>

    ¡®Why? It¡¯s way past midnight. Did he actually suspect me?¡¯, Kael thought as he heard the Earl coming to his room.

    The door just opened, and then was closed again after a minute. Kael suspected that the Earl already found out that he did it, so the Earl was checking if he¡¯s still in his room. He didn¡¯t know how the Earl found out, what matters is to get out of the castle as fast as possible.

    Next day morning, Kael was accompanied by four of the guards, each standing a meter away from him. As he thought, the Earl will not let him escape. The only time where the guards separated from him was when he¡¯s in his room. But once every hour, a guard will knock on the door and he will need to answer that he¡¯s there.

    He was frustrated. He can¡¯t do anything to make any progress. His already limited choices were further limited by the Earl¡¯s command. It seemed to him that he will not get out at all. Then, he remembered that there are two things that helped him in anything he does. His past life was a bit difficult, but his family and his magic were the things that made it easy. As of now, he can¡¯t rely on his family, but, he can rely on his magic.

    And so, he meditated, more focused than before. Every restless midnight, he meditates. A week passed and his power doubled, but after reaching twenty units, he reached the limit. It took him two weeks to reach it. His body will not let him do what he wanted. Not at all.

    Then the Earl announced something, a month after the incident. He was summoned to the battlefield. He commanded the guards to intensify security while he is away.

    Midnight of the same day the Earl departed, Kael was alone with his mind. He settled on the ¡°safest¡± time to escape. He must escape before the Earl returns.

    He considered flying past the wall, but without enough mana to conceal himself, he will only stick out like a sore thumb. The alternative is underground, to dig a hole below the castle walls. It was a desperate measure, but he decided on it anyway.

    However, before he can do anything, the guards must be dealt with first. He thought of Seqina and her magic potions. There might be something she made that can induce sleep. Everytime Seqina feeds him, he will look at her potions. It intrigued Seqina, which was exactly what he was aiming for.

    ¡°Do you like those?¡±, Seqina asked. She handed the various potions to Kael after the child admitted his curiosity. ¡°This is a healing potion, this is a mana potion, this is¡­¡±, she went on and on as she explained the purposes of the potions to Kael. She thought he wouldn¡¯t understand most of what she said.

    Little did she knows, Kael was learning fast, digesting basic potion knowledge that he didn¡¯t have when he was Lucien. Then, she said something that caught his attention.

    ¡°This one is a sleep potion..¡±

    ¡®That¡¯s it, just what I needed¡¯

    Kael became distracted in his thoughts. Seqina was still talking about the potions, but he can¡¯t hear her. Nevertheless, he was filled with hope once again.

    He thought all the possibilities, the things he can finally do once he acquired the potion..

    ¡°Kael?¡±, Seqina broke his focus.

    He put up a nervous smile towards Seqina. Seqina thought that he got bored, so she stopped the conversation, and apologized to him.

    Before Seqina left, Kael snatched the sleep potion. Seqina didn¡¯t notice, walking out of Kael¡¯s room. What he got should be tested first to make sure he had the right thing. He hid the potion in the corner of the room, blocked by a table. He put a drop on his index finger, and returned to his bed.

    Then, he tasted it.

    ¡°Oh..¡±

 Escape

    ¡¯That was stronger than I thought¡¯

    Kael felt Seqina waking him up. It was evening when he woke up.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡±, Seqina asked, assisting him to stand. ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    ¡°A.. uhmm.. I got tired?¡±, Kael said.

    Seqina was a bit confused from his answer. She shrugged it off, and invited Kael for the evening meal after she looked into him.

    Kael learned so much from the experience. He got the right potion, but it¡¯s more potent than he thought. His young body didn¡¯t even need a single drop to be asleep for hours. It was instantaneous, and it¡¯s hard to wake anyone that was unlucky enough to ingest the potion. It¡¯s just as he wanted, but he didn¡¯t want to taste it again.

    After all the servants left the castle, the night was open for exploration. The limited spaces he can go, as he was accompanied by the guards, didn¡¯t give him much information. It¡¯s time to test the potion.

    [Float]

    Droplets of potion went to the guards¡¯ nostrils. All of the guards bothering Kael fell asleep. He was careful not to cause too much sound, as he make the guards fall one by one. Before anyone of the guards can react, they all went unconscious.

    He wandered inside the castle after all the guards fell asleep. He was lucky that none of the four main servants stayed in the castle. With the opportunity opened for him, he began exploring.

    By his thinking, there¡¯s not a place outside that was hidden to the outside guards. His potion was limited, so he needed to conserve it, not using it to every single guard in the castle.

    He looked around quietly, checking every point, looking at the windows sometimes to see if the guards can see him. He checked the quarters of the guards, he checked the great hall and the hallways, and he checked the storage room.

    He noticed something in the great hall. There¡¯s a secret passage that almost went past him. It¡¯s stairs led him to an underground chamber with a single source of light. He checked the said chamber to see any secret passages, but the room was a dead end.

    Discovering a secret passage prompted him to also look for other ones. He returned to the rooms of the guards, but he didn¡¯t see any. However, in the storage room, he found out another hidden passage.

    In the corner of the storage room, covered by sacks of grains, there¡¯s a trapdoor, blended well with the stone floor. He opened it, finding a decaying wooden ladder leading to the dark underground.

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    [Light]

    He began climbing down, careful as to not break the steps as he descended. Then, halfway in his descent, a weak crosspiece snapped.

    [Light Breeze]

    He slowed down his descent at just the right time. He was nervous that someone might¡¯ve heard what happened. But he didn¡¯t want to stop there, as he was already at the bottom. Even greater reason he had was what he discovered. There¡¯s a narrow passage in front of him.

    Every step he took, the light he had in him kept revealing more distance to walk through. He was walking for minutes, anxious that it might be morning on the surface. He began thinking that the passage might lead him to a dead end, and that this long journey will lead him to another stone chamber. Even worse would be if he ended up in one of the servant¡¯s houses, bringing himself to more certain danger than he has back in the castle. His light faded without seeing a discernible exit.

    [Light]

    He continued walking, his worries growing steady like the distance he travelled. He continued walking, setting aside his doubts. He continued walking, even if the passageway was suspiciously neat despite its structure. He denied himself, and continued walking.

    It felt like he was spending too much time digging through his own grave. But something drove him, so he continued.

    After what felt like an hour, he was faced by a wall made of dirt, just like the whole passage. He put his palm on it, and he felt that the wall was loose. And so, he pushed the end of the passage and was suddenly brought to darkness.

    His second light went dark before he can fully see what¡¯s on the other side of the wall. But he felt the damp grass as he was cushioned by the greenery. He stood and look at where he is. He can see the shadows of trees, and when he looked up, the starry night sky revealed itself.

    He was outside. His eyes wandered around, in awe and in a sense of freedom, like what he¡¯s supposed to be. He looked behind him, seeing the passage where he came from, and seeing the town so far away from him. He thought it will not be that easy, but it turns out, all he needed to do was to explore.

    There¡¯s no going back. He¡¯s free, he can return to his grandparents. And so, he started his journey without further delay.

    <hr>

    Seqina went to the castle. She was looking forward to see the little child that she grew fond of. She liked it when someone listened to her, whenever she discussed about her potions. Kael had always been kind to her, always helping on things that as someone treated as the Earl¡¯s son, shouldn¡¯t be doing in the first place. She finds him strange, lacking a care for himself for the sake of others. But even though that¡¯s what Kael was, that¡¯s something she also admired from him.

    So, when she went inside the great hall, and found several guards lying unconscious, she ran quickly to Kael¡¯s room. There, outside the door of the room, she saw the same situation. She felt the dread, and the worry. ¡°What happened?¡±, is what she thought. She opened the door, and confirmed the thing circling in her mind. Kael wasn¡¯t in the room.

    As she saw the terrifying sight, the face of the powerful Earl came to her mind. The lord of the castle will not like this. They will witness the master mage¡¯s anger.

    She kneeled on the floor, unable to muster the courage to face the Earl. A running person came to her. It was Elalios, that after seeing the empty bed, felt the same dread that Seqina had.

 Sorrow

    The way to the village, lined with the glowing alfris trees was a great joy for Kael. He ran through the forest, eager to meet his family and community again. He didn¡¯t seem to feel hungry in the days that he travelled. He never looked back, waiting to see the first hut emerging on the horizon.

    He arrived after several days of travel. The village was as he knew it before. He tried containing his excitement, looking at the set of houses from a distance. As he walked through the set of wooden huts, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. The people looked at him, all the familiar faces he wanted to see. But one thing is on his mind, he wants to see the two people most important to him. After walking to where his home was supposed to be, he saw one of them, his grandfather, sitting by a hut looking at him. He couldn¡¯t keep his composure, tears started flowing on his face.

    He ran to the old man. Amos stood, and was about to go to him, but he¡¯s quick, hugging his grandfather. The old man returned the embrace, and was consoling him. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from crying, he was home, finally.

    Then, Cora appeared, from inside their hut, curious as to what¡¯s happening outside. Kael saw her, and without thought, hugged his grandmother as he did his grandfather. The kindest woman he had in his second life returned the embrace, patting his head. He was truly home. He¡¯s happy that all was over.

    He wiped his tears, and his smile remained in him. ¡°Grandpa, grandma, I¡¯m home¡±, he said.

    It should have been a heartfelt moment, but something was amiss. His greeting left Amos and Cora confused. They looked at each other, and Amos started the conversation.

    ¡°Where did you come from, little one? Did you get lost?¡±

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    ¡°Come in, join us. You must be hungry¡±

    ¡®Wha.. What¡¯s happening?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m Amos, the chief of this village. This is Cora, my wife¡±

    ¡®I know. You¡¯re my family, of course I know¡¯

    ¡°Come inside¡±

    It¡¯s Kael¡¯s turn to be left confused. His smile changed into surprise looking at his grandparents. He was invited inside, not like their grandson, but like a stranger they never met before. They were kind to him, not because they knew his longing, but because he was a crying child.

    The hut was empty, his bare foot feeling the brush of straws under him. Cora was far, preparing the food that they will eat. Amos was sitting, inviting him to take a seat. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to accept the offer, as he was trying to understand the situation. Then, as he couldn¡¯t understand, he asked them for answers.

    ¡°Do you not know me, grandpa?¡±, Kael said.

    There¡¯s a terrible pause after that, then Amos replied. ¡°I believe this is the first time we met¡±

    A stream of denial flooded Kael¡¯s mind in an instant. Hearing those words, feeling the distance he shouldn¡¯t feel from his family, he couldn¡¯t accept it. He slowly step backwards, his mind denying what was happening.

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    ¡°Where are you going, son?¡±

    He ran. The innocent words of Amos pierced through his longing heart. He can see it on their eyes. He¡¯s no one for them, only a lost child that found himself in the woods. He might¡¯ve heard Amos calling to him, but he didn¡¯t understand. His grandfather will not address him so distant. It was painful, he couldn¡¯t accept it.

    He ran faster, seeing that the people of the village were looking at him puzzled. This is not what he expected, this is not what he wanted. He thought he could get relief in the village, but he felt worse. Deep inside him, he wished that he wasn¡¯t able to escape, that he never found the hidden passage.

    He ran aimless. It doesn¡¯t matter whether the forest is dangerous or not. It¡¯s better he took his chances than to be exposed with pain that he couldn¡¯t heal.

    His eyes went blurry. He stumbled, and stood again. It was morning when he arrived at the village. It was noon when he stopped running.

    He sat on a protruding stone, dragging his exhausted body. He curled, locking his knees with his arms, hiding his face from the forest, looking at his feet, bruised by his desperate attempt to get away. He doesn¡¯t feel that he belongs somewhere. He was empty, and he was lonely.

    Alone in the forest, he tried finding the reason as to why. Why did they forget him? Was he away for way too long that they forget? He couldn¡¯t find the answer, as his mind kept seeing the faces of his grandparents.

    He pondered for awhile, and gave up. He started walking, without direction as to where he should go. But his mind was honest, leading him to where he wanted to go. Even if he circled around different paths, eventually, he returned to the village.

    He looked at them from the distance. The people were doing their everyday chores. He was lost in thought. But even in his low point, the world didn¡¯t let him rest.

    It might be that Kael was out of focus. Someone managed to get near him, coming from the village. The person stopped in front of him, blocking his view of the village. He didn¡¯t notice the change of scenery, but he was about to.

    ¡°I have a hunch I will see you here¡±

    Kael heard a familiar voice. He associated the said voice to someone that his community respected. At that moment, the realization hits. He looked up, and saw someone he thought he will not see in the village. It was Elalios, the false deacon.

    ¡°Stop!¡±

    He didn¡¯t listen to Elalios. He ran with his bruised feet. He looked backed, and see that Elalios was gaining distance.

    [Speed Boost]

    Kael used all his mana to run away from Elalios, but the man wouldn¡¯t let him get away. He turned to a tree, then he turned to a rock, then he turned to another tree. He looked back, and Elalios was still there.

    He was chased to exhaustion, his lungs burning as he breathed. He felt his heart being crushed in every beat, his dripping sweat trying to cool his body down. He couldn¡¯t run anymore, but Elalios kept on chasing him.

    The day turned to night, but the chase continued. Sometimes Kael will hide, then he will run again. The forest is getting more dangerous, turning into a maze for the two of them. Kael stumbled multiple times, acquiring multiple wounds every time. He was weakened, but his persistence paid off. Elalios lost him entirely.

    But he didn¡¯t know that no one was chasing him anymore, and so, he kept walking, dragging his bloody feet. It¡¯s a wonder that he can still stand.

    He was thirsty, walking aimless to look for water. His dry mouth made it hard to swallow his saliva.

    It was the peak of darkness that even if his eyes were open, he couldn¡¯t see even the silhouette of trees. And with such grave condition, he fell down one last time, falling into the darkness. He closed his eyes, and a splash of water was heard from the silent forest.

 Revisit

    Ripples. Gurgling. The sound of turbulent water surrounded him. It was cold. Kael was plunged into the depths of darkness. The water buried him to itself, not letting him go up. He kept on going down, drowning, in the verge of his second death.

    But, arriving to his end, what he felt was not dread, it was calmness. The water comforted him. The cold embrace calmed his agitated heart. He doesn¡¯t feel the fear anymore, as if he is ready to die. He accepted his fate, thinking that the world was claiming him for trying to break its rules. He doesn¡¯t mind, his demise is a price he wants. There¡¯s nothing above the surface that he can call his home. And so, he let the deep claim him, going down further as the time passed.

    The only thing he had in mind is defeat, something he never experienced when he was still Lucien. It¡¯s unfortunate. He was trying to live anew, forgetting the retribution he desired, but, the world didn¡¯t accept him. He thought that it was what he deserved, being a person violating the importance of life.

    If he could do it again, he will let the world claim him without resistance. He¡¯s greedy, too arrogant as to acquire a second life for himself. He released his final sorrow, his tears mixing with the water conquering his body.

    But, as he was about to die, he fell all of a sudden, slamming against a dry, stone floor. He woke up, spewing out the water in his lungs. He cough hard that he felt like he damaged his throat. He was wet, and he was cold, but most importantly, he was well. Too well than he should be.

    After regaining his full awareness, he found himself in a wide, rectangular room, well lit by multiple torches attached to the walls. He looked up to where he came from, and see an opening filled with water. The water from the circular opening leveled to the stone ceiling, not falling down the rectangular chamber where he found himself in. Instead, the water acted like a mirror, revealing his unusually pristine body. There¡¯s no wound on his skin, and the mark of any exhaustion doesn¡¯t exist.

    At first he was confused, trying to understand what¡¯s happening to him. He looked around the chamber, and felt a sense of familiarity. This is not a new place, he knew it from his mind. As he looked around, memories of the past came up. He remembered, and soon, he realized where he was.

    Of course he will know, the place should be too familiar to him. Of all the people in the world, he should be the only one that knew about this place. After all, he was the one that created it.

    He looked at the end of the chamber, and there, he saw a shining green crystal guarded by a knight-like figure. There¡¯s no time to continue remembering the past. He knew what was the room for. He knew, the figure will come to him.

    <hr>

    ¡®What¡¯s that? Is that¡­ my mana vessel?¡¯

    Not too far from their house, under a young tree, Lucien was deep in meditation, seeing by feeling his mana vessel. He was focused enough that he saw the physical vessel, a shell of highly condensed mana, enclosing his usable mana.

    He saw the channels of mana extending from his mana vessel, scattered throughout his body, iridescent and bright.

    ¡°¡­cen¡±

    It was beautiful to his sight. The thing that made him special, the thing that gave him power.

    ¡°¡­cen!¡±

    He wanted to hold it, thinking of extending his hand without actually moving his physical body. He reached for it, and he felt it.

    ¡°Lucen!¡±

    Transcendent. The warmth of the vessel was tranquil. Serene. Such peace, although filled with an insane amount of power. Although Lucien felt that he heard something, the experience locked him in his trance-like state.

    ¡°Hey!¡±

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    He can manipulate the dense shell, it flowed like a viscous liquid. He held it, attempting to use the highly dense mana. He created a green crystal manifesting in his physical hand. He wanted to test it, but he couldn¡¯t continue. A single slap woke him up.

    ¡°Oww! What was that about?¡±, Lucien looked up. He saw a little girl standing in front of him. ¡°Del!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re sleeping, ¡®erp¡±, Cordelia, his little sister said.

    ¡°You.. who are you calling twerp?¡±, Lucien stood and chased after Cordelia. ¡°Come here!¡±

    ¡°Mama! Lucen is chasing me!¡±, the little girl called to their mother.

    Cordelia tried returning home quick, but her brother caught up to her, grabbing her up. She was tickled, and couldn¡¯t get away from her brother. She squirmed around while Lucien was dodging her head going on random directions.

    ¡°What are you two doing? We¡¯re going to eat¡±

    Their mother stopped their horseplay. They pointed at each other, blaming the other for their antics.

    ¡°Papa is waiting for you two, come inside¡±, their mother said.

    After the meal of the family, Lucien was called by his father. Cordelia taunted him, moving her index finger back and forth.

    After messing around with his little sister, Lucien went outside to his father. The breeze was calming, apt for a sincere conversation. As he was near enough his father, his father looked at him and started talking.

    ¡°Lucien, son, are you sure about what you told us yesterday?¡±

    He didn¡¯t answer immediately. He thought deep about what he decided to do, and answered his father. ¡°Yes Pa, I will accept King Lihtven¡¯s invitation¡±

    Lucien was expecting for his father to feel worried, but his father paused for a moment, and a genuine, warm smile appeared on his father¡¯s face.

    ¡°You¡¯ve grown stronger, Lucien¡±

    Lucien nodded with a smile. His father hugged him, and continued speaking. ¡°Be careful, the demons are dangerous¡±

    ¡°Yes Pa, I will bring your counsel along with my journey¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my son¡±

    Lucien¡¯s mother went outside as well. She heard their exchange, and was adamant, refusing Lucien¡¯s departure.

    ¡°No, I told you already Lucien. You¡¯re not going¡±

    ¡°But Ma, I¡¯m-¡±

    ¡°No.¡±, his mother snatched him from his father¡¯s hands, and hugged him too. ¡°Why are you giving me so much worry?¡±

    At his mother¡¯s words, Lucien felt a sting in his heart. His mother¡¯s embrace was tight, as to not let him go any further. It almost crumbled his conviction, but his father stepped in.

    ¡°You should let our son find his glory, my dear¡±, his father said. ¡°Besides, Lucien is the greatest among the king¡¯s mages¡±

    ¡°Papa..¡±, Lucien chuckled a bit.

    ¡°Be quiet, Hananel¡±

    ¡°she¡¯s mad..¡±, his father said almost whispering. ¡°Well, I feel like Del is calling me. Lucien, I should leave you with your mother¡±

    His father¡¯s amusing conduct eased Lucien¡¯s doubts. He gently pushed her mother from him, and opened his palm.

    ¡°Here mama. I hope this will give you peace of mind¡±

    A green crystal glowed from his hand.

    ¡°Did you create another magic again?¡±

    Lucien nodded. ¡°I call this ¡®Late Cost¡¯. This will help me fight off demons¡±

    ¡°I told you, you shouldn¡¯t go¡±

    Lucien returned to his mother¡¯s embrace.

    ¡°Sorry Mama. Let me disobey you, just this time¡±

    His mother shed tears, hugging him tighter than before. She knew her son. She knew, Lucien will not back down from his decision.

 Late Cost

    In the middle of the night, deep inside the forest, under an old and broken well, a fight is about to happen. Kael is facing his own creation, a figure he called the ¡°Silver Knight¡±.

    The figure lost its past luster, it¡¯s now a piece of dark, rusty armor. It¡¯s filled with damage all over its body, revealing an empty space inside the armor. It was evident that it¡¯s on its way out, as it lacks the mana it needs. But Kael, the creator of the figure, was still cautious not to move in haste.

    Kael stepped forward, and the figure mirrored him. He stopped, looking at the damaged rapier held by the figure. He looked at the crystal, recalling that the figure will not attack someone with its master¡¯s magic. So, he decided on a single goal. He must get ¡°Late Cost¡± before the knight cut him to pieces.

    Kael stepped again, this time multiple times, and the knight mirrored him. Slowly, their distance from each other decreased, the tension rising for Kael. After a while, he was within the knight¡¯s attacking range, but the knight didn¡¯t attack him yet.

    He looked at the crystal again, trying to estimate how much time it would take him to get it. Two and a half seconds, if he will allocate fifteen units of mana for speed boost, and five units for the boost¡¯s duration. He walked to the right, and the knight do so too. At the right time, before they reached the right side of the chamber, Kael should make his move.

    ¡®Why am I doing this? I thought I gave up¡¯

    Kael looked at the movements of the knight and then..

    [Speed Boost]

    He turns to the left, hurling away from the knight. He ran directly to the crystal, reaching for it.

    He sprints, he reaches for his limit. He springs forth, not looking at the knight.

    ¡®There it is¡¯

    Kael was half a second away. He thought he could do it, but the knight didn¡¯t allow him to get nearer. In an instant, the knight was in front of him, its damaged rapier raised above its helmet.

    Kael pressed all his momentum to his right foot, the blade closing in on him. He dodged, but his sudden movement made him slip, hitting his back on the floor. However, he had no time to register the pain, the blade was already slashing down at him. He rolled, then he mustered all his strength to retreat and get away.

    The knight didn¡¯t chase after him. Instead, it moved to the center, blocking Kael¡¯s view of the crystal. It assumed its guarding stance, its sword vertically positioned in front of it, its metal arms resting above the sword.

    Kael returned to his initial position where he can suffer from the pain without interruption. He forgot to apply some defense for his body, too focused on getting to ¡°Late Cost¡± as fast as possible. He had time to recover his mana. He breathed in, and revised his plan.

    ¡®Why am I doing this? Will they remember me if I succeed?¡¯, Kael thought while walking to the knight.

    He will try again, wanting to get his power back. Once again, he was in front of the knight.

    ¡°Show some respect to your master¡±, Kael said, but the knight didn¡¯t move. ¡°Okay then, I will make you remember¡±

    Kael breathed, gathering his focus on his new goal. He will beat the knight, he will not pursue his power.

    [Strength Boost]

    He used twelve units.

    [Defense]

    He used eight units.

    He punched the knight¡¯s arms, but his attack didn¡¯t do any damage.

    ¡®I should really give up¡¯, Kael thought, breathing deeply to recover his mana as fast as possible.

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    The knight didn¡¯t move from the attack. As long as the crystal is in no threat of getting stolen, the knight will not make a move.

    [Flame]

    Kael used twenty units.

    The knight burned, and a little crack formed on its helmet before the fire vanished.

    ¡°This is flawed. Good thing I get to you before anyone else¡±

    Kael breathed deeply again, but it was a little different this time.

    ¡°Let¡¯s play a bit¡±

    [Speed Boost]

    Kael rushed to the crystal. The knight moved in front of him in an instant. He dodged the slash, and did a focused breathing.

    [Flame]

    A burst of flame engulfed the knight. It didn¡¯t mind, raising its sword again. Kael dodged, breathing deeply once more.

    [Speed Boost]

    The enhancement stacked, but Kael was still not fast enough. He dodged another slash. He¡¯s smiling, enjoying the little fight. He breathed again deeply.

    ¡°You¡¯re too predictable¡±

    [Speed Boost]

    The enhancement stacked again.

    [Strength Boost]

    He replenished mana too fast that it looked like he had more than twenty units to use.

    [Strength Boost]

    His power stacked, but his punch just made a dent.

    [Strength Boost]

    The initial enhancements ran out of their duration, but Kael¡¯s stacking kept raising without a problem.

    [Strength Boost]

    He dodged another slash.

    [Flame]

    His flame had the same effectiveness.

    [Strength Boost]

    He looked at the crystal.

    [Strength Boost]

    Then, he punched the knight¡¯s chest. The impact made a booming sound, shattering the armor, but the knight can still fight.

    [Flame]

    Kael breathed in before the flame hit.

    [Cold Touch]

    The flame struck the knight. Kael dodged another attack. The flame lingered, Kael touched the knight¡¯s head.

    The flame vanished suddenly, then, the whole armor acquired significant breaks.

    ¡°Let¡¯s finish this¡±

    [Strength Boost]

    On impact, the armor shattered, the knight¡¯s legs unable to support it anymore. It fell down, worsening the damage. The knight attempted to leap using one of its arms, but its arm broke apart. Seeing this, Kael breathed in, and ended the fight. He waited for the last of his enhancements to dissipate, then, he walked to the crystal.

    The glow of the green crystal brought memories from when he first made it. He was too casual making it from that time, he didn¡¯t think he will love to have it as much as he does now. He held it on his hand, and the knight dragging itself towards him stopped moving.

    [Late Cost: Dismantle]

    He absorbed the power within the crystal, leaving a fragile glass in his hand. As of now, he has the power to use the mana that formed the shell of his mana vessel. Although he can¡¯t absorb mana from the environment in his current state, the mana he can use now is a thousand times greater than his body¡¯s limit.

    Kael went back to the broken knight who couldn¡¯t move anymore. He put half of the mana he can use to the crystal he had in his hand.

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t have damages, I will not win¡±

    He put the glowing iridescent crystal inside the knight¡¯s helmet. He moved back to watch the restoration.

    The bright glow scattered throughout the chamber. The knight floated, absorbing materials around it to form its new body. The luster of silver returned to its fully restored armor. Its sword, returning to its shining glory, a fitting weapon to a dignified knight. After the restoration, Kael called to him.

    ¡°Silver Knight, do you remember me?¡±

    The knight answered with its body. It kneeled, one knee down, holding its sword pointed on the ground.

    ¡°Get me out of here, I want to go home¡±

 Hopeless

    It was still dark when Kael, along with the ¡°Silver Knight¡±, emerged from the well.

    ¡°I still need you¡±, Kael said. ¡°Become my power¡±

    The knight kneeled at him.

    [Binding Summon: Silver Knight]

    A white portal opened under the figure, engulfing it into another realm. Kael was successful in binding the silver knight.

    [Light]

    He started looking around. He saw piles of rubble scattered everywhere encircling the well. The place was desolated long ago, but he knew where he was. The debris were houses from the past, houses from his home village. The place was where the hero Lucien was born, and it is his precious home.

    He picked one of the stones from the rubble, and memories came flooding in his mind. His caring mother, his supportive father, and his bubbly little sister, all of them he remembered. He sat on the ground, thinking about the time he lost, so much time that his current self could never take back. He stayed in place, sitting by the broken well. He was in the only place he can call his home. Outside of it, as he assumed, no one will accept him. And so, he decided to stay, away from everyone.

    But, he forgot something, as he was deep in thought, reflecting on everything that happened. He didn¡¯t knew at the time, Elalios was near him.

    <hr>

    Elalios saw the light that Kael made. He was still looking for the child all this time, determined to bring Kael back to the Earl. He went to where the light came from, and there, he saw Kael, sitting beside the broken well, looking down the ground.

    Elalios was cautious as to not startle the child again, as he did before. He decided to observe for a while, but what he saw was quite unusual for him. He saw a child, looking like someone who was deep in thought, reflecting about his life.

    However, although that¡¯s unusual enough, the greatest shock for Elalios was the floating light just above Kael. Without a doubt, it was created with magic. Elalios couldn¡¯t believe what he was thinking. Kael was way too young, how was he able to use magic?

    He felt a little insulted, but he knew that he shouldn¡¯t feel that way towards a child. He shrugged his thoughts, and waited for a good opportunity, but Kael woke up from his thoughts, and spoke first.

    ¡°Deacon Elalios? Is that you?¡±

    Elalios was startled. What he thought was confirmed. Kael did recover his memories. He looked at the child and was startled once again. There¡¯s no point in hiding, as Kael looked at his direction.

    ¡°You have your memories back¡±, Elalios said, emerging from behind a tree.

    Kael nodded at him. ¡°But the village didn¡¯t remember me¡±

    Elalios stopped walking, maintaining distance. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous here, let¡¯s go back¡±

    ¡°Let me stay here¡±, Kael looked at the stone he had. ¡°This is my home¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t do that, Kael¡±, Elalios offered his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the castle¡±

    The light went out. Elalios was about to create another light, but Kael did it first.

    [Light]

    Elalios confirmed another thought he had, as Kael demonstrated his ability to use magic.

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    ¡°Please, let me stay¡±, Kael requested. ¡°I want to stay here¡±

    ¡°The Earl will look for you¡±, Elalios said. ¡°If you still refuse, I will force you to come with me¡±

    Kael stood and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this, I just want some peace¡±

    Elalios suddenly became worried.

    ¡°I have no choice¡±

    [Flame]

    Ten balls of fire appeared near Kael. He waved his hand forward, and all the balls of fire rushed towards Elalios.

    [Shield]

    The fireballs exploded in front of Elalios, but none hurt him. ¡°Where did you learn magic?¡±

    ¡°I taught myself¡±

    Elalios was surprised again, seeing that the child was serious with his answer. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you¡±

    ¡°Let me prove it then¡±

    [Quick Summon: Earth]

    A mound of earth shaped into a moving golem. Elalios¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°How? How is that possible?¡±

    [Double Shield]

    The earth golem punched through Elalios¡¯s shields. Elalios dodged in time.

    [Strength Boost]

    Elalios punched the golem, and destroyed it completely.

    ¡°Do you believe me now?¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°How could this be?¡±, Elalios looked at Kael. ¡°You¡¯re just a child¡±

    ¡°I am.. I should have been¡±

    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m telling you this¡±, Kael looked at Elalios, then he smiled. ¡°Maybe because I see someone I know looking at you¡±

    ¡®What is this? I¡¯ve been feeling this for quite a while. This person.. he doesn¡¯t act like a child¡¯, Elalios thought.

    ¡°I am from the past. I was reborn in your time¡±

    Hearing the outrageous statement, Elalios wasn¡¯t able to make sense of it. He knew the child was different, but his claim was truly outlandish. There¡¯s only one life, that¡¯s why it¡¯s so important. Someone that can live for a second time might happen, only if that someone was as powerful as the ¡°Divine Emperor¡±. And, seeing that Kael didn¡¯t have such power, there¡¯s no way he was what he claimed he was.

    Elalios felt silly for leaning on believing the child, even if for a second. Maybe his mentality became affected seeing someone as young as Kael using magic. He dismissed the claim, assuming that the side effects of the memory potion had manifested on Kael. That must be it, Elalios thought.

    ¡°This is the last time I will say this¡±, Kael said. ¡°Let me stay here¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t¡±

    ¡°I want to have some rest. This is up to you¡±

    [Binded Summon: Silver Knight]

    The knight emerged from a white portal on the ground. Elalios was in awe looking at the figure. He knew he couldn¡¯t win, looking at the silver figure that he was about to fight. He wanted to surrender, but seeing Kael returned sitting beside the well, his pride couldn¡¯t handle it. There¡¯s no way he will let a mere child treat him like that.

    [All Boost]

    Elalios exhausted his remaining mana, and prepared himself to fight against the knight. He rushed towards it, and at near enough distance, he stretched his hand, attempting to destroy the figure with a single punch. The attack connected, but it didn¡¯t leave any damage.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Elalios punched multiple times in panic, but his enhanced punches didn¡¯t do anything. Perhaps accepting defeat before it occurred was the right action. It was hopeless, he couldn¡¯t win against a child.

    ¡°Knock him out¡±

    That¡¯s the last words Elalios heard. He felt a hit on his head, and he fell on the ground unconscious.

 Elalios

    What would I do if I meet god?

    That¡¯s a question that lingered in my head when I was young. I know people who were devoted, and would die if they can have a chance to meet the ¡°Divine Emperor¡±. He is our god, the one that bestowed light on all of us his followers. People say that just looking at him can tell you if you are evil or not. As told by our predecessors, the blessings of light will go to those that are holy, but the evil ones will perish on his sight.

    Many people love him, and I¡¯m one of them. How can we not? He protects the human race against all the other races that seek to destroy us. He gave us the light that purify the darkness. And, perhaps most of all, he defeated the human who almost destroyed the world. Those were taught to us. He is the greatest. Everything good that came to our life happen as he wills it. So we must worship him, and earn favor on his sight.

    Every believer wants to see him, but only in dreams can most of his believers see his greatness. Many do not have the wealth and power needed, and so, they do what they can to be pleasing to our lord. I was one of the lucky few that have most of what I needed to have the privilege. I¡¯m great enough. Well, I was supposed to be. But, I was denied by the limits of my body.

    I am Elalios, one of the sons of the Duke of Levaldis. I could have riches, I could have the power to rule, but I lost all of those because of one single flaw. I can¡¯t go to Rezelus, as I am a weak mage.

    I remembered the past, before my life turned around completely. My father, Duke Decynus, was a good man. I felt that he loved me during my tender years, giving what I wanted, especially when I wanted something related with magic. I remember the time when I got a book that let me learn the basics of magic. I got interested in it, seeing that my father was delighted whenever I have the book in my hand. And so, I looked forward to turn ten years old, the earliest known age for anyone to acquire mana channels.

    We waited for that day. My first decade of life passed, but my meditation didn¡¯t produce my desired result. I was sad, but my father consoled me, telling me that most people became mages at later ages.

    With his encouragement, I waited. But one year had passed, two years had passed, three years had passed.. nothing happened.

    My body betrayed me. I became depressed, deep in frustration. I wanted my family to console me again, but it never happened.

    My father started hiding me from any gatherings. Whenever he hosted one, he will order me to stay in my room. An order not to be defied, it shackled me. Then, my mother started getting away from me like I was a contagious disease. She didn¡¯t really spend time with us, but I still felt her change of attitude.

    I felt alone, something I never felt before, and although I was able to use magic when I was fifteen, by then, it was too late. My father already hid me from the outside world, as if I never existed. No one acknowledged my presence, not even my two brothers. I had a thought when my loneliness reached its peak. I had enough, I will escape. I don¡¯t know where, but I will escape.

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    And so, midnight before I turned sixteen, I managed to get out, finally free from my miserable life. I ran far. I have no destination, but I knew I should be as far as possible. I doubt that people will try to find me, but I still have hope. I will return someday, once I figure out how to be a powerful mage.

    I wandered around for some time. I experienced the hard life, but even if I¡¯m not used to it, it¡¯s better than being alone.

    Somewhere along my journey, a person named Gideon recognized me. I thought that was the end of me, as he revealed he is a friend of my father. But, for some reason, he invited me to live with him.

    I was suspicious at the time. Maybe he planned on returning me to my father, but that horrible day didn¡¯t arrive at all. Then, I became his servant, mainly a caretaker for his son. I accepted it, not caring about the hierarchy. He treated me well. Serving him made me forget about what was I supposed to do.

    Then, my task was changed when Earl Gideon¡¯s son and wife died. I became a false deacon that group every person of false faith to a single place. I was commanded to kill all of them, after their families forgot about them, but that¡¯s a thing I couldn¡¯t do. I didn¡¯t do it, but the Earl discovered my disobedience.

    And so, I came up of a plan to kill the faithfuls while not doing it myself. I decided on abandoning them far from Cleron. But before I do that, I must get every gold they have.

    You see, during my years of serving the Earl, I discovered something great. There¡¯s a way to make me stronger, but it involves a huge amount of gold. I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s true or not, I must earn as much as I can. I want to go back. I want to return to my old life.

    But things weren¡¯t as simple as that. I met a very unusual child. He¡¯s Kael, grandson of a faithful. I have no idea that the village I created houses a little child, so I informed the Earl about him, and took him away from the village. It¡¯s questionable, but I know that the Earl can take care of him more than the faithfuls of the village. But, as I said, he is unusual.

    I never felt that he was a child at all. I don¡¯t know why, and I was just aware of what I felt when we fought, but my intuition told me one thing. Kael is different.

    My intuition was spot on. At first, he regained his memory. He inhaled a memory potion too potent that he almost died, but somehow, he regained his memories. Then, he managed to escape, from a barrier protected castle. We still don¡¯t know how he did it, but we decided that we, servants of the Earl, should split up, and look for the child. Cadell knew the castle more than anyone of us, so he was tasked to investigate around the castle. Seqina and Osbert searched around town, while I decided to go straight to the village. I have a hunch that Kael actually escaped, not what Seqina and the other thought.

    I was right, but I lost him as he ran away from me. A light guided me towards him, and there, another unusual thing about Kael was revealed to me. He can use magic. I know I shouldn¡¯t feel frustration when I did discover it, but I was envious.

    We fought. I don¡¯t want to tell the details, but to make the story short, I lost. I¡¯m a grade D mage, which is low, but not the lowest. I lost to a child that wasn¡¯t even ten years old.

    It was morning when I woke up. Opening my eyes, I saw Kael, engulfed in healing magic. He was healing me. My envy dissipated by then, seeing that the child actually cared for me.

    I questioned myself while he was healing me. His power at such an early age, the statement he said before he defeated me. Could it be? Did I actually met a god?

 Return

    Kael healed Elalios. ¡°You can return now, I will stay here¡±

    Elalios sat up, silent, looking down. He looked at Kael. ¡°What are you?¡±

    ¡°I already told you, you don¡¯t remember?¡±, Kael said while picking up large stones to rebuild the well of his village.

    Elalios looked above the foliage, and smiled. He didn¡¯t want to fight anymore. For him, it¡¯s better to believe the absurd than to be beaten by an actual child.

    ¡°Is this place important to you?¡±, Elalios asked.

    ¡°It is¡±, Kael said still fixing the well. ¡°This is my home¡±

    Elalios looked around. He can vaguely imagine the look of the village, as he was made aware of it.

    ¡°A lot of time passed..¡±, Elalios said, walking towards Kael. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know about this¡±

    Kael didn¡¯t mind, as Elalios helped him rebuild the broken well. There was silence until they finished the well, restoring its original height.

    ¡°It was finished¡±, Elalios said.

    ¡°There¡¯s more to be done¡±

    ¡°I see¡±, Elalios looked around again. ¡°You¡¯re not planning on going back?¡±

    Kael didn¡¯t answer. He was picking up the stones of what he knew was his old house.

    ¡°I did it. You were forgotten because of me¡±

    Kael paused, hearing what Elalios said. Perhaps he was overwhelmed by his emotions that he forgot such possibility.

    ¡°I apologize¡±

    ¡°I did knock you out. I think that¡¯s good enough¡±, Kael said while continuing his work.

    Elalios smiled at him, then he continued. ¡°Seqina can make them remember¡±

    Kael paused again.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s only if you want to¡±, Elalios added.

    Kael was silent.

    ¡°I should return now. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell them where you are¡±

    Elalios waited for Kael¡¯s response, but he didn¡¯t get any. He turned around, going back to the village. He thought that he couldn¡¯t convince the child, but before he can make his third step, he heard Kael.

    ¡°Wait!¡±, Kael said. ¡°Will you make them remember?¡±

    Elalios smiled. ¡°If you want to, I will¡±

    ¡°But why are you helping me?¡±

    ¡°I want to repent, I was cruel to you. I don¡¯t like to stay this way¡±

    ¡°The Earl, your lord, how about him?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m my own master¡±, Elalios turned to him. ¡°Besides, this is a one time thing, I won¡¯t do this again¡±

    Kael¡¯s face brightened. He looked at his house, he looked at the remains of the village.

    ¡®I promise, I will return to you¡¯

    <hr>

    Kael and Elalios went back to the village of Lucien faithfuls. Kael still felt the pain as the old people see him as a stranger. Elalios patted him by the shoulder which eased his heart a little.

    ¡°Endure it for now¡±, Elalios said. ¡°I will get another memory potion from Seqina¡±

    Elalios left the village. Kael almost turned around after Elalios was far enough. Elalios returned as quick as he left.

    ¡°Elalios? What happened?¡±, Kael asked.

    ¡°This is bad¡±

    Before Elalios can explain himself, a person emerged from the path to Cleron. It was Osbert.

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    Osbert saw Kael behind Elalios, and was delighted by what he saw. Not because they found the child, but because in his mind, he finally got something against Elalios.

    ¡°Oh! You find Kael, your guess was right!¡±, Osbert said in a condescending tone. ¡°Elalios, why would you return without the child?¡±

    Elalios was sweating, stretching his arms slightly. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°I got bored searching around the town¡±, Osbert paused. ¡°And, I find you suspicious¡±

    Osbert looked behind Elalios. He saw Kael looking at him.

    ¡°I was right! You did let Kael escape¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Elalios, I can see, there¡¯s no denying it¡±, Osbert grinned at him. ¡°I don¡¯t care about your reason, but..¡±

    Osbert looked at Kael again. ¡°No one defies my lord¡±

    [Speed Boost]

    It was so fast, Elalios didn¡¯t have a time to react. Osbert was a meter away from him, ready to stab his neck.

    [Binded Summon: Silver Knight]

    Osbert¡¯s dagger was interrupted by the silver knight. He was surprised, immediately jumping back.

    ¡°Thank you¡±, Elalios whispered to Kael after he understood what just happened.

    Kael nodded in return.

    ¡°You actually tried killing me¡±

    ¡°What is that?¡±, Osbert said.

    ¡°That¡¯s.. this is my summon¡±, Elalios said.

    ¡°What? I thought you couldn¡¯t do that?¡±

    ¡°It was my secret¡±

    Osbert was still shocked, but he recovered quickly. He dismissed his confusion, and regained his composure. He knew he shouldn¡¯t be afraid. He was sure that a grade D mage didn¡¯t have a summon stronger than what he has.

    [True Summon: Lava Beast]

    A black portal formed on the ground, and a meter tall hound emerged from it. The summon has multiple crevices on his dark rough skin that revealed its magmatic inner body.

    ¡°Destroy that knight!¡±, Osbert commanded.

    The hound rushed to the knight.

    ¡°Protect us¡±, Kael commanded.

    The knight jumped forward. Before the hound bite its head off, the knight cut the hound¡¯s front limbs with ease. Then, it cut the hound¡¯s back limbs.

    The hound turned its head back, the knight was already up on its head. The knight slashed its head clean, and it disappeared into dust.

    ¡°Whaa..¡±, Elalios was shocked.

    Osbert couldn¡¯t believe what he saw. His summon was defeated that easily.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way..¡±, Osbert blurted as he looked at the knight returning in front of Elalios.

    Elalios recovered from his surprise. He saw that Osbert was more surprised than he was. He exhaled in relief, and spoke.

    ¡°Return to the castle. I will forget that you tried to kill me¡±, Elalios said.

    Osbert was enraged, seeing that Elalios was not surprised of what just occurred. He felt insulted by Elalios commanding him.

    ¡°You..¡±, Osbert didn¡¯t say another word. He looked down in anger, and prepared himself.

    [Strength Boost]

    Osbert looked at the knight. ¡°I will destroy you¡±

    [Speed Boost]

    Osbert dashed forward once again. His dagger was enhanced, aimed at the knight¡¯s head. He lunged his dagger. It was interrupted by the knight.

    ¡°Tch¡±, Osbert jumped back, then forward again.

    The knight interrupted all of Osbert¡¯s lunges and slashes.

    [Fireball]

    Osbert jumped back, and multiple fireballs hit the knight. The accumulation of explosions made the knight to take a step back.

    ¡°So that¡¯s your weakness¡±

    [Fireball]

    Another barrage of flames hit the knight. Osbert thought that he was victorious. The stream of fireballs kept on coming. The knight stepped back one after another.

    The explosions made the people of the village to take notice. Kael knew it, and so, he decided to finish the fight.

    ¡°Slash him¡±, Kael commanded.

    The knight anchored himself to not move back any further. Then, it rushed forward.

    Osbert knew the knight was coming, but it was too fast for him. He was slashed on his left wrist.

    ¡°Right arm¡±

    Osbert was slashed again. He jumped back.

    ¡°Left leg¡±

    The knight dashed towards Osbert. He was slashed again. He jumped back further. He looked at the knight, and saw that it stopped. He saw Elalios, standing from the distance, seeing his sorry state. He didn¡¯t want to accept it, but he had only one choice. And so, he fled, returning to town.

    ¡°We have a problem¡±, Elalios said.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can go back anymore¡±

 Osbert

    A week after Osbert flee from the village, he was able to return to Cleron. He went straight to his house, unable to see Seqina who was about to go to him. He closed his house, but Seqina was suspicious, seeing that he came from outside the town, and was wounded. And so, she went near the house to try and learn what Osbert was up to.

    Osbert couldn¡¯t believe what had happened. He was letting his wounds to heal on their own, too upset that he suffered an inconceivable lost. He thought of one thing. He should, and will kill Elalios.

    Osbert¡¯s animosity towards Elalios goes way back, in a time where he was first introduced to the Earl. The Earl was, to him, a great man that deserves only the strong. He thought he could get to what he wanted if he got closer to a great man like him. So he worked hard, aiming to be one of the Earl¡¯s recognized servants.

    At the time, Cadell, Elalios, and Seqina were already servants of the Earl. Osbert wanted the same recognition they have, so he proved his strength and loyalty whenever there¡¯s something that Earl Gideon wanted from him. He was successful in getting the recognition he wanted, to the point that he became the primary servant of the Earl. He became the gold medal among the four servants, executioner for the Earl.

    By then, he thought he became the closest person to the Earl. He can have what he wanted whenever he asked his lord, but the truth was what he didn¡¯t want. He¡¯s at the bottom of the people that the Earl trusts, being as young as Seqina, and the least experienced among them. What upsets him the most was that, Elalios, who he discovered was a mere grade D mage, seemed to be the most trusted person of the Earl. It didn¡¯t sit right with him, that there are many instances that the Earl wanted to talk to Elalios without the other servants. He didn¡¯t like that Elalios was trusted as a secondary opinion more than him.

    Why would a weak mage have such a privilege? If the values were compared, Osbert should be more useful than Elalios. But the Earl didn¡¯t see them that way, and he soon discovered why.

    Elalios was not a mere citizen of the town. He could even be considered as more important than all of the people of Cleron combined. As Osbert pried upon Elalios¡¯s identity, he discovered that he is one of the Duke¡¯s son.

    Osbert wasn¡¯t too fond of nobles, except those that proved to be strong by themselves. The Earl is one of those that he admires, but Elalios, he¡¯s one of those hiding under the blanket of sovereign power.

    The strong should conquer the weak. That¡¯s an ironclad rule that Osbert has. He will not submit to anyone that¡¯s weaker than him. But what angered him more, was to see the weak acknowledged by the strong. Elalios fitted the category well enough, and so, he was hated.

    Osbert didn¡¯t want to let Elalios savor all the glory he has. He came up of many plans to try and ruin Elalios¡¯s reputation. But all of it were for nothing. The Earl¡¯s relations with Elalios was deeper than he imagined. He couldn¡¯t destroy it.

    Then, just a week ago, when he thought he got Elalios¡¯s destruction, he was in for a surprise. A terrible one at that.

    The person he thought was the weakest among the Earl¡¯s servants beat him. He received an unquestionable lost. He was thrown down lower than what he already felt. He became a pathetic servant, highest in recognition, lowest in truth.

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    Osbert sat in silence, trying to forget what happened to him. Although he still have something to sever Elalios¡¯s relation to the Earl, his lost was simply unacceptable. His soul grew even darker, wanting to eliminate Elalios for good.

    He considered letting the other servants know about Elalios¡¯s betrayal, but he knew they have great relations with his enemy. He didn¡¯t know that when darkness was coming to reach its peak, malevolent forces take notice. And so, one of those beings see him.

    Osbert¡¯s thinking was interrupted by someone opening the door of his disordered house. He looked at the door and he saw no one. He was about to close the annoying door when something whispered behind him.

    ¡°It¡¯s ripe¡±

    Osbert looked back. There¡¯s no one. He heard another whisper.

    ¡°Do you want something?¡±, the disembodied voice asked.

    ¡°Who are you? Show yourself!¡±, Osbert said, looking around with his hand holding his dagger.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do that yet as I don¡¯t have a body¡±, the voice paused. ¡°Will you help me?¡±

    ¡°Why would I do that?¡±, Osbert said still looking around his house. ¡°Solve your own problem¡±

    ¡°I see you want something, I can help you¡±

    Osbert was silent, still looking around.

    ¡°You want riches? A lady? Power?¡±

    Osbert¡¯s eyebrows arched.

    ¡°Power¡­ I can give you power¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t trick me¡±

    ¡°No tricks, just exchanges between allies¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not your ally¡±

    The voice laughed. ¡°You don¡¯t want to equal the Earl?¡±

    Osbert was flustered. He still have some suspicions, but the voice didn¡¯t wait for his answer.

    Osbert felt the surge of power within him. He felt an uncontrollable surge of delight, but he suppressed himself, unwilling to give in.

    ¡°What is this? What did you do to me?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my gift. It will prove my good intentions¡±, the disembodied voice said.

    Osbert couldn¡¯t suppress his mind anymore. He imagined Elalios, feeding his desire for destruction even more. His soul became darker, much to the delight of the entity that gave him power.

    ¡°What do you want in exchange of this?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think about it too much, I will let you know once you fulfilled your desire¡±, the voice said. ¡°Now go, use your power to do whatever you desired. If you needed more, I will help you¡±

    Osbert healed his wounds in an instant. He had one destination in mind. He will go back to where he received humiliation.

    All of this happened, as Seqina witnessed it. She didn¡¯t know what Osbert was up to, but she knew that Cadell needed to know what she heard.

 Fallen

    ¡®He will return¡¯

    That¡¯s what Elalios thought, remembering the resentful eyes that Osbert showed before fleeing. He knew he couldn¡¯t rely on Kael, as he failed on acquiring the memory potion that the child needed. It was just himself that should deal with the incoming disaster. He made up his mind, he should go.

    ¡°You said you can¡¯t return anymore¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°Yes, but I need to¡±, Elalios said. ¡°I need to get the potion you needed¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to¡±

    Elalios smiled seeing the concern expressed by Kael. ¡°Thank you, but I want to do this¡±

    Kael let Elalios do what he wanted. The deacon departed, and disappeared in the path to Cleron. He waited for Elalios to return again, but this time, no one appeared.

    <hr>

    Elalios looked back at the village he can no longer see, and walked forward again. He slowed down his pace, resconsidering his actions. He wanted to go back, but he felt that there¡¯s no time for hesitation. Osbert might come sooner than he expected.

    Several hours of travel passed, Elalios decided to rest. He¡¯s far away from the village, but his hesitation stayed in him. As he was thinking of going back, he looked at the direction to Cleron and saw something. He stood, looking for a place to hide.

    There¡¯s a person fast approaching. The figure approached Elalios in haste that he wasn¡¯t able to hide successfully. He couldn¡¯t see who it is, as the figure was hidden in a rough brown cloak. He was about to run back to the village when he heard a lady¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Elalios, wait!¡±

    ¡°..Seqina?¡±, Elalios said turning to the figure.

    Seqina showed herself to Elalios. Elalios was wary of her which made her confused.

    ¡°You look scared, what happened?¡±

    ¡°Did Osbert tell you something?¡±, Elalios asked while his left hand was stretched in front of him.

    Seqina shook her head. Elalios looked around and allowed her to come close.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±, Elalios asked. ¡°Did you finish looking around the town?¡±

    ¡°No, Osbert didn¡¯t help me¡±

    ¡°Oh. I was finished looking around the village¡±

    Elalios observed Seqina¡¯s expression. Seqina didn¡¯t look intrigued, not asking the results of his search. He felt that if the lady assumed that he didn¡¯t find Kael as she saw him without the child, he should just let the talk end there.

    But he thought of Osbert. If Osbert was the first to say that the child was in the village, he will become a traitor even for Seqina. He juggled his choices in his head, but still, he wasn¡¯t sure what to do.

    ¡°Elalios? Is everything alright?¡±

    ¡°Seqina¡­¡±, Elalios paused, trying to pick the right words to say. ¡°Kael..¡±

    ¡°Did you find him?¡±, Seqina asked.

    Although hesitant, Elalios surrendered what he knew, and nodded at Seqina. Seqina¡¯s face brightened, hearing the wonderful news.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get him¡±, Seqina said. ¡°The Earl has yet to arrive¡±

    Elalios was thinking about what he should say. The words that he will say will dictate his fate on Seqina¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do it¡±, Elalios said shaking his head.

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    ¡°What? Why?¡±

    Elalios contemplated, choosing between Osbert and Kael. Perhaps his fear against Osbert made his decision to come quick. Kael didn¡¯t do anything to him, it¡¯s quite the opposite. There¡¯s no other choice, he will betray Osbert.

    ¡°Osbert wanted to kill Kael¡±

    Seqina¡¯s eyes widened, shocked about what she heard.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, why would he do that?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but believe me, Osbert will kill Kael¡±, Elalios insisted.

    Seqina didn¡¯t need further convincing. Osbert¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t that good in the first place, that¡¯s why it made sense to her, that Osbert will do something like that, than thinking Elalios was lying to her.

    ¡°He will come¡±, Seqina said. ¡°I rushed passed him to see what¡¯s going on¡±

    ¡°Thank you for coming earlier¡±

    Seqina nodded at him.

    They talked about where they should go. Seqina insisted that they should go to Kael to protect him, but Elalios wanted to return to Cleron, secretly aiming to confront Osbert. But before they could make an agreement, someone interrupted them.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±, Osbert shouted.

    Osbert was fast approaching. The two were too surprised to react.

    [Strength Boost]

    Osbert¡¯s fist pressed deep on Elalios¡¯s stomach. It looked as if it pierced through.

    Elalios was hurled back against an alfris tree. He vomited blood. He was down on his knees, clenching his stomach. The ground looked blurry to him. The pain almost disabled all of his senses. He was in no condition to fight back.

    Seqina rushed in front of Elalios, protecting him from Osbert.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±, Seqina asked.

    ¡°I should be the one asking,¡±, Osbert said. ¡°Why are you protecting the traitor?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°That bastard let the child escape. He¡¯s a traitor!¡±

    Seqina was conflicted. She looked at Elalios who was still gripping on his stomach.

    ¡°Do.. don¡¯t fight.. him¡±, Elalios coughed. ¡°He¡¯s after me¡±

    Elalios¡¯s sorry state made Seqina remember what Elalios told her. She believed him more than Osbert. She gave him a healing potion, and faced Osbert.

    ¡°Stop pretending, Osbert¡±, Seqina said. ¡°Elalios told me the truth¡±

    Osbert was angered, realizing that Seqina believed the weak man more than him. His resentment towards Elalios grew once again.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±

    [Speed Boost]

    Seqina didn¡¯t let Osbert go any closer. She threw a potion bottle towards Osbert. It exploded as it shattered, stopping Osbert. She threw another which her opponent saw coming, but she had another plan.

    [Speed Boost]

    Seqina moved quick towards her distracted opponent. She took three bottles of potion.

    Osbert saw Seqina gaining on him. It was enough distraction. The potion exploded at him, inflicting another resonating pain. By the time he recovered, Seqina already opened two bottles of potion.

    Seqina emptied the bottles at Osbert. The liquid burst into flames, and engulfed Osbert. Then, she opened the third bottle and soaked Osbert with it. In an instant, the flames consuming Osbert was enclosed in ice. Osbert felt the spikes of pain throughout his body.

    Elalios was finished healing himself by the time the fight concluded. Seqina went to him, and told him to go get Kael while she guarded Osbert. But the fight didn¡¯t conclude just yet.

    ¡®Why did I lost again? Why did they like Elalios more than me?¡¯

    The darkness kept on growing inside Osbert¡¯s soul. It was slowly consuming his body, transforming him from the inside.

    ¡®Unacceptable..¡¯

    Before Elalios was able to walk back to the village, Osbert destroyed the ice that enclosed him.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±

    A surge of darkness consumed Osbert. His grave wounds weren¡¯t visible anymore, his skin turned gray, thick and grotesque. His eyes were replaced by growing horns curving to the top of his head, his hands turning into four sharp claws.

    Witnessing Osbert¡¯s transformation, Elalios can only say a single word.

    ¡°Demon..¡±

    An entity feared and hated by the people showed itself to them.

 Disturbance

    A reverberating demonic voice echoed. It was deafening, Elalios and Seqina covered their ears. The forest was disturbed, as Osbert cried out the name of his enemy. As they witness the horrible being face to face, it became hard for them to move with a rational mind.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±

    Elalios stayed in place, looking at his fellow servant¡¯s hideous form. He was taught by the Earl to never engage with such being. But, to flee is not an option, the demon is thirsty for his blood. He saw Osbert looking only at him, with his no longer existing eyes. It was intimidating him, luring him to be devoured.

    ¡°Elalios, let¡¯s go!¡±

    Seqina¡¯s voice startled Elalios. He looked behind him, and saw Seqina urging him to flee. He looked back at the demon, and suddenly, he felt his own weight pressing down his feet. He saw the demon, crouched down like a runner.

    The demon¡¯s claws pressed on the ground. It stretched its body backwards like a drawn out slingshot. And then, it catapulted himself. Elalios heard the whistle of the wind.

    [Barrier]

    Seqina blocked Osbert¡¯s path. It wasn¡¯t enough. She tried again, and it failed. Osbert was fast approaching. There¡¯s no stopping him.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±, Seqina screamed.

    What occurred happened quick, Elalios was lifted up in the air. The demon¡¯s left arm pierced through his chest. He coughed blood once again, but this time, he didn¡¯t feel the pain. He looked at his bloodied chest and then the demon¡¯s head, and then, he fell unconscious.

    The demon stretched his right arm backwards, aiming to pierce Elalios¡¯s head next. It wasn¡¯t satisfied, wanting to completely mangle Elalios¡¯s body. It showed a sinister grin, which showed his sharp serrated teeth.

    ¡°Get away from him!¡±

    Seqina threw a potion at Osbert, and it exploded. It didn¡¯t do anything to the demon other than making it look at Seqina. There¡¯s still the sinister grin, which terrified the unfortunate lady.

    She threw another potion, and then another, too agitated, forgetting Elalios was with the demon. The combinations of her potions were out of place. In panic, her potions opposed each other, all becoming useless. She quickly ran out of potion, but she didn¡¯t give up, trying to stop the demon.

    The demon did stop from what he was about to do. However, it was doing so to taunt and instill fear towards the panicking lady. Seqina knew, but her hands moved on their own, desperate to free Elalios. She casted different spells. Her magic did what her potions did. She was lost, seeing her fallen ally.

    It didn¡¯t take long before Seqina consumed all her mana. The demon looked at Elalios again. She tried running at it, but she didn¡¯t have the courage. She fell on her knees, having done nothing to save Elalios. The demon¡¯s swift claws moved forward.

    [Binded Summon: Silver Knight]

    But, Elalios was not destined to die just yet. When the demon was about to kill Elalios, his left arm was slashed clean, freeing the nearly dying man. The demon jumped back, while the figure that cut him laid Elalios carefully on the ground. The demon remembered the look of the figure, and tried attacking it, but..

    [Earth Wall]

    The demon was squashed between walls of earth that appeared around him. Seqina couldn¡¯t register what just happened. Then, a voice that she was hoping to hear all this time called for her name.

    ¡°Seqina, are you alright?¡±, Cadell asked, joining the fight.

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    Cadell was looking around the surroundings, trying to analyze everything quick enough. He was sure he was missing something, but he couldn¡¯t find what he wanted to see. He looked at Seqina, who was so happy that she saw him. Seqina¡¯s slow smile made him forget what he was trying to find.

    Seqina tried to get close to Cadell, but before she did, the demon broke the earth wall made by the old man.

    ¡®I thought that¡¯s strong enough¡­¡¯ Cadell thought.

    ¡°Seqina, move Elalios away from the demon¡±

    Seqina followed Cadell¡¯s command, which alerted the demon. It looked back and made an attempt to finish off Elalios.

    [Earth Wall]

    ¡°I won¡¯t allow you¡±, Cadell said.

    The demon broke the wall. Cadell buried his right hand in the soil.

    [Earth Cube]

    The ground between the demon and Cadell changed into large earthen cubes. Cadell raised the earth cube under the demon, hurling it upwards.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±, the demon shouted.

    The demon was still looking at Elalios. It jumped down, but a rising cube caught him. Around him were floating cubes controlled by Cadell.

    Cadell clapped his hands, and a pair of earth cube crushed the demon. He slid his hands to each other, one forwards and one backwards, and the cubes did the same. He moved his hands again, and the demon moved up towards another cube. He separated the cubes to see what happened to the demon. It didn¡¯t seem damaged at all, save for its missing left arm. The only thing he did was anger the demon.

    Cadell heard the whistle of the wind. By instinct, he knew the demon was fast approaching. He lined up the large earthen cubes between him and the demon. He pushed the seven cubes one by one towards the demon. One by one, he heard the cubes get destroyed upon impact.

    ¡®I¡¯m too old for this¡¯

    When Cadell heard the fourth cube get destroyed, he knew he can¡¯t defeat the demon by himself.

    [True Summon: Iron Giant]

    Cadell called forth his summon, a figure five times taller than him. It slapped Osbert down like a fly, the demon plummeted to the ground. It didn¡¯t move for a short time.

    ¡°How¡¯s Elalios?¡±, Cadell walked to Seqina.

    Cadell didn¡¯t need to hear any answers. There¡¯s blood flowing from Elalios¡¯s chest. Seqina shook her head looking at Cadell, denying what was about to happen. Cadell didn¡¯t want to accept it either, but he knew.

    ¡®I failed¡¯

    Cadell¡¯s thought was interrupted by a terrible scream.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±

    The demon didn¡¯t let them rest. Cadell looked back at it, and it was positioning to jump towards them. Cadell was quick to ready himself, but, before he commanded his summon, the demon froze in place.

    ¡°Not yet, I still need you¡±, a voice said.

    Cadell didn¡¯t know where it came from, it seemed to appear out of nowhere. Then, he saw someone standing beside Osbert.

    ¡°It was great, young lady¡±, the figure continued.

    It was another demon, but it was more human-like than Osbert. White wavy hair and a pair of inch long black horns protruding from its forehead. It was also gray skinned, but its skin was unnaturally smooth. Its red feline eyes stared at Cadell.

    ¡°Is it my time already?¡±, Cadell asked burying his right hand in the soil.

    ¡°No¡±, the red-eyed demon said. ¡°We¡¯re finished here, I am satisfied¡±

    Cadell wasn¡¯t amused by the declaration, but he knew its best to not fight it. The demon left along with Osbert, but the tension didn¡¯t fade. Cadell was only able to let his guard down when the demon disappeared in the horizon.

    ¡°Seqina¡±, Cadell said still looking from where the demon disappeared into. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡±

    Cadell was puzzled by the silence. He hesitated, but he looked back. His eyes widened, as he saw Seqina unconscious, laying down the ground. There¡¯s no other people beside them in the pathway. Elalios was missing.

 Sacrifice

    Kael ran back to the direction of the village. He witnessed Cadell¡¯s fight against Osbert, discovering that demons still existed in the current timeline. But time is of essence, so he set aside the issue for the time being.

    His intuition was right, Elalios did get in danger. He was too late when he arrived, but he still have hope. He snatched Elalios¡¯s weakening body from Seqina, aiming to heal the injured man away from the other servants. He knew Elalios will not last before they arrive in the village, so he detoured from the pathway, and hid themselves in the overgrown forest.

    The silver knight layed down Elalios on the ground as commanded by its master. Kael pressed his left hand onto Elalios¡¯s chest, his right hand grasping the severed arm of the demon. He must prepare himself. Just a second delay after he pulled out the demon arm will cost Elalios his life. He needed to cast magic as soon as he pulled the arm.

    ¡®One.. two.. three!¡¯

    [Full Heal]

    The calming glow of the healing magic enveloped Elalios. Kael see through the flow of magic, mapping Elalios¡¯s chest with ease. He saw the broken chest bones and aimed for all of its pieces.

    [Restore]

    The pieces mended together, the healing magic was able to fill in the missing parts. Kael looked at the heart, and was relieved that it narrowly avoided the attack. He turned to the other organs that the demon arm damaged and heal all of it.

    Kael consumed so much mana doing such intricate task. He felt his mana vessel, and see it looking like a broken bowl. He still have some mana to spare, but in his past life, he never used ¡°Late Cost¡± as far as he did now. He didn¡¯t know what could happen if he exploit his vessel too much.

    But, Kael was still as he was before. It¡¯s not that hard for him to decide. If Elalios needed blood, and he had a way to help him, he will do it even at the cost of his own life.

    [Life Blood]

    Creating blood is not as simple as growing an organ. The blood holds life, and as such, requires a large quantity of mana fitting for its importance. Kael had six thousand units of mana to spare, he knew it wasn¡¯t enough.

    Elalios lost so much blood while the fight was going on. Kael thought at the time that Cadell will get distracted if he took Elalios during the fight. Knowing the amount of blood he needed to create, he regretted not taking Elalios immediately.

    Kael¡¯s magic created a few drops of blood, too few for Elalios to live. The mana he had left weren¡¯t enough to even create another droplet of blood. He failed, Elalios will die after the glow of healing faded.

    ¡°No..¡±

    The glow was fading steady, Kael looked at it as if telling it to not fade out. He stayed still, not wanting to give up, but he didn¡¯t know what to do next.

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    ¡°No..¡±

    The healing was about to stop, but Kael didn¡¯t want it to. His vessel looked like a piece of shattered glass, but he just couldn¡¯t let go. He thought of sacrificing himself, but before he did, the silver knight kneeled in front of him.

    No words were spoken. Kael knew the message that the silver knight was trying to say to him. It will sacrifice itself, its being a source of mana to fulfill his master¡¯s will.

    The knight touched Elalios¡¯s chest. It has no power to heal, it can only fight and destroy, but his hand gestured its desire to relieve its master¡¯s pain.

    Kael¡¯s eyes spilled over the grief he felt, as he saw the knight¡¯s action. Whatever he decided, he will make a sacrifice. Sacrificing himself will do nothing, the knight is the only way. And so, he accepted the knight¡¯s offer, eliminating the only thing that can protect him.

    [Late Cost: Restore]

    Kael ended his access to the mana of his vessel. At the second phase of ¡°Late Cost¡±, he must repair his mana vessel, by leading the mana he will absorb directly to the vessel itself. The knight disintegrated into concentrated mana and returned to his master.

    Kael was not too late. He activated the first phase of ¡°Late Cost¡± again and the glow of healing became bright once again.

    [Life Blood]

    The color of life was returning to Elalios. Kael was exhausted, but he pushed himself, and was able to save Elalios from certain death.

    <hr>

    Elalios woke up, his body filled with vigor once again. ¡°Kael..¡±

    Kael smiled at him. ¡°You¡¯ve been asleep for too long¡±

    Elalios remembered what happened. He checked his body, and he couldn¡¯t find any injury nor wounds. In fact, he felt like he was way healthier than he was used to.

    ¡°What happened?¡±, Elalios said, looking at Kael in confusion. Before Kael can give him any answers however, the child passed out beside him. ¡°Hey!¡±

    Elalios was shaking Kael, but there¡¯s no response. He felt the heat from Kael¡¯s body, like a fever, akin to what the child suffered in the castle. He didn¡¯t know what to do, but then, his thoughts were interrupted.

    ¡°Elalios¡±

    Elalios looked around, and found where the voice came from. His eyes widened when he saw who it was. It was the person, or rather, the creature that wanted him to die. It was Osbert, still in his demonic form.

    Elalios wanted to run away, but remembered the unconscious Kael, vulnerable and weakened. He steeled his nerves and stayed on his feet.

    ¡°What do you want?¡±, Elalios asked.

    The demon didn¡¯t move nor did it answer. Instead, it gave way to the red-eyed demon, which horrified Elalios even more.

    ¡°Kael..¡±, the red-eyed demon said, then it looked at Elalios. ¡°Can I have him?¡±

    Elalios was trembling, his knees were about to fail him. The demon that asked him the ominous question was without a doubt, stronger than Osbert. He knew the odds of him surviving the encounter.

    It¡¯s fair to just give in, letting the demon have his way, but when he felt his heart beating, alive and with such strength, he saw Kael in his mind. There¡¯s no choice to make, he will protect Kael.

    ¡°No¡±, Elalios said with firm conviction.

 Rising

    Kael fulfilled his objective, but it was not without cost. What¡¯s left of his mana vessel were fragments, broken pieces that couldn¡¯t contain mana anymore. He reached the limit. He learned that he was still bounded by the laws of the world.

    Is it all right to give up now?

    That¡¯s the question that circled around his mind. He wanted to be reminded of what he wanted to do in the first place. Having the will to live a second time, he must have a good reason, because otherwise, what he did was meaningless.

    But, he was quick to forgive, that even if he was reminded of what he should do, he outright refused to acknowledge it. He was too stubborn to let darkness consume his soul. Perhaps that¡¯s the reason why he became the greatest hero, but it could also be the cause of his downfall.

    What happened to Elalios?

    That¡¯s the second question that he thought of. He wanted to at least make sure that his sacrifice didn¡¯t go to waste. He wasn¡¯t sure why he sacrificed so much to one of the servants of the Earl. Maybe he looked way too similar to his friend in the past, or maybe, he didn¡¯t learn his lesson when the rulers of the world betrayed him. Either way, it¡¯s a bit naive on his part to sacrifice himself to the point of his second demise.

    He heard Elalios¡¯s voice calling for him. He was relieved. Although he couldn¡¯t move his body nor could he respond to Elalios¡¯s calls, he was thankful. The beneficiary of his sacrifice seemed more alive than him. For that, he was truly thankful.

    He can feel his mind disappearing little by little. Elalios¡¯s lively voice cut his will to live. As he remembered that his second family forgot that he exist, there¡¯s no point to suffer and try to survive. If living will benefit no one other than his own, he¡¯s ready to die again.

    But, as the world gave him favor, and guided him to dwell in a human body, he was guided once again. Before he completely fell into eternal slumber, he heard Elalios, talking to someone.

    Elalios¡¯s voice was alarming, as it was evident that he was afraid. Too afraid that he couldn¡¯t hide it.

    The person that Elalios was talking to requested to have Kael. Kael would allow it if he could save Elalios for a second time, but he couldn¡¯t move to do so. Kael was hoping that Elalios will accept the request, but he was surprised at what Elalios said.

    ¡°No¡±

    Such firm, assured response that no one can change. Elalios¡¯s tone, the way he mustered all the courage he has, Kael knew by then. Elalios will protect him no matter what.

    Tears flowed on Kael¡¯s face. He was waiting to have someone who will protect him, like what Elalios did. He realized that he did get tired of being the protector he once was. And here, he heard it loud and clear, Elalios was the person he was waiting for.

    But during such great and joyful moment, Kael realized the dreadful truth. He fought Elalios before, and he discovered the overwhelming difference in their power. Elalios has no power to protect him, Elalios is way too weak.

    Kael let the dreadful truth consume him for a moment, but it didn¡¯t last. He gained a reason to live again. This time not for revenge, not for the benefit of humanity. He must live to save Elalios, as for his sacrifice to not go to waste.

    He needed to mend his broken mana vessel, a feat that could take him months to do so. But this time, he needed to fix himself as soon as possible. So, being once the greatest hero that defied the laws of the world, he will attempt to do another impossible feat.

    ¡®Wait for me, I will save you¡¯

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    <hr>

    Elalios was nervous laughing at himself.

    ¡®Why am I protecting this strange child?¡¯

    He couldn¡¯t explain what got into him, using himself to protect the person that shattered his pride more than anyone else. But here he was, determined to protect Kael, a decision that will guarantee his demise.

    ¡®Did Kael¡¯s summon hit me too hard?¡¯

    Elalios was ready. He knew that no amount of readiness can prepare him against the demon. But even if the situation was against him, his feet weren¡¯t moving, even if he could get away.

    ¡®I should get some compensation if I surv¡­ is there an afterlife?¡¯

    ¡°You¡¯re brave, but I have no time to play with you¡±, the red-eyed demon said. ¡°Osbert, get the child¡±

    ¡°Elalios..¡±, Osbert didn¡¯t move. He kept on calling Elalios¡¯s name.

    The red-eyed demon looked at Osbert. ¡°Your will is stronger than I thought¡±, the demon stretched his hand towards Osbert.

    [Dark Dominion]

    All of a sudden, a fog of deep darkness surrounded Osbert. He was in excruciating pain, which made Elalios worry for his fellow servant.

    ¡°What did you do to him?¡±, Elalios asked.

    ¡°Sometimes, disobedient demons need discipline¡±, the red-eyed demon said.

    Elalios wasn¡¯t amused. He wanted to attack the wretched demon. But before he could do something, he heard the whistle of the wind.

    [Shield]

    He was traumatized enough to remember what the sound meant. But his magic couldn¡¯t protect him. He heard the shattering, his barrier was broken. The only thing he thought of doing was to cover Kael with his body. He closed his eyes and hoped for the best.

    ¡°STOP¡±, the demon ordered Osbert.

    Osbert was only a millimeter away from Elalios when he was forced to stop moving.

    The red-eyed demon walked towards Osbert. It was walking slowly, but its eyes remained looking at Elalios the entire time. When he was side to side with Osbert, he began speaking.

    ¡°Let me have the child¡±

    Elalios opened his eyes a little after hearing the request. He saw the two terrifying demons. He can reach them with his hand, too close for comfort.

    Elalios didn¡¯t know what to do by then, his mind became a mess of incoherent voices. He tried voicing the right words to appease the demons. But, his panicking mind chose the wrong set of words.

    ¡°Try it if you can¡±

    Hearing those taunting words, the red-eyed demon became visibly upset.

    ¡°You¡¯re testing my patience¡±, the red-eyed demon stretched his hands towards Osbert again.

    ¡°MAKE HIM SUFFER¡±

    Hearing the demon¡¯s order, Osbert¡¯s face showed a sinister grin. He kicked Elalios. It was his weakest kick, but it affected Elalios¡¯s whole body. He kicked Elalios repeatedly, hitting a different body part each time. Elalios began to feel his body deteriorating once again, but he was smiling from the pain.

    ¡®I deserve this¡¯

    The red-eyed demon was frustrated, witnessing Elalios¡¯s stubbornness. But it didn¡¯t do anything to Elalios. Instead, he commanded Osbert again.

    ¡°I wonder, should I kill you?¡±, the red-eyed demon asked. It didn¡¯t wait for Elalios¡¯s answer. ¡°KILL HIM¡±

    Osbert couldn¡¯t be more excited hearing the great words of his demon master. He stretched his hand, and aimed to split Elalios in half. His hand moved so quick.

    [Great Defense]

    The time froze for a second. When it moved normal again, Osbert lost his remaining arm. He looked at Elalios, and the man he desired to kill was protected by a golden barrier.

    ¡°Thank you, Elalios. You protected me¡±

 Savior

    Elalios didn¡¯t doubt, not even a little bit, that he will die after challenging the demon with his words. They are the kind of monsters that are known to be quite prideful and cruel. He knew the consequences, but he chose to protect Kael. He chose to die and suffer, but, with that conviction, he was rewarded a second chance for life.

    Elalios stood after hearing the genuine gratitude from the child. Kael stood as well, and as Elalios witnessed, the child¡¯s entire body glowed, ethereal looking and blindingly white. The whole area lit up, the radiance can be seen even from Cleron. Then the light dissipated, and Kael changed in appearance.

    Kael¡¯s eyes became golden, and as fierce as a lion. His hair became white, his body temporarily turning into an adult. He turned into the man of his vision, the only person he knew that can do the impossible. He became the valiant person that at one time saved the world from demons. Yes, he became Lucien, the greatest hero in all his glory.

    Elalios couldn¡¯t utter a word to say. Kael kept on defying his expectations, and this time, the unusual child became a different person.

    Kael looked at the red-eyed demon. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    The demon was as bewildered as Elalios, but he tried hiding it.

    ¡°You¡¯re not completed yet¡±, Kael stated.

    The demon was shocked with what Kael said. He heard the statement as an insult, but discovering that someone knew his current state agitated him. And so, he commanded Osbert.

    ¡°KILL HIM¡±

    Osbert pounced towards Kael. Kael didn¡¯t dodge and receive the full power of Osbert¡¯s attack.

    [Great Defense]

    Osbert wasn¡¯t able to penetrate the golden barrier that Kael created.

    ¡°You were used¡±, Kael said. ¡°I wish I could help you¡±

    Kael punched Osbert on the chest, hurling the demon back to his demon master.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this,¡±, the red-eyed demon said. ¡°I need to kill you¡±

    Kael didn¡¯t pay attention to the demons. He looked at Elalios who was still bewildered at his change of appearance. He was relieved that the man that protected him was not harmed severely.

    [Full Heal]

    Elalios¡¯s bruises disappeared from his body, but he was too stunned to notice. His mind couldn¡¯t recover from what was happening. Kael let the confusion subside on its own, and returned his gaze towards the demon.

    ¡°Let¡¯s stop this¡±, Kael walked slowly towards the demon. ¡°I can¡¯t destroy you, and you can¡¯t influence the physical world¡±

    ¡°Huh? How are you sure of that?¡±, the distraught demon asked.

    ¡°I thought I eliminated everyone of your kind. I was wrong¡±

    Hearing Kael¡¯s honest words, the red-eyed demon became enraged. However, Kael was right that he couldn¡¯t interact with the physical world, and so, he couldn¡¯t kill the mysterious person before him.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±, the red-eyed demon asked.

    Kael didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he looked at Osbert.

    ¡°Leave him to me¡±

    ¡°Why would I do that?¡±, the red-eyed demon asked.

    ¡°He¡¯s dangerous¡±

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    ¡°Do you think I will listen to you?¡±

    [Slash]

    After his insolent words, the red-eyed demon looked at Osbert. The poor demon was laying down the ground, his legs cut clean from his body.

    ¡°Red eyes.. I think I remember..¡±, Kael interrupted the demon¡¯s frightened mind. ¡°You¡¯re either a second class demon or a third class. Am I right?¡±

    ¡®Huh?.. who is this?¡¯

    The red-eyed demon was targeted by Kael¡¯s cold stare. He never predicted that the child harbored such overwhelming presence. He discovered Kael¡¯s deep hatred towards demons, but he also discovered that Kael still have some remaining pity towards Osbert. But, putting Osbert to the side, Kael didn¡¯t have any pity towards him.

    ¡®This person is dangerous. He might prevent my completion¡¯

    ¡°You may go now¡±, Kael said. ¡°But expect that I will find you someday, when you are complete¡±

    There¡¯s a deep feeling of terror from within the red-eyed demon.

    ¡®Why am I so afraid? Me? A high class demon?¡¯

    Kael turned back and walk to Elalios. He held Elalios by his arms. The man was still under confusion, unable to wrap his head to what¡¯s going on.

    [Full Boost]

    Kael looked behind, his gaze sent a terrifying message to the red-eyed demon once again. He zoomed back to the village along with Elalios.

    There¡¯s a temporary silence after Kael¡¯s departure. Then, the red-eyed demon started hysterically laughing.

    <hr>

    Kael stopped near the village, hidden from its inhabitants. He let Elalios sit on a tree root, and from a short distance, he began meditating.

    His meditation was aiming to reconstruct his mana vessel back to its normal state. It was still broken and currently of no use. He knew that he must not return to his original self without stabilizing his vessel.

    What he did to temporarily be as powerful as his prime self was reconstructing the power ¡°Late Cost¡± gave him. At its original state, ¡°Late Cost¡± creates a special pathway that lets him consume the mana that his mana vessel was made up of. But he became desperate at the time, and so, he looked on other possibilities that will let him use mana without needing a mana vessel. That possibility was in the form of an unbounded vessel.

    Since ¡°Late Cost¡± creates special pathways for mana to flow, he tried to use its power to create the pathways to lead outside his body. His body being exposed to the flow of mana by means of the created pathways, he essentially made the whole world as his mana vessel.

    However, being exposed like that to the flow of mana was not without drawbacks. Normal beings of any kind have natural barriers in their bodies preventing mana to get absorbed. Living beings have these natural barriers as to not crystallize for absorbing too much mana. Thus, opening himself to mana flow like that made Kael susceptible to crystallization.

    Fortunately, mana crystallization doesn¡¯t occur that quick, even to someone with very high mana affinity like him. And so, all he needed to do is to fix his broken vessel, and close the special pathways for him to go back to being normal again.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Kael to get back to normal. His mana vessel was as good as new, and he came back as the child he really was. He then went to Elalios and invited him to return to the village.

    ¡°Elalios¡±

    Elalios looked at him, exhausted for thinking too much. He couldn¡¯t see the child as what he is anymore. Kael was definitely different, so different that he should not exist.

    ¡°Kael.. how should I call you?¡±, Elalios said defeated by the strangeness of what he experienced.

    ¡°You should call me by my name¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound right¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    Elalios looked down, grabbing and rubbing his hair with both hands. Then, he continued talking.

    ¡°There are things I wanted to know¡±, Elalios looked at Kael. ¡°I thought I didn¡¯t need to know you. That¡¯s what I thought, back when we fought in the forest, in your village. But..¡±

    Elalios sighed. He wanted Kael to be honest with him.

    ¡°Can you answer me?¡±, Elalios waited for Kael¡¯s response. The child responded with his attentive stare. ¡°Who are you really?¡±

    Kael tried thinking of a way to somehow evade the question, and answer it vaguely. But looking at Elalios¡¯s genuine desire to know him, he felt within himself that he should just answer with honesty.

    ¡°I¡¯m Lucien¡±

    Elalios¡¯s eyes widened after hearing the familiar name. He wasn¡¯t given a time to speak, as Kael voiced his declaration.

    ¡°I have returned¡±

 Friend

    Seqina and Cadell spent their entire day hoping to find Elalios¡¯s whereabouts. They weren¡¯t successful, so they decided to return to the castle, defeated for losing Kael, and losing two of their fellow servants. They blamed their weaknesses for allowing bad things to happen as soon as the Earl left. There¡¯s still more time to fix the problem, but they couldn¡¯t see how they would do that.

    The next day, their predicament reached its peak. While inside the castle, thinking about what they should do next, they heard the frantic preparation of the guards outside. The Earl returned earlier than he should be.

    ¡°Cadell..¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t escape this, Seqina¡±, Cadell said, convincing Seqina to stay inside the castle. ¡°We must face Lord Gideon¡±

    The guards opened the door, and gave way to the Earl. The Earl looked around, and saw that only Seqina and Osbert greeted him.

    ¡°We awaited your return, Lord Gideon¡±

    ¡°There are people missing¡±, Earl Gideon said.

    The two servants didn¡¯t say a word. Earl Gideon looked at them in silence, and realized that something was amiss.

    ¡°I want to have a rest¡±, Earl Gideon said. ¡°Prepare yourself¡±

    The Earl left the two servants. Seqina and Osbert stayed in place anxious, as the Earl didn¡¯t walk towards his own room. They waited for the Earl to return, which after a while, came back to them.

    ¡°Where is Kael?¡±

    ¡°My lord..¡±, Cadell couldn¡¯t continue what he was going to say.

    The Earl commanded his guards to leave them in the great hall. ¡°Lead the way¡±

    Cadell marched underground, leading Seqina and the Earl to the secret room. The old man wanted to slow down his pace, but he was discouraged by the heavy steps of the Earl. The servants positioned themselves in front of the Earl at the moment they arrived in the secret underground room.

    ¡°Cadell,¡±, the Earl said, his voice deeper than normal. ¡°Speak¡±

    ¡°My lord, I apologize¡±, Cadell paused. ¡°Kael is missing¡±

    The Earl clenched his fist. His face was beginning to lose its calm composure. His eyes darted towards Seqina.

    ¡°But my lord, Kael is alive¡±, Seqina said. ¡°In the village of Lucien believers¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t get him?¡±

    ¡°My lord, if I may..¡±, Cadell said evading the Earl¡¯s gaze, looking down.

    ¡°Speak Cadell¡±

    ¡°A demon went to the village. We co¨C¡±

    The servants heard a burst of flame. They saw the raging fire engulfing the right hand of the Earl. They didn¡¯t have the courage to see what emotion the Earl expressed on his face.

    The fire get stronger that they could feel the painful heat, but they tolerated it. They closed their eyes and ready themselves to receive what¡¯s coming. But¡­

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    It didn¡¯t arrive.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go¡±

    The Earl said his command. And although the servants were surprised about what didn¡¯t happen, they knew that they shouldn¡¯t make the Earl wait for their obedience.

    At once, the Earl was outside the castle along with his two servants. The servants readied the carriage, but the Earl stopped them.

    ¡°Come with me, quick¡±, the Earl said.

    The Earl held their hands.

    [Full Boost]

    Afterwards, only the gust of intense wind was felt by the town of Cleron. The Earl and his servants disappeared in an instant.

    <hr>

    Kael and Elalios agreed to talk inside the hut made for worship. Inside, Kael narrated the experiences he went through after gaining his body, and some of the experiences he had when he was Lucien.

    Kael said many things that he thought he will never have to say to anyone. It kind of relieved him to release some of his secrets, but he felt guilty that he exposed himself to someone that just looked like his friend from the past.

    ¡°You¡¯re a god¡±, Elalios said after the revelation that Kael made him know.

    At this point in time, Elalios believed everything that Kael said. However absurd, after witnessing the things Kael can do, he knew that the child will not lie to him.

    ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence that I have the same name as what my grandparents worship¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°No.. no, no, no, no, no. You are Lucien, the person they were waiting for all this time¡±, Elalios said.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say any of those things you preach¡±

    ¡°I invented most of it¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t claim that I will return¡±

    Elalios refused to listen to Kael¡¯s attempts to distance himself from the god of Lucienean faith. He was sure that Kael, or rather, the soul that gained the child¡¯s body, is the Lucien that he thought didn¡¯t exist. The story of the child matched the authentic teachings of the said faith. Kael may deny it, but Elalios was assured of his truth.

    Kael could only shook his head seeing that Elalios was too stubborn to listen to him. He did, at one point, considered that he was the Lucien of Lucieneans, but he threw that thought away.

    Elalios had many questions to him, many of which were about the things he did in the past. He realized during Elalios¡¯s questioning that there are people that attempted to taint his reputation. Unfortunately for him, the attempt of those people succeeded.

    ¡°What will you do now?¡±, Elalios asked, eager for Kael to answer.

    ¡°I need to get stronger¡±

    Elalios was reminded of all that happened to the child. ¡°I apologize¡±

    ¡°You already did, I forgive you¡±, Kael assured Elalios.

    ¡°Can I help you in any way?¡±

    Kael was confused hearing Elalios¡¯s question. He wasn¡¯t sure if the man suddenly switched to support him, or Elalios have some ulterior motive.

    ¡°Why would you help me?¡±

    Elalios jolted slightly. He forgot for a moment that Kael knew his connection with the Earl. He is one of the servants of the man that captured the vulnerable Kael.

    ¡°You don¡¯t trust me?¡±, Elalios asked.

    ¡°I will be honest, it¡¯s hard to trust you¡±

    Elalios showed a smile. ¡°I see¡±

    ¡°I can only trust myself¡±, Kael said. ¡°Especially now, that demons still exist¡±

    ¡°I will help you with that¡±, Elalios stated. Kael looked at him as if to reject his offer. ¡°Let me prove to you that you can trust me¡±

    Elalios offered his hand to Kael. Kael was reluctant, but he slowly moved his hand towards Elalios¡¯s. But before they managed to establish their agreement, a strong gust of wind disturbed the whole village.

    ¡°What was that?¡±, Kael asked.

    ¡°Stay here, let me see it¡±, Elalios said as he rushed outside to check the cause of the disturbance.

 Next

    Elalios wanted what he saw to be a dream. His life plans didn¡¯t prepare him to be involved in successive turmoils. As it was with the demons, seeing Earl Gideon made him feel a crushing in his stomach.

    Elalios tried getting in to inform Kael about the situation, but the Earl already spotted him. He desired to run away, but he knew that there¡¯s no escaping the Earl.

    ¡°Elalios¡±, the Earl called.

    The one called kneeled to the Earl. ¡°Your lordship¡±

    ¡°Did you find Kael?¡±

    Hearing the name, Elalios felt heavy, the air weighing down on him.

    The people of the village circled around the Earl, and greeted him. The villagers¡¯ greetings calmed the Earl¡¯s rash conduct, which relieved Elalios for a moment.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk here¡±

    ¡°Then,¡±, Elalios sneaked a glance at the village¡¯s house of worship, then looked to the farthest hut he could see. ¡°Let¡¯s go there, my lord¡±

    Elalios led the way to the hut he pointed at. He glances behind him from time to time, making sure that the people he wanted to follow him, did follow him away from Kael. They arrived to their destination without much problems.

    Inside the hut, the Earl was invited to sit first before anyone could sit. He ordered the old man living in the hut to go outside for a while. The people that remained inside were the servants along with the Earl.

    Earl Gideon wasted no time. ¡°Now, answer my question¡±, he said, looking at Elalios.

    Elalios looked at Seqina who in turn nodded at him. He realized that the Earl knew that Kael was in the village, as he said it to Seqina.

    ¡°My lord,¡±, Elalios paused, trying to look for the right words to say. ¡°Kael wasn¡¯t here anymore¡±

    Elalios kept his head down, afraid to see the face of the Earl. He waited for a response, droplets of sweat started forming on his temples.

    ¡°Seqina said Kael was here¡±, the Earl said after a brief silence.

    ¡°Kael was not here anymore, my lord¡±, Elalios said.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t find him anywhere¡±, Elalios replied.

    The Earl looked at Elalios who refused to look at him eye to eye. He sighed. He was relieved, but confused seeing Elalios¡¯s unusual behavior.

    ¡°Is he safe?¡±, the Earl said.

    Elalios was stunned, hearing the question. The tone of the Earl seemed assured that he knew where Kael was. He knew that if he continued the facade, the Earl will not be amused.

    ¡°Y.. yes, my lord¡±

    Seqina and Cadell was surprised, but the Earl didn¡¯t seem mad at Elalios.

    ¡°My lord, if I may¡±, Cadell said.

    The Earl raised his right hand, stopping Cadell from speaking further.

    ¡°Why are you hiding him?¡±, the Earl asked.

    Elalios remain agitated. He wasn¡¯t sure what to say to the Earl. But then, he remembered their encounter with the demons. He collected his mind, and tried voicing what he saw as his way of regaining the trust of the Earl.

    ¡°The demons.. they were trying to get Kael¡±

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    ¡°Did they hurt him?¡±, the Earl asked, his tone became terrifying once again.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t let them, my lord¡±

    Elalios hoped for the best by then. He felt that he was not convincing enough, and he was ready to jump outside the hut.

    ¡°I see, thank you¡±

    Elalios was surprised. The Earl was acting unusual, but Earl Gideon¡¯s words gave him his much needed relief. Hearing those words, he felt guilty that he¡¯s hiding so much information that he knew the Earl would want to know.

    ¡°It¡¯s my duty as your servant¡±, Elalios said.

    For a moment, Elalios thought he was safe from further inquiries, but the Earl didn¡¯t let him rest.

    ¡°Let me see Kael¡±

    ¡®No¡¯

    Elalios almost blurted out his thought, but he managed to control his tongue. His mind was moving quickly, trying to come up with a decent reason to reject the Earl¡¯s request. He saw only the demons, but he was having some trouble involving the malevolent beings to his excuse.

    But then, at the back of his mind, he heard a familiar voice.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Elalios jolted from his position. The voice was of Kael¡¯s, too vivid to be his imagination.

    ¡°Elalios? Can you hear me?¡±, Kael stated.

    ¡°I.. I can¡±

    The Earl and the servants looked at him confused.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±, the Earl asked after Elalios¡¯s out of the ordinary response.

    Elalios couldn¡¯t respond to the Earl¡¯s question.

    ¡°If you can hear me, talk to me with your mind¡±

    Elalios was distracted by Kael¡¯s voice that it irritated the Earl.

    ¡°Elalios¡±

    ¡°Yes my lord, I apologize¡±, Elalios bowed towards the Earl.

    ¡°Answer my question¡±, the Earl said. ¡°Don¡¯t make me wait¡±

    Elalios tried focusing on the Earl, trying to ignore Kael¡¯s voice.

    ¡®Why am I hearing Kael¡¯s voice in my head?¡¯, Elalios thought.

    ¡°It¡¯s too early, my lord¡±, Elalios said, still a little bit distracted. ¡°I apologize, your lordship can¡¯t meet Kael for now¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because.. the demons..¡±, Elalios¡¯s mind was working overtime.

    The Earl waited for the answer.

    ¡°The demons.. they can.. control humans.. yes, my lord¡±, Elalios said.

    ¡®Why did I say that?¡¯

    ¡°They..¡±, Elalios was reminded of Osbert. ¡°They controlled Osbert to attack us¡±

    ¡®Please, let me get through this¡¯

    The Earl was silent after Elalios¡¯s statement. He looked at Cadell, which nodded at him.

    ¡°You don¡¯t trust us¡±, the Earl stated.

    ¡°My lord, that¡¯s no¨C¡°

    ¡°I understand¡±

    The Earl liked Elalios¡¯s cautiousness to which Elalios was relieved, but also surprised. At that moment, Elalios¡¯s mental burden was lifted completely.

    ¡°Where is Kael?¡±, the Earl said. ¡°You can trust me with just that can you?¡±

    Elalios couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°He¡¯s in the village¡¯s house of worship¡±

    The Earl did a single nod. ¡°Then, protect him Elalios¡±, the Earl declared. ¡°I will allow no one to enter the house of worship except you¡±

    ¡°As you wish, my lord¡±, Elalios bowed.

    ¡°We will hunt the demons¡±

    The Earl looked at Cadell and Seqina. The two servants bowed to the Earl.

    ¡°Seqina, assist Elalios. Stay here until my return¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord¡±

    After their discussion, the Earl went to the hut where Kael was in. He took a peek inside, and then, announced his departure. For the moment, the Earl ceased to be a worry for Elalios and Kael.

 Unchanged

    The Earl was no longer a problem. But, the situation of the current world that Kael discovered was an even more pressing matter. And so, Kael planned to talk about it to Elalios, hoping that the servant of the Earl will help him in any way.

    ¡°Kael¡±, Elalios called. He was with Seqina who was commanded by the Earl to stay for the time being.

    Kael was a bit surprised, as Seqina hugged him immediately after getting inside the house of worship. The lady was smiling, teary-eyed seeing the child once again. She insisted to check Kael¡¯s wellbeing, which was a difficult request to reject for Elalios.

    Seqina spent so much time with Kael, unable to sense the situation that she put Kael in. Kael was looking at Elalios, trying to communicate with his eyes, but even if Elalios knew the message, he couldn¡¯t think of any words to say. All they can do was to wait for Seqina to leave in her own volition.

    It was almost night time when Seqina decided to scout around the village to make sure that there were no demons lurking around. She apologized for forgetting the danger that could be around, which Kael accepted.

    ¡°Finally,¡±, Elalios said, looking at Seqina who was closing the doors of the house of worship.

    Kael saw the cheerful smile that Seqina showed before she completely closed the doors. He felt relieved that the lady didn¡¯t suspect that he escaped from the castle on his own. He waited for Elalios to sit near him, and was about to speak. But Elalios spoke first.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°Wh¨Cwhat do you mean?¡±, Kael asked in return.

    ¡°I heard your voice in my head. I¡¯m sure I didn¡¯t imagine it¡±, Elalios said, pressuring Kael to answer him. ¡°Did you do that?¡±

    ¡°You left with the Earl for too long¡±

    ¡°I knew it, I wasn¡¯t out of my mind¡±, Elalios sighed. ¡°But that¡¯s terrifying. For you to get to my head like that¡±

    ¡°I apologize¡±

    ¡°No need. I knew you didn¡¯t mean any harm¡±, Elalios paused. ¡°Just, next time, say something beforehand that you can do terrifying magic like that¡±

    Kael nodded at him. Elalios rest his back to his chair, and faced the altar of the house.

    ¡°So, there¡¯s something you want to tell me?¡±

    Kael was a little surprised. ¡°Yes¡±, Kael paused for a while, checking if there¡¯s any prying ears outside. ¡°About the demons¡±

    Elalios looked at Kael, his back still rested to the chair. ¡°What of them? Don¡¯t worry, the Earl will take care of them¡±

    ¡°I thought I killed all of them¡±

    Hearing Kael, Elalios was reminded again of who he was talking to. He prepared himself, then explained the situation in the current world.

    While Elalios revealed the large presence of demons in the world, Kael felt frustrated. He thought he eliminated all the darkness for good, but he failed in his mission. He wondered if his efforts to unite the world failed as well. And so, he couldn¡¯t resist to ask.

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    ¡°Can I ask a question?¡±

    ¡°As long as I can answer it¡±, Elalios replied.

    ¡°Then, what do you think of elves?¡±

    ¡°Where did that came from?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just asking¡±

    Elalios was a bit shocked, but Kael¡¯s silence begged him to answer the strange question.

    ¡°Well, they hate us, that¡¯s why we¡¯re at war against them¡±

    ¡°War!?¡±

    ¡°Y¨Cyes¡±, Elalios was surprised, seeing Kael¡¯s reaction. ¡°It¡¯s far from here, but it¡¯s happening¡±

    Kael stopped asking. He was distraught, hearing from Elalios that his works didn¡¯t do anything.

    ¡®Nothing changed.. what I tried preventing happened still¡¯

    Elalios saw the sadness in Kael¡¯s eyes. He expressed his sympathy by letting the child ponder in silence. There¡¯s a moment of silence inside the house, but then, Seqina returned inside.

    Seqina was a breath of calm for them. She was able to distract Kael from the regrets he feel at the moment. She invited Kael and Elalios for the evening meal to which the two accepted.

    <hr>

    The Earl arrived at Cleron after several days of travel. He ordered Cadell to investigate around town. However, his command was not to find the demons¡¯ whereabouts. He intended to be alone, as he knew, the demons will come to him.

    ¡°Gideon..¡±, a voice was heard coming from the Earl¡¯s room window. There¡¯s no one outside. Instead, two demons appear near the door of the room. It was the pitiful Osbert who didn¡¯t have any limbs anymore along with the red-eyed demon.

    ¡°Why are you here?¡±, the Earl asked.

    ¡°I got curious¡±, the red-eyed demon said. ¡°Life is coming back to your face¡±

    The Earl looked at the demon, visibly enraged.

    ¡°Did you replace your son?¡±, the demon sneered at the Earl.

    [Burn]

    The demon was engulfed in flames. Not a trace was left, but dark mist clustered to his position, reconstructing his body.

    ¡°You should finish your obligation so that you can actually kill me¡±

    ¡°Get out¡±

    The Earl sat on his chair, shifting his glance to the papers on his table.

    ¡°Did you like my present?¡±

    The Earl didn¡¯t pay attention.

    ¡°I helped him escape¡±

    The Earl paused, the demon smiled at him. But, just as quick as the demon smiled, it changed its face to annoyance.

    ¡°You¡¯re taking care of a monster¡±, the red-eyed demon said, but the Earl continued his writing.

    The demon voiced that Kael is an abnormality, manipulating his speeches to convince the Earl to let the child go. It couldn¡¯t hide his worry about Kael being an uncertain factor to his plan. However, the evident distraught that the demon showed was received by the Earl as mere facade, much to the demon¡¯s anger.

    ¡°Why would you not believe me?¡±

    The Earl paused again. He looked at the red-eyed demon, disgusted as before.

    ¡°Why would I trust a sly demon?¡±, the Earl returned to his stoic demeanor. ¡°Get out¡±

    The demon was frustrated, leaving the Earl alone after hours of failed attempt to manipulate his enemy. But, in a way, his words did affect the Earl.

    Without his awareness, Earl Gideon was starting to doubt Kael.

 Heartless

    Cadell returned to the castle before the day closed. The Earl commanded that he should report to him as soon as possible. He showed his copper medal to the guards, and entered the castle grounds.

    In the great hall, the Earl was already waiting for him. He greeted the Earl, and went closer.

    ¡°The demons were here¡±

    Cadell was surprised. ¡°Did your lordship expected them?¡±

    The Earl nodded. ¡°Enough with that¡±

    Cadell followed the Earl, who began strolling along the hallway of the castle.

    ¡°Cadell, are there insurgents in my domain?¡±

    ¡°The last one was killed by Osbert, my lord¡±

    ¡°Murderers.. burglars.. any useless soul¡±, the Earl said, then he stopped walking. ¡°Are there any?¡±

    Cadell was bewildered. ¡°They will always be here, my lord¡±

    The Earl went back to the great hall, and went outside. Cadell kept on following him, confused about the Earl¡¯s strange question.

    ¡°Cadell, let¡¯s go¡±, the Earl was walking straight to the castle gates.

    ¡°My lord, if I may¡±, Cadell asked finally after restraining himself.

    ¡°Speak¡±

    ¡°My lord, why are we going out in the middle of the night?¡±

    The Earl stopped and face Cadell. ¡°Cadell, what do you know about demons?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re wicked and powerful. They¡¯re loathsome, my lord¡±, Cadell replied.

    ¡°How about their form?¡±

    ¡°Their form?¡±, Cadell thought for a while. ¡°My lord, demons have horns and have hideous forms¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°Forgive your servant, that¡¯s all I know¡±

    The Earl nodded, and turned to continue walking towards the castle gates. Cadell followed along, not expecting another word from the Earl.

    ¡°Keep guarding my castle¡±, the Earl said to the guards stationed at the castle gates. The guards saluted and opened the gates for the Earl.

    They continued walking.

    ¡°Demons hide mysteries¡±, the Earl said to Cadell after the two of them passed the castle gates.

    ¡°They¡¯re elusive, as you told us, Lord Gideon¡±

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    The Earl nodded. ¡°But.. there are people who know more. I¡¯m one of them¡±

    Cadell listened intently. The Earl started lecturing him about the two kinds of demons. One are ¡°complete¡± demons that have physicality, and can influence the world directly. The second kind are the ¡°incomplete¡± demons that have visible forms, but didn¡¯t have physicality and thus, were unable to directly influence the physical world.

    The Earl also explained that there¡¯s a hierarchy among the demons. A higher demon have authority over the demons below him which, as the Earl claimed, is absolute. No lower demons can rebel against a higher demon¡¯s command.

    The Earl looked at one of the houses of the town, and on top of the house he was looking at, there¡¯s a silhouette of a man looking at the adjacent house.

    They walked towards the house. While doing so, the Earl continued speaking.

    ¡°I¡¯m helping a demon complete himself¡±

    Hearing the Earl, Cadell was flabbergasted. The Earl immediately followed to answer Cadell¡¯s unspoken questions.

    The Earl told his servant about the situation he was in. He revealed that the red-eyed demon that turned Osbert into a demon was named ¡°Talzer¡±. The demon was pestering him for so many years now, commanding him to collect darkened souls for the demon to consume. But even if he did the demon¡¯s command, bringing the corpses of the people he killed to the demon, he was not under the influence of the malevolent being. Rather, he has one objective. He wanted to kill the demon with his hands.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell anything to the others¡±, the Earl commanded Cadell.

    These revelations horrified Cadell. He saw the vengeance in the Earl¡¯s eyes, as the noble said things about the red-eyed demon. The Earl was with such strong conviction. For the Earl, helping the demon gain physicality will give him the revenge he so wanted to achieve.

    Cadell wasn¡¯t out of his mind yet. He knew that the Earl¡¯s plan was not only flawed, but also outright dangerous. For one thing, when Osbert turned into a demon, the young man became equal to him in strength. And here, Cadell heard, that the Earl was planning to let a more powerful demon to have influence to the physical world. He didn¡¯t want for the Earl¡¯s plan to happen, but he couldn¡¯t defy his master.

    ¡°My lord, isn¡¯t that dangerous?¡±, Cadell asked.

    ¡°I know¡±

    [Full Boost]

    The Earl leaped towards the burglar, and snatched the horrified man out of the roof. He returned to the ground, gripping the burglar by the neck.

    ¡°Wh.. what will you do to me?¡±, the agitated man said.

    The Earl didn¡¯t answer. ¡°If I refused to help him, he will find other people¡±

    [Burn]

    Cadell was taken aback seeing the charred body of the burglar. He couldn¡¯t believe that the Earl could do such cruelty. He believed that his lord was under the influence of the demon.

    ¡°If I can destroy evil, I will do it¡±, the Earl firmly declared.

    ¡°Bu-¡±

    ¡°As the Divine Emperor commanded¡±, the Earl continued.

    Cadell couldn¡¯t say anything anymore. The Earl was dragging the burned body back to the castle, and he was silently following. The Earl was clouded by his desire for revenge. The consequences of letting a demon be ¡°complete¡± wasn¡¯t even considered. Cadell knew he should prevent what the Earl was planning, but, as if the Earl saw through his mind, his lord warned him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to stop me. Cadell, I trust you¡±, the Earl said.

    ¡®This is bad. It¡¯s a good thing that Lord Gideon said something before it¡¯s too late. I have to inform the others about this¡¯

    The Earl dropped the body in front of the castle gate. The burned corpse freaked out the castle guards. Without saying a word, the Earl roamed the town again with Cadell.

    Cadell was thinking about what he should do to get to the village. He thought that Seqina and Elalios will help him if he tell them about the Earl¡¯s plan. For now, he must endure.

    He accompanied the Earl through the night. He saw all the faces of the people before the Earl disfigure all of them. It was a horrifying night. Cadell felt that he was looking not to his master, but to a terrifying demon.

 Striving

    Kael was still saddened by his failure. All that he did in the past were useless. His status as a great hero lost all its meaning.

    He was reminded of the rulers¡¯ betrayal. His death might be the reason that his great cause didn¡¯t foster. He wanted to put the blame on the rulers, but he knew that the ancient rulers that betrayed him were long dead. Blaming them would be pointless, he could only move forward.

    ¡°Kael, is there something I can help you with?¡±, Elalios asked.

    Elalios was worried, seeing that Kael was depressed for these past days. He never thought that what he said to Kael would devastate the child so much. He decided to be careful not to fill Kael with so much gloomy information about the current world.

    ¡°I¡¯m alright, you don¡¯t have to worry¡±, Kael replied.

    Elalios felt Kael¡¯s dejected heart. Understanding the place of someone as powerful as Kael was out of his mind, but the feeling of defeat pursuing one¡¯s goal, he could sympathize with that. He wanted to alleviate the sadness he saw from Kael, as the child¡¯s emotion affected him, but he was out of things to do.

    Elalios was not that powerful to bring about change. He¡¯s not a person that someone can lean on when troubles come. Instead, he¡¯s one of the people that needed counsel and comfort. And so, to be faced with someone that needed guidance, he became a silent man.

    Seqina was not oblivious. She knew that something bothered Kael and Elalios. She wanted to know what it was, but she didn¡¯t have the courage to ask them. All she did was try to entertain the downhearted child, but her efforts only did temporary relief.

    Kael¡¯s condition interrupted him from doing what he should do. The demons are in the world, roaming and creating despair whenever they are around. He stagnated, and he was unable to fulfill his mission once again. The days passed for him without a single progress.

    But then, Cadell arrived in the village.

    ¡°Cadell, what are you doing here?¡±, Elalios asked.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time, where is Seqina?¡±

    Cadell was looking around the village, agitated and wanted to see Seqina as much as possible. Seqina saw him and went to where he was.

    ¡°Cadell? Where¡¯s Lord Gideon?¡±, Seqina asked.

    ¡°Where can we talk without anyone hearing us?¡±

    Elalios and Seqina looked at each other.

    ¡°Please, let¡¯s hurry!¡±, Cadell urged them.

    ¡°In the house of worship, no one will hear us¡±, Elalios said, pointing at the house near him.

    Cadell rushed to go inside. He saw Kael and greeted the child, and went to Elalios.

    ¡°Sit here¡±, Cadell pointed at the two chairs nearest to the altar, inviting Elalios and Seqina to sit down.

    The two followed the request, and as soon as they sat down, Cadell started talking.

    ¡°We must go to Cleron to stop our master¡±, Cadell claimed.

    Stolen story; please report.

    Both Elalios and Seqina were confused. ¡°What are you saying, Cadell. Are you rebelling against Lord Gideon?¡±, Elalios asked.

    ¡°I am¡±, Cadell replied curtly.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t!¡±, Seqina exclaimed in disbelief. Among all the people she knew, she didn¡¯t expect Cadell to ever betray the Earl.

    ¡°Please hear what I have to say first¡±, Cadell pleaded.

    Cadell didn¡¯t wait for the two servant¡¯s approval. He continued speaking, narrating what had happened when he was with the Earl. Seqina and Elalios were shocked hearing all the things that Cadell claim happened. They didn¡¯t believe that the rigidly righteous Earl they knew would help a demon to be born in the physical world. However, they heard the terrible claim from the trustworthy Cadell. It was a difficult thing to hear, and not believe.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it myself¡±, Cadell said. ¡°But believe me. Come with me, let¡¯s stop our lord from doing such mistake¡±

    The two servants were conflicted. But while Elalios and Seqina were trying to register what they just heard, Kael heard all the things that they talked about. And, the last kindle of his good heart reignited. In his mind, there¡¯s one thing that he told himself.

    ¡®I won¡¯t let that happen¡¯

    ¡°Let me go with you¡±, Kael said.

    Kael¡¯s voice interrupted the two servants¡¯ thinking. Cadell was surprised that the child wanted to join them.

    ¡°No. My lord has a strict order to not put you in danger¡±, Cadell rejected Kael.

    ¡°I can handle myself¡±, Kael retorted.

    ¡°No¡±, Cadell declined once again.

    Elalios saw that Kael was determined. The sadness that the child harbored in himself disappeared. Elalios was delighted, and wanted to let Kael join them.

    ¡°Let Kael join us¡±, Elalios said to Cadell.

    ¡°We have no time to argue, Elalios¡±

    ¡°I will take responsibility¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t let you¡±, Cadell retorted.

    Elalios tried convincing Cadell further, but the latter was adamant not to let Kael join them. At some point Seqina collected her mind, and agreed with Cadell¡¯s decision. Seeing all of the arguing of the servants, Kael realized that Elalios will not win. He needed to convince them that he should go with them.

    [Late Cost: Dismantle]

    Golden light emanated from Kael. The servants witnessed the child¡¯s glorious radiance. It shook the two servants that didn¡¯t know his hidden power.

    ¡°Is that.. Kael?¡±, Cadell asked in disbelief.

    ¡°We have no time, let¡¯s go¡±, Kael declared.

    [Full Boost]

    Kael held Elalios, and golden light enveloped them both.

    ¡°Mr. Cadell, Ms. Seqina, we¡¯ll go ahead¡±

    Kael and Elalios went out the house of worship, and zoomed through the pathway to Cleron. The two servants that were left behind lagged for a bit, then they looked at each other.

    ¡°I have a question¡±, Cadell said.

    Seqina nodded. They understood that none of them can answer the questions that popped up in their minds. They bottled up their confusion, and prepared to follow Kael.

    <hr>

    It didn¡¯t take long for Kael and Elalios to arrive. The town was what it was as they saw it before, but they knew that something sinister was happening inside the Earl¡¯s castle. They rushed towards the castle gates, and Elalios tried entering the castle.

    However, Elalios was blocked by the guards. The guards claimed that the Earl tasked them to not let anyone enter, even the Earl¡¯s main servants. Elalios was angered and was about to use force against the guards, but he was stopped. More precisely, Kael knocked the guards down before Elalios could act.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time for that, let¡¯s go¡±

 Darkness

    The days that passed when Cadell left his master were filled with gruesome murders. Earl Gideon was preparing diligently, killing people with the slightest misdemeanor. He didn¡¯t show any mercy, and those days were the most horrible times not only for the unlawfuls, but also for the citizens of the town.

    The people were distraught. They didn¡¯t understand why the Earl became rabid, and thirsty for the blood of miscreants. What they knew however, is that doing something heinous in those times, will lead to their demise.

    Such is the power of mages among the people. Although every people that ever existed since Lucien had mana vessel in their bodies, the things they needed to learn were not taught to them. Only nobles were taught, and those that were trusted by the said nobles. As for the majority, the regular people, all they can do is attempt to gain magic. Such task was so difficult to do. Being successful in learning magic through one¡¯s own effort was almost impossible.

    Cleron¡¯s nights of vicious killings continued for days. The Earl didn¡¯t realize what he did to his own people. But, just as sudden as the killings occurred, the Earl suddenly stopped his cruel deeds. It made the people anxious, thinking it was something akin to the calm weather preceding a violent storm. But three days passed, and not a single soul stained the hands of the powerful lord of the land.

    The Earl didn¡¯t even get out of his castle. He only commanded his guards to not let anyone enter his castle. The guards followed his commands, secretly delighted that the Earl calmed down in his violent acts. What the people of Cleron didn¡¯t know however, was the perilous objective that made the Earl to act like a vicious vigilante seeking for order.

    Inside the great hall of the castle, piles of burned corpses were scattered around. At the center of the great hall, the bodies reduced into dusts. The red-eyed demon consumed even the littlest darkness in the bodies¡¯ souls. The demon steadily grew in power in the days that the Earl offer him more bodies. It will not take long before he gains his physicality.

    From the doors of the great hall, Earl Gideon was standing looking at the demon, along with Osbert who was laying down beside it. He was waiting, impatient that even with all the darkness that the demon consumed, Talzer was somehow still incomplete. He was clenching his fist while looking at Talzer, who was savoring all the time he had provoking the Earl.

    The resentment was evident in the Earl¡¯s eyes. He was waiting to destroy the demon completely once it gained the physical body it needs. He wanted that it was his own hands, the hands that will destroy the repulsive demon that ruined his life.

    ¡°Are you enjoying this?¡±, Talzer asked.

    The Earl didn¡¯t say a word, making the demon smile. Soon, the great hall became empty, save for the Earl, Talzer and Osbert, and the last burned body that the red-eyed demon will consume.

    ¡°Is that enough? Will you regain your body now?¡±, the Earl asked. He was with an air of frigid animosity, which amused the deranged demon.

    ¡°Now I wonder..¡±

    The red-eyed demon consumed the darkness in the last body. The pitiful victim of the Earl turned into dust. Only the Earl and the demons were left. There¡¯s a brief moment of silence. The red-eyed demon opened his mouth.

    [Red Class: Talzer]

    The wind became so still. The Earl felt the unnatural phenomenon. By then, he knew he succeeded.

    [Form of Darkness]

    The wind blew towards the red-eyed demon. The darkness spiraled in him, the great hall became engulfed in his darkness. The Earl stood firm while he was being hurled towards the demon. With a horrendous rumble, the castle started to form cracks within its surface.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    <hr>

    Kael and Elalios were able to evade all the remaining guards chasing after them. They were optimistic that they could still reach the Earl before the red-eyed demon became complete. But then, they heard the terrible echo of rocks colliding. They saw the castle splitting to pieces, degraded by the darkness emanating from the formed cracks. They stopped running, as the horrific realization hit them.

    ¡°We¡¯re.. we¡¯re too late..¡±, Elalios uttered.

    Kael looked at the once mighty fortress, recalling the memories he had inside it. It looks like a structure that will never be destroyed, but the power of darkness corrupted it, disrespecting the greatness it had before. He couldn¡¯t believe that he was witnessing the rise of another demon, a malevolent being that he thought he eliminated in his past life. His work isn¡¯t over yet.

    ¡°Kael, look!¡±

    Elalios called for Kael¡¯s attention. He was pointing at the Earl, who was exiting the crumbling castle. Kael and Elalios went to the Earl.

    ¡°My lord¡±, Elalios bowed.

    The Earl didn¡¯t hear Elalios, as he was shocked to see Kael in his castle, reachable by the demon.

    ¡°Why?¡±, the Earl pleaded, regretting what he did. ¡°Elalios, I thought I gave you my command?¡±

    ¡°Forgive me¡±

    ¡°Get Kael, go far away from here¡±

    Elalios looked at Kael. He knew that the child will not do what the Earl commanded. He was conflicted, not knowing what to do.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±, the Earl roared.

    But before Elalios held Kael, the loud rumbling of the collapsing castle interrupted them.

    ¡°Protect him¡±, the Earl requested. He was looking at Elalios without the face of a master. Seeing the Earl¡¯s eyes, Elalios felt pity towards him.

    [Dark Force]

    [Great Shield]

    A dark orb exploded as it hit the Earl¡¯s magic barrier. On the ruins of the castle, after all the dusts settled, Talzer stood in his physical form. Kael looked at the red-eyed demon still in disbelief.

    ¡°Gi¨C¡±

    [Full Boost]

    Earl Gideon didn¡¯t let Talzer speak. In an instant, he was in front of the demon. He punched it with such power that the demon broke through the stone walls of the castle. He returned to Elalios and Kael.

    ¡°I will kill that demon. Go somewhere safe¡±, Earl Gideon said.

    ¡°You¡¯re too quick to act, Gideon¡±

    The Earl quickly looked behind, and he saw Talzer standing again on top of the castle ruins.

    Talzer was smiling. ¡°Let me th¨C¡±, Talzer paused after seeing Kael.

    ¡®Why is he here?¡¯, the demon thought, but he concealed his worry from the humans¡¯ eyes.

    [Demonette: Osbert]

    Osbert floated up, coming from under the castle ruins.

    [Form of Darkness]

    As Talzer uttered the dark magic, Osbert became engulfed in darkness. When Osbert was visible again, his body was reconstructed, returning to its full form.

    ¡°KEEP THEM BUSY¡±, Talzer commanded, referring to Kael and Elalios.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±

    Hearing the demonic scream of Osbert, Elalios became afraid, but Kael immediately calmed him down. The Earl wanted to go, and protect Kael and Elalios, but Talzer¡¯s words clouded his mind with rage.

    ¡°Is that child important to you?¡±, Talzer smirked. He provoked the Earl¡¯s anger. The battle between them continued.

 Struggle

    Talzer was a sly demon, able to do whatever he wanted, as long as his actions make Earl Gideon suffer. He managed to isolate Earl Gideon with him. They were outside the ruined castle. He commanded Osbert to deal with Kael and Elalios.

    ¡°It¡¯s great to have a body, don¡¯t you think Gideon?¡±, Talzer taunted.

    The Earl showed his hateful gaze. He was tricked, unable to remain beside Kael. He wanted to quickly finish the battle, but ever since Talzer acquired a physical body, the demon became in control of the situation. Before the demon even began its attack, Earl Gideon already felt the demon¡¯s power.

    [Dark Force]

    Talzer initiated. Multiple dark orbs appeared near Talzer¡¯s extended right arm.

    ¡°Amuse me.¡±, Talzer said. ¡°One¡±

    One of the destructive orbs zoomed towards the Earl.

    [Great Shield]

    The dark orb exploded in front of the Earl, but he was not hit.

    ¡°Two¡±

    Two dark orbs rushed towards the Earl. He defended once again. He didn¡¯t waste any time. He made his move.

    [Speed Boost]

    It¡¯s the Earl¡¯s turn. He rushed towards the demon.

    ¡°Three¡±

    Three dark orbs flew towards the Earl. He faced the destructive forces head-on.

    [Great Shield]

    Three consecutive explosions were heard, but the Earl was unharmed. He was quickly moving towards the demon.

    [Dar¨C

    Talzer was interrupted.

    The Earl grabbed the demon by the neck. He forced the demon to the ground. His eyes expressed his vengeful desire, he wanted to destroy the vile entity.

    [Burn]

    A raging fire bloomed, consuming both the demon and the Earl. The harsh pillar of flames scorched the nearby pavement, steam coming out of the red-hot floor. The vibrant flame was seen by the townspeople, who were reluctant to go near it, as they heard the turbulent roar of the powerful flame.

    The burning pillar faded, and it revealed the Earl, unharmed by the fire. But, the demon was also the same. Still grabbed by the Earl at his neck, Talzer was unscathed, smoke emanating and surrounding his body.

    [Dark Force]

    The Earl was startled. A dark orb suddenly appeared almost directly at his chest. It was five times larger compared to the others.

    [Full Boost]

    The Earl prepared to get away, but Talzer wouldn¡¯t have it.

    ¡°Boom¡±

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    The Earl released his grasp. With all his might, he jumped back, but Talzer was way ahead, the menacing dark ball will touch him no matter what.

    [Great Shield]

    The orb touched the unprepared noble. It was harsh. The explosion shattered the Earl¡¯s defense. It didn¡¯t create any destructive flames. Instead, it created a catastrophic rumble that pushed back the Earl dangerously fast.

    The demon was grinning. He strolled towards the Earl after he caressed his neck. He created a dark orb floating above his right hand.

    ¡°What happened Gideon? Did you slip on something?¡±, Talzer mocked.

    Earl Gideon rose up, hearing the carefree footsteps of his vile opponent. He still felt the pain. It was reverberating from his chest, threatening to collapse his bones at any moment. He needed to return the favor to the demon.

    [Burning Arrow]

    He felt the cruel pain from raising his hand. Beams of flame lined above him. He looked at the demon with fiery resentment, ready to throw the destruction he prepared.

    ¡°Take this¡±

    The Earl commanded the flames. The flames rumbled, moving towards the demon one by one. The terrifying roar of the moving flames displaced the settled debris in their midst.

    The first burning arrow was intercepted by the demon¡¯s dark orb. The collision released dangerous flames and violent winds, disturbing the peace of the town.

    The next one hit Talzer. The demon was pushed back. He attempted to move out and dodge, but another one hit him, not letting him escape.

    Talzer was trapped in place. He received another, burning harsher than the first two. The successive flames increased the damages. The heat rose, the demon¡¯s stiff skin gave way. His gray skin was bubbling, burned to a crisp by the terrible heat.

    The Earl paused the destruction. He was looking forward to see that his terrible enemy sustained so much damage from his attacks. The pain of the injury in his chest didn¡¯t disappear, but he focused his attention to his dangerous enemy.

    [Dark Force]

    Before the smoke faded, dark orbs viciously rushed towards the Earl. He dodged, violent destruction appeared on the place he just left.

    As he landed, another one was already threatening him. He tried jumping sideways. The pain in his chest hindered him.

    [Grea-

    The dark force hit the Earl. He flung back once again. He was knocked out for a moment. He was helpless.

    Another hit him before dropping on the ground. The intense pain woke him up, his real nightmare returning to him.

    Talzer reappeared from the smoke. He accumulated burning in every part of his body. His gray skin darkened, flaking as the wind blew at him. His look became distorted, shriveled and disgusting to look at. He was able to experience the rage of his opponent.

    But the Earl suffered worse. He couldn¡¯t open his eyes, as the excruciating pain radiate throughout his body. He¡¯s bleeding on his stomach, his left hand crushed and dislocated. He wanted to stand, but his feet didn¡¯t listen to his commands.

    ¡°Look, Gideon¡±, the demon exclaimed, pointing at his face. ¡°I just got my new body and you ruined it!¡±

    The Earl groaned, his suffering was unbearable.

    ¡°You deserve that¡±, Talzer grotesquely grinned. ¡°You let me use you¡±

    Talzer squatted down. He pressed his hand to Earl Gideon¡¯s chest. The Earl wanted to remove it, but his hands gave up.

    ¡°This is your e¨C¡±

    All of a sudden, Talzer flung back. He immediately tried recovering from the shock. And as he was getting up, he looked at where he left the Earl. Beside the defeated Earl, Kael and Elalios were standing. Elalios got down, tending to his master.

    Talzer tried searching for Osbert. He made Osbert stronger than before. He estimated that the boost he gave Osbert, was enough to prevent Kael and Elalios from aiding the Earl against him. He was sorely mistaken.

    Not far from Kael, Osbert¡¯s head was resting on the ground, cleanly separated from his body. A demonette like Osbert will die if their head was cut off from their body. Talzer realized that Kael was more dangerous than he thought.

    Kael was walking towards him while he was in confusion.

    ¡°You look terrible¡±, Kael said. Talzer was surprised that Kael managed to get near him without his notice.

    ¡°Shall we finish this?¡±, Kael declared.

    The threatening gaze of the child sent shivers down Talzer¡¯s back. He knew that the child could not be reasoned with. Kael will attack him.

 Confrontation

    Earl Gideon heard someone. He¡¯s in so much pain, but he remembered that Talzer was about to kill him.

    ¡°Elalios, stay here¡±

    It¡¯s a familiar voice. It¡¯s a pleasant noise for him.

    ¡®Son, is that you?¡¯

    Like every time, hearing Kael¡¯s voice, he always remembered his son. He wanted to ask Kael, but he can only do it in his mind.

    ¡°Lord Gideon, drink this¡±

    He heard Elalios¡¯s voice. Elalios expressed his concerns. He urged the Earl to drink something. The Earl trusts him, and so he opened his mouth.

    Each drop that the Earl swallowed burned his throat. The pain seemed greater as he sipped what Elalios offered him. But after the suffering, he felt his body warming up, embraced by the effects of the healing potion. He slowly opened his eyes.

    ¡°Elalios..¡±, the Earl muttered.

    Elalios nodded. ¡°I¡¯m here, Lord Gideon¡±

    Earl Gideon forced himself to sat up, while Elalios assisted him. In a distance, he saw Kael, faced against the dangerous demon he resented.

    The Earl was terrified. He wanted to stand back up, but the healing potion wasn¡¯t able to cure his injuries completely. He mustered all his strength, but there¡¯s no strength he can muster in his limbs. Helpless, but still desperate, he moved his eyes towards Elalios.

    ¡°Elalios.. save Kael¡±

    Elalios smiled. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, my lord¡±

    The Earl wanted to reprimand his disobedient servant, but he was too weak to even be angry. He voiced his request once again, but Elalios didn¡¯t listen. Instead, his disobedient servant pointed to the fight between Kael and Talzer. Witnessing the fight, Earl Gideon was astonished.

    <hr>

    ¡®This is bad, I¡¯m not in my strongest to deal with this insolent child¡¯

    The fear was growing on Talzer. His opponent was getting closer. Kael strolled towards him, like what he did when he was against the Earl. A child walking up to him should not be a bother to him, but he knew, Kael was different. He witnessed the capability of the child when he encountered Kael in the forest. Kael knew things about the demons. It¡¯s safe to assume he knew how to eliminate them.

    ¡°You¡¯re smiling before, what happened?¡±, Kael asked. ¡°Should demons be afraid of children?¡±

    Talzer was infuriated. His demonic pride was ruined.

    ¡°You¡¯re not a child, you¡¯re a monster¡±, Talzer said.

    The irony amused Kael, but he focused himself immediately. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can¡¯t kill you¡±

    Kael¡¯s words filled Talzer with suspicion.

    ¡°But I can prevent you from moving again¡±, Kael said. He stretched his hand forward.

    [Flame]

    Kael produced several flames floating around his hand. He made his command, and all of his conjured flames combined together, forming a single bright fireball. Then, he made his command again. The ball of fire started spinning. It spun faster, going smaller over time. Eventually, he was left with a tiny spinning ball the size of a single grain of sand.

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    Talzer can only see the slight glimmer of it. Even though he wasn¡¯t aware of what¡¯s going on, he felt he was in danger.

    ¡°Release¡±

    Talzer heard a bang behind him. He wasn¡¯t able to register what had happened. But then, he felt the breeze of the wind passing through his left leg. He looked down and saw a hole in his leg, drilled clean from front to back. He can smell his flesh, burned by Kael.

    ¡°Release¡±

    He heard another bang. His left leg almost gave out. A second hole pierced through adjacent to the first one. Another shot and his leg will be cut off entirely.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s enough¡±, Kael said.

    Talzer was terrified of the implication. The child wanted him to see what will happen to him after the fight.

    ¡°No..¡±, said the demon.

    The image of him incapacitated, unable to do anything he wanted, made Talzer panic. He looked at the child. Kael was waiting for what he will do.

    [Dark Force]

    A barrage of dark orbs come rushing towards Kael. He was about to dodge, when he remembered that the Earl and Elalios were behind him.

    [Speed Boost]

    Kael prepared himself. He must intercept all the dark force that Talzer created.

    [Defense]

    The orbs exploded. One on the left, then another to the right. One by one, Kael intercepted the dangerous magic. He thought that he caught all of the orbs, but, as he glanced back to the people he wanted to protect, he saw that a dark orb was about to hit them.

    Kael pushed the ground quickly. He tried getting to the dark orb, but he was a bit short to reach it.

    ¡°Elalios!¡±

    Elalios couldn¡¯t keep up. When he heard Kael¡¯s voice, he was hit by the dark force. The orb exploded. He was thrown back, his face crushed by the destructive magic.

    Kael went to Elalios trying to wake him up. Elalios was bleeding, unresponsive to his voice. He knew that the mana available to him was not enough to heal Elalios. Without thinking, he hurried and used up his remaining mana.

    [Full Heal]

    ¡®This happened before. I failed again¡¯

    [Restore]

    ¡°Elalios, wake up¡±

    [Life Blood]

    Kael was out of mana, but Elalios was still not totally healed. He knew that time is of essence, so he did what he felt was his best course of action. Once again, he modified ¡°Late Cost¡±.

    Special mana pathways formed in his body. He made the world his mana vessel once again. However, he felt some pain, as the mana pathways grew in his body. He was without pain when he created the pathways for the first time, but worrying about such trivial issue could only waste his time.

    Kael glowed with a blinding white light. The Earl witnessed it, and his usually blank expression faded. His awe was evident on his face.

    ¡°Kael?¡±

    Kael looked at the Earl. This time, he didn¡¯t become Lucien, but the Earl knew that he became a different person. Or, to be more precise, the Earl saw the truth.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord Gideon. I will explain everything later¡±

    [Life Blood]

    Kael managed to fully heal Elalios, but Elalios was unconscious. He healed Earl Gideon completely, and looked at where Talzer was. The demon was missing.

    Seeing that the demon disappeared while he was distracted, Kael was angered. If there is something that he genuinely hate, without a doubt, it¡¯s demons. He will not let a demon escape from him.

    [Spatial Sense]

    A wave of light radiated from Kael. It travelled throughout the territory of Cleron. He saw all the people of the town, and everything that the light touched. In just a second, he saw Talzer.

    ¡®I see you. You won¡¯t get away from me¡¯

 Overwhelm

    Talzer escaped after he threw multiple dark orbs towards Kael. He ran quickly. Cleron was not a safe place for him. Deciding to use Kael as a catalyst to transform the Earl into a demon was a huge mistake. Kael is far from what he imagined.

    Talzer was able to get out of Cleron. With his pride destroyed, he swore to go back, and slaughter Kael. But, his wish was not granted.

    [Slash]

    ¡°Wha¨C¡±

    Talzer saw his arms and legs, disconnected to his body.

    ¡®What happened?¡¯

    Time stopped for Talzer, as he tried to make sense of the situation. He fell flat on the dusty ground, incapacitated in an instant.

    ¡°Do you think you can get away from me?¡±

    Talzer saw the person talking, walking towards him. He was held to his neck. He saw the cruel black eyes of Kael, the child he feared the most.

    ¡°Kael..¡±

    Talzer was stunned. He can only say the child¡¯s name.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance¡±, Kael said.

    [Grand Heal]

    Talzer¡¯s vision was overwhelmed by golden light. The next thing he knew, his body returned to its great form. Even the burning he got from the Earl was gone.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±, Kael said.

    Talzer was astounded. His demonic nature emerged again. He thought that Kael was a fool to let him get his full strength back.

    ¡°Talzer¡±

    ¡°I was right,¡±, Kael said. ¡°You¡¯re one of the strong ones¡±

    It¡¯s clear that Kael knew something about demons. Talzer knew it from the first time they met. He should have been cautious, but his demonic nature won over him.

    Talzer stared at his opponent. He was reminded that Kael was just a child. Kael looked delicate to him, and so, his fear vanished. He thought he had a chance to beat Kael.

    [Dark Force]

    The destructive orbs were too quick, Kael was hit by all of them. Talzer cackled. He was able to trick the child.

    Talzer regained his confidence. The pitiful child gave him a chance to cause destruction. He knew that Kael regretted what he did. Restoring the demon back to its full strength was a bad idea. It¡¯s too late now, as Talzer got the upper hand. But, all of the hopeful thought of the demon were all for naught. He witnessed who he was fighting against.

    Kael remained standing, despite the destructive forces he received. In the first place, not a single one of the dark orbs hit him. He was protected by a golden barrier before Talzer even thought of attacking him.

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    Talzer was in disbelief, seeing that he completely failed.

    ¡°I gave you a chance and you wasted it¡±, Kael said.

    [Flame]

    Kael produced the same rotating flame he used to pierce through the demon¡¯s tough body. Then, in an instant, hundreds of tiny flames surrounded him, ready to follow his commands.

    Seeing such display of power, fear returned to Talzer. The child is beyond him. He wanted to run, but Kael wouldn¡¯t allow him.

    The condensed flames showered towards Talzer, piercing his supposedly tough body with ease. He heard the multiple explosions behind him. He was riddled with penetrating flames, his demonic pride shattered once again.

    Talzer¡¯s body couldn¡¯t support itself, as it was filled with holes that broke its structural integrity.

    ¡°I forgive you, don¡¯t betray me again¡±, Kael stated.

    [Grand Heal]

    Talzer was healed once again. His body was even stronger than before. He looked at Kael, and somehow, after the overwhelming display that the child made him experience, he thought he could beat him this time.

    [Dark Force]

    Multiple dark orbs formed once again. Kael was reminded of the demon king, who was just as stubborn as Talzer.

    ¡°You never learn¡±, Kael muttered.

    [Inferno]

    A pillar made of fire reached to the sky, engulfing everything within Kael¡¯s vicinity. Scorching heat emanated from the powerful magic that Kael created. The heat was felt from Cleron even if the town was a bit far away to them.

    After the raging fire disappeared, a molten crater was left behind. Inside, only Kael and a red crystal remained. Kael picked up the crystal. It is the demon¡¯s heart.

    [Grand Heal]

    The demon heart formed flesh again, and Talzer regained his body for another time. Talzer stared at Kael. The greatness he thought he had vanished completely. He never thought that a mere human, a child even, could humiliate him that much.

    ¡°What are you?¡±, Talzer asked. He looked at Kael like how humans look at demons. The dread that the humans feel towards demons was the very same thing that Talzer felt.

    ¡°I was born to eliminate your kind¡±, Kael stated.

    The words of his adversary weakened Talzer, falling down on his knees. Kael said his hostility upfront. The demon realized that Kael see him as a prey. But, something made him wonder. All this time, Kael didn¡¯t kill him.

    ¡°Why did you keep healing me then?¡±, Talzer asked.

    ¡°I lost the ability to eliminate demons¡±

    ¡°Wh¨Cwhy are you telling me this?¡±

    Kael didn¡¯t answer. He was frustrated of his inability, and so, he was about to conjure another destructive magic.

    ¡°Wait! I lost! I give up!¡±, Talzer screamed in panic. Kael could not kill him, but he could still feel all the pain from being mangled by Kael¡¯s magic.

    Kael listened to him, and was about to conjure restraints for the demon. Talzer however, had another plan.

    [Dark Force]

    Dark orbs exploded, point blank against Kael. But Talzer didn¡¯t aim to hurt Kael, as he knew that Kael will not be hurt. Instead, the attack was a distraction for his escape.

    Talzer sprinted away, far from Kael, the only human that let him feel fear. He was ecstatic, thinking that he actually tricked Kael.

    ¡°I wonder, where will that demon go?¡±, Kael asked to himself.

    [Spatial Sense]

    Kael saw where Talzer was, but he didn¡¯t go to the demon quickly. Instead, he took his time, walking steady, following the demon from afar. He wanted to know where Talzer was going. The demon might be his key to find out whether the demon king existed in the current timeline or not. It¡¯s a crucial information for him, especially now that he knew powerful demons still existed. He was distracted by his mission that he didn¡¯t notice. Tiny iridescent crystals were forming on his finger tips.

 Deterioration

    Talzer was going around, tensed and utterly disoriented. He was without direction, just a demon out of his mind. He kept hearing the horrible explosions in his imagination.

    Kael, on the other hand, was confused as to what the demon was doing. The demon, at times, return to the same path it took, circling back to the same area where it already went through. He wondered if Talzer wanted to get away from him, but that¡¯s assuming that the demon was aware of his presence. It was evident that the demon was unaware of him, so he waited and continued on, tailing the erratic demon.

    Eventually, Talzer arrived in the nearby town. He rushed to enter the town, but was blocked, as the guards saw his demon form. He was panicking and became enraged. He almost attacked the guards, but someone stopped him.

    ¡°Let me handle this one¡±

    Kael was far from the said town, monitoring the demon¡¯s actions. He was about to intervene, when he realized that Talzer will attack the innocent guards, but the figure that interrupted the demon made him stop, deciding that he should continue observing from afar. And so, he kept on monitoring the demon, but he was getting nearer, in case the figure couldn¡¯t handle Talzer.

    All of a sudden, the figure moved, quickly reaching Talzer. Kael was astonished. The figure threw himself against the demon, hurling it away from the town. But even if that would be enough, the figure seemed to be unsatisfied. He rushed towards the demon. He seemed motivated to put an end to the demon.

    But then, away from the sight of the guards, the figure suddenly changed his attitude towards the demon. What¡¯s more surprising is Talzer¡¯s behavior in front of him. The demon kneeled, and greeted him with great respect.

    ¡°Great Lord¡±

    Kael could see the interactions between the two, and he can hear their conversation. But he couldn¡¯t see what the figure looks like in great detail, as his magic steadily weaken without his notice. But, Kael should have seen the figure, as he heard the words that he wasn¡¯t ready for.

    ¡°You were followed¡±

    The words of the mysterious person shocked Kael. He knew that his magic should almost be undetectable. The only being he knew that could see through his magic was the demon king. And so, a horrible thought got on his head.

    ¡°Hmm.. I don¡¯t think I can beat this one¡±, the figure said. He looked at Talzer and suddenly, he lunged at the demon, piercing the demon¡¯s chest with his arm. ¡°This is faster¡±

    Talzer¡¯s demon heart was plucked out of him. His body dissolved to dust. The figure stared in the direction where Kael was.

    ¡°I knew you can hear me. How are you that powerful human?¡±, the figure said. He paused like he was waiting for an answer, then he continued. ¡°Well, I hope I could never see you again¡±

    The figure quickly ran away. He was so fast that he created a sonic boom.

    Kael was unprepared, but he tried to go after him. But it was too late. The figure managed to escape from the vast area that he can detect. He quickly expand his spatial sense, but, he stopped abruptly. He felt a strong, excruciating pain coming from his heart. It was tingling, like sharp spikes were growing, piercing his body from the inside.

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    ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯

    Kael fall to his knees. He couldn¡¯t maintain his spatial sense. He grasped his chest, but he accidentally wounded his chest. The stain of blood made him look at what caused it. It was his fingers, almost entirely consumed by mana crystals.

    The pain vanished after he stopped using mana. But the mana crystals remained, and even if he couldn¡¯t see it, he knew that the crystals were growing. He knew that he needed to close the pathways he created through ¡°Late Cost¡± to prevent further damage to his body.

    Despite the predicament that he found himself, the thing that he was more worried about was letting Talzer escape. He was defeated. There¡¯s a demon that was able to escape from him. What¡¯s worse is the possibility, that there could be one more that was clearly stronger than Talzer.

    He gave up the chase, and went back to Cleron. He returned with a burdened heart.

    <hr>

    Disbelief.

    Earl Gideon couldn¡¯t believe what he saw. When Elalios pointed at the fight between Kael and Talzer, he witnessed a battle even he couldn¡¯t pull off. Kael was dominating Talzer, the same demon that he was having trouble against.

    He saw a child fighting against the demon. An absurd sight and yet, Earl Gideon was relieved. He didn¡¯t know why, but he felt that all became well now that he saw Kael, able to stand for himself. Impossibility is not a problem. The important thing was that Kael was unharmed.

    When Elalios was struck by a dark orb, he witnessed the worry on the child¡¯s face. He witnessed the miracles that Kael did, healing Elalios, like his servant wasn¡¯t at the brink of death just a second ago.

    He was also healed. In just a few seconds, his body returned to its pristine condition, a feat that even the greatest healers of the kingdom could never do. He knew by then that Kael didn¡¯t need his help in fighting Talzer. So he did what he thought was good. He let Kael chase after the demon attempting to escape.

    After Kael left, the town was in silence. Earl Gideon waited for Elalios to wake up, and when Elalios did, he assisted the man without saying a single word.

    Two days passed, Cadell and Seqina arrived in the town. They were shocked to see that the castle was destroyed. Elalios filled in all the details of what happened. They apologized to their master, but the Earl prevented them from doing so. Instead, the Earl commanded the two servants to help mitigate the chaos that the battle caused.

    Earl Gideon was alone with Elalios. Over the past days, he didn¡¯t ask Elalios about Kael. But he wanted to, and Elalios knew that about the Earl.

    ¡°I apologize for hiding things to you, my lord¡±, Elalios kneeled.

    ¡°You¡¯re protecting him¡±, the Earl said.

    Elalios lowered his head.

    The Earl sighed, then he let Elalios speak. The things that Elalios told him revealed what truly happened when he was away. Kael became a different person in his mind.

    Another day passed. The Earl was patiently waiting for Kael. There¡¯s no guarantee that the child will ever return, but still, he waited. Cadell was with him, as the old man voluntarily offer his house to the Earl.

    Earl Gideon looked at the door every time it opened. He was hoping to see Kael. But many times did the door opened, and all that he saw were his servants. Evening arrived that Kael was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°My lord, I think we will never see him again¡±, Cadell said, pitying his master.

    The Earl was silent as he was looking at the door. He had the same thinking, but another side of him denied it.

    Cadell wanted to do something to comfort the Earl, but then, Elalios suddenly opened the door.

    ¡°My lord!¡±, Elalios shouted.

    The Earl didn¡¯t need to be informed further. He saw what Elalios was holding on his arms. It was Kael. The child¡¯s body was in a sorry state. Kael was being consumed, his body was being crystallized.

 Pain

    ¡®It hurts.. why can¡¯t I remove it?¡¯

    The mana crystals were destroying Kael¡¯s body. He was deteriorating, and the growth of the crystals seemed unstoppable.

    The special pathways he made from modifying ¡°Late Cost¡± weren¡¯t following his commands. The pathways were stuck in place, and thus, Kael continued absorbing mana even if he didn¡¯t want to.

    One time he thought to wait it out. He surmised that the mana in the environment will get exhausted by his constant absorption of all of it. However, his situation was getting worse, the endpoint he was waiting for was not arriving. His whole body might turn completely into mana crystal before the mana around him ran out.

    Kael tried using mana to get back to Cleron, but the reverberating pain returned when he attempted to do so. He didn¡¯t have a choice but to walk back.

    In his journey, he felt the crystals growing, poking, and then piercing the rest of his body that were not crystallized. He needed rest from time to time, trying to close at least one of the artificial mana pathways he created, but he failed in all his attempts.

    It was a hopeless pursuit. He will rest to think of a way of controlling the absorption, only to make the situation worse. Then he will walk to Cleron, thinking that Elalios and the Earl will help him. It¡¯s a desperate assumption. He knew it, but he wanted to believe.

    Two days of his journey went by, and he realized what was happening. As he meditated to see through his body, he saw the effect that the mana crystals have on the special mana pathways. The crystals acted as anchors to the pathways, that¡¯s why even if the pathways followed his commands, it couldn¡¯t move from its place. The terrible realization made Kael think of an equally terrible thought. He might never get out of his current predicament.

    On the next day, Kael felt another effect of the mana crystals. Some of his previously healthy body parts started dying, giving him more pain and struggle. He didn¡¯t think he could keep going, but he kept on walking.

    At some point he became blinded, as caused by crystals damaging his eyes. But, despite the lack of sight, he kept on going. He didn¡¯t know if he was still walking towards Cleron. The only thing important to him was to keep walking.

    Then, what he dreaded came to him. He fell down, unable to get up again. He tried his best, mustering all the strength he had left, but his feet were affected too by the horrible crystallization.

    ¡®Is this it?¡¯

    Kael was hopeless. At that point, he knew that he could no longer do anything. He needed an outside help, something so rare as far as he knew. He laid on the ground motionless, waiting for anything, whatever it is, to see him and possibly help him. But an hour passed that no one got to him.

    ¡®I think this is it¡¯, Kael thought. ¡®It¡¯s alright, I could have another body¡¯

    Knowing that his innate magic was satiated long ago, and his situation looked like it will not get any better, Kael thought of giving up. He thought of letting his body go, and remove himself, his soul from it. But then, distant memories began flashing in his mind. It was of Kael, the child that made a wish to him.

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    The memories he had with the child reignited his will to live. He remembered his promise, he needed to make Kael¡¯s grandparents happy. He cried silently on the ground, apologizing that he almost betrayed the loving request of an innocent child.

    Another hour passed, Kael had his willpower rekindled by his memories. He did what he can do. He slowed down the growth of the crystals, preserving the still functional parts of his body. He waited, and then, he heard footsteps coming to him.

    He heard the people that found him talking to each other. At first, they were horrified to see the pitiful look of Kael. They wanted to help him, but when they saw the mana crystals forming in his body, they changed their attitude towards him.

    ¡°He¡¯s dead¡±, one person said.

    The other person agreed. They were ecstatic, talking about the crystals that made Kael suffer. They talked about selling Kael, arguing about how much should they sell him. They were intoxicated with greed, forgetting that a helpless child was in front of them.

    Kael was terrified, hearing the sinister conversations of the people that found him. He recalled his promise, his eyes producing tears once again.

    ¡®I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t keep my promise¡¯

    Kael didn¡¯t want to, but he prepared himself for whatever the two people will do to him. Then, he heard a familiar voice.

    ¡°What are you two doing? Get back in your position¡±

    The voice suddenly gave hope to Kael. It was Elalios, reprimanding the guards for not doing their job properly. Kael wanted to call him, but he couldn¡¯t speak anymore.

    He heard the footsteps of two people going away from him. He was relieved, but he was wondering. Elalios was not saying anything. He couldn¡¯t see that Elalios was staring right at him, too horrified of what he was seeing.

    ¡®Elalios?¡¯

    As if responding to his thought, Elalios finally said something.

    ¡°Kael! What happened to you!?¡±

    Elalios lifted him up.

    [Speed Boost]

    The breeze of the wind chilled down the parts of Kael¡¯s skin that could still feel something. Elalios ran nonstop, recognizing the urgency of the situation. Eventually, Elalios stopped. Kael heard the sudden opening of a door.

    ¡°My lord!¡±, Elalios shouted.

    <hr>

    It¡¯s better that he was the one suffering. That¡¯s what Earl Gideon thought of, as he looked down at the laying child burning in fever. He was lost, unable to focus, seeing the terrible state of the child.

    His rational mind told him that it was hopeless to try and heal the child. The other side of him refused to accept it, thinking of a way to defy the odds.

    ¡®Will I lose you too?¡¯

    Earl Gideon was writing a letter. He paused writing multiple times. His hand was shaking, and he forgot to breathe at times. Eventually he finished, addressing the letter to the Duke.

    The letter was sent. The Earl shifted his attention to Kael. He was clenching his fist while looking at the child. He was hoping to receive a response as soon as possible. He could only wait, and hope that Kael could still endure.

 Approaching

    The situation was dire. A day passed that the person, addressed by the Earl in his letter, had no response yet. That¡¯s to be expected, given that the Duke¡¯s place was far away from him. However, the Earl couldn¡¯t wait for another day.

    Even if Kael did slow down the growth of mana crystals, the crystals were still growing, slowly conquering Kael¡¯s entirety. The Earl was awake the whole time, unable to sleep soundly while he sees Kael suffering.

    Seqina did many things that she thought could at least ease Kael¡¯s pain, but none of her potions worked. Cadell was out for a time, telling the Earl that he will get something that could help. Elalios was the one appointed to lead the guards for the time being, as his distraught master was not in a proper state of mind to lead.

    The Earl was by the door, waiting for a letter to float to him. Seqina looked at him with pity. There¡¯s no letter to be expected even for tomorrow.

    The Earl couldn¡¯t wait. The passing of time agonized him, as he saw Kael suffering from the pain. He wanted to do something. He tried coming up of things to do. He wanted to ease Kael¡¯s suffering. He knew no magic that could help the ill child.

    He was frustrated with his helplessness. His mind wanders to the future that Kael is no longer. He couldn¡¯t accept it, and so, he wanted to weep.

    However, before a single tear tarnish the Earl, Cadell returned to them with a basket full of something glowing.

    ¡°My lord, this will help Kael¡±, Cadell said. ¡°Take it¡±

    The Earl recognized the fruits that Cadell brought. He encountered it just once or twice but he knew where the fruits came from. The fruits were from the alfris trees that lined the path between the town and the village of Lucien faithfuls.

    ¡°How?¡±, the Earl asked.

    The fruits of alfris glowed, as it absorbed mana from the surroundings. Cadell explained to the Earl that he remembered such crucial information, when he was trying to look for things that can absorb mana out of Kael.

    Hearing Cadell¡¯s explanation, Earl Gideon¡¯s hope came back to him. The fruits could be used to buy more time, so that they can travel to the Duke without worry. The fruits could even be a way to heal Kael entirely from the crystallization. But, there¡¯s a problem. They didn¡¯t know how to make the fruits absorb Kael¡¯s mana crystals.

    Earl Gideon and Cadell came up of things to do. They could put the fruits directly to Kael, hoping that the absorption will take place like that. And so they waited until the glow of the fruits faded.

    Cadell picked two of the yellow fruits. He put one directly at a mana crystal, and he put the other one to Kael¡¯s unaffected skin. He wanted to see if the different ways will produce different results. The methods didn¡¯t have any difference. Both fruits didn¡¯t absorb any mana.

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    Seqina, who was standing by Cadell, took one of the fruits and crushed it. Cadell was shocked, but the Earl allowed Seqina to do her thing.

    Seqina put some of the crushed fruit on a mana crystal growing on Kael¡¯s left arm. She waited if what she did had any effect. Unfortunately, like Cadell, nothing good happened.

    The servants apologized to the Earl, but their apologies will not do anything to help Kael. Earl Gideon commanded them to think of other ways, while he thought of other things that might help.

    The servants ran out of ideas. Seqina cleaned Kael, and went to get more fruits. Cadell was ashamed to look at the Earl. But Earl Gideon didn¡¯t pay much attention to them. He was deep in thought about other things.

    As the Earl was seeing what the servants tried, he began to think that the fruits might not do anything to Kael. However, it was still true that the fruits glow because of absorbed mana. He thought deep, and came up of an idea.

    ¡°The fruits will not help¡±, the Earl said.

    ¡°I apologize, my lord¡±

    The Earl looked at Kael. He decided to lift the child up, which confused Cadell.

    ¡°My lord..¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the trees¡±, the Earl stated.

    Cadell was skeptical, but the Earl didn¡¯t give him time to come up with a different conclusion.

    <hr>

    Near the town of Edrei, in a grand double walled castle, Duke Decynus, the Duke of Levaldis resides. In the middle of the night, he was alone in his room, reading a letter. The letter was to be kept secret from anyone, as the contents of the said letter was dangerous not only for the person that sent it, but also to himself. It was from his friend, Earl Gideon of Cleron.

    As he was reading the letter, Duke Decynus couldn¡¯t believe the sentences that he was reading from the letter. ¡°Help me¡±, written by his strong friend was already an unbelievable thing to see. But what¡¯s more inconceivable was what the sender claimed that he needs help with. Earl Gideon claimed that he had a child that was being burdened by mana crystallization.

    Children were not expected to suffer from the debilitating illness. After all, children didn¡¯t have the capacity to absorb the mana surrounding them.

    What¡¯s more absurd was the claim of body crystallization. Even an adult with a crystallized finger was rare enough, but by the Earl¡¯s letter, Duke Decynus was being convinced that there¡¯s a child with a ridiculous level of mana affinity. The Duke should not believe it.

    But, as it was common sense to assume that the story was absurd, it was coming from his friend. He knew that, that friend of his will never lie to him. It had been a month since he received the letter. He tried wrapping his head around the bewildering claim, but he was unable to decide on what to do next.

    ¡°What are you still doing, Decynus?¡±

    Duke Decynus heard a woman¡¯s voice. He hurried and put the letter in his pocket, and face the person who was asking.

    ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m just getting ready for tomorrow¡±

    ¡°You should be¡±, the woman said.

 Advancing

    Kael had a dream. In his dream, there are people rejoicing looking at him. He could see the relief on the people¡¯s faces. He knew nothing about why the people were glad for him, but then, he woke up.

    Kael heard the servants¡¯ voices. Cadell and Seqina expressed their relief, and by how they spoke, Kael knew that the Earl was also with them. He was not aware of where they were, as he was temporarily blinded, but the servants seemed thankful that they went to the place. He tried speaking even though he knew that he couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Where are we?¡±

    Kael was surprised. Although hoarse, his voice came out. However, the people who were with him were more astonished than him.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡±, Seqina blurted, elated to hear Kael¡¯s words.

    Kael was held by the Earl the entire time, a situation he never thought would happen. He was informed by the Earl that they were in the pathway leading to the village of Lucien faithfuls. The Earl made him know that the trees of alfris made him feel a little better. Hearing the Earl, he was thankful that the people he hoped to help him did help him.

    ¡°Thank you¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°Not yet¡±, the Earl replied.

    The alfris trees did help ease Kael¡¯s pain, but the trees could barely do anything on the already formed mana crystals. Kael¡¯s body was still steadily weakening, the mana absorption of all the trees were too slow to be significant.

    The Earl knew that the trees only gave Kael more time. If he wanted to bring Kael back to normal, they still needed the healing power that a powerful mage could provide for them. He said his concerns to Kael and his servants.

    Kael felt the worry while the Earl talked to them. The trees were literal lifesavers for him. He remembered Amos and the village, the people that unintentionally saved his life.

    ¡°My lord, Kael have no choice but to stay here¡±, Cadell said after hearing the Earl¡¯s statement.

    ¡°But he¡¯s not going to get better if he stays here¡±, Seqina commented.

    The Earl was quiet while the two servants justify their thoughts. He was conflicted as well. The two servants have good points, but Seqina¡¯s statements bear more weight to him. He didn¡¯t want Kael to stay suffering for much longer.

    However, Cadell was more right in his arguments. The pathway is the only place that assisted Kael to slow down his crystallization. The Earl feared that the moment they stepped outside the area that the trees have influence over, Kael will succumb to an even worse suffering. If only there¡¯s something they could use that could do what the trees did for Kael.

    Earl Gideon commanded Cadell to cushion the ground near an alfris tree. He wanted to put Kael as near to the tree as possible, hoping that the mana absorption was more potent the closer Kael was to the tree. He placed the child, making sure that Kael was comfortable. It¡¯s not clear if what he did enhanced the mana absorption.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Cadell,¡±, the Earl called. Cadell kneeled at him. ¡°Take Elalios¡¯s position¡±

    Cadell quickly obeyed the order, but after he said his compliance, he immediately realized what the Earl was thinking.

    ¡°My lord, if I may¡±

    ¡°I understand your concern¡±, Earl Gideon said. ¡°Let¡¯s find something that we could use during travel¡±

    Seqina also realized the plan and was quick to present herself to look throughout the town. The Earl didn¡¯t let her, as he already had an idea.

    ¡°Find the smallest of these trees¡±

    That¡¯s insanity. That¡¯s what the servants thought, after they heard the Earl¡¯s command. Maybe it¡¯s because of the Earl¡¯s disordered mind, but from what they understood, the Earl will uproot a tree to accompany in their journey. A whole tree, a living one.

    Kael heard the absurd plan of the Earl. It made him smile, but it might be the only way for him to survive the journey. And so, he tried raising his hand to get the Earl¡¯s attention.

    The Earl attended to Kael immediately. He held the child¡¯s hand and listened to what Kael was saying. He nodded at the information that the child gave him.

    ¡°Guard Kael, I will be back¡±, the Earl commanded.

    The Earl didn¡¯t wait for the servant¡¯s response. He dashed towards the village of Lucien faithfuls. The servants could only look to where he went to. He made the servants wait for several minutes.

    After a while, they heard several rhythmic thumping from a distance. It was growing louder, the vibrations on the ground were steadily getting stronger. Then they saw the Earl, moving towards them with a tree twice his size in length. The servants were in awe, seeing such display of power.

    ¡°Cadell, you can call Elalios now¡±, the Earl commanded the still baffled servant. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time¡±

    <hr>

    Near the town of Edrei, in the Duke¡¯s castle one morning, Duke Decynus prepared for his departure. He was invited by one of the Divine Emperor¡¯s mages to go to Rezelus. The object of his journey was to accompany his sick grandson, a child named Lenan, who was suffering from mana crystallization.

    Duke Decynus was invited so that the mages of Rezelus could provide the help that Lenan needs. He was pushed by his wife to accept the offer of healing, but even if he¡¯s about to go to Rezelus, the letter of his friend kept bothering his mind.

    His wife and his grandson went first to the carriage. He was lost in thought, and was only brought back to present when one of his guards called for his attention.

    ¡°Your grace, there¡¯s a strange carriage approaching the castle¡±, a guard said.

    Duke Decynus looked at the thing that the guard was pointing at. He was alerted, seeing that the said carriage was dragging along something huge behind it. The huge thing was covered with an equally large beige cloth. It was obvious to him that the person in the carriage was not willing to let anyone to see whatever was inside the cloth.

    The Duke was about to order the guards to intercept and seize the arriving carriage if necessary, but upon closer inspection, he realized who was in the carriage. It was his friend, Earl Gideon of Cleron.

    Earl Gideon spent a month traveling before he managed to get to the Duke¡¯s castle. He got out of the carriage, and ran to the Duke. The Duke was delighted to see his friend.

    ¡°Gideon..¡±

    ¡°Your grace..¡±, the Earl bowed.

 Reunited

    Duke Decynus was surprised to see the Earl, but he should have expected him. He wanted to express his delight as he was reunited with his friend, but he needed to address a more pressing matter.

    ¡°Don¡¯t address me like that, Gideon¡±, the Duke said.

    The Earl apologized and as expected, went on to go about his business.

    ¡°Can we talk far from here?¡±, the Earl said.

    The Earl requested that none of the guards follow them. The Duke did as the Earl told, so the guards reluctantly let the Duke walk away from them.

    ¡°Gideon, about your letter, is it true?¡±, the Duke asked, walking towards the Earl¡¯s carriage.

    ¡°Yes¡±

    The Earl continued explaining his situation. As the Duke was listening, he was once again filled with bewilderment.

    ¡®What?¡¯, the Duke thought, trying to make sense of what he was hearing.

    Duke Decynus didn¡¯t know what to do with what the Earl did. The details were said to him. The beige cloth behind the Earl¡¯s carriage covers a tree, along with the child who was the Earl¡¯s predicament. Further details were omitted, but the Duke had enough information to be utterly dumbfounded.

    The Earl was a serious man. Doing something as insane as uprooting a tree could only mean that the Earl was so desperate. The situation looked serious, but humorous. The Duke was conflicted about what he should feel. He controlled himself, refusing to express what he felt at the time.

    Duke Decynus could see the worry on the Earl¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t know where Earl Gideon got the child from, but it was evident to him that the child was important to the Earl.

    However, he still couldn¡¯t believe the Earl¡¯s claim. A child was being crystallized from head to toe. More unbelievable was the claimed rate of crystallization. It was fast enough that the Earl needed immediate help. For comparison, his grandson, Lenan, had his right index finger crystallized at its tip, and that didn¡¯t happen for a day. It took his grandson several years to have it, and even if Lenan wasn¡¯t treated, he could still survive the crystallization for years to come.

    So no one can blame the Duke to not believe the Earl¡¯s claim as he just heard it. It was inconceivable. The only thing that the Earl could do to make his friend believe was to show Kael, the actual person suffering from the unbelievable disease.

    And so, the Earl led Duke Decynus. The Duke was still skeptical while he was walking towards the Earl¡¯s carriage.

    Before the Duke could see Kael, he saw Elalios¡¯s silhouette inside the carriage. Elalios was just sitting, looking down and was not moving much. The Duke pretended to not see him.

    ¡°Closer. No one should see him here but you¡±, the Earl said.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Duke Decynus looked at the Earl. His friend lifted a small part of the cloth. He was led to take a peek. He looked inside, and his conflicted mind reunited into a single feeling.

    ¡®I must be dreaming!¡¯

    The Duke almost screamed his thoughts. He saw the physical evidence, and his common sense was shattered. Inside the cloth was a child, laying near an unfamiliar tree. He saw multiple growth of mana crystals on the child¡¯s entire body, and also on the surface of the tree. The amount of crystals he saw should only be present in his dreams. Anyone, even the richest of nobles would kill if they could acquire what he was seeing.

    He looked at the Earl once again. His friend didn¡¯t hide what he was feeling. His friend was filled with sorrow.

    The Duke regretted ever doubting his friend. He should¡¯ve known that it¡¯s not within the Earl¡¯s character to tell him an absurd lie.

    ¡°I¡¯m..¡±

    ¡°I understand¡±, the Earl said before the Duke could apologize.

    Seeing that the Earl trusted him that much, Duke Decynus was filled with conviction. He will help his friend to the best of his abilities.

    He looked at Kael again, and as his bewilderment faded, he saw the true picture. Kael is a pitiful child, helpless and suffering. Even if the child was not closely tied to him, he could feel his heart being crushed. Yet another reason to help his unhappy friend.

    ¡°Go with me¡±, the Duke said without hesitation. ¡°We¡¯re going to Rezelus. The mages there will surely help if they saw the child¡±

    ¡°But, Kael..¡±

    ¡°You will have to sacrifice him. It¡¯s for his own good¡±

    The Duke tapped Earl Gideon on the shoulder. The Earl was still conflicted, but he had no choice.

    ¡°They will not let us enter¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do something about that¡±, the Duke said.

    When the Duke was about to return to his carriage, he saw his wife outside of it, looking at him. He told the Earl to follow his carriage, and then he hurried to his wife.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Earl Gideon?¡±, the Duke¡¯s wife said.

    The Duke nodded. ¡°He will follow us to Rezelus¡±

    The carriage of the Earl stopped near them. Earl Gideon greeted the Duke¡¯s wife.

    The woman wanted to ask about the thing behind the Earl¡¯s carriage, but she didn¡¯t say anything. She was able to caught a glimpse inside the Earl¡¯s carriage, then, she returned to their carriage immediately. The Duke wanted to say something to her, but he kept it to himself.

    The Duke went inside his carriage and commanded his coachman. Their journey to Rezelus finally began.

    <hr>

    In the small state of Rezelus, the unnamed mages were preparing. The day of blessings is drawing near, the Divine Emperor will choose numerous children once again.

    The unnamed mages will get favor when that day comes. Of course, it will depend on the number of gifted children they could get. One of such unnamed mages was tasked to heal Lenan.

    The unnamed mage was joyful that he got a gifted child that showed strong mana affinity. He was sure that none of his equals acquired a better child, and thus, he was sure to get a greater blessing from the Divine Emperor. But, little did he know, he will get a child far greater than Lenan. He will soon witness an inconceivable case of mana crystallization, an experience he will regret.

 Rezelus

    The city-state of Rezelus. The place revered by all of humanity. Even if the human kingdoms sometimes went against each other, the people are united as one because of it.

    It is the most holy place, the origin of the unifying church. The place where the Divine Emperor resides, and the home of his most loyal followers.

    No kingdom has as much magical power as Rezelus, but the kingdoms were not worried. For the church aimed for peace, and the Divine Emperor their mediator. Harmony was established once the Divine Emperor moved his hands. Their guidance are the teachings of the church, and their way of living agrees to the laws of the Divine Emperor.

    But, not every people respect the church¡¯s authority. There are many faiths that emerged aiming for the fall of the church. One specific faith was considered most problematic. It was the faithfuls of Lucien.

    The Rezelus church wanted to prevent violence. They wanted to resolve the conflict between opposing beliefs in a peaceful manner. However, they couldn¡¯t trust the other faiths, especially the Lucieneans, and so, they established the day of blessings.

    The ¡°day of blessings¡± is not one event. It was comprised of multiple separate ceremonies that are performed in a single day. It is an important holy event, and it was also a method to increase the city-state¡¯s magical might.

    One of the events held during that day, was the sanctification of children. In this ceremony, children, usually of noble birth, were blessed to become future citizens of the city-state. This means that the chosen youth will have the privilege to serve the Divine Emperor, by being his warriors and preachers. Many people wanted their children to be blessed that way, but there are strict requirements that all the chosen should have.

    First, the children should either possess an innate magic, or show clear signs of high mana affinity. This ensures that, with proper guidance, the chosen children will grow to become master grade, or grandmaster grade mages. There¡¯s not a single child that was accepted that didn¡¯t qualify to this requirement. It¡¯s to be expected, as they are serving the Divine Emperor himself.

    Second, the children should be one with the faith of the church. It¡¯s also a crucial requirement to ensure the great morals of the child. The parents of the chosen are the ones more responsible for this one. Any great parent will teach their children about the faith, if they wanted to give their children a bright future.

    Third, the children must not have any kind of illness. If they passed the first two requirements, they should be cleansed first before they can enter Rezelus, as the city-state is a holy place.

    Fourth, the chosen children were typically children of nobles. It was generally the case so that it was easier for the church to investigate the previous life of the children. However, this demand could be neglected, if any children showed greater gift compared to their peers. All of this should generally be true to all of the candidates.

    The preparations for the important day were all set inside Rezelus. The only thing that the church needed to do was to make the people ready for the occasion. That means that the unnamed mages were allowed to go outside the city-state.

    Stolen story; please report.

    One of the unnamed mages was assigned to go to Ucar, the small kingdom where the unnamed mage will meet Lenan, one of the child candidate for the sanctification.

    He was too excited to meet the child that he arrived to Ucar earlier than Duke Decynus. He used the teleportation platform leading to the king¡¯s castle. On the other side, he was greeted by the king of Ucar, and was attended to by the royal servants.

    ¡°Is there anything that you wanted to eat?¡±, the king asked.

    ¡°No, just let me have my fill of what you have¡±

    The king commanded his servants to quickly bring food for the unnamed mage. Such is the respect given to even the lowest citizens of Rezelus.

    The unnamed mage waited for several days, but he wasn¡¯t irritated. The time he said to the Duke was many days ahead from the day he arrived, and so, he waited patiently. Eventually, Duke Decynus arrived, and entered the king¡¯s castle.

    Duke Decynus decided that only the Earl should accompany him as he meet the unnamed mage. His wife couldn¡¯t refuse, as she was ashamed of the Earl.

    The two friends enter without any detours. They wanted to meet the unnamed mage as soon as possible. As expected, the person they wanted to see was already in their meeting place.

    ¡°At last, you¡¯re here¡±

    The Duke profusely apologized. He realized that the unnamed mage was waiting for him for several days. The unnamed mage didn¡¯t mind though, and was more focused on his mission.

    ¡°Where is the child?¡±, the unnamed mage asked.

    ¡°I left him outside sir¡±, the Duke answered, still a little abashed.

    The unnamed mage nodded. ¡°So, are you committed to this agreement?¡±

    The Duke was silent. He couldn¡¯t say the words he had in mind.

    The unnamed mage observed the Duke¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t like the expression of the noble. He thought that the Duke will withdraw from their agreement.

    ¡°Sir,¡±, the Duke finally talked. ¡°Can I show you something first?¡±

    The unnamed mage was confused, but he wanted to earn the Duke¡¯s trust. He was eager to get the child, so he agreed to the Duke¡¯s request.

    Duke Decynus was marching quick along with the Earl. The unnamed mage didn¡¯t have a choice but to follow through. Soon, they were outside, and the large cloth that seemed to be covering something caught the unnamed mage¡¯s attention.

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I want to show you sir¡±

    The unnamed mage looked at the Duke. He was cautious, as he felt the unusual feeling in his surroundings. The mana in the air was thinning, which gave him a hint that the thing inside the cloth was absorbing it.

    The Duke looked around and raised a small region of the cloth. He gestured to the unnamed mage to come, which the latter reluctantly followed.

    As the unnamed mage got nearer, the mana in the air was getting thinner. He was sure by then that the thing that he was about to see absorbs the mana in the surroundings. He was intrigued, but he was also nervous. He looked at the Duke once again, and looked at the opening made for him.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

 Healed

    ¡°Wh.. what is that?¡±

    The unnamed mage was terrified. He was hyperventilating, looking at an absurdity that overwhelmed his mind. Once again, Kael shattered someone¡¯s rational belief.

    The royal guards were alerted, hearing the scream of the trembling mage. Even the Duke¡¯s wife was startled, and went out to see what¡¯s going on. Everyone in the royal castle were alarmed, as they heard the unnamed mage¡¯s loud cry.

    ¡°This is bad! Gideon, what should we do?¡±

    The guards were approaching quickly. The unnamed mage was out of strength, dropping down, sitting on the ground.

    ¡°What happened?¡±, the Duke¡¯s wife said, standing behind the Earl.

    The Duke was unable to answer his wife. He was helping the Earl to detach the cart with Kael in it, from the Earl¡¯s carriage. Unfortunately, the guards surrounded them before they were able to do so.

    [Barrier]

    The guards created multiple barriers around them. They were commanded to stop whatever they were doing. There¡¯s no opening to go out to, and the king was also approaching.

    Earl Gideon prepared himself, fighting against all the guards if necessary. His stance alerted the guards even more, seeing the coat of arms suspended from his necklace. The king arrived, and saw the unnamed mage sitting on the ground.

    ¡°Let me through!¡±, the king ordered. ¡°Duke Decynus, what did you do?¡±

    The king was assisting the unnamed mage to stand again. The mage was still dazed, not knowing what to do.

    All the people in the castle were looking at the Duke. The Duke was looking at the Earl who was still standing ready for a fight.

    The king noticed the large cloth behind the Duke and the Earl. From the way that the two stood, he assumed that they were hiding something.

    ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡±, the king asked.

    The question offended the Earl. He was about to use magic against the king when the unnamed mage interrupted them.

    ¡°Nothing,¡±, the unnamed mage muttered. It was evident that he was slightly out of breath, but he tried to speak again. ¡°The thing behind that cloth should never be seen by human eyes¡±

    The king was confused by the statement. He tried asking, as he was intrigued by what the mage saw, but he was strictly denied by the mage. He didn¡¯t have a choice but to let his curiosity go.

    ¡°Is everything really alright sir?¡±, the king asked.

    ¡°Yes¡±

    ¡°Is there anything you need?¡±

    ¡°Please give us a room for that thing¡±, the unnamed mage said, pointing at the large cloth.

    The king followed the mage¡¯s request. The royal guards returned to their positions, confused of what just happened. The royal castle returned to its normal state.

    Meanwhile, the Duke¡¯s wife was frustrated that her husband was clearly hiding something from her. She was so curious, looking at the cart dragged by the Duke and Earl Gideon. The two nobles didn¡¯t request any servants to do that for them. Clearly, whatever was in there was to be kept with utmost secrecy.

    But she couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity and frustration. She wanted to know what¡¯s in there, so she opened the Earl¡¯s carriage.

    ¡°Elalios¡±

    Elalios was startled because of the carriage¡¯s sudden opening.

    ¡°Mo¨C, your grace..¡±

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The woman didn¡¯t pay attention to Elalios¡¯s greeting. ¡°What is in that cart they are dragging?¡±

    Elalios didn¡¯t say anything. The woman received the message, Elalios will not give her what she wanted.

    ¡°Useless¡±

    The woman left, pretending she wasn¡¯t irritated.

    <hr>

    Duke Decynus was full of worry. They were left by the king in one of the rooms of the castle. The unnamed mage requested that no one should go near the room. The king, respecting the mage so much, followed the request.

    There¡¯s an unusual ambience in the room. The unnamed mage was silent for several minutes. The Earl was focusing his gaze towards the mage. The Duke was terrified of what could possibly happen next.

    Duke Decynus knew that his friend was about to burst. The Earl was waiting for what the mage will say, and depending on his answer, the mage was in danger. The Duke wanted that he could do something, but he was not as magically gifted as the Earl. All he could do was try to calm his friend down using his words.

    ¡°Who is he?¡±, the mage finally said.

    The Duke go in front of the Earl, wanting to be the one to reply. ¡°He¡¯s Earl Gideon¡¯s son¡±

    The mage requested for the Duke to move, and he looked at the Earl. ¡°As the Divine Emperor¡¯s servant, it¡¯s my duty to protect our people¡±. The mage looked at the Earl¡¯s necklace. ¡°You proved your loyalty, I have no reason to be your enemy¡±

    The Earl looked at his necklace, and glanced back to the mage. He sighed, releasing all the tension in his body. ¡°I apologize¡±

    ¡°I understand. He¡¯s important to you¡±

    The Earl nodded. ¡°Kael, his name is Kael¡±

    ¡°Kael.. since when was he like that?¡±

    The Earl contemplated for a bit. He looked at the eyes of the unnamed mage, eyes that were urging him to be honest.

    ¡°A month and some days back¡±

    Both the unnamed mage and the Duke looked at the Earl, astounded and in the verge of not believing.

    ¡°What do you mean? Is that true?¡±, the Duke asked, unable to control himself. He immediately realized his little blunder and apologized to the unnamed mage.

    The Earl nodded to answer the question. The Duke was baffled again. He thought that the crystallization happened longer, maybe a year at least. He had no idea that the amount of mana crystals he saw were created for just a month.

    ¡°Such gift..¡±, the mage said. ¡°We can¡¯t let him suffer for more, lest he would despise the gift of magic he has¡±. The unnamed mage stood.

    [Spatial Sense]

    The mage saw that there were no people snooping outside. ¡°It¡¯s safe. You can remove the cover¡±

    The Earl was hesitant, but he knew that only the mage could heal Kael. He removed the cloth covering, revealing the alfris tree with Kael besides it.

    The mage¡¯s head pulled back. It was still astonishing to witness. Large chunks of the tree were crystallized. Kael has patches of iridescent crystals on his skin.

    ¡°If I may ask, what is the tree for?¡±, the mage asked, trying to suppress his bewilderment.

    ¡°It absorbs mana¡±, the Earl answered.

    ¡°That¡¯s convenient¡±

    The mage got a part of the whole picture. He didn¡¯t ask for more. What he needed to do was right in front of him.

    The unnamed mage held Kael¡¯s hand. He held the alfris tree with his free hand. Then, he started concentrating.

    The mage started glowing due to the mana he was manipulating. He was transferring the excessive amount of mana from Kael to the alfris tree. He generally lets the mana he got from the children he healed go free in the air. However, Kael is different. The amount of mana he has should be stored somewhere.

    As the Earl witnessed that the crystals on Kael¡¯s body were starting to get smaller, he stopped doubting the unnamed mage. The feeling that remained in him was gratitude. Finally, Kael will be released from his suffering.

    The healing process was a tedious one. The mage thought that he could finish the healing that day, but he wasn¡¯t able to.

    ¡°There¡¯s too much mana in him¡±, the mage said. ¡°Maybe I could call one of my superiors to help me with this¡±

    Hearing the mage¡¯s statement, the Earl didn¡¯t want to allow it. He was about to say something when the mage spoke again.

    ¡°But, you don¡¯t want that, do you?¡±

    The Earl felt the sincerity of those words.

    On the following days, every noon, the mage will transfer mana from Kael to the alfris tree. He will do it until evening, making sure that no one, except the two nobles, see what he was doing.

    A week passed, Kael had no mana crystals anymore. He was able to rebuild his mana vessel as well as close the special mana pathways. He was well, but he was to face another problem. As the mage see him as a tremendously gifted child, the unnamed mage would not let him go. Another conflict was brewing, and he was the center of it.

 Confusion

    Kael realized something that he should have known before. Perhaps he did know before, but he was reminded once again. He should really keep in mind what he gained from his life threatening experience. Whether he likes it or not, he is now a normal person.

    Normal people don¡¯t have the kind of body that can store vast amounts of mana without issues. Kael is one of them now, and so, he should discipline himself, abide by his body¡¯s natural limits.

    He knew that he shouldn¡¯t create the special mana pathways anymore. The only safe way to boost his magic power was to use ¡°Late Cost¡±, and that¡¯s it. No modifying the said magic, only within its bounds could Kael boost himself. Though limited, he wouldn¡¯t suffer from mana crystallization anymore.

    By then, endless magic was out of his options, but, unfortunately, returning to normal gave him yet another problem. After he was saved from his illness, with the care of the Earl and the unnamed mage, he must face the cost of being healed. He was informed by the Earl after he was well and healthy.

    Rezelus. The most important place for all of humanity, according to the Earl. The place where the great one, to whom the people must worship, dwells. It was the place appointed by the Divine Emperor to be of service to him, and, as it is the great one they are serving, the people in the city-state should also be great in their own right.

    That¡¯s why the church gather every person that could be considered great. Those people that were magically gifted, as magic is the peak among all the Divine Emperor¡¯s gifts. They have an obligation to use their gifts in service of the great one. Such is the predicament of Kael.

    Kael, being magically gifted, was obligated to serve the Divine Emperor, especially now that he was discovered by one of the great one¡¯s servants. It is the Divine Emperor¡¯s will for him to be known, and thus, he must abide to the great one that gave him his gift.

    But, Kael didn¡¯t want to be a servant of the church. To eliminate the remaining demons, that¡¯s his main goal. Being secluded inside the city-state will render him incapable of doing what he wanted. He needed to do something, but he shouldn¡¯t go against the Earl. Not at all. At all cost he should not go against him.

    A day passed after he was fully recovered, Kael was faced with Earl Gideon. They were alone in a room, still in the king¡¯s castle. The silence was a little uncomfortable, but it was better than facing the unnamed mage.

    Before he faced Kael, Earl Gideon talked to the unnamed mage. Of course they were discussing about Kael, what to do to him, and, how unbelievable that someone like him exist. The unnamed mage was full of joy during the entire discussion, but the same couldn¡¯t be said to the Earl.

    Kael was waiting for the Earl to say something. He knew what the Earl wanted from him, but he didn¡¯t want to start the conversation. So he waited, and, he¡¯s patience won over the Earl¡¯s.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Kael.. will you tell me the truth?¡±, the Earl started. His glance wasn¡¯t like what it was when Kael first met him. He didn¡¯t look fearsome to Kael, but rather, he was like someone wanting to be genuine.

    ¡°Your lordship, I don¡¯t know what you want to know¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°Then.. who are you?¡±

    The Earl had so much question for Kael. But that single question encompasses all the things he wanted to know.

    ¡°If I told you, would you believe me?¡±, Kael asked.

    The Earl realized that he was not talking to a child. Just with Kael¡¯s question, he was able to answer some of the questions that he wanted to ask. But, he wanted to know more, and so, he replied. ¡°I will¡±

    Lying will get him nowhere, so Kael decided to tell the truth. First, he will say that he was a person named Lucien, a person that was able to gain a second life. Second, he will say that he made a promise to the previous owner of his current body, that¡¯s why he will keep on living as Kael. Third, he will say that he has a mission to eliminate all the remaining demons that he wasn¡¯t able to destroy before. He wanted to tell all of this, but, the Earl interrupted him just after he said he was Lucien.

    ¡°What.. what are you saying?¡±

    Kael didn¡¯t know what to say to that. He thought that he didn¡¯t say so much, but it was evident that the Earl was flabbergasted. He didn¡¯t know at the time that just introducing himself as Lucien flooded the Earl with so much confusion.

    ¡°I¡¯m.. Lucien¡±

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t say that¡±

    Kael had no choice, but to stop. He couldn¡¯t understand. The Earl was acting very unusual for someone who was usually composed and rational. He could even see the constrained panic within the Earl, like he said something that should never be said. And yes, he did say something that he should never say.

    The Earl tried wrapping his mind to what he just heard. He said he will believe Kael, but in this regard, he didn¡¯t want to believe him. However, he knew that lying like that will get Kael nowhere. The situation pointed to a single fact. Kael wasn¡¯t lying.

    ¡°No..¡±, the only word that the Earl managed to let out.

    Initially, the Earl denied the claim that the child made. But as he tried convincing himself, wanting to be true to what he said, he felt the dread growing in him. If Kael didn¡¯t lie to him, then he unknowingly saved Lucien, the person that the Divine Emperor defeated to save humanity. Right in front of him was the person so greedy of power, that he attempted to rule over every single race.

    The Earl was terrified, as he looked at Kael. The child looked innocent, but his mind was consumed by the name of a dreadful person. Kael is dangerous is what he thought.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡±, Kael asked, interrupting the Earl¡¯s thinking.

    Earl Gideon was startled. He felt emotions that the demon Talzer failed to get out of him. But the longer he looked at the child, the weaker his animosity became. There¡¯s something about Kael that was inconsistent to what he knew and believed. His mind was chaotic that he accidentally asked the child.

    ¡°Are you here for revenge?¡±

 Revelation

    Did he reveal so much? Kael was starting to realize the weight of what he just said. He was surprised that the Earl asked him an unusual question. Revenge was not in his mind anymore, but hearing the Earl ask, he was reminded of his previous objective.

    Meanwhile, the Earl regretted what he just did, but seeing the surprise on Kael¡¯s face, he felt that his question was already answered. However, he needed to know if he could really trust the child. He wanted to believe he could, but he was taught that Lucien was a very deceptive person. Only by learning more could he ensure what he should believe.

    And so, the Earl tried dismissing what he just said. ¡°I apologize, forget what I just said¡±

    Kael became more confused. He wasn¡¯t sure what to do next. The Earl¡¯s question felt genuine to him, but now, the same person was trying to set aside what he just said. He was stumped, and the silence that came after bred even more uncertainty.

    ¡°Kael?¡±, the Earl asked, once again losing the patience game. The Earl wanted to bring back Kael to where he was before he was interrupted. But it¡¯s not that easy for Kael to recover just like that.

    ¡°I truly apologize¡±, the Earl said once again after Kael didn¡¯t respond.

    Kael didn¡¯t want to let the strange atmosphere continue, but he couldn¡¯t think of words to say. His heart was beating fast, contributing more to his disordered mind.

    The Earl sighed. Kael kept on being silent. He wanted to finish their discussion. What he asked was his greatest blunder that day. ¡°It¡¯s alright, let¡¯s continue this for another time¡±

    The Earl stood from his seat, and was about to go out of the room.

    ¡°Wait¡±, Kael said. He recovered just in time to stop Earl Gideon¡¯s movement. ¡°I will tell everything to you¡±

    Hearing this, the Earl looked at Kael. The child seemed to be okay, and was eager to finally say something. He returned to his seat, and prepared himself to listen.

    ¡°As I said, I am Lucien¡±, Kael said. He knew he couldn¡¯t continue without addressing what the Earl asked him. ¡°But, before I tell you more, what do you know about me?¡±

    The Earl tensed up. The question was obviously referring to the person ¡°Lucien¡±, and not about the person he was talking to. It would be terrible if he offended such powerful figure, but he felt that he shouldn¡¯t lie to Kael. He decided on telling some of what he knew, omitting information that could possibly anger Kael.

    According to the Earl, there¡¯s only one Lucien throughout the history of humanity. That¡¯s why he knew some things right away the moment Kael introduced himself as Lucien. The reason why it¡¯s the case was the prohibition made by the Rezelus church during ancient times. It¡¯s not a recognized law anymore, but due to events associated to the name, no person with the right mind will name their child Lucien. As for the people unaffiliated with the church, they either respect the name so much, or they didn¡¯t want to be involved in the chaos that the name bring about.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Hearing all of this, Kael wanted to know what the world knew about him. However, when he asked for more information, the Earl was a bit hesitant to speak. He saw the fear in Earl Gideon¡¯s eyes once again.

    Kael was a bit saddened, as he knew the Earl feared him. He realized that the ¡°Lucien¡± that the people knew was not at all like him. He knew because the people of his time celebrated him. He wondered, what lies were taught to the people to the point that they feared him so much.

    ¡°Your lordship?¡±, it was Kael¡¯s turn to wake the Earl up.

    The Earl apologized for no reason. He just felt the need to do so. What to do after was out of his mind. So he just sat there, silent and waiting.

    Kael didn¡¯t want to pressure the frightened Earl anymore. He had no choice, he will continue telling who he was. He hoped that after saying the truth, the Earl will see him in a new light.

    Kael started explaining. He was Lucien, and he gained a second life out of vengeance. He looked at the Earl, trying to see how the noble would react, then he continued.

    ¡°Now, I am Kael¡±

    Kael continued, explaining the promise he made to the owner of his current body. The Earl¡¯s astonishment was evident, but he didn¡¯t let it stop him. He declared that he will live as Kael, and that seeking revenge was not in his mind anymore.

    ¡°However,¡±, Kael continued. ¡°As you know, demons still exist¡±

    Kael told the Earl that he failed on his mission in his past life. The proof was experienced by the Earl. He said his new goal. He declared that he will eliminate all the remaining demons.

    After saying all the things he wanted to say, Kael waited for the Earl to say something. The Earl was silent, but Kael already expected that the noble will say that he was lying. He understands even if it¡¯s painful to him. But the Earl did something Kael didn¡¯t expect.

    Tears started flowing on the Earl¡¯s face. He put both of his hands on his head, and grabbed his hair. ¡° I.. I don¡¯t know what to believe¡±

    The Earl was too conflicted. He saw Kael as his son, and the child saved his life from the dreadful demon he despised. But, he was also loyal to the church, and he managed to survive because of it. Kael seemed genuine and truthful to him, but he was taught that Lucien was the evil man that the Divine Emperor defeated.

    Kael felt sympathy for the Earl. He regretted what he just said. He thought that it was better to be seen in a bad light than to let the Earl suffer. He walked towards the Earl to console him, but before he got to the Earl, a knock was heard outside the door.

    ¡°Earl Gideon?¡±

    The voice alerted the Earl. By then he realized that he was crying. He wiped his tears quickly. He knew that the person outside should not see him like that. He opened the door after he was prepared.

 Decision

    The unnamed mage¡¯s arrival was not welcome, but the Earl had no choice. He let the unnamed mage enter, as he looked at Kael with worry.

    ¡°Did you tell him already?¡±, the unnamed mage asked the Earl.

    The Earl pretended that he did not. He said that he was about to, after making sure that Kael was healthy.

    ¡°Oh, sorry, I didn¡¯t know¡±, the unnamed mage apologized for interrupting them.

    The Earl accepted the apology. He talked about what he apparently said to Kael to which the unnamed mage listened willingly. But in truth, the Earl just wanted to buy some time, as he was still undecided with what to do with Kael.

    Eventually, the Earl ran out of things to say. He was still conflicted. He couldn¡¯t hold the conversation, and so, the unnamed mage faced Kael.

    Kael looked at the Earl. He realized what the noble did. He wanted the Earl to be on his side, to not let him go to Rezelus, but he felt like it will not take long before the Earl made his decision. And that decision, he feared, was not what he wanted.

    ¡°Kael,¡±, the unnamed mage started. He told Kael the obligation of the gifted faithfuls to the church. He made it sound like it¡¯s not mandatory for Kael to follow, but the child already knew the truth.

    ¡°Sir, can I refuse?¡±

    The unnamed mage looked at the Earl who was just as surprised as him. The Earl knew that the child will refuse, but he didn¡¯t expect that Kael will be that direct. Meanwhile, the unnamed mage was surprised because he didn¡¯t have an experience in the past that a child refused his offer.

    The unnamed mage started explaining the privileges that Kael will get, setting aside Kael¡¯s refusal. He mentioned the respect and prestige that Kael will receive that even kings didn¡¯t have. Kael will not run out of everything he will want or need, according to the unnamed mage. And, most important of all, the glory of being a servant of the Divine Emperor will come to Kael. All of these were said to be privileges, but Kael still refused.

    The unnamed mage didn¡¯t give up. He was eager to convince someone as gifted as Kael to be of service to the Divine Emperor. He couldn¡¯t let the blessing he got to go away from him. Kael is the treasure, and the unnamed mage will seize him.

    While the unnamed mage and Kael were arguing, the Earl was given time to decide. Initially, he didn¡¯t want to let Kael go to Rezelus, as he wanted to live with Kael for longer. But, when Kael revealed himself to be Lucien, he felt that only the church could handle him. However, there¡¯s a possibility that, that¡¯s exactly what Kael wanted, to get near the Divine Emperor. But even still, outside the church, Kael will not be under the control of the powerful mages that the church has.

    The Earl kept circling between letting Kael go to the church, or not let Kael become the Divine Emperor¡¯s servant. If only he learned enough to trust Kael, he wouldn¡¯t have much trouble. He looked at his necklace, the coat of arms where his duty to the church was written. He looked at Kael, the child that saved him from a terrible demon. He arrived to a single decision.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡®I want the best for you¡¯

    That thought gave clarity to the Earl. It was a good thing that he had enough time to ponder deeply. All this time he was thinking what¡¯s good for him, for the church, and for Kael. His concern for Kael won over, as he was reminded of the suffering that Kael endured. Good or evil, only the church could give Kael the healing he needed to combat mana crystallization. Kael wouldn¡¯t survive outside of it. That¡¯s what he concluded.

    ¡°Kael will go¡±, the Earl said.

    Both Kael and the unnamed mage looked at Earl Gideon. One was delighted, and one was defeated.

    ¡°Earl Gideon, may the Divine Emperor bless you¡±

    The Earl nodded. The unnamed mage went outside victorious. Kael couldn¡¯t refuse anymore.

    In before when the Earl and the unnamed mage were talking, the Earl implied that he will let Kael go if the child wanted to go to Rezelus. However, now that the perceived guardian of Kael accepted the offer, the pitiful child was left to only one direction.

    ¡°I apologize¡±, the Earl said, full of sincerity, but it was too late.

    Kael was silent, defeated, and hopeless. He could escape from the castle, but he felt that he had no energy to do so. He received the Earl¡¯s acceptance as a message that Earl Gideon didn¡¯t trust him. He felt alone once again.

    ¡°Please understand, I¡¯m doing this for you¡±, the Earl stated.

    Kael didn¡¯t listen. Instead, he asked the Earl. ¡°Can you promise me something?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m listening¡±

    Kael forced a smile. ¡°Then, defeat the demons for me¡±

    The Earl felt a sting of regret in him. He was surprised that Kael could still be thinking about the demons even in his loneliness. He was beginning to doubt all the things that he knew about Lucien. Hearing about Kael¡¯s request, he was determined to give the child assurance.

    ¡°I will try my best¡±

    <hr>

    Some days passed. The unnamed mage brought the two candidates, Lenan and Kael, to the teleportation platform. Inside the room, aside from the children and the mage, were the king, some royal servants, and Duke Decynus and his wife. The children were cleansed and both of them had the teachings of the church in their minds. They were ready to go to Rezelus.

    ¡°Thank you for the great welcome¡±, the unnamed mage said.

    ¡°The delight is within us¡±, the king replied.

    Soon, the children and the mage disappeared, and was transferred to Rezelus. The Earl was outside the room, not wanting to see Kael¡¯s joyless face.

    ¡°My lord..¡±, Elalios said. He was accompanying the Earl, as he knew that Earl Gideon needed his company.

    ¡°Elalios, did I do something right?¡±, the Earl asked.

    ¡°Forgive my ignorance, I can¡¯t tell¡±, Elalios replied, then he raised his head. ¡°But, I know you did the best you could¡±. Elalios was talking like a friend.

 Limited

    The great city, the city-state of Rezelus. Incredible metal walls lined its border, protecting the holy place inside. The large golden torches that sit above its walls hold white eternal flames that give light to the glorious city. It is an impressive and a wonderful sight to see. But for Kael, it was a lonely place that hindered his noble objective.

    The teleportation platform that they used brought them in a room lined with more teleportation platforms. Almost simultaneously, the platforms brought other children from other kingdoms accompanied with unnamed mages.

    As the two children looked around the lengthy room, they saw people in deep blue robes waiting for them. All of those people have the same golden necklace, a coat of arms with an inscription ¡°Shield of the Divine Emperor¡± written in formal language. The teleportation platforms were each managed by a pair of those people.

    Kael remembered the Earl, as he looked at the golden necklaces of the blue robed servants. The same coat of arms as the Earl¡¯s, which made him think that the Earl was the same as them.

    ¡°Greetings, chosen ones¡±, the protectors, as the blue robed servants were called, said in unison.

    The unnamed mages greeted the protectors in return, which caused the children to do the same.

    [Barrier]

    Kael didn¡¯t expect what just happened. The protectors separated the teleportation platforms into isolated rooms. They couldn¡¯t see nor hear whatever was happening on the other platforms.

    ¡°Now, shall we start the assessment?¡±, one of the protectors said.

    The unnamed mage agreed, and he led Lenan to go near the protectors. One of the protectors held Lenan¡¯s hand, and shortly after, Lenan started glowing.

    ¡°Impressive! The Divine Emperor gifted such high mana capacity¡±, the protector holding Lenan¡¯s hand said. He was delighted, and so was the unnamed mage. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡±

    ¡°He was named Lenan, great protector¡±, the unnamed mage answered.

    Kael was led to the protectors next. He went without resistance, but he wished he had the emotional strength to do so. Same as Lenan, he was held by one of the protectors, then almost instantly, he started glowing.

    The unnamed mage went from being so excited to being so shocked, as he witnessed how quick did the excess mana came out of Kael. The protectors looked at him, and it was a terrible thing that they did.

    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡±, the protector holding Kael said. He was hiding the disappointment he felt, as he saw Kael lit up instantly.

    ¡°Kael, great protector¡±, the unnamed mage answered, like he was doubting what he just said.

    The other protector joined the discourse. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    The unnamed mage couldn¡¯t answer.

    ¡°Why did you violate this holy place?¡±, the protector that assessed Kael said. He released Kael from his hand like he was disgusted.

    ¡°Th¨Cthat¡¯s not¡­¡±, the unnamed mage stuttered.

    ¡°You disrespected the Divine Emperor for this act!¡±, the other protector declared. It was clear that both of them were furious that the unnamed mage brought someone with such a low mana capacity.

    The unnamed mage was defeated with all the scolding he received. He was sure that Kael will be his greatest achievement as a servant of the Divine Emperor. However, the child became a dreadful curse to him, as he will inevitably face the consequence of what he did.

    ¡°Please, great protectors, forgive your servant¡±, the unnamed mage pleaded.

    The protectors didn¡¯t listen to the unnamed mage. They escorted Lenan out of the teleportation room to give the child time to prepare for the sanctification. Kael and the unnamed mage were left in the room.

    ¡°Wh¨Cwhat happened?¡±. The unnamed mage was on his knees, asking himself questions he didn¡¯t know how to answer.

    As Kael looked at the terrified and distraught mage, he felt pity and guilt. He felt guilty for wanting the situation that he was in at that moment. He wanted to comfort someone once again, forgetting the fact that he just got his freedom.

    Eventually, one protector returned. It was the one that made the assessment, and also the one more irritated towards the unnamed mage.

    ¡°Return to your kingdom,¡±, the protector said to Kael. Then, he looked down on the unnamed mage. ¡°This one committed a grave sin for bringing you here¡±

    Kael went on to the teleportation platform, but he was not as eager as before. He thought of using ¡°Late Cost¡±, and let the protector assess him again, but the protector was pushing him to return to Ucar as quickly as possible. By then, he was suspicious of the protector. He looked at the unnamed mage again, and it was evident that the pitiful mage was terrified. Now, why would the mage feel that terrified? He wanted to know, but the protector activated the teleportation platform before he could ask. And so, he returned to the kingdom of Ucar, unable to help the unnamed mage.

    <hr>

    The Earl was prepared to return to Cleron. He wanted to at least see Kael once again, but he knew that that¡¯s not possible anymore. Even still, he wanted to go to the teleportation room one last time, desperately wishing that Kael will come back. He was surprised when he went to the room, as what he wished actually happened.

    ¡°Kael..¡±, the Earl uttered. He was hiding the happiness he was feeling.

    Kael didn¡¯t notice the Earl, as he was desperate to return back to Rezelus. Unfortunately, everything that he did failed to make the platform work. He kept on trying, but he quickly realized that it was hopeless.

    The Earl was puzzled, as he was looking at the frantic child. He wanted to ask why Kael came back. ¡°Kael, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Kael came back to his senses. He ran to the Earl immediately.

    ¡°Earl Gideon, I need your help¡±

    The Earl apologized, as he knew that the teleportation platform only opens at Rezelus. Hearing this, Kael pleaded that someone activate the platform for him. The Earl denied his request, which made Kael return to the platform, retrying all that he did attempting to activate it.

    ¡°Kael, calm down¡±, the Earl said, worried about the behavior of the child.

    ¡°I can¡¯t, there¡¯s someone I need to save¡±, Kael replied.

    The Earl was intrigued and felt that he should help, but he could only help Kael if he knew what¡¯s going on.

    ¡°Kael,¡±, the Earl held the child by the shoulder. ¡°Calm down. I will help you. Just tell me what¡¯s going on¡±

 Defeat

    Kael narrated the things that happened in Rezelus. He mentioned the assessment that the protectors did to him, and its result. He mentioned the miserable look of the unnamed mage when he was not accepted as a chosen. He also said that the protector that assessed him, quickly activated the teleportation platform, so that he could get out of Rezelus as fast as possible.

    Hearing all of this, the Earl got a little of why Kael returned. But, he was surprised that Kael didn¡¯t pass the assessment. He wanted to know why that happened, when he himself witnessed Kael¡¯s impossibly high mana affinity. However, when he asked the child, Kael asked the importance of knowing such ¡°small¡± detail.

    Dismissing the Earl¡¯s question, Kael pleaded once again for the Earl to activate the teleportation platform. His mind was too out of place that he didn¡¯t remember what the Earl answered to him earlier. The Earl denied his request once again.

    Kael was even more erratic than before. He wanted to go to the king to request the same thing he requested to the Earl. Earl Gideon stopped him, as it was disrespectful to the king for someone to go to him casually. But Kael was too eager to go to the king that Earl Gideon needed to restrain Kael with his arms.

    The king heard the commotion in the room. He went to them, and saw that Kael was trying to escape from the Earl¡¯s grasp.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±, the king said. He remembered that Kael went on Rezelus with the Duke¡¯s grandson, so he was surprised to see Kael in his castle. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±

    The Earl was suddenly made aware of the king¡¯s presence, and so, he let go of Kael and lowered his head. He also forced Kael to do the same as the child was just standing in front of the king.

    ¡°Kael wasn¡¯t accepted, your majesty¡±, the Earl said, raising his head but still holding Kael, forcing the child to lower his head. He explained briefly the things that happened in the assessment to help the king understand the situation.

    While the Earl explained the situation to the king, Kael grew impatient. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore, and so, he managed to escape from the Earl, and spoke his request to the king. He said that they should hurry before it was too late. He was hoping that his way of explaining what happened in Rezelus will make the king empathized with him. But he was denied by the king.

    Kael was devastated hearing the king¡¯s reply. The king was far from the person that was so respectful to the unnamed mage during the mage¡¯s time in the castle. The king was angered by how disrespectful Kael was. The king berated him, assuming that Kael see the teleportation platform as his plaything. The Earl was also scolded, then the king ordered that they get out of the castle.

    Seeing Kael¡¯s rising distress, the Earl couldn¡¯t make himself to lightly scold the child for his behavior. He led Kael outside, and looked at the king with anger. He couldn¡¯t help himself to feel some animosity towards the king, even though he knew that the king, technically didn¡¯t do anything wrong.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Kael, let¡¯s go home¡±, invited the Earl.

    Kael was silent. He couldn¡¯t accept that he lost the thing that could instantly transport him to Rezelus.

    ¡°Earl Gideon, how far is Rezelus from here?¡±

    Kael felt even more hopeless when the Earl told him the truth. The city-state was too far away from them, he couldn¡¯t get there in time by traveling on foot.

    Kael¡¯s behavior was too strange to the Earl. He didn¡¯t understand why Kael was so eager to rescue the unnamed mage. Kael wasn¡¯t even sure if there¡¯s really something terrible that the unnamed mage will experience. He thought that, maybe, Kael felt responsible for the unnamed mage¡¯s fate. He wanted to confirm his thought.

    ¡°Kael, why do you want to save him?¡±, the Earl asked.

    The Earl didn¡¯t expect Kael¡¯s response. The child¡¯s eyes were honest. Kael claimed that he must help everyone in need. It was too idealistic, the Earl knew that no one could do it. It changed what he knew about Kael, and therefore changed how he viewed Lucien.

    However, even if Kael had good intentions, the thing that the child wanted was simply impossible. The Earl wanted Kael to come back to reality. That kind of thinking will lead to failure, and he saw that Kael was already experiencing the cost of such idealistic thinking.

    ¡°Kael, you can¡¯t save everyone¡±

    It was an honest statement. The Earl wanted to stop Kael from pursuing the impossible goal.

    Kael didn¡¯t want to accept what the Earl stated. His mind kept on showing visions of the terrified unnamed mage. His old self was returning, but unlike when he was Lucien, he had no power to fulfill his altruistic desires.

    ¡®Should I do it again?¡¯

    Kael was thinking of creating the special mana pathways again. He was aware that his current body didn¡¯t have the ability to handle the flow of endless mana. He didn¡¯t mind because time was running out. He was about to do it, but then, what the Earl stated echoed in his mind.

    He couldn¡¯t save everyone. It was true, and Kael could not change it. He knew that, and that made him feel broken.

    Kael looked at the Earl. Earl Gideon consoled him as he began to cry. It was hopeless, he couldn¡¯t do anything about it. If he sacrifice himself, he will be unable to eliminate the remaining demons that still exist. He had no choice but to give up.

    The only thing he can do to save everyone is to focus on the demons. He needed to get stronger, and he must know everything about the current world. If the time comes that he can handle the endless flow of mana, by then he may be able to fulfill his self imposed duty.

    ¡°I want to get stronger¡±, Kael said to the Earl.

    The Earl was delighted hearing that Kael was relying on him. ¡°I will help you¡±, the Earl replied.

    Kael nodded and followed the Earl. Finally, he obeyed the Earl and they went home.

 Restart

    Things settled down for a bit. They were able to return to Cleron without any more trouble. However, even after they rest for some days, Kael still felt the guilt of leaving someone he thought needed his help. But he should not think like that, as he could not possibly do everything. Saving everyone that he felt needed his help just isn¡¯t plausible, at least as he was then.

    ¡°Take a seat¡±, the Earl said.

    Three days after their return, the Earl called for Kael. They were in Cadell¡¯s house, as the broken castle was still being built. There, the Earl wanted to know what Kael wants for the future.

    Kael took the Earl¡¯s offer. Even he himself wanted to tell the Earl about what he wanted to happen. By then, he wasn¡¯t sure if the Earl was on his side or not. But what he did know was, he needed to eliminate the remaining  demons that still exist.

    ¡°Lord Gideon, thank you for giving me a chance to talk to you¡±, Kael started.

    ¡°Gideon, call me like that¡±, the Earl corrected. ¡°I know my position, Lucien¡±

    Kael felt a little sad with the Earl¡¯s tone. He felt like the Earl wanted some distance from him, after he revealed who he was in the past. He wanted to conform to how the servants address the Earl, but Earl Gideon seemed to not want it.

    ¡°What will you do now?¡±, the Earl asked.

    ¡°I want to return to the village. Let me live with my grandparents for a bit more¡±

    The Earl didn¡¯t have much reaction to Kael¡¯s statement. He gave a memory potion to Kael, telling the child that he already knew that he will request for that.

    Kael thanked the Earl. He thought at first that it would not be easy to persuade the Earl to let him, but he was wrong. Whether it¡¯s a good or a bad thing was not important.

    ¡°And after that?¡±, the Earl continued.

    Kael felt the distance again. He didn¡¯t show what he felt and answered the Earl. ¡°I want to get stronger¡±

    The Earl thought for a short time. ¡°To kill demons I hope¡±

    Kael nodded. ¡°I want to finish what I started¡±

    The Earl saw no lies in Kael¡¯s statement. However, there¡¯s doubt in his mind.

    ¡°Will you destroy Rezelus?¡±

    Kael was expecting the question. He knew that the Earl didn¡¯t trust him after he said who he really was.

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    ¡°As long as there¡¯s no reason to, I will not¡±

    Hearing Kael¡¯s words didn¡¯t seem to convince the Earl, even if Kael told him the truth. He just nodded, and went on to ask further.

    ¡°You¡¯re powerful. Just how much more do you want?¡±

    Kael denied the notion that he was powerful. He briefly explained how he became powerful, but he also reminded the Earl about his mana crystallization, which is the life threatening drawback of becoming powerful. He said that he wanted to become powerful in better ways, like training himself and simply growing up.

    ¡°Then, you should go to the kingdom¡¯s academy¡±, the Earl said. He felt like Kael was trying to request his help, and so, he recommended the kingdom¡¯s academy. He explained some things about the academy, and gave Kael some information so that he wouldn¡¯t feel so out of place. Kael thanked him in return.

    ¡°What about after you killed all the demons?¡±

    Kael paused for a moment, as he pondered what he will do next. Then, he remembered the promise he said to himself.

    ¡°I will go back to the village, and live the rest of my days there¡±, Kael stated.

    Such simple way of thinking. That¡¯s what the Earl thought. As he experienced the historical person in front of him, it became hard for him to believe many things that were taught to him about Lucien. There¡¯s still doubt in his mind, but he wanted to believe to the child in front of him.

    Their conversations went on, and after that, Kael bid farewell temporarily. He went to the village of the faithfuls, and did what Elalios did before. It was like waking up from a nightmare for him, to be recognized by his loving grandparents.

    Kael¡¯s days went on, peaceful inside the village. The days turned to months, and then it turned to a year. They sometimes go to Cleron to meet Elalios, but the Earl never showed himself to him. Some years passed that all is merry, then a grievous loss happened.

    When Kael was about to become ten years old, Amos died in his sleep. It was the original fate of the faithfuls. Still, it was painful for Kael and all the people of the village. The mourning went on for several days and they buried him somewhere near the village.

    It was Kael¡¯s first loss since becoming Kael. But despite the pain, he was happy that Amos passed away peacefully, and that he was able to fulfill his promise to the soul that originally owned his body.

    A year passed before another inevitable thing happened. Just like Amos, Cora passed away peacefully. Kael felt the pain once again. The village supported him to get through the loss, but he only recovered several months after. He knew that the lonely days will come, but it¡¯s hard for him to prepare for those times. The only thing he kept in mind, to at least ease the pain a bit, was his promise to the little Kael, as he was able to fulfill it. With those losses, he could only go back to the Earl after another year passed.

    ¡°It¡¯s a short period of happiness¡±, Kael said, as the Earl asked him about how he was doing in all the years that passed.

    ¡°Did you rest well?¡±, the Earl asked.

    ¡°I did, thank you¡±

    The Earl nodded. Then, he handed a piece of paper to Kael. ¡°I hope you are prepared¡±

    Kael looked at the Earl, a bit surprised by what he received. It was a letter from the kingdom¡¯s academy, an invitation for any child of noble birth to be assessed. Seeing this, Kael knew he was ready, or more accurately, he was too ready. By that time, he was able to develop into a grade C mage, higher than Elalios without the aid of ¡°Late Cost¡±.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready¡±, Kael replied with firm conviction.

    That day became his first step to see the new world he was in.

 Imminent

    Before Kael and Earl Gideon leave, the Earl called his remaining servants. He summoned them to the underground chamber. His objective was to give each of his servants their new tasks.

    First was Cadell. The Earl commanded him to return on being the Earl¡¯s gold medal, a position he held before Osbert came. He obeyed the Earl¡¯s command without resistance.

    The Earl gave Cadell a new role. Aside from being the executioner for him, Cadell was tasked to become the Earl¡¯s representative. Cadell could assign any person he deemed worthy to be the Earl¡¯s servants.

    Next was Seqina. She retained her position as the gatherer of information. Aside from that, she was assigned to become an overseer of the village of Lucien faithfuls, assigning some trustworthy people to tend to the old villagers, as well as supply them with their needs. Although she was surprised that the Earl commanded something like that, she obeyed the Earl¡¯s commands.

    The last one was Elalios. Hearing the commands of the Earl to the first two, he couldn¡¯t think of anything that the Earl might command him to do. He was surprised when he heard what was for him.

    ¡°You will not serve me anymore¡±, the Earl said to Elalios.

    Elalios was silent. He thought that the Earl will return him to Edrei, back to his father. Immediately he accepted his thought as the truth, as he felt that he was a burden to the Earl. But the Earl has another plan for him.

    The Earl knew that Elalios didn¡¯t want to go back to the Duke, and he didn¡¯t want to force Elalios to do that. Instead, he wanted Elalios to be Kael¡¯s servant, a companion for the child. He couldn¡¯t stay with Kael, as he was a busy man, governing a town and fulfilling his service to the Divine Emperor. He trusted Elalios enough to accompany Kael, and report to him the child¡¯s condition once in a while. Besides, he felt that somehow, Kael liked Elalios.

    Hearing the opposite of his gloomy thoughts, Elalios became glad, relieved, and a little surprised. Of course, he wholeheartedly accepted the Earl¡¯s offer, looking forward to his new task.

    After the day that Earl Gideon gather his servants, it was time to leave Cleron. They must hurry, the town of Deyrem, where the kingdom¡¯s academy was built, was farther than the town of Edrei. If they get there in two months, Kael could have a leeway to explore the town for a week.

    Kael said his goodbye to the people of his village. He also bid farewell to Cadell and Seqina, remembering the help he got from them. After all the sad farewells, they started the journey to Deyrem.

    <hr>

    A month before Kael, Earl Gideon, and Elalios arrived to Deyrem, inside the Academy of Ucar, two of the would be instructors of the academy¡¯s future students were having a conversation.

    ¡°Fifty four¡±, a woman said. She just finished counting the papers she has in her hands.

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    ¡°That¡¯s almost double of what we had last year¡±, a man said.

    The woman agreed, and she added that there are more papers that she expected to receive.

    The man was surprised at the woman¡¯s claim. It was indeed a rare thing for the academy to receive more than thirty, and that was just for potential students. The academy generally teach about five students per year.

    ¡°They probably knew that Lord Lucius will come back¡±, the woman remarked.

    The man agreed to the woman¡¯s guess. It was indeed a great opportunity for the nobles¡¯ children to be taught by a grandmaster mage like the renowned Lord Lucius. Even the two instructors were excited to teach along with the grandmaster mage.

    Their discussion shifted to their fellow instructors after that. They talked about the grandmaster mage for a while, praising the mage for the glory he brought to the kingdom. Lord Lucius was the only person from Ucar who managed to gain magical prowess to reach grandmaster grade. It was clear in their discussion that the celebrated mage is the pride of the kingdom.

    They also talked about a new instructor that¡¯s about to come to them. They claimed that the instructor was new, and he has an unknown background. It was a suspicious thing that they didn¡¯t have much information about him, but the king appointed the suspicious instructor, so they have no choice but to accept him.

    Their discussion then brought them to talk about the children of notable people that they thought will pass. They stumbled on Kael¡¯s name.

    ¡°Kael¡­¡±

    The woman looked at the name of the person that Kael was associated to. Of course, it was Earl Gideon, one of the people that holds the title ¡°Sword of the Divine Emperor¡±.

    ¡°This one.. this one might be interesting¡±, the woman said.

    The man looked at the paper, and was shocked to see the Earl¡¯s name. He quickly agreed to the woman, recalling what he knew about the Earl. But then, he became confused.

    ¡°Wait, Lord Gideon has another child? I thought¡­¡±, the man didn¡¯t continue what he was about to say. ¡°Right?¡±

    The woman thought for a second. ¡°Maybe Lord Gideon hid this one after what happened¡±

    They said their sympathies for the Earl. The discussion turned gloomy after that, which gave an uncomfortable feeling for them, but then, the new instructor that they were just talking about not long ago, appeared before them.

    ¡°Greetings¡±, the newly arrived said.

    The two instructors were startled. They didn¡¯t know how the new instructor got near them without their awareness, which gave them a little fright.

    ¡°I¡¯m Zahe¡±, the new instructor stated, without paying attention to the two instructors¡¯ confusion.

    The two instructors collected their minds, and greeted in return. Then, they noticed that Zahe was not alone. Beside him was another man, but not a new instructor. They looked at Zahe, wanting to know who is the other person.

    ¡°Oh, I apologize¡±, Zahe said, realizing that the instructors wanted him to introduce his companion. ¡°This is my assistant. Call him Talzer¡±.

 Assessments

    Kael, Earl Gideon, and Elalios arrived late to their targeted time of arrival. There¡¯s only one day left before the assessment begins. The Earl was the most frustrated, as he was unable to let Kael explore the whole of Deyrem. The only things that they were able to do that day, on their first day in the town, was some unexciting tasks that they need to do to sustain themselves. They didn¡¯t have much of a window to do some adventuring around town.

    The next day, the Earl woke up Kael to prepare for the assessment. Kael got a chance to look at the new place during their short travel towards the kingdom¡¯s academy. It gave him some relief from the nervousness he was feeling as they drew closer to the academy.

    ¡°We should go somewhere after your assessment¡±, Elalios said. Such invite made Kael display his enthusiasm to roam around town. Elalios was satisfied as he fulfilled his objective.

    It wasn¡¯t a long journey, and soon enough, they found themselves in front of a metal gate, which attracted many carriages the same as theirs. The vehicles unloaded their important passengers, typically fathers with their child, which signaled to them that the assessment was really happening that day.

    ¡°That¡¯s more than I could remember¡±, the Earl said, looking at the influx of young aspirants entering the grounds of the academy. Since the time they arrived, there were many young hopefuls that already entered, and yet, more carriages kept on coming. The Earl thought that most of the aspirants were from foreign lands, and his suspicion was confirmed by someone.

    ¡°They¡¯re from other kingdoms¡±, a man said.

    Earl Gideon recognized the man. It¡¯s Earl Alrich, who governs a town near Edrei. They couldn¡¯t be considered friends like how Earl Gideon is to the Duke of Levaldis, but they do socialize whenever a gathering takes place. They exchanged pleasantries, and reminisced about their experiences in the academy.

    After some small talks, Earl Alrich explained the situation in the academy. It could be recalled that a grandmaster mage was said to return, and teach the future students of the academy for that year. It was a widespread news across several kingdoms, but Earl Gideon only heard about it because of Earl Alrich. The occurrences that involved the demon Talzer, and the grave condition of Kael, made Earl Gideon to not pay attention to anything happening in the kingdom.

    ¡°Kael.. I don¡¯t feel like I saw you before¡±, Earl Alrich said after Kael introduced himself.

    Earl Gideon attempted to evade Earl Alrich¡¯s curious inquiries. He turned the situation, so that they could finally go inside the academy. Although Earl Alrich knew what the Earl was doing, he didn¡¯t try to force an answer from Earl Gideon.

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    Entering the metal gate, Kael was led away from Earl Gideon and Elalios. He was guided to go with his fellow aspirants inside a large assembly hall. There, the aspirants waited for the time of the assessment.

    As he was waiting, Kael looked around seeing the great number of young people surrounding him. There are those that already knew each other, and were talking about what they think the tests will be. Others kept quiet by themselves, patiently waiting for an instructor¡¯s speech about the assessment. Then his other peers were just like him, looking around the assembly hall, curious about their fellow examinees. By his constant observations, Kael managed to catch someone who was looking at him.

    They locked eyes for a moment, then the person that Kael was looking at decided to go to him. Kael stood as the person got close enough.

    ¡°Yulian, son of Lord Alrich of Iradre¡±

    Kael introduced himself in return, and then they talked like they¡¯re friends just then. Although they already met each other from before, they didn¡¯t get much opportunity to interact with each other.

    They didn¡¯t have anyone that they know from the people that were inside the assembly hall, so they decided to stick together until the assessment comes. They talked about the nervousness they were feeling that time. Yulian narrated how he prepared for that day, practicing his developing magical capability. Kael could only pretend to do some of the things that Yulian did, as he didn¡¯t have much time to actually do supplemental practice. It connected them somehow, which became the kindle of a future friendship.

    Kael was surprised with Yulian¡¯s impressive ability to think about something they could talk about. Although random ramblings, his conversation with Yulian distracted him from the nervousness and confusion he had.

    Aspirants kept on coming inside the assembly hall. Eventually, the flow of entering examinees stopped, and the hall were filled with more than a hundred examinees coming from different kingdoms. A little moment after, one of the people of the academy went in front of all of them as an announcer.

    The announcer introduced herself as Magister Honnora. She announced the three main divisions of the assessment; namely, written, spoken, and performance assessment. Then, she divided the examinees into six groups, and told them where each group should go first. Before she let anyone leave the assembly hall, she finished her speech with a wish of good fortune.

    Kael was grouped with Yulian along with nineteen others. They were led into a room with chairs and writing desks equal to their number. The first test that they were going to do was a simple arithmetic test.

    Kael zoomed through all the questions, and answered all of it correctly. He looked around the room, and saw that some of his peers, in fact more than half of them, were struggling quite a bit. He realized that what he just accomplished was outside the norms, and as someone seeking to blend in, he pretended to be confused as well.

    After all of them were done, the instructor gave them another test, which was to test their language skills. Kael didn¡¯t have much trouble on some of the questions, but most of it were puzzling to him. He didn¡¯t know it at that time, but all of the questions he couldn¡¯t answer were questions related to the so called ¡°formal language¡±, which is the language used by every magic book in every human kingdoms. He couldn¡¯t answer any of it, because the language didn¡¯t exist when he was Lucien.

 Attained

    The written assessments were finished for Kael¡¯s group. The instructor called several names including Kael and Yulian. Kael was worried after hearing his name, but the instructor soon revealed that the mentioned candidates passed the written assessments. Those that weren¡¯t called left downhearted.

    After a moment, the instructor led the remaining candidates to their next test. It was time for the spoken assessment.

    Kael¡¯s group arrived near the room where the test was conducted. There, they could only enter one at a time, tested one by one about what they know about their faith, of the teachings of the Divine Emperor. Kael was the third person to be called.

    Kael entered the room. He introduced himself to the instructor, and the instructor asked him multiple questions about the Rezelus faith. Lucky for him, he remembered what Earl Gideon taught in his time inside the Earl¡¯s castle. He passed the spoken assessment as well.

    After all of the candidates finished the test, the instructor announced the names of the passers. Five people remained. It was evident that the academy became stricter, as they couldn¡¯t handle teaching so many students. Such decision will cause some commotion just before the tests were finished, but that¡¯s not one of Kael¡¯s problems.

    There¡¯s only one last thing left to do. The candidates were to partake in a performance assessment, which tests their magical capability.

    Some of the more gifted candidates already left before they could get a chance to prove their strength. It gave an opportunity to the other candidates. They will not be overshadowed, and become students of the academy.

    The performance assessment has two components. The first is a mock battle between the aspirants, to test their physical fitness, and to establish starting lines to each individual candidates. The academy decided to include this test, as requested by Lord Lucius in his letter.

    The second was a simple demonstration of magic, the traditional method used by the academy to accept students. With these two tests, the academy will drastically reduce the accepted candidates.

    But before the mock battles even began, there was already an uproar of nobles, as their sons and daughters return to them, failed at their attempt to study at the academy. The commotion forced the instructors to pause the assessment for a while, which gave the remaining candidates some needed rest.

    Kael was invited by Yulian to see what¡¯s going on. Kael was reluctant at first, but several minutes passed and the instructors still didn¡¯t return. His curiosity overwhelmed him, and he accepted Yulian¡¯s invitation.

    In the reception room for the nobles, Kael and Yulian witnessed fathers criticizing the decision of the academy about their children. Some were shouting at the instructors, others called for a reassessment. Still others implied their desire to destroy the academy¡¯s reputation, which embarrassed their children even more. Needless to say, there¡¯s chaos all over the place.

    Kael wanted to do something about it, seeing that at any moment, the chaos will turn dangerous, but then, a loud voice interrupted everyone.

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    ¡°Listen!¡±

    The voice stopped the chaos at once. It was a miracle that everyone heard it while the volume of everyone¡¯s voices were increasing rapidly.

    The voice seemed familiar to Kael, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint where or when he heard it. He looked at where it came from, and saw a man which seemed to be an instructor of the academy.

    ¡°I¡¯m Zahe, an instructor of this academy¡±

    The nobles looked at Zahe intrigued. They were eager to hear what the instructor wanted to say. The sudden shift of the nobles¡¯ attitudes didn¡¯t feel right to Kael.

    ¡°That¡¯s weird¡±, Yulian uttered. Even he was confused seeing what just happened.

    Zahe explained the academy¡¯s desire to let all the candidates get in. However, he reasoned out that the academy didn¡¯t have the capacity to accommodate all the candidates that took the assessment that day. He finished his statement with an apology aimed towards the nobles¡¯ children.

    Kael didn¡¯t like that the nobles accepted what Zahe said to them. Zahe¡¯s words were the same as what the other instructors said, but somehow, Zahe managed to quell the commotion. There¡¯s only one explanation that he thought of. Zahe used magic.

    The previously enraged nobles left the academy in peace. Seeing this, Kael didn¡¯t feel the need to hold suspicion towards Zahe, as the instructor seemed to be doing what was needed in that situation.

    With that, the instructors praised Zahe¡¯s efforts and returned to the assessment rooms. Kael and Yulian returned in haste, fearing that they might get punished if they were caught.

    The mock battle started. Kael was against someone with a large muscular body. Yulian was watching them, anxious for Kael. However, Kael finished the fight in an instant.

    The muscular man lunged towards Kael.

    Kael dodged his slow opponent¡¯s attack. He punched the man in the stomach. The man dropped on the floor, in agony and shock.

    The instructor overseeing the fight scolded Kael, reminding him that the fight was a mock battle. As he was the first to perform, he wasn¡¯t able to determine how much strength to put in his punch. He returned to his peers who were shocked and a little terrified of him.

    Yulian looked at Kael in amazement. He praised Kael for the fight, but then, it was his turn to do the mock battle. He felt like going home that time.

    Fortunately, both of them passed the first performance assessment. They proceeded on the next and final assessment. Yulian was first tested.

    [Water]

    Yulian formed a little water ball on his hand which secured his place as a student of the academy. The instructor congratulated him, and then Kael was called.

    Kael was thankful inside, as he got a good picture to control his magic output. Being at the level of grade C mages, he could easily conjure hundreds of flames in a single instance.

    [Flame]

    Kael¡¯s flame guaranteed his place in the academy. Yulian was relieved that he was able to fulfill the last test. He smiled at Yulian. He was looking forward on learning more about the current world.

 Celebration

    The day of assessment concluded. Twenty aspirants passed, and became official students of the academy. They were given two weeks to prepare themselves. Some were looking forward on the first day, while some were just relieved that they didn¡¯t disappoint their parents.

    Kael set aside the last three days as his preparation. There¡¯s something more important that he should do first. With Earl Gideon¡¯s permission, he was able to look around Deyrem, gathering information. He wanted to know if the town have demons roaming in it.

    First, he went to the marketplace. There are many products that he didn¡¯t know existed, but he refused to be distracted. He eavesdropped on every chatter of people that might have some demon related topics, but the only notable topic he heard was about an incoming grandmaster mage. He spent three days investigating the marketplace.

    Next, Kael went to several inns and taverns, making sure no one could see him. The ramblings of the townspeople were loud and vibrant. There¡¯s no mischief during that time, and the variety of stories he heard gave him a better picture of the town. However, like the marketplace, there were many conversations he overheard about the return of a grandmaster mage. He spent five days investigating. There¡¯s still no talks about demons.

    Kael moved his investigation, focusing on the town¡¯s sanctuary, where sick people and orphans were being taken care of. It was gloomy, but it was also comforting, as it showed him the kindness of people. But with the heartwarming scene he saw, Kael wasn¡¯t able to hear anything about demons. What he heard was, as expected, discussions about the returning grandmaster mage. He spent a day investigating the sanctuary.

    On the remaining days, before he prepared for his first day as a student, Kael investigated alleyways, open-air performing stages, and he even went to the town¡¯s gates. He didn¡¯t hear anything about demons. At that point, it was no surprise that he heard many people talking about the returning grandmaster mage.

    After his relentless investigation, he was relieved. It seemed to him that Deyrem didn¡¯t have anything associated to the demons, at least not yet. He wanted for such situation to remain, so he decided to be on the lookout from time to time.

    But even if he heard nothing about demons, the prevalence of discussions about the returning grandmaster mage piqued his curiosity. The way the townspeople talked about the returning mage was of praise and delight. Clearly, the person at the center of the town¡¯s gossips was an important individual and an admirable figure. He would soon found out three days before his first day in the academy.

    <hr>

    The town of Deyrem was preparing. The main road was cleared, the merchant stalls were prohibited to open except in the marketplace. The town guards lined the town walls and the main road. The parents commanded their children to be well-mannered.

    Many people of the kingdom, those that have the ability to travel, went to the town. They will spend a day in Deyrem just to experience the town¡¯s celebration. Some of them were fanatics, while others have magic related superstitions.

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    The king arranged a public banquet held at the town square. Even his majesty was preparing diligently just like the townspeople. Everything must be great, and everyone should be in order. Lord Lucius, the only grandmaster mage of the Kingdom of Ucar, is coming.

    All the preparations were done. The people crowded on both sides of the main road. Most of them wanted to clearly see the grandmaster mage. It¡¯s tradition to be eager to see the grandmaster, as he¡¯s possibly the most important person of the kingdom. Even the king himself acknowledged his greatness. The celebration was a testament of the people¡¯s high regard to magic.

    Kael was invited by Earl Gideon to the king¡¯s castle. The nobility will wait there for Lord Lucius¡¯s arrival. It didn¡¯t take long after they arrived when the king gave an announcement.

    ¡°The town¡¯s gate was opened¡±, the king expressed.

    There were murmurs of noblemen. Some of them were excited to meet the arriving mage, but some didn¡¯t like the wait. By that time, Lord Lucius must be traveling in the main road, greeting the townspeople. It would take a while before he arrived at the castle.

    Cheers and astonishment prevailed in the town. Some fainted as they looked at Lord Lucius, while others brightened up. Most people wanted to hold the mage¡¯s hands, and Lord Lucius sated the people¡¯s desire. It took almost half an hour before the celebrated mage got out of the main road.

    Kael heard the sound of the castle gates. Lord Lucius was finally inside the king¡¯s castle. The grandmaster mage was escorted by the royal guards to the throne room. As the throne room doors opened, the seated nobles stood.

    Kael looked at the person walking to the king¡¯s throne. Ash gray hair and cerulean eyes. White robe and a rapier by the side. At last, he saw the grandmaster mage that the townspeople were talking about.

    Lord Lucius bowed to the king. ¡°I have returned, your majesty¡±

    The welcome ceremony began. The king gave Lord Lucius gifts of gold, as well as gifts brought by the nobles present inside the throne room. The king also stated Lord Lucius¡¯s contributions for the kingdom, and afterwards, the king gave the mage a new title. Lord Lucius became a first-order mage general that day.

    After the formal ceremony, the king ordered the commencement of the banquet. It became an opportunity for many nobles to personally talk to Lord Lucius.

    Some of the discussions were about hiring the grandmaster to be a private tutor for noble children. Others were proposals of marriage to noble women. Some were questions about his journey and how he became so great. Lord Lucius rejected all the requests, but he was delighted to tell some of his life stories.

    Kael observed the mage carefully. But unfortunately, the grandmaster noticed his curious glances.

    ¡°Kael, son of Earl Gideon of Cleron¡±, Kael said after the grandmaster mage asked for his name. Earl Gideon who was just behind Kael scolded him for not being respectful enough. The Earl apologized, and Lord Lucius accepted. The grandmaster didn¡¯t take any offense hearing Kael¡¯s introduction.

    Kael couldn¡¯t say a word while the Earl and the grandmaster was talking to each other. That day became his first memory with Lord Lucius.

 Summoning

    The time came that the Earl had to leave Deyrem. He let Elalios remain with Kael, just as what he originally intended. As he was leaving, he looked at Kael wondering if he did the right thing. Only time will tell him about the outcome of his decision. After he left, a new kind of life started for Kael.

    All the preparations were completed. It was Kael¡¯s first day in the academy. He arrived once again in front of the metal gate, but this time, there were quite a few people entering. He was about to enter as well when someone called him.

    ¡°Kael¡±, Yulian called. He was a little far that his voice garnered attention from their fellow students. Kael greeted him.

    ¡°You¡¯re not going?¡±

    ¡°I was about to¡±, replied Kael.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s go¡±

    While they were walking inside, Yulian kept talking about what he did during their two week preparation. He also talked about the celebration for Lord Lucius¡¯s arrival. From there, he went on to guess what their other instructors would be like. He continued on until they were seated with their fellow students.

    The room that the academy led them to was shaped like a half circle. Their seats were arranged in curved rows, and there¡¯s a spacious room for their instructors to teach them. Even Yulian became quiet after all twenty of them were seated, as the anxiety of all of them steadily rose. Then, at last, a familiar woman entered the room.

    Magister Honnora reintroduced herself. She proceeded on checking all the students present. She then let each of the students do the dreaded self introduction. After the minor part of the first day, she went on to introduce the subjects she will teach.

    The first subject that the magister introduced was the study of ¡°informal language¡±. Simply put, it was the language used by the general public for anything that involved written, and verbal communication. Kael thought that the world¡¯s language didn¡¯t change that much, as Magister Honnora further introduced the subject.

    The next subject was called studies of ¡°formal language¡±. This one intrigued Kael, which he also felt during the academy¡¯s assessment. The magister said that it was the highest form of language that mages used. It is a language introduced by the Rezelus church to teach the people magic. The magister then told them that the Divine Emperor distributed magic throughout the world after notable people learned the said language.

    This, of course, didn¡¯t sit right with Kael as someone who experienced the ancient world. Magic was already an everyday thing even before he was born. He could also do magic without ever learning the said language. However, what baffled him the most was the claim that the so called ¡°Divine Emperor¡± was apparently the one that gave the world the gift of magic. He became even more curious as to what happened to the world when he died.

    The magister went on, introducing what the students will need to learn. Some students groaned, while some quietly took note of everything that the magister said. One of the students that didn¡¯t like the subject was Yulian, who went on whispering to Kael about his dislike of the subject. Their covert talks didn¡¯t go unnoticed by the magister who warned them of their behavior. They were the first among their classmates to be scolded. The magister finally took her leave, and another went inside the room.

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    The other magisters that came in introduced one subject they will teach. The first was teaching arithmetic, the other one will teach them etiquette and the teachings of Rezelus faith, and the last will teach them the history of the world.

    After a short break given to the students, Kael felt the sudden anticipation of all his classmates. The previous subjects they tackled didn¡¯t unite their minds like that. He was compelled to wait in anticipation as well.

    The door of the room opened, and the next instructor finally arrived. The students looked at the person, eager to listen to what the instructor will say.

    The person introduced himself to be Magister Zahe. Kael remembered the magister¡¯s voice, back when the nobles were arguing against the academy instructors. He knew that Magister Zahe was the familiar voice that stopped the chaos back then. But even hearing it for a second time, Kael was unable to know why he was familiar with Magister Zahe¡¯s voice.

    Magister Zahe proceeded to say that he will teach them the fundamentals of summoning magic. Just hearing the subject made the students visibly excited. But the magister fail to satisfy the students¡¯ expectations, as he told them that they will not summon anything for a long time. The magister set aside the students¡¯ disappointments and lectured them about his subject.

    Summoning magic is a power used by mages to call forth beings that obey whatever they commanded them to do. It is a special magic that only a few could master, if mastering it is actually possible. Mages connected the physical world to the aptly named ¡°summoning world¡±, a place coexisting and parallel to the physical one. Magister Zahe claimed that it was not known why or how the summoning world exist.

    Now, there are three types of summoning magic: quick summon, binding summon, and true summon.

    Quick Summon is a summoning magic that relies solely on the summoner¡¯s surroundings. Summoners could temporarily use remnants of summon spirits in their immediate surroundings, and merge it to any material of the physical world. As the name suggests, it could be quickly done, and by far the easiest among the types of summoning magic. The higher the mana used by the summoner, the more remnants of spirits they could use, and thus, the stronger the summon will be.

    Binding Summon on the other hand is the act of transferring a being in the physical world to the summoning world. This type of summoning involves the trust of the being to be summoned towards the summoner, and also enough mana to complete the transferring process. This was generally done by strong mages that wanted to preserve a creature, particularly their pet, because in the summoning world, beings seemed to be immortal. The bad thing about this type of summoning was once the summoned being was destroyed to the core, the summoner will permanently lose their connection to their summons. That¡¯s why this type was not popular to be used in combat.

    The last type is True Summon. Same as the other types, summoners connect to the summoning world to summon beings that will serve them. But the summoner could only summon one being this way, a summon that¡¯s connected to their soul. All humans have a summon connected to their soul. No one could summon a being connected to another soul, even if a summoner use the other types of summoning. It is the most complicated among the three types, but surprisingly, people were too fond of true summoning that many were successful on doing it. The great thing about this type of summoning is the summon¡¯s permanence. As long as the summoner is living, they could call forth their true summon, even if it was destroyed before.

    Magister Zahe finished his lecture there, even if there¡¯s still some time left for him. The excitement of the students returned, especially when they heard about true summoning. Even when Magister Zahe took his leave, the students were still talking about their want to summon something someday. They were enjoying their discussions when another magister went inside.

 Incantations and Enchantments

    The students were interrupted while they were talking about summoning. They looked at the person entering the room, and instead of mild annoyance, what the students felt could be described in one word. Admiration. It was what they felt, as Lord Lucius, the grandmaster mage entered their class.

    ¡°Is this the introductory class?¡±, the grandmaster asked.

    Kael was the only one that could answer, as his classmates were too astonished to do anything.

    ¡°Thank you¡±, Lord Lucius said as Kael replied to his question. He walked to the center of the room facing the students. ¡°I am Magister Lucius. I will be your instructor for magic incantations and object enchantments¡±

    The students were silent. Even if all of them were there when the grandmaster mage was welcomed in the king¡¯s castle, they still couldn¡¯t believe that the great grandmaster, Lord Lucius, will teach them magic. The magister was a little worried. He misunderstood the reaction of the students, and thought that his introduction was too intimidating. But then, one of the students muster all his courage to raise his hand.

    The said student stood as allowed by Lord Lucius. He introduced himself as Wilfred from the town of Ripa. There¡¯s a little pause before he could say something.

    ¡°Wilfred, is there something you wanted to ask?¡±, Magister Lucius said, trying to calm Wilfred down.

    At last Wilfred said something. ¡°Pleased to meet you Magister Lucius¡±. Wilfred bowed after he said his greetings, but that¡¯s not really what he wanted to say.

    Magister Lucius greeted him in return, and at that gesture, the student¡¯s nervousness calmed down a little. Wilfred remained standing. He collected his mind once again, aiming to ask the magister the thing that he was curious about.

    ¡°Magister, if I may ask,¡±, Wilfred said. Magister Lucius was looking at him ready to listen. ¡°What was it like to be a grandmaster?¡±

    The students were surprised at Wilfred¡¯s question, but they themselves wanted to ask that question. However, unlike Wilfred, they didn¡¯t have the courage to say it. They became anxious as they waited for the magister¡¯s response.

    ¡°Well,¡±, Magister Lucius started. He was just as surprised as the students, but he was amused to hear such question, especially as it came from an aspiring young man. He concealed his surprise, and continued speaking. ¡°It was a great privilege to be one of the people that gave our kingdom a good reputation¡±

    The students listened intently. Even Kael wanted to hear what the magister will say.

    Magister Lucius continued. ¡°But, as all other things, being a grandmaster can be hard at times¡±

    The magister continued on, telling the students what he went through before and after he became a grandmaster. He seemed to be open when young students were asking him about such things. As a result, the students listened to him, and little by little, the students¡¯ uptight demeanor towards him got lifted.

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    Wilfred¡¯s initiative encouraged more of the students to approach Magister Lucius with questions mostly about his life as a notable figure. Some of the questions were answered, but some questions were a little bit personal that the magister refused to answer them. Nevertheless, the students got closer to him just in their first day of class. A large chunk of the magister¡¯s lecture period was consumed by the students¡¯ questions.

    Kael realized that more than half of the magister¡¯s time already passed. And seeing that Magister Lucius seemed to forgot about the lecture too, and he was the only one aware enough to say something, he raised his hand as well. There¡¯s a few more students that the magister pointed at before he was chosen.

    Kael stood, and prepared himself. He felt like he will receive some darting glances after he said his question. But, for the sake of learning about his current world, he needed to get to it.

    ¡°Magister, if I may, what are magic incantations?¡±

    Hearing Kael¡¯s question, Magister Lucius realized how much time had passed. He apologized for the detour that he allowed to happen. He also apologized to the students that didn¡¯t get their questions answered, and promised that he will answer them for another time. After that, he started lecturing.

    As expected, Kael received some hostile glances from some students. He tolerated the unfriendliness, and pretended that he didn¡¯t notice them. He focused his attention towards the magister.

    Magister Lucius started explaining the subjects entrusted to him. First, he introduced magic incantations.

    Magic incantations are the contruction of words that a mage uses to produce their desired magical outcome. Every magic that a mage can do without relying on any tools or materials needed magic incantations. Incantations can be divided into two categories depending on the mage¡¯s intent.

    The first category is ¡°inner influencing incantations¡±. These incantations affect the mages¡¯ body, and everything connected to them, like their summons. A well known example of these incantations are body enhancement magic like speed boost and strength boost.

    The second category is called ¡°outer influencing incantations¡±. Mages using incantations of this category could control, create, and destroy outside the boundaries of their body. Basic elemental creations like fire and water belong to this category. Commands used in calling summons are also included in this category. The important thing to note is the effect of a mages¡¯ incantations in relation to their physical bodies.

    Magister Lucius continued the lecture, which made the students return to their enthusiasm to learn. Kael was relieved that his classmates were so eager to learn that they forgot what he previously did. The magister then talked about object enchantments.

    Object enchantments are ways that mages use to magically affect themselves and their surroundings without the use of magic incantations. Mages exploit the magical properties of special materials by doing various means of manipulation and construction. Enchantments can help even non-mages to use different kinds of magic. Potion making and magical crafting are known methods to create enchanted objects.

    Magister Lucius gave some examples of enchanted objects which were already known, like healing potions and flame swords. The students were listening to him like all the objects he mentioned were new to them. After a while, the magister finished his lecture.

    Magister Lucius bade them farewell for the day. An instructor come in to say that their last instructor couldn¡¯t come, and so, the students were free to stay or go home. Some went out immediately including Kael and Yulian. It¡¯s the end of their first day in the kingdom¡¯s academy.

 Enhancement Magic

    In the second day of classes, the instructors started teaching the students the specifics of the different subjects. In the class of formal language, Kael was beginning to understand how to pronounce each of the letters comprising the new language. The lectures in other non-magic related subjects were either easy for him, or he didn¡¯t need relearning. However, in history class, it was hard for him to retain to memory the things that were taught to him.

    The history class was centered around the Divine Emperor, worshipped by the Rezelus faith. He knew that Rezelus didn¡¯t exist back in his time as Lucien, but he kept on hearing that the Divine Emperor created everything in the world. It intrigued him. He wondered who is the Divine Emperor, and what is the objective of the people that created the false narrative.

    Magister Zahe and Magister Lucius continued their lectures in their magic related subjects. Just like yesterday, the students were paying full attention in the discussion. But being in the second day, the magisters didn¡¯t instruct them to attempt to perform any magic. Some of the students were still disappointed that they couldn¡¯t do actual magic. Others accepted the instructors¡¯ decisions. After Lord Lucius¡¯s lecture in magic incantations, another instructor entered the room.

    The students didn¡¯t know the person. He was the instructor that was absent yesterday, that¡¯s why he wasn¡¯t able to introduce himself. The man looked suspicious at first, but seeing that Lord Lucius let him enter, and they even exchanged greetings, the students realized that he¡¯s also an instructor.

    ¡°Magister Kever¡±, the instructor stated. He didn¡¯t waste any time after introducing himself. ¡°All of you, follow me¡±

    The students were caught off guard with the sudden command, but they quickly followed Magister Kever. The magister was marching along the hallway, not stopping once to see if the students were following. The students could barely keep up, but they managed to go to where the magister directed them.

    Magister Kever was waiting in the academy¡¯s open field. He was with four other people who were behind him, also waiting for the students to come.

    ¡°Too slow¡±, the magister lectured the students, then he started rambling about courteousness. The students were confused as to what¡¯s happening that they could only look at each other.

    ¡°Magister, we should be starting soon¡±, one of the four people behind the magister said.

    Magister Kever stopped lecturing the students, and introduced the four people. The students were surprised to know, that the magister will teach them along with the second years. The four people introduced themselves individually, and after that, the magister didn¡¯t let the situation sink in. The class immediately started.

    Magister Kever is their instructor for body enhancement magic as well as basic combat practice. He stated that enhancement magic was under magic incantations, and so, he wasn¡¯t planning to lecture them about it. Instead, he claimed to be a practical instructor, letting the students to actually practice magic early on.

    The students were thrilled to hear the magister¡¯s statement. They set aside what they initially thought towards the magister and followed along the magister¡¯s instructions.

    The magister let them meditate first. He wanted the students to be full of mana during the actual attempts of body enhancements. The students were looking forward to it that it took many of them several minutes to fill their mana vessels. Of course, Kael filled his vessel with ease.

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    ¡°Too slow¡±, the magister lectured some students. Half of the first year students were not able to fill their vessels within the magister¡¯s allotted time. Once again, they heard the magister¡¯s lecture about courteousness. Yulian was one of them.

    One of the second years reminded the magister about the time, which saved the students for more lecturing. Magister Kever commanded the second years to demonstrate different body enhancement magic. The second years prepared themselves.

    [Speed Boost]

    The first person to demonstrate circled around the open field. At first, he looked like he was just running around at a normal pace, but then, he repeatedly enhanced himself until only a few of the students could see him. He stopped running after the magister told him to.

    Many of the students were amazed, but Yulian got a little curious. He raised his hand and was allowed by the magister to speak.

    ¡°Magister, how can he see if he go that fast?¡±, Yulian asked.

    Magister Kever seemed to smile a bit, then he answered the question. He explained that whenever someone use speed boost, that person may also need to magically enhance his vision. At a certain degree of speed enhancement, the peak of human reaction time will not be able to keep up. The magister¡¯s statement was already proven as they saw the demonstration.

    The next person demonstrated strength boost. His fist went through stacks of bricks he prepared during the first demonstration. The first year students were not fond of the perceived brutality of the enhancement magic.

    Magister Kever warned the students that strength enhancement needed the assistance of a defensive boost or a magic barrier. The boost could also harm the users if they didn¡¯t have any defense. Such information discouraged the students even more from using it.

    The next demonstration was for defense enhancement. The person that showed the strength enhancement was allowed to punch his fellow second year. Most of the students didn¡¯t want to look, but when the punch hit, the demonstrator was unharmed.

    The last demonstration was for invisibility. The students were bewildered seeing that the demonstrator suddenly appeared behind them, but some of them were also freaked out due to the magic enhancement¡¯s implications.

    After all the demonstrations, the magister commanded the first year students to practice one of the magic enhancements they saw. They became busy for half an hour trying to imitate what the second years did.

    Kael was assigned on strength enhancement. He could do it without breaking a sweat, but seeing the struggles of the other students, he pretended to be struggling as well. He didn¡¯t know at that time that Magister Kever was carefully observing him.

    The magister¡¯s teaching time was almost over. He let the exhausted students to take a little rest. Then, all of a sudden, he asked the students.

    ¡°First years, why do you think I¡¯m teaching you about enhancements?¡±

    One of the students claimed that enhancement magic integrates with their fighting capabilities to become stronger. The magister agreed to him, but it wasn¡¯t the main objective. Another said that the purpose of the magister¡¯s lecture was to teach them how to protect themselves. The magister agreed as well, but he argued that creating elemental magic and magic summoning were better options. Several students also stated their thoughts, but all of their statements didn¡¯t satisfy the magister. When the students wanted to know the answer, the magister said one thing.

    ¡°We will see the answer soon enough¡±

    With his statement, Magister Kever concluded the lecture.

 Strange Encounter

    It didn¡¯t take long until Kael became used to being a student at the academy. The time drifted fast, and the next thing he knew, a month already passed. To his relief, there were no demons creating chaos inside Deyrem. However, Elalios must temporarily return to Earl Gideon. For the time being, he was alone.

    Elalios was reluctant to travel and return to Cleron. He was worried that dangerous people were lurking around Kael. He was thinking like that because of what Kael revealed, back when the first day of classes ended.

    Since the first day of his classes, Kael felt several people observing the place they were staying in. At first, he wasn¡¯t worried about them. But when the unknown people kept on observing them day after day, he was alerted and wanted to know the objective of their observers.

    The unknown people didn¡¯t attempt to get into their place. Kael wondered if that would change if Elalios was not with him, so he waited for the chance. He convinced Elalios to return to Earl Gideon to see what the unknown people will do.

    Midnight came and as expected, Kael felt several people observing his place. Nothing happened for a while, so Kael decided to pretend that he was sleeping. Still, nothing happened, which frustrated him a bit. He stood and decided to confront them, but when he was about to, the unknown people began moving.

    Kael stayed still in the corner of his room. He felt the unknown people magically by using spatial sense. Each of the mysterious figures chose different paths to go inside the house. They were silent in the dark, evidently experienced in what they were doing. Kael waited patiently.

    Eventually, Kael saw his room window, carefully opened by a person¡¯s hand. But it didn¡¯t continue opening the window. Kael realized his blunder, as he saw that his bed was revealed to be unoccupied. He knew that the person will inform his companions, but he wouldn¡¯t allow it.

    [Speed Boost]

    Kael held the person¡¯s hand, then he covered the part of the face that he guessed as the person¡¯s mouth.

    [Sleep]

    Kael put the person on his bed. He felt that there¡¯s someone who was about to enter his room through the door. There¡¯s two of them, he couldn¡¯t restrain them without creating some noise. He decided to position himself near the door, where he will not be seen. The door opened. He was blocked by it. When he felt that the two person were fully inside, he quickly pushed the door.

    [Sleep]

    The two people were caught off guard. They almost made a sound as they hit the floor, but Kael was quick to put a barrier to nullify the noise. There¡¯s only four people left roaming around his house.

    Kael slipped carefully out of his room. He looked around and saw a person walking to their dining area. He followed the person, but his second step made a creaking sound.

    [Speed Boost]

    ¡°Hu-¡°

    [Sleep]

    The situation was still under control, which relieved Kael. He was about to find the remaining people, when one of the conscious intruders spotted him.

    [Fire Shot]

    A bullet of flame almost hit Kael. The other intruders were alerted and they rushed to their companion.

    ¡°Master!¡±, one of the intruder called.

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    ¡°We¡¯re spotted!¡±, another said.

    The person that did the fire shot commanded the other two to surround Kael. All three of them prepared to do another attack.

    [Fire Shot]

    The flames could be powerful enough to set the house on fire. Kael could easily avoid all three, but he couldn¡¯t let the flames touch any part of his place..

    [Water Orb]

    Three orbs clashed with the flames, extinguishing the attacks completely.

    [Speed Boost]

    Kael went to one of the intruders.

    [Sleep]

    He quickly went to the left and did the same. The only one remaining was the one in front of him.

    ¡°Who are you people?¡±, Kael asked the remaining intruder.

    ¡°I¡¯m certain now,¡±, the intruder uttered. ¡°You¡¯re the one that did it¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t kn-¡°

    [Speed Boost]

    In an instant, the intruder was in front of Kael.

    [Defense]

    Kael put up a magical barrier, then the intruder pressed his palm near Kael¡¯s chest.

    [Heat Wave]

    Kael was flung back. His barrier saved him from severe injuries, but he was still hurt. He knew he shouldn¡¯t be laying on the ground for long.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±, Kael asked, enduring the pain.

    The intruder still didn¡¯t answer Kael¡¯s question. ¡°I¡¯m surprised that didn¡¯t break you¡±

    Kael healed himself. He felt that the intruder was somehow furious at him, but it wasn¡¯t the time to know the reason why. He knew that the only thing that he should focus on was how to survive the encounter.

    ¡°I thought I could kill you quietly,¡±, the intruder stated, his frustration evident in his voice. He looked at his unconscious companions. ¡°But you managed to defeat my men¡±

    [True Summon: Flame Tiger]

    The fearsome summon emitted harsh waves of heat inside the house. The house may burn at any time due to the intense heat. Kael realized that a grade C mage which was currently his equivalent strength will never defeat the flame tiger. He could only resort to his trump card.

    [Late Cost: Dismantle]

    Kael lit up, but the intruder was not intimidated at all. The intruder was under the impression that Kael tried tricking him using illusory lights.

    ¡°Turn him to ashes¡±, the intruder commanded his summon.

    The flame tiger leaped towards Kael, its flaming body intensifying every second. Kael faced the flame tiger head on, then he pressed his hand against the summon¡¯s head.

    [Cold Touch]

    The flames couldn¡¯t resist the frigid touch. The great frost crawled on the summon¡¯s body, consuming all the heat on its path. The summon bursts into shards of ice, scattering the bitter cold around the house.

    The intruder was shocked to see his summon being defeated that easily. There¡¯s not enough preparation that he could have done. His distracted mind gave way for Kael to close in.

    [Speed Boost]

    Kael pressed his hand to the intruder¡¯s chest. He wanted to return the favor for his earlier experience.

    [Heat Wave]

    The last intruder couldn¡¯t do anything. He was thrown back, rendering him unconscious. Kael was on the alert for a moment, but he quickly realized that the battle was over.

    Kael put all the intruders in one place. He wanted to know their identities one by one, as they were wearing masks on their faces. He pulled the mask of the last intruder he defeated. He was sure that he never met any of them, but he was shocked when he saw the face of the last intruder. There¡¯s only one name in his mind. The intruder looks like Osbert.

 New Conflict

    There were several knocks at the door. Kael opened it to see what¡¯s going on outside. Opening the door revealed several of his neighbors, worried about the sounds they were hearing from Kael¡¯s house. A woman asked him about what¡¯s happening inside the house. He spent some minutes convincing his worried neighbors that it was only his experiments that made the noises. Kael reasoned out that he was just testing some potions, and some of his experiments failed. Knowing that Kael was a student of the kingdom¡¯s academy, his neighbors requested that he should control the noise of his experiments, as to not bother the sleeping people near him. Kael apologized, and waited for his neighbors to return to their houses.

    Kael closed the door, and made his way to where he left the intruders. The person that looked like Osbert was still in his mind. He remembered what he did to Osbert, he felt sorry for killing him. Even though that¡¯s the only thing he could do during that time, he still regretted his actions. He arrived in their dining area, and was shocked to discover that the person that looks like Osbert was not there.

    Kael scoured the room. He saw the window was opened. He rushed to look outside, but he didn¡¯t see anyone. He returned to the other intruders, unmasking all of them. What he wanted to see wasn¡¯t there. He regretted not tying up the intruders. One of them was able escape.

    In the morning, only then did the remaining intruders woke up. They were tied by Kael who still didn¡¯t know what to do to them. He was still thinking about the person who escaped, but it was far too late to try and find him. Kael set aside his worries for the time being to question the remaining intruders.

    The questioning was short and uninformative. The intruders refuse to answer anything that Kael was asking. Everytime Kael asks them, one of them will utter ¡°I don¡¯t know¡±, and that continued on until Kael gave up. If only he was questioning demons, Kael might force them so hard that they reveal what he wanted. But Kael was not fond of forcing people to get what he wanted, so he let the intruders stay in his house. He forced them to sleep, as he needed to go to the academy.

    In the academy, Kael was still thinking about the objectives of the intruders. His mind was wandering while the instructors were teaching. One of the instructors, Magister Kever noticed his change in behavior.

    ¡°Kael¡±, called Magister Kever.

    Kael followed the magister, a little far from the other students.

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡±, Magister Kever directly asked.

    ¡°Nothing, magister¡±

    ¡°No, not nothing, there¡¯s something bothering you¡±, Magister Kever insisted, then he pressured Kael to say the truth. ¡°What is it? You can tell me¡±

    Kael refused to say anything to the magister. Magister Kever was quick to ran out of patience, and let Kael return to his classmates. But the magister knew, he was sure that there¡¯s something that Kael didn¡¯t want to say to him. He had a plan to get to it.

    Magister Kever¡¯s combat practice ended, and so is the classes for that day. Kael was about to rush to go home, when Yulian called for him.

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    ¡°Kael, wait!¡±

    Yulian ran to Kael. He was aware, even during Magister Honnora¡¯s class that something¡¯s wrong with Kael. He didn¡¯t have the courage to say or ask anything to his friend, but he didn¡¯t want to do nothing. He decided that after Magister Kever¡¯s class he will ask Kael. And so he did.

    Kael was surprised that even Yulian was asking him if there¡¯s something bothering him. Perhaps his change in attitude was too obvious that anyone could know that something was wrong. Yulian was eager to know what¡¯s bothering him even if he denied Yulian¡¯s inquiries many times. Soon enough, maybe because of Yulian¡¯s annoying insistence, he gave in.

    ¡°Can you come with me?¡±, Kael asked.

    Yulian wasn¡¯t ready for the invitation. However, since he made the effort as to make Kael give in, he accepted his friend¡¯s request. He followed Kael, opposite to the direction where he usually go to after class.

    Arriving on the front of his house, Kael suddenly felt that he shouldn¡¯t reveal what was inside. He tried convincing Yulian to not enter, but it was much too obvious to Yulian that he wanted to hide something. Somehow, his friend had way more patience and was more stubborn than him. He had no choice but to open the door.

    Yulian marveled, seeing the cleanliness of Kael¡¯s place. He was distracted for the moment, but he noticed Kael was leading him to the dining room. He carefully followed his friend, fearing that he might disturb the neatness of the place. His careful steps quickly turned into a jump, as he saw the tied up intruders, sleeping soundly in the dining room.

    Yulian almost yelled, but Kael managed to stop him before he could do it. Kael explained to him what happened before the intruders were captured. As he was listening, his anxiousness turned into awe as he saw Kael in a new light. The way his friend incapacitated the intruders was amazing for him. He felt like it was difficult for their age group to be calm during those situations. After Kael explained most of what happened, he understood why Kael was acting strange during their classes that day.

    Kael clarified the situation to Yulian, but all they could do is wait for the intruders to wake up, so that Kael could try to question them again. As they were waiting, they heard several knocks at the door.

    ¡°Who is that?¡±, Yulian asked.

    Kael shrugged his shoulders, and quickly went to the door. Opening the door revealed an unexpected guess.

    ¡°Magister Kever..¡±, Kael was dumbfounded.

    ¡°Can I come in?¡±, the magister requested.

    Kael didn¡¯t know what to do. He let the magister sit in the lounge room. He was about to ask the magister¡¯s purpose for visiting him when he heard  Yulian¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Kael?¡±, Yulian asked walking towards the lounge room. He was shocked to see Magister Kever. He hastily greeted the magister.

    Magister Kever invited Yulian to be seated beside Kael. He observed the motions of his two students. Yulian kept on looking towards the dining room.

    ¡°Mind if I go there?¡±, Magister Kever requested.

    Kael wanted to deny the request, but he didn¡¯t have a good reason to do so. The magister didn¡¯t wait for his answer, already walking towards the dining room. The magister returned as fast as he left his seat.

    Magister Kever was silent. He saw what he saw, and it gave him the reason why Kael was acting strange.

    ¡°You two, can I hear the explanation for that?¡±, Magister Kever asked, pointing in the dining room.

 Rebels, Suspicions

    Kael explained the situation to Magister Kever. The magister finally understood why Kael was acting strange during classes. But, he scolded Kael for trying to hide the dangerous situation from him. He lectured on and on about the importance of informing grownups that could help. Even Yulian was included in the lecture.

    ¡°So, what are you planning to do to those people?¡±, Magister Kever asked.

    Kael was still eager to know why the intruders were targeting him, but he couldn¡¯t say it to the magister.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡±, the magister continued, seeing that Kael was silent. Kael was still trying to come up with a good excuse. ¡°Then, I should take it from here¡±

    The magister stood and went to the dining room. The two students followed him.

    ¡°These people are more dangerous than you think¡±, Magister Kever stated. All of a sudden, the magister slapped one of the intruders. The man woke up, dazed from Kael¡¯s magic.

    ¡°That¡¯s a strong spell. As expected for someone who easily defeated these people¡±, the magister said, then he glanced back at Kael. Kael pretended he didn¡¯t notice the magister looking at him.

    The intruder was terrified to see the magister. The magister put his hand on the intruder¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Now, why would you kittens attack my student?¡±, the magister stared fiercely towards the man, that even the two students were scared for the sake of the intruder. The man didn¡¯t speak, but was clearly terrified as well.

    The magister grew impatient instantly, as the intruder didn¡¯t answer his question. He raised his hand and was about to do something, when he remembered that his students were watching him.

    ¡°This is not the place for this¡±, the magister said to himself. ¡°Yulian, come with me. I¡¯ll bring you home¡±

    Yulian accepted the offer. The magister casted invisibility to all of the intruders, Yulian, and himself. They made their way outside the house to which Kael couldn¡¯t do anything about. Before leaving, the magister talked to Kael.

    ¡°Kael, let¡¯s talk about you tomorrow¡±

    Kael felt a little anxious. The magister surely thinks that he is stronger compared to what he shows. He didn¡¯t know if he could trust the magister to hide his secret. The night passed with him thinking about how to answer the magister the next day.

    In the morning, Kael felt that all of the classes before Magister Kever passed so quick. He was feeling anxious even if he knew he didn¡¯t do anything wrong. At Magister Kever¡¯s class, he was doing whatever, his mind wandering around, his body in sync with his classmates, like he was not good at enhancement magic. Then, the magister allowed the students to go home except for him.

    Kael and Magister Kever stayed silent for a while, waiting for the other to speak up. The magister was looking at the other students leaving the academy grounds.

    ¡°If you want to know what happened to the people you caught, forget it¡±, the magister initiated. ¡°I will handle it¡±

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    ¡°Thank you, magister¡±, Kael said, but he still had some doubts.

    ¡°Now, for why I requested you to stay,¡±, the magister paused, he looked at Kael, trying to read through his student. ¡°Tell me the truth. How strong are you right now?¡±

    ¡°I can perform many types of enhancements¡±, Kael said, trying to hide that he was a little surprised by the question.

    The magister sighed, and looked on the horizon. ¡°Those people you caught were members of a group called Tiger¡±, the magister said, then he further explained.

    According to the magister, ¡°Tiger¡± is a group of rebels aiming to remove the influence of Rezelus church. The reason for their hostility towards the church was not known, but they must be dealt with as soon as possible.

    They harass nobles, and were often involved in conflict with the academy. Any people or institution that associate themselves to the church are not safe from the rebel group. They will pose danger and destruction. That¡¯s why they should be defeated quick.

    Kael didn¡¯t know about such group, but knowing them made him think. Why would the rebels target him first out of all the academy¡¯s students? Also, why was the group so fixated on him that they observed his movements for more than a month? He didn¡¯t know the answers that time, and he shouldn¡¯t attempt to answer those questions just yet. First, he must deal with Magister Kever¡¯s view on him.

    ¡°The leader of the Tigers is a master grade mage,¡±, the magister continued. ¡°He was not there, but still. Those people are all grade C mage¡±

    ¡°Wh-why are you telling me all this, Magister Kever?¡±

    The magister stood on his seat. ¡°You¡¯re the son of Lord Gideon. It makes sense that you¡¯re stronger than the other students. But, you¡¯re way stronger than you should be. You shouldn¡¯t be here. You should be in Rezelus, learning greater magic that the academy can¡¯t provide¡±

    Kael remembered his short experience in Rezelus.

    ¡°Kael, tell me the truth this time,¡±, the magister commanded. ¡°Why are you here? How did the church not know about you? Did you escape from the church?¡±

    The barrage of questions made Kael fearful. He just wanted to be out in the world, able to deal with the demons that still exist. However, a single slip might bring him back to Rezelus, and this time, he might be deprived of what he needed to do.

    ¡°Kael, I need an answer, because if I heard nothing, then I will assume you¡¯re a rebel for not serving the Divine Emperor¡±

    Kael was in a dire situation. He had no escape. He could see his goal going far away from him. He wanted to run right then and there, but someone interrupted them.

    ¡°Magister Kever¡±

    Both Kael and Magister Kever looked at the person calling. It was Magister Lucius, the grandmaster mage of the kingdom.

    ¡°Lord Lucius¡±, Magister Kever lowered his head. Kael followed the respectful gesture.

    Magister Lucius looked at Kael. ¡°Is there a problem here?¡±

    Kael wasn¡¯t able to say anything. Magister Lucius shifted his eyes towards his fellow magister, asking the same question.

    ¡°Nothing, Lord Lucius. Nothing that should concern you¡±, Magister Kever stated.

    Magister Lucius looked at Kael, and Kael agreed with what Magister Kever said. Magister Lucius reminded them to rest, and then he left.

    Magister Kever looked at Lord Lucius getting far away from them. ¡°Kael, I will allow you to pretend for now. Prove that I should trust you, then I¡¯ll leave you alone¡±

 New Ally

    Kael hurried home. He thought he was being followed by Magister Kever even if he didn¡¯t feel that someone was following him. He reached his house quick, but before he could enter, someone called him.

    ¡°Kael¡±

    It was strange that the person managed to get close to Kael without being noticed. Kael was on his guard, but the voice sounded familiar to him. He felt that he knew who it was. He looked back quick, and confirmed what he thought. It was Magister Lucius, greeting him as soon as he looked back.

    ¡°Can we have a talk?¡±, Magister Lucius requested.

    Kael was still baffled, both because he failed to detect the magister, and also because it was the renowned grandmaster mage that wanted to talk to him. Nevertheless, he invited the magister inside the house.

    Kael wasn¡¯t prepared to personally talk to two of the academy¡¯s instructors in the same day, but that¡¯s what happened to him. He wished that Lord Lucius wouldn¡¯t talk like how Magister Kever talked to him. He invited the magister to take a seat.

    ¡°Thank you for your time¡±, the magister started. He looked at Kael with such a calm look. Kael didn¡¯t feel any hostility, but he thought that he shouldn¡¯t let his guard down.

    ¡°It¡¯s my honor, Magister Lucius¡±, Kael uttered, wanting to be as respectful as possible.

    ¡°You can call me Lucius¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather not, Magister Lucius¡±, Kael replied.

    It was a surprising thing to hear from such a notable person. Kael was surprised. He wouldn¡¯t dare to be that casual towards the magister. He couldn¡¯t even do that towards Earl Gideon, and he was with the Earl for years.

    ¡°I insist Kael¡±, Magister Lucius said.

    Kael denied the magister, but the magister insisted again. He denied the magister once again, but the magister kept on insisting for minutes. He was confused by the magister¡¯s behavior, trying so hard to get close to him. It was a battle of patience, and after a minute, Kael changed his response.

    ¡°Why? I don¡¯t understand Magister Lucius¡±

    Magister Lucius smiled after hearing Kael¡¯s question. Then, all of a sudden, he uttered a magic incantation.

    [Barrier]

    Kael was startled for a second, but he realized what the magister did. Magister Lucius isolated his house from everything that were outside. Kael wasn¡¯t sure what will happen next, but he was ready. It¡¯s a good thing that he wasn¡¯t in the second phase of Late Cost yet.

    ¡°I heard everything. You hid your strength really well¡±, the magister said. He told everything that he heard, which revealed that he also noticed Kael¡¯s unusual behavior back then. ¡°I do have my suspicions, but I never thought I was right¡±

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    The magister looked delighted while he was talking, but Kael was unsettled by what¡¯s happening. A powerful mage was in front of him, and a famous one at that. To think that he has to deal with Lord Lucius. Kael was starting to get exhausted.

    ¡°Magister, I apologize for hiding my strength¡±, Kael said. He was hoping to finish their conversation, but what he received as a response was a smile. Then, the magister started talking again.

    At that point, seeing that the magister will keep on talking, he was starting to think that he could never escape. His goal to eliminate the remaining demons was going farther from him. He felt that even the grandmaster mage will try to bring him to Rezelus. He regretted that he chose the academy as a means to learn about the world.

    However, Kael¡¯s thought contradicted what¡¯s true.

    While praising Kael, Magister Lucius saw the worry in Kael¡¯s eyes. He was puzzled at first, but he quickly realized what¡¯s happening. Kael thought that the magister will bring him to Rezelus just like what Magister Kever wanted. Magister Lucius knew that he should clarify something. He should have said what was his objective from the start.

    ¡°Oh, my apologies Kael,¡±, Lord Lucius lowered his head. It was a shocking sight to Kael, but also a very confusing one. ¡°I¡¯m not here to convince you to go to Rezelus¡±

    Kael felt the sincerity from the words of the magister, but he still felt that the magister wanted him to go to Rezelus.

    ¡°It should be your decision whether you want to or not¡±, the magister said, then he whispered something that Kael did not notice. ¡°¡­here¡±

    Kael was unconvinced, but Magister Lucius didn¡¯t give up.

    ¡°Let me apologize once again¡±, the magister lowered his head again. The humble display didn¡¯t help Kael to clear his mind.

    ¡°Let me tell you why I¡¯m here. Maybe, if I tell you, you will trust me¡±, the magister said. He waited for Kael¡¯s reply, but he didn¡¯t receive any, so he went on to explain his objective. ¡°I need your help for something¡±

    Magister Lucius explained his situation. He revealed that he returned to Ucar for a very important reason. However, he was limited by his position and fame. He couldn¡¯t progress as much as he wanted, but the situation changed when he accidentally discovered Kael¡¯s capability.

    There was a day in the past that the magister tested the students for their mana capacity. He wanted to make sure that all of the students have at least twenty units of mana before he let the students do actual magic. But he did the test covertly, and as a result, he discovered Kael¡¯s mana capacity.

    Magister Lucius was confused. He thought that something went wrong in his assessment, so he decided to test Kael once again. Doing it for a second time, he was astonished to confirm that Kael was indeed equal to a grade C mage. However, he couldn¡¯t make himself to talk to Kael about it. Days passed that he wasn¡¯t able to address the situation, but then, he saw Magister Kever with Kael. He got curious, so he listened in secret. He discovered the horrible possibility. Kael will go to Rezelus if he didn¡¯t do anything.

    At that moment, Magister Lucius knew that he should do something. He intervened and that saved Kael. But it was not enough. He should convince Kael to support his objective, and so, he followed Kael to personally talk with his gifted student.

    Returning to the present, Kael understood what Magister Lucius said to him. In essence, the magister wanted something that only Kael could do. Kael wanted to help if it could save him from going to Rezelus. He wanted to be hopeful, so he asked the magister.

    ¡°Magister, if I help you, will you help me in return?¡±

    Magister Lucius smiled. He was waiting for Kael¡¯s offer. ¡°Even if you fail, I won¡¯t let anyone force you to Rezelus¡±

 Disguises

    In the morning, after Kael and Magister Lucius¡¯s discussion, Kael went to classes like normal. Yulian pressed him on revealing what Magister Kever said to him yesterday. He didn¡¯t say anything that could heighten Yulian¡¯s curiosity. He needed to clear his mind, and focus on his agreement with Magister Lucius. It was the first day of his important task.

    Magister Lucius requested Kael to observe Magister Zahe, and if possible, get close to the magister. Magister Lucius didn¡¯t say the reason why, but the magister said that it would be a dangerous thing to do for anyone less than Kael¡¯s capability. The magister also claimed that Magister Zahe will only let his guard down towards students, that¡¯s why Kael is the ideal person to do it. Kael didn¡¯t know what Magister Zahe should be on guard for, but he still accepted Magister Lucius¡¯s request.

    During Magister Zahe¡¯s class, Kael kept on observing the magister¡¯s movements. Nothing unusual, as far as Kael was concerned. It was just the first day after all. He would need an outstanding amount of luck to see through the magister on the first day.

    At Magister Lucius¡¯s class, the magister gave Kael a paper in secret. Their meeting place after class was written on the paper. Because of that, he would have to refuse Yulian, if Yulian was to invite him to wander around town.

    The situation was a little different during Magister Kever¡¯s class. The magister kept on observing Kael. It was as if Kael will do something heinous. It couldn¡¯t be helped. The magister thinks of him as a rebel.

    After the last class, Kael looked for Magister Zahe. Normally, the instructors will stay for a while, but Kael didn¡¯t find the magister inside the academy. He did the search again, and was seen by Magister Honnora. He pretended that he was trying to find Magister Lucius, but of course, he already knew where to find the grandmaster. He rushed to Magister Lucius to avoid any suspicion.

    ¡°Kael, what are you doing here?¡±, Magister Lucius asked.

    Kael explained what happened. Magister Lucius quickly looked outside the room to see if there¡¯s anyone nearby. There¡¯s no one, much to his relief.

    [Barrier]

    Magister Lucius isolated the room. He thought that since Kael was already with him, he should not delay their discussion any further.

    ¡°So, did you find anything?¡±

    ¡°Nothing yet¡±, Kael answered.

    Magister Lucius was disappointed, even if he knew that it wouldn¡¯t be that easy. He hid what he was feeling, and thanked Kael for his time.

    ¡°You should go home now¡±, Magister Lucius said.

    Kael see through the magister¡¯s disappointment, which intrigued him a bit. He felt that the magister had more leverage on their agreement, so he didn¡¯t question why he needed to observe Magister Zahe. But he was worried that he might be doing something that he shouldn¡¯t do.

    ¡°Is there something you wanted to say?¡±, Magister Lucius asked, interrupting Kael¡¯s thoughts.

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    Kael was about to ask the magister, but he stopped himself. ¡°I just want to say thank you for supporting what I want¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet. You shouldn¡¯t trust me that fast¡±

    Kael bowed to the magister, and was about to exit the room.

    ¡°Be patient Kael. I will tell you my reasons¡±, the magister said. Kael paused, and bowed to the magister once again.

    <hr>

    Magister Zahe was looking at the academy. He was hidden in one of the houses in front of the academy. He was observing Kael, who was trying to find someone. He felt that it was him that the student was trying to find, but he wasn¡¯t sure. As to why he thought that way, it was because of what his subordinate told him.

    During the first day of classes, Magister Zahe discovered that Kael is the son of Earl Gideon of Cleron. Earl Gideon doesn¡¯t matter much to him, but the Earl was once a benefactor of his subordinate. Earl Gideon defeated Talzer, Magister Zahe¡¯s subordinate, but the Earl managed to do so with the help of someone. That someone is the Earl¡¯s son according to Talzer.

    Magister Zahe was cautious around Kael, after his subordinate said what happened to him in Cleron. The magister was suspicious of Kael, thinking that Kael might also be the same person that he detected when Talzer was trying to escape from Cleron. However, he wasn¡¯t sure if Kael was the person that he should be wary of.

    Talzer claimed that Kael was the person that utterly humiliated and defeated him in Cleron. He was begging Magister Zahe to believe him, because for him, Kael will destroy their plan.

    However, Magister Zahe didn¡¯t detect the same amount of power he felt before. The mysterious person that followed Talzer was so overwhelming that he couldn¡¯t fully detect the whole extent of that person¡¯s power. In comparison, Kael is definitely strong for someone barely reaching adolescence, but the student was a mere grade C mage. It was hard to believe that someone as weak as Kael was able to defeat Talzer.

    Still, Talzer insisted on what he believed, and so, Magister Zahe didn¡¯t dismiss his suspicion outright. Instead, the magister assessed Kael¡¯s power secretly. He did it everyday, but each time he assessed the student, the same result came back to him.

    Doing it over and over, Magister Zahe was starting to get annoyed. They couldn¡¯t progress on the plan that they wanted to do, because of the uncertainty that Kael possessed. It was frustrating for him to the point that he considered killing the child one day.

    Talzer was against the magister¡¯s plan. Magister Zahe felt insulted. He felt that his subordinate was questioning his power. He went on with his plan just to spite Talzer.

    It was a lucky coincidence for Magister Zahe that there were people that got to Kael before him. By his power, he witnessed the prowess of Kael in terms of combat. He saw how Kael defeated all the Tigers without breaking a sweat. And the most important thing he discovered was Kael¡¯s true power.

    Magister Zahe witnessed Kael use Late Cost. Of course, he didn¡¯t know what that magic is, but it gave a window for him to see Kael¡¯s true power. It was astonishing. The student was a thousand times stronger than a grade C mage. It was the moment that convinced Magister Zahe to not confront Kael at all. Talzer was right, by his current strength, he will never beat Kael.

    Kael was exiting the academy grounds. It seemed that the student didn¡¯t detect two pairs of eyes looking at him. Magister Zahe and Talzer looked at Kael closely, then back to the academy.

    ¡°Our plan will fail in this place¡±, Magister Zahe said.

    ¡°Great Lord, what should we do?¡±, Talzer asked.

    ¡°We should settle down for now. We can¡¯t escape while he¡¯s here¡±

    Magister Zahe was looking at the room where Magister Lucius was supposed to be in. He didn¡¯t know that Magister Lucius was also looking at them.

 Converging Goals

    A month passed, and Kael was not able to see anything from Magister Zahe. He could only observe the magister during their classes, and whenever he tried looking for the magister after class, the magister was nowhere to be found. He was starting to worry that Magister Zahe knows what he was doing. He needed a plan, but he didn¡¯t know where to start.

    Elalios returned to Kael after another month passed. Kael revealed his agreement with the grandmaster mage to Elalios, which made Elalios apologize for leaving him alone for too long. He told Elalios that it was his own fault, not Elalios¡¯s, that something like that happen to him, and he also added that he was in a better position than when he was dealing with Magister Kever. Elalios accepted Kael¡¯s claim, still a bit regretful about what he did.

    ¡°So, did you see something strange about the magister?¡±, Elalios asked, referring to Magister Zahe.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been observing him for a couple months but I saw nothing¡±, Kael replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s bad. Lord Lucius will not like that¡±

    ¡°I know, I felt it every time we meet¡±

    Kael told his worry to Elalios. Being brought back to Rezelus was a great tragedy for him. And such tragedy is getting near him.

    ¡°We should get out of here before that happens¡±, Elalios recommended. He went further and told Kael different places that they could escape to. He only stopped when Kael gestured him to do so.

    Kael said his worry once again. He wanted Elalios to understand his situation. He did have concerns about the possibility that he will be forced to go to Rezelus, but his mind wasn¡¯t fully worried. He didn¡¯t know why, but he felt like he should be doing what the grandmaster mage wanted him to do. Not because of his agreement to Magister Lucius, but perhaps because of his curiosity. He expressed all of these to Elalios.

    ¡°Am I right to believe that you wanted my help?¡±, Elalios asked. Kael nodded. He resigned himself to Kael¡¯s decision. ¡°Okay then, I will help you. Tell me more¡±

    Kael told Elalios everything that transpired while he was alone in their house.

    ¡°That person, Magister Zahe¡­¡±, Elalios said. He reevaluated what he had in mind, hearing what Kael said to him. He returned to the same conclusion. ¡°I agree with you. He knew what you¡¯re up to¡±

    ¡°I wasted so much time. I will never see through him if that¡¯s the case¡±, Kael said, worried that he will inevitably fail.

    Elalios thought carefully. Seeing Kael saddened was a thing he didn¡¯t want to allow. He still remembered how Kael saved him many times in the past. Back then, he thought that someone seemingly all powerful like Kael would never need his help. It was a perfect time for him to return the favor.

    Elalios came up of a plan. He quickly told it to Kael to alleviate Kael¡¯s worries. He claimed that if Kael couldn¡¯t see through the magister, he will be the one that could. But his plan was dismissed by Kael.

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    Kael thought it would be too dangerous for Elalios. He didn¡¯t know what the magister was hiding, but if even a grandmaster mage was wary of Magister Zahe, it would make sense that they should be more careful.

    Elalios explained what he was going to do. He tried convincing Kael that he will carefully do what he aims to do, and he will not expose himself to danger for too long. He was adamant despite Kael¡¯s constant refusal. He was eager to help Kael this time.

    Eventually, Elalios won the argument. Kael gave in after realizing that he couldn¡¯t progress without the help of other people. Only Elalios could help him, but he was still a bit worried.

    Next day, after they made their plan, Kael went to classes as usual. Every class felt too long for him. He could only calm down during Magister Zahe¡¯s time. After the last class, he quickly went to Magister Lucius to tell the magister that he didn¡¯t find anything. He was about to say his farewell, but Magister Lucius stopped him.

    ¡°This is a problem,¡±, Magister Lucius stated. He seemed to be talking to himself, but he was still talking to Kael. ¡°We¡¯ve been doing this for too long¡±

    Hearing the magister made Kael remember his concern. It was happening, he was regretting that he didn¡¯t accept Elalios¡¯s offer.

    ¡°Are you tired of doing this?¡±, the magister asked.

    It was a dreadful thing to hear. Kael felt like he was going to be abandoned.

    ¡°If you want to, you don¡¯t have to follow my request. Don¡¯t worry, I will keep your secret¡±

    Kael didn¡¯t trust the magister¡¯s statement. He wanted to prevent the dissolution of their agreement.

    ¡°I must continue doing this, Magister Lucius¡±

    Kael thought that it was the best response to Magister Lucius. He praised the magister¡¯s conviction to a cause not known to him. He was hoping that his praises will make the magister to reconsider, and continue on to ask for his help.

    Because of surprise, and not for Kael¡¯s praises, Magister Lucius didn¡¯t say anything anymore. He let Kael go. He was relieved that Kael will continue on doing the task, but he was frustrated. Magister Zahe was too cautious that even after months, he couldn¡¯t discover anything even with the help of Kael. He decided on himself that if they didn¡¯t discover anything after a month, he will let Kael rest. It was troubling him that he was too desperate that he let a student do something dangerous for him.

    After leaving Magister Lucius, Kael was reminded of Elalios, so he wanted to go home quickly. He was sure that something happened to Elalios. He was walking out of the academy¡¯s hallway, when he heard Magister Honnora¡¯s voice.

    ¡°¡­zer¡±, Magister Honnora called. It was a muffled call for Kael.

    The magister was calling someone to assist her with something. It shouldn¡¯t concern Kael, but he felt that the magister was calling someone familiar to him. Overwhelmed by curiosity, he tried to clearly hear the name. He was standing outside the room for minutes, eager to not confirm what he was thinking. He was confused, anxiety rising within him. He wished that he was wrong.

    ¡°That¡¯s the last of it, magister¡±, the person helping Magister Honnora said.

    ¡°Thank you, Talzer¡­¡±

    After hearing the name, Kael couldn¡¯t hear another word that the magister said. His thought was confirmed.

 Deadlock

    The light was dimming. The night arrived. Kael was still sitting in the same spot, waiting for Elalios to come home. He was not worried about Elalios. He was worried because of what he discovered.

    Elalios soon arrived, and seeing Kael, he quickly realized that something was wrong. He dropped the magical objects he said he will buy, and he went to Kael.

    ¡°What happened?¡±, Elalios asked.

    Kael was silent for some time. Elalios waited for him to answer.

    ¡°Do you know someone named Talzer?¡±, Kael finally asked.

    Elalios¡¯s eyes widened after hearing Kael¡¯s question. It happened several years ago, but he will never forget the name of the demon that caused so much trouble to them. The memories came back to him. He was confused, but he knew Kael will not spoke of the dreadful demon without a good reason.

    ¡°I remember him. He¡¯s a demon¡±

    Kael nodded, then he asked another question. ¡°Tell me, how likely is it that a person in town have the same name as him?¡±

    Elalios was starting to worry. The implication was so awful to imagine. ¡°I-it¡¯s a strange name. It¡¯s almost impossible. W-why are you asking?¡±

    Kael went silent again. Elalios was about to ask him again, but then, he replied. ¡°He¡¯s here¡±

    Elalios knew it was coming, but he wasn¡¯t ready to accept it. He concealed his agitation. ¡°That¡¯s bad, are you sure it was him?¡±

    Kael nodded. He narrated his encounter inside the academy. He claimed that Talzer was acting as an assistant to the magisters.

    ¡°How did he get in? As far as I know, the academy doesn¡¯t take anyone without evaluation¡±, Elalios asked. He wished Kael was wrong in what he thought.

    Kael knew Elalios would not believe him immediately, so he explained more of what he found. Back when Kael discovered that Talzer was in the academy, he went back to Magister Lucius to ask about Talzer, and the magister told him that Talzer was Magister Zahe¡¯s assistant. Magister Lucius went further, and said that Magister Zahe was appointed by the king, that¡¯s why he was accepted without opposition.

    After Magister Lucius narrated many more things about Magister Zahe, Kael remembered where he first heard Magister Zahe¡¯s voice. It was clear to him, the magister was the same person that Talzer called ¡°Great Lord¡±, back when Talzer escaped from him. It was at that point that Kael knew, Magister Zahe is a high class demon, higher than Talzer.

    It was a frightening revelation. Talzer was a demon that even Earl Gideon could not defeat, a demon at the level of master mages. But now, there¡¯s a demon that Talzer was submitting to, a demon that Lord Lucius was wary of. Kael felt that Magister Lucius knew about it, that¡¯s why he was requested to observe Magister Zahe. But reevaluating Magister Lucius¡¯s request, Kael realized that he was right on thinking that they wasted their time. Magister Lucius didn¡¯t know it, but he knew more than anyone else. Demons might be powerful, but in the face of uncertain or overwhelming strength, they became insufferably cautious. It was even more pronounced if the demon was a high class one.

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    Knowing all of these, Kael knew that he must confront Magister Zahe instead of waiting. He was aware that the demon magister will not slip at all, even if they spend years observing the magister. Demons are like that, patient creatures clinging to their unending lifespans. He said what he was planning to Elalios.

    ¡°What? Why?¡±, Elalios asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s the only way¡±, Kael said. He told Elalios that Magister Zahe was intentionally hiding from them. He couldn¡¯t be stopped, even if Elalios didn¡¯t like what he planned.

    ¡°This is my mission,¡±, Kael declared. ¡°I must restrain them before they could do what they did to Osbert¡±

    <hr>

    Kael went to classes the next day. After all the classes were done, he didn¡¯t try finding Magister Zahe in the academy grounds. Instead, he focused on searching outside.

    [Spatial Sense]

    His magic told him that Magister Zahe was in one of the houses in front of the academy. He didn¡¯t let the magister escape.

    [Speed Boost]

    Kael¡¯s steps were quick, but it was so precise. He managed to get in the house, without crashing on anything. Even the magister was baffled.

    ¡°K-Kael, you surprised me¡±, Magister Zahe said.

    Kael looked around the room. He looked at Talzer who was with them, then he finally looked at Magister Zahe.

    ¡°I¡¯m just making sure¡±, Kael stated, his tone had a hint of anger.

    ¡°Take a seat, sir¡±, Talzer invited after suppressing his panic.

    Kael took a seat on the one near him. He wanted to be as far to the two demons as possible. He told the two demons to be seated as well, and as soon as all of them were seated, he began speaking.

    ¡°I think you know why I¡¯m here¡±, Kael started.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean, Kael. Is there something wrong in my lectures?¡±

    Kael wasn¡¯t hiding his distaste towards them. He suppressed his desire to destroy the demons, then he spoke again. ¡°I will give you two options. Surrender to me without resistance, or fight and be destroyed¡±

    The two demons realized that Kael knew what they are already, but they were adamant to pretend.

    ¡°Kael, I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying¡±, Magister Zahe said.

    Kael ran out of patience.

    [Late Cost: Dismantle]

    Kael glowed, overflowing with mana and rage.

    [Great Barrier]

    Kael locked the demons in the house. There¡¯s nowhere to run, and playing pretend was useless.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to be patient¡±, Kael stated, his eyes were hateful and fierce. He stood from the chair, and in an instant, he went in front of Talzer.

    Talzer was pierced through the heart, his body disintegrated into dust. What¡¯s left was his demon heart in Kael¡¯s hand.

    Magister Zahe witnessed the overwhelming power that Kael showed him. He knew he couldn¡¯t win at all, but he remained calm despite the situation.

    ¡°Will you surrender or fight?¡±, Kael asked.

    ¡°You can¡¯t force me to choose Kael¡±, Magister Zahe replied.

    Kael was about to destroy the demon magister as well, when Magister Zahe said something.

    ¡°Do you want to save the king?¡±

 Unstable Standstill

    ¡°We have a problem¡±

    Elalios was confused. Kael just returned to the house, and that was the first thing he said.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±, Elalios asked.

    Kael rested on a chair. He covered his face with his hand, frustrated that he was too late, and couldn¡¯t do anything. After collecting his mind, he started speaking, sharing what happened during his confrontation with Magister Zahe.

    Earlier, in the house where Kael found the demon magister, his negotiation began with Magister Zahe. He was supposed to destroy the magister¡¯s body like Talzer, but Magister Zahe revealed something that he wasn¡¯t ready for. Simply put, the king is under the influence of the demon¡¯s power, and is within Magister Zahe¡¯s control. If Kael were to destroy the demon magister as well, the king will die instantly. It would be Kael¡¯s fault if the king died, which wouldn¡¯t be a good outcome for the kingdom. Magister Zahe was a little ahead of him, and he was in a disadvantage.

    Magister Zahe wanted Kael to restore Talzer¡¯s body. The magister claimed that he will kill the king if Kael did not do what he wanted. Kael, being shocked by the sudden turn of events, listened and restored Talzer back to normal. Kael returned to where he was sitting back then, and the negotiations started.

    The gist of the discussion was like this. First, Magister Zahe ordered Kael not to say anything about what he knew to Magister Lucius. Kael knew that the grandmaster mage will significantly improve the situation if he were to tell the truth, but Magister Zahe was holding the king by the neck.

    Second, Magister Zahe claimed that as long as Kael didn¡¯t do anything, like there¡¯s nothing going on, he will also not do anything. He said he was just a demon trying to live a life like a human. The demon magister tried convincing Kael that he wasn¡¯t in the town to cause chaos like what Kael was thinking. But, unfortunately for Magister Zahe, Kael was too experienced when it comes to demons.

    Kael knew it was just a front. The demons he tried forgiving when he was Lucien said the same thing to him. It didn¡¯t take a while until the demons abandoned peace, and brought chaos across the lands of the world. It was an episode in his life that he still regretted even in his second life.

    Magister Zahe will surely do that as well. Whether the demon magister chose to wait, or do something behind Kael¡¯s back, chaos will still happen. However, even if Kael knew about that, he couldn¡¯t do anything against the cautious demon. It was unfortunate that the demon got a head start, because Talzer was able to escape from him back then. But then, during their discussion, Kael remembered something.

    Demons are cowards against overwhelming power. Magister Zahe might not show it, but Kael knew that every single subordinate of the demon king was just like the dark ruler. And so, with that knowledge in mind, he came up of a plan.

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    Kael stood from his chair. Then all of a sudden, he spoke.

    [Curse Bind]

    Magister Zahe was caught off guard.

    ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±, Magister Zahe asked, trying his best not to reveal what he was feeling.

    Kael put a curse to the demons. The effect of the curse will only trigger if the demons harmed anyone. They will be destroyed if they broke the law imposed to them.

    Magister Zahe was angered, and threatened Kael that the king will die if the curse was not undone immediately. It didn¡¯t work, Kael responded that the king¡¯s life will be a small price for their demise. Of course, Kael didn¡¯t want for anyone to die, but it was his only hope to make sure that the demons will abide by their agreement. Lucky for him, the threat worked on the terrified demons.

    When the discussion was finished, Kael left Magister Zahe and Talzer with an ominous warning. The demon magister remained calm, but Kael was able to put the previously terrible situation to a standstill. He said all of these things to Elalios.

    Elalios was relieved that Kael prevented the chaos that the demons could bring. He knew that a single demon could do so much by itself. It will be worse if there¡¯s two of them. Still, he knew that they shouldn¡¯t remain idle altogether. They know that the demons will try everything to get what they want.

    ¡°I must return to Cleron soon¡±, Elalios said.

    Kael understood Elalios¡¯s objective. If they were to deal with the current situation, they will need trustworthy people to help them. More helping hands will help them to ensure victory. Earl Gideon was out of the picture, for he is a busy man, but Cadell and Seqina were different.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea¡±, Kael approved.

    They spent the remaining time of the day to discuss more of their plans. They didn¡¯t know at the time that the situation will escalate even further.

    <hr>

    The ground was shaken by Magister Zahe¡¯s punch. He was enraged because even with his advantage, Kael managed to prevent them from doing anything.

    ¡°He¡¯s far more dangerous than I thought¡±, Magister Zahe stated. ¡°We can¡¯t do anything if we¡¯re like this¡±

    Talzer was silent, witnessing his lord¡¯s outbursts of anger. He felt like he was the one who messed up, that¡¯s why they were found out.

    ¡°This is a very strong magic. I can¡¯t dispel it¡±, Magister Zahe said. He tried destroying the curse Kael applied on them multiple times, but all of his attempts failed. The magic didn¡¯t vanish, even with the power of pure destruction.

    ¡°Talzer, find a way to dispel this magic¡±, Magister Zahe commanded.

    ¡°As you wish, Great Lord¡±, Talzer replied.

    ¡°But first, we should call all the others¡±

    Talzer was delighted, hearing his lord¡¯s wonderful order. He was waiting for Magister Zahe to say those words.

    ¡°If we¡¯re going against that human, we must build more strength and more numbers¡±, Magister Zahe stated.

 Turn Around

    The situation with the demons seem to settle down for awhile. Kael went to classes as usual, while Magister Zahe couldn¡¯t do anything to the people. Kael pretended that he was still doing the investigation, and a month passed that Magister Lucius let him rest. Kael still wanted for the grandmaster to accept his help, but Magister Lucius refused. Kael¡¯s academy life returned to what it was before.

    However, Kael could not rest yet. There¡¯s still a looming threat against him inside the city. One of his adversaries was preparing himself. The Tigers were getting ready to attack Kael once again.

    After months of preparation, in their secret hideout in town, the leader of the Tigers, Rodo, was finalizing their attack against Kael. His men were four grade A mages, and ten grade C. It was what¡¯s left to his group after some of the grade C mages were captured. Equipped with enchanted rings and their choice weapons, Rodo¡¯s men were prepared for his orders.

    ¡°Ready yourselves. Our opponent is stronger than anyone of us, but be brave. With all of your help we can defeat him¡±, Rodo declared.

    ¡°Yes, master!¡±, Rodo¡¯s men said in unison.

    ¡°I will kill him with your help¡­ and with this¡±

    Rodo raised a sword with a reddish blade. He was trying to get the sword for the past months, that¡¯s why he wasn¡¯t trying to attack Kael before. He was diligently preparing, wanting to not fail for a second time. He wanted to make sure that his power and his servants were great enough to go against Kael.

    Three days passed after Kael negotiated with Magister Zahe, in the middle of the night, Elalios was once again returning to Cleron. As planned, Elalios will go back to get Cadell and Seqina to prepare against the demons. Kael promised him that after he got back, Kael will train him to get stronger. It was his request to Kael, as he wanted to be useful when the time comes that they must fight against the demons. And as soon as Elalios left, Kael prepared himself against the Tigers.

    Kael felt them. They were surrounding the house, not moving, merely observing. He decided to not use Late Cost right away, thinking that the Tigers were just observing that night.

    Rodo knew that Kael felt their presence already, but he didn¡¯t order anything to his servants. He remembered the first time he went against Kael. It was a trap that utterly defeated him. He didn¡¯t wish to fall for it this time.

    ¡°Master, the target was asleep. Shall we go now?¡±, one of the C grade asked.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s a trap. We sh¨C¡±

    ¡°When will you attack?¡±

    Rodo was interrupted. He was startled to hear the voice. It was coming from behind him. He wasn¡¯t able to detect the person, but the person managed to get near him.

    ¡°Master, the target!¡±

    Rodo couldn¡¯t believe what happened. All of a sudden, Kael was behind him. His senses was too late to feel that Kael was not in the house anymore.

    [True Summon: Flame Tiger]

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    Rodo used summoning magic quickly. Kael moved back a little.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not do this here, we shouldn¡¯t disturb my neighbors¡±, Kael requested.

    Rodo was insulted by Kael¡¯s calm request. Kael was too calm in the tense situation. Rodo and his companions should be the one who should feel assured, but the opposite happened. Even if he¡¯s upset, Rodo thought of not continuing their attack.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite considerate. Okay then¡±, Rodo said. He led Kael towards the undeveloped part of the town. There¡¯s no human settlement near it even if the place was within Deyrem¡¯s territory. Rodo let his summon remain. He was cautious during the walk.

    ¡°Is this good?¡±, Rodo asked.

    Kael nodded. He looked around, and realized that the rebels didn¡¯t waste anytime. The Tigers already surrounded him.

    ¡°Before we start, can I ask something first?¡±, Kael requested.

    ¡°No¡±, Rodo replied.

    Kael sighed. He was hoping to find out why the rebel group was targeting him of all people. He didn¡¯t know the group existed until they attacked him. He didn¡¯t remember anyone that he might have offended in the past. It was puzzling that he must deal with such predicament. But, as it was happening to him, he didn¡¯t have a choice other than to deal with it.

    [Late Cost: Dismantle]

    The bright light made Rodo remember how he was defeated back then. It was a terrifying sight, but he was hoping that he prepared enough against Kael.

    ¡°First line, attack!¡±, Rodo ordered.

    Five grade C mages charged towards Kael. They surrounded Kael, but when they were only a meter away from Kael, they stopped. Instead of attacking Kael, all of them stabbed the ground with a sword, then they quickly fall back.

    Kael was confused, but his opponents didn¡¯t give him time to think.

    ¡°Second line, attack!¡±

    [Fire Shot]

    The other five grade C mages conjured flames. Kael was struck by all of it, but his golden barrier didn¡¯t let him get hurt.

    ¡°Third line, attack!¡±

    It was the turn of the four grade A mages.

    [Lightning Bolt]

    Each of the lightning came crashing down towards Kael. Of course his barrier could withstand the attack with no trouble.

    ¡°You can¡¯t defeat me with these attacks¡±, Kael stated. He felt underwhelmed by what¡¯s happening that he didn¡¯t have the motivation to do anything.

    ¡°I know¡±, Rodo replied.

    Hearing Rodo¡¯s reply, Kael remembered the swords that the first line buried around him. He thought the swords were useless, but when he looked at them again, he saw something unusual. The swords were glowing.

    ¡°You fell for it¡±

    [Magic Chain Binding]

    The swords turned into anchors buried to the ground. The ground itself became dark, and chains coiled around Kael¡¯s body. The chains were made of mana, and so, physical attack wouldn¡¯t work against it.

    Back when the first line of mages buried the sword, the grade A mages along with Rodo poured massive amount of mana to the swords. From there, the line divisions took turns to pour as much mana as they could. Rodo was aware that his subordinates¡¯ mana, along with his own weren¡¯t enough to restrain Kael completely. To compensate, he bought mana rings that contained one thousand units of mana each. Such item was expensive, but it was worth it in the end. Kael was caught off guard. Even with his current power, it would still be hard for him to get out of the magic chains.

 Unavoidable Danger

    ¡®Did I become too arrogant?¡¯

    Kael was too late to realize that he underestimated his opponents way too much. He was restrained by a powerful magic that would need vast amounts of mana to get out of. Even if he could release himself from the restraints, he would lose so much power that he couldn¡¯t get back, not until he activated Late Cost¡¯s second phase.

    [Fire Shot]

    Rodo started attacking Kael. His servants were out of mana. It will take some time before his servants could help him. He fired multiple fire shots at Kael, but unfortunately for him, Kael¡¯s golden barrier was able to hold up.

    ¡°That¡¯s a sturdy barrier you have. I wonder how long would that protect you?¡±, Rodo said. He looked at his summon. ¡°Attack¡±

    The flaming tiger leaped towards Kael. The violent strikes of its paws along with its scorching flames produced destructive winds. The ground vibrates every time the attacks collide against Kael¡¯s defense. But still, Kael was unharmed against all the attacks.

    Rodo kept on attacking Kael, and at some point, his subordinates joined him as well. But, whatever they do, they couldn¡¯t get through Kael¡¯s golden barrier. The Tigers eventually ran out of mana, and could only do physical attacks. All of their efforts were for naught, the battle resulted in a standstill. Rodo was frustrated, witnessing the result of his preparation.

    Meanwhile, Kael was still contemplating whether to let the mana of the magic chains to run out on its own, or to use magic to get out of the chains. Since the day that he was made aware of two high class demons existing inside the town, he became cautious on using the limited mana he has during Late Cost. He didn¡¯t know just how or when will the demons attack, but he was definitely the demons¡¯ prime target.

    ¡°Why are you not fighting back? I know you¡¯re stronger than that¡±, Rodo said. Although he said those words to Kael, he was hoping that Kael was totally binded by the magic chains. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to fight, then, I will end this¡±

    [Speed Boost]

    Armed with the red bladed sword, Rodo rushed towards Kael. Kael suddenly felt fear running through his body. He moved on impulse, preparing himself to disable the golden barrier. The situation was uncertain that he had no choice but to break free from the magic chains.

    [Mana Burst]

    The magic chains disintegrated, and a bright pillar of white light glowed. When the light dissipated, the magic chains along with the anchoring swords were not restraining Kael anymore. But, it was revealed that Rodo managed to stab Kael¡¯s left torso.

    ¡°I got you now¡±

    [Red Curse]

    Kael leaped back away from Rodo¡¯s blade. He was wounded but he could heal it right away. However, something unusual happened.

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    [Heal]

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Kael¡¯s healing magic didn¡¯t do anything. In truth, his chant didn¡¯t produce any healing effect, his wound was still open. He tried again, and the same thing happened.

    [Great Heal]

    Even a stronger spell wouldn¡¯t activate. He was confused, but then he noticed something. There¡¯s a magic symbol on his wound.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    Rodo was looking at Kael from a distance. He was amused by Kael¡¯s confusion.

    ¡°Are you surprised? That¡¯s the power of this red blade¡±, Rodo said, then he raised the special sword. ¡°Now that you are cursed, you will not be able to use magic¡±

    Kael was shocked. His instinct was right to realize that Rodo¡¯s sword was incredibly dangerous. Unfortunately, he moved way too late, Rodo successfully using the sword¡¯s power on him.

    ¡°Finally, I can kill you without worry¡±, Rodo said.

    Rodo¡¯s subordinates removed themselves from the fight. They felt that their master can finish the fight by himself. Kael looked around, wanting to retreat. He knew he couldn¡¯t escape without magic, but he wanted to still have hope.

    ¡°Why are you doing this? What will you gain if you kill me?¡±, Kael asked. He wanted to stall for time to look for a good path that he can use to escape.

    Rodo went silent, then he walked slowly towards Kael. He removed his mask, and revealed the face that¡¯s familiar to Kael.

    ¡°Is there someone you know that looks like me?¡±, Rodo asked. Before Kael could answer, he continued talking. ¡°Of course you don¡¯t, so let me tell you. I have a brother named Osbert¡±

    Hearing Rodo¡¯s statement, Kael¡¯s thought was confirmed. Rodo was indeed related to Osbert, who became a demon because of Talzer.

    ¡°He is disobedient to me, but I love him¡±, Rodo stated. He continued on, stating his desire to protect his younger brother, whose character attracted so many enemies. ¡°I want him to have a good life, but then, someone told me that he was killed. You know the person who killed him¡±

    Kael knew the implication. He was indeed guilty of killing Osbert, but it was the best choice to make back then. He knew that even if he told Rodo the reason why he did it, Rodo will not believe him. He could only run away, if he wanted to live.

    ¡°I¡¯m done talking to you. Farewell¡±

    After saying his goodbye, Rodo boosted his entire body. He wanted to cut Kael¡¯s head as clean as possible, like how Kael did it to Osbert.

    [Speed Boost]

    In an instant, Rodo was in front of Kael, moving his sword towards Kael¡¯s neck. Kael realized by then that he couldn¡¯t escape. He closed his eyes, and readied himself.

    ¡°Too slow¡±

    Kael heard the clang of clashing swords. Rodo¡¯s sword didn¡¯t reach him. He opened his eyes and was surprised to see who saved him.

    ¡°Kever!¡±, Rodo exclaimed. He was enraged at the sight of Magister Kever, the person who was tasked by the king to hunt the Tigers. He jumped back, but the magister followed him. What came next was the clashing of swords that quickly overwhelmed Rodo.

    ¡°These people are too interested to you, Kael¡±, Magister Kever stated. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you about it, but first, let¡¯s get out of here¡±

 Building Connections

    [Speed Boost]

    Magister Kever rushed towards Rodo. Rodo jumped back, knowing that he couldn¡¯t win against the magister when it comes to swordsmanship.

    ¡°Do you think I will let you get away?¡±, Rodo said.

    Magister Kever looked around. He wanted to withdraw from the fight, but he realized that it would be hard to get away from the Tigers.

    ¡°Why are you targeting one of my students? Who hired you?¡±, the magister asked.

    Rodo didn¡¯t answer, which frustrated the magister.

    ¡°I see, you¡¯re actually capable of loyalty¡±, the magister said, and then he asked Rodo. ¡°I want to withdraw from the fight. If you just let me put Kael in a safe place, then we can resume the fight. But if you really insist to do it now, I have no choice. So, Rodo, what do you think?¡±

    Rodo looked at his subordinates. ¡°Do you really think you can win against all of us?¡±, Rodo stated.

    Magister Kever understood the message. ¡°So that¡¯s your answer¡­ okay then¡±

    Magister Kever prepared himself. Initially, he was ordered by the king to apprehend the rebels, and to not kill them if possible. However, it was obvious that he could not do that in their situation.

    ¡°Prepare yourself¡±, the magister declared.

    [Speed Boost]

    The magister stacked multiple speed enhancement magic on himself.

    [Strength Boost]

    The stacks of strength enhancement proved that the magister is at the level of grade A mages.

    [Clean Cut]

    The magister¡¯s blade glowed white. His opponents were alerted, but they didn¡¯t do anything. They were waiting for Rodo¡¯s commands, but up to that point, they didn¡¯t hear any.

    ¡°Master, what should we do?¡±, one of Rodo¡¯s grade A mages asked. All of Rodo¡¯s subordinates were still recovering their mana, after pouring all that they have to chain Kael in place. The plan worked for them. Rodo¡¯s blade reached Kael, which disabled Kael¡¯s magic. But, the arrival of the magister was unexpected, and so, their efforts became their disadvantage. At that point, only Rodo can fight for them.

    ¡°Jump back when you heard my signal¡±, Rodo answered. He was familiar with what the magister was trying to pull off. It was a dangerous technique that he couldn¡¯t defend against. It was a good thing that the magister could only do it once per hour.

    [Hidden Blades]

    ¡°Now!¡±, Rodo exclaimed.

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    There¡¯s a slight delay before the magister¡¯s multiple attacks hit. But it was too fast that after he returned his sword to its scabbard, several Tigers were cleanly cut in half. The rebels that survived sustained cuts on multiple parts of their body, while Rodo managed to jump back on time. In total, six Tigers were killed.

    ¡°I should polish this technique more¡±, Magister Kever stated. He looked at the casualties he caused.

    ¡°Apologies, your majesty¡±, the magister whispered to himself.

    Rodo¡¯s subordinates were terrified, as they witness their comrades¡¯ deaths. They weren¡¯t aware that they were moving away little by little, fearing that the magister could do it again.

    ¡°The next strike will not miss. Prepare yourself, Rodo¡±

    Magister Kever pointed his sword towards Rodo. His gaze was unflinching, his eyes were expressing his killing intent.

    [Speed Boost]

    Rodo prepared himself once again. He didn¡¯t remember that the magister has another attack after the unseen blades. He was anxious, waiting for the next attack. But then, the magister did something unusual.

    Magister Kever lifted up Kael. He looked at Rodo, and said one thing to the leader of Tigers.

    ¡°Until we meet again¡±, Magister Kever said. After that, he ran quickly, back to the inhabited part of town.

    ¡°Wha¨C¡±

    Rodo was too late to realize. It was a bluff from the magister. He didn¡¯t know that the magister almost used up all his mana for his special attack. It was the right call for the magister to retreat. He was a skilled warrior, but in terms of mana capacity, he was no match against a master grade. Just like that, Magister Kever saved Kael from the Tigers.

    In the morning, Kael woke up with his wound already healed. However, the curse symbol was still on the place where he was stabbed. He quickly realized that he was not alone, and he was not in his house.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake Kael¡±, Magister Kever said. He greeted Kael and offered some breakfast.

    ¡°Where are we, magister?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re in my house. It¡¯s not safe to stay in your home anymore, so I will let you stay here¡±, the magister replied. Magister Kever then continued speaking, telling Kael the rules in his house. Kael was still thinking about what happened last night.

    ¡°Kael, are you listening?¡±, the magister asked. He lectured Kael about the importance of listening to adults¡¯ words. Kael was silent for awhile, then he cleared his mind.

    ¡°Magister, why are you doing this? You have no involvement in this, this is my problem¡±, Kael stated.

    Magister Kever paused. He ate one of the bread he prepared for their breakfast. ¡°Before you start questioning, can we reconcile with this?¡±, the magister said, while handing Kael a piece of bread. From there, there was silence until they finished eating.

    ¡°Now, let me first apologize for thinking that you have ill intentions towards Rezelus¡±, the magister said, slightly lowering his head. ¡°As for your question, I¡¯m doing this because you¡¯re one of my students¡±

    Kael was surprised, but he kept listening. The magister stated that Kael proved his innocence by fighting against one of the enemies of Rezelus church. The magister witnessed Kael¡¯s life, and determined that his thinking towards his student was flawed.

    As for how he got to the fight last night, Magister Kever explained that he was searching for the Tigers back then, and happen to stumble upon the uninhabited place where the fight happened. Kael was relieved that the magister didn¡¯t witness him destroying the powerful magic chains that binded him.

    ¡°I told you my story. Now tell me, why are the Tigers trying to kill you?¡±, the magister asked. Kael was silent, so the magister assumed that Kael was unwilling to answer. However, when he was about to apologize and dismiss his question, Kael asked him a surprising question.

    ¡°Magister, even if you trust me, can I really trust you?¡±

 Companions and Complications

    Magister Kever was taken aback by Kael¡¯s question.

    ¡®¡°Can I really trust you?¡± What does that mean?¡¯, the magister thought.

    Magister Kever was puzzled. He couldn¡¯t think of a great response. It was as if Kael was suspicious of him.

    ¡°Magister, I couldn¡¯t answer your question if I couldn¡¯t trust you¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°What do you mean? Why is there a need for that? Is your situation really that complicated?¡±

    Kael observed Magister Kever intently, which made the magister uncomfortable. He concluded that the magister¡¯s confusion was genuine, and felt a slight relief.

    ¡°My situation.. it became complicated because of this¡±, Kael said. He showed the curse symbol to the magister.

    Kael was conflicted before. He didn¡¯t have a clue who and how many are the demons in town. He knew that a high class demon like Magister Zahe could command multiple demons, and it would be a problem if one of the demons knew about his situation. Because of the curse that he got, he could not use magic, nor could he restore his mana vessel. In his current condition, even a mere demonette could kill him. But he felt that Magister Kever was not one of them.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t use magic as long as I have this¡±, Kael said, still showing the curse symbol.

    ¡°I apologize. Removing that curse is beyond my power¡±, Magister Kever said. Kael didn¡¯t mind it.

    ¡°As for your question, the Tigers want me dead because of their leader¡±, Kael explained, then he continued. ¡°I killed his brother¡±

    ¡°What? Rodo¡¯s brother? Why would you do that?¡±, the magister asked. He was shocked that Kael said something like that.

    ¡°I have to. His brother was turned into a demon, and became a threat to my hometown¡±, Kael replied, then he narrated what happened back then.

    The magister couldn¡¯t believe Kael¡¯s story. Defeating a demon is a great feat for anyone to do. Not only are they strong, they are also terrifying creatures that could make anyone freeze in place.

    ¡°I understand. It¡¯s hard to believe, but that¡¯s the true reason why they¡¯re hunting me down¡±, Kael said.

    Magister Kever was feeling something during his talk with Kael. He felt that his student was older than he looks. He didn¡¯t know why, but talking to Kael one on one made him feel that he should lower himself. It was surreal. There¡¯s definitely something unusual about Kael.

    Magister Kever resigned himself to Kael¡¯s claim. It was unbelievable, but it wouldn¡¯t make any sense for Kael to lie to him like that.

    ¡°So, what will you do next? You can stay here if you want, but they will eventually realize that you¡¯re here¡±, Magister Kever said.

    ¡°Thank you, magister. Allow me to stay here until my companion returned¡±, Kael stated.

    ¡°You should, but remember, follow the rules of this house¡±

    ¡°I promise, I will¡±

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    <hr>

    Some months passed. Kael remained safe, but he was still unable to use magic. He was careful to not reveal his current situation to Magister Zahe, and it seemed to him that the demon magister was oblivious. He went to his house everyday to see whether Elalios is back or not. Finally, that day arrived.

    ¡°Kael, I have returned¡±, Elalios said. Kael greeted him.

    Before Kael could greet Elalios¡¯s companions, one of them hugged him. It was Seqina, who was still doting on him as usual.

    ¡°You grow so fast¡±, Cadell said. He greeted Kael, then he talked to Seqina. ¡°Control yourself Seqina. Kael couldn¡¯t breathe¡±

    After greeting each other and celebrating their reunion, Elalios invited them to go inside. After all of them were seated, there was a short silence.

    Kael knew Elalios¡¯s intention. He waited for Elalios to initiate the discussion. It was time for them to discuss the reason why they needed Cadell and Seqina with them.

    ¡°First of all, I¡¯m glad that you volunteered to come with me¡±, Elalios started.

    ¡°Well, we wanted to see Kael. Right, Seqina?¡±, Cadell stated. Seqina agreed to his statement.

    Elalios smiled. ¡°I appreciate it¡±

    ¡°So, what happened?¡±, Cadell asked.

    Elalios looked at Kael. Kael nodded at him.

    ¡°We are against demons¡±, Elalios said.

    Cadell and Seqina were shocked. They remembered the time when Osbert turned into a demon, and almost killed them. Seqina was still terrified, remembering the horror she felt encountering a real demon.

    ¡°Continue¡±, Cadell requested.

    Elalios said the important details. His statement made Seqina even more terrified, knowing that they were against two demons that are stronger than Earl Gideon.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite a problem you two got, Elalios¡±, Cadell said.

    ¡°I know, but thanks to Kael, we are in a standstill against them¡±, Elalios stated.

    Cadell thought for awhile. He made the room to be silent. He was informed that there are two powerful demons lurking inside the town. However, he couldn¡¯t help but think that there may be others, which is the same concern that Kael has.

    ¡°We will not win this, if we go against them by ourselves¡±, Cadell said. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I know some people here that could help us¡±

    Hearing Cadell¡¯s assurance, Elalios was filled with hope. Having his fellow servants with him gave him courage to once again face the terrifying demons. He looked at Kael with a smile on his face, but, he saw something strange. Kael was not smiling.

    ¡°There¡¯s a problem¡±, Kael uttered, breaking his silence. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t join the fight¡±

    All three servants looked at Kael, surprised at what they just heard. Knowing Kael¡¯s power, they knew that he is the greatest card they have to win against the demons. Not having Kael would lower their chance to gain victory against their powerful enemies.

    ¡°Wait, what are you saying Kael? How could we fight without you?¡±, Elalios asked.

    Kael exposed his stomach, showing the curse symbol to them. He was about to explain what it is, but Cadell intervened.

    ¡°Red curse? How did you get that?¡±, Cadell exclaimed.

    ¡°You know about this, Cadell?¡±, Kael asked.

    Cadell explained the power of the curse. ¡°Red Curse¡± interrupts the mana channels of any person afflicted with it. It was the reason for Kael¡¯s inability to use magic.

    ¡°But how did you get that?¡±, Cadell asked.

    ¡°I was stabbed by a red blade, and the next thing I know, this symbol appeared on my skin¡±, Kael said.

    Elalios was silent, while Seqina became worried.

    ¡°That¡¯s.. that¡¯s bad¡±, Cadell said. That¡¯s all he could say, realizing that the situation became worse.

 Enemy Preparations

    Inside a certain house, at the front of the kingdom¡¯s academy, Magister Zahe was waiting. It wasn¡¯t a long wait. The door opened for him, and several people entered the house. The house was then filled with demons disguised as humans, more than fifty of them. They were the demons that Magister Zahe called forth to prepare for the upcoming battle.

    Among all the demons, Magister Zahe was the highest rank, being the only second class demon. Talzer is his right hand, a third class demon equal to master grade mages. Abzer, another third class demon was also present. He was commanding ten fourth class demons, all of which are equal to grade A mages. Zera is another third class demon commanding five fourth class demons. Another third class, Kazer, has ten fourth class demons under his command. Eizer, another third class, has the most subordinates, fifteen fourth class demons. The last one was Azere, a third class demon commanding ten fourth class demons.

    Seeing all of his subordinates, Magister Zahe was satisfied. He knew the demons he gathered were more than enough to overthrow the kingdom. Even if he take Kael into account, he thought that he will not be defeated.

    ¡°Great Lord, all of us were able to acquire physical bodies. Command us as you please¡±, Eizer said, lowering his head.

    Magister Zahe commanded Eizer to raise his head.

    ¡°Talzer, being the one who experienced Kael¡¯s strength, do you think we have enough strength to kill him?¡±, Magister Zahe asked.

    ¡°Great Lord, it would be unthinkable if we couldn¡¯t kill that human with our mighty force¡±, Talzer answered. Magister Zahe nodded.

    ¡°Great Lord, can I speak?¡±, Eizer asked. Eizer was in his demon form. He has the same red eyes and gray skin like Talzer. Their only difference was Eizer¡¯s three short horns protruding from his forehead.

    ¡°What do you want to say?¡±, Magister Zahe said.

    ¡°Forgive me for my insolence, but, is the human called Kael really that powerful that you needed our assistance, Great Lord?¡±, Eizer asked.

    ¡°I understand your curiosity¡±, Magister Zahe replied. ¡°Talzer, tell them what you experienced¡±

    ¡°As you wish¡±, Talzer responded. From there, Talzer narrated his encounter with Kael, telling his fellow demons about his bitter defeat. Magister Zahe supplemented Talzer¡¯s narrative by telling his subordinates about his accidental discovery of Kael¡¯s true strength. Many of the demons were in disbelief, but hearing Magister Zahe¡¯s confirmation of Talzer¡¯s story solidified the truth to their minds.

    ¡°What an absurd human! He should be destroyed at all cost¡±, Eizer blurted.

    ¡°I agree with what you said. That¡¯s the reason why I called all of you here with me¡±, Magister Zahe stated. ¡°Let¡¯s ensure that such powerful human die, so that no one can hinder our reign over the world¡±

    The demons roared, cheering Magister Zahe and chanting the fall of Kael. Seeing the demons¡¯ enthusiasm, a devious smirk escaped from Magister Zahe¡¯s face, thinking that his victory was assured. He waited for the loud cheers to subside, and then, he began speaking about their plan.

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    ¡°Abzer, you and your demons will start the chaos tomorrow. Go to the king¡¯s castle and seize the king immediately¡±, Magister Zahe commanded.

    ¡°As you wish, great lord¡±, Abzer said.

    ¡°Kazer and Azere. Command your demons to destroy everything in this town and create as much despair as possible. Your actions will strengthen me more for the true battle¡±

    ¡°As you wish, great lord¡±, Kazer and Azere said.

    ¡°Zera. You and your demons will accompany me inside the academy. On my signal, kill every single humans inside the academy, but never go against Lucius. I will handle him¡±

    ¡°As you wish, great lord¡±, Zera said.

    ¡°Eizer, being the strongest among my servants, you have a special task to fulfill. Kazer and Azere were tasked to destroy everything in town, but every person that were killed by them should be the consequence of the destruction they will cause. You and your demons on the other hand must hunt down and kill every human that are strong enough to cause us trouble¡±, Magister Zahe commanded.

    ¡°Although I doubt that there are such humans, I will obey your words, great lord¡±, Eizer said.

    With that, Magister Zahe¡¯s demon horde was set to ruin the whole town, and fulfill their main objective, which was to eliminate Kael.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile, while the demon magister was preparing his subordinates, there was another group that was preparing for battle. It was the Tigers, the rebel group who wanted to kill Kael.

    The Tigers were having a discussion about what to do next, after their second attempt to kill Kael failed. Rodo¡¯s subordinates didn¡¯t want to continue the mission that their leader commanded them. They were in a pinch after they lost six of their comrades against Magister Kever. However, their leader was still fixated on killing Kael, and so, they could only obey Rodo.

    ¡°Red Curse was still in effect, it would be impossible for our enemy to use any magic¡±, Rodo stated, looking at his sword. The reddish blade was still intact, which means that the curse it gave to its victim was still in effect.

    ¡°Master, I suggest that we stop doing our mission for now¡±, one of Rodo¡¯s grade A mage said.

    Rodo stared coldly at the mage. ¡°Why do you think so?¡±, he asked.

    ¡°Our target has the swordsman Kever on his side. We can¡¯t possibly succeed if there¡¯s someone like him protecting our target¡±, the grade A mage said.

    Of course, Rodo was aware that Magister Kever could hinder his plan to eliminate Kael, but he was clouded with his own desire to consider Magister Kever as a threat. In his mind, only Kael¡¯s powerful magic could stop him from fulfilling what he wants.

    ¡°We will kill Kael without fail. If Kever dares to hinder our attack again, I won¡¯t hesitate to kill him as well¡±, Rodo stated. He looked at his remaining subordinates, knowing that they have doubts. But, even in knowing that he was alone in his desire, as long as Kael was still alive, he will not be satisfied. He will never accept a ¡°no¡± coming from his subordinates.

    ¡°Prepare yourselves. With this sword, we will finally destroy our enemy¡±, Rodo said, raising the red bladed sword. His subordinates looked at each other, wondering why did their group became too focused on a goal that only their leader was concerned about.

    The two enemy groups prepared themselves for several days. Kael was about to face a battle that will involve the whole kingdom. Soon, the town of Deyrem will be plunged into chaos.

 Hope, Then Despair

    In the next day, after the demons¡¯ meeting, Abzer, a third class demon infiltrated the king¡¯s castle with his subordinates. They swiftly killed several royal guards, aiming to become royal guards themselves as a disguise. They were on standby, waiting for Magister Zahe to signal that Magister Lucius will not get in their way. As planned, his group was tasked to be the first to cause chaos.

    Meanwhile, Kael¡¯s group had tasks of their own. Kael will go to the academy as usual, unaware that Magister Zahe was about to do his wretched plan. Elalios was tasked to go to the castle, and notify the king about the demons¡¯ existence inside Deyrem. Cadell on the other hand, as he said, went out and gather the people he knew that could help them. Seqina didn¡¯t say anything about what she wanted to do, but she assured them that she will gather help.

    In the academy, Kael was focused on figuring out how to break the curse that he has. Even though he told Cadell that he couldn¡¯t join the fight, he didn¡¯t give up on trying to fix his current situation. He knew that his servants depend on his power, for he was the only person that could defeat the demon magister.

    When his last class ended, he quickly went on his way, wanting to go home. But, before he could exit the academy, he was interrupted by a voice.

    ¡°Too eager to go home?¡±

    ¡®That voice.. this is bad¡¯, Kael thought. He turned around and saw Magister Zahe, faking a smile.

    ¡°Magister Zahe.. what do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°Could we have a little talk?¡±, the demon magister asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to¡±, Kael replied. He was careful not to show his agitation, because in that very moment, he was helpless against the powerful demon.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be cold to me. I didn¡¯t hurt anyone as promised¡±, Magister Zahe said. He was trying to read Kael, as he felt that Kael was hiding something.

    ¡°Only because of the curse I put on you¡±

    ¡°Well, that reminded me to behave. It is a strong magic. I¡¯m impressed!¡±

    Kael gazed at the demon magister.

    ¡°Let¡¯s finish this conversation. I don¡¯t want to talk to you¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°But I enjoy it¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a lie¡±, Kael said. He started to get suspicious. ¡°What are you planning, you vile demon?¡±

    Kael tried provoking the demon magister, but he wasn¡¯t successful. It was a good thing for him, but it was still worrying. The demon magister looked to the sky, and squinted his eyes, for it was noon at that time.

    ¡°This is the right time. They should be in their positions by now¡±, Magister Zahe whispered to himself. Just then, six people entered the academy.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±, Kael asked. ¡°This is the kingdom¡¯s academy, the gu¨C¡±

    Kael didn¡¯t continue what he was saying. He saw the guards beside the academy gate. Both were killed, and it was easy to know who did it. One of the suspicious people has blood on his hand.

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    [Dark Wall]

    Without warning, Magister Zahe began using his power, enclosing the whole academy. The academy was surrounded by formidable walls, and everything that was near the wall started to break down.

    ¡°You¡¯re power knows no bounds, great lord¡±, the person with the bloody hand said. Then the person looked at Kael. ¡°Is this the person that we should worry about?¡±

    Magister Zahe nodded. ¡°Be careful. He¡¯s a lot stronger compared to what he shows¡±

    Kael was terrified. He didn¡¯t have anything to protect himself against his opponents. He didn¡¯t expect that the demon magister will make his move that day. Magister Zahe left Kael to his subordinates.

    ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. I am Zera, and I am tasked to be your first opponent¡±

    Zera remembered what Magister Zahe told him. He was told that he would die, but the demon magister assured him that he will be revived as soon as the battle ended. He trusts the demon magister, so he mustered his resolve, and guided his subordinates to their deaths.

    Kael didn¡¯t know what to do. He was too nervous to meditate, and find a way to remove the curse that Rodo gave him. The demons surrounded him, but they didn¡¯t attack him yet. They were cautious, for in their minds, Kael could instantly destroy them.

    Zera didn¡¯t give any orders yet. He was carefully calculating, hoping that he could stall for time if only for just a minute. He felt that once they attacked Kael, the battle would end quickly.

    ¡°Why are you not attacking? Are you too afraid of demons?¡±, Zera taunted.

    Hearing Zera¡¯s words, Kael began to wonder the same thing. The demons could eliminate him, and he will be helpless, but somehow, the time of his demise was taking a long time to happen.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯, Kael thought. He observed the demons¡¯ movements. He noticed that whenever he moved slightly near to one of them, the demon will move away from him. He tried doing it multiple times, and the same thing happened. He suddenly remembered that demons were cowards by nature, and from there, an idea came to his mind.

    ¡°You know the outcome of this battle, and yet, you demons dare to go against me¡±, Kael said. It was a risky move, but if he succeeded on instilling terror in the demons¡¯ minds, someone might come to save him. It was the only hope he had, and he believed that it will happen.

    ¡°You¡¯re too proud of your own power¡±, Zera stated. Kael¡¯s statement was effective, but his demon pride couldn¡¯t accept it. ¡°Do you think you can actually defeat all of us?¡±

    ¡®It worked¡¯

    Kael smiled. He looked at each of the demons, and saw the terror in their eyes. He wanted to laugh at what he was doing, but he was grateful that it worked. The only thing to do was to wait for someone to come to him.

    [Hidden Blades]

    In an instant, demon heads dropped on the ground. Zera was the only one who dodged the attack.

    ¡°Kael, Are you alright?¡±

    Kael¡¯s face brightened. His hope was not meaningless, Magister Kever came to save him.

    ¡°Thank you, magister¡±

    Magister Kever nodded. ¡°Hurry, go to Magister Honnora¡¯s room. All of the students are there¡±, the magister said.

    ¡°I will not allow you!¡±

    Zera¡¯s voice alerted both Kael and Magister Kever. The demon was enraged by the magister¡¯s interruption. He transformed into his demon form. His long hair and body became gray, and both of his hands extended and became sword blades. His fiery red eyes was focused on the magister.

    ¡°All of you are useless! How long do all of you plan on pretending to be dead?¡±, Zera exclaimed.

    Hearing Zera¡¯s command, the five demons beheaded by Magister Kever stood, and reconnected their heads to their bodies. The grotesque display terrified the magister, as he realized that, he will not get out of the fight alive.

 Laid to Rest

    The academy looked normal from the outside. It was an illusion made by Magister Zahe. The townspeople were doing their daily routines, unaware of the danger that was lurking around.

    No one will come to help the academy. The only capable people were the magisters present at that time.

    Magister Kever looked at Kael. He was relieved that Kael didn¡¯t show any sign of terror. It was important that Kael was calm enough to move. He wanted to at least gave way for his student to escape.

    ¡°Kael, use this¡±, Magister Kever said, giving Kael his sword. He drew his second sword, and looked back at Zera. ¡°You must go once I give the signal¡±

    [Speed Boost]

    The magister intercepted Zera¡¯s advance, but he was flung back after they clashed. Seeing this, Kael knew that Magister Kever had no chance of winning.

    ¡°No, let me fight with you magister¡±, Kael requested.

    [Speed Boost]

    The magister intercepted the demons¡¯ attempt to attack Kael. He slashed the demons¡¯ limbs, incapacitating them. However, the demons reconnected their bodies once again.

    ¡°Both of us will die, at least save yourself¡±, the magister said.

    Kael refused to listen once again, which frustrated the magister.

    ¡°Puny human¡±, Zera said. ¡°I will make you regret your actions¡±

    [Dark Blade]

    Zera moved his blade hand, and a dark thin wave rushed towards Magister Kever. The magister could barely block the attack with his sword.

    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me, demon¡±, Magister Kever said. Zera¡¯s attack didn¡¯t have much force, which relieved him. However, just when he was feeling hopeful about the situation, a small gash appeared on his face and his sword was cut clean from the point of contact.

    ¡°That¡¯s an introduction. The next one will cut you through¡±, Zera stated.

    At that point, the remaining hope within Magister Kever¡¯s mind vanished. He felt defeated, as it was too late to make way for Kael¡¯s escape. He looked at Kael to say his farewell. But, as he turned to look at Kael, he witnessed something astounding.

    Magister Kever forgot about Kael when Zera used dark blade. He didn¡¯t notice that the rest of the demons were taking turns to attack Kael. Normally, it would be the end for inexperienced students, but what he saw was different. Kael was handling himself, incapacitating demons as they draw near him.

    Magister Kever couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing. The sword skill of his student far surpassed what he could do. It was like Kael was a different person compared to when he didn¡¯t have a sword. But even with Kael¡¯s flawless skill, the demons keep on recovering and attacking him nonstop. Without a doubt, Kael will soon get tired.

    ¡°Do you have time to look at them?¡±, Zera uttered.

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    Zera¡¯s question attracted Kael¡¯s attention. He saw Magister Kever¡¯s severed blade, and realized that the magister was in danger.

    ¡°Die¡±

    [Dark Bla¨C

    Kael rushed towards Zera before the demon completed his incantation. Zera leaped back. He feared that Kael might cut him down.

    Magister Kever commanded Kael not to go against Zera, but Kael didn¡¯t hear it.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have your turn, be patient¡±, Zera said. Kael wasn¡¯t listening. He didn¡¯t give a chance for the demon to use dark blade. The barrage of attacks against Zera was too much. He was forced to just defend himself. He looked for a chance to attack, but Kael didn¡¯t have any opening to exploit. The fear in Zera¡¯s mind kept growing, seeing Kael¡¯s determined face. He felt that Kael¡¯s blade would be the end of him.

    The other demons saw that Zera was getting overwhelmed by Kael¡¯s attacks. They didn¡¯t wait for Zera¡¯s orders. They rushed to aid their master.

    Magister Kever saw Kael¡¯s great skill. He was in awe, but he couldn¡¯t accept that he was so helpless, and it was his student that was protecting him. He felt that he was a failure for letting his student to be in danger.

    The battle went on. Even against six demons, Kael could not be defeated, but he was about to ran out of stamina. He went back to Magister Kever to rest for a bit.

    ¡°Kael, are you alright?¡±, Magister Kever asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can last for long¡±, Kael said. He made sure to lower his voice, even when he¡¯s panting hard. He needed to think of another way.

    ¡°I apologize, I can¡¯t do anything. Only you could go against them¡±, Magister Kever admitted. He looked at the demons, and saw that none of them sustained any grave injuries. Zera¡¯s subordinates kept on recovering. Kael will undoubtedly be defeated against the demons¡¯ resilience.

    ¡°Magister, can you use enhance magic to someone else?¡±, Kael asked. He was hoping that the magister could increase his speed to cut through Zera.

    ¡°I can, but wh¨C.. I see¡±

    Kael smiled. The magister knew what he was planning.

    ¡°Please, enhance my speed¡±, Kael requested.

    [Dark Blade]

    Kael dragged Magister Kever to dodge Zera¡¯s attack.

    ¡°Magister, hurry!¡±, Kael pleaded. ¡°Zera is the reason why I can¡¯t destroy the other demons¡±

    Kael¡¯s words enlightened Magister Kever. He initially assumed that since the other demons could reconnect their severed limbs repeatedly, Zera could also do the same thing. Kael made him realize that the demons¡¯ resilience was due to Zera¡¯s control over them. Simply put, Zera himself couldn¡¯t fix himself like his subordinates.

    [Blessing: Speed Boost]

    Kael felt the flow of mana in his body. His body was light, the gap between him and Zera¡¯s speed vanished. He knew that his blade will reach the demon.

    ¡°Thank you¡±

    Magister Kever¡¯s magic revealed Kael¡¯s inability to use magic during that time. Kael knew it, which became a strong motivation to defeat Zera. The demon must be prevented to inform Magister Zahe. Zera should be silenced at all cost.

    ¡°You.. you can¡¯t use magic? You deceived me!¡±, Zera exclaimed.

    Zera was stunned in place the next second. Kael was behind him in an instant.

    ¡°You should focus more on yourself¡±

    After Kael uttered those words, Zera¡¯s head dropped on the ground. Kael didn¡¯t give anytime for the other demons to do anything. Demon heads bounced on the ground, and the bodies who owned them dropped without a fight. It was an overwhelming victory, and the victor was Kael.

    ¡°Besides, I didn¡¯t say that I could use magic¡±, Kael stated.

 Veil of Darkness

    While Kael was fighting against the demons, Magister Zahe was wandering around the academy, searching for Magister Lucius. But before he could find Magister Lucius, the grandmaster mage found him first.

    ¡°Lord Lucius, are all the students safe?¡±, Magister Zahe asked. He was surprised when the grandmaster mage appeared before him, but it saved him some time.

    Magister Lucius looked at the demon magister. He didn''t respond to the question. He stared at Magister Zahe with hostility, for he concluded already that Magister Zahe made the dark wall surrounding the academy.

    ¡°I will search for other students¡±, Magister Zahe said. He felt Lord Lucius¡¯s animosity, but he dismissed it.

    ¡°How long will you pretend?¡±, Lord Lucius asked. ¡°I know what you are, ¡°magister¡±. You can''t hide from me¡±

    ¡°What do y¨C¡±

    [Tornado Swing]

    Lord Lucius punched forward. He created violent winds rushing towards Magister Zahe. Everything that came into contact with the wind were shredded into pieces.

    Magister Zahe was forced to dodge the attack. He destroyed the roof above him, and leaped quickly. Had Lord Lucius¡¯s attack came into contact with him, his body would have been shredded to pieces.

    ¡°Why did you do that? I almost died!¡±, Magister Zahe exclaimed.

    ¡°That would be for the best¡±, Lord Lucius stated, his cold gaze piercing through Magister Zahe.

    ¡°You..¡±

    Magister Zahe was upset. He wanted to attack Lord Lucius, but as he was cursed by Kael, he couldn''t harm the grandmaster. He could only dodge, as he realized that he couldn''t pretend anymore.

    [Veil of Darkness]

    Magister Zahe raised his hand, and a dark orb appeared, hovering above him. He was about to move it upwards, but¡­

    [Vortex Punch]

    Lord Lucius punched forward once again. This time, he created harsh rotating waters that rushed towards Magister Zahe.

    The demon magister was hit, losing control of his body. He was hurled far from the dark orb he created. He had no choice, but to turn into his demon form. It was the only way for him to survive.

    ¡°At last, you showed your true self¡±, Lord Lucius said. He looked at the demon magister, and saw Magister Zahe¡¯s four dark blue eyes.

    Black, straight horns formed on Magister Zahe''s shoulders. His forehead has a closed eye, larger than his other eyes. The transformation made him twice as large than his human form.

    Even when he transformed into his demon form, Magister Zahe still sustained minor wounds. His gray body had multiple cuts that he got from Lord Lucius¡¯s powerful attack. He was directly hit, but it was not enough to incapacitate him.

    ¡°Is that your full power?¡±, Magister Zahe taunted. He looked at the dark orb he created. It was not affected by Lord Lucius''s attack, so he tried once again to move it upwards.

    [Speed Boost]

    The demon magister was interrupted once again. He narrowly dodged Lord Lucius''s magic enhanced punch.

    [Wind Slash]

    The barrage of attacks rushing towards the demon didn''t give him time to control the dark orb. He felt like Lord Lucius knew what he was trying to do. He could only dodge Lord Lucius''s attacks, which infuriated him. He quickly moved far from Lord Lucius. He didn''t notice that he returned to the academy¡¯s open field.

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    ¡°You can''t escape from me. Now that I confirmed that you''re a demon, I have no reason to hesitate¡±, Lord Lucius declared. He was curious as to why the demon wasn''t attacking, but he was even more concerned about the dark orb that the demon was trying to control. He had a feeling that the dark orb will deliver something bad. But, whether he was right or not, his mission remained the same. He must eliminate the demon for the good of the kingdom.

    Magister Zahe looked around him. He wasn''t that far from the academy gate. He looked for Kael, and he found something horrible. Zera and his demons were defeated, and Kael didn''t even have any injuries.

    ¡®I knew it. I wouldn''t be able to do anything with this curse on me. Talzer should do something about this¡¯, Magister Zahe thought.

    Lord Lucius also saw Kael and Magister Kever. He was horrified, and so, he became distracted and rushed to his student.

    ¡°Kael, what are you doing here?¡±, Lord Lucius asked. He was agitated, but when he saw the remains of the beheaded demons, he became astonished. ¡°Did you kill these demons?¡±

    Kael was about to deny it, despite being the only one holding a sword.

    ¡°He did. He was amazing¡±, Magister Kever said.

    Lord Lucius was about to praise Kael, when he remembered the demon magister. He looked at the second class demon, and saw Magister Zahe''s devious smile.

    [Speed Boost]

    Lord Lucius was too late. The dark orb was already raised to the sky. It enveloped the town in ominous darkness.

    ¡°What did you do?¡±, Lord Lucius asked. He used various attacks against the darkness, but all of his attacks had no effect.

    ¡°This is the start of my reign¡±, the demon magister declared. ¡°I win¡±

    <hr>

    At the front of the castle gates, before the darkness engulfed the town, Elalios was preparing himself. He had a low chance to be allowed inside the king''s castle, as he didn''t set an appointment to meet the king. But, his mission should still be carried out, for the demons may attack anytime.

    ¡°State your name¡±, one of the royal guard stated.

    ¡°Elalios, servant of Earl Gideon of Cleron¡±

    Elalios heard the other guards murmuring about him. The guards recognized him, but he didn''t pay any attention to them.

    ¡°Wait here¡±, a royal guard said.

    The royal guard went to his fellow guard who was walking towards him. It seemed to him that his comrade came from the king''s office. He wasn''t aware that it was a demon named Abzer, disguised as a royal guard.

    ¡°Elalios, servant of Earl Gideon of Cleron wanted to have an audience with the king¡±, the royal guard said.

    ¡°The king declared that no one should enter the castle¡±, Abzer said.

    The royal guard wasn''t suspicious of Abzer. He trusted Abzer¡¯s statement without verification from the king. He quickly returned to Elalios.

    ¡°You''re not allowed to enter. The king doesn''t want anyone to enter his castle¡±, the royal guard said.

    ¡°Please, I need to tell him something important¡±, Elalios requested. He knew that he was most likely be rejected, but even then, he persisted. However, the royal guards didn''t let him enter at all.

    ¡°If your message is that important, you can tell me what it is, or write it on a paper¡±

    Elalios thought about the royal guard''s offer for a while, and he concluded that he could only go as far as those options. He accepted the offer, and chose to tell the royal guard about the demons.

    ¡°What? Are you serious?¡±, the royal guard asked. Elalios stood by his claim, which the royal guard believed. The royal guard couldn''t hide his emotion, as Elalios revealed the lurking darkness. ¡°Don''t worry, I will deliver your message right away¡±

    Elalios thanked the royal guard, and the royal guard quickly went on his way. They weren''t aware that a demon overheard their discussion.

    ¡°Let''s go¡±, the royal guard said to Abzer. ¡°His majesty needs to hear about.. this¡±

    The royal guard was interrupted. He looked at the sky affected by the demon magister¡¯s power. Abzer produced a sinister smile.

    ¡°At last, it arrived¡±, Abzer stated.

    ¡°What are y¨C¡±

    The royal guard''s words turned into a scream. He witnessed Abzer''s transformation into a demon. The next second, his life was taken by Abzer.

    ¡°My demons! Reveal yourselves!¡±, Abzer shouted. What happened next became the beginning of the royal castle¡¯s ruin.

 Ominous Night

    Before all the pieces could be set in their places, we need to backtrack for a little bit. Before the darkness occurred, and even when it happened, Cadell and Seqina were moving according to the tasks they were given. Cadell was the first to move among them.

    Cadell went outside the house some hours after Kael went to his classes. He went to an obscure alleyway where he encountered some shady people trying to mug him. Unfortunately for his muggers, he¡¯s a grade A mage. All of the people that attempted to attack him were quickly handled by his magic.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to rob your elders young ones, do you understand?¡±, Cadell asked, but the people he was talking to were all unconscious.

    ¡°After all these years, you¡¯re still strong brother¡±

    The voice pulled Cadell¡¯s attention. There¡¯s a middle aged man standing at the end of the alleyway.

    ¡°Brunus..¡±, Cadell uttered. He recognized the voice, and walked towards the man. He embraced Brunus, and Brunus hugged him back.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, brother¡±, Brunus greeted.

    Cadell and Brunus were not brothers by blood. Both of them were past protectors for the kingdom, and Brunus was one of the people that Cadell considered as a genuine friend.

    They talked about the old days for a while. They laughed at their adventures, and they smile at great stories where they were together. Then, after some time, Brunus stopped narrating his stories.

    ¡°Do you need me for something, brother?¡±, Brunus asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think you returned without a good reason¡±

    Cadell smiled.

    ¡°You got me. You know me too well. I¡¯m sorry for returning, only because I need something from you¡±, Cadell said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any problem with you needing me. If anything, I am thankful that I¡¯m the first person in your mind when you need help¡±, Brunus stated, consoling Cadell.

    ¡°I appreciate it¡±

    ¡°Now, looking at you, I feel like you¡¯re burdened by something great. What is it, brother?¡±, Brunus asked.

    Cadell hesitated at first, looking around him to make sure that no one¡¯s listening. And then, he spoke.

    ¡°We¡¯re against demons¡±

    Brunus heard Cadell clearly, but he was too shocked to accept what he just heard. He asked Cadell to repeat the statement, and Cadell said the same thing. He was baffled, his surprise was shown on his face. It was his dream to fight against demons, but he was not ready by then. He tried recovering his composure, but his agitation and excitement only grew when Cadell started narrating more about Kael, and the demon magister.

    Brunus thought for a while. He had no reason to not believe Cadell.

    ¡°Kael huh, what an interesting child. It¡¯s good to know that we have someone as powerful as him¡±, Brunus said.

    ¡°Thank you for believing me¡±, Cadell stated, but he immediately followed through, stating Kael could not join the battle because of Red Curse.

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    ¡°It¡¯s a losing battle¡±, Brunus said, knowing that they just lost a valuable ally.

    ¡°It is¡±, Cadell agreed. ¡°But, we have no choice¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right¡±, Brunus said. He was still willing to help his friend, but he knew that they must gather all the help they could get. And so, he invited Cadell. ¡°Let¡¯s call the others, I know where they are¡±

    Cadell was delighted that Brunus was still on board with his aim. He accepted Brunus¡¯s invitation, and they walked towards a nearby shop.

    ¡°You still know him?¡±, Brunus asked, pointing at a man.

    ¡°Drogo..¡±

    The man noticed Cadell staring at him. He realized that it was his friend who he didn¡¯t meet for so long. He ran to Cadell, and they greeted each other.

    ¡°Cadell! You¡¯re alive!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s rude, boy¡±, Cadell said, then they both laugh at each other.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, I thought you will never come back¡±, Drogo stated. From there, he told stories to Cadell, stories of their past. They were enjoying their talks while Drogo led them inside his shop. But like Brunus, Drogo knew that Cadell went to him because of something important.

    Cadell told Drogo the same things he said to Brunus. Drogo was alarmed by the revelation that demons were inside the town. Cadell told Drogo that they were already working to report the problem to the king, which calmed Drogo down for a bit. After Drogo¡¯s recovery, Cadell went on to request Drogo to assist them with the fight. Drogo looked at Cadell with a sullen face.

    ¡°It¡¯s better to rely on the king for this one. I apologize Cadell, I can¡¯t join the fight¡±, Drogo stated.

    ¡°Wait, what do you mean? Our friend returned to us and asked for our aid and you wouldn¡¯t help him?¡±, Brunus asked.

    ¡°I have a child, Brunus. I can¡¯t die while my child is still young¡±

    Brunus tried persuading Drogo, but Drogo didn¡¯t step out of his decision. Cadell stopped Brunus from trying to convince Drogo.

    ¡°Thank you for your time, Drogo. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t force you to join us¡±, Cadell said. He stood, and said his farewell. Brunus followed him, unsure if that was the right move to do. Drogo thanked Cadell for accepting his refusal.

    Cadell felt disappointed, but he didn¡¯t show it. He looked at the sky, wondering if he made the right decision. But then, when he was lost in thought, the sky was suddenly filled with dark clouds, blanketing the whole town in darkness.

    ¡°What happened?¡±, Drogo asked. He went outside to see why it became nighttime all of a sudden.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡±, Cadell replied. He was still looking at the sky, curious as to why the dark clouds formed. As he was observing, he realized that the clouds were moving away from a source, which he deduced to be the center of the strange phenomenon. He looked at the direction where the ominous clouds were moving away from. Then something struck him that made him terrified.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be, it¡¯s too early for this¡±, Cadell stated. Brunus heard what he said, but before Brunus could ask him, he already answered. ¡°These clouds must be coming from the academy¡±

    ¡°How do you kno¨C¡±

    Brunus couldn¡¯t continue his words. He understood why Cadell became terrified. But because he realized, he became terrified as well.

    ¡°Brunus, this is beyond my expectations. As a friend, I want you to get out of town¡±, Cadell said.

    ¡°And you?¡±, Brunus asked, but he already knew Cadell¡¯s answer.

    ¡°I must help my master¡±

    Brunus forced a smile for himself.

    ¡°I won¡¯t go anywhere. As a friend, I want to help you¡±, Brunus stated.

    Cadell forced a smile as well.

    ¡°Thank you¡±

    Both of them could barely move themselves, but they managed to run. The destination might be the place of their deaths, but that¡¯s yet to be determined by their future.

 Hidden Ally

    Seqina was wandering around, looking for a good place to hide. She decided to go in a desolated house, which happened to be near the place she wanted to go to. As soon as she entered the house, she concealed herself using magic, and went on her way.

    Seqina moved quietly, walking in an alleyway lined with cloaked figures that she could only see because of her magic. The cloaked figures were not aware of her presence. She passed, undetected by all of them, and arrived in a dead end. She continued on and walked through the end. She passed through the illusory wall, and finally arrived to her destination.

    After passing through the shabby wooden wall, her magic disappeared and she became visible. Seqina found herself in a room with stone walls, stone floor, and stone ceiling. There¡¯s no door to enter or go out to, nor is there a window to look outside. The room have long tables with several jars of solid and liquid materials on top of them. There is a small collection of books cramped in a single desk in the far corner of the room. Despite the fascinating things in the room, Seqina focused her gaze towards a mundane wooden chair. On that chair was a woman, the owner of the room, the person she wanted to find.

    ¡°As always, your skill shame my guards. I¡¯m lucky that you¡¯re not one of the king¡¯s servants¡±, the woman said. She had an open book in her hands. She didn¡¯t look away from the book, as she was praising Seqina¡¯s ability. ¡°So, how¡¯s life treating you, my adorable pupil?¡±

    The woman made a slight smile, but it was not clear whether it was intended for Seqina or for what she was reading in her book. Seqina was happy to see the woman, and began her greetings.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re well teacher¡±, Seqina said. She meant those words.

    ¡°I¡¯m not for pleasantries, my little fledgling¡±, the woman stated. She closed the book in her hand, and finally looked at Seqina. ¡°But, since it¡¯s you, I¡¯ll make an exception¡±

    The woman stood, leaving the book on the chair and walked to Seqina. As she reached one of the long tables, she took a jar with dried leaves in it, and she also reached for another jar with white fibrous stems inside it.

    ¡°Do you want some tea?¡±, the woman said.

    ¡°Spare me, teacher¡±, Seqina replied, nervously laughing, as she looked at the jar of dried leaves.

    The woman smiled. She praised Seqina for still knowing that the dried leaves are poisonous if used as tea leaves. She returned the jars to the table, and led Seqina to the book filled desk.

    ¡°So, will you tell me your objective, or should I assume you just missed me so much?¡±

    Seqina smiled, hearing the woman¡¯s question. It felt nostalgic to her that her teacher didn¡¯t change even a little bit. Before she could answer the question, the woman spoke again.

    ¡°You look worried, darling. It seems like you have a harrowing problem¡±, the woman said.

    ¡°It is as you said teacher¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why you came to me¡±

    ¡°Yes¡±

    ¡°What can I do to help?¡±

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    Seqina was hesitant to say her request. She felt that her teacher will reject her immediately. But, in the moment of hesitation, she remembered Kael¡¯s horrible state before. Kael almost sacrificed himself for them, which is something Seqina didn¡¯t want to happen again. She erased her hesitation and took her chance.

    ¡°Teacher, could I have some of your ¡°potion one hundred¡±?¡±, Seqina asked. Her teacher was about to open another book when she asked the question. The woman looked at her and said a short, but devastating response.

    ¡°No¡±

    Seqina expected that the woman will deny her request, but she kept on asking. As expected, the woman rejected her request every time.

    ¡°Such concoction of mine should never be used, until Lord Lucien returns to us¡±, the woman declared.

    ¡°But, you have been waiting for so long. Maybe¨C¡±

    ¡°My faith is firm, you know that sweetheart. My great potion should only serve someone as great as my lord¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand teacher¡±

    ¡°Then let me, darling¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re.. we¡¯re against demons¡±

    Seqina¡¯s words halted the escalation of emotions. The woman looked at Seqina¡¯s eyes, and saw no lies from her.

    ¡°Did you say demons? Are my ears deceiving me?¡±, the woman asked.

    ¡°You heard right teacher. Demons are in this town¡±

    Hearing Seqina¡¯s confirmation made the woman angry. As a believer of Lucienean faith, she knew that her lord loathed those malicious beings.

    ¡°Those vile demons..¡±, the woman uttered to herself, raring to go with Seqina. However, she couldn¡¯t decide whether to bring her ¡°potion one hundred¡± or not. She thought for awhile to weigh the possible consequences of her decision.

    ¡°So, teacher, would you let me have some of it?¡±, Seqina asked.

    ¡°No¡±, the woman replied. Seqina felt sad, as she failed on persuading her teacher to use the powerful potion. But, even if the woman decided to not give Seqina some of her ¡°potion one hundred¡±, she still wanted to help Seqina, knowing that they were fighting against demons.

    ¡°I will go with you¡±, the woman said.

    Seqina was surprised. Her original plan was to acquire some of her teacher¡¯s powerful potion, thinking that her teacher, being one of the kingdom¡¯s enemy, will not get out of her hideout. She didn¡¯t consider the possibility that her teacher would join her in the fight. It was unexpected, but it was greater than what she hoped for.

    ¡°Are you sure, teacher? Many people will recognize you¡±

    ¡°Demons are far more troublesome. I can¡¯t stay idle, knowing that Lord Lucien¡¯s enemies are here¡±, the woman said. ¡°Plus, my adorable pupil needs my assistance¡±

    Seqina thanked the woman, and decided to return home, but before she turns around, a cloaked figure entered the room using the secret passage.

    ¡°Master! A¨C¡±

    The cloaked figure was surprised to see Seqina. It was baffling to him that someone managed to get to his master without him knowing. He was thankful that nothing happened to his master, but he felt like a failure.

    ¡°What is it? What happened?¡±, the woman asked.

    ¡°Something strange happened outside¡±, the cloaked figure said. ¡°It¡¯s best for you to witness what happened master¡±

    Seqina and the woman looked at each other. They listened to the cloaked figure, and went outside. What waited for them was the sky covered by dark clouds.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we talked for long¡±, Seqina said, talking to the woman while looking up. The cloaked figure informed them that the darkness suddenly enveloped the whole place. Seqina had a bad feeling about it, but at the time, she had no idea that her instinct was right.

 Conquered Kingdom

    The darkness created by the demon magister reached the king¡¯s castle. Abzer, a third class demon went on his way to seize the king of the Kingdom of Ucar. He was intercepted by two royal guards, protecting the king¡¯s chamber from him.

    ¡°Demon! Submit yourself to us!¡±, a royal guard said. His commanding voice called forth more royal guards. It didn¡¯t take a minute for Abzer to be surrounded.

    Abzer looked around him, and showed his evil smile. ¡°Gather more human soldiers to surround me. Maybe by then, one of you could bruise me¡±, Abzer said. He looked at the royal guard who tried commanding him, and his red eyes made the pitiful royal guard fearful, unable to move and speak.

    Some of the royal guards that surrounded Abzer were insulted by his words. They threw themselves to the demon, not knowing that all of them will die.

    Abzer took his time killing all of them. The demon savored the dread and hopelessness of the royal guards. He mutilated some of them to show those that were still alive the fate that he brings to humans. It was his way to heighten the royal guards¡¯ despair, strengthening himself in the process. After a moment, all of it passed, leaving corpses outside the king¡¯s room.

    Abzer opened the door, and he saw the king sitting, his eyes devoid of autonomy. Because of his demon eyes, he was able to see a cursed knife stabbed through the king¡¯s chest. It was the object that allowed Magister Zahe to have control over the king. It responded to the darkness that the demon magister created.

    ¡°Your majesty, order your people to gather in one place¡±, Abzer said. He changed his appearance to that of a human, and said those words.

    ¡°As you wish, Abzer¡±

    The king stood quickly and walked outside his room. There were royal guards who were panicking, asking if he¡¯s not hurt. The king didn¡¯t give any answer. Instead, he commanded the royal guards to follow him and he ordered them to inform the other royal guards that he was calling for a gathering. The royal guards did follow, but they were confused because the king was unfazed by the corpses laying around. They didn¡¯t dare ask the king about it, and followed like obedient servants. They reached the courtyard, and waited for the others.

    The courtyard was filled with royal guards that were mostly corpses. Those that were alive fought against Abzer¡¯s subordinates, losing their life one by one. The king remained silent seeing the slaughter that was happening.

    Other royal guards arrived and were forced to battle against the demons. The fight was hopeless. Only a handful of the royal guards were capable enough to last for half a minute. Eventually, the royal guards were all dead, unable to protect the castle.

    Abzer thought it was finished, but then he remembered something. There are other servants hiding from the slaughter that the royal guards suffered. It would be meaningless for him to kill them, but it would also be meaningless if he didn¡¯t. He commanded his subordinates to hunt all the remaining humans inside the castle, and with such command, he ordered the total fall of the king¡¯s castle.

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    Abzer was satisfied. He fulfilled his great lord, Magister Zahe¡¯s order. Conquering a human kingdom was easier than he thought, but something bothered him. He felt that he was forgetting something. He was right. He forgot about Elalios.

    When Abzer remembered Elalios, he began to wonder. How did Elalios knew that demons were present in town? It was a rather easy question for the demon. Elalios must be connected to their enemy, Kael, the human that even Magister Zahe was afraid of.

    Abzer assumed that Elalios must be strong enough to be associated with Kael. It worried him that Elalios was heading back. He thought that if he could defeat Elalios, he would nip the bud of another threat to Magister Zahe¡¯s reign. And so, with that kind of thinking, he decided to deviate from Magister Zahe¡¯s order. He must go outside the castle to hunt down Elalios.

    But, even if Abzer mustered his courage to fight Elalios, the cowardice of a demon reigned over him. He didn¡¯t want to fight against Elalios without knowing Elalios¡¯s strength. So he commanded one of his subordinates to chase after Elalios.

    <hr>

    Elalios rushed to the town boosted by magic. He wasn¡¯t aware that something was going on inside the castle that he just left. He didn¡¯t look back, aiming to go to the academy, and meet Kael, Cadell, and Seqina. But, before he had the chance to enter the town, he heard a sudden explosion.

    Elalios saw the destruction made by the demons. Within several minutes, the demons managed to destroy many buildings, putting people into harm. He saw the flow of people running from their houses before the buildings collapse on them. Some people tried saving their valuables, but such decision resulted in their deaths. Children were crying, and the scream of people who lost their loved ones were rampant. Not even his occasional nightmares could compare to what he was seeing.

    Perhaps the worst thing that Elalios saw was the vile demons, killing innocent people without regard to life. He was appalled, but he was more frustrated because of what he was doing. He was not moving in his place, as he knew that he was safe from the dangers that he was witnessing. He wanted to help the people, but he had neither the courage, nor the strength to go against the malevolent beings. He just stood from afar, hoping that Kael and the others could do something about the horrible situation.

    At some point Elalios took a step forward, but afterwards he stepped back. He was leaning more on escaping, returning back to the castle. He looked back, then he looked at the town. He stepped forward once again, but he quickly changed his mind. He spent some minutes battling his hesitation. Unfortunately, he concluded that he could not help, and he will die if he tried.

    ¡®I¡¯m sorry Kael, I can¡¯t do this after all¡¯

    Elalios decided to return to the castle. This time he was determined to inform the king that the town was in ruins. The royal guards will not stop him. If that¡¯s the only thing he could do, he would do it without fail. However, fate had a different plan for him.

    As Elalios turned around, a dark figure was coming towards him. He quickly realized what it was. It was a demon. At the sight of the demon, Elalios realized that even the castle was not a safe place. He turned to town to run for it, but the demon jumped to block his way to the town. He knew that the demon will not let him escape. He could only do the thing that he was afraid to do. If he wanted to live, he must fight the demon.

 Not Anymore

    Elalios was in great trouble. He was faced with a demon equal to or even stronger than a grade A mage. His mana capacity alone couldn¡¯t even compare. It was a fight that he could not win. But, despite the odds, even when he himself knew that he would not survive, fighting was the only thing he could do. If he was successful, he would lower the number of demons, and this will help Kael and the others. If he failed, he still helped his comrades by making one of the demons busy. That¡¯s what he had in mind, and so, that¡¯s what he yearned to accomplish.

    Not far from Elalios, Abzer was observing the fight. He was afraid that Elalios might detect him like how Kael could do it. He placed himself close enough to see the entire fight, but he was not close enough to fully grasp the true nature of most things that were about to occur. His cautious move proved to be a good thing for Elalios.

    Elalios placed his right hand near his belt. His waist was circled with potions that he bought as a preparation for the demons¡¯ invasion. Although he wasn¡¯t prepared during that time, he was thankful that he thought of bringing many potions with him. With multiple potions in his arsenal, he thought that he could at least put up a fight against the demon.

    There was silence for a minute after the demon leaped in front of him. Elalios knew that in terms of strength and speed, he would get destroyed. So he decided to not move in his position, and he decided that defending his position was the best course of action. But when the opportunity arose, he would not hesitate to use a strong potion to strike back.

    Before Kael went to the academy, Elalios was taught by Seqina how to fight using potions. He wanted to protect Kael in some way so he took the initiative. It was Seqina¡¯s means of fighting, which happen to be suitable for weak mages like Elalios. Elalios did learn some basics, like how combining certain potions could either boost an attack or diminish each potion¡¯s power. He must remain calm even if he was against a demon. Seqina told him what happened when they were dealing with the demonized Osbert, and as Elalios¡¯s mentor, Seqina pleaded that he must not do what she did.

    Elalios took a deep breath. He acknowledged that he was alone this time. He mustered his courage, thinking only of his own life. He waited until the demon moved first, before he use one of the potions.

    Abzer was carefully observing. In his line of sight, Elalios looked like a human ready to destroy a mere fourth class demon. Abzer expected it, for he was still associating Kael¡¯s strength to Elalios¡¯s.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see your strength, human¡±, Abzer muttered. ¡°ATTACK AND KILL¡±

    Abzer¡¯s command was the only thing that the demon was waiting for. The demon moved immediately, and rushed towards Elalios.

    Elalios threw a potion bottle in front of him. It shattered and with his words, the liquid inside the bottle created a sturdy barrier.

    [Shield]

    Elalios conjured another barrier using his mana. He exhausted all his mana to create the thickest barrier he could conjure on his own. It wasn¡¯t that thick of a barrier, but it gave Elalios more protection.

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    Just after Elalios conjured a barrier, the demon punch through the potion-created barrier. The demon¡¯s attack was not fully stopped, and it clashed against Elalios¡¯s magical barrier. The barrier that he created cracked, but the remaining force of the punch was not enough to shatter it entirely.

    The demon leaped back, then it launched another quick and powerful attack. Elalios dropped another potion bottle just in time to create another barrier. Like the first, the barrier created by the potion was shattered into pieces, and the demon¡¯s attack managed to have enough momentum to reach Elalios¡¯s magical barrier again. The demon¡¯s attack worsened the cracks of the barrier. It was in the verge of totally breaking. One more attack and Elalios will actually feel the demon¡¯s cruel fist.

    The demon leaped back once again. Elalios knew that the demon will attack again just as quick as it did before. He still have some shield potions, but spending two at once may not be a good idea. He realized that he must start attacking as well.

    The demon rushed towards Elalios for the third time. Elalios used another shield potion. He had another potion ready in his hand for his attack. He was anxious, he didn¡¯t want to mess up the timing of his attack. He heard the destruction of the potion-created barrier. He almost leaped back in panic, but he managed to control himself.

    ¡®Not yet¡¯

    The demon¡¯s attack continued on. Upon contact, Elalios¡¯s magical barrier collapsed, and the demon had more than enough momentum to reach Elalios. This time, Elalios leaped back, and throw a potion towards the demon. He hoped that the potion was effective enough to incapacitate the demon.

    The demon was covered with sticky slime. It became sluggish, and all its struggles to reach Elalios made it even slower. It was a success, but it was not Elalios¡¯s whole plan.

    Elalios knew that the demon would get out of the slime after some minutes. The slime may be sticky, but it was still dripping to the ground. Elalios wasted no time, and threw another potion bottle.

    As the potion dripped down making contact with the sticky slime, the greenish slime started to heat up. The slime became reddish until it turned to red hot. The sticky slime turned into magma that was so viscous and sticky that it scorched the demon thoroughly. The demon was suffering, but it couldn¡¯t get out of the sticky magma. Soon enough, the pain was too much to bear that the demon fell down, succumbing to its fate. Elalios was surprised that it was over that fast, but he was relieved that he won the fight.

    The outcome was witnessed by Abzer. The demon thought that Elalios did all those things using his magic. Abzer thought that during the entire battle, Elalios was calm, as the fourth class demon posed no threat to him. The demon couldn¡¯t use his authority to heal his subordinate, for he was too far from the fight. In his mind, it was better to return to the castle, and follow his great lord¡¯s orders. However, just when he was about to flee, and return to the king¡¯s castle, he felt a sudden change in his body. He was getting stronger, as the darkness that engulfed the town distributed the power of despair and chaos to high class demons like him. Realizing what was happening, Abzer felt prideful, convincing himself that he could kill Elalios with his rising power. A sinister smirk emerged on his face.

    Elalios calmed himself for several seconds. He was so terrified that he fell on his knees, and repeatedly murmured his gratitude for still being alive. He decided to go to town, and call for someone to handle whatever was going on in the king¡¯s castle. He didn¡¯t have the courage to go in the castle by himself. His intuition was telling him that he will die there. Unfortunately for him, the strongest demon among the demons in the king¡¯s castle decided to go against him. Just a minute after he defeated a fourth class demon, he would need to defeat a stronger one. Elalios¡¯s real fight was about to begin.

 Without Chance

    A distant voice was heard. Elalios could hear it but he didn¡¯t understand what it says. He was in a hurry to go back to town, so he considered the call to be his imagination and went on his way.

    However, even if Elalios kept on ignoring it, the call became more pronounced as the time went by. At first, he was alerted, thinking that the demon he just defeated wasn¡¯t dead yet. But as he looked back, a different picture was shown to him. He was utterly terrified, as he saw Abzer, an entirely new demon walking towards him. He knew that he must defeat the new demon like the first, but the demon¡¯s presence was far greater than the fourth class demon he just defeated. His mind was telling him that it was a losing battle, that he could never win no matter what, and he surrendered to that thought. He felt sorry for his own misfortune.

    ¡®This can¡¯t be happening¡¯, Elalios thought.

    Meanwhile, Abzer was strolling, knowing he could reach Elalios if he wanted to. The power given to him by the darkness heightened his pride. He was too absorbed in his glory, forgetting that he was afraid before. His confidence was much too obvious to his adversary. A terrible display indeed.

    Elalios looked at the demon with his feet unable to move again. He knew it by sight. The demon walking towards him was far too strong for him. The arrogance of the malevolent being was not without reason. In every step that Abzer took, he felt his heart stopping, his mind fixated on how to die without pain.

    Because of Elalios¡¯s fear, Abzer managed to go near him. The demon has one short horn and his torso has a wide opening that looks like a void. His simple appearance didn¡¯t fool anyone, as it was evident that he¡¯s a high class demon.

    ¡°Human, I will give you a chance. If you managed to stay alive after I sent my children to consume you, you will have the privilege to fight me¡±, Abzer stated.

    Elalios felt even more troubled because of Abzer¡¯s statement. He had no idea what the demon meant, but since it was coming from a demon, he knew that the demon will do something that will harm him. Soon after, the demon demonstrated what he meant by his words.

    [Dark Eater]

    Abzer produced small fuzzy dark creatures coming from the hollow void in his torso. The creatures are balls of fur with no eyes, but they do have a wicked smile which showed their sharp teeth and wide mouth. There are numerous of them, each the size of an adult human¡¯s head. As soon as Abzer said a word, all of them rushed towards Elalios.

    Elalios used one of his remaining shield potions. To his horror, the creatures opened their mouths and started eating the barrier that he created. It was a jarring experience, but he had enough wits remaining in him to do something else. Before the creatures could finish off eating the potion-created barrier, he threw a fire potion towards the creatures.

    The fire potion was a little effective. Some of the creatures were bouncing around aimless trying to put out the fire. However, it wasn¡¯t enough to eliminate the creatures entirely. Instead, the damage they got from the fire potion made them really angry.

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    The dark creatures leaped to Elalios as soon as a hole was created to Elalios¡¯s barrier. Elalios leaped back, and used another barrier to shield himself against the enraged creatures. He quickly looked for potions he could use to attack the creatures. In his panic he threw a potion without knowing what it was.

    The potion that Elalios threw produced a blinding light. After the light dissipated, he quickly looked at where he last saw the creatures. The creatures were nowhere to be found. Elalios looked in every direction, but he could not see the creatures.

    Elalios was confused rather than relieved. He looked at the remaining potions he had, and found out that what he threw was one of his two cleansing potions. Cleansing potions were generally used on one¡¯s own self when curing poison or some other thing like it. He didn¡¯t expect that it would be effective, but he was thankful nonetheless.

    Abzer saw what happened. The confidence he had before changed to doubt. He was doubting his odds of winning just from the light that he saw. He wasn¡¯t aware that it was just a cleansing potion, something that wouldn¡¯t harm him in anyway, but he associated the light to something else. He thought that it was the light from the only magic that could completely remove demons from existing. He thought it was ¡°Holy Judgement¡±.

    ¡°Holy Judgement¡± is a magic that only the Divine Emperor of the Rezelus church could use. It was regarded as the ultimate magic, as it was the only magic effective against demons. Abzer thought that, that magic is what he just saw, and that way of thinking made him cautious once again.

    [Dark Eater]

    He produced the creatures once again. This time, the creatures were thrice their numbers compared to before. Abzer commanded them to attack Elalios.

    Elalios didn¡¯t have any choice, but to use the last cleansing potion he had. The potion was effective once again, the creatures¡¯ increase in number was useless.

    Abzer was baffled and became alerted. For doing it a second time, Elalios unknowingly convinced Abzer that his dark eater was not going to work. Abzer prepared himself. He was left with only one choice. He must fight using his physical speed and strength.

    Abzer was not as resilient as Talzer. It¡¯s easy to damage his body, but he compensates with his speed and great control of his body. He was planning to punch Elalios many times without being caught by Elalios. He was hoping that the darkness boosted his speed enough so that Elalios could not keep up with him.

    Abzer started moving in zigzag around Elalios. He was fast enough that for Elalios, he was circling around.

    Elalios used the four remaining shield potions that he brought. The demon started to make a move, and that means he was about to die. He used some other potions. One of the potions boosted his senses, the other strengthened his body even more. Another potion complemented his already strengthened body, and another one was for boosting his reaction time. But, even with the potion that improved his senses, along with the one that quicken his reaction, Abzer¡¯s speed was just too fast for him. Elalios could only wait for the demon¡¯s powerful attack.

    Abzer was serious, thinking about all the possibility that might lead to his demise. Even at his speed, he could see that Elalios was holding numerous potions. He decided that the perfect attack was in front of Elalios because it would be an unexpected attack. After zigzagging for awhile, he went for the strike.

    Abzer brought his fist to Elalios¡¯s face with all his might. His fist destroyed four potion-created barriers like they were nothing. His fist hit Elalios, and Elalios went flying towards the town. Elalios fell to the ground, unconscious and with a bloody face. Seeing this, Abzer was dumbfounded. He didn¡¯t know that from the start of their encounter, his victory was already set in stone.

 Abzeréˆ¥æªš Folly

    Abzer was upset. He totally won, but he couldn¡¯t accept it. Somehow, he felt that Elalios defeated him. He felt that Elalios successfully deceived him, which means that a mere human was superior to him in terms of intellect.

    It was a horrible revelation to a prideful demon like him. The only demon that could know about the humiliation he got was himself alone. The fourth class demon that Elalios defeated could still be revived because of Abzer¡¯s authority, but he didn¡¯t do it. No one should know about it, only himself.

    ¡°So weak! So weak! How did I fall for that?¡±, Abzer exclaimed. He was enraged, and his every steps were heavy. He marched towards Elalios, unable to quell his rage due to his disappointment and shattered pride.

    ¡°So weak!¡±

    Abzer kicked Elalios, flinging the pitiful human closer to the town. The demon was lost in his rage that he forgot about his great lord¡¯s command. He wasn¡¯t supposed to be in town, but his anger made him forget. He must tear Elalios¡¯s body apart before he could calm down. He wasn¡¯t aware that it was a grave mistake to leave the king¡¯s castle unattended.

    Back in the king¡¯s castle, the demons were searching for other humans that were still alive. While they were doing so, the room where the teleportation platform was in lit up, which captured the demons¡¯ attention. They went inside the room, and saw one human standing above the teleportation platform.

    The human looked at the demons, and was confused. He didn¡¯t expect that demons will come greet him. What he expected was the king, but the king was not in the room. It didn¡¯t take him long to realize that something bad was happening in the castle.

    ¡°Vile demons, in the name of the Divine Emperor, I shall end all of you¡±, the human said. He raised his hands, which prompted the demons to rush towards him. The demons was about to reach the human when a bright light spread across the room.

    [Purifying Light]

    The bright light scorched the demons into nothingness. With a single attack, the human destroyed all of the fourth class demons in the king¡¯s castle.

    ¡°Now, what¡¯s going on here?¡±, the human asked himself. He strolled out of the room and saw the destruction, and the deaths that the demons did. He was appalled, but he was blaming himself for arriving too late. He gave respect to all the fallen and look for the king. He was hoping that he will find the king still alive somewhere.

    On his way, he saw a maidservant on the verge of death. He hurried and healed the poor servant. The servant came to her senses, and when she saw who¡¯s holding her, she quickly moved away from the man¡¯s arms and lowered her head to the ground. She knew the status of the person that helped her. The person is one of Rezelus¡¯s unnamed mages.

    The day of the demon invasion coincided with the ¡°day of blessings¡± for that year, that¡¯s why the unnamed mage was there. But the unnamed mage didn¡¯t see any children to bring to Rezelus. Instead, he was greeted by the horrible state of the kingdom. After he made sure that he healed all the people who were still alive, he rushed to the teleportation platform to report what he found.

    The demon magister knew about the ¡°day of blessings¡±, so he ordered Abzer to seize the castle. It would be bad for the demons if the Rezelus church knew about their invasion, but the demon magister didn¡¯t have much time to delay it, for fear that Kael could get more people that would destroy his plans. He didn¡¯t know that Kael¡¯s group was also making their move.

    Abzer was still enraged at the time, but when he was about to kick Elalios for a second time, he felt the disappearance of his subordinates. It brought him back to his senses. Something strange just happened inside the castle, and he must return immediately. He looked at Elalios. Elalios was helpless and bloodied. He was reluctant, but he quickly returned.

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    The unnamed mage was about to activate the teleportation platform when he heard a loud rumble. It was coming from outside. Something fast hit the castle walls and destroyed it. The unnamed mage was in a dilemma. He wanted to see what happened, but he was also in a hurry to report what¡¯s going on. His conflicted mind didn¡¯t last long though, as the cause of the disturbance entered the room.

    ¡°Did you kill my demons?¡±, Abzer asked.

    ¡°Another demon? Unacceptable¡±, the unnamed mage stated.

    ¡°I won¡¯t let you return¡±

    [Dark Eater]

    Abzer conjured multiple dark creatures once again. The creatures rushed to the unnamed mage, but all of them were easily eliminated. Abzer did it again, the creatures filled the room. The walls of the room collapsed, and the roof of the room fell. Then, an explosion occurred, destroying the dark creatures.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯re a strong one that I thought I must retreat, but I change my mind. I must clean this place first¡±, the unnamed mage said, his gaze focused on Abzer.

    ¡°Really? You think you can beat me?¡±, Abzer mocked. Even at that time, the darkness was strengthening him.

    [Purif¨C

    Abzer¡¯s demon instinct was telling him that the unnamed mage¡¯s magic was dangerous. He rushed towards the unnamed mage, interrupting the incantation.

    Abzer didn¡¯t waste another time, and began zigzagging in all directions. The unnamed mage couldn¡¯t track Abzer¡¯s movement, and it was getting more difficult to do so as time went by. Eventually, Abzer leaped towards the unnamed mage, preparing to land a punch.

    [Holy Barrier]

    Upon contact, Abzer catapulted away from the unnamed mage. The barrier that the mage created didn¡¯t shatter from his attack. He looked at his fist, and saw that his knuckles were burned.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you¡¯re fast or not. Your attacks will not reach me¡±, the unnamed mage stated.

    Abzer felt insulted, and so, he zigzagged all over the place once again. The mage¡¯s barrier was still up, but his pride couldn¡¯t accept that his attack was ineffective.

    [Dark Eater]

    Abzer conjured more dark creatures while zigzagging around. The creatures were consuming debris and then they will return to the demon. Abzer used the debris collected by the creatures to attack the barrier.

    Abzer kept on throwing more debris. He commanded some of the creatures to try and consume the barrier, but as soon as the creatures made contact to the barrier, they were destroyed. It looked like Abzer couldn¡¯t get through, but he learned his lesson already from fighting against Elalios. He must not be too cautious, and this time, it unfortunately paid off.

    Every time the dark creatures made contact with the barrier, the barrier thinned a little. Abzer realized it, as he carefully monitored the barrier. He also noticed that the unnamed mage was not trying to attack him. He felt that there¡¯s something that the unnamed mage was hiding from him.

    ¡°So, will you keep throwing debris forever?¡±, the unnamed mage asked. Just after he finished his question, the barrier shattered, which caught him off guard. One of the debris hit him, and it was strong enough that he felt the excruciating pain.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your confidence now human?¡±, Abzer asked. He stopped zigzagging, and walked to the unnamed mage. He was proud of himself for figuring out that the barrier has a limit.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯ve defeated me already¡±

    [Purifying Light]

    Abzer leaped back quickly, but he wasn¡¯t fast enough to completely dodge the bright light. His left foot made contact, and it disappeared. The power supplied by the darkness couldn¡¯t heal the damage, which confirmed his previous thought. His battle against the unnamed mage will not be an easy one.

 Holy Magic

    The unnamed mage held his stomach, as the pain didn¡¯t go away. However, even in his current state, he knew that he should still fight. Knowing the raw power of his opponent, he knew that he couldn¡¯t afford to be hit by Abzer¡¯s attack again.

    Meanwhile, Abzer couldn¡¯t move as fast as before. His left foot refuse to regenerate even with enough power coming from the darkness. The purifying light that the unnamed mage unleashed had so much effect on him. He could only think of one thing that could irreparably damage his demonic body. He assumed that the purifying light must be related to ¡°Holy Judgement¡± in some way.

    With that in mind, Abzer crouched so that he could use his hands as substitutes to his left foot. He might be a demon, but the open wound was still painful for him to put pressure on it. He prepared himself, and then without warning, he started zigzagging again.

    The unnamed mage was still unable to track the movements of the demon. He wasn¡¯t trained to fight after all, only to heal and purify. He regretted that he didn¡¯t report the demon invasion to the church first, but it¡¯s too late for that. The only way to win was for him to completely hit the demon with his purifying light.

    ¡°The same thing wouldn¡¯t work on me¡±, the unnamed mage stated. He was beginning to feel anxious, as he felt that Abzer was getting faster than before.

    Abzer on the other hand was carefully observing. He was sure that the unnamed mage couldn¡¯t track his movements, but he didn¡¯t want to be too sure. It would be the end for him if he was caught by the unnamed mage¡¯s purifying light.

    [Golden Flame]

    The unnamed mage conjured beautiful golden flames to surround him. It acted as a barrier against the demon. Its flames may not be as effective as the holy barrier, but the flames¡¯ presence was enough to deter the demon for some time.

    [Dark Eater]

    Abzer conjured so many dark creatures jumping towards the unnamed mage. The flames did hurt the dark creatures, but it took some time before the flames managed to eliminate them. Seeing this, Abzer determined that the golden flames were not as potent as the holy barrier. If it was so, then maybe, he could launch himself towards the unnamed mage.

    More dark creatures appear. The golden flames dimmed bit by bit. The unnamed mage was on full alert. He realized that Abzer will attack him directly. However, even if he knew, he couldn¡¯t decide whether to create a holy barrier or to use purifying light. He could only choose one, because his remaining holy magic could only conjure one. It was the unnamed mage¡¯s hidden weakness that Abzer didn¡¯t know yet. The unnamed mage had a limited amount of holy magic in him.

    Holy magic is a type of magic that the Divine Emperor gives to all his followers. It is a powerful magic against demons, but, as it was the Divine Emperor¡¯s magic, only the Divine Emperor could use it with no limitations. His faithfuls were just borrowing his power, and that¡¯s why it was limited for the unnamed mage.

    The unnamed mage¡¯s problem was worsened by his inability to conjure other kinds of magic. Even with a mana capacity equal to master grade mages, the church didn¡¯t teach him any magic other than healing. Abzer will attack at any moment, but he was still confused about what to do.

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    Abzer was still observing the unnamed mage. He got near only to retreat immediately, as he was testing the mage¡¯s reaction. However, everytime that he was close enough, the unnamed mage didn¡¯t attack. The unnamed mage¡¯s inaction made him realize something. If he wasn¡¯t sure before, he was assured now. The unnamed mage couldn¡¯t see him at all.

    Abzer was regaining his arrogance. He was delighted to know that even a person from Rezelus could not defeat him. Demons are superior is what he thought, but he knew that he shouldn¡¯t celebrate just yet. There¡¯s something that he should finish first.

    Abzer finally leaped towards the unnamed mage. The unnamed mage was hit by his fist. It was a direct hit towards an unprotected human. The unnamed mage was hurled towards the remains of the castle walls.

    ¡°How¡¯s that?¡±, Abzer said, elated that the unnamed mage was helpless against his speed. But, he wasn¡¯t satisfied. He rushed towards the unnamed mage, and threw another punch.

    [Heal]

    The unnamed mage healed himself, but he was hit by another punch. The walls crumbled, he was starting to lose consciousness.

    ¡°Don¡¯t die just yet! Here¡¯s another!¡±, Abzer said. He threw another punch. Then another. Then another. He threw many more until a hole formed through the stone walls, and the unnamed mage flung out of the king¡¯s castle. The only thing preventing the unnamed mage from dying was his constant healing and refusal to lose consciousness.

    ¡°Where is your confidence from before? I thought I couldn¡¯t hit you?¡±, Abzer mocked. He was strolling towards the unnamed mage.

    The unnamed mage on the other hand was lying down, unable to move a muscle. The healing process was too slow, and the blood he lost worsened his condition. He needed help from someone, but there¡¯s no hope that anyone will arrive.

    Abzer looked down. He was near the unnamed mage who can no longer harm him. The unnamed mage was focused on healing, which amused the malevolent demon.

    Abzer punched the unnamed mage on the gut. The poor human vomited blood. The gruesome display delighted Abzer even more. The cruel demon waited for the unnamed mage to heal himself again, then he punched the helpless mage once again. He repeated his attacks. He didn¡¯t hold back at all, only waiting for the unnamed mage to recover enough to not die when he attacked again. The servants that the unnamed mage saved were watching the gruesome display, but they couldn¡¯t make a move to rescue the unnamed mage. They knew they couldn¡¯t do anything. The fear in their hearts and the dread consumed them. Little did they know, Abzer wanted them to feel that way to strengthen himself.

    Eventually, Abzer got bored. His opponent gave up and wasn¡¯t healing anymore. He decided to finally finish off the unnamed mage.

    [Dark Eater]

    Abzer conjured one of his dark creature. He held it and he was about to let it consume the unnamed mage, but then, the unnamed mage reached for him.

    ¡°¡­lose¡±

    The unnamed mage was whispering something. Abzer paused a little, then he let go of the dark eater.

    ¡°You lose¡±

    After saying those words, the unnamed mage smiled, which made Abzer realize something. He didn¡¯t know if the unnamed mage could still use the magic that consumed his left foot. The answer was made clear to him eventually.

    [Purifying Light]

    The unnamed mage used all his remaining holy magic. Abzer was too close to get away. The demon was consumed and was destroyed by the light, and the echoes of Abzer¡¯s regret was heard for a short time. In the end, Abzer wasn¡¯t cautious enough.

 Common Enemy

    While Elalios was battling against a fourth class demon, a certain group was also caught in a fight not far from the king¡¯s castle. The demon invasion affected the whole town of Deyrem, and that included the Tigers, who were not safe from the demons.

    Rodo, the leader of the Tigers originally intended to defeat Kael once and for all, but he was going to do it at night. Unfortunately, as the demon magister couldn¡¯t wait, initiating the demon invasion during the day, Rodo didn¡¯t have a choice but to set aside his animosity towards Kael, and focus on a more pressing matter. Even if the Tigers were a bunch of rebels, they¡¯re still humans and that means that demons are their greatest adversaries. It was a good thing that even with Rodo¡¯s hostility towards Kael, his humanity remained intact. The Tigers became an unexpected aid against the demons.

    [Fire Shot]

    Rodo¡¯s subordinates fired multiple shots left and right. There are so many demons wrecking havoc in the town. Their attacks caught the demons¡¯ attention, but even if the demons were directly hit, their durable bodies still held on. It was a problematic trait of the demons, but it was still good for Rodo. His priority was to monitor what¡¯s going on around town, and the attacks of his subordinates deterred the demons from distracting him.

    ¡°Master, the demons are strong. We must get out of town¡±, one of Rodo¡¯s grade A mage said.

    ¡°How about the people? We¡¯re just leaving them behind without helping even for a bit?¡±, Rodo asked.

    ¡°They did not care for us, why should we help them?¡±, the grade A mage answered.

    ¡°You¡¯re naive¡±, Rodo stated. While saying those words, he was helping a weak man get up as the man was trapped in a rubble due to the demons¡¯ destruction. After the man thanked him, and ran for safety, Rodo continued speaking. ¡°We will never convince anyone that we have a just cause if we let this kind of opportunity slide. Listen. This is our time to do something that will make many people in this town to feel indebted to us. Should we not use it?¡±

    Hearing Rodo¡¯s reply, the grade A mage and even Rodo¡¯s other subordinates praised their master¡¯s brilliance. They didn¡¯t know that Rodo¡¯s objective for helping was simply because he wanted to help the people.

    Nevertheless, hearing Rodo¡¯s statement gave his subordinates motivation to help everyone that they came across. Their kind acts helped Rodo to see more of what¡¯s happening around. But, when Rodo got a clear picture of what¡¯s happening, he was terrified to accept what he observed.

    Rodo came to a conclusion. The demons within his reach were five, and he could still see more than ten demons from afar. It was an unbelievable sight to be seeing so many demons at once. But it was more terrifying than surprising for demons to attack the town in unison. The situation seemed to imply that someone was capable to mobilize so many demons to one cause, and it was safe to assume that whoever was responsible for the invasion was also a demon. Rodo had a bad feeling about what¡¯s happening. He looked at his subordinates who were so enthusiastic to help the people because of his words. Even if he wanted to help the people, the lives of his subordinates bear more weight. He must decide whether to retreat somewhere safe before a demon arrive that could eliminate all of them, or risk their lives and hope that such demon wouldn¡¯t arrive. Rodo was thinking carefully, but after a moment, he was interrupted by someone.

    ¡°You seem dangerous¡±

    Rodo heard those words from his right side. He turned to look who was talking, and saw a figure who was taking his time walking towards him.

    ¡°Feel free to escape, but I¡¯m warning you, you won¡¯t get out of here alive¡±

    Rodo noted the features of the one approaching him. It was a demon, but unlike the numerous demons wrecking everything around the town, Rodo felt that the one approaching him was different. One of his subordinates noticed the demon, and without his master¡¯s approval, he shot a fireball towards the demon.

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    The demon looked at the person who hit him. He was unaffected by the attack, but his face contorted to anger. Seeing the demon¡¯s face brought chillls down Rodo¡¯s spine.

    ¡°Retreat!¡±

    Rodo screamed as loud as he could. All of his subordinates heard his voice, but his command was only for one of his subordinates. All of them returned to Rodo except for one. The person that attacked the mysterious demon was held by the said demon.

    ¡°Is that a fire to you?¡±, the demon asked Rodo¡¯s subordinate, while holding the poor human by the neck. The grade C mage was moving around, trying to get out of the demon¡¯s grasp. The mage shoot another fireball at the demon, which angered the demon even more. ¡°Do you think that little fire could burn?¡±

    Rodo had enough time to do something, but when he collected his wits and tried to get near, the demon looked at him.

    ¡°This one should be punished before dealing with you¡±, the demon said, his cold gaze pierced through Rodo¡¯s eyes.

    The demon returned his gaze towards the grade C mage, and then he spoke.

    ¡°This is what fire looks like¡±

    [Dark Flame]

    The grade C mage was engulfed in black flames. The flames dissipated after a second, and the grade C mage vanished without a trace. There¡¯s no ashes left, it was as if the grade C mage didn¡¯t exist.

    ¡°Now, as I was saying, I won¡¯t let you escape¡±, the demon said. ¡°Either you accept to fight me or try to escape without hope¡±

    Rodo was unable to respond to the demon¡¯s challenge. His remaining subordinates were more affected by the cruel display that the demon showed. His subordinates couldn¡¯t control their anger. They were blinded by their emotion without knowing the power that the demon holds. Without Rodo¡¯s command, all of them rushed towards the demon preparing to unleash the strongest attack they could conjure.

    Rodo called for them to come back. His subordinates couldn¡¯t hear his command. All of them attacked the demon, their joined attacks creating a powerful explosion. The air was disturbed, waves of strong winds pressed against half destroyed houses. After the violent display, a cloud of smoke obscured the position of the demon.

    ¡°Did we get him?¡±

    Rodo knew the answer to his subordinate¡¯s question. It didn¡¯t take long for his subordinates to know it as well. The cloud of smoke gave way to the figure that was supposed to be struck by the combined attacks of mages. The demon was unscathed, and it was angry.

    [Dark Flame]

    The demon conjured a black flame hovering above his hand. Rodo knew what¡¯s coming, and he didn¡¯t want another one of his subordinates to die. He prepared himself to intercept the incoming attack.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to repeat myself¡±, the demon said.

    [True Summon: Flame Tiger]

    Seeing Rodo¡¯s summon, the demon seemed to calm down a bit. It was a strange behavior, but it was a relief for Rodo.

    ¡°Will you spare them if I agreed to fight you?¡±, Rodo asked. It was just then that he managed to say something to the demon. The demon showed a wicked smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide¡±, the demon said. The flame above his hand disappeared. ¡°But, you¡¯re my true objective, so I will accept your demand¡±

    Rodo urged his subordinates to focus on the other demons and help the townspeople. At first, his subordinates wouldn¡¯t listen, but when he mentioned his power in comparison to them, his subordinates reluctantly gave in. As his subordinates got away, Rodo returned his attention to the demon.

    ¡°You¡¯re an incompetent leader¡±, the demon said, seeing that Rodo needed a valid reason before his subordinates were convinced to follow his command. Rodo agreed to the demon¡¯s statement.

    ¡°Let me introduce myself¡±, Rodo said. ¡°Rodo, leader of Tigers¡±

    ¡°Meaningless, but I¡¯ll play along¡±, the demon said. ¡°Eizer. I am here to take your life¡±

 Hopeful Defeat

    [Dark Flame]

    Eizer destroyed a house with his flame. The house was near Rodo, and so, debris fell towards the master mage. Rodo dodged all of the debris.

    ¡°That''s an introduction¡±, Eizer stated. The demon looked at Rodo¡¯s summon. ¡°Show me how you command that beast¡±

    [Dark Flame]

    Eizer produced a small black flame and aimed it at Rodo''s flame tiger. The flame tiger leaped towards it, and swallowed the tiny flame.

    ¡°Don''t underestimate my summon. My flame tiger could handle more than that¡±, Rodo said.

    Eizer nodded his head, seemingly satisfied about something. ¡°That should be enough¡±, the demon said.

    Rodo was confused, but then, his summon suddenly burst into black flames. He thought that his summon was destroyed just like that, but when the summon reemerged from the burst of flames, the flame tiger was no different than before other than the color of its flames.

    ¡°Wh¨Cwhat did you do?¡±, Rodo asked.

    ¡°You should be filled with gratitude, for I gave your beast its much needed power¡±, Eizer said.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Rodo was puzzled. He couldn''t think of a reason why his opponent would do that. The situation was tense the entire time, but the demon¡¯s behavior baffled him. But then, as if knowing that he was confused, the demon gave him an answer.

    ¡°I prefer fighting someone that could possibly hit me. After all, it will not be enjoyable if I win immediately¡±, Eizer stated.

    ¡°You''re underestimating me¡±, Rodo said. He felt insulted after hearing the demon''s arrogant statement.

    ¡°It''s a truth that can hurt you¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make you regret what you said¡±

    Eizer showed a wicked smile. It was a terrifying sight for Rodo, but the master mage didn''t want to show what he truly felt. Instead, Rodo adjusted his body to prepare for Eizer¡¯s attacks.

    ¡°It would be good if you could amuse me¡±, Eizer said after showing his ominous smirk. ¡°Let''s play¡±

    [Dark Flame]

    A black flame rushed towards Rodo. He dodged and looked behind him to see where the fire hit. The fire consumed the ground where it landed, leaving a magmatic crater that was still scorching hot. He understood that if he was caught by that attack, he will be fatally wounded. Moreover, he felt that even one single dark flame could finish the fight in an instant.

    ¡°Where are you looking?¡±, Eizer asked. The demon conjured another black fire. ¡°Do you really have the luxury to do that?¡±

    Eizer didn''t wait for Rodo to fully turn. His dark flame rushed towards Rodo. Rodo narrowly avoided the attack, and from then on, Rodo could only focus on dodging and defending himself.

    Rodo dodged another dark flame, and then another. He could barely dodge each one, as Eizer steadily increase the barrage of flames. Everything that the flames hit were consumed and destroyed, harming the town and its people even more. But, even if he knew the destruction that the flames caused, he couldn''t do anything as he was focused on trying to survive. Eventually, Eizer stopped creating more flames giving him his much needed rest.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Eizer stopped because he was a little annoyed. He looked at Rodo with disappointment in his eyes, but Rodo didn''t feel his annoyance.

    ¡°Is that the only thing you could do?¡±, Eizer asked. Rodo was still catching his breath at that time. ¡°Will you keep on dodging forever if I attack you forever?¡±

    Rodo was able to register the demon''s questions after some time. The demon seemed annoyed, but he didn''t know what he did to warrant the demon''s annoyance. His confusion was shown on his face, which irritated Eizer even more.

    ¡°I thought you''re one of the humans that can put up a fight, but, you disappoint me¡±, Eizer said. His gaze became the same as when he was looking at the grade C mage that hit him before. His eyes were of disgust and animosity, which made Rodo feel that something bad was about to happen.

    ¡°Be wise, lowly human¡±, Eizer stated. ¡°If you don''t, then this will be over in an instant¡±

    [Dark Flame]

    The demon aimed another flame towards Rodo. Rodo dodged successfully once again. He looked at Eizer, and was quickly horrified. Eizer was closing in on him, and the demon was just a meter away from him when he saw the demon.

    [Barrier]

    Eizer punched through his barrier, but it gave him enough time to leap away from Eizer. He thought that he was safe for a short time, then he heard a voice behind him.

    ¡°Faster¡±

    Eizer launched a powerful kick from behind Rodo. Rodo was able to put up another barrier, but he wasn''t quick enough to dodge the kick. His barrier was shattered again, and his left arm was directly hit. He was hurled towards a crumbling house, hitting the structure with such a dangerous speed. Rodo hit his head, and temporarily went unconscious.

    Eizer was walking towards Rodo, which gave Rodo enough time to will himself back to being conscious. He regretted doing so, as he felt the excruciating pain from his broken left arm. He couldn''t move it anymore. His chances of victory changed from being difficult to reach into something impossible to reach. He realized by then that Eizer was more than overwhelming, the demon was something that he should not be going against.

    ¡°Protect me¡±, Rodo requested to his flame tiger. The flame tiger moved between him and Eizer, while Rodo was forcing himself to stand.

    ¡°You wasted the power I gave you¡±, Eizer stated. ¡°You¡¯re so feeble minded that you didn''t use this beast properly¡±

    The flame tiger leaped towards Eizer, and it attempted to slash the demon with its flaming claws. The flame tiger¡¯s claws didn''t reach the demon, as Eizer produced powerful flames that destroyed the flame tiger entirely. The demon''s attention returned to Rodo, who managed to stand by himself albeit a little wobbly.

    ¡°Perhaps I overestimate you, my apologies for judging you greatly¡±, Eizer said.

    Rodo didn''t pay attention to what the demon said. He had his red blade in his hand, prepared to swing as his last attack. He thought that if he could make the demon bleed, his pride wouldn''t be so crushed. He planned to use all his remaining mana to make sure that the sword would reach the demon.

    ¡°This is farewell¡±

    [Dark Flame]

    Eizer was face to face against Rodo. From afar, it looked like Rodo was lowering his head, but it was only so because the master mage could barely stand. Rodo leaned on a crumbling wall, stretching his arms with his sword. The brave display was pathetic on Eizer''s eyes, and it amused the wicked demon. Rodo put most of his mana to the sword, but left enough so that he could move his arm to cut through the demon.

    [Speed Boost]

    The red blade hit the demon with such power that violent winds scattered all the debris away from them. However, the sword didn''t cut through. Rodo failed on his attempt to wound the powerful demon. The blade shattered to pieces, and that marked the end of what he could do.

    However, something was amiss. Rodo was smiling, as he witnessed the red blade shatter. Eizer didn''t give any thought towards Rodo''s behavior. The demon was focused on eliminating Rodo. As the master mage felt Eizer''s destructive flame, he had a somber yet somewhat hopeful thought.

    ¡®I admit it, I lost. I tried many things but I couldn''t kill you. But now, your power is our only hope. I''m freeing you now. Avenge me, and save the people¡¯

 Cadells Battle

    Cadell and Brunus was running towards the academy while Rodo''s fight against Eizer was happening. They were looking around town and saw multiple demons wreaking every structures, killing many people in the process. It was clear that, that day was the day of the demon invasion.

    Cadell buried his hand in the ground.

    [Earth Cube]

    Cadell created five earth cubes. He hurled each of them to every demon he came across. He threw the large chunks of earth with so much force that some of the demons were crushed to incapacitation. Brunus was surprised.

    ¡°When did you become like that?¡±, Brunus asked jokingly. Cadell smiled.

    ¡°I learned it from fighting one¡±, Cadell said. Brunus didn''t press on what did his friend meant.

    ¡°Well, I guess I should help too¡±, Brunus said.

    [Heavy Body]

    Brunus''s body became super dense, about ten times of his normal self. The ground below him gave in for a little the moment he enhanced his body.

    [Speed Boost]

    Even if Brunus''s body was heavier than a stone built house, he was agile and quick enough to reach the demons. He bashed the demons'' heads, hurling the dark beings to the ground. Each demons dropping to the ground created little tremors that anyone near could feel.

    ¡°This is more fun than I thought¡±, Brunus stated. He looked at Cadell who was looking at him blankly. ¡°Of course this invasion is bad, what I meant is.. Ahh, forget it¡±

    Brunus focused on bashing demon heads to the ground, while Cadell hit the demons with his earth cubes and crush them. After some time, they eliminated all the demons in their area.

    ¡°That does it, let''s continue¡±, Cadell said.

    They continued on, wanting to reach the academy before it was too late, but after running for a minute, they encountered another horde of demons.

    ¡°They''re so many¡±, Brunus remarked.

    ¡°I don''t know that there are this many demons¡±, Cadell said.

    They did what they did before, crushing all the demons with their magic. They eliminated the demons in no time. They decided to rest there, as their ages were catching up to them. However, while they were resting, a lone demon approached them.

    The demon didn''t bother to sneak up on them. Cadell and Brunus already saw the demon from afar. The demon was different from the demons that they defeated. It was humanlike, but with gray skin. The demon had two horns on his forehead pointing downwards.

    ¡°Filthy humans, killing my demons..¡±, the demon said.

    Hearing the demon''s words made Cadell remember something. He remembered the time when he was fighting against the demonized Osbert, and a strong looking demon arrived. He was terrified back then. His instinct was telling him that he couldn''t win back then. Now, encountering a humanlike demon invoked the same feeling he felt. He knew that the lone demon could equal Talzer.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°I don''t think I can ignore you filthy humans¡±, the demon said.

    ¡°Cadell, are you familiar with that demon?¡±, Brunus asked. ¡°I feel like he''s dangerous¡±

    Cadell nodded, agreeing with what Brunus felt. Then, without warning, the demon said something and what came after terrified the two humans. The demons that they just defeated returned to their previous form, like they were not crushed just a second ago. Such feat confirmed what they already knew. The lone demon is a powerful enemy.

    The revived demon didn''t pay attention to Cadell and Brunus. The lone demon commanded them to continue the destruction that they were tasked to do. Cadell was about to hit one of the demons, but the lone demon interrupted him.

    [Dark Wind]

    Cadell¡¯s earth cube was reduced to dusts, as the powerful gust of wind from the lone demon hit it. The lone demon continued on, and destroyed the other earth cubes to prevent Cadell from killing the demons again. As a result, the demons were able to go far enough that Cadell could no longer reach them.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think that you could do anything as you please, filthy human¡±, the demon said, looking at Cadell.

    ¡°We have names, demon¡±, Brunus said.

    ¡°Filthy humans are filthy humans. Your names have no value¡±, the demon replied. ¡°But know this, Kazer is my name, a great demon in front of you¡±

    Cadell and Brunus looked at each other. They looked at the direction of the academy, and saw that they were still a little far away from it.

    ¡°We have no choice. I don''t think this demon, Kazer, will let us go¡±, Cadell said. Brunus agreed. They looked at Kazer, and prepared themselves.

    [True Summon: Iron Giant]

    Cadell commanded his summon to attack Kazer.

    [Heavy Body]

    Brunus strengthened his body, and rushed towards the demon.

    [Earth Cube]

    Cadell created three earth cubes that are more compact, and heavier than what he usually create.

    [Strength Boost]

    Brunus was the first to hit the demon. Kazer was hit on his chest, and the impact created turbulent winds. However, the demon didn''t flinch, Kazer stood still from where he stood. Brunus leaped back to give way for the iron giant.

    The iron giant brought its huge fist towards the demon, and the impact created a loud, booming sound. But, even with its heavy and strong attack, Kazer remain unfazed and unmoving.

    Cadell wasn''t bothered by what he saw. He decided on bringing his earth cube towards the demon, and that''s what he did. He pushed the earthen cubes one after another, his commands were smooth that none of the cubes were disrupted by the other. Every single hit produced a thumping noise. But, even with so much strikes, Cadell wasn''t able to move Kazer from his position.

    ¡°Too weak, filthy humans¡±, Kazer said. ¡°I wish I could go against Kael, not against the likes of you two¡±

    Cadell was surprised to hear Kael¡¯s name. Although he knew that the demon invasion had something to do with Kael, hearing it from the demon''s mouth made it more personal.

    ¡°You can''t reach such power Kazer¡±, Cadell stated.

    Kazer felt insulted by the remark. He was about to use his power, but then, a voice called for Cadell and Brunus.

    [Whirlwind Arrow]

    An arrow flew and passed beside Cadell. It was so quick that if it was aimed at Cadell, he would not be able to defend himself. But, it was aimed towards the demon. The arrow was surrounded by strong winds that increased its speed even more. It struck and pierced Kazer¡¯s left eye, and its speed forced the demon to move back a little.

    ¡°I change my mind. I will join you¡±

    Cadell looked behind him. The person that he saw was the one that he wanted to join them. With his bow and arrow, Drogo decided to join the fight.

 Difficult Road

    Cadell and his old comrades were united to fight once again, like what they were before. They were still a bit far from the academy, and a third class demon was blocking their way. Their battle against Kazer continued.

    Kazer endured and pulled the arrow piercing his left eye. He was not amused, as he was too far away from the academy to restore his damaged eye. He looked at the arrow with resentment, but the arrow¡¯s appearance made him curious. It was entirely made of a shiny metal, and it¡¯s engraved with swirling marks all over. He determined that it was no ordinary arrow, that¡¯s why it pierced through him.

    Having thought of that, Kazer decided to not let his opponents get the arrow again. He tried breaking it, but his attempt was unsuccessful. Even with his demonic strength, the arrow remained as it is. He realized that the arrow is a special one, and so, he decided to use it against his opponents.

    ¡°Do you want this back, filthy human?¡±, Kazer asked Drogo. He wasn¡¯t waiting for an answer. ¡°Then here it is¡±

    Kazer held the arrow like a spear. He aimed it towards Drogo, the human who managed to wound him. He released it, the arrow reaching unseeable speed, creating gusts of violent winds.

    ¡°Move!¡±, Cadell shouted.

    The three men barely dodged the arrow. When the arrow hit a structure not far from them, the structure exploded, turning it into destroyed pieces. Witnessing Kazer¡¯s display of power shocked them.

    ¡°Curses! We almost died!¡±, Brunus exclaimed. He was panicking, as he fully realized how much danger they were in against Kazer. ¡°There¡¯s no way we can do this! Let¡¯s retreat!¡±

    Cadell was about to say something to calm Brunus down, but Kazer started speaking.

    ¡°Do you think I will let any of you escape?¡±, Kazer stated. His anger was evident on his face, his gaze fixated towards Drogo.

    ¡°I need to get that arrow, can you two distract him for a bit?¡±, Drogo asked.

    ¡°No way! It¡¯s difficult to hurt that demon!¡±, Brunus stated, his confidence crumbling fast.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we need to assist Drogo. He¡¯s the only one that can hurt that demon¡±, Cadell said, trying to calm Brunus.

    ¡°If Drogo shot him, that demon will use the arrow again to try and hit us. We may be lucky before, but there¡¯s no way we can dodge for a second time¡±

    Brunus was agitated. Cadell was trying to convince him that they have no choice but to fight. However, the only thing that he had in mind was coming up of ways to escape the demon.

    ¡°This is suicide Cadell. This is not a risk, this is a sure way to die!¡±, Brunus said. ¡°If I must drag you two to go with me, I¡¯ll do it¡±

    [Strength Boost]

    Brunus prepared himself to grab his two comrades to flee just like what he said. But before he could grab his comrades, Drogo pushed him and Cadell to the ground.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk too much, filthy humans. I¡¯m still here¡±, Kazer said.

    The demon threw a stone at them which had the same speed as the arrow. Drogo noticed Kazer¡¯s movement just in time to save his friends.

    ¡°We have no choice, Brunus. That demon will not let us escape¡±, Drogo said. ¡°Calm down first. Don¡¯t worry, I have a plan¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Brunus was still reluctant, but he was also aware that the demon will not let them escape. He could escape successfully by himself, but even if he was afraid, it was against his will to just leave his comrades behind. And so, even with his doubts, he listened to Drogo¡¯s plan.

    ¡°That is dangerous¡±, Brunus complained.

    ¡°Well, everything that we can think of right now is dangerous¡±, Cadell said.

    Brunus couldn¡¯t argue.

    ¡°What did I tell you, filthy humans?¡±, Kazer said. The demon was walking towards them, which made all of them anxious. But even so, the three men fighting against Kazer agreed on a single plan, and that¡¯s the only good thing they could think of.

    ¡°Drogo, now!¡±

    Cadell shouted the signal. Kazer didn¡¯t expect it, but he was not concerned. However, he quickly realized what was going on, and that made him alerted. Drogo was running towards the arrow that he threw, the arrow that wounded him.

    ¡°I won¡¯t let you!¡±, the demon said. Cadell wouldn¡¯t let the demon interrupt Drogo¡¯s run.

    ¡°Attack!¡±

    Cadell¡¯s iron giant punched Kazer again. This time, Kazer blocked the attack with his barehands, and the only thing that the punch made was make the demon more furious.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get in my way!¡±

    Kazer pushed the iron giant¡¯s fist. The push was strong enough that the iron giant dropped on its back.

    [Heavy Body]

    Brunus threw a punch with all his might, against the furious demon. Kazer blocked his fist with a single hand, the demon clasping Brunus¡¯s fist tightly. For a moment, Brunus thought that it was over for him.

    A barrage of small earth cubes hit Kazer¡¯s face. It was Cadell¡¯s effort to free Brunus from the demon¡¯s grasp. But, the cloud of dusts that the brittle earth cubes created didn¡¯t manage to release Brunus from the demon¡¯s hand.

    ¡°You¡¯re annoying, filthy human. Maybe I should kill you first¡±, Kazer said, his focus shifted towards Cadell.

    Cadell commanded his summon to stand before Kazer remembered Brunus. The iron giant struck Kazer, but even with the summon¡¯s effort, Brunus was still unable to get away from Kazer¡¯s hand.

    ¡°I had enough with all of you. You¡¯re not worthy of my time¡±

    Kazer looked at Brunus who was still desperate to get away. Kazer put his hand at Brunus neck, and lifted him. Kazer aimed to throw Brunus, which was certain death. But then, a voice made the demon to remember something.

    ¡°Did you forget me?¡±

    Drogo was already aiming at the demon when Kazer saw him. Kazer was once again alerted because of Drogo.

    [Whirlwind Arrow]

    The wind enhanced arrow hit Kazer once again. His body jolted back, which was enough to loosen his grip for a short time. Before he could regain his balance, Brunus managed to slip out of his grasp and return to Cadell and Drogo.

    ¡°You almost hit me!¡±, Brunus said.

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t¡±, Drogo retorted.

    While the three men had time to be relieved, Kazer was suffering from trying to take out the arrow piercing his chest. The excruciating pain made it more difficult to pull out the arrow. He let out a scream, which made Cadell and his friends to remember him.

    ¡°He¡¯s still alive..¡±, Brunus remarked, his anxiousness returning.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s not wait for him to pull that out¡±, Drogo said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s finish this¡±, Cadell said.

    The three men walked towards the demon with courage and desire to finish the fight. They were exhausted and afraid, but they felt that it would soon be finished. Kazer saw their determined faces, which made the demon fear for his life for the first time.

    [Dark Wind]

    At his last ditch effort, Kazer unleashed a storm of dangerous winds, that turned everything it touches into shredded pieces. The three men jumped back immediately, as they saw the destruction that the demon¡¯s power did to the iron giant. Cadell looked at the direction of the academy, and he felt anxious once again. Kazer refused to be defeated, the battle was still not finished.

 Greater Chaos

    Kazer was debilitated by the excruciating pain, and he still couldn¡¯t pull out Drogo¡¯s arrow. But he was still strong enough to go against the three human mages. It didn¡¯t take him long to also realize that he had the upper hand, as the arrow was stuck in his chest.

    [Dark Wind]

    Kazer aimed his attack towards Drogo, but losing his left eye and having to endure much pain affected his accuracy. The three mages dodged the attack with relative ease, and were drawing closer to him.

    Still, Kazer created many more dark winds, and tried hitting the three human mages. His efforts were in vain. The only thing that could make the human mages cautious was when he released dark wind in all directions. But, as it was multiple dark winds, such method of attack consumed more of his power and darkness that it made him weaker every time.

    Cadell and his comrades was closing in on Kazer. All the demon¡¯s attacks didn¡¯t hit them, but the closer they get, the harder it becomes to dodge. They could feel that the demon was desperate, but Kazer was still way stronger than them so they¡¯re still cautious. They were aiming to retrieve the only thing they knew that could hurt the demon, but it was difficult to do that. Then, while they were walking towards the demon, Brunus suddenly said something.

    ¡°Let¡¯s leave¡±

    Cadell and Drogo looked at Brunus, surprised and confused, but Brunus spoke again.

    ¡°We can escape now, we should go to the academy¡±, Brunus said.

    Cadell was about to say something, but Drogo spoke first.

    ¡°What are you saying? There¡¯s a demon in front of us, and we can defeat it now. Why do we need to escape?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re running out of time. We need to get there before it¡¯s too late¡±, Brunus said, pointing at the academy¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Are you out of your mind? If we let this demon be, many people will die. I can¡¯t feel at ease knowing that a demon like that is in town when my family is here¡±, Drogo said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think he can do much. Look at him¡±, Brunus replied.

    ¡°He could create powerful winds, what do you mean you don¡¯t think he can do much?¡±

    Brunus and Drogo kept arguing, which gave Kazer some rest. The demon attempted to pull the arrow again, but he still failed on pulling it. After a moment, Cadell finally spoke.

    ¡°Only the arrow can hurt him, Drogo. We don¡¯t have any attacks that work against him¡±, Cadell stated. Brunus nodded and agreed to Cadell¡¯s words.

    ¡°Even you? How can you not see the danger in front of you?¡±, Drogo exclaimed.

    ¡°I said the truth. Even if we managed to get near, we can¡¯t do anything against him¡±, Cadell said.

    ¡°We can aim for the arrow. Can we not?¡±

    ¡°Surely, the demon will not let that happen¡±, Brunus said.

    Drogo was getting frustrated. His friends were urging him to retreat, but the existence of the demon terrified him. The destruction that Kazer could cause was something he couldn¡¯t allow. If he had to do it alone, he will do it. But, they argued for so long that the situation wouldn¡¯t allow it anymore.

    While the human mages were arguing with each other, Kazer managed to muster enough strength to increase the span of his authority. His demons were far from them, but he was hoping that his command would reach them.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    [Dark Dominion]

    Kazer waited for his demons to rush to him. He didn¡¯t interrupt his opponents, as it was a favorable situation for him. But, there¡¯s no demon rushing to come help him. He tried again, but there¡¯s not a single demon with him. He realized the bitter reality. His authority couldn¡¯t reach his demons.

    Drogo decided on fighting the demon alone. His two friends failed on convincing him. But, when he was about to reach Kazer, someone in the shadows spoke. He stopped his movement, terrified as he looked at the figure who appeared.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re in trouble¡±, the figure said. His tone was of amusement, uncharacteristic of someone seeing Kazer¡¯s situation.

    ¡°You..¡±

    Kazer¡¯s face showed his annoyance. It seemed that he wasn¡¯t fond of the person who appeared. But, he surrendered to the thought and talked to the person.

    ¡°You filthy demon..¡±, Kazer said.

    ¡°Whoa, is that how you greet your savior?¡±

    The figure was smiling, going near Kazer. He held the arrow firm, and was about to pull the arrow.

    ¡°Wait! Careful! you filthy demon¡±

    After hearing Kazer¡¯s words, the figure¡¯s smile changed into something terrifying.

    ¡°Do you think those humans have time for that?¡±, the figure said. Kazer looked in horror then all of a sudden, the figure pulled the arrow.

    Pulling the arrow torn a huge hole to Kazer¡¯s chest. Kazer kneeled in pain, suppressing the scream he so wanted to let out. The figure however, was laughing at him while holding the arrow. Then a minute didn¡¯t pass when the figure shifted his attention, looking at Drogo.

    The figure walked towards Drogo, but he stopped midway.

    ¡°Azere, servant of Great Lord Zahekam¡±, the figure greeted, bowing towards Drogo with a wicked smile. He raised his head and looked at Drogo. ¡°Shall we?¡±

    Drogo couldn¡¯t move a muscle. He knew without being informed that the figure was as strong as Kazer. To fight against two would be beyond him.

    ¡°By the way, I won¡¯t allow anyone to escape¡±, Azere said, shifting his eyes towards Cadell and Brunus. The two were quick to realize the same terrifying situation that Drogo knew.

    ¡°Let me greet all of you in earnest¡±, Azere stated.

    [Dark Rain]

    A cloud formed on top of Drogo. Azere waved his hand down, and rain started pouring only on Drogo¡¯s position.

    ¡°How¡¯s that for a greeting, is it good?¡±, Azere asked.

    Drogo was confused. The rain was soaking him, but aside from the inconvenience, he didn¡¯t feel anything. He was worried for a second, but nothing happened to him. Eventually, the cloud dissipated, and the rain stopped.

    ¡°What did you do?¡±, Drogo asked.

    ¡°Oh, you want to know?¡±, Azere replied. Drogo was even more confused, but then suddenly, some of the dark fluid soaking him absorbed into his skin.

    Drogo felt dizzy. He fell down, weakened while his vision was blurring. He felt that he was about to die, realizing that he messed up. He wanted to move, but his body refused him. After that he couldn¡¯t hear anything anymore.

    ¡°That¡¯s what it does!¡±, Azere said delighted.

    ¡°Finish them off already¡±, Kazer said. He stands after recovering from the pain.

    ¡°Impatient, aren¡¯t we?¡±, Azere stated. ¡°Well then, since you wanted to¡±

    Azere walked towards Cadell and Brunus. The two were furious to see what happened to Drogo. They couldn¡¯t go near their friend, knowing the effect of the liquid that soaked Drogo. They prepared themselves, wanting to take revenge for Drogo¡¯s behalf.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to die¡±, Cadell said.

    ¡°I know. Drogo was right¡±, Brunus replied.

    Cadell nodded. They muster their courage, and prepared to rush towards Azere. However, before they could do that, a human voice made them stop.

    ¡°Cadell!¡±

 Potion Master

    A familiar voice, that¡¯s for certain. For a second, Cadell accepted that he would also suffer like Drogo. But, the person who called him gave him hope. Even he was confused that he felt relieved seeing his fellow servant. Seqina managed to get to him, and that was enough.

    ¡°Seqina, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re well¡±, Cadell said. Seqina greeted him back.

    Since the time he realized that the demon invasion was actually happening, Cadell couldn¡¯t help but be worried for Elalios and Seqina. Now that he saw that Seqina was well, his worry eased for a little. He forgot what he was about to do, but Brunus called for him and make him remember.

    ¡°Brother, the demon..¡±

    Cadell looked at Azere who was walking to them. The demon was taking his time, assured that victory was for him.

    ¡°Seqina, my apologies. Right now, I¡¯m in a little trouble¡±, Cadell said. Seqina looked at Azere.

    Seqina remembered her encounter against Talzer. Her mind was screaming that Azere was at the level of Talzer, a demon that she could not imagine to ever defeat on her own. However, the situation was different. She was assured that she had the help that they needed. She called for a person not far from them. Her teacher appeared before Cadell and Brunus.

    Brunus was alerted of Azere¡¯s movement. Not once did he took a glimpse to anything happening around him. Not even Seqina¡¯s voice made him turn. But, for some reason, he was overwhelmed by curiosity to take a glance, and see who was the second person that Cadell was greeting. His eyes widened as he looked.

    ¡°Me-Meredith?¡±, Brunus uttered. He was baffled to see an infamous person, the so called ¡°master of potions¡±.

    The woman looked at Brunus. She was smiling, but not of joy. Rather, she was amused that Brunus called her like they were acquaintances.

    ¡°My apologies, but I¡¯m afraid I didn¡¯t know you mister¡±, the woman stated.

    Brunus was stunned for a moment, but he recovered fast. He was about to say something, telling Meredith that she was known all over the kingdom, but the woman didn¡¯t allow him. What he heard next was Meredith¡¯s warning.

    ¡°We have no time. We can still save him¡±, Meredith said.

    Meredith moved forward, looking at Drogo¡¯s pitiful condition. Drogo was dying, but he wasn¡¯t dead yet. Meredith could still save him, and that¡¯s what she intended to do.

    However, Azere was also moving forward. As Meredith was walking towards Drogo, the demon stopped in his tracks, looking at the woman with amusement.

    ¡°Humans could never sense true danger, could they?¡±, Azere said, mocking Meredith.

    Meredith didn¡¯t pay attention to what the demon was saying. She went near Drogo, and then she pulled out a vial of potion from her coat. She opened the vial, and carefully raised Drogo¡¯s head, then she put the opened vial near Drogo¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Good men shouldn¡¯t suffer like this. Drink and save yourself¡±, Meredith requested.

    Slowly, Drogo gulped the potion down, not knowing what¡¯s going on. His body¡¯s instinct was the only one moving for him, for he couldn¡¯t sense anything anymore. After giving the vial of potion to Drogo, Meredith drank one for herself as well.

    [Strength Boost]

    Meredith lifted Drogo, walking back to Seqina and the others. Azere, on the other hand, didn¡¯t do anything. The demon watched the woman like he was expecting something to happen.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Fool! You¡¯re going to die without me doing anything!¡±, Azere said, then he burst into laughter. The demon pointed out the effect of the black liquid soaking Drogo. Of course, Meredith made contact with the liquid the moment she held Drogo. But, despite the demon¡¯s claim, and the terrified faces that Cadell and Brunus showed, Meredith was unfazed. She put Drogo down near Seqina, then she finally paid attention to the demon.

    ¡°Be careful from now on, I won¡¯t do it again¡±, Meredith said.

    Azere waited for something to happen. Meredith showed discomfort on her face after some time. Then, she spat out a dark substance, and was evidently disgusted by what she just expelled. After that, Azere was still expecting something but nothing happened to Meredith. What the woman showed however, was her animosity towards him.

    ¡°Huh? That¡¯s it? How?¡±, Azere exclaimed. Just then, as if answering his question, Drogo woke up in a violent cough, spitting out the same dark substance that Meredith spat out. He vomited way more than what Meredith released. After that, Drogo was okay.

    ¡°What happened? What did you do, human?¡±, Azere asked. He couldn¡¯t pretend that he was having fun anymore, seeing that something reversed the effect of his power. Meredith didn¡¯t give him an answer.

    ¡°You vile demon, I will make sure that you will suffer¡±, Meredith said. Her change of behavior terrified Seqina. It was the first time that Seqina witnessed so much hatred from her teacher. But it was a good thing that her teacher was not among the enemies.

    Meredith pulled out another vial and drank the potion in it. She walked towards Azere, her right hand outstretched. She glowed in a golden light, and golden orbs started appearing near her.

    [Flame Lotus]

    The golden orbs around her began accumulating on her hand, and a beautiful red orb of light was created. Soon after, her glow dissipated and so were the golden orbs around her.

    ¡°Kazer, how long would you stay idle?¡±, Azere said, desperate for an ally. He was starting to feel doubtful that he could win the fight against the humans alone. Kazer stood by him, but he was not as worried as Azere.

    ¡°Are you seriously afraid of this filthy human?¡±, Kazer asked, pointing at Meredith.

    ¡°Who do you think I am, Kazer? Someone like me have no fear¡±, Azere boasted. But even if Azere denied it, Kazer knew that his fellow demon was affected by what Meredith did.

    ¡°Really? Just kill her then. We must return to the Great Lord¡±, Kazer stated.

    ¡°Okay, then¡±

    [Dark Rain]

    Just like before, a cloud appeared, this time on top of Meredith. Meredith realized what was about to come, and rushed towards the demons. Azere was taken aback by the potion master¡¯s sudden movement.

    ¡°I won¡¯t allow you!¡±, Kazer said.

    [Dark Wind]

    Meredith dodged the dark wind easily. Kazer was still affected by his left eye. The demon tried again, but Meredith dodged it again. Eventually, Meredith reached them.

    Kazer quickly moved, trying to hit Meredith with a punch. However, it was what Meredith expected.

    ¡°Release¡±

    After commanding the flame lotus, Meredith retreated immediately. The red orb hurled Kazer back, hitting Azere as well. When both of the demons were within the red orb¡¯s range, it burst into a red flower, engulfing the demons in flames. Even if the demons wanted to, they could not escape the scorching heat, and even with their durability, the flames still destroyed their body. After the flames disappeared, the demons were almost dead, which was exactly what Meredith wanted. She wanted the demons to suffer before actually putting an end to them.

    The three mages, Cadell, Brunus, and Drogo, were left amazed by Meredith¡¯s power. Brunus and Drogo witnessed the power of the infamous potion maker. Seqina was also amazed but not so much, as she expected such feat from her teacher.

    Meredith walked to the demons after waiting for some time. She would finally end Kazer and Azere. But, she stopped her movement when she noticed someone walking towards the demons.

    ¡°This is a failure for our Great Lord¡±

    Meredith was about to continue walking when the figure spoke again.

    ¡°This is what happens when you disobey the Great Lord¡¯s orders¡±

    The figure looked at Meredith. Meredith felt strange, something she didn¡¯t feel from Kazer and Azere. The figure went past the two demons, and faced Meredith.

    ¡°You seem dangerous¡±, the figure said.

 Battle Hungry

    It was a curious thing for demons to look at their equals, see that their fellow demons were easily defeated, and not cower in fear. It was what¡¯s expected of demons, as it is their natural behavior. Yet, the figure that saw Kazer and Azere was unfazed, and it seemed that it was delighted to face Meredith.

    ¡°You¡¯re confident for a demon¡±, Meredith stated. Her distaste towards demons was more evident than ever. Something about the figure made the potion master to feel that way. The figure was simply demonic. He was proper in demeanor but sinister inside.

    ¡°For you to say that.. you¡¯re quite confident, human¡±, the figure uttered, smiling.

    Meredith was beginning to feel the threat that the figure possessed. She could see that the figure¡¯s appearance was not much different compared to the two third class demons she defeated. It was a sound assumption to think that the figure was also of the same class as Kazer and Azere. But, the demon¡¯s confidence contradicted to what Meredith expected. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked the figure, hoping to confirm something.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name, demon?¡±

    ¡°Is that important?¡±, the figure asked. Meredith nodded, and so, the figure introduced himself. ¡°Eizer¡±

    Meredith confirmed that the figure was indeed a third class demon. She was relieved that she wasn¡¯t facing a demon that she couldn¡¯t handle. She dismissed her concerns, and regained her confidence.

    ¡°So, are you going to fight me as well?¡±, Meredith asked.

    ¡°I will, and you don¡¯t have a choice even if you don¡¯t want to¡±, Eizer answered.

    ¡°You will suffer the same fate as them¡±, Meredith said, pointing at Kazer and Azere.

    ¡°If you¡¯re that confident, prove that to me¡±, Eizer said.

    After hearing the demon¡¯s statement, Meredith drank the same potion she used before burning Kazer and Azere. The potion lets her use mana surpassing what she could normally access. She is a grade A mage if one would look at her mana capacity, but the kingdom considers her as a master grade for her battle prowess. She wanted to finish the battle as soon as possible, so she conjured the same magic as before.

    [Flame Lotus]

    Meredith threw the red orb she created towards Eizer. The attack hit the demon, and just like before, the flame lotus opened into a beautiful red flower, engulfing Eizer in flames. For several seconds, the powerful flame burned, and Meredith thought that it would be the end. But, she was mistaken.

    Eizer let Meredith¡¯s attack hit him. He wanted to feel his opponent¡¯s capability, and he concluded that Meredith¡¯s flame was better than the flame of his previous opponents.

    ¡°Impressive, you possess such great flame¡±, Eizer said. He reappeared after the flame lotus dissipated, unscathed and even more delighted than before. ¡°I thought you¡¯re weaker than the human I fought before, but you might be different¡±

    Meredith was shocked to see the unharmed demon. She felt like the demon was playing with her. She realized that Eizer would not be an easy opponent to defeat. She was not as delighted as the demon. She pulled another vial of potion, but before she could use it, Eizer interrupted her.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°Allow me to repay the favor¡±, Eizer said.

    [Dark Flame]

    Eizer produced a black flame that was twice as strong as what he usually creates. It was his way of acknowledging his opponent, but it was not a good display for Meredith. The potion master didn¡¯t need anyone to tell her that Eizer¡¯s flame was dangerous.

    Eizer aimed the black flame towards Meredith. Meredith quickly pulled out another vial from her coat, and she threw it at the black flame. The black flame exploded before she was hit. She was lucky that her potion hit the black flame.

    Seeing that Meredith was also capable of nullifying his strengthened attack, Eizer became more elated. Among the demon magister¡¯s third class demons, he was the only one hoping for someone to match his power. He felt that Meredith met what he was waiting for. A sinister smile appeared on his face.

    ¡°At last! There¡¯s someone like you among these lowly humans! Truly, the Great Lord gave me this great favor¡±, Eizer stated. Meredith was taken aback, seeing the demon¡¯s strange behavior. ¡°I should savor this opportunity. Human, from now on, I will take you seriously¡±

    [Dark Flame]

    Eizer changed. This time, multiple black flames appeared, floating near him. All of the black flames were three times more powerful than what he normally creates. But, it was just the demon¡¯s introduction.

    ¡°Move¡±

    The black flames moved all over the place. Some rushed towards Meredith, while others went past her, rushing towards Meredith¡¯s companions who were watching her fight. Eizer knew that Cadell and the others would help once they saw that Meredith was in a disadvantage. Eizer wouldn¡¯t allow that.

    While her companions could barely dodge Eizer¡¯s attacks, Meredith focused on her surroundings. She trusts Seqina, and considers Seqina¡¯s company as good people. She knew that Eizer wanted her to use her full capability. She didn¡¯t have a choice, but to comply.

    The first black flame was about to hit Meredith, but before it reached her, she was able to drink a potion.

    [Barrier]

    It is a good thing that Meredith is a good judge of strength. She could estimate the strength of the black flames, adjusting her incantations accordingly. Her barriers were shattered, but no black flames reached her. At times, she conjured flames to intercept Eizer¡¯s attacks, neutralizing Eizer¡¯s flames. She was moving towards Eizer like there¡¯s no barrage of flames trying to reach her. Meredith¡¯s movements was witnessed by Eizer, which amused the wicked demon even more.

    Meredith¡¯s great defense made Eizer excited to make a move. He didn¡¯t wait for his flames to run out. He quickly moved behind Meredith like what he did to Rodo. He released a powerful kick, and it landed clean. But, to his surprise, the woman she hit was a mere illusion. Meredith was the one behind him all along.

    ¡°Did you hit someone?¡±

    Eizer heard such question from behind him. He wasn¡¯t given a chance to see who said it. He felt three vials hit him, and after that, he was hurled away from Meredith, moving straight towards a pile of house debris. The impact made quite an explosive sound, but even that didn¡¯t damage Eizer¡¯s strong body.

    Eizer recovered quickly. His flames ran out, and Meredith was still unharmed.

    ¡°I thank you, human. This is truly wonderful¡±, Eizer said looking at Meredith. He was still full of energy, and was raring to move again.

    Meredith on the other hand was a little tired. She knew that the demon¡¯s durability and speed were outside her capability. She needed to win however, so she must fight Eizer until the end.

    ¡°You¡¯re stronger than I thought¡±, Meredith said. She was hiding her frustration, but her disgust was still obvious.

    ¡°I could say the same to you¡±, Eizer stated, clearly in a good mood. Meredith accepted the demon¡¯s praise blankly, and pulled out vials from her coat. ¡°We should end this soon¡±, the demon added.

    ¡°I agree¡±, Meredith stated. She drank five vials of potion. Her body glowed like before, and after a moment, she poured all the mana she could use to one incantation.

    [True Summon: Lake Guardian]

 Lake Guardian

    A pillar of light broke through the dark clouds above. It was a short instance, but it was quite a spectacle. After that, the dark clouds covered the sky again, covering Meredith and Eizer¡¯s battlefield.

    The powerful release of energy was from Meredith¡¯s summon. It was a great display of power, and so, it was reasonable that the summon that Meredith called would be just as great. And indeed, it was a great summon.

    A human-like figure appeared, something almost human. The summon is of a female figure, with patches of fish scales scattered sporadically on her bluish skin. Her hair was wavy and white, appearing as if it was glowing. The pair of fins behind her ears were eye catching, moving so smoothly that it looked like they¡¯re underwater. Her eyes were shaped as a human¡¯s except it was entirely black in color. Although she lacked visible irises in her eyes, anyone looking at her could somehow know where she was looking.

    Cadell and his comrades, even Seqina, were amazed looking at the lake guardian. One glance and they knew that the figure was no ordinary summon. Their intuition was not far off, because, the lake guardian is a second-level summon, a greater summon that only few humans could boast to have as a servant. Meredith is one of those humans.

    The summon kneeled at Meredith. It was making unintelligible echoing hums that only Meredith could understand. Meredith greeted her summon, and then, she requested the lake guardian to pay attention to Eizer.

    Eizer stared at Meredith¡¯s summon, intrigued, possibly even more delighted. He could feel the hostility of the greater summon. What he felt was the same as how Meredith looked at him.

    ¡°Another great opponent, truly delightful¡±, Eizer said, then he bowed at them. At this point, there¡¯s not a scratch nor wound on the demon¡¯s body. He didn¡¯t even show any sign of fatigue despite the barrage of flames he did before.

    ¡°You¡¯re taking this lightly aren¡¯t you?¡±, Meredith asked. Eizer replied with a smile. ¡°You will regret that attitude¡±, Meredith said.

    [Water Cutter]

    The summon opened its hands toward Eizer. Droplets of water began forming, floating in the air around the lake guardian. At a certain point, the droplets formed into spearheads. Then, all of it rushed towards the waiting demon.

    [Dark Flame]

    Eizer intercepted the summon¡¯s attack with his flames. The water cutters evaporated from his attacks, but some were quick enough to reach him.

    A water cutter made contact with the demon¡¯s left arm, and for the first time since the start of the demon invasion, someone managed to graze Eizer. Another did the same to the demon¡¯s right leg, then another grazed Eizer¡¯s elbow. The rest of the lake guardian¡¯s attacks were unfortunately vaporized by Eizer¡¯s powerful flames.

    Eizer felt the damage he got. He was closing his eyes while doing so as if savoring the sensation he rarely felt. After some seconds, he opened his eyes and was confronted by another attack.

    [Water Disk]

    It was a single attack, but it almost finished the fight. Eizer was fast enough to vaporize the water disk before it cut through his neck. He felt the strong pressure of the unassuming attack, and he knew that it was several times sharper than the water cutters. If his right hand was not covered in dark flames, the water disk will surely cut through.

    Eizer looked at his hand. The water disk was no more, but his hand was shaking from the effort he needed to exert. It was a new experience for him that someone pushed him that far. It was what he was waiting for so long, but, he realized from the summon¡¯s attack that Meredith will not be an easy opponent. From there, Meredith and Eizer were both at the same page.

    ¡°You almost had me¡±, Eizer said.

    ¡°Are you scared?¡±, Meredith asked.

    Eizer showed his sinister smile again, then he looked at Meredith with killing intent. The demon¡¯s gaze made Meredith feel real threat. Both are looking at their foes, ready to give their all. Eventually, one of them initiated the next phase of the fight. Eizer moved first.

    [Dark Flames]

    The intent was just like before. Eizer will throw multiple dark flames towards Meredith, aiming to distract her, while he will go behind Meredith. It didn¡¯t work against Meredith the first time, and as expected, it didn¡¯t work again.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Eizer kicked an illusion once again. Meredith was the one behind him. Meredith was about to redo what happened before, when Eizer vanished suddenly. Meredith looked behind her, and Eizer¡¯s flaming fist was about to hit her.

    [Water Wall]

    The lake guardian was able to comply with Meredith¡¯s command on time. The dark flame was extinguished, and the impact of the attack hurled Eizer away. The lowering of the water wall revealed no demon. Eizer vanished once again.

    [Dark Flame]

    Meredith looked in front of her. A dark flame almost got her. She dodged, but as soon as she did so, multiple dark flames started appearing in every direction. Meredith and the lake guardian were back to back from each other, preparing to defend against the flames.

    [Barrier]

    Every flames were more potent than the last. The lake guardian could keep up, but Meredith must steadily increase the strength of her barriers. She could defend well, but only for a short while.

    Meredith¡¯s supply of her mana boosting potion was depleting rapidly. Even with her masterful resourcefulness, Eizer¡¯s attacks were still far too many. The demon was getting stronger because of the darkness, and Meredith wasn¡¯t getting any progress. She must decide whether to dodge the attacks herself, or consume all the boosting potions she has. She didn¡¯t spend so much time thinking about it. She chose to defend herself, and reserve her remaining potions.

    Meredith dodged one after another. The flames didn¡¯t give her time to breathe. She wasn¡¯t worried about her summon disappearing, as the lake guardian had a great defense against the flames. However, because of so much flames distracting her, Meredith forgot to look for the demon.

    Eizer was moving quick, running in circles around Meredith. He could sustain and even raise his speed, which made him unseeable for his opponent. From the start, he was planning to exhaust Meredith¡¯s potion supply, as he knew that his human opponent could only be defeated if he did so. He didn¡¯t know the amount of potions that Meredith had, but he was confident that his flames could eventually consume all of it. And when he saw that Meredith stopped creating barriers, dodging only by her movements, he thought that he was successful.

    The critical point was reached. Meredith was tired, and couldn¡¯t dodge fast enough. Only the lake guardian remained moving, defending both of them. Such turn of events made it harder for the summon to keep up, and so, when Eizer¡¯s flaming fist was moving towards the summon, it couldn¡¯t react on time. The demon made a direct hit, and flung the lake guardian away from Meredith. All of the remaining dark flames hit the potion master.

    The powerful explosions created a cloud of dust, making it hard to see what happened to Meredith. Seqina was stunned, as she couldn¡¯t imagine her teacher losing. As the situation suggested, it seemed that the master mage would be gravely injured.

    ¡°Teacher?¡±, Seqina muttered.

    Eizer was delighted seeing what happened. The cloud of dust was yet to settle, but he felt that his victory was assured. Even if Meredith survived his flames, it¡¯s guaranteed that the potion master was injured enough that she was no longer a threat. But, the demon forgot what he already knew before. Meredith is not an easy opponent.

    Once the dusts settled, Meredith reappeared, surrounded by a dome barrier that was durable enough to withstand all of Eizer¡¯s remaining attacks. Meredith created the barrier using all her remaining mana boosting potions, and it saved her life. There were only few potions left with her, which were the only things she could rely on. She looked at Eizer, and then, she looked at Seqina and her companions.

    ¡°All of you, go away from here¡±, Meredith commanded.

    Seqina was surprised, but before she could say anything, Meredith spoke again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can hold back anymore¡±

    After hearing Meredith¡¯s words, Seqina realized the nature of Meredith¡¯s remaining potions. The potions left with the potion master were far too dangerous to use with people near her. Knowing this, Seqina urged the others to follow Meredith¡¯s words.

    Cadell and his comrades saw the battle between Meredith and Eizer. Everything that happened gave them an idea that they could not help Meredith even if they wanted to. With that in mind, they followed Meredith¡¯s command.

    ¡°Help the people of this town, they need all of you¡±, Meredith said.

    ¡°Do you think I will allow that?¡±, Eizer interrupted. The demon was about to attack Seqina and the others, but he was quickly interrupted by the lake guardian. The mages were able to escape, leaving Meredith and the lake guardian with Eizer.

    ¡°You will regret doing that¡±, Eizer said.

    Meredith just smiled. For the first time since facing against the demon, she was relieved. She took one of her remaining potions.

    ¡°Prepare yourself, demon¡±

    The lake guardian returned by Meredith¡¯s side, and then, Meredith threw the potion towards Eizer.

    ¡°Protect me¡±, Meredith commanded.

    [Water Wall]

    As soon as the lake guardian created the water wall, a powerful explosion shook the ground, creating a deafening boom. Meredith wanted for the fight to be over with that, but there¡¯s still some uncertainty in her mind. The powerful explosion was yet to reveal what happened to Eizer. Meredith prepared herself.

 Power Against Power

    There are many first times for a powerful demon like Eizer, and most of those first experiences were because of Meredith. Eizer was delighted and grateful before, for he longed to have a good fight like what the potion master made him experience. However, his delight came to an end when Meredith went past his expectations. The battle that he thought would give him fun turned into something dangerous for him. It was a dreadful thing, at least for the demon, for Meredith to stop holding back.

    After her fellow mages left, Meredith threw a single potion that caused an explosion so strong, that she needed to defend herself even if it¡¯s her own attack. The surroundings needed time to settle before she could see what happened to her opponent. When at last, the smoke and the flames revealed Eizer, the demon was seen missing half of his left arm. What she saw gave her the hope that she needed.

    ¡°I was worried that I could never wound you. It¡¯s good that I could and give you more¡±, Meredith said, her cold treatment against the demon was still evident.

    Eizer was angered hearing Meredith¡¯s words. He felt betrayed, as he didn¡¯t expect that a human could ever wound him. Also, his demonic nature was returning to him. He was beginning to feel fear looking at his severed arm. But the overwhelmed anger he felt was the greater thing to satisfy, and so, it became Eizer¡¯s new motivation.

    The battle was way too long for a human like the potion master. The demon that Meredith was fighting wasn¡¯t getting weaker. Eizer might be injured but the third class demon was still getting stronger. Meredith wasn¡¯t oblivious to the situation. Even though she didn¡¯t know why the demon was getting stronger, she could feel it the longer they fight. She knew that she should finish the fight as soon as she could.

    With that in her mind, she didn¡¯t wait for another moment. Meredith threw another potion at Eizer. The demon knew that the potion was as dangerous as the first, so he decided to dodge this time, wanting to not be injured again.

    The potion shattered on the ground. The expected explosion happened, destroying everything within the potion¡¯s vicinity. Eizer was still affected, and was pushed by the strong winds created by the explosion. Meredith didn¡¯t like that the demon wasn¡¯t injured by her second shot.

    [Water Wall]

    The lake guardian was commanded by Meredith to surround Eizer with water wall. The only opening for the demon was facing Meredith directly. Of course, it¡¯s the potion master¡¯s plan, so that Eizer could not dodge for a second time. She threw another of the exploding potions, and as the demon saw it, the fear returned to him.

    [Dark Flame]

    The potion exploded midair, but Eizer was still flung back to the water wall behind him. He remained standing, but then, he saw the same dreadful thing that injured him. The explosion wasn¡¯t settled yet, but Meredith threw another potion at him. In panic, Eizer tried slapping the potion away from him, but before he could do so, something bad happened.

    [Water Cutter]

    Meredith would not give Eizer a chance to move, nor did she plan to let the demon escape. The potion shattered the moment the water cutter touched it. It was a direct hit. There¡¯s no way for Eizer to escape.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Once the explosion settled, Meredith saw the demon with both arms missing. It was what she wanted, witnessing the near demise of the demon was her greatest relief.

    Eizer kneeled on the ground, his eyes looking down. Even if he was a powerful demon, he didn¡¯t have the ability to heal himself. He began thinking about Zahekam, the nearest demon that could heal him. The fear within his heart was starting to eat away his rage. His pride was shattered, he felt that everything will end from there. But then, as he was remembering his great lord, he also remembered Kael. If he chose to perish and let his great lord handle Meredith, it would be an insult to his great reputation among the third class demons. He couldn¡¯t accept it, and so, his previous fear turned into desperation.

    [Dark Flame]

    Meredith was about to say something, when she saw a large ball of black flame above Eizer. It was a frightening display of destructive power. Meredith knew that if the black flame touched the ground, the whole town would be obliterated.

    ¡°You¡¯re not the only one that could cause powerful explosions¡±, Eizer said, then he looked at Meredith with a threatening face.

    ¡°You¡¯re crazy¡±, Meredith uttered.

    The large dark flame hovered above Eizer like it was itching to explode. Meredith could only look at it, alerted without any means to mitigate the would be explosion. She didn¡¯t know that it was the demon¡¯s plan to distract her.

    Eizer didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. He prepared himself, exerting an explosive amount of force to hurl himself towards Meredith. Meredith was caught off guard and was unable to react, but her summon protected her.

    Eizer¡¯s kick was too strong for the lake guardian, but it was enough to delay the demon¡¯s attack from reaching Meredith. It was a single second, but Meredith managed to move out of the way before the lake guardian flew at her. The summon could handle the impact, but it would break Meredith if she was hit by her summon.

    The lake guardian held Eizer¡¯s foot firmly, forcing the demon to move away from Meredith. It angered Eizer, as he planned to immediately attack again, expecting the summon would block his first attack.

    ¡°Get off me!¡±, Eizer exclaimed. He hit the summon with his another foot, which loosened the summon¡¯s grip. He didn¡¯t waste any time, and rushed towards Meredith.

    Meredith would not be able to react if she attempted to match Eizer¡¯s demonic speed. However, she anticipated Eizer¡¯s second attack and threw one of the explosive potions.

    The demon was surprised by the attack, the potion almost hitting him. He quickly moved back from the potion, and was able to survive the resulting explosion. Eizer looked at Meredith after the explosion, and was stopped from attacking again because of what he saw. Meredith was holding another one, ready to hit him.

    ¡°This is the last one I have, but I will make sure that this will hit you¡±, Meredith said. The lake guardian was given a chance to be near Meredith, while Eizer was frustrated that he couldn¡¯t do anything.

    ¡°Do you think I will believe that?¡±, Eizer asked. Meredith shrugged in response.

    Eizer assessed the result of his battle. He didn¡¯t expect to suffer as much as he did. He knew that in his current state, it was hopeless to win. Meredith might be too tired and slow for him, but her potions and her summon destroyed the little chance to be victorious. Thinking about all of these made the sinister demon smile.

    Meredith was intrigued by the demon¡¯s unusual behavior. Eizer will never reach her because of the lake guardian, but she felt that Eizer was still a threat. Then she remembered the large dark flame that the demon created, and when she looked at it again, it was moving towards the ground. A flash of light was seen in an instant, and then Meredith heard Eizer¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Goodbye¡±

 Greater Good

    A great rumble disturbed Meredith''s battlefield. What she feared came into existence. Eizer was delighted that he succeeded, and the only thing he was waiting for was the destruction of the town. He waited for the wave of destruction to consume him, but, when he was expecting to meet his destruction, it didn''t arrive.

    [Water Prison]

    A figure stood near a towering wall of water. The water surrounded and imprisoned the powerful explosion, leading the destructive force upwards, preventing Eizer¡¯s last attack from destroying the whole town. Seeing this, Eizer was horrified, as his desperate act didn''t do anything. He was dazed in his frustration, while the figure walked towards him.

    ¡°I''m glad I made it in time¡±

    Eizer looked at the human who dared interrupt the destruction he wanted. He was angered, but as the figure got nearer, he recognized who was walking at him.

    ¡°Lucius.. you''re.. Lucius¡±, Eizer uttered, horrified as he saw the person that even his great lord was wary of. ¡°Why? My Great Lord, did you defeat him?¡±

    Lucius looked at Meredith. The potion master was exhausted, but she was alright. Lucius was relieved, so he returned his eyes towards Eizer.

    ¡°This is the end for you. Soon, your master will follow you as well¡±, Lucius said, his fist ready to launch towards Eizer. ¡°Farewell¡±

    [Vortex Punch]

    The flow of raging water directly hit Eizer. It was too quick that the demon was unable to retreat. The waves were like blades, shredding Eizer''s body. The only thing left intact was Eizer''s demonic heart. Lucius pick it up, and did the same thing on Kazer and Azere, the demons that Meredith was unable to destroy because of Eizer. After collecting the demonic hearts, Lucius ran towards Meredith.

    ¡°I''m glad you''re alright¡±, Lucius said. Meredith smiled. She reached for Lucius¡¯s head and patted him.

    ¡°You''ve become strong, my dear¡±, Meredith stated.

    ¡°I''m too old for that, mistress¡±, Lucius said, but he didn''t remove Meredith''s hand.

    ¡°You don''t look old to me¡±

    Lucius accepted the compliment, then he urged Meredith to rest for awhile. Meredith did rest, but she suddenly remembered something.

    ¡°The person you''re investigating, where is he?¡±, Meredith asked. She was certain, like Lucius, that the person that the grandmaster mage was looking out for was a demon. She deduced that, that person was the cause of the demon invasion.

    ¡°My suspicion is right, he''s a demon¡±, Lucius said. ¡°But he will not be a problem anymore¡±, Lucius assured.

    ¡°Did you defeat him?¡±, Meredith asked.

    ¡°I didn''t. I tried, and I failed¡±

    ¡°Then¨C¡±

    Lucius stopped Meredith from continuing what she wanted to say. He held Meredith''s hands, his delight showing in his eyes.

    ¡°We''re saved. He''s here¡±, Lucius said. Meredith was confused, but she began to realize why Lucius was acting the way he did. Her eyes widened, as she understood who was the person that Lucius was referring to.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°You mean..¡±

    ¡°He finally returned¡±

    <hr>

    After the veil of darkness succeeded in covering the whole town, it became a signal for the demons to attack. Some time after that, Talzer returned in town, dragging a human with him. He saw that the invasion was already starting. He rushed towards the academy, not minding the chaos happening around him. He was eager to return to the demon magister, as he knew that his Great Lord was already engaged in a fight against the grandmaster mage. Soon enough, he was able to reunite with the demon magister, which at the time of his arrival, was dodging Lucius''s attacks for minutes.

    [Dark Force]

    Lucius dodged the multiple dark orbs coming at him, and stopped his attacks. The grandmaster mage realized that he was just wasting his mana, attacking without a good plan. Lucius looked at the arrival of the demon, observing what Talzer would do.

    ¡°Great Lord, I¡¯ve returned¡±

    ¡°I assume you succeed in your mission¡±, the demon magister stated.

    Talzer nodded, and looked at the person he was dragging along with him. ¡°You know what to do¡±

    The terrified human reluctantly stretched his hands and looked at the demon magister. The grandmaster mage didn''t like what was happening, and wanted to interrupt, but Talzer stopped him.

    ¡°Don''t move, I¡¯ll kill this human¡±, Talzer stated, a dark orb floating on his hand. Magister Lucius hesitated for a bit, but he knew that he must not let the demons do whatever they were aiming to do at that time. However, his slight hesitation proved to be a fatal mistake, as the human already did what Talzer wanted from him.

    [Purifying Light]

    The curse that Kael attached to the demon magister appeared, circling the demon¡¯s neck. Then, it shattered when the purifying light hit it. Seeing what happened, Kael was shocked, which immediately turned into worry.

    ¡°Retreat¡±, Kael said, addressing the two magisters with him. ¡°Get out of here¡±

    ¡°I can''t do that¡±, Magister Lucius said.

    ¡°He can attack you now¡±

    Magister Lucius turned to look at Kael. He was about to ask what Kael meant, but he was interrupted.

    ¡°Rejoice! From now on, I, the great Zahekam will reign among all of you¡±, the demon said, delighted that he was freed from Kael''s curse.

    ¡°I will not let you, demon¡±, Magister Lucius said.

    Zahekam looked at the grandmaster mage, then he commanded Talzer.

    ¡°Make Kael busy, I will deal with him after killing Lucius¡±, Zahekam said. Talzer leaped towards Kael immediately.

    ¡°Don''t involve my student in this¡±, Magister Lucius said. He tried blocking Talzer¡¯s path, but was caught off guard when Zahekam suddenly threw a black spear at him. He managed to dodge, but he was unable to catch Talzer.

    ¡°It''s so good to be free!¡±, Zahekam exclaimed. He conjured another black spear, and aimed it at the grandmaster mage. From then on, Magister Lucius was not able to assist Kael and Magister Kever.

    Meanwhile, Kael was agitated as he needed to deal with Talzer, while still unable to use magic. Once again, he requested Magister Kever¡¯s help to boost his physical attributes. With the magister''s help, Kael was able to keep up and prevent Talzer from creating any dark force. But, Talzer was stronger and more resilient than Zera, the third class demon he defeated before. And so, the only thing that he was able to do was to keep on pressuring Talzer. He knew that he would be tired after several minutes and Talzer would not be hurt, but that''s the only thing that he could do. He continued on, hoping that one of his slashes would cut through Talzer.

    What Kael was hoping didn''t arrive. He was tired, but he was unable to wound Talzer. Magister Kever wanted to take his place, but he stopped the magister from taking the sword in his hand.

    ¡°What is this? Am I seeing this right?¡±, Talzer questioned. He was confused. He couldn''t believe that Kael was struggling against him. The person that defeated him back then seemed to be very different from the one he was fighting against.

    ¡°How did you become so weak Kael?¡±, Talzer asked. Kael didn''t answer.

    Kael looked at Magister Lucius''s fight. The magister was able to hold himself against Zahekam. He was relieved, as he was hoping that eventually, the magister would help him. But, as he was observing the fight, he realized that the grandmaster mage was struggling. He felt hopeless, knowing that without Magister Lucius¡¯s help, he could not do anything against Talzer. But then, as he was about to rush towards Talzer once again, he felt a warm sensation all over his body. The sensation seemed to come from the wound that Rodo gave him. He looked at it, and discovered that the symbol on his wound disappeared. Seeing the wound heal made him realize what was happening. He no longer have the ¡°Red Curse¡±.

 Regaining Strength

    Kael raised his free hand, his palm opened upwards. He looked at the flame that he was able to create with his incantation. It was just as he thought, the red curse that prevented him from using magic was really no more. He didn''t know what happened, but in his mind, he felt compelled to thank Rodo for freeing him. Now that he got his magic back, Talzer would not be able to defeat him. This time, he wanted to make sure that there would be nothing left of Talzer other than the demon¡¯s heart.

    ¡°What''s the matter, Kael? Why did you stop? Did you lose heart?¡±, Talzer asked, thinking that he could finally defeat the human that humiliated him before.

    ¡°This is bad. Even with my help, I don''t think you can beat him¡±, Magister Kever stated. For a moment, Kael was absorbed to the fact that he could use magic again, which made him silent for awhile. Magister Kever noticed Kael''s silence, so he tapped his student by the shoulder.

    Kael was a little surprised because of what the magister did. He turned around, and saw Magister Kever¡¯s hopeless expression, urging him to return the sword in his hand. Kael faced Magister Kever fully, exposing his back to Talzer. He returned the sword to the magister, and then, before Magister Kever could take his place and fight Talzer, Kael interrupted the magister''s movement.

    ¡°Magister, please return inside, it''s dangerous here¡±, Kael requested.

    ¡°No. Let me be a hero for our kingdom¡±, Magister Kever said.

    During that time, Kael could see the battle between Grandmaster Lucius and Zahekam, the second class demon. He saw that Magister Lucius could barely hold the demon for long, and so, he decided that he should end Talzer as soon as he could.

    ¡°You misunderstood, magister¡±

    Magister Kever was held in place, hearing what Kael said. He was about to ask for clarification, but Kael suddenly moved in front of Talzer.

    ¡°We must finish this quickly¡±

    Talzer jumped back. He was unable to see Kael''s movement. It was as if Kael blinked into existence in front of him. He looked at Kael''s eyes, and saw the memories of Cleron coming back to him. The confidence he had just a second ago vanished just like that. Once again, he remembered that he didn''t want to fight Kael ever again.

    ¡°No, my great lord is here. I should not fear you anymore¡±, Talzer said, his voice had a hint of doubt.

    ¡°I never intended to scare you¡±, Kael replied.

    Talzer''s eyes widened, he felt like his indestructible heart shattered. He was confused because of the sudden change, his opponent overwhelmed him with fear. He could only think of one outcome, and that is total destruction from the hands of a human. He couldn''t pretend to act tough anymore. With all his might, he tried returning to his great lord. Kael wouldn''t let it happen.

    [Speed Boost]

    Talzer''s path was cut short. A quick, solid object hit his face. When he opened his eyes, he was staring at the darkened sky. He attempted to stand, but he couldn''t feel his body. The next thing he knew, his entire body was melting, then a silhouette blocked the darkened sky. The silhouette had a shining thing in his hand. Realizing what the shining thing was made him surrender to his fate. It''s just what he thought. Kael had his heart held. Kael destroyed him instantly. He knew it before the fight even started. He succumbed to his death, vengeful but completely helpless.

    Meanwhile, Magister Kever witnessed how Kael defeated Talzer. Kael was returning to him, holding Talzer''s demonic heart. Seeing Kael''s power overwhelmed him with curiosity. He wanted to know Kael''s true identity, and unlike before, he wanted to know it immediately.

    Kael stared at Magister Kever. It was obvious that the magister wanted answers from him. However, he knew that there''s not much time to waste. Magister Lucius was struggling, and it would not take long before the grandmaster exhaust all his power.

    Kael wanted to help quickly, and went in his way to help Magister Lucius, but there''s a problem. Zahekam was gaining power each second, while his remaining mana would not be enough against the demon, even with Magister Lucius¡¯s help.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    ¡°I know you have some questions. I will answer all of it, but for now, please return inside, magister¡±, Kael requested.

    Magister Kever wanted to say something, but the way Kael looked at him prevented him from continuing. Kael didn''t say it, but he knew that his presence in the battlefield would only hinder the grandmaster mage, as well as Kael, from defeating the powerful demon terrorizing the academy. He gave up on helping, and accepted that he was too weak to do anything.

    ¡°Do you need this?¡±, Magister Kever asked, offering his sword to Kael. Kael accepted it, which made him glad. Without another word, he cautiously walked towards the human that destroyed Kael''s curse. He urged the terrified man to go with him, and take shelter. Zahekam was not able to intervene because of Magister Lucius.

    Kael looked at them until they got to safety. When he was sure that Zahekam couldn''t see them anymore, he immediately went on and did what he needed to do.

    [Late Cost: Restore]

    Kael sat on the ground, away from the battlefield. He did what he could do best, which is to meditate until he could restore his mana vessel. It would take some time that he wished Magister Lucius could allow him to have. As soon as he closed his eyes, he couldn''t sense the chaos happening around him anymore.

    <hr>

    [Dark Spear]

    Magister Lucius dodged Zahekam''s attack. He was doing it for awhile now, which frustrated him because he could barely attack in return. He could defend well, but he felt that Zahekam was still holding back against him. The demon proved to be troublesome, and he didn''t need anyone to tell him that the second class demon was out of his league. Still, he was the only one that could do something, so he gave it his all, dodging the attacks of the demon.

    [Vortex Punch]

    Zahekam didn''t dodge the grandmaster mage¡¯s attack. The demon was not moving in his place, creating multiple black spears and letting the spears to rush towards Magister Lucius one by one. He carefully observed the battlefield, but he was not paying attention to Magister Lucius. He was puzzled that Kael chose to sit far from them, not interfering their fight.

    Zahekam was sure that Kael knew that Magister Lucius was no match for him. But seeing that Kael was not doing anything, his mind wandered and thought that something bad would happen to him if he made a move and kill Magister Lucius. He didn''t like that he couldn''t understand Kael''s inaction.

    [Dark Spear]

    Zahekam let one of the black spears to try and reach Kael. Kael wasn''t moving much, but Magister Lucius managed to defend Kael. The grandmaster mage''s action irritated him, but Kael¡¯s presence prevented him from going all out. Plus, he also wanted to conserve and gain as much power as possible before going against Kael. He attacked again, and the grandmaster mage defended Kael again.

    ¡°Don''t involve my student in this¡±, Magister Lucius said. Zahekam didn''t pay attention to what he said.

    Magister Lucius looked at Kael, and just like Zahekam, he was puzzled by what Kael was doing. He wanted to go and lift Kael away from the battlefield, but Zahekam¡¯s attacks were too overwhelming that he could only defend. The demon tried hitting Kael multiple times, but Magister Lucius managed to defend the vulnerable student.

    ¡°You''re becoming annoying, Magister Lucius¡±, Zahekam said. ¡°Don''t interrupt my spears¡±

    ¡°What did Kael do to you?¡±, Magister Lucius asked.

    Zahekam didn''t answer. Instead, he focused on attacking Magister Lucius. The sudden onslaught of attacks forced Magister Lucius to use his mana rapidly. It was a good move from the demon. Soon, the grandmaster would be out of ways to defend himself.

    [Barrier]

    Zahekam''s spears were too powerful that Magister Lucius needed to conjure a barrier for each one. He was aware that his mana will not last, and his defeat was near. He calmed his nerves, continuously creating multiple barriers, and decided to steel his resolve. There''s only one thing that could turn the tide of battle. However, such power was too great for him. He looked at Kael, and determined that there''s enough distance between him and Kael.

    [Water Blast]

    Magister Lucius used a significant amount of mana, creating a powerful attack. The dark spears made by Zahekam were successfully intercepted, which surprised the demon.

    ¡°I have no choice. This is the only way¡±, Magister Lucius muttered to himself.

    Magister Lucius pulled out a necklace hidden under his clothing. He wrapped his hand around the blue crystal hanging down the necklace.

    [Strength Boost]

    The magister crushed the crystal, and after what he did, his surroundings began to get colder. He walked towards Zahekam, aiming to get as far away from Kael as possible.

    ¡°Let''s continue¡±

 Grandmasteréˆ¥æªš Magic

    Magister Lucius didn''t have the worry he had before. He looked like he was in sorrow, knowing that what he did was equal to self sacrifice.

    The surroundings were getting colder and colder. The ground was getting covered with ice. The magister actively tried going far from Kael. He must do so, as the power of frost was dangerous to every single human except for himself. It is his innate magic that was only suppressed by his magic necklace. It was the only thing that the magister could think of using during that hopeless time.

    Magister Lucius¡¯s innate magic was indeed strong, but unlike Kael who successfully stabilized his innate magic, the grandmaster was still in the process of doing so. His innate magic was too hungry for mana that even in his age, his innate magic was still in chaos. But even if he knew the cost he must pay, in his mind, he must unleash his innate magic to have a winning chance against the demon Zahekam.

    ¡°Ice? Is that your true power?¡±, Zahekam said. He was surprised, as he felt that Magister Lucius gained so much power all of a sudden. However, he was still confident that he could beat the grandmaster mage.

    ¡°You made me do this. I will make you pay¡±, Magister Lucius said. Zahekam smirked at the magister''s words.

    [Frozen Spear]

    The frozen spear created by Lucius rushed towards Zahekam. The path it took became covered in ice as it moved. Seeing this, Zahekam smiled at the grandmaster.

    [Dark Spear]

    Zahekam intercepted the frozen spear with his attack. The collision of spears was quick and powerful, sending gusts of cold and sharp winds to the sides. The demon conjured another dark spear to follow up, but then, he saw something he didn''t expect. The freezing ground was crawling fast towards him. The frozen spear was still intact.

    ¡°Wha¨C¡±

    Zahekam was pierced by the frozen spear. The impact created a large boulder made of ice, and the demon was inside it. He wasn''t ready to dodge the attack, as he still underestimated his opponent despite feeling that the magister gained power. The frost was making its way inside his durable demon body. He couldn''t move a single muscle.

    Magister Lucius walked towards Zahekam, seeing that the demon was trapped in ice. The effect of his innate magic was still spreading, and even if he was to wear another suppressing necklace, the frost that was suppressed for so long could no longer be caged. The ice will continue to consume the whole academy, and eventually the whole town, until he was killed. Such is the unfortunate cost of unleashing a powerful magic that was not ready to be unleashed.

    Magister Lucius stopped walking after he was near the demon. The continuous spread of frost was consuming the mana of the innate magic, as well as his own. His situation was weakening him that he chose to sit for awhile, for fear that he would fall. He felt that it was safe to close his eyes while being near Zahekam. He was trying his best to decrease the rate of the frost spreading, but even if he was successful, the frost was still moving. He thought of Kael, then the students inside the academy building, and then he thought of the king and the people of Deyrem. He wanted to warn all of them, but he couldn''t get near to anyone because of his power. His mind was filled with regret, thinking that there were other ways to deal with the demon. At that time, he wanted to run out of mana to stop the spread of frost, hoping that Kael and the others wouldn''t have to suffer from the harsh cold.

    <hr>

    Kael was lost in his mind. The depth of his meditation was something so unnatural that no humans could reach it. It was a dangerous thing to do, because doing so will cut off anyone from sensing everything from outside the mind. However, despite the dangers, such deep meditation would hasten Kael''s healing process, making it the only choice that Kael wanted to make. Because of the risks of such state, and the height of mental control needed, only Kael could do such feat. And because of what he did, Kael was aptly rewarded.

    Kael could feel the mana around him, and only the mana around. It was nothingness for him, except the flow of mana was so clear in his mind¡¯s eye. During such incredible meditation, Kael could control all the mana that he could reach, and being the kind of person he is, his reach was quite a large distance.

    Kael''s mana vessel was healing so fast. It was so fast that he would recover in just a few minutes. A thousand times his mana capacity, and yet, his concentration made it that easy. Kael felt the large influx of mana all of a sudden. He wasn''t sure what happened, but he trusted Lucius enough that he didn''t think too much about it. Doing so would only hinder his meditation, and every ounce of focus he could use was needed. After some time, the risk he chose paid off.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Kael woke up, his mana vessel completely restored, and was full with mana again. It was a wonderful feeling, but what he saw distracted him from the sensation. He saw the frozen ground spreading from the grandmaster mage. Zahekam was inside a large boulder of ice, and the breeze around him was so cold. At first he was confused, as he saw that Zahekam couldn''t attack anymore but Lucius was still spreading the frost. Then, he realized that Lucius couldn''t control the frost, making him assume that Lucius must''ve an innate magic that was freezing the whole place. He saw Lucius stopping, and then the grandmaster sat. Kael could feel the regret that Lucius had during that time. He stood and went on his way towards Lucius.

    Kael touched the frozen ground with his finger. He instinctively moved his finger away from the ice, as he felt the powerful freezing effect that the ice has. Lucius didn''t need to tell him anything, he knew that the spread of frost will endanger the whole town. Kael thought of a plan to stop the frost from spreading, and recalled a magic spell that could solve the problem. He didn''t waste another second. He sat far enough from the spread of frost, and started meditating.

    Kael could see the flow of mana again. He manipulated the flow of mana to converge into a ball. At a certain point, he uttered the magic he needed.

    [Eternal Flame]

    The ball of flame glowed pure in between Kael''s hands. There''s no heat felt around it, it was just a glowing ball. Kael was deep in meditation for a time, increasing the strength of the eternal flame. When he opened his eyes, the frost was about to reach him.

    Kael guided the pure ball of flame towards the spread of frost. The eternal flame glowed even more, and it began spreading warmth all around. The frozen ground was thawed, and the cold breeze was changed into calm air. Lucius felt the change of his surroundings. The magister turned around, and saw Kael walking towards him.

    ¡°Kael¡­¡±, Lucius uttered. He was relieved that Kael was safe, but then he remembered his innate magic. ¡°Don''t come close!¡±

    ¡°Magister, it''s alright. I have this¡±, Kael raised the eternal flame and showed it. He then gave it to the grandmaster.

    ¡°What''s this? It''s.. so warm¡±, Lucius stated.

    Lucius was bewildered. His innate magic was not spreading frost anymore, and he knew that it was caused by what he had on his hands.

    ¡°It''s Eternal Flame¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°Eternal Flame? The greatest fire that can burn anything?¡±, Lucius asked. He didn''t believe Kael, as he could hold the ball of flame and he was unharmed.

    ¡°It is as you said, magister¡±

    Lucius looked at Kael. He still have some doubts, but the effect of the ball of flame was a compelling evidence to make him believe.

    ¡°As long as you have that, your power will not endanger the town¡±, Kael said.

    Lucius looked at the ball of flame. The glow of it was strange, as if giving him the peace of mind he was feeling at that moment. A student like Kael should not be able to create such magic, but he experienced it first hand.

    ¡°Who are you? How can you do something like this?¡±, Lucius asked.

    Kael took the eternal flame, and merged it with the grandmaster mage''s heart. Then, he spoke to answer Lucius.

    ¡°If I were to tell you, you would know that I''m the enemy of your church¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°What do you mean? How did you know my faith?¡±, Lucius asked.

    ¡°You''re just like the others. You''re a believer of Rezelus church¡±

    Lucius¡¯s eyes widened. He denied what Kael said. He felt so insulted that he admitted that he¡¯s a believer of the Lucienean faith.

    ¡°I.. I didn''t know that¡±, Kael uttered.

    Lucius was puzzled. Kael claimed to be an enemy of the Rezelus church. He knew that only the Lucienean faith could claim what Kael said, but as one of the Lucienean faithfuls, he didn''t know Kael, aside from being his student. He considered the magic that Kael showed him, and thought deeply about Kael''s identity. There''s no person of the Lucienean faith that fit Kael''s character.

    ¡°Are you a rebel?¡±, Lucius asked.

    ¡°No¡±

    ¡°Then, what¨C¡±

    Kael stopped the grandmaster from speaking. He pointed at the ice boulder that he intentionally left unmelted. It was cracking a little bit, and the demon inside it was moving little by little.

    ¡°He''s starting to move again. Be ready, magister¡±, Kael said.

 Dying Pride

    The ice boulder burst, and from its destroyed state, Zahekam emerged. The damage that the frost did was evident, looking at the demon''s body. However, the frost was not able to go deep enough for it to be lethal for Zahekam.

    ¡°Now you did it this time!¡±, Zahekam voiced, looking at Lucius with fury in his eyes.

    Kael moved in front of Lucius. He knew that Zahekam would eventually attack.

    ¡°If only I didn''t hold back so much¡±, Zahekam expressed, his furious eyes shifted to target Kael.

    ¡°It''s over, this is your defeat¡±, Kael said. He prepared himself, drawing the sword that Magister Kever gave.

    ¡°Why?.. why am I so afraid of you Kael? I realized I shouldn''t be!¡±, Zahekam exclaimed. ¡°Look! The darkness surrounding this town is the testament of my power, and yet, the presence of a puny human like you masked the truth from me!¡±

    Zahekam''s power was growing faster during that time.

    ¡°Now, I know.. you can''t fool me anymore. Show me what you got Kael! I will show you who is truly superior!¡±, Zahekam stated.

    Kael was silent, patiently waiting for Zahekam to attack. Eventually, as if knowing what Kael was thinking, Zahekam made his move.

    [Dark Spear]

    Hundreds of dark spears appeared. Each one were powerful enough to destroy Lucius¡¯s frozen spear if Zahekam used one before. The second class demon wasn''t holding back anymore.

    ¡°Magister, get out of here. The people outside need you¡±, Kael said. Lucius was surprised by what his student said.

    ¡°How about you? What will you do?¡±, Lucius asked.

    ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll be alright¡±

    [Speed Boost]

    Kael exhausted his regular mana, using all of it for his body. The dark spears were threatening, but Kael was not intimidated even for a bit.

    [Late Cost: Dismantle]

    ¡°You can''t go against that demon, Kael. Stay back, let me finish what I started¡±

    Kael was a little insulted, though he knew Lucius didn''t intend to insult him.

    ¡°Is the eternal flame not enough?¡±, Kael stated. He wanted Lucius to believe in him, but he knew that he didn''t have time to convince the grandmaster mage.

    Lucius was about to respond, but then, Zahekam''s dark spears swiftly moved towards them.

    [Great Barrier]

    Kael deflected the dark spears one after another. He covered Magister Kever''s sword in a thick barrier that the dark spears couldn''t destroy. He moved so quick that Lucius was not able to follow his movements.

    At that moment, the grandmaster mage realized that the demon he was fighting before was far superior compared to him, and was only playing around before. But the greatest mystery for him was the fact that the demon was not holding back against Kael. He could see the demon from a distance, clearly strained by how quick it releases multiple dark spears at once. Lucius was astounded even more, seeing that even though the demon was giving his all, Kael was able to deflect all of the spears like Zahekam''s spears didn''t have a corroding effect to anything in contact with it. After some minutes, the barrage of attacks stopped, and Kael remained standing.

    ¡°I told you, this is your defeat¡±, Kael said.

    Zahekam was tired for exerting the best he could do, hoping that at least one of his spears would reach Kael. Seeing that what he hoped didn''t happen made him frustrated. He saw Kael stood without a hint of exhaustion. His human opponent seemed to be mocking his efforts by not showing any sign that he was acknowledged as an equal. Zahekam became even more furious, but the primal fear within him was starting to take over. Desperate to eliminate the doubt in his mind, he decided to absorb more power, thinking that Kael would wait for his power to recover.

    Kael knew what Zahekam was doing. The demon didn''t say a word, unmoving while looking at him. The power of darkness will restore the demon¡¯s lost power, but his mana will not recover. He might not show it from the outside, but he consumed half of his mana vessel already after deflecting all of Zahekam''s powerful spears. He must cut off the source of Zahekam''s power, and finish the fight while he still have the chance. He looked at Magister Lucius.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Magister, please, the people outside need your help¡±, Kael said.

    Lucius couldn''t say a word, shocked because of the unbelievable thing that he witnessed.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time, magister¡±, Kael said, urging Lucius to go.

    ¡°Who.. who are you?¡±, Lucius asked Kael once again. This time, Kael felt like he didn''t have a choice but to answer. If he wanted Lucius¡¯s cooperation, he must clear the confusion.

    ¡°That''s right! Who are you?¡±

    Zahekam interrupted Kael and Lucius. He was genuinely curious about Kael''s identity, but it was also a way to distract his opponent. Kael looked at him.

    ¡°Are you sure you want to know?¡±, Kael asked. ¡°If I answer truthfully, I will be obligated to destroy you¡±

    Kael¡¯s piercing stare sent a terrifying warning towards Zahekam. The demon''s fear won over his mind, setting aside his curiosity. However, when he was about to say that he didn''t need Kael''s answer, Kael continued speaking.

    ¡°Well, even if you didn''t know, I will still destroy you¡±, Kael said. ¡°So I will tell you who I am¡±

    Zahekam didn''t like what he just heard, but the situation was in his favor because of it. If Kael spoke and explain who he is, it might give him enough time to restore his full power. And so, he acted like he wanted to listen. But then, Kael''s word shattered his hope.

    ¡°Lucien¡±

    Just a single word made Zahekam tremble in fear. The name that his opponent mentioned was familiar to all demons equal to him, and those that are higher. It was a name that his kind knew to be their end. His opponent didn''t need to explain himself further. The fear that he felt finally made sense, and so is the inconceivable power that he felt from Kael. He was facing an adversary that he could never eliminate, someone that even if he sacrificed his whole being, the power he would have would not amount to anything. That''s how the higher class demons like him view Lucien.

    ¡°No.. it can''t be.. how am I suppose to rule this kingdom?¡±, Zahekam thought.

    Kael knew why Zahekam froze after he said who he is. The demon king¡¯s fear towards him did extend to the other demons. Seeing Zahekam lose heart sealed his imminent victory.

    Meanwhile, Lucius was trembling after hearing the name that Kael uttered. The confidence he saw when his student said the name that he worshipped, and the incredible power that his student showed made him see what he yearned for so long. The image of Lucien was what he saw as he looked at Kael. The uncertainty that he should have felt was not there. Lucius knew that what he heard was true.

    ¡°My lord! Forgive me for acting like I am great in front of you¡±, Lucius said all of a sudden, kneeling to his lord.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Kael was taken aback. He had no idea that Lucius would believe him instantly, but what surprised him more was the grandmaster¡¯s action.

    ¡°Please lift your head, magister¡±, Kael requested.

    Lucius asked for his forgiveness once again, which made Kael even more uncomfortable. He wasn''t expecting that there would be a time that he would be regarded so high, like he was a deity. But, he was quick to realize that the situation was favorable to what he wanted. For the time being, he used Lucius¡¯s strong devotion to create the solution he needed. Kael cleared his throat.

    ¡°Well then, if you truly wanted my forgiveness, help me save this town¡±, Kael said. He was apologizing to Lucius in his mind for saying those words.

    Lucius lifted his head, and looked at Kael. Kael still appeared as Lucien to his eyes.

    ¡°I must sacrifice anything for you, my lord¡±, Lucius stated.

    Kael was taken aback once again. The situation was way too strange for him, but he must endure.

    ¡°Help the people of this town. Go outside and destroy all the other demons¡±, Kael said.

    ¡°But my lord, I must stay and assist you against that demon¡±, Lucius said while pointing at Zahekam.

    ¡°Why is this happening?¡±, Kael thought, his animosity towards Zahekam was masked by Lucius¡¯s sudden change. He looked at the grandmaster and formed a good response.

    ¡°Do you doubt my words?¡±, Kael said. He wanted to hide somewhere the moment he finished what he said.

    Lucius on the other hand felt fearful. Kael''s words pierced through his heart, worried that he unintentionally offended his lord. He expressed his regret, kneeling at Kael and rushed towards the academy gate.

    Kael was relieved after Lucius finally did what he wanted. He waited until Lucius was able to destroy part of the dark wall that Zahekam created. When he saw that the grandmaster was finally outside the academy, he looked at Zahekam.

    ¡°So, what will you do?¡±, Kael asked. He didn''t wait for an answer. He strolled towards the demon.

    Zahekam feared for his life and attempted to escape, but Kael wouldn''t allow him.

    [Great Barrier]

    Kael isolated them from the outside. Zahekam couldn''t get through Kael''s magic.

    ¡°Like I said, this is your defeat¡±

 Hopeful End and Another Beginning

    The source of even greater power had been cut off. No longer could he surpass the power that fate has given. Even worse was the terrifying revelation, that the human he was forced to be against, was the only one who defeated the being that he exalted as the strongest one. There¡¯s no going back. The inevitable failure will come, and his destruction assured. Zahekam knew that he will meet his demise soon.

    The demon who was sore afraid attempted to destroy the barrier caging him. He desperately moved in every direction to see if there¡¯s a weak point to exploit. However, his demonic heart knew that there¡¯s no hope once he was faced against an absolute being. A powerful human feared by his kind was his opponent. He wanted to deny the reality, but truly, he was the unluckiest demon during that time.

    Meanwhile, while Zahekam was in chaos, Kael was observing. He noticed that although Zahekam was moving everywhere, the demon never got near him at all. He was reminded of the demon king, who was just as fearful of him. He felt at that time that the past happened again, which brought back something that saddened him for a moment.

    He suddenly remembered the betrayal of the four rulers. He didn¡¯t like what he was thinking. In his mind, somewhere in the future, that same betrayal will happen again. But realizing that what had happened was so long ago, he determined that the rulers were long dead and he was just thinking of something implausible. He shook his head, removing his gloomy thought, then, he put his mind back to his opponent.

    ¡°Give up, you will never get out of here¡±, Kael said. Zahekam acted as if he didn¡¯t hear what Kael said.

    Seeing that the demon didn¡¯t listen to him, Kael made the barrier smaller, forcing the demon to get closer to him.

    Zahekam panicked even more. His desperate struggle became even more pronounced, but even with all his power, the barrier remained unbroken. He felt that his opponent could reach him without moving from position. The space inside the barrier felt way smaller compared to its real size.

    ¡°You¡¯re as pathetic as your king¡±, Kael said. ¡°There¡¯s no redeeming your kind¡±

    Zahekam was exhausted from his attempts by the time he heard those words. He felt Kael¡¯s hatred of demons, which was the only thing that Kael ever showed them.

    ¡°Leave me, I beg of you¡±, Zahekam pleaded. He lowered his head, hoping that what he did would soften Kael¡¯s heart. However, Kael had a different reaction. Kael was angered by what he saw.

    It was just as before when he was Lucien. The demon king begged him to be kind. But, when he softened his heart back then, he was almost defeated by the demon king. From that experience, he learned that demons will become demons no matter what. Letting himself fall for a second time is not an option.

    [Speed Boost]

    Zahekam raised his head to look at Kael. Kael was not in front of him, but there¡¯s a breeze of wind passing. Suddenly, his right arm fell on the ground, and as he looked at it, his eye caught Kael, already behind him. Kael¡¯s sword shattered, and the realization kicked in.

    ¡°Wait!¡±, Zahekam pleaded, immediately jumping to the other side. Kael became more terrifying than before.

    ¡°Do you think you can fool me?¡±, Kael asked, glaring at the terrified demon.

    ¡°No! I want to surrender. Like you said, this is my defeat!¡±

    [Speed Boost]

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    Kael wouldn¡¯t hear Zahekam¡¯s pleadings. The demon¡¯s left arm was pierced by Kael¡¯s arm, and was forced to be separated from the demon¡¯s body.

    ¡°Is that your final words?¡±, Kael asked.

    [Dark Wall]

    Zahekam shielded himself from Kael, but the dark wall he created was immediately destroyed. He fell on the ground, despair consuming his heart, the powerful demon that he thought he was, was no more.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to die. I must live, I must live!¡±, Zahekam kept muttering to himself while Kael was walking towards him.

    ¡°This is the end¡±

    [Inferno]

    A torrent of blazing fire consumed Zahekam¡¯s body, as well as his immediate vicinity. The great fire was so strong that it destroyed Kael¡¯s barrier, and consumed the veil of darkness up above. For a moment, the whole town witnessed the bright flames consuming the sky, illuminating every corners of the streets. The people became terrified, thinking it was the end for them, but for those who knew, it was a message of hope. The demon invasion finally ended, and the nightmare was finished.

    After the flames dissipated, the true night sky appeared, and the brightness of the full moon was seen at last. Several people went on and finished the remaining demons, while others were still too afraid to get out of their hiding places. It wouldn¡¯t take long after everyone will realize that the chaos was over, the demons are no more.

    Kael took Zahekam¡¯s demonic heart, and decided to rest for awhile. His fight against Zahekam was indeed one-sided, but the battle still drained most of his mana. He closed his eyes for a second, and when he opened it again, he said the spell to restore his mana vessel. However, what he heard interrupted what he intended to do.

    The people of the town were not aware that they were so close to destruction, but Kael was made aware of the looming danger.

    Not even a minute passed, when Kael got his hand on Zahekam¡¯s demonic heart, that he heard an applause from a distance. It was getting nearer to where he was, so he looked for where it was coming from. He saw a person walking towards him.

    ¡°Just like my king predicted, you¡¯re going to return¡±, the figure said.

    It was not the figure¡¯s appearance that terrified Kael. It was the power he felt coming from the figure. He clearly felt it, the power of the demon king coming from the figure. It was merely a fraction of the demon king¡¯s power, but it¡¯s the demon king¡¯s power nonetheless. With his current strength, which was drained by his fight against Zahekam, he didn¡¯t stand a chance. Disaster will strike the moment the figure decided to make a move.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±, Kael asked.

    ¡°My name is of no concern for you, but I could say that I¡¯m one of my king¡¯s great hands¡±, the figure stated.

    Kael didn¡¯t know what to do. If he was to start the fight, there¡¯s a chance for a surprise attack. However, the difference in strength means that if he was intercepted, he would instantly lose. The situation was against him, and he was desperate to find a way to solve it. But then, he remembered what he did before. It¡¯s the best option, so he wagered on it.

    ¡°Are you here for this heart?¡±, Kael asked, showing Zahekam¡¯s demonic heart.

    ¡°You will not give that to me will you?¡±, the demon said. Kael nodded.

    ¡°You know what you should do to get it¡±, Kael taunted.

    The figure became silent after hearing Kael¡¯s words. He looked at the demonic heart, and then he looked at the human holding it. His silence was excruciating for Kael. After what felt like eternity, the figure spoke again.

    ¡°This day is not the last, and I will be disrespectful for my king if I dare¡±, the figure said. ¡°It is my duty to be my king¡¯s servant, but as for you, you deserve to be my king¡¯s prey¡±

    Kael swallowed the lump in his throat.

    ¡°Well then, farewell¡­ Lucien¡±

    With that the figure disappeared, which relieved Kael¡¯s worry. But another problem arosed from the figure¡¯s appearance. The demon king was revealed to be alive.

 After Invasion

    Many things happened. Hard battles were fought against demons, but the town of Deyrem was finally at peace. Soon, the demon invasion would become the talk of the land. But as of now, Kael must move.

    The arrival of the mysterious figure worried Kael so much. He couldn¡¯t rest anymore knowing that his worst enemy was also alive in the time period. To distract himself from what he felt, he decided to get out of the academy to find someone in need of help.

    Meanwhile, Magister Kever volunteered to see what was happening outside, and so he went out to the open grounds. He saw Kael who was about to get out of the academy, which made him forget to inform Magister Honnora and the rest that the invasion was over. He rushed towards Kael, wanting to go with wherever Kael was going to. He called for Kael.

    ¡°Magister¡±, Kael uttered, a little surprised.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±, Magister Kever asked. He looked around to see Magister Lucius, but he didn¡¯t see him. ¡°Where is the grandmaster?¡±

    ¡°He already left to help the townspeople¡±

    ¡°I see..¡±

    The magister didn¡¯t know how to start the conversation again. Kael was aware of it, so he invited the magister to go with him. Magister Kever was delighted and followed Kael out of the academy. The magister totally forgot why he went outside in the first place.

    ¡°So, do you want to ask me about something?¡±, Kael stated. He could feel the magister¡¯s nervous demeanor. He wished to make everything clear.

    Magister Kever looked at Kael. Kael was looking at the destruction caused by the demon invasion. The magister could see what Kael felt during that time, and looking at the sorry state of Deyrem, he was compelled to feel it too.

    ¡°Did I even help?¡±, Magister Kever asked. Kael sensed the frustration from the magister¡¯s voice.

    ¡°You did. You saved me, that¡¯s why I¡¯m still alive¡±, Kael answered.

    ¡°You¡¯re lying. You¡¯re way too strong to need my help¡±, the magister said. Kael stayed silent for a little while.

    ¡°Even so, I know you helped us¡±, Kael said. It was the magister¡¯s turn to be silent for awhile.

    They saw an old man trapped in a large pile of debris. He was so scared to get out, thinking the invasion was still going on. They assisted the old man, and went on their way.

    ¡°So, who are you really?¡±, the magister finally asked. Kael stopped walking.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m an enemy?¡±, Kael asked, looking at the magister. ¡°If you think so, I will live to another town if you want¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. You could escape from this disaster if you wanted, but you didn¡¯t do it. You saved this town. I¡¯m certain that you¡¯re not a bad person¡±, the magister stated. ¡°But, I¡¯m not fond of not knowing the truth about someone like you¡±

    Kael smiled at the magister¡¯s words. He continued walking, and reached a point where he could see Cadell and Seqina rescuing some people.

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    ¡°I¡¯m treated as an enemy of your faith, but believe me, I don¡¯t want any conflict against any person and I will never turn my back against humanity¡±, Kael said.

    Kael¡¯s statement made the magister to think for a moment. There are two ways to interpret Kael¡¯s words in his mind. It was clear to him that Kael hated the demons, as he witnessed how Kael treated their enemies during battle. He concluded then that Kael was not a demon nor did he have any connection to demons. The second thing that he could think of was to consider Kael as a Lucienean, but the Lucienean faith made it clear that they are against the Rezelus church. What Kael said made him more confused than before, and so he asked Kael to clarify.

    ¡°What do you think of Lucien?¡±, Kael replied to the magister¡¯s request.

    ¡°He started a rebellion against the divine emperor. He was known to be an enemy of humanity¡±, Magister Kever firmly said.

    Kael sighed after hearing what the magister said. He was curious to know what happened after the death of Lucien, and who was the person that created the Lucienean faith.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do any of that you know¡±, Kael denied.

    Magister Kever was surprised by Kael¡¯s reply. It was as if Kael was saying that he is Lucien.

    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about you Kael. I was re..¡±,

    ¡°But I am Lucien¡±, Kael interrupted. The magister was about to say something about what he said, but he continued talking.

    ¡°Magister, I am Lucien. I know it¡¯s hard to believe, but everything will be clear to you if you believe what I said. I am Lucien, but I¡¯m living a different life right now. I thought the power that I showed was enough to convince you, but I was wrong¡±, Kael said.

    Magister Kever could see that Kael was adamant to say that, the person that the Rezelus church considered to be their greatest enemy is the same person in front of him. He was conflicted. He did witness the unnatural power of his student, but the way Kael acted was not what he expected to see that Lucien would do. It doesn¡¯t make sense to him, but Kael¡¯s firm conviction made him doubt what he wanted to believe. And so, as he was unable to arrive at a reasonable conclusion, the magister left Kael and returned to the academy. Kael was looking at the magister while he was returning, and thought that the magister could recover from his conflicted mind.

    Meanwhile, Cadell saw Kael not far from them, and made his way to Kael.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re alright¡±, Kael said. Cadell greeted him and said the same thing.

    From there, Kael was able to reunite with Cadell and Seqina, and was introduced to Brunus. Drogo was not there as he left the group to search for his family. After helping for some time, they decided to go to the king¡¯s castle to look for Elalios.

    Along the way, Kael saw dead people lying around the streets. He also see a familiar sword shattered on the ground. It is the reddish blade that gave him the red curse. He thanked Rodo for lifting the curse, as he held a piece of the shattered blade.

    They went on their way, and finally saw the person they wanted to see. However, they saw Elalios gravely injured, which was the situation that all of them were worried about. They rushed towards him, and immediately healed his wounds. Thankfully, as he proved many times before, Elalios survived the dangerous situation.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was weak against them¡±, Elalios said. He narrated what had happened to him, and the three consoled him for doing his best. After getting some rest, they continued on to check what happened inside the king¡¯s castle.

    They saw the carnage inside the castle. None of the royal guards survived. They scoured the whole castle to find the king, and saw that the king was unconscious. Then, they all went to the room connected to Rezelus, and there, they saw the weakened but alive unnamed mage and a demonic heart. Kael picked the demonic heart, and was surprised to see that it was a little damaged. He was intrigued, but he didn¡¯t want to ask the unnamed mage about it. He silently hid the demonic heart instead, and went to the unnamed mage. But, before he could reach the unnamed mage, the teleportation platform in the room lit up, and a person was seen standing on the teleportation platform. He walked towards the unnamed mage, and spoke to him.

    ¡°What happened here?¡±, the person asked.