Salvos

459. Insane Challenge

There it was.

Mavos Academy. The most prestigious magic academy in all of the Human lands. It was the only school that produced as many Level 70 individuals as they did through their harsh academic curriculum and training regimen.

They also had a second school— which was apparently unordinary. The School of Aspiring Elites. It was designed specifically to train those who’d already reached Level 100. To help them navigate through the long and arduous path to their next Class advancement, and provide the resources they needed to nurture their second Class. After all, since it was far easier to level your second Class, that meant if you leveled it too quickly, the advancements offered would be a lot more… basic.

Anyway, that was what Clayton Skyshredder had told me when I first enrolled in Mavos Academy. All in all, this was what made Mavos Academy special. These reasons were why they stood leagues above Cedric Academy, Hawal’s College, the University of Telfour, and all the other magical schools all throughout the Human lands. And last but not least, they also had the highest-leveled [Mage] of all Humankind as their headmaster.

Clayton Skyshredder was strong. I’d heard rumors that Helena Warshade might be stronger, but personally, I doubted that. Sure, she had a strong Grand Skill— that had been dangerous. I hadn’t been expecting the radius and the raw power of that blast of lightning she used against Belzu. But I remembered when I first met the Headmaster of Mavos Academy. He had been ready to blast me with his Grand Skill there and then. The aura emanated from that… it frightened me, even now.

That was why I was here. To recruit him into the war. After all, last I heard, he had still remained adamant against joining the fray for whatever reason. And…

I twirled the Sword of Alexander behind me as I started towards the school in the distance.

I’m going to do whatever it takes to get him to join the fight.
It was all over the news. Everyone was talking about it. All of Humankind had banded together at a scale that hadn’t been seen in thousands of years. It amazed Valda, just hearing about it.

“To think the Vaun Qieur Empire and the Eastern Kingdom Alliance would be fighting on the same side…”

“They say that the Demon King is making his return!”

“Seriously?”

“How are we going to stop that? If Regnorex returns… it’s going to be cataclysmic!”

“Actually, I heard that it’s even worse than that— they’re trying to bring the Netherworld into the Mortal Realm.”

“What?”

“That’s preposterous! The planes aren’t something that can just be merged like that! And if that happens, the results would be apocalyptic!”

The susurration hushed for a moment as the realization of what could happen sank in. Valda raised her head, involuntarily eaves-dropping to the commotion. The young prodigy wasn’t one who often partook in gossip. After all, she was accustomed to others gossiping about her as one of the youngest students currently enrolled in Mavos Academy.

But this wasn’t just frivolous talk. It was something that genuinely worried her. Sighing. she turned to Jonas— her only friend that was still living on campus. Marie, Eve, Jeremiah, and the others had all been sent back to their homes months ago.

“What do you think about this whole ordeal?”

“Hm?”

Jonas blinked, lowering the book he was reading. The pair sat at a bench in an open courtyard— right by one of the many rainforests around the school. Valda rolled her eyes.

“Don’t you think that we should be doing something about this? If the world is coming to an end… we’ll be affected too, won’t we?”

“I don’t see how we can do anything about it.”

He shrugged as he raised his book again. Valda clicked her tongue, slightly annoyed.

“We can’t just do nothing. If the planes do get merged, we’ll die. Either by the clashing of space crushing and ripping us apart, or the hordes of Demons that’ll pour in from the other side!”

Jonas shut his book, shaking his head.

“Look, Valda, we’re just students. Let those in charge handle it. We’re not strong enough to effect any substantive change, alright?”

She harrumphed as she leaned on the palm of her hand.

“I just think that Headmaster Skyshredder should at least try to do something about it, you know?”

“It’ll be fine. I hear that Mori Gladius is back now— also, there’s that [Hero] too. What’s his name again?”

Jonas tapped a finger on his chin as he got to his feet. Valda scoffed, following after him.

“Daniel Song? Please, he’s no [Hero]. Salvos is superior to him in every way. He’s probably just a decoy to hide the fact that Salvos is the real [Hero].”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I’m positive.”

The girl nodded, hands on her hips. Her friend scratched his cheeks.

“I don’t know— I heard that Daniel was even entrusted the Sword of Alexander. And that he helped lift the siege of Alyras by tapping into its powers.”

“That’s…”

Valda trailed off. She tried to find some justification for it. There had to be one, right? She shook her head adamantly.

“I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.”

“Like what?”

“Uh… another decoy?”

She suggested meekly. Jonas gave her a flat stare. Valda shrank back.

“Look, I just think—”

The girl started, but someone bumped into her from behind. She blinked, looking up as a group of students rushed forward, whispering amongst themselves. Valda frowned.

“Hey, watch where you’re going!”

“Sorry!”

They quickly apologized before hurrying on.

“I can’t miss this.”

“Seriously, who do you think is going to win?”

Valda narrowed her eyes as they continued. She turned to Jonas and asked.

“What is going on?”

“Beats me. Want to check it out?”

“Maybe…”

The pair nodded at each other before following after the crowd. And there was a crowd. It was quite the commotion. A large gathering of both students and just regular people who lived in the magical city were standing at the courtyard just before the Tower of Truth.

Valda and Jonas went around the side, getting a better angle of what was going on. The child prodigy was curious about who was supposedly getting into a fight, but other than that, she found it quite immature. Watching fights for entertainment was such an unrefined display from everyone involved.

At least, that was what she thought until she saw who was standing ahead of the crowd.

“That’s— Salvos!”

Valda’s eyes bulged from their sockets.

There was Salvos, arms crossed over her chest, head raised, and a smirk on her face. The silver-haired woman stared up the Tower of Truth as she waited expectantly.

“Wait, why is she here?”

Valda turned towards Jonas. Her friend didn’t respond. His gaze was fixed on the weapon sheathed on Salvos’s back.

“Is that… the Sword of Alexander?”

“What?”

The girl blinked, snapping her gaze to the sheathed sword. Somehow, even through the leather sheath, she could see the glistening reflection of the Sword of Alexander’s blade from where she stood.

“That means I’m right…”

Valda gasped. Jonas blinked a few times. He glanced between Salvos and Valda before slowly nodding.

“You might just be right. But what is she doing?”

“I… am not sure…”

She trailed off. They both stared on as Salvos paced before the Tower of Truth. The crowd watched on, whispering amongst each other in a hushed voice. Valda opened her mouth.

“I should ask—”

The girl started, but all of a sudden, the double doors of the Tower of Truth swung open. Headmaster Clayton Skyshredder himself emerged from the tall building and cast his gaze over the crowd. His brows furrowed as he met Salvos’s gaze.

“What is the meaning of this?”

He demanded. Salvos stepped forward, unsheathing the Sword of Alexander and pointing it at him.

“Clayton Skyshredder!”

Her voice boomed, echoing in the courtyard. Valda watched with bated breath as the Headmaster of Mavos Academy frowned.

“What do you want, Sentinel of Secely?”

Clayton Skyshredder asked as he crossed his arms at her. Salvos grinned and took on a wide stance. Her following words sent a ripple over the crowd. It made Valda stumble back in shock with wide eyes. It took the girl a moment to register it, but it was said clearly and loudly for all to hear.

“I challenge you to a duel!”