The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

Heiji shouted with her hand up.

- Big brother, I want to be a part of that defense group!

- No, you can't, because you will not restrain it, you will kill it for sure. And the others will not have a chance to fight it. No, you stay put, I can't trust you to hold back. Zak and Duncan, you can keep Princess Heiji under a close watch for her not to do anything crazy, you have already fought those things, let others shine for a while. But Myra, Hina, and John, you guys can try.

Heiji frowned and she crossed her arms, annoyed. The students were turning pale with the idea of fighting a Demonoid. The 3rd-years were the ones that started to complain more and some words of disagreement could be heard by Seya, coming from them. He just smiled and raised his hand, calling for attention. All the students stopped talking, waiting.

- Since the beginning, the 3-rd years were always complaining about wanting to attend this class. Now that they have the chance to experience something truly amazing in a controlled environment, they still complain. I don't know if you guys are just stupid or a bunch of cowards. Princess Heiji over there fought her first Demonoid when she was just 9 years old. Are you saying that you are more afraid of those nasty things than a little girl? Shame on you! And to the rest, I told this yesterday at my party. The Demonoids are being stopped from invading this Kingdom and the entire world, thanks to the amazing work of the Goddess that created the barriers around the Demonoid Island. And the ones that escape through the gaps of those barriers are fought and killed by the Mermaids, the LizardKind, the Fairies, and the Dragonoids. Many of those Magical Beings were killed, over the past 10.000 years so that you can be safe, even if some of you don't deserve their sacrifice! But if even one small Demonoid escapes and gets here, a lot of people can die. And if it grows because of so many people that he eats, it can increase its size and become even more dangerous, eating more people, growing even more… One small Demonoid, if it stays alive for long and with enough food at his disposal, can be unstoppable!

The 3-rd years were in silence, embarrassed. The other students, the Teachers, and the Principal were also in silence, thinking. One 1-st year student slowly raised his hand.

- Teacher Seya… if that means that my family can get eaten by one of those, I want to learn how to kill it. I swore to my little sister when she was born, that I would always protect her. I can't break my promise. I want to be in the first group to fight.

Seya nodded and he looked to the 3rd-years, very angry.

- Put your eyes on him, you bunch of cowards, stupid and prideful Nobles daughters and sons! You are not better than anyone in here! In fact, you are very weak as Mages, and as persons! For a Demonoid, you are just a meal! For them, it doesn't matter if you are the sons or daughters of a Duke, a Viscount or a Baron, you are just a meal! The only thing that you have more than the other students in here is that stupid and misguided pride! I would rather be like this student and die to protect my family if needed than become like you! You all really need to think about what kind of Nobles you want to be when you get old enough! Ones that don't deserve the air that you breathe, or some amazing ones, that put the people that live in your lands above everything else, like a true Noble should do! That's the meaning of 'Noblesse Oblige', in case you didn't understand the meaning of it when you were taught about that term!

Many 3-rd years became bright red, others turned pale, but all of them, remained silent, thinking on Seya's words. But he wasn't finished…

- Yesterday, I suffered an assassination attempt and our King, Queen, and Princess Heiji too, orchestrated by some Nobles that I'm sure, you all know. That pride that you have, they also had it and made them think that they could take over this Kingdom. And they became Demonoid's food. I'm sure that you all have figured out that I'm not someone that's easily killed, but that's not your case. So, this special class is for giving you and the other students, a fighting chance, if the worst happens and a Demonoid invades our Kingdom. Choose your group, give some space in the middle of this field and grab your weapons. Remember, if you faint or froze in fear, you are considered dead and you will be removed from this exercise. The others, the objective is to stay alive and cut one tentacle of the Demonoid. Run, avoid it, do whatever you can to not get eaten! And be fast with your Magic and with your weapon, those things may look slow but they are incredibly fast and aggressive.

- What? The Principal is afraid of a small Demonoid? Go make a group with the Teachers before the students notice that you are scared! And grab a weapon, you won't stand a chance without it. If you were going to say that this could be dangerous, don't worry, I got everything covered. Queen Titania, get ready, its better if you stay on your guard, too.

From behind Seya, a high pitch voice whispered and it surprised the Principal.

- Of course, dear Seya. Hello, Principal. I'm Titania, the Queen of the Fairies. I'm Seya's bodyguard, appointed to him by the Goddess. Don't worry, if anything goes wrong, I can easily cut to pieces any Demonoid that Seya brings here. So, you don't need to be afraid for your safety or your students.

The Principal looked at Seya, surprised. He made a little smile and he went to talk with the teachers. After a few moments, Seya saw that the students and the Teachers were all with a weapon and divided into groups of five. He signaled Ryn and Arys and they immediately increased their Magic.

Ryn made her Water Bubble and Arys her Dark Cloud and they took some steps back, waiting at one side. Seya went to the other side and he made a big Gateway to the Demonoid Island, right in the middle of the field. On the other side, there were two big Demonoids, bigger than the school's main building, fighting each other. Seya immediately closed it before they noticed it. He opened another one to another part of the Island and there it was, a small Demonoid, with the size of a big bull, eating a tentacle of another small Demonoid that was dead near it. He sensed the presence of the students on the other side of the Gateway and he rushed to cross it. The first group of students started to fight it. Some students that were waiting, screamed. Some fainted immediately while others just froze. Two students of the 3rd-year fell to their knees, completely pale. Seya made a signal and some students grabbed the fainted ones and took them near the Teachers. When one student of the first group fell, hit by a tentacle, one of his group tried to help him, only to be grabbed by another tentacle. When he was being dragged to the Demonoid's mouth, Ryn went to the rescue. She used her water tentacles to hold the Demonoid's tentacles, she placed one of hers around its neck and squeezed. The student got free and Seya told them to get back and the next group to try.

Ryn let go of the Demonoid and the second group attacked. They had more success, by cutting one tentacle in five minutes, very near to the time limit. Seya sent a Dark Dot to the tentacle that was cut and placed it inside his Compressed Dimension, absorbing the Dark Magic. Arys went to the Demonoid and restrained it, to give time for the next group to get ready. When they were in position, she let go and the Demonoid rushed to them. That group was made by members of the 3-rd years. They were all evading it while two of them fought it with their swords and the other three were chanting their Magic. But because they weren't in sync, every time that the two with the swords took one step to the side, the other three threw their Magic, hitting on a different spot. In more than one occasion, the Demonoid ate the Magic, becoming faster and stronger. They were all easily grabbed by the Demonoid and Ryn intervene again, saving them. Seya shouted, to warn the other students that were waiting.

- Lookout, that thing is now stronger and faster! It was difficult to fight in the beginning, but now, it's even worse! Be careful! And remember, hit the same spot, over and over, or else, you won't be able to cut one simple tentacle! Ryn, let go!

Ryn set it free and jumped to the side. The Demonoid looked at her Water Bubble with his six red eyes, but even if it was without a conscience, it could learn, that ugly thing knew that Ryn was strong. The group of students that were near, approached and started to fight it. After they managed to cut one tentacle at great cost, another group came. And another, and another.

By the end of the class, the Demonoid was on the floor, without any tentacles on the body or around the mouth. It even lost two eyes. Seya sent a couple of Wind Blades to slice it, ending the Demonoid's suffering. He placed every piece and every drop of Dark blood and Dark drool inside his Compressed Dimension, cleaning the field. Despite the holes and burning grass everywhere, the damage was all contained by the Light Dome.

Seya looked to the students, dead tired but with a smile on their face. Even the ones that fainted at first, after regaining their senses, got an opportunity to fight. The Principal was seated on the floor, breathing heavily, side by side with his group of Teachers that were dripping in sweat but with a smile as well. The only one that was frowning was Princess Heiji. She was stopped from fighting, so, she was very angry. Aria was near the edge of the Light Dome, with her eyes closed and her hands over her ears while singing loudly. Seya went near her to let her know that everything had already ended. He grabbed her hands and pulled. Aria opened her eyes and Seya noticed that her face and her clothes were all wet.

- Aria, have you been crying all this time?

- Maybe, or maybe not! I'm not telling!

Seya hugged her, tightly.

- I'm really sorry, my sweet and kind Goddess. I just wanted them to learn and understand.

Aria shook him off and she quickly wiped her tears.

- Let go, I think you are confusing me with a sweet little girl! I may not like those ugly things, but I'm not as pitiful as that little one!

Seya made a small smiled and he placed one hand over Aria's face.

- You don't need to pretend that you are tough, not with me. I know you.

Aria looked at Seya and her eyes became wet again. She hugged him and she cried a little while whispering.

- Yeah, I totally understand why Ryn, Lionelia, Attina, and Talya are crazy about you. And you even touched me deeply. It's better if you let go of me or I won't resist on kissing you. That would make a lot of problems! For you and for me!

- Yeah, that's for sure. Are you feeling better now?

- I think so. Come, let's meet the others, I think you need to do a final speech.

Seya offered his arm to Aria and she held it, leaning her head against his shoulder while they walked to meet Seya's class. Ryn and Lionelia were watching from a distance and they weren't happy. Seya went to the middle of the field to speak and Aria went near Ryn and Lionelia. They grabbed her arms and pulled to the back of the group of students and she just shrugged her shoulders when they let her go and were looking at her very seriously.

- What? I can't be with my beloved who I love so deeply?

Ryn and Lionelia turned white and they opened wide their eyes. For a moment, they were unable to speak. Ryn shook her head strongly and when she was about to say something, Lionelia reacted. She slapped Aria, hard and she talked in a low voice.

- If you say another stupid joke like that, I will take your head, you bitch! Don't you dare on trying anything with Seya, I'll make sure to make you regret it! I don't know who you think you are, but you are not my beloved Goddess! You are just another crazy girl, trying to grab our Seya!

Aria was looking at Lionelia, completely dumbfounded and in complete silence. That silence granted her another slap, but this time, it was from Ryn. She too was very angry and she also talked in a low voice.

- I say the same thing! If I ever see you touching our Seya like you just did or even looking at him in a weird way, I'm going to do a lot more than just slap you! I like little Aria, a lot! But I'm sure that I will never like you! It's better if you just leave, you are not welcome near us!

Aria was still surprised and she touched both sides of her red face that had the hand mark of Lionelia and Ryn. She slowly nodded her head and she went to the back of the group, to get near the edge of the Light Barrier. The other students that were near Ryn or Lionelia just heard the sound of the slapping but they didn't hear the talk, they didn't understand anything. Ryn and Lionelia went again to the front of the group, to hear Seya. While all this was happening, Seya was pointing out some movements that he saw and could be done in a different way.

- … like that, it would be easier and faster. Like you all saw, the 3-rd years had more members fainting, but there were also some students in the 2-nd and in the 1st-years that suffered the same fate. You guys are now dead, inside the stomach of a Demonoid. Your parents, sisters, and brothers are also dead because you were unable to protect them. There were also two Teachers, our History Teacher and our Potions Teacher that fainted. I think that you have husbands and children and because of your weakness, they are all dead too. You recovered later in the exercise and managed to muster enough courage to fight, but the History Teacher froze while she was fighting and Arys had to save her. I know that for some people, facing a nightmare like a living Demonoid can be too difficult but this exercise was not only to show you what can be achieved with enough Magic Control training, like in Ryn and Arys case. This exercise was also to make you realize how much powerful you all got, in just these last few months. The fact that you had the chance to get used to fight a Demonoid, was just a bonus.

The students were in silence, thinking. The History Teacher was all red in embarrassment and she had her eyes wet, thinking about her little daughter being eaten because of her weakness. For a few moments, the silence was overwhelming, but then, one 3rd-year spoke.

- Teacher Seya, I now understand everything that you spook in the beginning and I get it why you talked about 'Noblesse Oblige'. My parents are Viscounts and they have many lands with a lot of people living there. I was trained in the arts of the sword and in Magic since I was very little and I also thought that I had too just because I'm a Noble. I see now that all my training was to prepare me to defend the people living in my parent's lands, the people that respect us and depends on us for protection, in case of need. A Demonoid is a strong enemy, and if only this small one gave us so much trouble, I wonder what would happen if there were a bunch of them or a big one, like the first that we all saw through the first Gateway.

The 3-rd year student made a deep bow towards Seya.

- Thank you, Teacher Seya, for granting me this opportunity. I don't know what can I do to apology for my behavior until now.

All the 3-rd year students also made a deep bow. The 2-nd, 3-rd, the Principal and the Teachers, made also a deep bow and thanked him.

- Thank you, Teacher Seya!

Seya smiled and he just nodded.

- I know I've been too hard on you, especially the 3-rd years, but I never liked pride without merit. You are too young and you didn't do anything extraordinary so far, to have so much pride. The fact that you were born in a Nobles family is not enough reason. It only makes you look stupid. I hope that you all understood my reasons for this special class. With enough Magic Control, you can create some very powerful Magic's like Ryn and Arys did, or something even more amazing. You must think very well what you will do with all that power because 'with great power, comes great responsibilities' and since most of you are Nobles daughters and sons that sooner or later will inherit the responsibilities towards your people, you must prepare yourselves for that.

The students nodded with a glow in their eyes and they started to talk among them. They were very proud of what they did, even the ones that fainted in the beginning. The only one that was in silence with a very serious look towards Seya, was the History Teacher. After a few moments, she spoke.

- 'One must always do his best to protect the people around them, but never forget to be safe or you won't be able to help anyone'. This is something that I often say to myself and I think that this exercise was too dangerous. If someone faced one thing like that, it would be normal to try to escape so that one could protect the ones that are dear to them, instead of facing such danger that could kill him, making him unable to protect his dear ones. I have a little daughter, and she's everything to me, I don't think that wasting my life to protect someone that I don't know, would be a good decision.

Seya slowly nodded and he hides a smile.

- Yeah, 'A Nobles Duty'. I like the King's book, too. For that quote, I have one question. What do you think it would happen if you flee instead of fighting a Demonoid and by doing that, he was able to eat a lot of people and become even more powerful? What would your daughter say when she discovered that you are a lousy coward? And would you be able to look your daughter in her eyes, knowing what you did?

The History Teacher turned pale and she froze. Not only because Seya knew her favorite book but because she was thinking in his words. She slowly nodded.

- Yes… you are right. My daughter would hate me for that. And so would I.

Seya nodded and he told Hina, Zak, and Heiji to go to the Crystals and place their hand on top of it and to say the words 'Shield Dome Deactivate!' and to bring them back. They did what he said and Seya went to a Crystal as well. When the Light Dome was turned off, they returned to the center of the field. Seya placed the Big Crystals inside his Compressed Dimension and he ended the class. The students bowed to him and they started to leave. Some of them were still in the field, talking. The Principal was approaching Seya when suddenly, the school Janitor shouted.

- My beautiful field! So many holes and burned grass! There are even some pounds filled with water and a lot of scattered rocks! Principal, what happened here?

Seya and the Principal looked in the direction of the shouts and they saw the school's Janitor coming towards them while being followed by a Phoenix bird. Before the Principal could answer, Seya was already kneeling and he was caressing the head of the Phoenix. He frowned when he sensed the Phoenix Magic Flow.

- This is not possible… this Phoenix is the one that I made in the class of Teacher Fill! But it was only an image! How can it be alive?

- Well, I found it inside the Auditorium. It looked alive to me. This is Tyly, the male. I found some days later the female, Myly. And they already have four little ones.

- I think the Goddess has something to do with this. I made this Phoenix and another one as a demonstration. I think I didn't disperse the Magic that made them when I left the Auditorium. Maybe the Goddess thought it was better to give them life. And you are taking care of them and they have already breed? Amazing! There are only a few in the world, it would be great if you would be able to raise their children so that their numbers could increase in a few years! The Phoenix birds are very powerful with Fire, Healing and Earth Magic. Some of them can even use Light Magic or Water Magic instead of Healing or Earth Magic.

The Janitor was puzzled. How could a mere student know so much about his birds? He could only found out a little information in the school's library! And he was the one to make them in the first place, as a simple image?

- But… how do you know all that? I hardly could find a bit of information about them! I had a lot of trouble to figure out what they like to eat! I know that Tyly here loves apples but Myly prefers tomatoes.

Seya smiled and he made a small ball of Fire that Tyly the Phoenix, happily ate.

- Yeah, but they prefer to eat Magic. Especially, Fire Magic. Or real flames from an actual fire. And if you put some ashes in their nest, their children will eat them also, to grow up stronger.

Seya opened his Compressed Dimension and he started to pick up some books.

- I have one here… Which one is it? Found it! Here, a lot of information about Phoenix birds, some drawings and useful advice. You can keep this one, it's only a copy that was given to me by Master Eridan. There are more copies in his Library, so, you can keep this one. I hope it helps you. This is the only book about Phoenix, outside of the Ancient Dragonoid Library, so please, take good care of it. By the way, they are very intelligent and if you talk with Tyly and explain what you want him to do, I'm sure he won't mind on fixing this field for you.

The Janitor was surprised. He already noticed that the Phoenix seemed to understand him. He was even more surprised when he looked at Tyly and the male Phoenix nodded his head.

- Ok… Well, can you help me with fixing this field? Those holes need to be filled with earth, the grass needs to grow again and those pounds need to be dried up, filled with earth and new grass. And all those rocks need to disappear. Can you do all this?

Tyly the Phoenix made a proud pose and nodded his head. The Janitor looked at his bird, surprised. He then looked at the Principal and at Seya, that just shrugged his shoulders. The Phoenix opened his wings and lift up in the sky. As he flew over the field, he used his Magic to make the rocks go deep into the ground, disappearing. He dried the pounds by stopping over them one at a time while increasing his fire. He then used Earth Magic to fill every hole with earth and make the grass grow again. When he finished, the field looked even better than it was, with fresh grass everywhere. After a final flight over the field, he flew back to meet the Janitor and he landed slowly, looking very proud of his work. The Janitor was dumbfounded.

- I never knew that he could do that! He saved me some time ago from some strange people, but I never knew that he could use Magic like that!

Seya was caressing Tyly's head and he smiled towards the Janitor.

- Seems that Tyly here can use Fire and Earth Magic. I don't know if he can use more Attributes, but Phoenix birds can normally use three. And the females are more powerful because they need to protect the eggs. It's written in that book that I gave you, and much more, it's full of useful information. You know, Phoenix are truly remarkable and very friendly if they like someone. They can tell if a person is a kind one and they are very loyal. They live many, many years. If you do everything right, the children of your grandchildren if they are worthy, will also be their friends and the Phoenix will always protect them. They can go head to head against a Dragonoid and defeat it. Normally, it takes two Dragonoids working together, to defeat a single Phoenix, just to give an idea of Tyly's power. And against Myly, the female, it would have to be three or four Dragonoids. And even like that, they would have a lot of trouble! And if she had eggs or baby birds to protect, she can be even more aggressive. That's why they were haunted down by some stupid Dragonoids, they started to breed too much and they moved to the Dragonoid's Island. Phoenix never attacks first, but they are deadly if someone or something tries to hurt them or their friends. They were very lucky to found you, and you too.

The Janitor smiled and he caressed his bird's head. Seya turned away and he went to meet Ryn and Lionelia that were talking with some students. The Janitor asked the Principal, he was still curious.

- Principal, who is that student?

- Marquess Seya 'Taly' Denar'an Hinamoto. He's not only a student, but he's also the Teacher of the class that we had here, Applications of Magic. Seems that you impressed him because of the way that you are taking care of your birds. For him to give you such a valuable book, I think he's expecting that you continue on making sure that they breed and grow stronger. Well, this class was interesting, but I need to go to my office and take a rest, I'm so tired!

The Principal left, leaving behind a dumbfounded Janitor.