Chương 90: B2 Chapter 12 - Interlude

Ava Bluefire Academy sprawled across the gentle hillside of pale stone and ivy-covered walls. Its towers rose high above the surrounding town of mortals like the silent sentinels they were. Wide cobblestone paths wound between lecture halls, alchemical workshops, and dormitories built over the centuries, giving the grounds a mismatched, yet oddly pleasant appearance. The air carried the scent of old parchment, candle wax, and freshly cut grass from the gardens of the Nature Mages and the Alchemists.

No matter where Ava looked, Apprentices moved between classes in robes of varying colors signifying their Major and Rank at the Academy. Their conversation blended into a constant hum of excitement, debates, and gossip, making it increasingly difficult to understand what was being said. No matter how hard Ava listened, she couldn't understand anything. Because I am asleep. She told herself. This was but a dream. The magnificent sight of the Bluefire Academy was nothing but a hollow frame of the beauty she recalled.

The central park at the heart of Bluefire Academy served as a gathering place for its students. Beneath ancient oak trees that guided Nature Mages, young Druids, and other students on their journey, students gathered in small circles. Someone was always by the oaks, practicing cantrips, discussing magic theory, or simply practicing [Mana Meditation]. Ava remembered resting near them whenever her Master wasn't there to torture her with magical theory.

The thought brought a smile to her lips, yet it also reminded her of her Master's death. Sparks danced between outstretched fingers nearby, pulling Ava's attention back to the trees, but her head flicked toward a group of laughing Mage Apprentices. Their laughter echoed from the stone benches where younger students competed to shape the most elaborate mana constructs, while other Apprentices quietly exchanged notes to prepare for their impending graduation.

They would advance to become full-fledged Mages, completing their secondary Class Evolution. Ava should have reached that Level a long time ago as well, yet she did not. And none other than Baron Lightor was at fault. And Ava's Master… Even if she hated talking bad about the dead, her Master had been foolish enough to fall for Baron Lightor's silver tongue.

He promised the greatest treasures, a myriad of magical ingredients, and a lot of gold for all the research and development projects her Master had always wanted to complete. And, of course, her Master fell for it. He was just as greedy as Baron Lightor and joined what should have been no more than a small expedition. A few days of traveling into the Devil's Lair to learn more about the steadily increasing essence signature.

Dungeons had formed in the Devil's Lair, and while there had been fewer than the signatures dictated, the hidden Dungeon portals found by her Master were overflowing or had already destabilized, creating an Outbreak. That would have explained the increasing essence signature if there had been more Dungeons. Dungeons produced essence to spawn monsters.

If not properly regulated, those very same Dungeons would continue to spawn monsters – first within the Dungeon's pocket dimension, and once there was no more space, they would spawn monsters within the Dungeon portal, allowing them to leave the pocket dimension to spread the Dungeon's essence into the outside world. Essence changed all flora and fauna it touched. It seeped into plants and animals, either killing them or transforming them into Wild plants and monsters.

Under normal circumstances, that would be taken care of by the Magi and Knights of the Alliance, but they did not dare to enter the Devil's Lair. They weren't allowed to enter in the first place, for the Blood Pact, an ancient acknowledgement of the races, had yet to expire. But as worrisome as the overflowing Dungeons and Outbreaks appeared to be, there were too few to warrant such a high essence signature. And the reason why the essence signature had been rising so slowly unraveled itself soon enough.

Towering figures, hulking men and women, wielding crude weapons, and resembling Neanderthals more than humans, appeared before them. They emerged from an overflowing Dungeon her Master and the Magi hired by Baron Lightor had been studying, their bodies drenched in blood. As fragments of the fateful day resurfaced in Ava's mind, her eyes snapped open. Pearls of sweat poured down her temples and back, and she shot upright in a moment. Her eyes were wet and it didn't take long before tears poured down her cheeks.

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"What am I even doing here?" she sobbed in the tongue of the civilized races, something the brutish Barbarians would never be able to understand. All they understood was brute force. That, however, they were great at. No matter how she looked at it, the bodies of all Barbarians she'd met were blessed. Even the children she had gotten to see ever since she regained freedom learned how to wield weapons at a ridiculous speed. The Alliance's only saving grace was their inability to wield mana. That's not correct.

Hakon's image flashed before her eyes. She put it aside and still thought that her initial idea was wrong. Barbarians were not bad at wielding mana. They simply didn't know how.

"Not that it matters once they're in tune with their Will." Ava grimaced, shuddering as yet another memory of the strongest of Barbarians flashed before her eyes. They may not have large numbers, but all those Barbarians who had survived the Devil's Lair's dangers for decades had something in common. They learned how to wield their Will and how to imbue it into their body and mana. Lifeblood they called it. And that was terrifying. Most Knights spend years acquiring a Will.

Most Squires fail and never make it to the ranks of the Knights, yet those who do are celebrated. They are the greatest of the Alliance, yet even they cannot use their Will and mana together, whereas Barbarians merge them instinctively. Ava learned a long time ago that this was yet another blessing of the Barbarians' physique. A blessing… Ava's expression turned gloomy as she was once again reminded of that stupid savage.

Closing her eyes, Ava checked on her Core and activated an alteration of [Mana Meditation] for what felt like the thousandth attempt. At least, she tried to, before a thought distracted her, forcing her to stop before the revolving streams of mana could damage her. One wrong move and everything would be over. That, among other things, was why Hakon didn't make any sense. How did he do it?

"That sava–..." Ava shook her head. Was he really a savage just because he achieved something she couldn't do? A vortex in his Core. It sounded suicidal. Like something that shouldn't have been possible, yet Ava had proof of the opposite. She had felt it numerous times by now. Then there was Hakon's spirit form. If she didn't know any better, Ava would have guessed that the stupid bloke was already working on connecting some weaves.

She knew he was playing around with them, which was beyond stupid as is, but it was not like she could stop him. Hakon was old enough to understand the danger he put himself in. But as stupid as his mindless actions were, and as important as the thorough research into the Weave Manifestation was, Ava felt that Hakon would do it anyway. And the worst part was that he might actually succeed. Maybe that should have made her angry.

Watching someone who had no idea what he was doing succeed in something she never succeeded at should have irritated her, yet it brought a smile to her lips. It only confirmed what she always thought: She needed Hakon for her goal. Unable to sleep, Ava left the hut. Since her punisher was not currently in the Tribehold, she could rest, but that too would work against her goal. Staring up at the sky, the six moons of the Gods glowed with equal brightness. It was beautiful.

Mana coursed through her pathways as she wandered the Tribehold. Lightning crackled between her fingers as yet another spellweave flickered into existence. I will show him how strong I am once he's back. She mused to herself, the spirit of competition blazing deep within her. A faint smile bloomed on her lips at that thought, and she was about to return to the hut to train in the backyard when a terrifying presence brushed past her. It passed her by at first but descended upon Ava a moment later.

Bloodlust, Ava recognized. She spun toward a familiar, young woman standing far in the distance where the other young warriors trained until deep into the night. Astrid. A strong Barbarian, wielder of a 'legendary' Ancient Power – whatever that was supposed to mean. She was also Hakon's lover, and a jealous woman. That was cute. Both Hakon and Astrid were, if she was honest with herself, although Ava would never tell them that. Just like she would never tell Hakon that he was not a savage but something of a savant.

"A savant Barbarian." She chuckled to herself. As terrifying as Astrid's bloodlust was, knowing that Hakon was gaining access to magic much faster than should be possible was a lot more terrifying. He may not be as monstrous as the other Barbarians, but the calm and calculative actions of someone wielding the physical strength of a monster, while also carrying the intellect and talent of a Magi, was monstrous. Once he learns about Will, he will be even more terrifying.

If he learns how to use his body like his father, and how to wield mana like the Archmagi, then… Ava shuddered. It was terrifying, yet she could not help herself as a seed of anticipation bloomed inside her. She looked forward to Hakon's growth and hoped desperately that he wouldn't leave the Devil's Lair to conquer the Alliance anytime soon. That would be bad. Cataclysmic bad. Just stay the good boy you are.