War of Emperium

Red Headed Terror 4

Master Lothair looked at us with accusing eyes. I quickly threw myself at his feet, bowing with my head to the ground. The people of Geffen around us did the same, except for Nerva. Nervous, I stared up at him, giving him a warning look that he should bow or else.

Nerva stared at Master Lothair as if challenging him. I grew afraid. And then, to my enormous relief, Nerva pushed himself down, although with great difficulty because of his broken leg. He knelt, but he didn't bow. He kept his gaze at Master Lothair's face. I was amazed at his courage.

"Did you cause this mess, young Magician?" Master Lothair demanded.

"I did not." Nerva replied in a firm voice. He nodded toward Foucoult. "He did."

I saw Foucoult's face redden. He straightened up. "It is that Izludian's fault, Master! He insulted me!"

"I did not insult you. It was your fault. Had you not taught falsely, you wouldn't have been offended!" Nerva answered defiantly.

Foucoult made a move as if to attack Nerva, but I quickly shielded my student from view. I caught his eyes. I swear Nerva smiled at me and whispered, "Thank you."

Master Lothair rolled his eyes. "Foucoult, you are to come with us to be inquired. Let us go to the Arcane Tower, and leave this young Magician alone. I have heard his side of the story, and now I want to hear yours."

"Heard his story?!?" Foucoult repeated. "He hasn't even spoken!"

"Maria has told me. And I can see his mind as well." Master Lothair said in a dangerous voice.

"Come."

They went away. Somehow I was relieved. I turned to speak to Nerva, but I found him already limping away with his books. I followed him at a run.

"Nerva, wait!" I called.

He turned to me. "Master..."

"That was very brave of you, young man." I smiled.

"I think that is the first time I have seen Foucoult on his knees. Not many can master the Soul Strike spell in such a short time, how did you do it?"

"The difference between doing what you want and doing something casually is that you urge yourself to do it in the most perfect way." Nerva replied.

"I am doing something I want to do, master, so it works well for me."

He sat down on a nearby bench. I sat beside him. I was observing his injuries.

"Are you sure you are all right? I have heard from Maria, and..." I couldn't continue.

He didn't answer.

"It must be hard for you. You only have yourself now." I said.

"I can bear anything." He answered. "I will not let my family stand in my way."

This Nerva was shocking me with each passing second. His words would make you think he was someone over sixty years old. But somehow I knew, that behind that regal and aloft demeanor, there was a young boy who is alone and lonely...

"Would you like to walk with me?" I asked. Let's just say I wanted to know this "red-haired terror" better.

He looked up at me and gently shook his head.

"I can't master. I have to study for tomorrow, and..." he hesitated.

"And?"

"I still have to find a place to sleep for the night."

It had been three months now since I have met Nerva. And during those three months he had progressed greatly. He knew more spells than the graduating class combined and ventured far and wide, reaching even the desert sands of Morroc Town alone and come back alive.

Though it hurts me to admit it, he has gone beyond my reach. I cannot teach him things anymore, because his knowledge is far too advanced. Master Lothair had taken a liking to him and took him as a personal student, teaching him real Wizard spells. I remember one day, he came to me smiling, telling me that he can now conjure ten feet high thick Ice Walls.

Somehow, deep inside me, I felt insignificant when I am beside him. Still, even though Maria and I like him and so did some of our colleagues, there are some of us who didn't want him here in Geffen. His teachers in Divination, Alchemy and Water Divining particularly wanted to kick him out and return him to Izlude.

"I don't mind them, master." Nerva told me one day. "As long as I am not doing anything, they cannot kick me out."

I was stunned. I have never met anyone as brave as him, not caring to defy even the most powerful elders and mentors of Geffen. Sometimes I imagined what he could be like when he turns into a Wizard.

It made me shudder...

Nerva was a bright child, but he lacked the support any student needed, his family's love. I discovered that he hadn't written or visited Izlude ever since he graduated from Midgard Academy, when he was still eleven years old. I knew he hated that place, some of his classmates told me.

It is rainy today. But the clouds will not hamper me from taking my students to their much awaited hands-on practice with spells. I wore my travelling cloak as I entered the classroom, and discovered that all my students were also ready. Many were wearing Munak Hats, mufflers and travelling gears of the sort. Only Nerva had nothing besides his uniform.

"We are going to Morroc today." I told the young men and women.

"It is time for you to try and fight one of the well-known Earth monsters, the Hode. Now stand up, do not forget your books and staff, and let us go."

The students were all excited as we walked under the rain. Only Nerva was bored. But somehow I surmised that he couldn't have faced a Hode before, it was much too strong for him. He knew all the theories, yes, but he couldn't have been good at fighting the Hode at once.

Or so I thought.