They said he was crazy, but I never believed them. He was sane as you and me. He was, though, accused of a crime that he never admitted although evidences were strictly against him.
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My students were glad to have left Geffen for the first time. We arrived at Morroc late that day, about three in the afternoon. We were lucky to have come across a wandering Priest in the mountains. Priests and Monks have this spell that can open a portal and warped them to a specified place by using a Blue Gemstones, of course it's a bit pricey to get the gemstone and he warped us to the great Sograt Desert for 900 zeny per person.
I warned my students to never stray too far from me. Many of them were new ones to the outside world. As we walked about buying the necessities for the upcoming fight, the children were busy looking around at the mud brick houses built by the Morrocans.
"Honestly, how do they live with all this heat?" Pyrrha, female student of mine, inquired.
She tugged at my cape. "Master, where do they get water and food from?"
At this, it was Nerva who answered her question. "Morroc is alive because of the underground irrigation system built for it by King Osiris I. As for the food, Morroc relies on barter trade with Prontera for much needed grain. The Morrocans live mainly on trade, they hold the biggest monopoly in Midgard by being the only city state to have three trading rights with Prontera, Payon and Alberta."
I think Nerva satisfied Pyrrha's inquisitiveness, because she did not ask another question after that.
After loading ourselves with healing items, we began the long walk to the southern tip of the great Sograt. My students were nervous, many of them were fidgeting with their staffs and things.
"Can anyone tell me what kind of creatures Hodes are?" I asked.
Nerva promptly raised his hand. "Non-aggressive, earth type."
"Very good." I nodded as we walked on.
"Now listen closely. I shall be the first to attack the Hode with my Frost Diver spell. Afterward, when the Hode is frozen, I want you all to focus and attack it with your Fire Bolt spell. Understand?"
"Yes, master Deucalion." they answered altogether.
We passed the cliffs and entered the famous Hode Valley. At once, my students gasped. The first thing they saw was an Assassin taking on a gigantic popping Hode all by himself. Some of the girls shrieked in fright as the Hode crashed into the ground, making a minor earthquake as it went. I herded them together and summoned my staff.
"Follow me and don't leave the group! Come on!" I ordered amid the shrieking and crashing.
We circled around the valley and climbed up the Hode Plateau. It was here that I froze the first free Hode we could find. My students gathered around the huge spire of ice and cast their spells, the red pentagram illuminating the sands. There was a huge explosion as their spells combined and obliterated the giant worm.
"Very good!" I shouted. "Now gather round, come on and keep it up!"
I was stopped when Pyrrha again tugged at my sleeve.
"Master!"
She sounded fearful. I peered at her from beneath my Wizard's hat. "What is it?!"
"Master, Nerva is missing!" Pyrrha cried out.
I felt oxygen take leave of my lungs. I looked around at the young men and women I had with me. No red-haired and yellow eyed kid among them. My mind raced.
"NERVA! NERVA, WHERE ARE YOU?!?" I screamed as I broke into a frantic dash. "NERVA!"
I dashed to the edge of the plateau. I looked far and wide.
"MASTER, LOOK! OVER THERE!"
My head turned automatically. There, few hundred feet away, was Nerva with his staff out. A Hode was fast crashing toward him, great slimy bulk ready to squash him to pulp.
I jumped off the cliff. I know it was the most idiotic thing to do, but I had to reach Nerva no matter what. As I slide down the sands, I heard my other students screaming. But I didn't care, I had to reach Nerva, save him, rescue him!
The Hode crashed to the ground with a tremendous quake. My eyes widened as I saw Nerva jump, soaring through the air like an eagle, his face screwed in concentration. He landed upon the Hode's head and raised his staff above his head.
"FROST DIVER!" he screamed.
At once, like a magical dream, the Hode froze from where Nerva's staff went through its skull. I landed upon the ground, my jaws dropped open. Nerva hopped off from his kill and pointed his staff at it. The familiar red pentagram appeared beneath the icy spire.
"COLD BOLT!"
The skies darkened at once, answering the gleaming of his staff's main gemstone. Then, from the heavens, five spears of solid ice rained down upon the frozen enemy, piercing and slicing mercilessly. There was another loud crash as the remnants of the Hode collapsed to the ground.
Nerva skidded to a halt some fifity feet away from where I was. I stared at him, a beginner like him took on a Hode all by himself and survived with nothing but a scratch on the cheek!
I stood up and went to him. "Nerva! Nerva, are you alright?!?"
He blinked and looked at me, as if he had just realized I was there. "What is it, master?"
"You are asking what is it?" I yelled.
"I'll tell you what! Didn't I tell the class that no one will separate from the group? What were you thinking, taking on that Hode by yourself?! You could have died, Nerva!!!"
He looked at me as if I were mad. "But master, I am alive. There is nothing more to worry about."
I felt my temper rise. Sometimes, Nerva was going way too far. I grabbed his wrist and twisted it slightly. He looked up at me malevolently.
"I am still the master here, young man, don't you forget that!" I hissed.
"You shall listen to me and stay in the group!UNDERSTAND?!?"
Nerva snatched back his arm and did not answer. Throughout the day and the day next he did not separate from the group, but he did not fight either. He just watched as his classmates struggled with the Hode, but never casting a spell to help. He stopped speaking to me as well.
After four days in Morroc we returned to Geffen. I gave them a written test about their experiences in the brief stay in the desert. As expected, Nerva got the highest marks.
It was time to start another lesson. Today we were going to tackle the Lightning Element, and I was going to teach the children two new spells, Lightning Bolt and Thunderstorm.
"Now, who can tell me what Wizard spell is associated with the Lightning Bolt and Thunderstorm?" I asked for this day's start.
Nobody answered. And then Nerva raised his hand.
"Yes?" I nodded.
"Lord of Vermilion." He said in a soft voice.
"One of the three spells used to summon Apocalypse."
I don't know if it's just me or what. After reciting in class that day, Nerva became more distant than ever. His classmates and other teachers tried their best to get him to tell what was the problem, but he wouldn't talk. He only answered questions relating to the subject matter, and when the topic steered away from that, he wouldn't utter a word no matter what.
Somehow the name of the forbidden spell, Apocalypse, seemed to have stirred something within him.
