PART 1

They all say the same thing about this boy. They say he is the best of the best, probably the brightest child Geffen, city of Magic, has ever seen. I want to meet this boy personally. All my colleagues have been his mentor in different subjects already, but I will be his teacher in Ancient Runes, but we would not meet until Thursday.

I have seen the boy. He's tall, red-haired with the yellow eyes of a hawk. I suspected him of not being Geffenese, because he's body's too lean to be compared to that of our children's. My suspicions were correct.

From what my colleagues said, this boy is from Izlude. Now when this piece of information struck my fancy, I was amazed. An Izludian in Geffenese soil? Now this was something that rarely came our way. Nearly all Izludians turn out to be Swordsmen and Knights, but this one was actually a Magician---and studying special classes with extra subjects.

Days passed. When Thursday loomed near I was excited to meet my students. Especially that red-haired Izludian they call "Nerva". I have been warned by my Wizard colleagues though. This Nerva had actually made 3 Magicians and 2 Wizards quit teaching in the Magic Academy because he pointed out their mistakes. I was shocked.

Ah, but he is just a Magician, newly promoted into the job class. How could he possibly stand against me, a Wizard? We shall about this student, this defiant Izludian, and I will bet that today he will be the one to go home from classes crying. Heh.

"Good morning class."

"Good morning, Master Deucalion."

I look around and spotted the culprit at once. He was there, sitting at the very back of the classroom. Although the Magician's uniform suited him, he looked strange because of the fact that half of his face was covered with bandages and left arm was actually in a sling. How did he get those injuries? Surely Porings cannot inflict that much...I wonder...

"Okay, young boys and girls, our topic for today would be about the Practical Uses of the Fire Element in Combat. Take out your notebooks, write this down."

I gave a slight wave of my staff and their notes appeared on the board. I sat down and watch the students copy faithfully. And then my gaze stopped at this Nerva, who remained staring at the notes but not copying them. A frown appeared on my face.

"Young man, haven't I told this class to copy the notes?"

He looked at me. He blinked his sharp yellow eyes and spoke what was probably the greatest insult I had taken all my magical life.

"Your lessons are wrong."


-tbc-

PART 2

"Excuse me?" I said, standing up. My temper was flaring up, but I tried my best to control it. "And what makes you, a Magician, say that my lessons are wrong?"

Nerva remained in his seat, calmly looking at me as if I were some object in a store that had caught his attention. He stood up and started to limp toward the blackboard---his right leg was broken, good lord, what things have this boy been doing---. He conjured a piece of chalk and pointed to the part of the lecture that summed up which monsters were especially weak with the fire element.

"Earth type monsters, master." Nerva told me. "Earth types such as the Hode and the Desert Wolf are no doubt defenseless against fire, but Ice Element does more damage to them. Fire element, when used in combat, is much more effective with Brute Type creatures such as the Savage, Yoyo and Coco. Now this one here, master, the damage caculation, is inaccurate by 30 decimal places. The right calculation must 500 torquins of energy and 56 metrons of pure Valhalla damage spite."

I was dumbfounded. Where the hell did this Nerva learn all of that? All around me, his classmates started whispering in awe. I felt the back of my neck trickle. My cheeks started to burn. I met his gaze, this indolent know-it-all, and there was something behind those yellow eyes that made me shudder.

But what was it?

"It is just my opinion, master." Nerva blinked at me. "Though of course you are---wiser, because you are a Wizard, and I am still a Magician. You will forgive me if I do not wish to write this down, because I know it all. I have finished the book."

He limped back to his seat and kept his gaze at his gloved hands. His classmates were still staring at him in an awestruck manner. I jerked myself free from my trance and looked at the things he scribbled on the board. I was dumbfounded.

Good gracious, he had written the whole Merlin Theorem and showed the damage calculation with such pinpoint accuracy that even the Elders of Geffen would surely have failed to match. His runes were perfect, his calculations incomparable. I couldn't speak as I studied right then and there.

My class passed with utter silence. I was incapacitated right before my students by a fifteen-year-old Mage. And I was thirty years old! I left the classroom dazedly. I went back to the Arcane Tower with stars floating in my eyes. I was welcomed by Maria, a voluptous but dangerous Ice Wizard.

"So you have met him, the special child Nerva al'Thor." She said as she sat me down on a chair. "You could do with a massage. Did he make your head ache?"

"You have no idea." I groaned as I drank some Red Potions to pacify my headache. "Is that child human after all? Why is he here? And did you say his surname is Thor? The House of Thor, the rulers of Izlude? What is he doing here?"

Maria leaned on the wall, arms folded across her chest. She looked woeful. "That boy has some story, Deucalion. If you want to hear it---"

"Yes, please tell me!" I said. "I am very much intrigued by this Nerva!"

She told me. All the while my shock increased some more.

I was in silence again when Maria finished her story. So I hadn't been imagining it when I pictured Nerva's build to be perfect for a Swordsman. He had really been groomed to be one---his family, the House of Thor, were rulers of Izlude and produced legendary warriors for Rune-Midgard.

He was the first-born son of Sir Tiberius Thor, the current ruler of Izlude and guildmaster of The Covenant, a powerful all-Knight guild. Nerva had been training to be a Swordsman---and he even mastered the technique Increase HP Recovery as a matter of fact. But it turned out what he really wanted to be was to become a Magician; a child of the mysteries.

Nerva was supposed to be inaugurated as a Swordsman, Maria told me, when he finally had the courage to tell his father. Results were the injuries he had (broken arm, broken leg and bruised face) and he being disowned by his father. Maria also told me the child went here all by himself and on foot.

I felt my earlier emotions being washed away by pity. A fifteen-year-old boy kicked out of his home because of wanting to realize his dream?! But then, I can never understand how Knights and Swordsmen think---they have always been murderous barbarians in the Geffenese point of view. We never liked them, nor did they like us.

"What a poor boy..." I muttered.

"Yes, life can be harsh." Maria agreed. "But his Izludian blood will make things even harder for him. Not many of us Wizards can tolerate this difference. Many of our elders who know the most powerful arcane arts look down upon Izludian and consider them as trash."

I nodded silently. Maria opened her mouth to talk when yet another Wizard, Foucoult, a Soul and Ice specialist, burst in on us, insane tears flowing down his cheeks. I stood up and so did Maria. Foucoult went to me and grabbed my collar.

"THAT KID! THAT KID HAD THE COURAGE TO TELL ME MY SPELL WAS WRONG!" Foucoult cried as he shook me like a doll. "HE TOLD ME THAT I WAS DOING SOUL STRIKE WRONG! I DARED HIM TO DO THE SPELL, DEUCALION! HE'S SUMMONED FIVE SPIRITS RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES! I CAN ONLY SUMMON THREE, DEUCALION, THREE! AND HE SUMMONED FIVE!"

"Calm down, Foucoult!" I said, tugging myself free. "Calm down, man!"

"HOW CAN I CALM DOWN!" Foucoult screamed. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT BOY! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF HIM ACTING AS A KNOW-IT-ALL! THAT'S IT! I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE HIM TO A MAGICAL DUEL RIGHT NOW!"

"Are you crazy?!?" Maria burst out. "Nerva is still learning the basics! You cannot challenge him to a duel, your levels are very far from each other! For god's sakes, he's only level 20, Foucoult! Calm down!"

But Foucoult would not listen to us. He broke free of Maria's grip and dashed out to the streets, screaming for Nerva to come duel with him to death. I paled. I nodded to Maria. She went upstairs to the Elders and beg them to stop Foucoult while I ran after him, hoping to stop him from doing this folly.


-tbc-
"FOUCOULT, COME BACK HERE RIGHT NOW! STOP THIS STUPIDITY!" I yelled as I ran after him. "YOU CANNOT CHALLENGE A NEWBIE TO A DUEL! COME BACK!"

But he wouldn't listen to me. We rounded a corner and found Nerva beside the Kafra. He was reading his tattered books, and the Kafra was asking him about the symbols on the pages. He explained them to her patiently, telling her they were runes. Even the Tool Dealer was joining their chat.

"DAMN YOU LITTLE DOLT!" Foucoult shrieked, whipping out his staff and pointing it toward Nerva. "COME DUEL WITH ME, WHY DON'T YOU?!?"

The people around us stopped dead and stared with apprehension. My eyes darted to Nerva and back to Foucoult's staff. "Stop this folly, Foucoult. If any kind of harm befalls the boy you might lose your Wizardhood----!"

Nerva staggered as he stood up, because the poor boy was supporting himself with a crutch. He stepped forward to meet us. The Kafra girl tried to pull him back, but he gently pushed away her hand.

"What is it, master? What have I done wrong to anger you like this?" Nerva asked calmly.

"DUEL WITH ME AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S THE TEACHER AND STUDENT HERE!" Foucoult yelled. He was obviously losing his mind. "I'LL SHOW YOU----I'LL SHOW YOU!"

Nerva blinked in his calm demeanor again. "Ah, it is about the Soul Strike spell. Master, I only pointed out your error. You were doing the spell wrong, and you knew it."

"SHUT UP! FIREBOLT!" Foucoult attacked, summoning ten fiery spears from the sky and directing them toward Nerva.

"AVOID IT, NERVA!" I screamed. I was too far and too tired to counter Foucoult's spell. "AVOID IT!"

The fiery spears crashed to the ground. People started running hysterically, fleeing from the scene.

"NERVA!" I wailed.

"HA! I GOT THE ARROGANT BRAT!" Foucoult cheered. "HA!"

There was a slight rustle, and the next thing I saw was Foucoult being blasted off his feet. He knocked into my legs and we both fell as heaps on the ground. I blinked and looked up. Nerva was standing before us, his staff pointing toward Foucoult.

"Master, if your attitude is like this, you are unfit to teach." He said. "If you cannot bear a student pointing out mistakes to you, and if you cannot teach what is right, you have no right to teach."

"DAMN YOU!" said Foucoult, standing up to attack. "SOUL---"

"SOUL STRIKE!" Nerva yelled, summoning five ancient spirits in the blink of an eye.

Foucoult was blasted off again. I followed his progress through the air and saw him land before Master Lothair, the High Elder of Geffen. My heart seemed to stop beating in fear.


-tbc-

PART 4

"FOUCOULT, COME BACK HERE RIGHT NOW! STOP THIS STUPIDITY!" I yelled as I ran after him. "YOU CANNOT CHALLENGE A NEWBIE TO A DUEL! COME BACK!"

But he wouldn't listen to me. We rounded a corner and found Nerva beside the Kafra. He was reading his tattered books, and the Kafra was asking him about the symbols on the pages. He explained them to her patiently, telling her they were runes. Even the Tool Dealer was joining their chat.

"DAMN YOU LITTLE DOLT!" Foucoult shrieked, whipping out his staff and pointing it toward Nerva. "COME DUEL WITH ME, WHY DON'T YOU?!?"

The people around us stopped dead and stared with apprehension. My eyes darted to Nerva and back to Foucoult's staff. "Stop this folly, Foucoult. If any kind of harm befalls the boy you might lose your Wizardhood----!"

Nerva staggered as he stood up, because the poor boy was supporting himself with a crutch. He stepped forward to meet us. The Kafra girl tried to pull him back, but he gently pushed away her hand.

"What is it, master? What have I done wrong to anger you like this?" Nerva asked calmly.

"DUEL WITH ME AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S THE TEACHER AND STUDENT HERE!" Foucoult yelled. He was obviously losing his mind. "I'LL SHOW YOU----I'LL SHOW YOU!"

Nerva blinked in his calm demeanor again. "Ah, it is about the Soul Strike spell. Master, I only pointed out your error. You were doing the spell wrong, and you knew it."

"SHUT UP! FIREBOLT!" Foucoult attacked, summoning ten fiery spears from the sky and directing them toward Nerva.

"AVOID IT, NERVA!" I screamed. I was too far and too tired to counter Foucoult's spell. "AVOID IT!"

The fiery spears crashed to the ground. People started running hysterically, fleeing from the scene.

"NERVA!" I wailed.

"HA! I GOT THE ARROGANT BRAT!" Foucoult cheered. "HA!"

There was a slight rustle, and the next thing I saw was Foucoult being blasted off his feet. He knocked into my legs and we both fell as heaps on the ground. I blinked and looked up. Nerva was standing before us, his staff pointing toward Foucoult.

"Master, if your attitude is like this, you are unfit to teach." He said. "If you cannot bear a student pointing out mistakes to you, and if you cannot teach what is right, you have no right to teach."

"DAMN YOU!" said Foucoult, standing up to attack. "SOUL---"

"SOUL STRIKE!" Nerva yelled, summoning five ancient spirits in the blink of an eye.

Foucoult was blasted off again. I followed his progress through the air and saw him land before Master Lothair, the High Elder of Geffen. My heart seemed to stop beating in fear.


-tbc-

PART 5

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

Foucoult made a move as if to attack Nerva, but I quickly shielded my student from view. I caught his eyes. I swear he 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 so short a 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."



-tbc-

PART 6

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

PART 7

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, and he warped us to the great Sograt Desert for 900 zeny a person.

I warned my students to never stray to 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----we'll kill some more!"

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, some five 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.


-tbc-

PART 8

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 slid 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 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 eyes 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. Jesus, 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 all right?!?"

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 and I am no longer a kid who needs your watch."

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."


-tbc-

PART 9

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 Mightiest Spell, Apocalypse, seemed to have stirred something within him.

My studens progressed as a year passed. We left the classrooms more often now, travelling to Morroc and even Payon, which was famed for her haunted woodlands and caves. By now they have encountered a wide variety of Undead such as the Zombie, Munak, Bongun and even Sohee.

And all the while, Nerva was not with us.

Why so?

Before their first year ended, Nerva had talked to the elders to allow him a suitable time for absence. Master Lothair granted him this, provided that he will come back alive after one year. After that Geffen's brightest and best disappeared as if he had never existed...



This time around, my students and I are on the way to Glast Heim, the Undead infested city-state. Even thought I have given my students appropriate advices and warnings, I was still nervous. The Undead in Glast Heim were by far the most powerful in Rune-Midgard, and many a Wizard have fallen in their gruesome hands.

Everyone was nervous, as you may already know. Even my heart beat frantically.

Then we started the long and perilous hike through the slopes of Mjoinir. The journey would take us one week, provided that we encounter some of the mountain's aggresive monsters. My students have learned enought to gear themselves against Kobold Archers, Petits and other creatures of the sort.

After the long and tiresome journey in the mountains, we have finally arrived in Glast Heim. My students were in absolute silence as we walked down the deserted and ever-dangerous streets.

It was dark here in Glast Heim. The sun never penetrates the thick, fumed clouds that the Undead made by their horrible breath. We had to use the spell of Sight to illuminate our way as we passed fallen arches, houses and shops. I prayed that we do not meet anything yet, not until we were in the clutches of St. Abbey's church.

Suddenly everyone stopped. I felt five pairs of hands tug at my cape.

"Look there! Somebody's there!" Pyrrha said, pointing somewhere in the darkness.

"A Ghoul!" shrieked somebody else. "Run for your lives!"

"Oh shut up, you coward!" snapped another.

I squinted to see beyond the thick shadows. Yes, there was somebody not far from us, sitting down on a fallen pillar. I swallowed and stepped closer, my students drawing collective breaths from behind.

I extended my hand, the one with the fireball in it. "Who are you?!?"

The feeble light of my fire shone on bright red hair, sharp yellow eyes and the soiled uniform of a Magician. Gasps erupted from behind me yet again.

"Nerva!" I moaned. "What are you doing here?"

Nerva stood up and blinked at me as if what I was asking was stupid.

"Training here, master." He replied. "What else?"




-tbc-

PART 10

"What?" I said. "You've been here all this time, and all by yourself?!?"

Nerva smiled at me, but that smile was a sad one. "I visited Izlude because my mother and brother died. I was with them throughout the funeral ceremony. But my father sent me away. So I risked a journey here to Glast Heim to train. I have been here for six months now."

I felt great sadness swept through me. For the first time I knew what lingered behind Nerva's eyes----it was deep pain and sadness. His mother and brother died and his father kicked him out instead of comforting him. It was too much for anyone to bear, but here is he, having even the guts to smile as if it was no big deal.

"Come with us." I said, beckoning to him. "We shall need your abilities, I am afraid, as some of your classmates still have trouble with the Soul Strike spell."

Nerva went with us to St. Abbey's church. On the way we were attacked by Jokers and Dark Frames, but I saw with my own eyes what those six months did to Nerva. He could obliterate a Joker with just one shot of his Soul Strike, kill off fifteen Ghouls with two doses of Thunderstorm and fend off three Skel Prisoners without breaking a sweat.

He was a complete terror. I was afraid of him. All that magical power and talent, locked into a single body with the yellow eyes of a hawk. It was terrifying and at the same time wondrous to behold.

I found myself praying for Nerva's future. I could not bring myself to think what would happen if ever he will turn into Dark Magic. I see in him enough power to obliterate Midgard if he wished. It was very, very scary.

I shall not elaborate on our stay in Glast Heim, but let me impress upon you that it was not an easy one. Danger surrounded us at all sides, and we had been unfortunate to have lost a student there. His name was Ixus, and his death was to be blames solely to his inability to weild the proper spells at the right time. We didn't manage to help him.

Nerva returned with us to Geffen, but he no longer attended the classes. I discovered that he was already taking lessons with Master Lothair's Wizard students, who found it extremely uncomfortable to be studying with a Mage that knew more spells than them. But occasionally Nerva would just appear in the doorway, ask politely if he might join, and I gladly nodded him to his empty seat.

Years and seasons passed. Before I knew it, my students were now the graduating batch of the Magic Academy of Geffen. Many improved and many also failed. I was readying myself to let them go---after their graduation they can now journey far and wide and discover what it is store for them.

I also knew that there was a very slim chance of me seeing Nerva again. So before I lost my chance, I called my class to a special recreational Field Trip.

Was it my way of saying farewell? Maybe yes, maybe no. I was never sure myself.



-tbc-

PART 11

I chose the tropical paradise of Comodo for my students' field trip. It was the perfect place and time for us to discard our robes and cloaks, and don those swimming trunks, two-pieces and bathing suits.

Everyone except myself and four more students were enjoying the sea. I was busy sitting down and watching them, while the other three were just chattering away. Nerva was the only one who could withstand the call of the sea effectively, and he even brought a book with him so he could read his lessons.

The day passed without so much stir. When the night came I gathered my students around a blazing blue bonfire. I wanted to play a game. I was going to spin a bottle, and whoever the bottle stops at would have to tell the story of his or her life.

It was perfect.

Hours passed. Many have already been moved to tears by the activity. I couldn't help myself as well; I sniffed too. And then when Pyrrha spun the bottle after sharing her story, it stopped to the person whom I was (and everyone else no doubt) was waiting for---- Nerva.

There was absolute silence as they stared at him. His eyes were misty as he stared into the fire. He told his story that way---without looking at anyone of us. Before we knew it, all of us were crying, even Nerva himself.

His shoulders trembled as he spoke, his voice breaking. I think what hurt most was when he reached the part where he was kicked out of home. It was at this moment when some of his classmates started to hug him and cry with him.

"We're with you..."

"We understand..."

"It must have hurt so much..."

"Can we cry with you?"

Perhaps this was Nerva's wish. To have someone to talk to----to tell of his untold suffering so early in life. I swear that after that day, Nerva, who was so distant and aloof, learned to smile and laugh again.

And then, when he is much older, he shall recall that simple event by the bonfire, where he unleashed all his pain inside----to make way for his smile once again.



-end-