Fragarach

Duel Part VII: Conclusion

The strange moment of silence remained a few seconds before both parties realized that they both said the same thing at the same time.

“Wait, did we just said the same thing?” Thomas’s friend asked with a humble tone. “I was pretty surprised as well. Please understand my friend.” The other party said as he pushed his friend back with his arms.

“I apologize for my friend as well. He’s been on the edge lately. Hehe.” He said with a smile.

Both of them continued to apologize to each other when they felt a strong and heavy shock that came from inside the test grounds.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

“What the hell?!” an instructor exclaimed when he unconsciously jumped from the ground in surprise.

[That was freaking embarrassing, it just had to be in front of the students. But what the hell caused that massive shockwave?] his eye brows frowned as he and the other instructors stare at the entrance of the test grounds.

The students were surprised when the instructor jump in fright.

“Hey, I don’t see Instructor Ignes here, is he still inside the test grounds?” an instructor asked Instructor Edward.

“I am not really sure, he went inside the test grounds earlier to make sure that all of the students evacuated the building. I think he is out here somewhere, you know that guy. He just can’t behave whenever something happens right?” Edward said with a convincing expression.

“You have a point, I hope he did not do something as take on a student possessed by Durandal, he might lose his life if he is being careless enough.” The instructor nodded as he agreed in Edward’s answer.

“What the hell happened inside? Damn it! The screen just had to break during at the crucial moment!” a student complains as he stomp his feet.

“I know right? And the instructors prohibits us from entering the test grounds.” A student agreed.

After the complaints of the two students, the others also starts to state their complaints one after another.

Nash’s brow puckered when he heard the complaints of every student be it human nor demi-human.

“This idiots, they don’t know how dangerous it is to be present during a fight between holy swords are, especially with Durandal and Ascalon involved.” Nash whispered loud enough for kai to hear.

“If the textbooks are accurate, the holy sword Ascalon is awfully superior compared to Durandal but since it only appeared just now, Nyx’s possibility of winning is pretty low but that is not sure as well since I don’t think Kris can hold out long in his state of being possessed by Durandal.” Kai said as he crossed his arms in anticipation.

[If what we read about the holy sword Ascalon is true then even if Nyx is a pure novice in using it, he can still harness its powers since he is from the direct linage of the truthful owners of the holy sword Ascalon. I’m afraid the testing grounds will not be usable if ever the fight manage to drag on a little longer, if that happens then I fear the elders need to step up and stop them from destroying the academy of worse, the city.] Nash thought as he starts to feel anxious like the other students as well.

Another shockwave shook everyone outside the test grounds, and this time did not shook the ground but the mana around the testing grounds. The mana in the air and on the other living things vibrates really hard that other students fainted in lack of oxygen supplied to their bodies.

“There is another one. But why is this one a lot worse than the first shockwave?” an instructor thought as he struggles to speak normally.

“Instructors who think they can still move, check the students’ status, every last one of them. We cannot let anything happen to the students.” The oldest instructor ordered the others while struggling to speak properly.

Upon hearing the order of the oldest instructor, the others started to move immediately even though they too are suffering the same thing that the students are going through at the moment.

“If only I knew something like this would happen, I would’ve made preparations beforehand.” He whispered to himself as he bit his lip in anger.

“Don’t blame yourself Instructor Andrew, neither one of us thought that this would happen. Nobody thought this far for only a duel.” Instructor Edward comforted.

Instructor Edward and the other instructors are catching their breaths as they hold their chest tightly.

[This is crazy, how can students release such massive shockwaves during a duel?! I know that they are still students and successors of the main families at that but this is ridiculous. I can’t imagine how much more they can improve.] Instructor Edward told himself as his face turns red in his struggle to breath.

The vibration of the mana around the testing grounds stopped and made everyone breath properly again.

*BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!* *BUDUMP!*

The moment the vibration of mana stopped their heart beats rapidly that they can hear the beating of each other’s hearts.

*PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!* *PANT!*

“That was crazy, I thought I was going to die.” A student with eye glasses said while holdings his chest breathing heavily for air.

“*Pant* I thought I was going to die too, I never thought the duel would be this intense.” A female demi-human agreed as she also tries to catch her breath.

“Did an elder step up and decided to stop the duel by himself?” a student wondered as he look at the test grounds with fearful eyes.

“I think so too, otherwise it would not explain the crazy things we experienced outside the test grounds.” Another student agreed.

“What the hell, I never thought a fight between holy sword holders can affect the surroundings this much. And they are both novice at that.” Kai said with sweat flowing in his chin.

[I can’t imagine if both of them are expert at handling their holy swords before this duel.]

Both Nash and Kai thought as they stare at the entrance of the building.

[Why does it seems like the entrance is like an endless darkness?]

*Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Step!*

All of the sudden they heard multiple footsteps coming from inside the building and caught the attention of everyone outside the test grounds.

“Whose getting out?” a student poke his elbow to his friend beside him.

“I don’t know man, I’m just as clueless as you.” He replied.

*Murmur*

The students started to talk to themselves guessing who might be the victor if the duel. The time seem to have slowed down as the endless footsteps echoed from the entrance and everyone is anxious to see what happened to the students who had taken on each other.

After an endless echo of footsteps from the entrance of the building, Instructor Ignes got out of the building first carrying the wounded Kris on his back. Behind him are Caisein and Raven helping the wounded Nyx to walk with his arms placed on their shoulders.

The moment Instructor Edward laid his eyes on the wounded students he immediately rushed towards them in a flash.

[So fast.] Kai thought as he saw the instructor made his way through the crowd without any difficulty.

“What happened inside?” he immediately asked the moment he arrived in front of them.

“I was clueless, it was so sudden that I could not see anything when it happened.” Instructor Ignes said with a sad expression in his face.

The instructors started to flood in while others went and fetch the medical team to treat their wounds.

The students of Instructor Edward saw the instructors leave to fetch for the medical team when they called out to them.

“Instructors where are you going?” the student with glasses asked.

“For the medical team of course. Didn’t you see that both of them are wounded especially Kris of the Reynolds family?” he replied in a hurry.

The student with the glasses held the hand of the instructor when he was about to leave and turn back to the student.

[What does this kid want?] he thought as he wore an annoyed expression.

“What is it now?” he asked.

“Instructor, didn’t you know that Instructor Edward manage to create a crystal clear elixir. If my assumption is right, with a single drop from that elixir any wound will be healed so there is no need to call the medical team since I don’t think they can heal it immediately.” The student said as he adjusted his glasses like a genius.

The eyes of the instructor widen once he heard what the students said.

“A-are you sure about what you just said just now?] he asked with an excited face.

“Oh, sorry.” the instructor regained his composure when he realize what he is doing that prevents the student from answering his question.

*Wobble* *Wobble*

The student took his glasses off and caressed his dizzy head and put his glasses back on.

“I am sure of what I said instructor, I have witnesses with me.” He said as he presented his witnesses behind him.

“He is telling the truth Instructor, you can ask Instructor Edward yourself.” Kate said as she pointed at instructor Edward.

After a few seconds confirming what the student claimed. The instructors sprinted towards Instructor Edward that got startled when they suddenly spring on him.

“Instructor Edward, I heard from your students that you manage to create a clear elixir. Can you use that to heal the wounded students? The medical team only have a middle class elixir, I doubt that it can heal the students fast. Surely your elixir can heal them faster than the medical team’s elixir.” The instructor said with an excited face.

Nash and Kai were stunned when they heard the instructed blabber about the clear elixir that instructor Edward was able to produce.

[No way, my family has connections to some famous alchemist but I never heard of someone able to create an elixir that is clear or even close to being clear. Instructor Edward’s name is not even known that much in the alchemy world, to think that he can produce something that other great alchemist can’t produce no matter how much time they spent on making.] Nash thought as he stare at Instructor Edward with his eyes widened.

[That’s pretty impressive for someone who is not even recognized by some people. I can’t imagine the expressions of their faces when they learned of this.] Kai thought with a smile on his face.

[Where the hell did this guy heard about -] instructor Edward paused his thoughts when he remembered that his students manage to get a glimpse of him holding a clear elixir inside their room. [I think I know where he got the news.] he thought as he sternly gaze at the students behind the instructor flashing an ominous smile.

His gaze sent chills to Kate and the others.

“Maybe it was a bad idea to tell the other instructors about what Sir Edward achieved.” Kate whispered to the student with the glasses. He on the other hand is chuckling while he adjusted his glasses.

“I don’t think that it was a bad move since he will have a chance to showcase his elixir to the students who have powerful families, that way he can expedite his influence since I heard it is a hard struggle making a name for yourself even if you are from a family of renowned alchemist because there are already a lot of great names behind some famous elixirs.” The student with the glasses said with a smile on his face.

Kate was surprised of what the student said and was shocked of how he can see through things.

“Wow, you’re pretty knowledgeable with some things that pretty much all of the students find nothing important at all.” Kate praised with smile on her face. [Where the hell did he learn those things, I can’t believe he only learned it with reading some textbooks.] she thought as she stare at the student’s back.

“So can you please do it?” the instructor asked.

Instructor Edward hesitated at first so he glanced at Raven who is pretty exhausted.

[Help me out on this, this is your elixir in the first place.] he thought as he and Raven exchange glances.

Raven slightly nodded his head not to make it seem obvious that he is allowing instructor Edward to use the elixir in his name.

[I understand, please use it to heal them both.] Raven thought as he seemed to communicate with instructor Edward with their glances.

(They did not communicate though, Raven understand what he wanted to say without letting out a single word.)

*Sigh!*

Instructor Edward let out a loud sigh as he took the bottle of elixir from his pocket. Everyone was shocked when he pulled out a clear elixir from his pocket.

[No way! I thought the kids are only kidding me.] the instructor thought with his mouth wide open.

“*GULP!* I have never seen any elixir as clear as that.” Nash mumbled as he stare at the bottle.

[What were they doing earlier? It looks like Instructor was hesitant to pull it out in the first place, but when Raven did an unnoticeable nod he decided to bring it out. I know that I can’t call that a bow since he seems to be exhausted, was it a coincidence? A chance?] Kai thought as he glances at both of them.

With everyone in the crowd shocked after seeing the clear elixir, except for those who already knows its existence beforehand.

“Hehehe. With this instructor Edward will be busy enough that he can’t teach us lessons so that I can focus on my projects.” The student with the glasses mumbles while rubbing his hands with a villainous smile.

Instructor Edward used a single drop of elixir to Kris and Nyx to heal them and instantly the painful expression on their faces started to disappeared and replaced by a comforted expression.

The result of the elixir were successful but they still need to rest so the instructors excused the wounded students from the classes as well as Raven.

“I’m very sorry about what happened Raven, if only your fellow classmates shut their mouths and kept quiet about the elixir I wouldn’t have to reveal it. I apologize for taking the credit instead of you.” He whispered in Raven’s ears.

[He may be an alchemist but he isn’t greedy. This is one of the reasons why Aranx hated elixirs. He said most of the alchemists are pretty greedy but I am thankful that I get to meet an alchemist that is not only minding of himself.] “What are you saying Sir Edward? I would have done the same thing. It’s only natural to help people in need.” He thought as he said with a smile on his face.

[Thank goodness I did not make him angry.] “I will exempt you from today’s classes since you seem to be exhausted for some reason.” he said with a contented face.

“Something unexpected happened. Hehe.” Raven said with an awkward chuckle.

“I’ll leave it at that. I will be visiting in your house later to talk about some things.” Instructor Edward said as he pats Raven’s shoulder. “Go home and rest.”

“Are you okay Raven?” Cassiopeia asked as she struggles to pass through the crowd.

Raven turns his head and found her stuck between some students and manage to get through after the students noticed her.

“You didn’t have to go that far for just asking me you know. I am doing fine, some things happened.” He said with a soft smile.

“Oh-okay.” She said as she look down to hide her flustered face. [How can he flash a beautiful smile even when he is exhausted?] she thought as she slowly walk towards her older brother.

“Raven, I have already called Mars to fetch Nyx. Won’t you come with us?” Caisein said as he carried Nyx on his back.

“I think I am going to take on that offer. I will be going first Cassiopeia.” He said as he waved goodbye.

*SHWISH!*

A screen disappeared above the building of the test grounds.

“Our experiment is successful in some way, but since we did not really get to see everything it is good to know that it is progressing as planned.” A familiar voice said in a dark room while facing a screen with some other persons behind him.