"This... Staillon academy you've founded. I agreed to live there. But as you said. I will not be a student. As the Drake Sin of Wrath I have uphold my dites by purging sins before they grow too much and corrupt more.
I will do as I please in this academy, and whenever I want. This place will be a breeding ground for arrogance and greed with all the maggots learning there.
There will be sin. But this academy is not the world, sins will appear in other places and I will have to purge them. I will have to do so before they grow too much. You may not see me for days, weeks or even months. This is my duty. These are my conditions. You humans and other races are not very fond of us awakening so I will act quietly and swiflty.
Thankfully for you all, the other Sins have had yet to awaken. This era has not sinned enough for them to feel it. But Astria's little experiment awakened me. And this will have consequences. The Progenitor and I talked about this matter and now your explainations strenghen even further my worries. The demon king will awaken too.
He told me, demons have always tried to rally The Wrath and Their Wyverns to their cause of conquest and murderous annihilation. Moreover our territories were close.
That behavior and geographical proximity was an extremely fertile ground for rumors to grow, I imagine... And now I awakened. You slew the demon king fifty years ago. Another will soon revive. What a coincidence."
"... Indeed. Rumors... As always. Tales say that Wyverns of old had territories reaching up to the Wild Plateaux as you said. Astria and a quarter of the Empire were at the time under their rule.
Your father often told me about the two roles of your ancestors. To be the line of defense against the demons and protect the Heart of Wrath until it awakened again.
Sadly, your kin's primordial blood was a destructive force when it awakened during battle. Casualities were inevitable when protecting the people and the protectors became the targets of insults, defamation and even attacks at some point."
"Hold on." Raya in her humanoid form interrupted him while shaking her head. "What I still don't understand is why we were so few. You just confirmed that our territory was big and we were powerful. How come we fell to a thousand members in the tribe ?"
"... You did not fall. Most Wyverns couldn't stand getting accused of things they did not mean to do and fled the front to avoid being ostracized. They mingled with other races in other parts of the world and diluted their blood in hopes to weaken the Wrath in them.
Fireroc had shown me some scriptures. These scriptures said that the Wyverns who fled, swore to return generations later to help again, but this time much more in control of themselves."
"They never did, did they ? The next generations forgot about the promise."
"No. They did not forget. The first generation wanted to return, but the new generations tasted the weakness of our races and bathed in it. Even with diluted blood, these new Wyverns were strong and respected in these faraway lands.
Humans, elves, dwarves... they all relied on Wyverns for protection. When your tribe was fighting and loosing members against the demons, the new genearations were becoming fat and full of themselves.
A Wyvern's life cycle is long, much longer than even an elf's. Only this species may see more than a half of a Wyvern's life and even then. Your reproduction cycles are long too.
Sexual maturity at forty and a single egg every fifty years. Your ancestors, as strong as they were, were killed sometimes. And those who were killed couldn't mate anymore. Eventually, your numbers could not replenish another whole generation and you went into exile." Sun Mane paused, and looked sadly at his unofficial 'niece'.
"In the eyes of the people, the deserters are ironically the good Wyverns. Because they stopped destroying and killing innocents, while your tribe refused to listen to the victims' pleas and continued to bath in blood. I am sorry to reveal such things to you that abruptly."
"..."
Hate... again. So pitful. The world you tried to protect is a hateful one, dad...
...
The group of five were marching silently towards the territory's border, each one thinking about today's events.
At some point, the cheerful goblin, Ragnar started to make jokes to lighten the mood. The trio of humanoids knew these puns perfectly, but they always managed to make them laugh. Even now, Ragnar managed to get a chuckle out of them. He looked at Milia, satisfied. She had taken Fireroc's death the hardest but now she was laughing along the others. Good.
The young Wyvern was walking a bit further away from the rest, a little bit akwardly. Could they even call her little ? In terms of age, she wasn't even a teen. An early toddler maybe. Twenty-ish years was the beginning of life for a Wyvern after all. Physically and mentally ? Huh... that was a whole other matter.
The party didn't want to imagine what she suffered during these twelves years in captivity. They only knew she had killed many and gazed at horrifying, indescribable sights.
Plus... she was enormous, bigger than any recorded Wyvern. Far more powerful too. Could she even be called 'Wyvern' at all now ? She fit more the image of the 'Progenitor Drake' than anything else.
The party didn't want to imagine the burden of being one of the Seven Deadly Sins either. A terrible burden on the soul surely.
Then a realization came crashing in the goblin's mind and he gasped.
"Huh ? What's wrong Ragnar ?"
"The students for fuck's sake ! There's gonna be half-Wyverns and Wyverns at school !"
The others went silent for a second or too befire Skal slapped herself on the face.
"Oh shit... Ahem. So what do we do ? What do we do... what do we-" she muttered. She yelped from fright when she felt a clawed hand touching a shoulder and fell to the ground quite pathetically. The others looked at Raya's frowning face. She seemed confused by what happened.
"A-ahem. Sorry about that. Your claws surprised me."
"I... can see this. Nevermind that. I overheard what Mr... Ranar said. But not clearly. Could you repeat that again ?"
"Ragnar Miss. But that's hardly a problem. What I... realized is that Wyverns or half-Wyverns are expected to arrive at Stallion academy. We talked about the ancient Wyverns a while ago...
Well as the ones who fled spread their influence, they took important positions in the diffrent nations they lived in..." the goblin paused and Raya signedled for him to continue.
"Nowadays, it is not uncommon for a noble family to pride itself for the Wyvern blood that flows through the veins of its members. Earth and Water Wyverns families are the ones who boast the most, despite having the most impore blood.
Wind Wyverns usually live humbly, for they know of their ancestors' treason, and try to correct it bu sending support during demon subjugations.
I was wondering... well... what would your reaction be towards this now that you know more about the history of your kin."
"... All Wyvern students... I will watch over them. I will remind them of their families' sins. Abandoning my ancestors, living in luxry, growing arrogant... Everything will depend on whether they can feel remorse or not.
Then I will put the most disrespectful ones back in their place. Incinerate them if that does not work. In the end, it will be up to your teachings to shape them."
The five of them continued to talk about various things. Sun Mane and Skal spoke about their adventures during the demon king's subjugation, these two looked like an aunt and a uncle. Milia talked about Raya's father and the tribe. She was a sweet woman, almost like a mother would be.
Magnar continued with his puns and at some point began playing some music with a lyre, all under Raya's cold and disillusioned eyes.
None of them took offense in the uncaring behavior she had been showing since their initial encounter. Living through unimaginable experiences and burning your own emotions surely left you like that.
The Sin looked back at her former home. Everything was ready. The protective fire were waiting to be lit. The corpses were already resting six feet under... The houses had been cleaned off any dust and junk. Everything was ready, indeed.
"Now it's time. I will ask you to step back and maybe cast some magic to protect yourselves. Water magic not recommended. I apologize in advance for what is about to come, Sun Mane and Ranar."
The demon war veterans did as they were told and watched silently their new companion, wondering why she apologized. She closed her eyes, the air of coldness around her began to disperse and the pale flame that flickered on her chest started to dim. For a few minutes, she sat on the ground, holding the small flame, as if meditating.
Then she finally spoke.
" The last thing that shackled and held back my Wrathful nature. Saying a goodbye. Goodbye everyone, goodbye father. "
Fire bursted from her chest and hair and the four friends felt like a burning world fell on them.
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They knelt from the overwhelming pressure. Sun Mane and Ragnar coughed up blood. Their instincts were telling them to kneel or play dead before the greater power before them.
The four companions felt themselves being pushed down in imaginary inferno. So, that was what being the recieving end of True Wrath felt like.
The pressure dimmed as Raya took a deep breath. Her cold eyes now held a dangerous glint in them, a barely hidden fury. Her whole demeanor had changed. Her posture was aggresive, ready to fight, with her claws and fangs at the ready.
She had reduced the heat she generated around herself but the others could still feel it. Some of Sun Mane's whiskers fell off and caught fire along the way.
The flames that now made up the tip of her hair swayed and whiped at the hair violently with her every movement.
"Urgh. Now I understand why you apologized. Thanks for the warning." the lion-man grumbled, wiping some blood off his mouth. Meanwhile, Milia and Skal were looking dumbfounded at the melting magic shield they summoned. Their strongest. No-one had expected that.
Raya scoffed and turned around, with a Fire Breath pointed towards a dense line of trees. An individual draped in red robes appeared from the woods. He carried a staff in which was a fire stone. The hood covering thier face was made of Wyvern wing membrane. A truly mysterious individual.
"The... Purging Flame... What an honor to be targeted by such beautiful flames..." they murmured.
"Young Raya, please wait ! This person is a follower of Wrath. I do not believe they came here with bad intentions."
"The lion-man Hero is right, O newborn Purging Flame. I have been living near this territory for a long time and I wanted to see the next Sin of Wrath before my passing. The magnificient Flames you let out drew me out of my housing."
The voice was male, alright. The person's figure was slowly turning to ashes, and the wind was spreading them everywhere.
"Before I depart, I will let you know of the existence of cults that worship the Seven Deadly Sins. They are secretive, but are willing to work for any Sin or its Avatar. Your... allies are few in... this hate-driven world... We Immolators have.. been trying to restore... you kin's image, or keep it... from worsening, but gathering... a few helpers... wouldn't be... so bad for... y... ou." the man managed to finish before totally fading away.
The group looked at the ashes for a few more seconds before Ragnar broke the awkward silence.
"Aight guys ! To Staillon Academy !"
Still, Raya silently thanked the mysterious 'Immolator' for his advice. She had power now, but that didn't mean she was all powerful. Power wasn't the thing that made Wyverns fall. Rumors were. And so, rumors she would spread one day. She let out a tiny spark and put it where the man stood. The spark turned into a majestic roaring red flame for an instant and Raya hurried back to join the others.
Minutes before
It's... uncontrolable ! This is... Wrath ! A roaring hellflare ! I feel so good !!! Such an intoxicating feeling ! Good !!! Violence ! Blood !
NO ! Calm down ! Calm down ! it's exactly what it wants. I cannot let it take over my mind... I will not win, but I can still fight !
Raya, in her Wyvern form, ducked to avoid a flaming wing. Before her, stood a carbon copy of herself, the only difference was that the other Wyvern has made of fire. The eyes, the tail, the claws... everything was pure flames. The two had been battling since the moment she started meditating. The flaming form had intercepted her in her mind when she tried to find some peace to activate the protective fire magic.
Raya lifted her left arm and swung it downwards to crush her other-self's head but it countered with a jab, followed by a bite at the neck's level. The two were now rolling around like cats, kicking and screaming without really damaging the other.
That wasn't an epic fight per say. They only used brute force, charged towards each other, and hit their opponent with all they had. Sometimes they resorted to their sepcies' signature attack, without much effect either.
Raya felt like she was at a disavantage there. The other was attacking not only in a physical way, but it was also assaulting her mind. She was feeling its roars clawing at her soul and sanity. In return she sometimes tore apart patches of solid flames from her foe's body. Eye for an eye as they said.
But that was getting her nowhere. The other Wyvern was litteraly her new nature; unrestrained and uncaring, cold and blind, hellish Wrath. It didn't even care for itself. It only attacked relentlessly. And it was tiring for Raya, who had to block, avoid or counter.
That.. must be why They strayed from being the divine's Executioner. Why They got punished. They lost against Their nature. Or They let it take over... And surely what happened to Raya in the game too. Their nature won in the en...!
Our... nature ! Right. We cannot surrender to it. That would be the worst defeat of the soul. But trying to suppress it is meaningless too.We need it to live... it's part of... us. Of me.
Ah ! You finally understand ! We can stop fighting now ! You realized you can't fully win against your own nature. Only accept and live with it !
I won't waste our time any longer ! Let me help you ! Let's seal off our village ! As one this time !
Wha- ?! It speaks ?! Not so suddenly !
----------------------------------------
"Hey Liz'a. The road sure is bumpy, right ? Thankfully your dad's carriages are top notch in terms of comfort."
"Hm..."
Ramiel sweatdropped at Liz'a's response. That was weird. Liz'a had been acting strange since a few days ago. She was cold for sure, but even by Liz'a standard that wasn't normal. Normally she'd be stressing over everything in the academy. She should be looking left and right in the carriage's window while biting her immaculate dans delicate nails.
Liz'a should be worrying about a lot of things. She told told it to Ramiel herself right before she started to act strange. The entrance test, the people who'd be there. Disappointing her father, even though the emperor was never disappointed in his daughter. She should be worried about all of that.
Normally she's pretend to be uninterested in his small talk but enjoy it secretly. But now it truly felt like Liz'a didn't care about him. Maybe she wanted to distance herself to focus on her studies ? Probable.
What a mess...
"So, still aiming for first place in Stallion too ? This will be hard. The teachs there are from the demon king subjugation party. They won't be impressed by little tricks. How many do you think will be expelled ?"
"..."
"..."
"You included ? One. Having a holy sword is getting in your head it seems. Don't forget that Stallion Academy doesn't send invites to just anybody. The future students all have the potential to become pillars of this generation. And yes, this time I will surpass you."
"Hehe, not happening ! If I don't get first place I won't be recognized as hero ! I'll give it my all."
Ramiel had been particularily vocal for these past few days.
He had nothing to be worried about. The holy sword and his natural affinity towards magic made him pratically invincible. His intelligence would get him at least a A grade for the entrance test.
His physical and magical ability showcase was already set in stone.Despite his parents' disappearance in the middle of the night he kept an optimistic and slightly hauty mindset. No... since a few days ago, the hauty part definitely rose.
He was even more confident of himself and the last days of training had been very fruitful to him. Just as if he discovered a secret technique...
Seriously, that's pointless...
Hell... I need to get stronger. Or I won't survive the last encounter...
I need to find a way.
A knock coming from the coach's sit snapped the two of their reverie.
"Lady Wandermer, Staillon Academy is in sight. We should be arriving soon. Do you want me to help you carry your luggages once we are there ?" the muffled voice asked from outside.
Liz'a thought about it for a few moments but dispissed the driver.
"It will be fine. I have Ramiel with me. He'll carry my things."
"Understood."
"Really ? Am I your errand boy now~ We have a whole two weeks to set everything up in the dorms. We could have picked a few more of your servants, please Liz'a, dont do this to me !" the teen fake-cried.
"Ramiel, if you took the time to read the pamphlet the Academy sent us, you'd know that servants are not allowed to help in the institution's grounds. We're not in the Empire, we're in the Papal States now. Everything we do can be used as rumors or blackmail against us. Relying on my servants would make me look incompetent.
From now on, keep your distances and mind your manners. Even a Hero candidate must have some common sense and decency." Liz'a hissed.
Ramiel rubbed his head sheepishly, which for some reason ticked Liz'a off. She clicked her tongue and looked at the window of the carriage. The view was breathtaking. The Papal States' architecture style imposed wideness for roads and streets along with relatively small white-colored buildings to leave no dark spot in the cities during the day. of course, the Cathedral wasn't subject to this rule. It was massive compared to the other constructions.
Thanks to this, the religious nation, looked clean and although it had the same advancement as the other countries, looked much more organized than most cities, even main ones, where sewage drain was still done in the middle of the road.
Of course, problems and unfairness still existed. But instead of trying to seize more territories and sending men to die, the country tried to put the miserable ones to the fields. Not a perfect solution but the land of the state was fertile and allowed several harvests during a year. Poverty was a thing, but thanks to the amounts of wheat produced each year, even a beggar could survive another day with a full belly.
"We really need these light magic poles in the Empire... How I mis..."
"Hm ?"
The two teens looked at the gate that lead to the inner part of the capital. The carriage stopped and a woman and a man in silver-white armor came forward to ask questions. To block the carriage too. These individuals were Paladins. The equivalent to a guard.
"Good day coach of the Akwa Empire. I believe you are bringing potential students of Staillon Academy, right ? Even so we will have to conduct a search in the vehicle and verify the passengers' identities. Please forgive me for my rudeness."
The coach slowly nodded and stepped aside, letting himself be examined by the female Paladin. The man knocked on the carriage's door and waited for the passengers to open.
"You are..." the helmet couldn't fully cover the surprise in the man's tone. Before him was Liz'a Wandermer, the heir of the Akwa Empire and an unknown boy holding a blade filled with holy aura. He bowed lightly and closed the door.
"All done. Any more would be rude for them." The other understood. Saying this sublty meant that the passengers were very big shots, different from the relatively common ducal or baron heir.
The carriage went away and the two Paladins went back to their post.
...
Liz'a and Ramiel both fell in the bed of their respective room. They both tried to remember what had happened today. The arrived at Stallion Academy, packed their things in their dorms and went their separate ways to form connections.
Liz'a found some familiar faces from the Empire and from nobility gathering while Ramiel went to find the training grounds and other future students as passionate as him for improving and fighting. Today had been an exhausting day to say the least.
Liz'a looked at the ceiling and outstreched her arm, as if trying to grab the magic lightstone.
Ramiel looked intensely at the holy sword.
Both let out a huge sigh.
Holy shit, he's a hundred percent following the script...
Holy shit, she's a hundred percent going off-script...