Chapter 64 - The Headmaster of the Royal Academy
The cadets at the royal academy spent a long time studying the kingdom's war efforts and the history behind every achievement and conquer. Plenty of general commanders existed in the kingdom's history, but the current three were the most revered. There were many legends depicting the three.
Raphael, the Trickster of Luminaris, was known for bending the will and ways of the enemy, the most revered intelligence officer and head of the fiercest network of spies around the continent, not to mention his incredible capabilities as the strategist behind the kingdoms might. His winged shield emblem represents his stature in the army's hierarchy, a book with a spider inside it. The spider represents his sly personality and capabilities to control everything. Whenever an enemy entered his web, nothing could save them. Little was known about his prowess, so the legends described him as a secretive powerhouse of the kingdom.
Uriel, the Draconian of Luminaris, was known for dealing with large-scale battles. Uriel forces were called whenever the strategy faced such massive forces that made it unusable or insignificant. His battalion was filled with mighty mages, and he focused on using mana to control large-scale warfare. A dragon and a magical staff accompanied his winged shield. He controlled the battlefield from afar in the skies, sending spell after spell to change the tides of battle. The nickname and emblem were chosen when those in the army compared his feats with the mythological dragons that inspired dread and fear in human minds.
Neither had visited the Royal Academy for years but were familiar figures in Astralhaven. One of the most exciting figures for the cadets was the last one of the general commanders. He had remained away from the capital and public space for the previous few years. When the academy's alert of high-level figures filled the sky, all cadets lost control of their excitement.
"Gabriel, the Lion is here!!" yelled the students within the halls.
The first reaction was to look at the closest windows to confirm the fast-spreading rumors. It didn't matter from what angle one looked. The sky confirmed that one of the general commanders had entered the front gates, even if one couldn't confirm the emblem to recognize which one. They ran, pushing one another, trying to guarantee a spot at the edges of the main hall to see any of the legendary figures.
Cael patted his friend on the back while Gabriel remembered that his feats had reached heights that couldn't be suppressed, even if he wished to remain an average figure.
The two walked inside the building as teachers, cadets, and other figures from the royal academy saluted and screamed his name. In everyone's mind, Cael was invisible, even though he was a commander himself. The black, white, and gold uniform pulled the attention to itself incomparably.
As they crossed the doors of the main building, the headmaster, accompanied by her directors, was waiting for the two. As her eyes crossed with Gabriel's, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against one another. He closed his eyes briefly before reorganizing his posture and walking to greet them with a proper salute. On the other hand, she smiled a bit, slightly tilting her head sideways. Her eyes sparkled a bit from tiny tears that had almost finished forming, but she contained herself.
“Welcome, one of our General Commanders. Gabriel, the Lion of Luminaris. I, Jophin, headmaster of the royal academy, salute you in the name of all our members and students.”
“Headmaster Jophin.” Gabriel lowered his posture as an additional formality.
While they exchanged a few words, the headmaster told everyone he would walk around the academy to assess the classes and everyone while he was there.
When they entered the office and the doors closed, Jophin’s posture changed from that of a severe and notorious headmaster to that of a sad girl running toward Gabriel, hugging him while sobbing.
Cael, upon seeing the two, chose to turn his eyes to allow them minimal privacy inside the room.
She created some distance between their faces, still holding him in her arms.
“Where were you, idiot?”.
“Taking care of Luca and Michelle…” Gabriel said, looking to the side and leaving her embrace.
“Why not here?”
“You know why. That is not the reason I came today.”
“Cael told me you wish to speak with one cadet. Why?”
“He can help the kingdom.”
“You abandoned everyone for two years, and that is how you treat your sister-in-law?”
The moment Jophin finished her sentence, Gabriel felt sad. A sudden mana surge came from him, increasing the temperature all around him.
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“Headmaster Jophin, that is enough! This time, we came to speak with Eamon Wycliffe.” Cael said, worried that his friend would lose control.
She gave Cael a cold and acid glaze before tears formed in her eyes as she looked at the closed-eyed blonde man in front of her.
“Fine. Commander Cael, you’ll find that Eamon is on a mission outside the academy. Please wait a week for his return, and I’ll arrange a meeting.”
Gabriel controlled his mana, returning his sanity.
“Jophin, I can’t wait that long. Please recall his team, Cael, organized army replacements to finish their mission.” Gabriel said before walking towards the door.
“Are you still this loyal to them?!” Jophin screamed as both her hands stroked the table in front of her. Her face twitched from holding her emotions within.
Gabriel ignored her, leaving the office as she looked toward Cael.
“Headmaster Jophin, we’ll come by tomorrow to talk with the cadet.” Cael said as he followed Gabriel outside.
Before returning to the barracks, Gabriel and Cael walked around the academy, looking at the cadets, classes, and teachers to save Jophin's face.
Meanwhile, in a small village, a few hours by horse from the capital, Eamon and his classmates were facing a troll nest that appeared in a cave nearby.
They had dealt with most of the attackers, but the creatures' reproductive rate was absurd. Two things allowed them to smile as the task grilled them: leveling was fast when dealing with trolls and honing your abilities.
On the first day, the professor had to intervene a few times. There was no need for help on the second day, but the group retreated. From the third day onwards, the cadets finally reduced the nest size.
While the cadets battled the trolls, the instructor's medallion rang. Being called during a mission with the cadets was rare, so he instantly answered. When the headmaster's voice sounded on the other side, he swallowed dry. He was sure his career was over when she ordered them to return. Helping the cadets to contain the troll nest while the army arrived, he guided everyone back in the afternoon. They didn’t have the time to finish the job, leaving all cadets curious and worried about the situation.
When they arrived at the academy, it was already night. Still, they were received by the headmaster and some of the higher teachers. The moment Jophin called Eamon to her office, the instructors followed, blocking the door from the outside, and gossip started in the academy.
“Eamon Wycliffe, son of a small lord in the southeast. Who are you?”
“Headmaster Jophin, I don’t understand the question…”
“You were out of the academy grounds, but we received the visit of a general commander.”
Eamon couldn’t hold his excitement. “A GENERAL COMMANDER?!” His eyes opened so wide that the eyeballs almost popped out.
“General Commander Gabriel returned from his reclusion after two years and asked to speak to you, so I repeat… Who are you?”
“WHAT? That makes no sense, Headmaster. I have never met GC Gabriel. Also, I don’t have the status to arrange a meeting.” He said, lowering his posture, afraid the headmaster would blame him for something.
“GC Gabriel and Commander Cael will come back tomorrow at sunrise. Be here at my office before that,” Jophin said before sending the kid to his quarters.
What is happening, Gabriel… Jophin thought, sitting in her chair and looking at the sky.
Morning came faster than usual. Eamon could barely sleep, afraid of why a GC would like to speak to him. Even if his family and territory were killed and destroyed, a GC would never spend time with him. Jophin, on the other hand, spent her night drinking and was nostalgic about the visit she received.
As the sun started to appear on the horizon, Eamon was accompanied by two professors to the headmaster’s office. Arriving there, a blond man with a black uniform and a white sleeve was sitting in a chair with his back to the door. At the top of his back, Eamon could see a small portion of a winged shield, two crossed sword hilts, and the edge of a lion’s mane. He became pale instantly, realizing it hadn’t been a dream.
A voice came from within the door.
“Cadet Eamon, come inside and sit down.”
His body responded, trembling without him thinking. His mind still moved in circles, trying to understand what was happening.
Upon entering, he saluted everyone and sat down where the headmaster pointed. Unable to look in GC Gabriel’s direction, his eyes glued to Jophin’s.
“Cadet Eamon, GC Gabriel would like to ask you a few questions.” The headmaster said, looking at Gabrie with the corner of her eyes.
“Young cadet, nice to meet you. Please be at ease; you are not in trouble.”
“Th… thank you, GC. H… How can I help?” Eamon said, slowly creating the courage to look at the monster beside him.
As their eyes met, Eamon felt an embrace and calm, which was hard to describe. The blue eyes gave the impression that nothing wrong could happen then; he could hardly believe this man was the strongest warrior in the kingdom’s history.
“Tell me about your homeland.” Gabriel asked.
Eamon looked at the headmaster before starting, but as she allowed with a nod, he told everything he could remember about his family’s land and the farm's production.
Gabriel asked a few more questions before changing the subject altogether.
“Have you met any faun during your childhood?”
Jophin’s expression changed when hearing that question. She understood that the actual conversation had just now started.
Eamon smiled as he thought about Bryn and their good time training when he was younger.
“Yes, sir. Sylas is in charge of our farm's production. His wife Freya helps the maids at the house, and their son became friends with me.”
This child doesn’t know what happened… thought Gabriel.
“How old is the young faun you just mentioned?”
“He should be almost nine at the moment, sir.”
“Headmaster Jophin, I confirmed the information I needed. I’ll take Eamon with me for the next week.” Gabriel said.
Gabriel’s request confused Jophin, but she knew his authority was higher than hers. “You better take care of my cadet GC,” she said.
“You don’t have to worry; I’ll guarantee his safe return.”
“Cadet Eamon, I’ll see you in a week.”
Eamon’s fear had vanished when he crossed eyes with Gabriel, but his anxiety skyrocketed when he heard about traveling with him. His mind only functioned again when he, Cael, and Gabriel entered a carriage with only the three of them.
“GC Gabriel and Commander Cael, may I ask how I can help?”
“We are going to meet your family, Eamon. I wish you to tell me everything you can about the young faun you told us about before.” Cael asked.
Cael and Eamon talked for a few hours before they arrived at an open field away from the capital. Gabriel listened to everything, trying to improve his perception of Bryn. Eamon confirmed what he already knew: his potential was frightening from a young age. Still, since joining the academy, Eamon had no contact with the faun.
“We are here.” Gabriel said, asking the carriage to stop.
“I’m sorry, sir, but my family’s farm is still days away by carriage.”
“We know.” Cael replied as Gabriel whistled toward the sky.
Two dots in the sky emerged from a group of clouds, creating a shadow that diminished as they grew closer.
The creatures arrived close enough that Eamon recognized them. His heart almost beat out of his chest as his jaw dropped to the ground, and a roar echoed in the planes.