Chapter 7: Aftermath

Akatriel was reawakened by the pokes assaulting his cheeks.

"Wasted twice in a row, you sure are unlucky today." Anael teased him.

"Will you please stop with the poking. And it wasn't even my fault. Devouring Hellfire, seriously Azrael?"

"Hehe. At least I had my fill. Now I feel fully recharged."

"I was burned from inside out due to that reckless action of yours damn it!" Akatriel complained in anger.

"Relax. Anael is currently healing your body at the moment. No need to fuss, you'll be running around full of energy in no time."

"That's not the issue here. It felt like hell back there!"

"Dude, that was Hellfire, of course it would hurt like hell. So rather than being grouchy shouldn't you be just grateful first, now that your friend has ceased from rampaging."

"Urk...fine. When you say it that way it seems sounds that I'm still in debt with you two after what you had just done. Honestly, please try not killing me every time you provide assistance."

"(giggle)...well, were sorry too Triel." Anael apologized. "But, were angel of life and demon of death. It's just hard to resist teasing you that way."

"So that was really intended in the first place!" Akatriel moaned in frustration.

"Well despite that, you still always trust us with your whole faith." Azrael chuckled.

"Hey don't push it. It's just that the situation calls for it. Besides, your help always show good results at the very least though it always manages to pisses me of when you both tease me like that."

"Ahahaha" Anael burst out laughing. "That's just really you."

"Geez. You're still my trusted guardians after all." Akatriel also chuckled. "So be it. I'll just make it even with you on other chances."

Akatriel felt droplets of water hit his face.

"Hey, does it drizzle here at times?"

"I doubt that. Maybe it just mean it's about time for you to head back. I'm almost done healing you." Anael informed him.

"I see. Then I'll be off, Corvelia might still need my aid." Akatriel relaxed himself, slowly letting his senses fade and leading his them back to reality.

* * * * * * * * * *

Fatigue and weariness assaulted Akatriel's body when he came to conciousness. He felt so stiff, the only consolation he was thankful was the soft thing that was supporting his head. If was so comfortable it felt like he's being dragged back to his dreams.

(Ugh, but my body still really hurts.)

He once again felt droplets of water dampening his face. He heard a sob and felt a drop enter the gaps of his lips.

(Salty, is this tears.)

He opened his weary eyes and saw Corvelia's weeping face looming above his. She is currently supporting his head with her lap as a pillow.

"Akatriel I'm sorry...(sob)...(sob)...I'm really so sorry." She wept.

"What...a..are...you appolo...gizing...about?" His ribs were almost healed but he still feel pained as he spoke.

"Eh?" Corvelia was dazed for a moment as if she'd seen a ghost. Realizing where was the source of the voice...

"Kyaaa!"

"Oof." a fist assaulted Akatriel's jaw. A muffled cry of pain escaped from him as he felt his incisor fell off.

"You were dead! You didn't have pulse when I checked earlier. You're suppose to be dead. Kyaaah!!!" Corvelia continue punching his face in panic before dropping it off the ground as she scampered away.

"Oww..." Akatriel caressed the bump on his head.

"I hadh bhe mhore charephul when hnadhlig injhurhed pheople." (I have be  more careful when handling injured people.) He spoke while applying magic on his agonized jaw.

"You're really alive!" Corvelia spoke half-bewildered and half-relieved. The flow of her tears began to worsen.

(Akatriel is making a girl cry.) Anael commented.

(Yeah, Shame on him.) Azrael chided in too.

(Irk...stop it you two, now's not the time for teasing me like that.)

"Whaa...I'm really sorry. I didn't intended to lose control. I didn't want to hurt other people. When I came to sense, you were already laying lifeless in from of me. (sob)...I didn't mean to do it." Tears continued to flow from her eyes.

"Hey, it okay. Everything's fine. Come on, you're still bleeding from your injuries. Let me heal those wounds." Akatriel drew near her.

Corvelia jumped away from him. Her eyes were filled with fear, like a person framed for a crime.

"No! Stay back. I might just hurt you once more! I had almost killed you once."

"Corvelia, you won't do that. Believe me."

"Please, just stay away from me. I don't want to hurt others again."

"You dummy." Akatriel rushed towards her grabbing her both her hands.

"No! I said stay away. Let me go!"

"Corvelia stop struggling...CORVELIA!...Look at me in the eyes. Do I look scared of you. Do I look like someone afraid of simply dying like you think. I'm not that fragile as you think so let me help you!" Akatriel stared hard at her in the eyes.

Corvelia flinched. She stopped struggling and weakly shook her head.

"But-"

"Again, enough with the buts." Akatriel pulled her in, hugging her head unto his chest and slowly caressed her hair to calm her. A certain person never failed to calm him this way.

"Khuaa...I'm scared...I was scared when I thought I had killed someone. Scared that I had ended your life." her tears were drenching his bare chest.

"Hush." He continued to stroke her head. "You'll be okay, I promise."

"(Sniff)...Akatriel." Corvelia hugged him back.

"As long as you're with me, I won't let anything bad happen even if you suddenly go berserk. I'll be your personal support. And if ever I'm away and you feel you're about to lose control, just yell my name and I'll be coming in a flash by your side."

(Are you sure with that decision of yours?)

(It seems like you're asking for trouble yourself.)

(I've made up my mind and I've made a promise so I'm going to keep it. Beside it would also mean I'd get more chances to get used with possession magic and improve it.)

(Geez what are we even worrying about...of course its how you would act. You won't be known as their son if it's the other way around.)

"We've just met each other today. How could you go through such lengths for me." Corvelia was filled with doubts.

"Because that's what I am. I live by my own beliefs. Once I've made a promise, I'll keep it till my very last breath. I will protect you and everyone when you go out of control, that's the promise I made and intend to keep. You trust me don't you? So just let me do it out of my own will."

(Why shouldn't she? After all the thing that happened and what they'd been through, that boy had proved himself more than just worthy. Of course she could trusts him.) Corvelia thought as she felt something tugged deep within her chest. It made her feel warm and at ease deep inside.

"In exchange, promise me you'll keep on honing the skills your father had taught you. You are lucky he left you a legacy before he passed away so cherish it, learn it, don't let others sway you with their words and mater it rather than letting it be the other way around. Prove them you can be your father's pride."

Corvelia nodded with her her blushing face still hidden by his chest.

"Good." He decided to release her from his hug. It been sometime when she hugged him back and since her plate armor was removed earlier during the fight, her undershirt was the only cloth separating the two soft bulges pressing against his belly. Its has begun to distract his concentration. 

(Who would have thought Dragonborns would be this soft to touch despite how their skin looks.) Akatriel shook away the thought and stood up. (Wait, wait, wait we got a serious atmosphere here, I can't be distracted by some random thoughts.)

"Here take my hand."

Corvelia obediently took it as Akatriel applied his healing spell. Its the second time he had offered his hand for her today. But why was it just at this moment did she noticed how firm and dependent his hands were. How they felt so warm and reassuring.

The field spell [Nocturne Mist] that Akatriel had cast wan now starting to dissipate.

"Let go."

"Um. Yeah." she agreed, still unsure with the strange but nice feeling in her chest.

As the black mist cleared they saw a group of teachers approaching from the edge of the field, among them was Geraldus who was completely healed back to health. Also, a teacher in her early thirties with a white hair was running ahead of them. She directly approached Akatriel and gave him a knock on the head.

"Ow. Easy mom."(That's the third bump I've obtained withing a day.) he bitterly thought.

His mother hugged him the same manner he had with Corvelia.

"Don't make me worried like that again. You almost gave me a heart attack" she said clearly shaken. "Who told you to take care of the problem at hand by yourself. At least you could've waited for me to arrive. I'm your mother for a reason, it's a parents duty to protect and help their child."

Akatriel felt guilt. His mother had a point.

"I'm sorry for making you worry. That was toughtless of me. I'm all fine now, there's nothing to be concerned about." He tried to console her.

"Did you think I didn't noticed her Hellfire as well as you releasing your guardians? You only used possession magic a couple of times and all those situations was when your life was in grave danger. If things had reached that degree you had to use them of course I'll surely be worried."

Looks like Akatriel has to also hide the fact that Anael had revived him twice.

"Hey, that look in your face. Are you hiding something from me?"

"Huh, no nothing!" he made an answer flustered.

"Don't lie to me. I'd have you grounded for a month." 

"Ma'am, it wasn't Akatriel's fault. I was the one who had suddenly gone berserk during the event and he e just came to my assistance as a friend. If you intend to give him a punishment then please if you would reconsider, let me take the punishment instead." Corvelia who was taken aback by the exchange between the parent and child butted in and pleaded.

"And you are?" Agatha asked.

"Oh. Corvelia meet my mother, mother met Corvelia. She's my partner during the matches."

"Oh, your the dragon child. I pardon you but I believe my son should take responsibilities for the decisions he made."

"I beg you, please let me insist. He was the only one who dared to saved me and stopped me from rampaging. He is also the very first friend I've ever made after I had transferred to this school, at least let me repay him through this." she said with her eyes full of conviction.

Agatha raised an eyebrow.

"Corvelia there's no need for-" Akatriel tried to tell her but was halted by a hand with an iron grip on his shoulders. 

"Are you sure with that young lady?"

"Yes, so please."

"I see. Fine, I'll take responsibility of this incident and let you two off just this once. But don't you dare repeat this kind of ruckus again. Am I understood?"

"Ma'am?" Corvelia asked confused.

"I meant that  I'll take care of this incident and talk with the principal later, the old guy's still in-debt with me after all. You two are both of the hook. Besides seeing you two somewhat reminds me of a past experience."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Mom what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, both of you go ahead and get a change of clothes, you might catch a cold in that get up. Especially you Akatriel, you can just go walking around the school half-naked. Now hurry up before I change my mind."

Akatriel looked at his attire and then at Corvilia's. With due regards his mother had a point. Due to the battle all his garments aside from his pants were either completely burn or torn. Even Corvelia's tattered attire was revealing too much skin.

"Eeep...stop staring at me. Pervert!" Corvelia yelp finally noticing her current looks.

"Sorry!" Akatriel looked away. He chanted something before kneeling to the ground and withdrawing something from withing his shadow. "Here wear this for a while."

Akatriel wrapped a black jacket around Corvelia and handed her a trouser. Then he chanted once more covering his body with shadows. After it has dissipated, his clothes were restored like brand new.

"How did you do that?"

"I can store stuff within my shadow. However there's a limit on how much I can store and I only learnt it just a few day ago though."

Agatha turned to Geraldus. "Since the problem has been solve now, I think your should proceed with the class and end it early today. Let the children have their rest."

"I understand." he agreed.

"Then I'll be now heading to the principal's office to explain the incident. Please take care of these freshmen." Agatha said and walked away. 

"Oh dear sister. Fufufu...looks like our son is growing up to be a ladies man just like his fathers. He'll surely attract more than just a single maiden in the near future. (sign)...what do you think sister? Should I be proud or worried?" Agatha wistfully whispered to herself.

* * * * * * * * * *

The students were once again gathered. Since the combat area was completely wrecked, the venue was changed to the other end of the open field.

"Let's make this quick so everyone could be dismissed early. I'll be now announcing the result of the final match." Geraldus spoke to the gathered students. "The match may have not been concluded because of the incident, but I as the one in-charge of supervising this competition have made the decision that the winner for the final match would be non-other than the team seven."

"Does anybody have objections with that? Or would Miss Elise and Mr. Varis rather have a rematch?" Geraldus questioned the pair.

"No, I'm fine with the decision. As much as I hate to admit it, even it if the match were to continue earlier Akatriel alone would still have defeated us two. I'll admit our loss." Elise answered.

"How about you Varis?" 

"I'll be declining the offer of a rematch. The results have been clear earlier, I would like to improve myself first then just challenge them another time." he admitted his defeat, his voice tinged with bitterness. It seems this was the first for him to experience such gap in strength.

Nobody else in the crowd seemed to raise a objection. After all not a single one had thought of challenging the berserker during her rampage in the first place. Somehow they had come to acknowledge Akatriel's guts and capabilities when he stood against her on his own.

"Well then. Thus, I'd have to officially announce the team seven as the winner of this competition. Of course they shall receive a reward being the champions. Here take these." He urge the two to come forward and handed them a pair of necklaces. "You might need this on the scheduled class two weeks from now."

They were made out of a transparent piece of blue glass hanged on a silver chain.

"What are these?" Akatriel asked.

"What? you don't know such highly valued item!?" Elise exclaimed in surprise. "Those are called contractor's necklace. I lets you form a contract with a single compatible creature and turn it into your personal familiar without the need of being a summoner class. These items are rare to find, I've been searching for one since I was ten. To think you just have easily acquired one and not know how lucky you are irritates me."

"Then let me also remind you about our bet. Since you have accepted your defeat, your brother may now start with his sleep over tonight."

"What! Hey wait anything but that. I'm still not prepared being separated to my brother yet."

"Oh come on. Your mansion is just a right next to ours, aren't you overreacting."

"But still, not being able to tiptoe into his room and sleep beside him when he's fast asleep is a bit too much."

"Honestly whose the one going overboard here?"

"Ahem...Leave your discussion for later." Geraldus interrupted them. "I know everyone is tired already so before we proceed in dismissing this class, I would like to leave an assignment for all of you."

"Uhm...and what would it be sir?" a student asked

"Ah. Noting to be worried about. Its just simple one since you had now interacted and seen the combat capabilities of each and everyone. Before the scheduled meeting two weeks from now, I would like you to group up to make a temporary Subjugation Squad. Simple as that, did everybody get it?"

"Yes sir!" the whole class answered.

"Good, then class is dismissed. Everyone may now take their leave."

* * * * * * * * * *

"A Subjugation Squad huh." Akatriel said to himself.

"Oh, so who will you be teaming up with?" Corvelia asked him out of curiosity.

Subjugation Squad, the term refers to a team formed by a group of people with the main goal of subduing monster specifically Worldeaters during the war. This practice have been said originate from the Fabled Heroes during the very first war against the Worldeaters. The ancestors observed effectiveness of their organized combat tactics while working as a small group against the invaders compared the common unit organization system. Thus this type of team combat tactic was adapted and implemented by almost every race.

Basically a subjugation squad is composed of namely: Vanguard, Slayer, Combatant, Casters, Marksman and Support.

Vanguards are the ones in-charge to take huge amounts of damage. They sport high amounts of durability and are heavily armor. They have the ability to taunt enemies into focusing on them, either directly or through the use of highly aggravating spells and abilities, rather than other team members who may be more susceptible to damage and debilitation.

Slayer are those which specialize in killing the enemies quickly. They boast the ability to deal high output of burst damage in exchange of having low defense. All of them have some form of invisibility or sudden ambushing ability and has high mobility. Their main role is to lie wait while looking for the enemies vital point and strike when the opportunity presents itself, finishing them off.

Combatants are a hybrid between damage dealing and tanking, they combine and utilize the survivability of a Vanguard and the damage of a Slayer. Although they don't quite match up to their specialized counterparts in either role, they still excel in both. Their role most of the time is to fight alongside the Vanguard and dealing damage to the enemy while also providing secondary cover for the other team members as well.

Caster are mostly ranged  who prioritize powerful abilities over basic attacks. Typically Casters are characterized by some combination of long-range, area-effect or high-utility spells to get the job done. However, Casters have the lowest defense and can only wear the lightest of armors. A skilled caster can have a huge impact on any team with their versatile spells and the flexibility of its use upon situations.

A marksman is a ranged attacker that sacrifices defensive power and utility to focus on dealing strong, continuous damage to individual targets. Typically focused on using their basic attacks more than their abilities, marksmen have the capability to scale and deal out devastating levels of damage given the right positioning during combat.

Supports make are considered the core on a squad by enabling their allies through buffs and heals, or by disrupting enemy lines through crowd control. Supports create advantages and opportunities for their teammates to capitalize on. A skilled support gives their team the edge it needs to claim victory, and can turn the tide of battle with just one well-timed mediation.

People can take upon more than one specific role in a squad, switching role if called upon by the situation and thus providing more flexibility to the team. To sum it up the main goal of forming a squad is to build a team utilizing a balanced composition of the previously mentioned roles in order to bring out the maximum results capable of subjugating a Worldeater while minimizing the risk of casualty.

"For starters why not team up with me then."

"Really?"

"Why not we've won the competition as a pair, so what other proof would you ask for to prove out compatibility as a team? You can act as a Vanguard or Combatant, and I'll be a Support and at time a Combatant too. We could then search for others who could fit in for the role within this two weeks."

"Okay then. Lets do that." Corvelia cheerfully agreed.

The day managed to end with the rampage incident resolved. All the student finally headed home after finishing their classes. 

"I manage to stand out and leave an impression at today's event. Alright, starting from here, the real hurdles begin. Now the main goal, is to gather the best team and make my name well known within a year. That's the quickest way to meeting them."

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Author's notes:

Hello everyone!!!

To those who have liked and are continuously reading this fiction I made, I'll be apologizing ahead of time. Due to some upcoming exams and assessments I would have to give a 100% focus to my studies won't be able work on story for a while. Got to put study as the first priority...hehehe...I'll be back after a week or two.

I would also like to know your opinion about my fiction. Was it good, meager, or bad? Is it worth the read? Should I continue or stop writing fiction. I'm merely curious about it guys, maybe I just want find some kind motivation when I get back from the grueling evaluations and assessments.

For now I'll be signing off. See you guys soon! (> 3<)v

P.S.

Oh and while I'm away, if you liked my novel maybe maybe you could also try reading the fiction made by my friend Winterdrake. It's also currently ongoing, here's the link: Mythologia by Winterdrake.