Chapter 034:

Despite whatever misgivings Lindsy may have over her peers from the Graveclaws kingdom, she did have to concede one thing: as teachers, they were diligent.

So when Minerva, the most earnest among them, said that she did not recognize one of her students, a problem was surely at hand.

“Miss Minerva?” The headmaster asked with a sharp look in his eyes.

“Indeed,” The kind old lady replied, staring back.

“That is not one of our students,”

“What are you implying?” Lindsy shot back in anger.

Minerva shifted her gaze from the old man toward his granddaughter “I am not implying anything, Lindsy, I’m just saying that this particular youth is not a student of our Unity,”

At this, the tense atmosphere dissolved somewhat, and Lindsy felt some guilt creep in.

“That’s impossible,” Ike interjected. “I’ve personally verified every student scheduled to participate and even did a headcount before the exam! There aren’t any extra students present,”

At this, the group of teachers grew stumped once more. They knew Ike’s words to be true as they each had also done a private count of the students.

“Student Leonard Richard is missing,” It was then that the old headmaster spoke with a commanding voice.

“The same can be said for Student Samual Blakes,” Minerva added on.

A collective gasp rang out as the teachers verified their words. It seemed that a pair of intruders had indeed taken the spots of their students without them noticing. Were news of this to spread, the school’s reputation would undoubtedly take a massive hit.

Realizing the severity of the matter, Ike’s expression paled as he nervously wiped the sweat off his brow.

“H-headmaster,” He stammered. “Perhaps we should consider calling the test off,”

This suggestion brought about a new wave of discussions as the teachers argued back and forth.

“I disagree with Professor Ike’s suggestion. If we were to back down now, it would only further shake the confidence of these children’s parents,” a professor from Graveclaws explained.

“Conversely, if we did continue, then that would put the children at risk!” Argued another teacher.

As the faculty continued to bicker among themselves, Minerva stood silent, her eyes glued to the Crystal she carried.

Lindsy saw this and she was about to say something but before she could, her eyes bulged as she noticed that Minerva was trembling.

“Minerva?” She asked tentatively as she came closer. It was during her approach that she noticed the scene taking place in the Crystal. The plain-looking intruder from earlier was now sporting a strange-looking flute as he cast earthen magic over and over again.

“What is tha-'' Lindsy spoke to ask but before she could, Minerva had already disappeared from her spot.

Every member of Unity’s faculty shut their mouth at the sight of the old-looking Minerva landing on the ship's railing before crouching down into a runner’s position.

“We need to stop him,” Minerva said simply before a large crash drowned her soft voice out.

In a feat of sheer physical prowess, the old lady kicked off the boat and soared toward the maze at dizzying speeds, destroying a portion of the ship’s railing with the force of her jump.

Lindsy stood with her mouth agape at the incredulous sight before her; she wobbled to regain her balance as the force of Minerva’s jump caused the ship to tilt to one side. She had thought that Minerva was a magician just like the others from Graveclaws but it was clear that she was mistaken. Just as she marveled at how impressive the figure of Minerva soaring through the air like a comet was, she felt her heart drop to her stomach as a robed figure appeared midair from out of nowhere and floated between Minerva and the maze.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to stop you right there, young miss,” a sounding voice rang out as the robed figure reached a hand out toward the incoming Minerva.

The old woman snorted and threw a fist toward the figure she was rapidly approaching.

The teachers from Graveclaws hastily covered their ears as they winced at the sight of Minerva winding her punch up

BOOM!!

A deafening sound shook the surroundings.

………………………………………………..

Professor Lindsy Almer’s Point of View:

BOOM!!

‘That’s insane!’ Lindsy screamed internally as she frantically covered her ears.

The boat’s shaking, which had just begun to subside, returned with new vigor as it was rocked by the shockwaves coming from Minerva’s punch.

‘There’s no way that person survived that!’ Almer thought as she re-opened her eyes.

But contrary to her imagination, the mysterious white-robed figure was seemingly unharmed as he held Minerva’s fist in his palm.

“You have remarkably soft hands,” The robed figure remarked casually as he let Minerva fall into his embrace. She thrashed about wildly but before she could do any real damage, both of her hands were soon caught; held by the wrists.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

After the boat regained some of its stability, the teachers could now see the man’s face more clearly.

Only it wasn’t exactly a man that Lindsy saw, but rather, a boy.

‘He’s too young!’ Lindsy thought as she studied the figure’s face. He looked to be no more than 14 years of age as evidenced by his soft facial features and lack of any facial hair. This youthful continence clashed horribly with the man’s body which stood at a towering seven feet.

“Gilbert!” Minerva’s scream broke Lindsy from her stupor as she belatedly realized that her grandfather had already made his move.

At some point, the old headmaster had left the ship and was now hovering above the maze while muttering an incantation. Soon enough, he opened his eyes as billowing winds began gathering toward him.

“Woah, that’s a lot,” The robed figure said with a whistle as he tightened his hold over Minerva.

“I do not know who you are, but I suggest unhanding Minerva before I am forced to take action,” The headmaster’s powerful voice sounded out amongst the billowing winds. Immediately after saying his piece, a hurricane formed midair forcing everyone to hold onto their lives.

“Land the ship, it can’t take any more abuse!” A teacher from Graveclaws instructed the staff.

‘I should do something too!’ Lindsy admitted before she began casting her own spell.

“Lindsy!” It was then that Ike’s voice interrupted her concentration as he approached her frantically while clutching a communications crystal.

“What?” She asked.

“Look at this. The students are in trouble!”

Now alarmed, Lindsy looked into the crystal whereupon she was met with the sight of Moore transforming.

‘Shit!’ Lindsy screamed internally as she completed her spell and flew toward the maze wrapped in winds.

Meanwhile, the headmaster had grown tired of waiting for a response, and within the hurricane, he brought his hand down and pointed toward the robed man and Minerva. Following his will, the hurricane surrounding him began descending.

“Uh oh,” The figure exclaimed lazily before casting a spell of his own. Soon enough a magic circle of unprecedented size appeared behind him.

“You should be paying attention to me, Protected One!” Minerva roared as the skin surrounding her arms turned a shade of bronze.

For the first time since appearing, the man’s facial expression crumpled as he felt Minerva explode with newfound power, forcing him to release her from his grasp.

Now unsupported, Minerva began falling but before that happened, she viciously grabbed a hold of the man’s arm and swung a fist toward his now unguarded jaw.

The sound the fist made as it collided with the man’s face sent chills down the faculty members’ spines.

“Woah, the Mad Bear’s still got it,” One of the Graveclaw teachers exclaimed with admiration.

“Uh, shouldn’t we be helping?” Ike asked worriedly.

“No, we’ll only get in the way,” A Graveclaws teacher explained

“He’s right,” Another teacher from Iron-wall agreed. “The headmaster has taken action personally, we’ll just get in his way,”

Ike gulped after hearing his fellow teachers’ opinions. He shifted his gaze toward Lindsy who braved her grandfather’s winds and made way for the maze.

Evidently, Minerva’s wrath was not soothed with that one punch as she immediately issued another and another. Soon, the man’s face no longer resembled anything other than a pile of mangled flesh but Minerva was still not done. Much to her horror, the man’s mouth, which should have been damaged beyond use, was still issuing incantations.

‘W-what is this!’ She thought worriedly as she sent another fist flying, hitting the man squarely between the eyes, caving his head in.

She wanted to hit him again but it was then that she noticed the rumbling sounds coming from her surroundings.

‘He finished casting his spell!’ She clicked her tongue in exasperation and let go of her hold, allowing her body to be swept away by Gilbert’s winds.

The hurricane finally made contact, sending the man, who had remained stationary despite Minerva’s many blows, flying back.

The robed man’s body smashed into the maze with a sickening splat, but even then the ripping winds did not relent as they tore apart his clothes and slashed away at his flesh. Like thousands upon thousands of blades, the winds tore into the man’s flesh sending chunks of meat flying everywhere.

Lindsy shuddered at the violence happening before her but finally, she managed to reach the maze.

Just as she was about to enter, she felt an ominous sensation overcome her.

“Lindsy!” The commanding voice of her grandfather further confirmed her suspicions and she looked toward the mysterious man being torn apart by the winds.

Now without anything to obscure her vision, Lindsy could make out the mangled face. She was disgusted by the sight of it, but soon fear started sprouting in her heart as she noticed that the man’s twisted face was actually smiling.

She froze in place, filled with terror, momentarily failing to notice the magic enveloping the maze.

‘W-what is this?’ She asked herself after finally seeing it.

‘I need to get away!’ She understood instinctively and stood to escape.

“Too late~” A voice, mangled and distorted, came to her then and she realized it to be the mysterious man.

But that was the least of her worries as she now noticed that she could no longer move. At some point, a pale brown light began emitting from the magical circle and within the blink of an eye, it encompassed the entirety of the maze.

As soon as her feet came into contact with that light, her legs began turning grey, resembling stone.

“Ahhhhhh!” She shrieked, losing all sense of reason as her body stiffened and froze.

Just as she was about to be turned to stone, a large bang brought her attention to the front where Minerva crash-landed.

“Snap out of it!” The old lady spoke viciously as her legs expanded in size before she reappeared in front of Lindsey.

“Hold on!” Minerva advised as her whole body turned a deeper shade of bronze. She wrapped her arms around Lindsey, forcefully freeing her legs from the maze, and crouched down momentarily before jumping into the air with enough force to shatter the maze entirely.

“Damnit!” But much to her displeasure, the maze was unharmed, seemingly protected by the pale brown light.

‘I’m free!’ Lindsey’s panic lessened significantly after being saved by Minerva. “T-thanks,” She muttered reluctantly.

“How are your legs?”

“Better, I can feel them now,”

“Can you use magic?”

Lindsey nodded.

“Good,” Minerva said with a smile as she casually tossed Lindsey away with enough strength to send her flying a good distance.

Lindsy screamed once more at the sudden action as she hurriedly began casting a spell lest she fall to her death.

Minerva paid this no mind as she was busy dealing with the threat before her. From the pale brown light, rocks began gathering in the shape of a misformed dragon.

“Roar!!” The magical construct sounded like a genuine animal and looked like something only seen in legends. Its scales, made from sharpened stone, looked tough to crack and its long body spoke volumes of its physical strength. After sharp fangs formed all along its maw, it lunged after Minerva.

“Hmph!” The old lady harrumphed even as she fell downward, being chased by a dragon. Twisting her body as much as she could, she wound a punch back with all her strength.

“Eat this, lizard,” She spoke into the dragon’s open maw as she launched her fist forward.

By chance, her fist, now the color of deep bronze, struck the dragon’s snout hard.

The beast’s gaping maw was forced closed and cracks began spreading throughout its body before it soon exploded into hundreds of pieces.

Undaunted by the splatter of rocks that pelted her skin, Minerva grit her teeth as she used the heavier rocks as stepping stones to launch herself upward.

‘Holy shit!’ Lindsy exclaimed to herself after finally stabilizing a distance away.