------ Thirteen Years Old-------
Avior looked around at his lunch table which for some reason or another been slowly filling with people.
“Avior!” A rambunctious redheaded girl called out to him waving her arm as he approached.
“Jessica.” Avior gave a nod alongside a polite smile as he sat in his usual spot. Although he was antisocial by nature it seemed a few of his classmates had decided to congregate at his table and as a result he had been brought into their friend group by proximity.
“Avior, we were just talking about the news coming from the warfront!” A brown haired and bright eyed youngster called James announced. “Luxia’s Paladin’s of Justice have officially allied themselves with the Church of Radiance. It's said the Church’s Comet Legion has arrived to help solidify Luxia’s claim over the Vernicus Kingdom.”
A sigh escaped the lips of an odd violet haired boy with long hair. “From what I’ve heard she still claims she was set up by our empire somehow.”
A laugh came out of Jessica as she retorted the violet haired boy's words, “Set up? Piran how ridiculous you sound peddling that nonsense. Our Empire, however great, is well known to suffer from our lack of competent spies and agents, we simply have no ability to execute the plot that new ‘Queen’ is leaning on.”
Piran, facing turning red at Jessica’s rebuttal, responded with vigor, “Well someone must have, why would Lady Luxia, a paladin known for championing justice and founding a valiant knight order tens of thousands strong sink so low as to kill her own king. The king who had helped to enable her own rapid rise to power. It makes no sense.”
Before Jessica could respond the bright eyed James spoke up to calm the waters. “Truth or not, it doesn’t change Luxia’s current position. After her King's death many of the Vernicus nobles led their army in rebellion giving our Empire time to focus on the other smaller kingdoms who had joined Vernicus in war against us. Now with most of those Kingdoms all but surrendered Luxia who seems to be vying for the crown of Vernicus will face our Empires full attention as well as her own struggles domestically. It makes sense she would ask the Church for aid given the circumstances.”
“Shut up nerd.” Jessica unceremoniously cut off James unsolicited report on events. Seemingly wanting a change of topics she turned back to Avior. “So Avior how did you do on the end of semester exams?” She asked curiously.
Avior smiled weakly at the energetic girl, “I ended up doing okay. I got high marks in artificing, middle marks in alchemy, history, and spell theory.”
Piran moved to burst Avior’s bubble. “All the useless classes, what about your grades in Application of Offensive Magic, Application of Defensive Magic, or even Intro to Casting?” Piran inquired with a smirk.
James slugged Piran in the shoulder while Jessica let out an angry grunt towards their provoking friend. “Piran show some manners for once.” Jessica began to berate before Avior raised his hand to signal it was fine.
“It's okay. Piran’s right. I got poor marks in all three of those classes.” Avior said with a sigh. He had decided he would continue to lay low. In his previous lives he had always been high profile, quickly working to unify humanity under his own banner. This time he would try to do everything differently. He would shape events from behind the scenes hidden behind the facade of a below average student. He would provide no shade for the timid to hide in this time. They would either be baptized in the coming flames or they would be burned to ash. Avior was growing more and more curious if diamonds would arise from the ashes or if everything and everyone would simply become dust long before the ‘Angels’ arrived.
Unaware of his friend's inner thoughts, James spoke up in concern at Avior’s reported grades. “Poor marks in all three combat oriented classes! Avior this only spells trouble for when we begin taking dueling and war games as second years. Even in the Sparrow leagues you’ll get beaten bloody if you’re not able to reliably cast spells by then.”
“Not if we don’t let them.” Jessica declared in a protective voice.
Touched by his “friends by proximity’s” concerns, Avior came forward with a solution to his own ‘mana issue.’ “I hope to find a solution soon. I’ve been making some breakthroughs and my problems with casting should be a problem of the past soon enough.” Avior announced with a grin.
The red-haired Jessica, brown-haired James, and even the purple-haired Piran all sparred their friend a sympathetic smile. They all believed Avior was just trying to rest their hearts filled with worry at ease.
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After eating, Avior returned to his room where he was met by a kneeling member from Nox. Avior was relatively sure he went by Owl, but it was one of those things where he introduced himself so long ago and Avior hadn’t really bothered to note the name, and now of course it’d be awkward to ask, so Avior was going to just hope he was right with Owl.
The grey haired soft looking sixteen year old boy known as Owl had his head bowed as he knelt silently ready for his expected orders.
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Avior going forward with the idea he told his classmates wasted no time. “Owl I’ve recently created a new type of mana gem. Instead of storing mana which can only be used by magic items, it can also be used by Mages as an extra source of mana.”
The kneeling Owl let out a gasp, showing his amazement at his Lord’s invention. Unable to help himself he asked. “Teacher…does that mean you’ll be able to use magic again?” In a quiet tone filled with unabashed hope and awe.
Avior gave the boy an odd look. Couldn’t use magic? Did this kid think he was some kind of mana cripple? Rubbing off the comment, Avior continued quickly forgetting about the odd statement.
“I need some more resources before the prototypes are complete. But once done not only will I be able to equip myself, but I should be able to create enough so each of the Chosen can carry one as well.” Avior answered.
“Teacher this is great news. What resources do you need in order to complete your work?” Owl asked eagerly.
Avior began to list a few dozen items. Some were easily acquired but about a half dozen were ingredients that made even Owl’s eyes widen as he said them. After churning the numbers for a moment Owl responded.
“Teacher I will notify the Chosen. It will likely take three to four months before enough of the ingredients are gathered.” Owl spoke clearly saddened at the time he reported which seemed akin to an eternity.
Avior raised his eyebrows. He had suspected the ingredients would be found in a little more than a year. He knew better than anyone how hard to acquire some of them were. Avior surmised Owl was too inexperienced and was rashly overestimating Nox’s abilities.
Deciding to ensure Owl wouldn’t beat himself up too much once he failed to reach his estimated deadline Avior gave him some leeway. “No need to be too hasty about it, the growth of Nox should always take priority.”
The Owl, holding in a tear as he heard his Teacher. The person who had given everything for them, the Teacher whose actions had either directly or indirectly rescued each and every one of Nox’s now five thousand members from utter hell, that very same boy who was still younger than Owl himself was still putting Nox above all else. Teacher’s unwavering benevolence never wavering in the slightest sent a warm shiver through Owl’s heart.
Unable to argue with his own Teacher, Owl consoled himself by knowing how the Chosen would react to their Teacher’s request. Once it became known their Teacher needed them, not one member of Nox would be willing to do anything other than help him even if it cost them their very lives. After all the only reason those very same lives were still burning bright was because of their Teacher’s selfless actions.
Being dismissed, Owl switched with the lanky Mouse who was taking over his guardian duties. After exchanging the good news with her, Owl quickly made his way back to headquarters where he’d begin to mobilize all of Nox. While dashing over rooftops Owl could no longer contain his emotions as hot tears begin to freely flow down his cheeks. “It's finally time. We can finally be of use.” Owl’s murmur echoed in his ears as his tears became hotter and his smile wider as he made his way over to do his Teacher’s bidding.
-------------------
After Avior sent the Owl away he began readying himself for bed when a familiar elderly figure appeared, head bowed while already kneeling at the foot of Avior’s twin-sized dorm bed.
“Master, I’ve returned.” The deep voice had an obvious tint of anxiousness to it. Anyone else who was familiar with this old but fierce-looking tanned man with a thick head of grey hair and piercing blue eyes would be shocked at the docile demeanor he was showing in front of a young thirteen-year-old boy.
Avior restrained himself from sighing in annoyance as he took in the image of who was most likely his greatest failure of a servant. “What do you have to report Bastian?” Despite Avior’s halfhearted attempt a little annoyance slipped through in his tone making the kneeling Bastian flinch in horror.
Bastian reeled in his terror at his Lord's apparent dissatisfaction with him as he refocused his thoughts on what his Lord was asking. What to report? His Lord obviously knew everything which had occurred, his Creator was so unfathomably almighty even Bastian couldn’t begin to imagine the depths of the power he wielded. It was clear he couldn’t be asking for an actual report. He’s asking me to report my own failures! Bastian realized in a rush.
“My Lord I apologize for this one’s uselessness.” Bastian kept himself from sending more excuses as he floundered about what he could say. I allowed my own desire to meet my other siblings draw me to the Western Isles. Not only did I fail to oversee the only task you gave me upon my creation of creating an organization for you. I failed so badly I forced you to make an entirely new organzation from scratch as is apparent with those gifted children trying to guard your residence. No! Stupid! Bastian’s mind raced as he hunted for something, anything else to say.
“My actions were not done with enough forward thinking. I managed to draw too much attention to myself and my manipulation was far too visible. If I’m to truly be of use to you going forward I must restart from scratch, pursuing a far more subtle method which isn’t tainted with greed for fast results. I must also put all my energy and focus on one goal at a time. Being lulled into a sense of comfort I allowed myself to attempt to multitask, juggling your mission alongside attempts to achieve my own desires. In the future, any distraction must be seen for what it is: a risk to my mission.” Bastian concluded his self reprimand and assessment. With his head bowed and not daring to scan the room with magic Bastian’s only way of telling his Creator’s reaction was by the sound of his Lord's words.
“Good assessment Bastian.” Avior responded thankful his first creation seemed to realize its failure, but at the same time being a little concerned Bastian thought he was being TOO obvious. At all costs he needed to steer his servant away from trying to make another organization, something Avior felt with utmost certainty Bastian was hopelessly terrible at.
Bastian who had breathed a sigh of relief at his Master’s positive response to his actions tensed up as his Lord began to continue his response.
“Although you’ve evaluated yourself well, I believe your talents would be better used tempering others more directly. Near the middle of this Central Continent lies the heart of the Church of Radiance. Spend a day preparing your current organization for your indefinite leave of absence before traveling to begin a more conspicuous campaign agaist the Church.”
Bastian beaming from another compliment and a new mission from his Lord readily accepted. “Of course my Lord I’ll be off at once.”
Watching Bastian’s kneeling form dissolve into shadow Avior laid back down on his twin mattress as he tried to migrate his thoughts away from his last visitor as soon as possible to prevent his frustration with his first servant from keeping him awake.