Magic Duel Arc: Chapter 8. The Interview.

Valoran is surprised to see that person so soon after the Magic Duels have concluded.

“I assume you know my reasoning for being here?” The person raises the question in a reasonable manner of tone.

Valoran facing the person replies with: “I sure do…Journalist Octavia”

Journalist Octavia is an elvish woman with silver hair (which is rare among elves) and a journalist who asked for an interview with Valoran to which he ultimately agreed.

“I am glad you remembered” She expresses with relief.

Valoran now has doubts however if she should do the interview with recent developments involving the worshippers.

“I am not so sure if I should do the interview...with newly developed threats, it would be wise not to unnecessarily expose myself.” Valoran thinks to himself.

“I’ve come to your academy to ask when you are available, I hope this time next week since the academy will be closed on that day?” She politely questions.

“I don’t thi-“Valoran is being interrupted.

“Sure, next week is fine” Artemsia replies with a smile toward Octavia.

Valoran is stunned for the moment.

“Thank you so much. I am looking forward to it” Octavia emits with excitement.

Valoran, who now sees that she does care about the interview, begins to emit a small smile.

“I will also be looking forward to it” Valoran replies with a small smile.

Octavia leaves the academy in high spirits.

Valoran faces Artemsia.

“I must give you… my thanks.” Valoran sincerely says toward Artemsia.

“Why is that?” Artemsia voices with interest.

“Because, I have lost sight of myself. I can’t believe I was worried about some God worshipping low lives that I almost destroyed someone’s excitement by cowering out from the interview” Valoran declares.

“Your very welcome” Artemsia returns with a bright smile.

They head inside the academy.

One week later

Valoran is getting ready to leave his home and head for the interview.

Valoran is dressed up in a beautiful black suit and black shoes.

Aelina is also dressed up nicely as she’s accompanying Valoran.

“I can’t believe you will be on the magic broadcast!” Aelina screams in excitement.

“I know mom. It is a big deal I guess” Valoran replies still from his room getting ready.

After Valoran is all done, he heads downstairs where Aelina and Artemsia are waiting for him.

Aelina is immediately stunned due to Valoran’s handsome appearance.

“You look great Valoran” She begins to tear up.

Valoran immediately makes sure that she is fine. “Mother, what’s wrong? Why are you tearing up?”

Aelina gives Valoran a huge hug…. She then releases the hug and looks up toward him.

“You see, every time I think I couldn’t be prouder of you, you somehow do. I am so proud of you. But but…” Aelina is unable to finish her sentence due to flustered emotions of sadness, happiness, excitement etc…

“But what Mother?” Valoran calmly asks.

Aelina begins to wipe her tears away.

“You are all grown up, it seems like yesterday when you were just a little boy part of me feels like I could have done a better job raising you. It makes me feel that I was a terrible mother.” She expresses with guilt and a hint of frustration.

Valoran who can sense his mother’s pain and guilt. “Mother. You have given me so much, much more that I could have ever asked for. You were not prepared to have a child and yet I was born from an unnatural cause…Because of that factor I was called many terrible names, but you stuck by me and gave me more love, joy, hope and much more. You are a great mother, the best in my eyes. If you were a terrible mother, you would have given me away the second, I was born. You would have called it an “abomination” . It's me who could have been a better son.” Valoran reveals.

They hug each other. “No mother was prouder of their son than I am” Aelina declares.

“And no son was more grateful to have a great mother” Valoran replies with a small smile.

With the emotional dialog behind Valoran, Aelina and Artemsia make their way to the interview.

They arrive at the magical broadcast system headquarters where every event is being broadcast via magic crystals to other magic crystals in people’s homes, stores and even the giant magic crystal at the capital centre.

“This is it, Valoran. You will be on the magic broadcast soon!” Aelina can’t contain her excitement and pride for Valoran.

“I know mother, I am excited about it too” Valoran replies with a calm tone.

“We are all proud of you Valoran. You deserve it” Artemsia shares proudly.

“Thank you Artemsia. I am glad you are here with me” Valoran replies with a small smile.

They head inside the building where they are met by Octavia who will be interviewing Valoran.

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Octavia reaches out her right arm and hand to greet Valoran, Aelina and Artemsia.

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Octavia and I will be conducting this exciting interview” She unravels with excitement and shaking hands with the three of them.

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Aelina Silver Valoran’s mother. I can't thank you enough for giving my son this opportunity.” Aelina says with gratefulness.

“You're very welcome. There is also a special reason why I really want to interview your son which I will reveal during the interview” she says with a secretive tone.

Valoran looks a little curious at that response but decides to not question it but he has a suspicion.

“Could it be that…?” Valoran thinks to himself.

“Nice to meet you again Octavia. I am Artemsia.” She kindly states.

“Nice to see you again as well Artemsia” Octavia replies with a smile.

Octavia leads them into the interviewing area. The room contains a large audience and a stage with two chairs opposite from each other and slightly angled to face the audience.

Octavia then proceeds to explain to Valoran what will happen. “Okay Valoran, in a few minutes the audience will arrive, and the interview will be broadcasted across all Halivaara. You will be waiting here backstage until I call out your name, when I do you will walk up and take a seat on your chair. Do you understand?” she questions.

Valoran nods slightly. “It’s simple enough” Valoran replies and walks off backstage.

15 minutes later.

The room is now filled with a large audience among them are Valoran’s friends: Artemsia, Biatrix, Selina, Merial and Demonlise as well as his mother all in the front row seats.

Octavia walks to her seat to start the magic broadcast.

“Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen. Today on the magic broadcast I have a special guest to introduce you to. He is a first-year student at Halivaara Magic Academy and set a record in the magic duels. He duelled 4 combatants at once and won with a little girl as his partner, winning him a staggering amount of 20 points. Please welcome Valoran Silver!”

Valoran then walks on the stage toward his seat with a thunderous applause greeting him.

He waves his right hand toward the crowd and proceeds to his seat.

“Welcome to the magic broadcast Valoran. It’s nice you made some time to be here.” Octavia introduces Valoran in an exciting manner.

“Thank you for having me on today” Valoran replies.

“Now then Valoran. I am sure most of the audience and everyone else who is watching this, have the burning question. How are you this strong?" She and the entire audience want to know.

Valoran stares toward his friends and mother who all look at him with pride. He then faces Octavia and replies with:

“If you didn’t know, everyone is born with some amounts of magic potential and power which originates from one’s fragment, people with high enough magic potential can use magic to such a level, that they can enrol into: magic academies, become a mage adventurer or become a healer etc… I was born with a lot of magic potential, and I had a great mentor who taught me that potential can only be turned into something via hard work and knowledge, and so…I made sure to practise as much as I can and gathering knowledge wherever I can to become this advanced as I am now”

“I see. Can you explain for us what a fragment is please?” Octavia questions politely.

“Of course.” Valoran replies and opens up his hand aiming toward Octavia.

“May I?” Valoran requests sincerely.

Octavia is confused but trusts him. “S-Sure”

Valoran uses the spell Irindiel (fragment magic) , a spell created by Valoran to safely interact with anyone’s fragment.

Octavia’s fragment leaves her body and is slowly pulled toward Valoran’s open hand.

“What did you do?” Octavia asks with concern.

The audience also begins to question what Valoran did just now.

What did he just do?”

“What did he just remove from her body?”

“Is she going to die?”

Valoran then calms the situation:

“No need to worry, she will be just fine. I used a spell which allows me to remove someone’s fragment without any risks. It will help with the explanation.

A fragment is the very essence of anyone’s existence. It houses your origin, idea, principles, concepts, soul and as I mentioned your magic power and potential.” Valoran explains with clarity.

Octavia follows up with another question: “What happens if a person dies?”

“Your soul will move on to the afterlife and your fragment vanishes but your: ideas, concepts, principals and origin will remain” Valoran once again replies with clarity.

“Thank you for explaining to us what a fragment is.” Octavia says, and Valoran slowly puts the fragment inside Octavia, making sure that no side effects will happen.

“My next question is about magic. Can you tell us what stages of magic exist?”

“Of course. Most spells come in different stages. I will use the different fire spells as an example.

Izaru is the weakest fire spell, it requires a tiny portion of magic power and almost anybody can use it.

Then we have izari, a stronger fire spell that requires more magic power and thus using this spell drains your fragment’s magic reserves quicker which takes longer to replenish.

Next, we have the spell nova, this fire spell once again just like the previous is much more powerful and dangerous compared to the previous and is significantly harder to control. This spell is so advanced and requires so much magic that it’s nigh impossible for anyone to use it.

Finally, we have the most advanced spell nova helios is the strongest fire spell. It’s also a complex spell. A complex spell is magic that requires even the most intelligent and magical gifted mages decades to even learn the concept behind them. But even then, because of the nature of complex spells and its demand for magic power it’s impossible for anyone to cast it even if they drain their entire magic reserves.”

This concept is true for: lighting, water, wind, earth and light etc…” Valoran simply explains.

“Thank you so much for the information, I’m sure this was very informative to anyone who studies and practises magic.” Octavia replies with gratefulness.

Octavia then moves to the next question.

“You are someone that cherries friends. We have seen this during the magic duel where you saved your friend from a devastating attack. How do you feel about your friends and how proud are you because of them?”

Valoran gazes toward his friends and smiles. “All of them make me proud.” Valoran speaks.

He then speaks kind words for each of them.

“Selina, is a kind-hearted person and works extremely hard and showed great progression”

“Biatrix, never back down and works just as hard as Selina”

“Merial, despite her past is so friendly and her eager to learn is inspiring”

“Artemsia, is also hard-working and powerful and I am grateful that I can call her my friend”

“Demonlise, is someone that has the greatest loyalty I have ever seen. He truly is a friend”

“Atticus, is someone who never gives up, no matter how many times you push him down he will always get back up and fight on”

“Now… There was an incident involving children who had been kidnapped by a group of bandits. I am sure you know about this.” Octavia swiftly moved on to the next topic.

Valoran looks at Merial who’s little brother was one of the kidnapped children. He can tell that she’s still in shock and fear that this could happen again.

He then faces Octavia. “Yes, I remember, that incident was an unforgivable crime”

“Rumours say you were the one who found and saved them. Is there any truth behind it?” Octavia questions in curiosity.

“Yes, I indeed was the one who found the missing children and saved them” Valoran replies.

The audience is in shock that Valoran, a young magic user who still studies magic, managed to accomplish something which not even the city guards were able to do.

“He truly saved those kids?”

“He was the one who saved my nephew?”

“I sure was wrong about him”

“Me too I thought he was just a show off that uses his power for his own gain”

Octavia has something to share. “The reason why I am so curious about this is that my little niece was also among those who were taken…so I wanted to tell you how thankful I am to you” Octavia says with tears of joy dropping down her face.

Valoran begins to smile a tiny bit. “You are welcome. He then looks toward the entire audience: You are all welcome. I hope the children are all doing well.”

Octavia then has one more surprise for Valoran. “Why don’t you tell them yourself. Please enter”

At a moment’s notice every one of those children entered the stage, some of them being carried by their parents as some were simply too young to walk.

They walk up to Valoran and with some gifts and with kind words as well.

“Thank you for saving us”

“I was scared that I wouldn’t see my Mama and Papa again”

“Thank you for bringing me home”

“Thank you, mister,”

Valoran is deeply touched by the children’s gratitude.

“You are welcome. Seeing you all happy like this is thanks enough”

The parents also have some words of appreciation for him with tears in their eyes.

“Thank you for finding and saving my child”

“I will always be in your debt”

“You have my eternal gratitude”

“I honestly believed I would never see my baby girl ever again”

“Bless your kind soul”

Valoran is once again filled with pride that he was able to reunite those children with their parents.

“I am relieved your children are all save and sound that’s all, no need for thanks being able to reunite you with your child is thanks enough”

After the children and parents said their appreciation, they left the stage.

The interview then comes to an end.

“Thank you for coming on today. It was great having you on here” Octavia says with kindness.

The audience then leaves the building and Valoran and his mother along with his friends leave as well after saying goodbye to Octavia.

“It was great being here.” Valoran says.

“Thank you for coming on and once again for everything you did” Octavia replies, shaking his hand.

“Have a great evening” Valoran kindly wishes.

“You as well Valoran” Octavia replies.

Valoran, Aelina and Artemsia part ways with the rest of the group who are heading home.

“Please be safe when going home it’s getting dark soon” Valoran instructs.

“We will.” Merial says.

“Don’t worry so much about us.” Selina says with a smile.

“We can take care of ourselves” Biatrix's response.

“You were amazing today” Demonlise declares.

“Thank you Demonlise” Valoran replies.

Valoran casts irum (teleportation magic) and at an instant they arrive home.

In the divine realm

The God king sits on his divine throne.

An angel kneels in front of the steps which leads to the throne.

“My lord.” The angel speaks.

“Any news on Valoran Silver?” The God King questions firmly.

“No. It seems he’s not the one we are looking for.” The angel replies.

“Hmm” The God king strokes his chin and thinks.

“Perhaps…or it could be that’s what he wants us to think” The God king states.

“Yes, my lord.” The angel says.

“For now, let’s keep an eye on him…there is something about him…something I haven’t felt since I killed the last Magic King” …