Carly takes a deep breath and readies herself to fight Reaper.

Reaper spits saliva down on the ground and smirks, “You are strong, that’s quite exciting!”

*Swish*

*Bang*

The wind blows throughout the city as the clashes between Carly and Reaper continue to cause huge tremors.

“Man, these two are just on another level!” Luke says as he covers his face.

“That’s true but...One is already on their brink while the other still is going all in.” Izumi says as she sees the battle.

*Swish*

Carly dodges a shot to the face.

*Smack*

Carly hits a shot to the face, “Guh!”

Carly spits out blood from her mouth and falls onto the ground.

“MISS CARLY!” Horrell runs towards Carly who is on both of her knees.

“I told you, Miss Carly, your injuries have not healed yet.” Horrell says to Carly.

Horrell gives Carly a shoulder.

“My, my, what a bore, I was actually expecting you to put up more of a fight but you just fell on the ground after that.” Reaper says with a smirk.

“Why...You..”

*Cough*

“Miss Carly!” Horrell holds Carly who is spitting out blood.

“I don’t think we can fight him but let’s just give it a try...” Izumi says as she steps forward.

“Izumi?!”

Izumi takes a deep breath.

“Are you going to fight me, next girl?” Reaper smirks looking at Izumi.

“I will.” Izumi says.

*Thunder*

“What the-“

Everyone looks behind reaper.

“That’s...Odin’s spell, Gungir. That is at least a Semi-world class spell! Who in the world would use such a powerful spell?!” Freya questions.

Carly smirks, “There is only one person...who is capable of using such a powerful spell here...And that’s...Him...”

*Cough* *Cough*

“Miss Carly, please try not to speak.” Horrell says as she heals Carly.

“Tsch! I planned to fight that woman more but I need to end this right now!” Reaper says with a smirk.

Suddenly, Reaper begins to float in the air.

“Hey, hey, hey, what the hell is he doing?!” Jack asks as Reaper raises a single finger up in the air.

“It’s time you all die!” A huge black ball that is made out of lightning appears on the fingertip of Reaper.

“That’s...Isn’t that the same spell Miss Flesty used?!” Luke asks.

“Wait, the same spell that almost killed Sir Dan?!” Horrell asks.

“Yeah...It’s from the Ares Tree and it’s quite a dangerous spell.” Luke says.

“I will take care of it.” Izumi says as she readies herself taking a deep breath.

Carly puts a hand in front of Izumi, “You are his student. I can’t let anything happen to you.” Carly says with a smile.

“Miss Carly?!” Izumi looks to be confused as Carly smiles.

*Cough* *Cough*

“MISS CARLY!”

“You all die!”

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

“Huh?!” Reaper’s removes a phone from his pocket.

“Get out of here?! What do you mean by that?! Tsch! Fine, if that’s what you want.” Reaper says as he turns around.

“Oye woman, it’s your lucky day. My boss called up and said that I need to get back but...Don’t forget our fight hasn’t ended. I want to fight you at your full strength the next time we meet.” Reaper says that and leaves in a blink of an eye.

*Swish*

Carly leaves a sigh of relief and falls onto the ground.

“MISS CARLY!” Horrell quickly begins to heal Carly.

“Go check the lightning! we need to be sure that Sir Dan is alright!” Horrell says.

Izumi nods.

“Let me go check on, teach, you guys stay here.” Jack says.

“Fine, I will go check out the houses then, Luke and Elena, you come with me.” Izumi says.

Both Luke and Elena run with Izumi.

Jack runs towards the ground.

“Gracie, Evan, I want you two to go and help all the citizens. I will take care of the little girl and those two.” Fracia says.

“Yes, my lord!” Gracie and Evan run around the city.

Fracia sighs in relief, “Even the kid is asleep right now.”

XXXXXX

I am sitting right next to Umba...

“Boi, aren’t you going to leave to help your friends?” Umba asks me.

“I would go to help them if they were in trouble. You felt it too, right? The threat has escaped.” I answer to Umba.

*Cough*

Umba is coughing up blood due to the hole in his gut.

“I won’t save you just so you know.” I say.

“I don’t expect you to. Not after what I did to this city.” Umba says as he continues to cough.

“Why?” I look at Umba with cold yet calm eyes. My intentions weren’t to make him suffer even more.

“What do you mean...Brat?” Umba asks me.

“Why did you turn against the King? Wasn’t he the one who undertook you when the city abandoned you? Why would you want to kill the King?” I ask.

Umba takes a deep breath than coughs, “It’s hard to breathe.” Umba says as he smiles sadly.

“Why did I turn on the King huh? What makes you say that? Maybe...Maybe...I have always wanted to kill him-“

“Bullshit! If you wanted to kill the King, you wouldn’t have stalled time for me, you wouldn’t have called him my lord, you wouldn’t have been so frustrated...You thought you were frustrated because I kept smiling but in reality you wanted the King to just stop you from doing this...You wanted someone from stopping you!” I stop Umba and speak myself.

Umba looks at me and smiles.

*Pat*

“You really are a reflecting image of your mother.” Umba says to me as he soothes my hair.

“What?! My mother?!” I ask Umba.

“Of course, you don’t know about her...But she visited our city once. She was someone...I admired a lot. All the spices and fishes we get here...It’s all because of your mother’s hard work. She helped our city grow.” Umba says.

“What the hell are you saying? I am an orphan...The only person I know is my brother, no one else.” I say as I look towards Umba.

Umba smiles, “I see...”

*Cough* *Cough*

Umba continues to cough up blood.

“Just die already, will ya? I need to get back to everyone. They might start getting worried.” I say.

Umba smiles at me, “Brat, you asked me why I tried to kill the King, right?” Umba asks me.

I nod, “Yeah I did.” I say.

“That’s because...If I didn’t, my daughter’s life would have been in danger.” Umba says.

“Your daughter?” This is confusing...

“That’s right I have a daughter...She studies at a magic academy...The same academy you teach at.” Umba says.

“What’s the name of your daughter?” I ask.

“My daughter’s name is *Blank*” Umba says his daughter’s name to me.

“I see...So she is your daughter...” I say.

“I am glad...You are her teacher.” Umba says with a smile.

“Don’t let the darkness take over her like it did to me and I know...I am asking a lot from you but...Please protect my daughter because she is the only precious person I have left in my life.” Umba says to me as he holds my hand with a smile.

It’s a dying man’s wish even if the man was consumed by evil. He tried to bestow his ideals upon others. Witches are evil...The cursed children are evil...Various ideals but...He was still a human in the end.

“I will not protect your daughter.” I say.

Umba seems to be disappointed by my answer, “I see...I understand...” Umba says.

“I will protect my student.” I say as I look at Umba.

I saw Umba smile...It was his last glance towards me and then he stopped breathing.

“You should stop hiding...He’s dead.” I say to Jack who was hiding behind a tree.

He comes out of the tree behind me.

“You didn’t hear or see anything happen here, alright?” I ask Jack.

Jack nods with a sad face, “I understand.

XXXXXX

Jack and I decide to bury Umba in a cemetery of the city next to Mama Serena.

I look at the sky.

“Teach, that old man, he wasn’t a bad guy, was he?” Jack asks me.

“Nah, he was just consumed by an evil called revenge and a desperate need called protection and even I was consumed by the same thing as him. In the end, even he wanted revenge and even I wanted revenge...Even he had someone to protect and even I had people to protect...” I explain to Jack, “In a way, we weren’t that different.” I say.

*Bang*

“OW! OW! OW! OW! OW! I AM STILL HURT FROM ALL THAT FIGHTING!” I scream as I look at Carly behind me.

“You both weren’t the same! The difference was, you weren’t unnecessarily trying to kill anyone and he tried to kill people! Even if he did it to protect someone...I believe that you still wouldn’t risk a whole fucking city for the good of one person-” Carly says with a bold face.

XXXXXX

I stop speaking as I look back towards Dan. His eyes were filled with tears.

*Catch*

“You idiot!” Dan hugs me. He had a tight grip over me.

“Miss Carly! You are not fully healed yet!” I hear Horrell behind me but...

I can feel my shoulder getting wet from Dan’s tears. I don’t know...Should I be happy or not? This kinda feels good but...I don’t like that he is crying like a little baby hugging me plus...It’s kinda embarrassing when everyone’s watching.

XXXXXX

“You two need to heal up!” Horrell says to Dan and Carly who are wounded.

“Huh?!” Both Dan and Carly look at Horrell than they look at each other.

“Sorry!” Dan says as he leaves Carly.

Horrell pouts, “First of all, Sir Dan, you have lost an eye and Miss Carly, your internal organs haven’t healed yet. So, both of you will not get out of bed until I say!” Horrell orders both of them.

“She kinda feels like Mama Serena, doesn’t she?” Dan asks.

“Yeah, she does.” Carly replies.

“Alright, let’s get going, the other’s are worried about you too, teach.” Jack says.

Dan nods.

He begins to walk but almost falls onto the ground but Jack catches him.

“I guess...I can give you a little help, teach.” Jack says as he looks away.

“Thanks!” Dan says with a smile.

“Wait, when did you hear that Umba wanted to protect someone?!” Dan asks Carly.

“You two were talking about it.” Carly says.

Dan sighs in relief.

XXXXXX

The fight between Umba and us was over. Everyone seemed to be fine and had not much than minor injuries except me and Carly.

The little girl that Umba had with her, I decided I will adopt her, “You sure, you want to take care of her? I can send her to a good royal family.” Fracia asked me when I adopted her.

I nod and smile, “I will treat her well.” I say as I smiled and patted the little girl’s head.

“Your name is Shirogane, right?” I asked the little girl.

The little girl nodded, “Do you like your name?” I asked.

Shirogane nodded, “It’s a name mother gave me.” Shirogane answered.

“I see. Shirogane ThunderField. I think that can work.” It’s kinda weird though to mix up an eastern name with a western one.

“You can call me, big brother.” I say with a smile.

Shirogane shakes her head, “Than what do you want to call me?” I ask.

Shirogane gets around on my back, “I want to call you Papa Dan.” Shirogane says with a smile.

Papa Dan...Sounds like some kinda pizza company...

“Fine, whatever suits your flow.” I say with a smile but...

“I AM STILL INJURED AND MY BACK HURTS!” I scream.

Everybody laughs it off. It’s not even funny...

XXXXXX

This where everyone would be, “Things are over and everything should be fine now...” But...We still need to train in the next 3 weeks for the battle royale and because I couldn’t train them properly due to all the tension around I think it’s time...I give them some proper training.

The five students I have with me need to reach at least an apprentice class before the tournament. Right now, the strongest students are Izumi and Elena without any doubts and they can reach Apprentice class in no time maybe even Knight Class but the other 3 I have are all Rookie mages so...They will be my first target starting tomorrow!