Chapter 88 Get Stronger

Arvell saw the gaping maw of the snake-like beast quickly approaching.

'Oh, Sh*t.'

The Rasian Python closed its mouth with a snap, devouring Arvell and the girl in a single bite.

…But the weird thing was that the only thing it could taste was empty air.

???

The beast prodded around its mouth with its elongated tongue, looking for the prey it was sure it swallowed.

However…

It still couldn't feel them.

What had happened?

It was sure it ate them!

How did its prey just disappear?

That made no sense!

Wait… There was one more human right?

The snake-like beast turned its head to Titus.

However, he was standing a few feet away with his mouth agape.

"You ate them?"

The snake could not understand him, but it knew that this human hadn't interfered with its meal.

*SNAP*

The snapping sound caused the snake and Titus to turn their heads.

A silver-haired boy was holding a girl in his arms only a few metres away from the snake.

The girl was frightened to the point where she had shut her eyes tightly while the boy was holding what looked like a bent piece of metal.

***

A FEW MOMENTS EARLIER

Arvell saw the fast-approaching gaping mouth of the Rasian Python and then looked at the girl in his arms.

She had shut her eyes out of fear while shivering in fear.

'Sigh… I'll have to use 'that'. I don't really have any other option.'

Arvell took a deep breath and channelled every ounce of remaining Aether in his body.

[Warp]

He disappeared from his position with the girl in his arms, appearing 2 meters to the right.

Seeing the Python was distracted by him suddenly going missing, Arvell reached into his pocket and produced his copy of the academy insignia.

He'd already used up almost all of his Aether stash, leaving only a tiny, trace portion of it remaining.

There was no point in trying to be headstrong about getting trying to pass this exam if he would lose his life doing so.

While there was a chance he would be pardoned for requesting staff aide during the exam, on account of having to deal with a second-rank beast, he wasn't leaning too heavily on it.

After all, the rules were the rules.

'Welp, here goes my happy academy life.'

Arvell reluctantly formed a fist with his hand, causing the insignia to turn into nothing more than a lump of crumpled metal.

The sound seemed to alert both the Python, who looked at Arvell and the girl with a look of evident confusion.

"Good, you're alive."

Titus's lips curved into a smile.

Arvell gave him a slight nod in response.

"Can you keep it busy while I try to get this girl to safety?"

Titus nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Ok."

Titus closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

"Fuuuuu"

Steam began to leave Titus's mouth as he took a fighting stance.

"Come."

As if irritated by its prey's lack of fear and reverence towards itself, the Rasian Python slithered over towards Titus in a frenzy.

Seeing that he had time, Arvell turned to look at the girl in his arms.

She clung to him with visible desperation.

As if holding him tighter would make the beast disappear.

"Sigh… Isn't it time you let go?"

He flicked the girl on the head, which startled her, to say the least.

"AHHHH! DON'T EAT ME! I'M NOT TASTY!"

Instead of releasing him, she ended up only clinging tighter.

'Is this girl deaf or something?'

Arvell looked at his palm and nodded to himself.

'It's for the best.'

*SLAP*

Feeling a sharp pain on her cheek, the girl snapped out of her reverie.

"Ow…"

"Snap out of it. Titus and I can hold it off until the professors get here, but we can't do that with you here."

"I-I can help!"

The girl didn't want to be a burden to the two any more than she already was.

How could she just leave the people who were kind enough to save her?

That too, just to save herself again?

Arvell raised an eyebrow when he heard the girl's declaration.

"How? By starting another forest fire?"

'Ouch,' Lykos commented.

'She needs to realize she can't do much to help here. But, even if I need to be harsh, it's far better than losing our lives.'

'I'm not saying you're wrong, but a gentleman needs to be more delicate with the ladies.'

'Good for me; I'm no gentleman.'

The girl looked distraughtly at Arvell.

"Is there really nothing I can do?"

"No. As you are right now, you're far too weak."

The girl reluctantly nodded but silently dug her nails into her palms.

'I was saved twice by them, and I can't even do anything!' She lamented inwardly.

While she was deathly terrified of the beast, she still wanted to try and help.

Arvell's lips curved into a slight smile after seeing her reaction.

'She's like me… She desires strength.'

'You should give her a push then,' Lykos suggested.

'Hmm… You may be right.'

Arvell lifted the girl's chin, so she was looking him right in the eye.

Usually, she would have been flustered, being so close to an attractive boy, but she was too distraught to feel anything.

"You feel unwilling, don't you? Don't you wish you were stronger?"

The girl nodded her head without overthinking.

She cursed her own weakness.

Due to her weakness, she was nearly assaulted by a group of boys, almost burned to death by fire and acid, and then was nearly eaten alive.

She still didn't know how she survived the last one, though…

"I-I want to be stronger, but I'm far too weak right now…."

"Then do anything you can to get stronger, chase after strength with all of your heart, and most importantly… Arvell pointed to her heart with his hand. Don't ever forget this feeling. Keep the pain of being powerless in your heart. Let that be your motivation to get stronger. So that you will never find yourself in a similar situation."

"Do anything to become stronger?"

"As long as those things don't cause you to lose yourself in your thirst for power, of course."

The girl nodded in understanding.

"I'll leave this to you two, but I promise… I'll one day get strong enough to pay you back."

Arvell's smile grew when he heard the girl's response.

"I'll be waiting, miss…."

"Lydia. My name's Lydia," The girl added.

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"...Lydia."

The girl smiled at Arvell.

"I'll leave this to you two then. If I see a professor, I'll point them here."

"That would be appreciated." Arvell smiled in response.

'I don't really see why they need your help when they can just track the emblem. However, I don't want to ruin the moment,' Arvell thought inwardly.

Some things were better off left unsaid…