Chapter 618: Scorned

Chapter 618: Scorned

618. Scorned

***

Oriur followed Willy as they exited the front entrance of the thin tower. It was Clayton Skyshredder’s own personal tower. It was called the Office of the Headmaster, and it was located at the corner of the Central Square of Mavos Academy.

Even while in disguise and accompanied by Centina, the baby Wyvern wasn’t allowed to wander around the campus. Instead, they had to exit by a back doorway, which led down a complicated network of alleys that eventually brought them out of the campus.

All that just meant was that this was the first time that Oriur had the chance to explore Mavos Academy up-close. He was beaming from ear to ear— which wasn’t hard, considering that he had a long mouth and sharp fangs that made up most of his face. And he was ready to skip past Willy to ogle at the unfurling architecture around him.

Unfortunately... that wasn’t allowed.

“No.”

The [Will O’ Wisp] said, and Oriur deflated. The baby Wyvern wanted to protest, but he decided against it. Uncle had already been kind enough to bring him out, so there was no reason to push for more.

“Close.”

Willy’s flames flickered as he spoke— it was a single word, but the meaning was clear. Oriur stuck close to the [Will O’ Wisp] as they walked out into the Central Square of Mavos Academy. As soon as they stepped out, they were greeted by a radiant glow.

Tall magical lamp posts lined the foyer, glowing softly in the night. Bright enough to illuminate the area, but not too bright like a blazing bonfire that it seemed like it was day. Oriur remembered seeing a sight once before— when Mama had taken him to the Beastmen Plains.

Since it was past sundown, Mavos Academy was mostly empty and devoid of students. It was a completely different sight from the bustling crowds during the day. Although, supposedly, the campus used to be even more crowded years back.

However, there were still a handful of students and members of the faculty wandering about. They spotted Oriur as soon as he stepped out under the moonlight. He brightened, before waving at them.

“Hey! I’m Oriur—”

They screamed. The baby Wyvern blinked, watching as the group of students ran away. They called for security— for the faculty to do something.

Willy just sighed.

“See?”

He drifted forward, leading Oriur away from the thin tower. The baby Wyvern looked down at himself hesitantly, before looking back. He saw the fleeing students. And he thought of the lady with glasses who had almost killed him.

“Why?”

It was a simple question. But it was so vague. And yet, Oriur didn’t know what else to ask— he turned to Uncle for guidance, however there were no answers there.

The [Will O’ Wisp] drifted on, leaving Oriur to silently follow.

—--

As the Grand Spirit and the baby Wyvern made their way through the campus of Mavos Academy, they ran into a bunch more students and teachers. There were a few near-incidents— but fortunately, Willy managed to defuse it before spells were flung or swords were drawn.

Oriur didn’t know where they were going. He had memorized the layout of the campus from above, so theoretically, he should have known their exact location in Mavos Academy. However, he couldn’t pay enough attention to his surroundings to figure that out, and that was because...

They were staring at him.

It didn’t matter who they were. Students. Teachers. Even ordinary people who worked in the campus-city. It didn’t matter what their Class was, nor did it matter if they were Level 10, 40, 70, or 100. They all were staring at him. And it wasn’t a look of curiosity. Oriur could feel their gaze bearing down on him. He could sense their terror— feel their disdain.

Not a single one of the passing Humans met his gaze.

Oriur lowered his head. He looked down at his leathery clawed hand, so distinct from the fleshy hand of a human.

“They hate me.”

He whispered, dragging his feet over the brick road. Willy replied simply.

“Yes.”

Oriur gritted his teeth. He felt his warring feelings, before looking up at his uncle.

“But what did I ever do to them? Why do they hate me?”

“Because.”

The [Will O’ Wisp] gave his usual one-word answer. But this time, it didn’t explain anything. The baby Wyvern repeated after his uncle.

“Because?”

And Willy paused. He stopped right before what looked like an obelisk. There were names etched on its stone surface. Clearly, it was a memorial. But a memorial to what, Oriur didn’t know.

Slowly, the [Will O’ Wisp] turned to face the baby Wyvern and said—

“Not Human.”

It was two words. Unlike Willy’s usual one-word replies. Although it wasn’t a full sentence either, but it was enough to answer Oriur’s question.

“Oh.”

The baby Wyvern stood there, eyes growing wide. He didn’t understand it. He knew what Uncle was saying, but it made no sense to him.

They shunned him because he wasn’t a Human.

Why? That didn’t make sense to Oriur. When he looked at a non-Wyvern, he didn’t feel any contempt or fear. All he felt within himself was a sense of curiosity. To learn more and befriend the strange creature.

But the Humans didn’t feel that way towards him. Because he wasn’t a Human. Because he was a Wyvern. Because he was a monster.

Oriur closed his eyes as his mind whirled. He grew dizzy just trying to understand this logic. But he couldn’t comprehend it. His breathing grew heavy, and he felt like collapsing right there. However, Willy’s voice drew his attention.

“Look.”

The [Will O’ Wisp] flitted towards the obelisk, his flames limning a set of golden words written onto the side of the marble. But for whatever reason, its edges were smurdged red. Oriur blinked a few times, before reading what was said there.

“In memory of those who... sacrificed their lives during the Second Invasion of the Demon King?”

The baby Wyvern frowned, before turning back to Willy. The [Will O’ Wisp] flew up the obelisk, lighting up the rest of the monument. And this time, Oriur saw even more words painted over the names on the obelisk.

“I... um... that’s—”

He turned to Willy for help, but the [Will O’ Wisp] just snickered. Oriur looked back towards Clayton, speaking in a small voice.

“...sorry?”

And the Headmaster of Mavos Academy sighed.

“I don’t want you causing any more trouble down here. I heard that even my [Secretary] nearly killed you. For your own safety, and for the peace of my school, return to my office. Now.”

Oriur wanted to protest. He wanted to argue as he did with Willy. But Clayton was nothing like the [Will O’ Wisp]. There was no bargaining here. The baby Wyvern’s shoulder sagged, and he nodded defeatedly.

“Y-yes, Mr Skyshredder.”

***

Willy watched as Oriur disappeared back up to the top of the tower. The baby Wyvern rode on the elevator with Centina, Novis, Bellu, and Kron. The latter three were huddled in a corner of the platform, trembling in fear as the formermost yelled at Oriur for what had happened.

The [Will O’ Wisp] didn’t head back up with them. Clayton had requested to speak with Willy alone. So the two stood at the bottom of the elevator, neither speaking for a moment. When it looked like the magical platform reached the top, it was the Headmaster of Mavos Academy who broke the silence.

“I understand you care for the Wyverns, but you cannot do this. Even if you are a Grand Spirit, I cannot allow you to do as you please in my school.”

“Mhm.”

Willy barely gave a verbal response. Clayton frowned as he turned to face the [Will O’ Wisp].

“What happened today cannot happen again. It was reckless and irresponsible. Especially what you did.”

“Mhm.”

Again, Willy didn’t say much, just making a sound of affirmation. The Headmaster of Mavos Academy shook his head.

“Do not allow this to happen again. Do you understand?”

Clayton warned the [Will O’ Wisp]. But this time, Willy spoke a single word.

“No.”

A simple response of defiance. Clayton narrowed his eyes at that, clearly not expecting it.

“No?”

“Yes.”

“And what exactly do you mean by that?”

Willy flitted back and forth as he thought of an answer for a moment. When he came up with one, his flames turned blue.

“Lonely.”

“Lonely?”

The Headmaster of Mavos Academy blinked, repeating after Willy. The [Will O’ Wisp] looked up towards the top of the tower.

“Oriur. Still lonely.”

Willy explained, and Clayton slowly nodded.

“Oh.”

It wasn’t something that needed to be explained by words. It was a feeling everyone understood. It was a feeling that Willy himself was incredibly familiar with.

His flames flickered as he thought of his [Summoner]. It was so long ago. And yet, it was still fresh in his mind. To be treated like a partner— rather than as a tool. It was the first time Willy had ever experienced something like that in his life.

He looked back towards Clayton, explaining simply.

“Need to find right Human. Need to find friend. Then won’t escape.”

“For Oriur?”

The Headmaster of Mavos Academy raised a brow. He scoffed at the idea, folding his arms across his chest.

“And who in their right mind would want to befriend a Wyvern?”

Willy floated there, his flames changing colors. He thought about it for a long moment. And he finally sighed, stumped.

“Don’t know. Need to find out.”

***

And as Willy and Clayton wondered about how to prevent another panic from breaking out on campus, rumors of the incident that night spread throughout Mavos Academy, until it eventually reached a curious young girl.

“Wait... what?”

Rachel blinked as she heard a passing student whisper something about seeing a monster on campus. And not just any monster— but a Wyvern. A baby Wyvern.

She narrowed her eyes, coming to a halt in the middle of the crowded corridor. Everyone was talking about it. Even the teachers. Some were scared, while others wanted to hunt it down.

But Rachel? She just looked down at the book she was carrying. The Story of Salvos written by The Thrilling Bard himself. The young girl had already read through it three times now, and she memorized every single detail by this point.

And the book’s details about a trio of baby Wyverns popped into her mind.

“Huh.”

That was all she said.

Author's Notes:

What thonk?