CHAPTER 2: THE SPECIAL SCHOLAR'S RETURN

**Greg**

Well, I picked two more ‘head scholars’ for the Conclave for several reasons, one of those was, so that I could do other stuff and my disappearance won’t affect how that school functioned. Also, we were looking for ways to provide ‘formality’ to the new system we would introduce, so that the incident with Emile Biorno won’t happen again.

I mean, the ‘laws’ that govern the institution of the Conclave.

And for that, Alexa expressed her full support. She did admit, she’s at a lost on how to do these things, for she never had the chance to experience a modern adult life on Earth. As for me, I knew full well that, while these matters were boring and outright complicated, if we’re aiming to be a foundation of stability in Cherflammen, then we had to put in writing the rules and policies that would strengthen the Conclave.

As such, I took my sweet time in reading the books in Alexa’s library once again, just to get some ideas of what I should do. I don’t know; I guess I was missing for another week after finally meeting my old student…

“A week and two days now.”

Right. That’s the correct estimate.

“Well, Sir G, how do you find my library?”

“I really love the books here,” I told her. “I would certainly return in the future, if given a chance.”

“Hm? You’re going already?”

“Yes,” I looked around the place. “While I would’ve want to stay longer, I guess I’m gone long enough. The Conclave you found still needs fixing, and it’s in dire need of reforms, even with its former head scholar gone.”

“Ah…” my former student had a poignant expression on her face, “well, as you often told us before, Sir, it’s culture and tradition. It’s pretty hard to change now that it’s been the norm for several generations.”

“We have to try,” I heaved a sigh, “or their society will stagnate. That’s what education is for, see?”

“Yes…” Alexa grinned, “…that’s typical Sir G quote for you!”

“Shut up!” I chuckled, “It’s the truth, anyway.”

“Well, if I can’t stop you from going, then my tower is always open for you, and you alone,” the Saint of Darkness reiterated. “This is an honor I bestow upon you, Sir G; no one else can freely go in and out of my place without my permission.”

“Haha…thanks! But I’d still ask for your permission; you know how it is back in our country,” it felt so heartwarming that my student would say those words to me. However, just as all good times had an end, so was my stay in the Saint’s Tower.

“By the way, Sir G, about my old body’s ashes…”

“A teacher has to fulfill his promise to his student,” I reiterated. “However, if you wish the otherwise, I can return the urn from where I took it.”

“No, that’s not what I mean,” Alexa paused for a bit before continuing. “Sir…”

“What?”

“I’m still Alexa, okay?”

“Y-Yes…?”

“Though my old body is now ash, I’m still your old student, Alexa. And you’re still my favorite teacher from Earth, Sir Greg.”

“I’m Kuro now, though.”

“Greg, or Kuro, I don’t care. You’re still important to me.”

“…” I don’t know what’s gotten into Alexa why she said those. My closest hunch would be, because of her strange and complicated situation now, she must be thinking that my treatment for her would change, now that she’s an esteemed saint and a legendary hero of many peoples. But, nah, to me, she’d always be that Alexa Cassandra David…my cute but a bit obnoxious student from Earth.

“I’d agree to what you think of me Sir, but the obnoxious part is…”

“Your ill-temper when we first met made me nervous to approach you,” I revealed to her.

“Sorry.”

“No worries,” I gave her a head pat. “I’m still thankful that you survived, Alexa.”

“I love you, Sir G!” she muttered as she smiled and hugged me.

“Don’t make me a pedophile,” I laughed in jest.

The Saint of Darkness, however, pouted, “And don’t think of me as someone young, Sir G! I’m already way older than you, at least in this world!”

“Oh right! Haha!”

My old student stomped her foot, “I’m not joking!”

I fell silent after hearing that, having realized something complicated. I had to stop this talk, or we’d get the wrong signals. Alexa was a beloved friend and former student of mine, and I wished for that relationship to remain the same.

“…” the Saint of Darkness stared at me, as if reading my thoughts. I could feel that, for some reason, she’s pissed.

“Ah, anyway,” I changed the topic, “you’re Alexa. You’re also Cassandra David, the hero of old. And you’re also Natasha Bellingsen, currently the Saint of Darkness and Guide of the Demons. How would you want me to call you?”

“My name is Alexa.”

“I know.”

“I mean, my ‘true name’. I’m a demon now, remember?”

“Oh…”

“And Cassandra David is my human name here in this world. If anything, I don’t want anyone else to know my true name.”

“You could’ve just tell me to call you Natasha instead of running around in circles,” I pointed out.

“I’m trying to speak like you, Sir G!” she chuckled. “You always love to talk in a sarcastic manner. How’s that for a taste of your own medicine?”

I gave Alexa the middle finger, though of course, it’s for a joke. We both laughed, though, I remembered something about her true name. “But, what about the others?” I asked, “They already know that Cassandra David’s full name has an Alexa before it.”

“Yeah, you told them everything about me!”

“I didn’t! That old demon, Emile Biorno, wanted to know the color of your…err…”

“Sir,” Alexa threw a suspicious look at me, “I’d be disgusted if you know about that.”

“I’m not! I don’t peep under my students’ skirts! I’d rather kill myself!”

“No worries, Sir G! That’s why everyone trusts and loves you,” she winked at me. “In any case, a demon’s true name works only for demons, and not humans. They only know my full ‘human’ name; as a demon, they call me Natasha Bellingsen. Those guys outside aren’t aware that Alexa is also Lady Natasha’s name!”

----------

Alexa came with me from her library in the Saint Tower’s third level, down to the last floor, at the very entrance to her mystical place. I told her that I could make my way down, but for some reason, she insisted on escorting me.

“I’m not a kid!” I couldn’t help but laugh, “And surely, you’re not housing some dangerous monsters around here, right?”

“Of course not, Sir G!” she retorted. “But see, I can’t come with you once you stepped outside my tower.”

“Why not?”

“The heavens forbid it,” Alexa explained. “The mistakes I did in the past caused trouble not only in this realm, but to the others as well. So, the punishment and solution is to keep me here. And, all this time, you’re dealing with my ‘apparition’, or ‘spirit’.”

Well, I did recall some memories of it, with Alexa talking about her strange circumstances in the past. “But that’s still you, right?”

She nodded, “Think of it like I’m in some kind of projector, Sir. It’s me, but only my image.”

I stared at my old student, but Alexa was quick to avert her eyes away from me. At first, I thought it was only coincidence, but when it was repeated for several times as we continued on walking the final distance from the stairs to the door, I knew there was something going on. Somehow, there was this feeling that she was not telling something to me, so I asked her, “What, you got something in your mind?”

Alexa never replied to me for several moments after. I could sense that she didn’t wish to talk about it, so I just let her. After all, I guess I should treat her now as a fellow adult; I mean, save from the fact that in spirit, she’s my student, Alexa (as Lady Natasha Bellingsen) was now fully grown up. She could now decide what she should do, so I’ll just let her be.

But then, while I reached my decision, she broke the ice, “Sir…?”

“Yep?”

“Are you sure you want to come back to the Conclave now?”

“Huh? Where did that come from?” I chuckled. “Of course, I do. Your teacher needs to fix some messed up things around here. You know I don’t like leaving problems unsolved, if I can help it.”

Alexa said nothing to my words, which somehow worried me.

“What?” I told her, “You’re really acting weird.”

“Sir G, let me be honest with you…” she heaved a sigh before continuing, “…I don’t want you to walk past that doorway. If possible, I would like you to remain here for a while.”

“Hm? Why?”

My old student took some time to answer. I watched her reaction; Alexa seemed to want to say her mind, while also having doubts if she should tell me those. In the end, however, she asked, “You know about my powers as a Saint, right?”

“Isn’t it the ability to see into the future? Did I remember correctly?”

Alexa nodded.

“Did you…see something, then?” There was a small feeling of dread in my chest, as those expressions on my old student’s face didn’t warrant a positive prediction.

“Sir…though I caused you to be summoned here, I don’t want you to endanger yourself,” she admitted. “You’re an important person to me. You’re my pillar to lean on whenever I end up committing a mistake. Without you, I don’t know what to do.”

“Alright now, what’s up with the rosy words? Cut it out, Alexa. You’re starting to creep me off,” I said to her, intending that as a joke to lighten the mood.

However, Alexa ignored me, “See, this universe’s timeline, I can see it; this is my god-power as the Saint of Darkness. I was given the ability to change it…the people who live here, change their fates, their destinies.”

“And you saw me dying in the future, then?”

“Sir,” my old student took my hand and held it tight, “I…I can’t see what’s ahead of you.”

“…” Well…that was unexpected. Honestly, I thought I’m going to die the most horrible death, but my worries were for a naught. For someone who’s got no idea about mystical things like peeking into the future, I don’t know whether or not that’s good for me. I mean, my general idea was, since Alexa couldn’t see my future, wouldn’t it be a ‘blank slate’ for me to do whatever I wanted? What could be worse?

“I’m not playing a joke, Sir G!” she protested. “You’re someone who shouldn’t exist in this timeline. I brought you over here because of my selfish whims, not thinking far ahead of the consequences of my actions.”

“Eh, then tell me, if you can’t see into my future, is it good or bad?”

Alexa was taken aback by my question. Well, it’s not like I could do anything about my situation anymore. In the first place, I had no control over my presence here. Even if I wanted to go back to Earth, I couldn’t do it anymore. And getting mad at Alexa won’t reverse the mess she already created. What’s left for me was to continue on writing my own story until the end.

“Sir G…”

“Well?”

“I…I don’t know…” she answered.

“Then, I guess we’ll have to find out then!” I winked at her.

“But Sir, as your student, at least, let me do some solutions to your situation first,” Alexa offered. “That’s why I’m asking you to stay here in my tower for a time.”

I smiled and shook my head, “My students at the Conclave are expecting me. You know I can’t abandon them! Don’t worry, it took my enemies a lot of resources and effort to have me killed but, here I am! I’m still alive, and you can always count on your Sir G, Alexa!”

Seeing that she couldn’t stop me from going out, my student requested if she could hug me, to which I obliged. Alexa then wrapped her arms around my waist, and we stayed like that for quite some time. After reassuring her some more, I turned and crossed the doorway of the Saint’s Tower into the outside world.

----------

***The Office of the Head Scholars, the Conclave***

For two days now, the esteemed office was packed with people—the succubi and incubi of the Biorno clan and their allies had gathered to talk to the head scholars. The agenda: the student who killed their lord, Emile Biorno. It was a contentious issue between the clan leaders, for their fellow members, Lord Gracchio and Lady Capaldi, sided with the Conclave in insisting that they won’t hand over the offending child, while the other Biorno vassals kept on returning to demand the student so they could execute him.

“It’s not that I don’t understand your point, Lord Gracchio,” one of the leading vassals, an incubus named Lord Castrio Sargdhenerri said at the meeting, “however, the killing of our lord and master, Emile Biorno, demands vengeance! He was killed, not by a child’s foolishness, with malicious intent. His blood that was spilled must be satisfied!”

And to that, the other vassals chorused in their agreement. Nevertheless, the Lord Gracchio was not convinced. “How many times do I have to repeat myself?” he asked them, “That student’s acts may be wrong, but it’s fully understood. His sister is one of the dead in the aftermath of the Advanced Course Dormitory Massacres, and he did that to spite our deceased master.”

“Yes, and even I can respect that,” Lord Sargdhenerri countered. “What we can’t accept is that, how did a child get a powerful crack horn to kill Lord Emile? Don’t you find it suspicious as well, Lord Gracchio? Someone must be working in the shadows to bring about the downfall of our people!”

The former Discipline Prefect was taken aback by the point raised. However, he tried to reason, “W-We’re currently investigating that part, y-yes. We can’t give any conclusions, nor pass any judgment on the student as long as we’re not done with him.”

“So, are you saying that you’ll hand him over to us after you finish your investigation?”

“That matter is still a subject for deliberation,” Lady Head Scholar Irene Capaldi answered. “But as representatives of the Conclave, we can’t—under our oaths as head scholars—give in to your demands. Our hero of old, Lady Cassandra David, wanted us to protect our students while they are on the school grounds.”

“And now, we’re back to the beginning of the negotiations!” the vassal alleged. “We’ve been talking and wasting time for two days now, yet our enemies have the free rein to do what they wanted!”

“And pray, Lord Sargdhenerri, what do you suggest we do?” Lord Gracchio asked.

“Our demand is simple: hand to us that youth who killed the Lord Emile, and we’ll exact revenge on his death.”

“As teacher-scholars of the Conclave, we are duty-bound to protect our students.”

“You are also subjects of the Lord Emile!”

“And we are scholars, too!”

The Lord Sargdhenerri’s hand was about to pull his sword, but then remembered that he left it outside the Conclave’s walls because of the prohibition of weapons inside the school.

However, it didn’t go past the Lord Gracchio’s eyes, “Are you looking to challenge me to a duel then, Lord Sargdhenerri?”

“Your master was killed, yet you have the gall to ask that?” the vassal didn’t hide his shock and disappointment. “Where’s your pride as an incubus? You’re a member of the Gracchio clan, and one of its elders! You’re a member of the noble demon race! Yet you—and that harlot beside you, Capaldi—are licking the boots of that human lackey of the Usarveds!”

“You’re asking me—a lord of a weak clan—to do something that would warrant the start of conflict once again,” the Lord Gracchio was raising his voice, for he couldn’t let the insults pass. “Why don’t you do something instead? Go, march and fight the Tambara clan! Let them kick you to dust one more time, if that’s what you wish! Just don’t shove the responsibility of avenging our lord’s irrational actions to us, teacher-scholars!”

The Lord Sargdhenerri, a veteran of wars against the Tambara clan in the past, shouted as well, “How dare you raise your voice on me, an equal!”

“If you’re up for it,” the Lord Gracchio removed his gloves, “we can settle this with a duel outside.” He was about to throw those to the Lord Sargdhenerri’s face, when Lady Capaldi finally intervened.

“Milords, I implore you to cool your heads off,” the lady scholar took the Lord Gracchio’s gloves and put it away. Then, she faced the vassal and said, “Lord Sargdhenerri, while I also believe that Lord Emile Biorno should be avenged, I ask that you think of our precarious situation before deciding on the fate of our people.”

“Aren’t you the one who sold us to that accursed human toy of the Usarveds? If not for your treachery, the Lord Emile would still be alive!”

“Milord, it’s precisely for that reason that I negotiated with the Special Scholar Greg Santos,” Lady Capaldi said in her defense. “Think about it! This human you’re insulting has the respect and support of the Usarveds, as well as those of the Goblins and the Orcs. If we fight them now, we’re only leading our people to complete annihilation.”

“Lady Capaldi wanted to protect our lord by appeasing the Special Scholar and the Usarved Princess,” Lord Gracchio added. “I can vouch for the Special Scholar; he is a man of honor. I’ve seen with my two eyes how he—despite the backing of the Usarveds for his candidacy before—protected the innocent members of the faculty from the reprisals, after the Lord Emile stepped down. He also made sure that the culprits of the Dormitory Massacres would get fair treatment and protection, though the other clans also demanded blood for their slain kin. As honorable demons, how can we break our word for this man who understands us?”

The Lord Sargdhenerri and the other vassals were silent after the Lord Gracchio’s explanation. However, at the end…

“I guess it’s no use to talk to you anymore,” the Lord Sargdhenerri shook his head. “Alright then, if you traitors follow the words of that human vermin, then I’ll exhaust every means possible to negotiate with him. Let me be clear on this; like you, we—the faithful servants of the Lord Emile Biorno—never desired war. However, if the Conclave won’t do something to appease our demands, then we will force you to agree.”

“You’re willing to go to war and sacrifice the lives of our people just to satisfy our traditions?”

“Lord Gracchio, tell me, when did we truly have peace?”

Now it was the lord head scholar’s turn to be silent. Lord Sargdhenerri’s question was valid.

“Don’t let the lull fool you,” the latter continued. “We’re still at war, though all the fighting sides are exhausted from the prior battles and negotiated temporary truces. However, the period of rest is over. Somehow, the unanswered questions caused by this conflict will soon be satisfied, either by deceitful lips, or by military might. And if we fail, then we fall with our master. As for you, may the Saint absolve you and your kin for this treachery!”

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***The Saint’s Tower, a few moments after Greg left…***

“Are you sure you won’t tell him the truth?”

“!!!” Alexa turned once she heard a familiar voice speak behind her. Sitting at the foot of the stairs leading to the upper floors was the Saint of the Flame, Seirna.

“Do I look like some kind of a monster to you?” the Saint of the Flame was sarcastic.

“Why do you always come out in the strangest places or times?” the Saint of Darkness asked.

“If I showed up at your door, the demons would make a ruckus,” Seirna replied. “Have you even seen their armies gathering outside the Conclave?”

“I’m aware, yes…but, with the restrictions placed on me, I can only give guidance.”

“Well, you better brush up your counseling service, Cass! Looks like this place will go to war once again, and we still got that matter with the ‘Seductress’ to attend to,” the Saint of the Flame looked towards the door of the tower. “These mortals…we’re almost at the last stretch of our sanity dealing with that creature from the Void, and they just do and kill as they please, without a care to what’s about to happen to them!”

The Saint of Darkness just grinned and shook her head.

Seirna changed the topic, “In any case, you know how those idiots love to settle scores with me.”

“You brought it upon yourself. Your unwavering loyalty to your god is bringing you new enemies everywhere. Anyway, what are you doing here?”

“I came to pick up the otherworlder,” she replied.

Alexa froze when she heard those words.

“Hey! Don’t be like that,” Seirna chuckled. “You know he doesn’t belong here; his first home in this world is at the side of the Human Saint.”

“I-I did not…s-say anything…”

“I’ve been a saint for an eternity and dealt with countless of people ever since. You can’t hide your feelings, Cass,” the Saint of the Flame then explained, “Look, the Lady Rubinforth’s mental state will remain unstable as long as the man she loves isn’t by her side. And, as long as she’s unstable, her ‘mother’ can always end up controlling her actions. The bitch’s beginning to take over her once more, and it’s getting difficult to deal with the Human Saint with each day passing. I’m afraid of the time when we won’t be able to do anything, and the Seductress—combined with the Lady Rubinforth’s god-powers—would come back even more powerful than when we first met her.”

“Y-You should have come at the soonest possible minute then. You should just told Sir G that you’ll fetch him!”

“I did, and bypassed your tower’s gates. However, I also didn’t want to interrupt a student’s intimate time with her old mentor, so I hid myself until you guys are finished with your cringey stuff.”

“S-Shut up!”

“Anyway, are you sure about your lie? Your god-power isn’t a cheap magic trick like those found in your world. Not only can you see into the near future, you can also peek into all possibilities. And the High King of the Gods granted you another ability: to change the fates of the people around you. So why didn’t you tell him what you saw?”

“I’ve look into all of his possibilities, Seirna…” Alexa averted her eyes away from the Saint of the Flame. “All…every one of those paths ended on a bad note, even with my intervention. I’m still trying my best to look at where I should change my teacher’s fate, without affecting others that much, but I’m afraid I won’t make it in time.”

“Can’t help it, I guess,” Seirna shrugged. “It’s your consequences for meddling with the gods. The otherworlder shouldn’t be in this timeline in the first place, just like the Lady Rubinforth.

“But her presence is tolerated here!” the Saint of Darkness blurted out. “Why is my teacher have to suffer while the Lady Madelaine is allowed?”

“Have you forgotten? We are all ‘born’ here. Though the Lady Rubinforth came from a monster of the Void, she was birthed here. The Lord Gaius, when you made him a mortal, was not in someplace else but here! And your teacher…”

“He was merely transported here.”

“That’s correct. Naturally, like the human body that discharges foreign stuff in it, he would be erased. The Timeline’s way of removing undesirables.”

“I regret of ever thinking that; I wish I didn’t give Maddie that magic circle…” Alexa fell on her knees, her hands on her head, “If possible, I don’t want him to go, not until I find the solution to his tragic fate.”

“Then you should’ve just told him so.”

“Don’t make it sound so simple, Seirna,” the Saint of Darkness cried out. “Once Sir Greg fixes his mind on something, he can’t be convinced to change his mind, even with the threat on his life.”

“Pfft! The attitude of a ‘martyr’; the ones who die early, I see,” the Saint of the Flame gave her a pat on the shoulder. “Well, you can always force your will on the otherworlder, just like how you did to us in the past.”

Alexa blushed, “I…I can’t…Sir Greg is…he is…to me…I…”

“I can’t really comprehend that man,” Seirna shook her head. “Is he that good to change the people around him?”

“He may not look like it, but to us his students, that man is more than a teacher…he’s our hero.”

“The problem is,” the Saint of the Flame pointed out, “the otherworlder is facing a fate worse than death.”

Another round of silence on Alexa’s part.

“Well, it’s not my concern,” Seirna shrugged. “Once this is over, all of you will forget about him, so it’s not that painful, if you think about it. You will all look at the time you spent with the otherworlder as something of a pleasant dream, and a fleeting one, too.”

“You never changed at all, are you, Seirna?” the Saint of Darkness muttered. “You’re still cold, and calculating…”

The Saint of the Flame stared at her colleague, “Don’t worry, you’re halfway done through it as well. Being a saint takes a lot of pain and suffering, but yes, shedding away your heart and sympathy is the good way to care of the people—and the world—you love.”