CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42 - AFTERMATH

After teleporting back to the academy, Raven immediately warped to his location and asked how their mission went. He explained everything to her, leaving out no details and explaining events exactly how they played out.

There were many things to be worried about. The missing people, Lordrick and Rupert being demonic followers, or the fact that they encountered a demon. Each of these were things that couldn’t be overlooked. But for Raven, it was as if those things didn’t even happen.

"Are you crazy! Engraving runes onto your body?! Do you want to die?!" She patted his body, lifting his shirt and cuffing his face, all with worry. She looked for lingering damage and sighed in relief when she found none.

"I’m fine. Anyway, we should prepare for an eventual attack. The demons, apparently, are everywhere and we don’t know who they are. Hell, they could be a student in school for all we know. I don’t think the public should know because that could cause discourse but each faction should definitely check their people to see If they have been compromised."

Raven smiled at Zion’s thinking. She kissed him on the forehead and ruffled his hair. "Don’t worry about that. The grownups will handle it."

"What do you mean? I literally have to worry about that. My plans-" Zion paused, lowering his voice. "My plans overlap with theirs and our paths will inevitably cross. Hell, it already did. I can’t just sit back and wait for something to happen."

"I agree with you, however, you aren’t strong enough to deal with them. Sure maybe demonic followers or low-ranking demons won’t be a problem for you, but even one mid-rank would kill you."

"I don’t need to be fighting. I can offer aid and support. My science team is currently at work building powerful weapons, healing chambers, communication devices, and more. I can aid in other ways than just fighting."

"Zion, wasn’t it your goal to graduate school, then reveal to the world that you’re an Apostle?"

"Do you seriously think that’s as important as what’s going on now?"

"No, I don’t. However, if you keep putting this as your focus, you might lose sight of what you want to do and become. I know you’ll eventually be wrapped up in this problem, and no doubt you’ll stand at the very center of it, but for right now, just slow down, finish school, and focus on yourself."

Zion sighed, understanding his aunt’s words. Maybe it was good to focus on himself, go back to building his strength, and recruit allies.

"Okay, I understand. But at least keep me in the loop. I can still help in other ways outside of combat."

"I can do that." Raven nodded.

"I’m going back to my room. I still have that tournament to prepare for."

---

"So then you just teleported here after a demon showed up? Sounds like you had a fun time." Laying on his lap was Lidia who missed him dearly. Even though he had only been gone for a week, it was a week too long for her.

"But engraving runes on your body? T-That is very dangerous, Zion. Are you feeling well? Maybe we should talk to your aunt about this." Aurora was also here and she moved into their dorm full time. She too also missed Zion but wasn’t as comfortable showing her affection like Lidia.

"I’m fine. Never felt better in fact."

"But engraving runes on your body..."

"I said I’m fine!" Anger filled his voice as he yelled at Aurora, Lidia jumped off his lap as he stood up.

"Z-Zion?"

"Babe?"

The worry stretched on their faces and Lidia’s preparedness to attack if things went south only made him chuckle.

"I’m fine, I was just fucking with yall. You should have seen your faces, priceless!" He laughed, plopping onto the bed.

Visible veins were popping from Lidia’s head. Her annoyance with Zion’s little ’prank’ plastered all over her face. "You bitch!"

"Huh? Lidia what are you-OH MY GOSH!!!! UGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" As if jumping into a pool, Lidia cannonballed onto Zion’s stomach, completely knocking him out cold.

"Lidia!" Aurua screamed in horror

"What?"

"I-Is he dead?"

"Nah, just out cold." She slapped his face playfully

"You could have hurt him."

"Please! The guy gets thrown into mountains and takes attacks that can obliterate an entire city. I doubt jumping on him will actually do anything."

"T-Then why is he unconscious?!"

"Huh, no idea. Well, doesn’t matter. Let’s get those clothes off him. He’ll probably be sleeping for a while."

Aurora brought out Zion’s sleeping clothes, which were just clean underwear (pants), and waited for Lidia to remove his clothing.

However, things took an unfortunate turn. Once his shirt was removed, the full glory of Zion’s chest and abs were on display. His broad shoulders, glistening muscular arms, 8-pack, and manly pecks.

His allure struck them like the first golden rays of sunrise, warming their senses and stealing their breath, but also burning their eyes, albeit in a good way.

"Damn!" Lidia said as she stared at Zion’s chest, drool already forming in her mouth. "Maybe it will be okay to just stare at him for a while, you know?"

Aurora silently agreed, nodding as she wiped the drool from her mouth.

---

"What?! How dare you accuse the Magic Tower of harboring demons or anything of the like!" The Magic Tower master shouted in anger.

The Knight’s Order Master then spoke up, "Then explain why one of your people made deals with the demons. Rupert was it? An up-and-coming mage, highly skilled, supports or I guess supported the second prince, and was the apprentice to Raidon Sternbell. The guy literally had no reason to side with the demons, unless his master is working with them as well."

"BLASPHEMOUS! HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE MAGIC TOWER! ARE YOU GOING TO OVERLOOK THE CHURCH FALLING INTO THE CLUTCHES OF THE DEMONS?!"

"Master Julius, calm down. No one is insulting the Magic Tower."

"Headmistress Raven, how can you sit there and tell me to calm down?! One of my most promising mages was collaborating with demons, and then she insulted Raidon Sternbell. This is an attack on the Magic Tower’s pride!"

"And yelling won’t get you anywhere. So let’s speak this out in a civilized manner. But what he said does make sense. How was someone blessed by the God Arion able to be under the effects of demonic energy? Holy power is supposed to be a eradicate to demonic energy." Raven turned to the pope expecting him to answer her question.

"It is unfortunate that Lordrick has fallen, but I can guarantee that he accepted the demonic energy and disregarded his faith in Lord Arion after he left for the mission. Not only is it impossible to wield both energies together, but we would have sensed the change in him, I would have sensed it." The Pope’s answer wasn’t what Raven wanted, but it did make sense.

The others also agreed with his statement. Two opposing powers cannot exist within the same body, so Lordrick would have died if he tried to use both together. That was what everyone was thinking.

"However, my nephew told me that he could still feel holy power coursing through Lordricks body. He told me that each attack he blocked felt like a combination of demonic and holy power. Now, how do you explain that?"

The pope furrowed his brows. "Are you saying that the church allows for the use of demonic energy? Not only is that an insult to our members but also to Lord Arion! It’s impossible to use the two powers together! One would be foolish to incur a god’s wrath."

"No, that’s not what I’m saying. I just thought it was important to let everyone know about this information. After all, the church is supposed to have the power to suppress demons, so it’s a bit unsettling to know that your members have the ability to use the power you’re meant to eradicate alongside the power of your god."

The Pope didn’t say anything to that, only growling at the thought of being accused of working with demons. He made a mental note to crack down on the security of the Church to make sure no demon infected his people.

"And what of this incident?" Ignis, the Knights Order Mistress asked. "Are we to go public with this or keep silent? I think keeping silent for now is for the best. Rooting out anyone who could possibly be influenced by the demons should be our priority."

"I agree." Julius sneered

"Likewise." The Pope nodded

"I am on board with this decision." Raven agreed

"Before I forget, Headmistress Raven, was your nephew able to recover Lordrick’s and Rupert’s bodies?" Julius asked

"While he did manage to recover Rupert’s body," She snapped her fingers and the body of Rupert encased in a glowing green energy barrier appeared hovering over the table they were sitting at. "He wasn’t able to recover Lordricks. He said that he was so disgusted by him that he completely obliterated his body. He got his sword though." Raven pulled out Lordrick’s sword and handed it to the pope.

"Hmph, how dare he kill a member of the church. Demonic human or not, that task should have been handled by us, not an outsider."

Raven frowned "No offense, but he did what was necessary to survive and help save the missing people."

"I agree." Ignis nodded "I would have killed him myself if I was there. He saved you the trouble of doing so."

"That’s not the point-"

Julius sighed, "Sir Pope, let it go. What’s done is done."

"Hmph! I’ll send a team of inquisitors to the dungeon to investigate the contents inside. I shall report back if anything of importance is found. Talk to my assistant Ms Larson of the Larson family if you need anything." Once that was said, the Pope got up and walked out of the room.

"If anything comes up, I’ll also inform you all about it. For now, I have to have a chat with Raidon to tell him about his apprentice. I’ll be taking my leave." He vanished from the room, shortly followed by Ignis and Raven.