Chapter 24: Arrival of C and S

Chapter 24: Arrival of C and S

"What you are doing is a crime. You cannot threaten a Grand Wizard just because you know a strong spell…"

"Please, just surrender yourself…"

"Huh?", Daniel merely blinked after hearing that.

Nocturne, waking up, smirked.

[He played you.]

"What?"

Daniel was puzzled, but he soon realized what had happened.

The blue flames on the torches were replaced by normal ones, following which the sound of footsteps was audible. Down came a group of wizards.

Leading them was the previous headmaster of Glencraft, Brenforth.

A few other elders from the elder council had also arrived, noticing Daniel with the active spell.

"Master Bren?" Daniel muttered, unable to believe the appearance of the man whom he respected the most in the world.

"That spell…"

"Splendid indeed, my boy. I always knew you had the talent to use such strong spells..."

"Thank yo-", Daniel almost thanked for the appreciation out of instinct.

"But, never knew you would become a criminal... a terrorist."

"What?"

"For having breached the Code of Conduct of Wizards and Witches, Daniel Rosfeld, you are hereby arrested for trespassing the sacred temple and threatening a Grand Wizard."

"Wait, what!?" Before he could say much, two elders vanished from their position and appeared right next to Daniel, cuffing his hands in magic chains.

These chains initially glowed with bright white light but then changed to black chains.

"We will take him away.", said the two elders, both of them appearing to be twins.

But before Brenforth could give approval, Daniel blurt out, "No, me? Threatening a Grand Wizard...?"

"Does this even... does this even make sense!?", he shook his head but his last words barely audible as both the twins vanished from the scene after uttering the all too familiar spell: Stynom.

In the scene, only two particular individuals remained: Brenforth and Jorren. Jorren spoke up, "Fascinating…"

"Haha, true. No wonder they are twins…" Brenforth smiled back.

They were thinking about the two elders who used Stynom simultaneously to teleport. Of course, if one had a different destination in mind, then he would end up somewhere else. But they were so in sync that even without talking to each other, they could understand each other's minds and intentions.

Jorren lifted his robe that he had thrown on the ground and draped it around his shoulders. He lifted the drenched shirt and merely held it in his hands.

"But really, I never expected you to arrive so soon," Jorren added.

"Haha, I'm not too old to forget using magic," Brenforth's husky voice followed with laughter.

"Haha, indeed," Jorren shook his head, splashing away the water droplets that had accumulated in his hair.

Then, staring at Brenforth's face, he said politely, "This way, sir. We can talk after you rest a bit."

He took a step or two towards the staircase when Brenforth merely smirked and said, "Nay, no need, Jorren. Just tell me... Where is Miss Vineca?"

When Brenforth mentioned this, Jorren paused in his tracks, almost instantly turning back and staring at him.

"Wha-"

All of a sudden, a voice rang inside Jorren's head.

[Beware Jorren, he−]

"Shush," Brenforth raised his right index finger and placed it on his lips.

"The conversation is between me and him; don't you dare to meddle, Diablo," the husky voice vanished and was replaced by a youthful and chilling voice, deep enough to cause chills to run down Jorren's spine.

Gulp-

"You—" Jorren's hands trembled momentarily.

Almost instantly, Jorren activated his realm as he felt something was wrong.

But before he could fully transform, a haze appeared right in front of him, taking the shape of a horrendous Devil mask – one that was famous: Red Skin, having two horns and sharp fangs – indeed, the haze took its shape and blew past him, extinguishing the little flames that had singed his hair.

Jorren fell to the ground.

"Wha—"

He was confused about what had happened.

"Stopping me from transforming…"

"W-who are you?" Jorren's eyeballs trembled in fear for the first time in ages.

"Pfft… Who am I?"

"Is this you asking, or… is this your fear making the question?" the man burst into laughter.

"Aye, no need to fear. You are a Grand Wizard; not everyone can become one…"

A thin line of black smoke started to emerge from Brenforth. It slowly spread all over his body and engulfed him.

Silence lingered in the room, a pin-drop silence which was broken by a tap.

Tap- Tap-

Footsteps echoed in the room, originating from within the black smoke.

Jorren's gaze was fixated on the cloud. He was gulping down large chunks of saliva as he found the situation mysterious.

Exiting from the smoke was a mysterious figure. First visible were his legs, covered with long black boots. Furthermore, he wore tight black pants. Then came the black coat which enclosed a similar black shirt inside. Finally, as his face emerged from the cloud, Jorren found it hidden under a black mask with the letter 'C' engraved in red on it.

"Jorren, Jorren, Jorren…"

"Did you know how long it took to find you?" the man vanished, leaving behind traces of black smoke, and appeared right next to Jorren.

This surprised Jorren, who turned back almost instantly, only barely able to sense the presence.

"The vessel of Curse Devil, Diablo…", he said.

"No, Diablos, wasn't it?" another voice crept in.

This time, a female appeared. She was in a similar outfit with the only exception being her shirt, which was similar to a T-shirt with a V-shaped collar, exposing her cleavage a bit. Her red pupils were eye-catching for the mask she wore had two holes via which her eyes could be seen, different from C.

Her sultry and chilling voice made the comment, "A mere 'S' won't change the being, so never mind…"

"Haha, you're one to say that…" the man laughed.

Ironically, she had the letter S engraved on her mask.

"Pfft. Either way... This man… is he really a Grand Wizard?" she looked down at Jorren.

Indeed, there had been none as talented as Jorren – becoming a Grand Wizard at the age of 22 was something to be proud of. But, if it was done independently, only then!

In reality, Jorren had the help of the devil who slowly and steadily helped him climb realms. The third realm was more than enough to promote him to the status of Grand Wizard – such were the powers of the devils!

Jorren, hearing the taunt, clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

"Y—"

"You peasants!" he roared, standing up with rage.

His entire body became engulfed in blue flames, igniting not only him but also anything he touched. For now, he was in contact with the ground, and hence, the flames spread all over the ground, moving at a lightning-fast speed towards C and S.

But they stood in their places, nonchalantly erecting barriers. Two dome-shaped red barriers covered both C and S separately, who continued their chatter.

"Aye, he doesn't seem all that strong…"

"Huh?", Jorren blinked to confirm if they were having a discussion despite being attacked.

"Maybe it is a lie that he is a Grand Wizard," C commented.

"Hmm, I think so too. Just look at him, how unsightly. Pfft. Hahahaha!"

"Hahahaha!"

Jorren was baffled as they were not affected in the slightest. The flames did nothing, and the barriers stood strong. Even within them, they kept making fun of him. He couldn't bear it.

"E-enough!" he raised his voice for a final time.

"Master! Destroy them!" he roared as he called out to Diablo, to take control over him and unleash his powers.

But…

[No.]

"…"