Chapter 9: Plans And Preperations

Rio was walking around the hallways. He had just left the examination after seeing the main characters fight. He was not interested in the remaining examinations, and he wasn't even that concerned of the students.

Guile was there, whatever problem that might arise could be easily solved with him around. He was a deputy head for a reason afterall.

Rio was on his way to his room now. Seeing the fights between students made him impatient. He wanted to quickly be able to control his powers properly, how else would he even be able to survive if he can't properly fight?

While he was hurrying to his room, he heard loud noises coming from one of the doors in the hallway. He approached it out of curiousity. It was the infirmary. He leaned in the door to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"I'm going back now, I was tired from the battle." Amber said as she sighed, she stood looking over Eugene laying at the bed.

"I didn't know you were that worried about me. Go ahead," Eugene teasingly said, as he continued while looking at the bed beside him, "Beside, I have company anyway."

"…Are you referring to me?" Arcuied said as he titled his head while laying on the bed.

"Of course, who else?" Eugene said, quirking his eyebrows, he continued as he waved his hand in a shooing gesture towards Amber, "Now what are you waiting for? Shoo, shoo."

"..Why did I even worry for you?" Amber muttered as she shaked his head. She turned around as she opened the door.

"Haa, youth." Rio muttered as he sighed, hearing the conversation.

"Ah!" Amber yelped as she was suprised by the person infront of her, she looked at the person and saw a silver mark in his coat. It was a teacher.

"Hey, calm down." Rio said as he reassured the surprised girl. "I was just checking the infirmary."

"A-ah..I see," Amber muttered as she recovered from the suprise, her face turned solemn upon realizing something, "That was rude of me. Good morning, and you are…?"

"It's Rio Salem, your professor in Magic Theory." Rio introduced himself. This was his first meeting with the main characters. He needed to present himself properly.

"Amber! What's wrong?! Did someone hurt you?! Which bastard wa—" Eugene said in a mix of worry and anger, his arm covered with bandages as he walked over holding a crane.

"You're misunderstanding something, Mr. Eugene." Rio said in a calm tone as he looked at Amber, requesting for help.

"What Professor Rio said." Amber nodded in response.

"I..see," Eugene sighed, realizing that he was too hasty on conclusions, he continued with an apology, "Pardon me, Professor. I was just worried."

"No worries." Rio replied, accepting the apology. He continued as the corners of his lips rose. "Afterall who would want to see their friend girl hurt?"

"Uh, whatever do you mean Professor?" Eugene coughed as he feigned ignorance.

"What are you two talking about?" Amber asked as she raised her eyebrows in confusion.

"It's nothing." Eugene inisted as he looked away, embarassed.

"Then excuse me, Professor." Amber expressed as she excused herself, wanting to go to her room and rest quickly. She was just too tired at the moment. Whatever Eugene meant was probably nothing important.

Rio simply nodded and watched her back move farther away. He looked at the injured blonde Pendragon and helped him. Rio assisted him back to the bed.

"Thank you, Professor." Eugene expressed sincerely as he comfortably lay on the bed.

"…I didn't know you can thank someone sincerely," Arcuied said with a hint of surprise, as if such a notion was impossible to him.

"Just what impression did I gave you?" Eugene mumbled, his eyes widening in ridicule.

"There you go. I'm gonna go now." Rio said as he prepared himself to leave.

"Wait, Professor. I have a question." Eugene said with a serious tone. He was going to confirm something. There was a chance this Professor might not know, but it was worth a try.

"Ask away." Rio said, raising his eyebrows and staring at Eugene directly.

"Was the examination truly arranged by Ranking?" Eugene asked, posing a question he wanted to confirm.

"Indeed." Rio answered without hesitation, it was obvious what Eugene wanted to ask. Better to shut down his ego earlier.

"Then Ar—"

"Arcuied is, indeed, more talented and stronger than you." Rio added as he said in a cold tone. "It is the undeniable truth. Or is it that you doubt the integrity of this academy?"

"…I am?" Arcuied quipped, as he asked confused on what was happening.

Eugene was suprised at the tone the Professor talked. It was cold and uncaring of emotions. He didn't get treated like that from any stranger besides his father, it was a first experience. Some part of his pride wanted to rebel, but a larger part of rationale acknowledge the Professor was right, regardless of the tone.

"Is that all?" Rio asked, confirming if there was still anything they wanted to ask.

"When will I get discharged?" Arcuied asked, curious if he was going to sleep here or on his room.

"Soon." Rio answered as he turned his back and left a few words, "I'll be going now."

—

Rio had just arrived at his room. He sat at the couch as soon as he entered. Good grief, this day was tiring for an entirely different reason. Well atleast he introduced himself already to the main cast.

He had done a step in progressing his plans atleast. Now the next time they should meet It would a lot be more comfortable and casual.

Now that he arrived, he opened the Television. The large LCD screen turned on as the news came in. Rio listened to it attentively, the news might alter his plans considerably.

"Breaking News! Niara Guild acquired an unidentified herb from the Misty Mountains. It is currently being kept at their treasury as they hire several alchemist and appraisers to appraise the said herb."

It wasn't anything important afterall, Rio was relieved. He didn't want any sudden news that affected his plans. Speaking of guilds however, he would probably not join one.

Guilds, in essence, are just combat companies in a nutshell. They are banded group of Miracle Invokers that profit from either protecting society or helping people get various uncommon materials. Whether it be resolving small miniature daemonic dimensions, or trading materials they collected from the wild to the market.

Joining one would just restrict his freedom, he had the option to create one. But joining one was not that beneficial to him.

His plans were as follow, get along with the main cast of characters, get The Formless Seed, and enter a medium sized daemonic dimensions. He's relationship with the main cast of characters just started, and he wasn't going to end it there.

The Formless Seed and the medium sized daemonic dimensions had a slight problem. He had no money. Both of those needed money. Even at an bizzarre fantasy world poverty never leaves him, huh? Rio sighed as he thought about a way to make money. 

Rio suddenly realized of something. What about the money of Rio Salem? Before he transmigrated into this body, the previous Rio was already a teacher of the prestigous Volund Academy. Not only that, he was a Rank C Miracle Invoker.

He must've had plenty of money to join this prestigous academy and reach Rank C Miracle Invoker at the same time. As he thought of that, he immediately got up and take his laptop from his room.

He opened the laptop and pressed the web icon. He typed in Central Bank. If he remembered right, there were plenty of banks in this world, however Central Bank was the most popular and used by Miracle Invokers.

Waiting for the website to load, Rio tapped his fingers in the couch impatiently.

The website was loaded. As luck would have it, his account was never logged out. Thank god he didn't have to enter the password and such, he couldn't have guess it.

Rio sighed in relief as he looked at the amount of the money he has. At that, he was stunned speechless.

[100,000 Credits.]

This is…his total funds?

"This must be a joke." Rio muttered as he chuckled. This was too low. He could probably get the Formless Seed with this, but entering the daemonic dimension? No chance. The money is too little.

"Haa…" Rio sighed in a tiresome way. Now he needed to increase this money. The fastest way was to invest. He had almost bare bones knowledge of stock investing, how could he even raise his money by that?

Rio relaxed as he thinked the situation more calmly. Since he needed to get The Formless Seed first, he should think of a way to get money during his trip. His trip was still at weekends, and that's two days later.

Two days... that's still...some...

Rio closed his eyes as he felt the urge to sleep. He felt like he shouldn't sleep, but unfortunately his mind just shut down.

—

Where am…I?

I looked at the surroundings as my eyes felt hazy and drowsy. I looked at my arms. It was blurry, like mist. I realized it lacked clarity, it was like a phantasmal.

Who…am I?

Something clicked in my mind. Right, my name is Rio. Rio..Salem? No, no. I'm Rio #$&+ from…another…place..

Information was hard to grasp…It was like fleeting and chaotic. I couldn't properly hold any thoughts nor memories, my mind felt like it was levitating and crushed at the same time…

This was like a realm full of thoughts and ideas…it was a place where matter shouldn't exist…

"You're finally awake," A deep voice resounded as I kept my mind together from dissapearing. I wanted to reply, but I had no mouth. No voice. No thoughts. Only will.

"Don't bother, at your current strength right now you wouldnt be able to reply," The deep voice said, it's voice resounding at the place, virtual thoughts were going away as he talked, "This is the phantasmal realm,"

I don't know what that was..

"No worries," The deep voice said as it chuckled and continued, "I just brought you here to fix a little something."

What…fix?

As the deep voice word's echoed, I felt something. I screamed. In pain? agony? I don't know….entirely, I felt nothing. Pain did not exist here, nor did agony. I just felt…something in my mind change. As if something was altered. Something..innately important was being taken away…

But I didn't know what was it…

"There, all finished." The deep voice said, as it bid farewell, "I guess this is goodbye, I'm sure we will meet again….Rio #$&-"

The voice was familiar…

However, everything was dissapearing….before I could figure anything out.

I dissolved into nothing..

"The plans are set into motion," The deep voice spoke with certainty, it continued, "This is…the final battle…of humanity."

"Not just humanity, fool." A soft voice spoke, resounding in the realm, "Beside's what's so special about that person? He just knows the future, nothing less, and nothing more."

"You'd be suprised," The deep voice chuckled in amusement. Humans afterall are those that manages to defeat all odds and win.