Treasure in the School (Part 3)
Mason waits, as the sound gets closer. Suddenly, a figure appears. It is none other than the headmaster, James Paladin.
“H…Headmaster.”
The headmaster looks at ease.
“Oh, it’s only a pupil. What’s your name?”
Mason wonders if he is in trouble as he answers.
“Mason, Mason Flintwood. Dormitory 9.”
The headmaster glances his eyes around.
“Did you notice anything strange around here? Any suspicious people?”
Mason tries to cover the tracks of what just happened, though it’s obvious that someone of the headmaster's calibre would see right through it.
“No, sir. Just me.”
The headmaster plays along and seems relieved.
“That’s a relief. I haven't had to fight seriously in a long time. I’m not sure an old man past his prime like me couldn’t keep up with the powerful magus of the world today.”
The headmaster wonders about Mason.
“What are you doing in the woods all alone? Nothing out here but trees.”
Mason seems reluctant at first but decides to tell the headmaster.
“I'm looking for something. Actually, I have a question for you, if you don’t mind me asking.”
The headmaster seems interested.
“Very well, ask away.”
Mason gulps before asking the headmaster.
“There isn’t a treasure hidden in the school, right? Like, an ancient treasure in the school or the forest.”
The headmaster finds this amusing.
“There isn't any great treasure hidden within this school. If there were, I would certainly know about it.”
Mason wonders again about the varying architecture and ages of the different school areas.
“Then, why are some parts of the school older than other parts and why does the south wing look so different?”
The headmaster thinks back to his own past and the past of the school.
“This school was destroyed twice in its history. Once in flames and once in a great duel. When I was a student here, it was burned to the ground by a man named Jack Hollow, as it was prophesied that a student from Adania would be the one to foil his plans of world-enslavement. All that remained after the fire was the south wing of the school. After the school's rebuilding, some many years later, I was involved in a great fight that happened here and much of the school was razed once again.”
Mason thinks for a moment and then interjects after he recalls how he was once told of the school's headmaster saving the magus world in a great fight.
“A great fight? Is it when you saved the magus world?”
The headmaster stops for a moment and bears a slight expression of sadness as he continues to speak.
“Yes. I fought against the greatest defensive magus that this world has ever seen. The typical defensive block for a magus is the five point block. Six point for a very advanced magus and seven point is very rare outside of magus who specialise in defensive magic. And I can't even count 10 people who can use an eight point block. However, the magus that I fought is the only magus in history to ever be able to use a nine point block. Sure, I saved the world but the world lost a very talented magus… and I lost a dear friend.”
Before they could continue further, the headmaster tries to change the subject, knowing that even after all this time, the memories of that fateful day still bring him some pain.
“Well, I'll escort you back to the school’s interior. Follow me.”
As Mason walks with the headmaster, he knows that he won’t have many opportunities to converse openly with someone like the headmaster and decides he should ask the headmaster something.
“Headmaster, I'd like your advice on something.”
The headmaster seems hesitant but decides to answer.
“Go on.”
Mason prepares the question in his mind as they approach the school and then asks.
“My father disappeared when I was young and I don't know where he is. So, I was wondering if you could tell me how I can figure out my crest ability.”
The headmaster thinks for a moment.
“Well, I’ve never met your father. But, I did meet his father… or was it his grandfather? His name was ‘Ripper Flintwood’ I believe. So, I do know your family crests ability.”
Mason seemed shocked by this.
“Really? What was it?”
The headmaster pauses for a moment as they arrive by the school.
“I can tell you but I wasn't too familiar with it, so it won't be much help. As you will learn soon, every crest user is different, even if the crest is the same. Your ability won't be exactly the same as your fathers or grandfathers later down the line.”
They begin to enter the school.
“I’m not sure about the specifics of your crest. However, in your grandfather or great grandfather's specific case, It was something to do with materialising swords. He called his unique variation ‘Ripperdoc’ and used the family crest to attack his foes with spiked blades. In his case, he adapted the swords to be his ace and used them to drain his opponents mana upon contact, leaving the opposing magus defenceless.”
The headmaster looks at Mason.
“For now, don't worry about it anyway. It’s more important to learn the basics at your stage. Your crest will come to you naturally. Besides, I've seen many magus die due to an overreliance on their crests.”
The headmaster begins to walk away to his office as the prior remark strikes a tinge of fear into Mason.
Mason hears someone running towards him.
“Mason!”
Kiyoko and Cole arrive, both wearing a look of excitement.
“We found something.”
Kiyoko nods.
“Yeah, it’s like the school was in a fire, there's burn marks around the boundary of the old wing to the new wing. Did you find anything?”
Mason seems to smile but shrugs his shoulders.
“I found out, there is no treasure. But it’s about the journey and the fun, not about the destination, right.”
Cole and Kiyoko seem confused at this remark.
Later in the day, as Mason sits in his room, he thinks about the day.
“Those three psycho students nearly killed me. I’m still a beginner, so I don't know anything. But I can get stronger. That spell they used, if I can learn that, I can stand a better chance in the weekly tournaments.”
Mason looks at a textbook on his desk. He stands up and heads to the other side of the room. He tries to force the book from the desk.
“Push. Push. Push.”
As these events in school occur, the enormous world containing the magus continues to move. A few weeks go by. In the nearby city, some shadowy bandits are preparing something.
