[Salvos] 686. The Only Way Forward (Patreon)

686. The Only Way Forward

***

“Wait, Rachel, you can’t be serious, right?”

Oriur called after the young girl, his eyes bulging out of his eyes. Rachel didn’t miss a step as she glanced back at him. 

“What do you mean by that?”

She tilted her head. Next to her, Sally, the Salvos clone, copied the gesture too. It was not like Rachel wasn’t fully unaware of why the juvenile Wyvern was staring at her in shock. However, she didn’t want to even acknowledge it.

After all, then she would have to explain why she thought it was a good idea. Which would be difficult and annoying. So Rachel played coy.

“You know exactly what I mean!”

Oriur exclaimed, and Rachel just gave an innocent look.

“Why would you want to speak with the Centinel Matriarch? That makes no sense— you’ll get yourself killed!”

“I won’t get myself killed, Oriur. Don’t worry. I’ll be speaking to her through the barrier, so we’ll be fine.”

Rachel waved a hand off dismissively, continuing forward. Oriur gaped in shock as his siblings eyed him from behind. Novis and Bellum didn’t protest as much, but they could sense their brother’s uncertainty. So the juvenile Wyverns stood there for a moment longer as Rachel headed for the edge of the barrier surrounding Mavos Academy.

Meanwhile, Sally was surprised by it at first. But suddenly changed her mind. She seemed curious now, more than anything.

“Even I wouldn’t do something so crazy, Rachel. You’ve really grown a lot, huh?”

Sally said, walking casually alongside the young girl. Rachel nodded as she beamed.

“Yep! I’m Level 71 now— although it’s not as impressive as you, I am happy with how fast I’ve grown.”

In all honesty, Rachel had only wanted to meet Salvos again when she reached Level 100. However, the young girl wasn’t going to complain. Even if Sally wasn’t exactly Salvos, and Rachel hadn’t reached Level 100 yet.

“And to be a student at Mavos Academy too? I struggled to get in at Level 100! I’m sure I would be proud to see how much you’ve grown if I was here.”

Sally said with a smile. Rachel paused when she heard that. The last bit sounded almost nonsensical. But it made perfect sense in the current context. 

A sense of pride washed over Rachel as she stood there, hearing Sally’s words. It would have been nicer to hear it from Salvos’s mouth directly. But Rachel didn’t complain. Because she knew that Salvos would have shared the same sentiment as Sally.

However, the moment the two shared didn’t last long. Because—

“No!”

A voice shouted.

Kron was grabbing onto a nearby lamppost, refusing to budge forward. She glared at Rachel as she continued shouting.

“Me no go— me stay here! Me won’t see Centinels!”

The [Krokodis] was currently still wreathed in her illusion, so she looked like an ordinary Human. And that made the scene of her hugging onto the lamppost like a cat of sorts even funnier.

“You don’t have to follow us if you don’t want to, Kron.”

Rachel said reassuringly. Then she glanced over to the juvenile Wyverns— they were exchanging confused looks, uncertain on what to do. 

“Novis, Bellum, and Oriur— you can follow me if you want. Or you can stay with Kron. It’s up to you.”

Rachel strode forward, walking off the side of the road. Novis and Bellum glanced at each other, then they whined. They wanted to give chase, however Oriur shuffled his feet, not moving.

“But even if we wanted to follow you, we can’t. If Kron doesn’t come with us…”

Oriur trailed off, looking around. Rachel grinned as he realized the same thing she did. 

“There’s nobody here right now, so there would be no one to even notice you turning from a Human to a Wyvern. And besides…”

Rachel looked towards the flaming figure.

“Sally is here, too. So she will protect us if anything happens.”

“I…”

Oriur still hesitated. Even as his siblings looked like they wanted to follow Rachel. They waited for him to make a decision.

“You don’t have to hide yourself anymore, Oriur.”

Rachel said, meeting his gaze. 

“You can be your true self— you can be free. Nobody is going to throw a fit over a Wyvern, when there are Centinels clawing at our doors.”

Oriur averted his gaze. He was clearly unnerved— for various fair reasons. He eyed his siblings, deliberating on what to do. Until, finally, he sighed and locked eyes with Rachel.

“Can I trust you, Rachel?”

“Of course!”

She replied, cheerful as ever. Next to her, Sally nodded eagerly. Oriur looked at them both, then eyed Novis and Bellum.

That was when he conceded.

“Fine. But if anything happens— I’m not going to be telling Willy!”

“Don’t worry!”

Rachel said as she led the way to the barrier.

“Everything will be alright.”

She paused, tilting her head back.

“...probably.”

***

“W-what?”

Faith blinked, hearing what Willy had to say. Even Edithe paused. The redhead thought the plan could have been a good idea. However, Willy brought up a good rebuttal.

“So how will we get back with this scroll?”

“Get back?”

Faith hesitated. It looked like she hadn’t thought things through that well. Edithe hadn’t considered that either. The [Will O’ Wisp] scoffed.

“Of course— we need to get back. Otherwise, what’s the point of crossing into the Spirit Plane if we just get ourselves trapped there?”

“I-I mean, wouldn’t it work the same way as the Summoning Scroll normally works where the Spirit is returned back to the Spirit Plane after its duration comes to an end?”

Faith stammered. But Clayton spoke up, realizing the flaw in that plan.

“If that were the case, there would be a time limit before anyone who passes through to the Spirit Plane is returned to the Mortal Realm. Just like with the teleportation spell ritual which brought you back to us earlier. And even the best of our [Space Mages] won’t be able to alter it so that it lasts more than a few hours.”

The Headmaster of Mavos Academy spoke in a low voice. Edithe’s brows snapped together when she heard that. A few hours was not enough time. Not to scour the Spirit Plane in search for a Supreme Spirit— in search of the Archangel— and convince it to help them.

“But then what do we do?”

Edithe asked, glancing around with gritted teeth.

“If the Summoning Scroll just brings us back after a few hours, then shouldn’t we try to find an alternative to cross into the Spirit Plane?”

Hearing her ask that question, Clayton nodded at a woman standing to the side. 

“Veronica Adash. You are one of the best [Space Mages] in our faculty. Could you alter the Summoning Scroll so that it becomes a one-way portal?”

The woman, Veronica Adash, stepped forward. Edithe had heard of her before— the last sole heir of the former nation of Adash. Also, one of Salvos’s former classmates back when she went to Mavos Academy.

Edithe had never spoken to the former princess before. But Salvos had spoken highly of Veronica Adash. So the redhead was sure she could trust the [Space Mage]’s abilities.

“I can try to do that. It will take time to tinker with the spell. However…”

Veronica Adash accepted the Summoning Scroll, then she hesitated. She looked around the room, before looking back at the Headmaster.

“This means that whoever crosses into the Spirit Plane… maybe not ever be able to come back. Isn’t that incredibly risky?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Edithe shook her head, speaking up. 

“This is our only real shot at saving Mavos Academy. I’ll do it, and it doesn’t matter if I don’t return. There are so many more lives at stake here once the barrier collapses.”

Veronica Adash nodded, almost impressed by the redhead’s resolve.

“Very well. I will do this. But it will take at least an hour to tinker with the spell to do this. If any other [Space Mages] can assist me, it would be appreciated.”

She set the Summoning Scroll to the ground and got to work. A few other [Mages] that were gathered in the room joined to help her. The rest of them exchanged uneasy glances, before looking at Centina.

They must have already been briefed about the situation, which was why they didn’t look too surprised to see her in the room. However, because of the urgency of the situation, none of them were protesting to the current plan just yet.

Perhaps when the barrier was closer to cracking, they might have suggested a… bloody alternative— using Centina as a sacrifice to survive.

But even then, Edithe wasn’t sure if that was enough to placate the Centinel Matriarch. After all, Centinels could not be reasoned with. 

Willy flitted forward, joining the redhead’s side in watching the [Space Mages] of Mavos Academy get to work.

“Nobody.”

“Hm?”

Edithe looked up at him. Even though the two of them had worked together in the past, especially during the siege of Alyras, she struggled to understand him when he wasn’t talking in full sentences. 

The [Will O’ Wisp] continued, the tone in his voice not changing.

“Nobody else is volunteering to join us.”

“Right.”

Edithe nodded, scanning the room. She saw Clayton thanking Faith for her offering them this opportunity, while Veronica Adash and the [Space Mages] labor away. Marie Schofen and the other [Mages] of Mavos Academy stayed back, watching Centina suspiciously.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Willy asked Edithe seriously. 

“Unlike you, I am from the Spirit Plane. Even if I get trapped out of the Mortal Realm, it makes no difference to me. But for you? Your entire life is here. You’d be risking it all for this.”

“I am certain.”

Edithe replied without any hesitation. She thought about all the cataclysmic events sweeping across the Human Lands— from the Elves, to the Demons, to the Centinels. That was not to mention the literal unseen Apocalypse that was going on, according to the Kobolds.

And the redhead thought about all the powerful people in the world who could do something about it— who could make a change. But they refused to act. Like with the Council of Cremont, ignoring Edithe’s pleas to give aid to the Netherfied Lands.

Edithe didn’t want to be one of these bystanders, too afraid to help. So she nodded, taking in a deep breath.

“I know what is right. That is why, I will do what must be done.”

Hearing that, Willy couldn’t help but scoff.

“I see why you call yourself a ‘Valiant Dreamer’… so naive and kind always…”

Edithe just shrugged, continuing to watch the [Space Mages] tinker away. As the time to the destruction of the barrier ticked further down.

Until, soon enough, Veronica Adash was finished.

***

“Hey! Come on, I just want to talk to you!”

Oriur watched as Rachel called out, waving at the Centinels clamoring outside of the barrier. There were hundreds of them out there, all different shapes and sizes, swarming directly in front of her. But she didn’t waver at their sight.

The barrier itself was mostly see-through— translucent because of the crimson glow that made it a bit difficult to see through. But evidently, the Centinels on the other side could see and hear Rachel. Well, it could probably barely hear her.

Oriur himself could hear the hissing and skittering of the monsters at the other side. Even if it was muffled. Which meant they likely could hear Rachel too.

When the monsters heard or saw Rachel, they swarmed around the area of the barrier where she was standing, striking it in a frenzy. But then they would injure themselves, before retreating back.

“Stop trying to attack me— and stop running away too!”

Rachel exclaimed. The Centinels didn’t understand her, of course. Novis, Bellum, and Oriur all stood to the side, hiding behind Sally who was just chuckling at the sight.

“I won’t hurt you— I mean, I can’t hurt you through this barrier. But I just want to talk to you. And maybe your matriarch too.”

Rachel continued pleading with the Centinels to no avail. Oriur didn’t say a thing. However, he knew that this was a pointless endeavor. That none of the Centinels would even understand her. After all, they were mindless monsters—

And a single Centinel came to a halt right before the barrier, staring at Rachel almost curiously. It was larger than her, but it looked like a child staring at a strange creature. The young girl’s eyes went wide when she realized it wasn’t attacking.

“Please, can you understand me?”

She proffered a hand. Even Oriur paused to stare. He couldn’t believe it. Novis and Bellum poked their heads out, while Sally raised a brow, intrigued. The Centinel looked like it understood Rachel.

It stood there, continuing to stare at Rachel as she smiled. She placed a hand on the barrier as the Centinel raised one of its many sharp limbs forward.

“Let’s be friends—”

Rachel started. And the Centinel hissed, swiping down at the barrier. There was a flash of light, before the Centinel recoiled in pain. It fled back away from the barrier as the young girl threw her hands in the air exasperatedly.

“Aw, come on!”

As expected, Oriur thought, closing his eyes. Centinels are mindless monsters, nothing more…

Even still, Rachel continued trying to bargain with the Centinels as the day went on.

***

“It’s finished.”

Veronica Adash stepped back as a glowing portal shone in the center of the room. It was like a rift in space, wreathed in iridescent colors which camouflaged whatever that was waiting at the other side. 

Edithe and Willy drew forward, staring at this portal.

“I tried my best to alter it as best I can so you can come back. But the window of time is only three hours before the portal closes behind you. After that… if you haven’t found this Archangel yet… you’ll have to get back here on your own. Sorry, that’s the best I could do.”

Veronica spoke apologetically. And Edithe smiled back at her.

“You’ve done more than enough for us. We’ll try to be as quick as we can, but… we’ll see how things goes.”

Edithe closed her eyes, already resigned to the fate of having to find a way out of the Spirit Plane on her own, once she found the Archangel. 

Everyone else gathered in the room just stared as Edithe and Willy approached the portal. Nobody else spoke up. Nobody else wanted to join them. After all, it was a mission that they might never return from. So it was just going to be the two of them… or so Edithe thought.

Until a voice spoke up from behind.

“I’ll join you two, too.”

Edithe blinked, glancing back to see Centina moving forward. 

“Centina? Are you sure about this?”

“I’m responsible for this mess. I will do what I can to help fix it.”

The [Evolved Centinel] replied as she glanced back at the staring [Mages]. They whispered something, pointing at her. But then she shook her head and turned back to Edithe.

“Besides, if I am trapped in the Spirit Plane, it is possible that the Matriarch Centinel will leave Mavos Academy alone.”

“Somehow, I doubt that. But maybe it could work.”

Edithe shrugged in response. Clayton Skyshredder opened his mouth, looking like he was about to protest Centina’s decision. But he caught himself. Clearing his throat, he bowed his head at the Human, the Spirit, and the Centinel.

“While I wish I could accompany you three in your journey, my duty requires me to remain in Mavos Academy. I wish you three the best of luck. For the sake of us all.”

“Thank you, Headmaster Skyshredder.”

Centina smiled back at him, before she moved forward. Willy just harrumphed and flitted onward.

“The Spirit Plane isn’t that bad…”

He muttered under his breath. And Edithe looked towards Faith.

“I have a favor to ask of you, Queen Faith.” 

“What is it, Edithe?”

Faith asked, raising a brow. Edithe shook her head.

“If I don’t come back, I want you to survive. So that you can tell Hadrian that I trust in him, and so does the rest of the Valiant Dreamers. That is why he should always lead them with his chin held high. Because we all know he will always make the right decision in the end.”

Faith paused, then she nodded slowly.

“I’ll try my best to relay that message.”

“Thank you.”

Edithe smiled back, before she stepped after Willy and Centina. The three of them paused for a moment, then exchanged glances. Without saying a word, they collectively resolved themselves.

I wonder if I will be able to meet Mistshard or Druma while in the Spirit Plane, the idle thought crossed Edithe’s mind. At the very least, if I do not survive this trip, that would be nice…

And with that final thought, Edithe stepped into the portal. Before all other thoughts vanished in her mind— her vision only filled with white as a sound resounded in her head.

Now Leaving [Nexeus: Mortal Realm]

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And after what felt like an eternity, a voice echoed in her head.

Now Entering [Nexeus: Spirit Plane]

Author's Notes:

What thonk?

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