230. Oneself
The last class of the day was on dinsional magic theory, taught by Professor Isais. I liked the class. It was a good class that helped learn a lot of things. But apparently, according to the Devil, the things being taught in the class were wrong.
Sal saw my notes and my textbooks and he didnt like it. That was why he followed here which was annoying, because he decided to be annoying.
Co on, my daughter. How could you possibly hurt your own old man?
He followed after , speaking loudly as I stord ahead of him. Heads turned in the hallway as other students overheard his words, but I was so over it at this point. I just wanted to push through it until it ended. The Devil continued.
I am hurt not physically, just ntally, but still! It pains to see what has beco of you. After all that ti Ive spent raising you, youve just grown to beco beco beco a rebellious teenager!
I paused as I turned down a hallway. He halted mid-step, and I glared at him.
I am not a teenager. I literally cannot be a teenager. I am only five years old!
He waved a hand off.
Semantics. I didnt raise you to be such a pedant, Salvos.
I am not your daughter!
I snapped, turning back around. The Devil dramatically placed a hand on his chest as there was a cacophony of gasps from the students around us. Theyd only heard the last bit where I accused Sal of not being my father. Everything I said before had been blocked out by his weird magic, except for shouting at him about not being his daughter.
Apparently, that drew sympathy from various students as they tried to console him. I rolled my eyes, ignoring him, and hoping that Id sohow lose him in the crowd. Except, he sohow found . Of course he did.
Sal entered my last lecture after I found my seat, and I sighed. It begins. He perked up and skipped in my direction, nimbly slipping around students until he sat next to .
You thought you could escape , didnt you?
No.
I spoke, resignedly closing my eyes.
No I didnt.
So, when is your Professor arriving? Co on, I want to see this illiterate, uneducated, bumbling buffoon who decided to teach my wonderful daughter the wrong things. I cant wait to tear him limb from limb, pierce his fingertips with the shards of his own broken teeth, and laugh as he
Im not your daughter. And dont harm my professors.
I cut him off, crossing my arms. He threw his hands up in the air.
Fine! Then Ill just embarrass him. How about that?
Ugh.
I groaned, but didnt say anything. I just sank into my chair, waiting for the inevitable. And it finally ca as Professor Isais strode through the door. His gaze landed on Sal instantly, discerning the unusual individual in his classroom.
And who may you be, Mister?
Sal. But you may just call Sir.
Professor Isais raised a confused brow.
Uh alright, Sal. And why exactly are you here in my classroom?
Why, Im here to give you a lesson. Ive heard from my daughter here
The Devil gestured at , and I covered my face.
Please shut up
He ignored .
That the things youve been teaching her have been inadequate.
I didnt even say that!
I tried to protest, but Professor Isais narrowed his eyes. My words didnt reach him; hed already been antagonized by Sal.
And what exactly is inadequate about my teaching, Mr Sal?
Everything, my dear Isais.
The Devil smirked as Isais frowned. The rest of the classroom was deadly quiet as they exchanged uncertain looks at this confrontation.
Alright, Mr Sal, while I appreciate your feedback, I will have to ask you to leave.
I am a parent of a student at this school.
Once again, Sal gestured at , and the attention was focused in my direction. Normally, Id be welcoming of any and all attention but that was only for praise. I didnt like this. It wasnt revulsion that others turned to face . It was just embarrassing!
Professor Isais shook his head.
While you may be the father of one of my students, that doesnt excuse your disruptive behavior.
Disruptive behavior?
The Devil snorted.
Youre just a bad professor. Theres nothing disruptive about correcting your mistakes especially in front of the rest of your class. I an, look at this!
He slamd a book on the table. It was the book hed been reading before he decided to follow to Mavos Academy. The textbook for this class. Space-Dinsion Theory and Its Applications.
This damned textbook was published by you! Who does that? Youre making your students buy your books!
Professor Isais crossed his arms, indignant.
I spent a year researching on the contents of this textbook, Mr Sal. Id appreciate it if you didnt degrade my hard work in producing it.
A year? Thats hardly any ti at all no, you shouldve spent at least a hundred
Sal trailed off as I gave him a flat stare.
Ten?
I didnt break my gaze from him. He shrugged.
Five?
I rolled my eyes, and the Devil nodded.
Yes, at least five years! Otherwise, it is as ill-prepared, rudintary, and misleading as whats taught in this textbook!
Isais brows snapped together.
Alright, I have had enough of this slander. I am Isais, the professor of this class. I was awarded my Title as Dinsional Professor after I constructed my own pocket dinsion and displayed it for the world to see. An entire room, twisted and warped to the size of an auditorium. The spell matrix let it last for an entire year thousands of nobles flocked over to get the chance to see it. What do you know about space magic, Mr Sal?
Pocket dinsion the size of an auditorium? I was impressed, but the Devil wasnt.
Please, thats sothing an amateur could do with just a bit of preparation. And Im sure your work was more than inefficient. Tell , did you account for the damage youd leave behind when undoing the spell? What about the temporal properties, that affect the spatial surfaces ability to bend and weave more malleably?
Amateur?
The Professor narrowed his eyes, and there were whisperings from around the room. People were speaking in hushed voices.
Did you hear that?
Yeah, Salvos father just called Professor Isais an amateur.
What level is he!
Hes so amazing and dreamy!
Do you think hes even stronger than Salvos?
I buried my head in my hands, hoping that itd finally end. And Professor Isais had enough too.
Mr Sal. This is your last warning. Leave this class, or I will be forced to extricate you from the premises.
Make .
The Devil smirked, and I looked up, eyes wide.
Wait
Fine.
There was a flash. Professor Isais appeared behind Sal, placing a hand on the Devils shoulder.
Now
And the Devil waved a hand off. It was like so forced had pulled Isais and threw him to the side. An invisible force. One that didnt affect anyone else in the room except for the Professor. He went hurling out of the window, smashing through the glass, before landing in a bush in the first floor.
There were gasps all throughout the room. Soone finally ran out to get Headmaster Clayton Skyshredder. The students there backed away as I sighed.
That went about as expected.
The Devil placed his hands on his hips as he stood over by the window, looking down at the dizzy Professor Isais.
Wh what?
Maybe youll learn to not be so full of yourself, next ti, Professor Isais. This is why you Humans are so inept at space magic. Maybe if you were better learners, you wouldnt need the help of Spirits or Demons to create portals into their planes.
Shaking his head, he sauntered back to . I just sat there, watching him approach. The Devil did what he wanted. At least, until Headmaster Clayton Skyshredder showed up.
I thought itd have been cathartic, watching him force the Devil out of Mavos Academy. But Sal didnt try anything with Clayton, not that he cared to try. I narrowed my eyes as I identified their levels. I couldnt see either of their levels, but I knew I just knew that the Devil was stronger.
He simply took that opportunity when faced with Clayton to emphasize the fact that he was my father, when he was not my father!
It was annoying. Even when he was forced out, I was embarrassed.
I wanted to shrivel up into a ball and die. Well, actually, I didnt want to die. But it was a figure of speech Daniel used sotis. Which was weird, sure.Why would anyone want to die? But it was less weird than having him flirt with a professor, seeing my friend crush on him, and seeing him embarrass another professor.Seeing my father do all that was just so weird!
I blinked
Hes not my father!
--
My last class ended early after the disruption from Sal. Or the Devil. He wasnt anywhere in Mavos Academy when I left my lecture hall, but I knew where hed be waiting. I headed out of campus, returning to my Lair for two reasons.
The first was to confront him for what hed done to my day. And the second was to flee from all the annoying looks and questions people keep inundating about the Devil. I stord back into my Lair, wanting to hide my face beneath a stack of books.
But the Devil perked up when he saw as he leafed through my textbook.
Oh, youre back
I growled and swung at him. He stepped to the side, dodging it easily.
Whew. That was close. Good thing I was prepared for that this ti around.
What is wrong with you?!
I glared at the Devil, and he shrugged.
What is wrong with you? I helped you out, didnt I?
You embarrassed in front of everyone!
Why do you care? Youre a Demon, theyre Humans. It doesnt matter.
It matters to .
I harrumphed, but he was just amused. With a scowl, I grabbed my textbooks from him and piled them up neatly back where they belonged.
Ugh, this has been an annoying day. But finally its over.
I wanted to sigh in relief and collapse on the ground. However, the Devil had other plans.
Actually, I had so much fun today, I think Id like to go to Mavos Academy again.
I sat up abruptly, eyes wide.
What?
Yep. Im thinking of accompanying you to school every day now. And Id love to speak to whats her na again? Candice? Cloud? That old hag. Shes honestly pretty cute.
Lecturer Claudia? Are you serious?
Dead serious.
The Devil grinned, and I gritted my teeth.
Absolutely not!
He raised an amused brow as I stood back up.
Absolutely not? What are you going to do, stop ? Co on! Weve already fought once, and I beat you with ease.
I will, if I have to.
The Devil feigned hurt as he closed his eyes, placing a hand on his chest.
My own daughter, how could this have beco of his relationship? Strained and torn! I am in so much pain.
I clenched my fist at his dramatics. Sothing burned inside of . It wasnt anger it was sothing Id felt too much of recently. It was the sa feeling that I felt when the [Lux Golmi] accused of being wild. The sa feeling Id felt when Saffron had condemned for being a Demon. The sa feeling Id felt when Belzu had bested in battle.
My pride was in pain. And I was tired of being trampled over.
I am not your daughter.
I stepped forward as flas engulfed my body. It burned with more than just anger as the Devil cocked his head. It was not fury, but my pride that carried forward. The blue light tinted the room, before changing colors as my feelings were poured into the flas. It twisted, breaking off from my body without noticing.
It almost circled around the Devil, but I paid no attention to it. All I saw was myself being embarrassed further, and I did not want that.
I am Salvos, and I wont let you mock any further.
The Devils eyes flickered. He looked around at the golden room. The way the light danced, as if it ca from a fire, but shone like it ca from the sun itself. Then he smiled.
Ah, so thats what ca of this.
I studied the Devil. It was like I could discern each of his actions the small details of him even more than before. I was more keenly aware of how he moved and how he breathed and each step he took. But he didnt approach , instead he laughed.
Alright, I will surcease. But you must admit, my thods, while odd, are quite effective, arent they?
What are you talking about?
I gave him a suspicious look, and he gestured to my sides.
That. Im talking about that.
I was dubious of what he was trying to do, but I looked at where he was pointing anyway. Then I paused. I stared at myself. No not myself. At a projection of myself.
A Salvos made of golden flas stood on my left, with her arms crossed. She had my horns and my hair and even my clothes. But she was made entirely of the wispy motes that illumined the room. She had no face and no mouth, and she could move with only my thoughts. I blinked, and she cocked her head.
What?
The Devil applauded .
Congratulations. Youve learned a new Skill. Its not a Grand Skill. But its a pretty good Skill a kind of clone? No, thats not right either. But its certainly sothing.
He walked up to the other as she blazed and burned where she stood, crossing her arms. I frowned.
How did this? How did I create this?
By instinct.
He tried to tap a finger on my clone, but she grabbed his finger because he could touch her. Backing up, the Devil glanced over at .
Whew, feisty. Was that your or was that her?
That was the both of us or just .
I shook my head.
I dont understand. How did I learn this Skill? I didnt even do anything. Its not like Lilys lesson where I had to do things.
Youre an Archdemon of Pride, arent you? And yet, you have no pride related Skills. Probably because youve never had your ego truly challenged. Which makes sense, since you are quite young. This is probably the first ti you had your pride hurt for an extended period of ti. Naturally, your emotions will spill into your Skills and your magic. And this is what it produced. Yourself. Quite narcissistic, if Im being honest. To protect yourself, you dont ask others for help, but you create another of yourself.
He chuckled, and I glared.
What is wrong with that?
Nothing. Just seems very self-indulgent, dont you think?
I folded my arms across my chest, and he waved a hand off.
It wasnt an insult. Its an observation. And its good because the higher-leveled you beco, the more youll learn, and the more youll lose grasp of yourself. As long as you rember who you are and what defines you, you will continue to evolve and get stronger.
Huh.
I exchanged a glance with my clone, before finally she vanished. I nodded slowly, turning back to the Devil.
I see. Thanks, I guess?
Its fine! I wanted to see what would co of this, and it is an interesting developnt. Anyway, dont thank yet, because next up
He gave a sly smile.
Next up, well get you a Grand Skill
Skill [Salvo of Vanity] learned!
Experience is awarded for the learning of a Skill!
General Skill [Racial Skill: Partial Mortality] has leveled up!
[Racial Skill: Partial Mortality - Lvl. 5] -> [Racial Skill: Partial Mortality - Lvl. 6]!
Experience is awarded for the leveling of a General Skill!
General Skill [Racial Skill: Demonic Essence] has leveled up!
[Racial Skill: Demonic Essence - Lvl. 2] -> [Racial Skill: Demonic Essence - Lvl. 3]!
Experience is awarded for the leveling of a General Skill!
General Skill [Racial Skill: Demonic Essence] has leveled up!
[Racial Skill: Demonic Essence - Lvl. 3] -> [Racial Skill: Demonic Essence - Lvl. 4]!
Experience is awarded for the leveling of a General Skill!
General Skill [Identification] has leveled up!
[Identification - Lvl. 5] -> [Identification - Lvl. 6]!
Experience is awarded for the leveling of a General Skill!
Subspecies [Daeva Cambion] Level Up!
[Daeva Cambion Lvl. 108] -> [Daeva Cambion Lvl. 109]
Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!
Class [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus] Level Up!
[Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 47] -> [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 48]!
Gained 2 Secondary Skill Points!
Class [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus] Level Up!
[Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 48] -> [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 49]!
Gained 2 Secondary Skill Points!
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