Salvos (A Monster Evolution LitRPG)

730. Disgruntled

It was ridiculous.

Rachel didn’t understand it. Her plan was working. Not like she even fully knew what her plan was supposed to be. But everything had been going well!

And now, it had all been ruined. However, it wasn’t because of what Rachel had failed to do. It was because that dummy Headmaster of Mavos Academy decided to intervene and lock her into a magical room.

Now, she couldn’t do anything about the Centinel invasion of the school. All because Clayton said what she was doing was “incredibly dangerous” and “even more idiotic”. Which was actually stupid of him to say, because she had explained her plan already numerous times!

And sure, she had been shot down each time. But did they really think that she was just going to sit idly by and not try her best to implement what she said she thought would work?

Rachel huffed as she sat by the window. It shimmered with a soft magical glow. Clayton Skyshredder himself had erected a barrier around the room, so no matter what she did, she couldn’t escape.

She just wasn’t anywhere near strong enough to be able to break free from this prison he had placed her in.

“I can’t believe this, I’m literally a prisoner in my own school.”

“All because I wanted to help out…”

Sighing, Rachel leaned back and looked towards the swarm of Centinels gathered around the barrier in the distance. Then she looked back down at herself and closed her eyes.

“What do I even do here?”

And she didn’t have an answer.

“I can’t believe you two!”

Oriur exclaimed as he placed his clawed hands on his hips. He looked down at his two siblings— Novis and Bellum. They knelt before him with their heads bowed low. However, even though they were both evidently trying to be apologetic, they also seemed incredibly confused too.

Like they didn’t know what they did wrong.

And that was what made Oriur even more upset.

“How could you think telling Clayton of what Rachel’s doing is a good idea?”

Oriur shook his head and sighed. Novis and Bellum just piped up one after another in response.

“We don’t know!”

“We thought Clayton help!”

But Clayton didn’t help, Oriur thought as he gritted his teeth. However, as he stared at his two clueless siblings, he knew he couldn’t blame them. He knew that it was not truly their fault.

In fact, it was probably Oriur’s own fault for having neglected to tell either Novis or Bellum to keep what Rachel was doing a secret from any authority figure in Mavos Academy. After all, even if they were his siblings, they weren’t quite… as intelligent as him.

Oriur felt bad for even thinking that. However, it was factually true. It would be no different of a statement of fact than if he had said they were stronger than him. Because they were.

But still, Oriur felt bad because he felt like he was calling them stupid. And they weren’t. They were incredibly intelligent. Other Wyverns their age— or even in general— would not even be capable of speech, let alone critical thinking.

So he drew back and turned away from them.

“It’s… fine. Just, next time, please don’t involve Clayton in anything unless absolutely necessary, alright?”

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Novis and Bellum both exchanged glances, before nodding. They then watched as Oriur stepped out of the room.

“Where going?”

They asked in unison. And Oriur paused right by the doorway, his eyes flickering.

“I’m going to try to fix this.”

With that, Oriur left the room. Even if he didn’t know exactly what he was going to do to resolve this issue.

—--

The first thing Oriur decided to do was to try to convince Clayton to let Rachel free. He didn’t think it would work, but he thought he still needed to try. After all, there was still a chance the Headmaster of Mavos Academy could change his mind—

“Absolutely not.”

Clayton said, before turning away. Oriur opened his mouth.

“But Rachel was actually befriending the Centinels! She’s actually helping us!”

Oriur followed after Clayton Skyshredder as he marched down the hallway of the Tower of Truth. The Headmaster of Mavos Academy slowed and glanced back at the juvenile Wyvern. While Kron wasn’t around to give Oriur an illusion for his protection, Clayton himself was using his magic to disguise Oriur.

“And how do you know what Rachel was doing was helping us?”

Clayton posed the question simply as he faced the juvenile Wyvern.

“Because the Centinels were listening to her!”

Oriur exclaimed, and Clayton shook his head.

“And how do you know that’s not a trick? How do you know they’re not planning to deceive her into letting them through the barrier?”

“But Rachel can’t even let them through the barrier! Also, there’s no way those Centinels were trying to deceive her!”

Oriur tried to argue. But the Headmaster of Mavos Academy was adamant.

“Why’s that?”

“Because they’re—”

Oriur started, before pausing. They’re not that smart, the thought finished in his mind. But he realized exactly what Clayton was going to say right after.

And the Headmaster of Mavos Academy realized it too. He took in a deep breath and straightened.

“You must understand like I do that Centinels are not intelligent creatures. Not especially at their lesser evolutions. So either these Centinels are somehow all exceptions, or… this is an orchestration by the Matriarch Centinel.”

Clayton said as he met Oriur’s gaze.

“So it matters not to me whether or not whatever these Centinels are scheming will work. All that matters is that I will not allow us to walk right into whatever trap they may be setting up.”

“That’s…”

Oriur couldn’t even argue against what Clayton said. The juvenile Wyvern understood the logic of the Headmaster of Mavos Academy. So he just trailed off as Clayton sighed.

The elderly Human man’s face softened as he looked away.

“I do not want to do this either, Oriur. But for the sake of Mavos Academy, I will do what I must.”

And Oriur said nothing as he watched Clayton stride away.

—--

“This sucks…”

Oriur whispered as he sat right before the edge of the barrier of Mavos Academy. This was the usual spot where Rachel would normally converse with the Centinels. Except, this time, she wasn’t here.

And Oriur could see the usual crowd of Centinels waiting for her to show up. They must have been waiting here for nearly ten hours now— ever since Rachel had been taken away by Clayton this morning.

The sun was already beginning to set over the horizon. And the Centinels were growing restless. Especially the smaller Centinels.

Which was honestly a good thing, since the [Ancient Centinel] was still lying patiently for Rachel to return. If it was thrashing about angrily because of Rachel’s absence, Oriur would start to get worried that it would begin attacking the barrier— maybe even rallying more Centinels to do so.

“What can I even do here?”

Oriur whispered to himself as he stared at the Centinels. Their mandibles were clicking in confusion as they began to exchange glances.

“Should I try to calm them down? But will they even understand me?”

Oriur asked the question to himself, before he took in a deep breath. He might as well try, right?

“Uh, hey—”

The juvenile Wyvern started. But immediately, a Centinel lashed out and crashed into the barrier, making Oriur recoil. He stumbled back as he caught his breath. He watched as the Centinel that lashed out slithered back and glared at him.

“Or maybe that’s not a good idea…”

Oriur didn’t know what he did to upset that Centinel. However, he didn’t want to anger them, so he sat back down.

“I just don’t know what to do— I mean, must I even do something?”

The juvenile Wyvern tilted his head back as he considered their circumstances. Maybe Clayton was right. Perhaps it was best just to sit put until Edithe, Ms Centina, and Uncle Willy returned. Or maybe the Centinels will just eventually grow bored and leave when the barrier didn’t collapse.

Oriur closed his eyes as he considered his options.

He really wished someone was here to help him figure out what to do in this predicament. But he was alone. Because Rachel was locked up, and neither Novis nor Bellum would understand the problem.

“If only…”

Oriur whispered, and a voice echoed from behind him.

“What’s wrong, Oriur?”

Blinking, Oriur’s eyes grew wide as he turned around. And he saw a glowing figure descend before him as he saw the flakes of embers flitting by him. All at once, he felt a sense of warmth wash over him as he smiled.

“Mama—”