Misfit At Magic Academy: They Wanted a Godly Summon, Got Me Instead
Chapter 39: The World’s End for Riven

Chapter 39: The World’s End for Riven

Black, abyss-like eyeballs. A white spiral lined within. This man was no human.

"No one invited you here. Judging by your faces, you have no idea what you’ve stumbled into. Earthborns... Did you come here through a portal?"

I put a hand in front of Riven.

"And what if we did?"

The fierce stranger smiled even wider.

"Then you’ve broken multiple laws of your world, and a few of ours as well. Intruders must be punished. Severely."

He drew a massive sword from his back, wrapped tightly in cloth, resembling the fang of a whale.

I knew right then — we were in deep trouble.

"Welcome to the realm of higher beings, you pathetic rats!"

"Riven, portal!"

"O-on it!"

Just as Riven raised his palms, the man snapped his fingers.

ZAP!

Runes swirled around Riven. The flow of magic inside him stopped. He couldn’t feel a thing.

"W-what?.." his eyes widened.

"Riven! What’s happening?!"

The stranger smirked.

"Isn’t it obvious from his eyes? He can no longer sense the current of his magic. Soul Silence — that’s what this technique is called. No need to rush. I’ll give you a chance to play with me before your deaths."

Couldn’t get worse than this.

"Hey, big guy," I said, "if we destroy everything in here, there’s no way we’re becoming friends, right?"

"Hmm? That’s the last thing I expected to hear. This Citadel is a pasture for the military forces of this realm. Break a wall here and you’ll immediately mark yourselves as enemies. Not that it matters. You won’t leave alive."

By now, I was somewhat used to the tension of his presence. My knees listened again.

But Riven was drowning in fear.

I scoffed.

"You called us Earthborns. That means you’re from another dimension. I assume you know enough about us to realize who we are."

"Smart little mouse. Enough talk!"

He slashed his sword. The blade was so long it tore through the room with one sweep.

We ducked. I grabbed Riven and we bolted down the staircase.

BOOM!

The enemy crushed the entranceway with another swing, but by then we were gone.

"Damn. They say fear makes people do the impossible. But escaping won’t be that easy for you. The whole Citadel’s on alert."

We rushed down the spiral stairs.

"Didn’t think you’d dodge, Riven!"

"W-what’s so weird about that?! If I die, y-you’ll be stuck here too!.. What’s the plan?!"

"How would I know?! We survive until the Silence fades! Just tell me when you feel your magic again."

"A-and you know when the Silence wears off?!"

"Huh? You think I know how their techniques work?!"

Riven looked at me, terrified.

"We’re doomed..."

Suddenly, we heard the shouts of guards. They were coming.

Red plating all over their bodies, strange samurai-like helmets... Eastern-style armor?!

"There they are! Don’t let them escape!"

I grabbed Riven by the collar and leapt over them.

"He’s above!"

I ran along the wall. Their spears lit up blue and extended to double length.

They swung upward, but I jumped sideways. We landed on a stairway and kept running.

"Damn!" One of them threw a spear, but we vanished behind a wall.

"After them!"

We ran. Guards poured out from every door, chasing us. Spears flew from below, but we dodged them.

"T-they have spears! We’re dead meat!!" Riven shouted.

"Shut up! You losing your mind?!"

"Where do we go, Atheron?.. I don’t want to die here!"

"As if I do! Be strong — stop giving up so easily!"

I didn’t know what was below us, but it sure wouldn’t be welcoming. This whole Citadel was swarming with soldiers.

"Close the first floor gates! Alert all Onmyōji! The intruders must not escape again!"

Onmyōji? Like that Sir Oldrich guy?

"Atheron... I can’t sense any familiar energy from these guards! They’re not human — not even real beings! Something else runs through them."

I used Perception to hear through walls — but nothing. It only worked on humans.

"I-it worked!" Riven yelled. "I can feel the magic again! Atheron, stop!"

We halted. Riven slammed his palm against the wall, and—

WHOOSH!

Our beloved portal appeared.

"Hurry! The guards are closing in!"

We leapt through the portal and vanished from that world. It closed behind us, sucking us in like spaghetti.

The knights stormed downstairs, searching.

Moments later, we crashed into Riven’s room.

THUD.

Riven gasped from stress, sprawling on the floor. Sweat dripped onto his hair.

I wasn’t any better. Could barely stand.

"We made it..."

"Hey, Riven. That was terrifying and amazing! I bet that world has even more powerful beings. If we make allies there, we’ll be stronger than ever! Let’s dive in again tomorrow—"

"Are you insane?! That place is dangerous! There won’t be a next time!"

"What? Don’t be ridiculous, we survived!"

"So what?!" Riven snapped. "That was pure luck! I’m never going back. They were ready to impale us!"

"Hey, idiot! Weren’t you the one who dragged me into this? Now we need to figure out how that world works."

"No, and no again!.. Atheron, listen... I pulled you in, and I won’t open that portal again. Not for you. Not for either of us."

"Why not?!"

"Are you dense?! We were inches from death. I don’t want to lose my only friend!"

"Only friend?" I flared. "What the hell are you saying? Coward! Quitting halfway like a child!"

Riven looked wounded. My words cut deep.

"Coward, huh... Maybe. But at least I value my life. You reckless fool don’t care about anything. I won’t go there again... No portals from now!"

Huh?

This Riven... Then why the hell did he drag me into all this? He made me raise my voice. Damn idiot. What a clown...

With that thought, I left his palace and walked away. Summoning Kagerou, I flew straight to Ataraxia’s palace.

From that day, we didn’t speak.

He sat in class, more focused than usual. During breaks, bullies mocked him.

"Hey, snot-nose!"

"Loser."

"Midget!"

He stayed silent. Spoke to no one. Ashmourne gave him a thoughtful glance when he found a dead rat in his bag.

"Ew!" laughed the girls.

"Gonna eat it? My gift! Saves lunch money."

One guy always bullied Riven after I repeated my year. Riven never told me about him.

He reached out a hand.

"So, hand over your lunch money. A gift deserves a return gift, right?"

Riven’s eyes were usually black. But now, they were hollow. The rejected nerd who never fights back. That’s what they called him. Even Ash knew saving him was pointless.

A few hours later—

SLAM!

The bully grabbed Riven’s collar and slammed him into the wall.

"Freak! What did you just say?"

Riven’s face was pale.

"I can’t give you money anymore. Doctors said I have hypoglycemia. If I keep skipping meals, then—"

"Who cares if you eat or not? You think I give a damn? Tell your mommy that, baby boy."

"But Roy, I really can’t..."

"Pathetic. Whiny little punk. I’ll drain every coin outta you while we’re in this academy."

Roy gave a shark-like smirk.

"What’re you staring at? I’m not hitting you whatsoever. But I’d love to. Hm, you know? I’ve got a plan. After classes. I’m challenging you to a duel. Declining’s social suicide. Don’t show, and you’re a corpse."

Roy walked off, leaving a choking atmosphere behind.

Riven stood frozen, his head low. His face was pale at the thought of fighting him.

Why not refuse? He wanted to. But students who reject the duel end up as punching bags.

"I’ll take a few hits, lose fast. Whatever. Just don’t let these days get worse."

He remembered thinking the bullying would end after school. When he entered the academy, he even tried to make friends and be active.

But people rejected him for being weird.

Good grades helped at first. Then Roy appeared. Open mockery spread, influencing the whole group.

Dark school days continued in the academy like an unshakable curse.

"Hey, Riven."

On the first year, I spoke to him. We were groupmates. Because of my bad reputation, he thought I’d extort him.

He shook, expecting the worst.

"Let me copy your homework, or professor Sunder will kill me."

"...W-what?"

That was the first time someone called him by name in ages.

...

"And on the ring: second-years Roy Kirkman and Riven il Riverfall! Two unremarkable students battling for you in tonight’s Mugen Wars! It’s the second fighter’s debut match. What will they show us?!"

This would be a massacre. The crowd already knew.

"Go, Roy! Show that nerd his place! Turn his face into a punching bag!"

While Riven stood awkwardly with fragile arms, Roy was already fired up.

"THREE!!! TWO!!! ONE!!!"