Supreme Magus novel Chapter 2371

"Before starting the regular lessons, I'd like for the parents to introduce themselves to the rest of the class just like your children did on their first day in our school. Who wants to go first?" Nanth asked.

Vastor stood up before the Headmaster was done talking. The event was his idea and so was the speech.

He had Filia's and Frey's classes "conveniently" merge for the day so that he didn't have to repeat himself.

"Hi, everyone. I'm Archmage Zogar Vastor, vice-Headmaster of the White Griffon and Head of its light department. These are my children, Filia and Frey. I hope we'll get along well." He wore a warm smile and his tone was that of the average man.

Yet from that day onward, those who still dared badmouth Zinya did it in the secret of their chambers, whispering like conspirators afraid of being charged with treason. Their children were instructed to behave and those slow on the uptake learned the hard way that disrespect would be no longer tolerated.

Vastor would hit the parents of the bullies where it hurt the most. Their reputation, their business, and any chance they had to even get an audience from one of the six great academies crumbled like sandcastles facing high tide.

The parents, in turn, spared no effort in disciplining their unruly heirs and showing the lord of the land how sorry they were.

Life became quite boring for Tezka, but the many smiles and friends that Frey and Filia made in the following days were the best reward the ancient monster could ask for.

***

Griffon Kingdom, City of Valeron, Royal Palace.

The destruction of the Golden Griffon had done more than keep Thrud's army from resurrecting. With the lost academy gone, the Unwavering Loyalty array had disappeared and its effects had quickly faded.

In order to gain the trust of the citizens of the regions she had occupied, Thrud had used Skinwalkers to replace the most respected and influential nobles of each district. The members of that particular Fallen Race could copy everything about their latest victim.

From their physical appearance to their gait, their manner of speaking, and even their memories. A Skinwalker could play his part to perfection, recollecting distant events down to the most insignificant detail as if he had actually taken part in them.

That was until a Skinwalker got peckish.

Then he would fall prey to his own hunger and devour someone else, no matter the who or where. The Unwavering Loyalty array was the only reason Thrud's Skinwalkers could keep their base urges in check during the war.

Once the slave spell was gone, it took the monsters less than one day to reveal their true nature to their loyal subjects.

On top of that, before bringing the Doppelgangers to his lair, Leegaain made sure that each one of them would "betray" its nature and run away in front of plenty of witnesses.

The Father of All Dragons had granted Protheus' children safe haven, but demanded for them to take full responsibility for their actions and make up for them to the best of their ability.

The Skinwalkers, the Doppelgangers, and Thrud's final video revealing that Orpal had been alive all along made the united front of the traitorous regions fall apart in the span of hours.

They all promised each other to fight until the last breath like brothers, swearing oaths of undying loyalty.