Fourth week of March, history class taught by teacher Anitta Specter, she was teaching about Vernita Louch, the 19th century Grand Mistress who ratified the law that allowed immigrants to enter the Royal Guard, a milestone for Celestia, but even though they had very well-founded and explanatory history lessons, the students were definitely with their heads elsewhere, or at least on other content.
– Ms. Anitta, this Vernita is very interesting, but could you talk about "them"? – Artemisia said anxiously.
– TSC! I understand, for years in this subject, first-year students have been agonized by this content. – Anitta said laughing, she knew that the students must have been in agony for more than a month.
– It's Mrs. Anitta… You must know everything about them, tell them everything! – Erik said excitedly.
– Everyone wants to know more details, after all, they are the great heroes of the nation. – Megara said.
– The twins may know a lot, but we want to know more. – Alana said excitedly.
– Be my guest, our aunt never told as much as you think. – Apollodro said, he didn't know about Artemisia and Edward's chat; Otrera was always vague and cautious about the past.
– If you want to, I'll tell you then, but first I want you to keep one thing in mind… 1999, this is the year the three legendary mages entered the Academy, young hopeful like you, remember you're in the same place they were once, may it serve as an incentive. – Anitta said as if she could remember the three and their other classmates sitting in the room.
– I don't know if that's encouragement or another two tons of pressure. – Vetrix laughed nervously.
– I hope that is an incentive… I know that's what many want to know, well, I can speak with propriety of cause, I was there… Imagine the chaos and fear that must be a field of war, this fear and chaos seemed to turn to a glimmer of hope when these three arrived, imagine a storm of flames, snakes of darkness and an unstoppable warrior decimating the enemy army and healing their allies without fatigue, these were the three legendary mages of Celestia... They made theirs fame in that war, proved more powerful than anyone else. They gave us vital victories and were responsible with Astaroth to end this war, even when they went alone, separated in different battlefields, they showed themselves superior, nothing scared them and each one had a personality and abilities, but something funny and that they shared with their master, is that all three legendary mages have a high level of sealing ability, being said to be the best at it too, and the fact that all three have mystical beast summons, many beast summoners spend years trying to summon a mystical beast, they have partnership contracts with three first-rate mystical beasts since the age of 23, no wonder they are legendary... Edward is the only man among the three, powerful and vigorous, he is the elemental specialist of fire and wind, produces storms of flame that slashes everything, hits head-on and gives cover, he is known as the Glory of Astaroth precisely because his master was regarded as the most powerful man in the world, but this title was inherited by Edward who surpassed him before his death, he may seem silly and distracted, but his power level scares anyone... Morrigan is sneaky and lethal, if you're not careful, fall into its traps and its snakes of darkness destroy you, no wonder it was responsible for so many decimations of enemy armies alone with its plans, that's why it's also called the Wrath of Astaroth, it's not someone you want disturb and she came from the people, she is not from a noble family and managed to reach the highest level of glory in the nation, I hope this serves as an incentive for those who do not descend from noble houses... And of course the one that is had like the greatest mage of Celestia and the best medical mage in history, Otrera, she has always been the warrior of the group, direct combat is where she shines, she naturally possesses super strength, super agility, super toughness, super agility, and super stamina and she reinforces all of this with her supporting magic, in addition to having reached a unique pinnacle, she has developed a medical technique that heals her instantly and constantly while still having magical energy available, a frighteningly powerful ability, that makes her virtually immortal during battle. Her skills are unique and enviable, she has raised the medical mages to glory and shown that they are not just the tactical reinforcement of the team, that they can be on the front lines, she is known as the Pride of Astaroth, no wonder she is the most brilliant genius the nation has produced, skills at a legendary level that makes her undefeated, skills that can save and take lives, she's almost a goddess on earth, and yes, she's been called that in battle "Mage's Goddess", all skills developed to a very high level, physical, mental and spiritual, she is still able to use cosmic, chaos and order magic, even if they are secondary, her being the current Grand Mistress is no coincidence, but recognition for her abilities... The three are also a reminder that no matter how powerful we are, pain can still overwhelm and frighten us, all three left Celestia sometime after the war of pain, suffering and loss, spent a decade lost in the world, and came back... Drawing a general line, they entered the academy in 1999, in 2001 they graduated and involved themselves in dangerous war missions under the tutelage of their master Astaroth, in 2003 they were already Paladins, in 2006 they had already done memorable things and were elevated to master mages, the youngest in history, in 2010 they together with Astaroth ended the war, sometime later in 2011 they disappeared around the world and now in 2021 they returned to the nation occupying their rightful positions, of course history is much more long, but those would be the main points, I promise that in a next class I'll explain it better... Class dismissed. – Anitta said she was excited to tell the story, but the break signal rang, she would continue in the next class, but she saw that the students had paid a lot of attention, it was really a sensational story.
– Do you know who could talk more about their blank time? – Artemisia said with a mischievous face.
– Astarte! – Apollodro said.
– Bingo! Are we going after her? – Artemisia said.
– Me, Sandy and Adam have to go see something at the library. – Said Gale.
– Me and the girls are going to go to the cafeteria to get some juice before the next class. – Keith said.
– Okay, I'm free, let's go! – Nathan said excited for spending some time with Apollodro without so many people around.
– So, silly, we only have about twenty minutes. – Said Apollodro cute as always.
***
The trio of friends went after Astarte, they didn't really know where to look so they went to the teachers' lounge on the penultimate floor, it was large, classically decorated, cozy, warm and made of wood, it had its glasswork, but it was something more classic, carpet that mixed red, green and brown, bookshelves with books, tables and social areas, that teachers' room seemed to have at least 100m2, and there they found Astarte that was about to leave.
– Boys, I was going to your room now, I was just finishing seeing this Edward's mission, it ended up in the newspaper. – Said Astarte pointing to one of the floating televisions.
It was a newspaper from 8 CelestiaTV, the headline was saying "Mission of the Royal Guard Gets Lively, Extra Dimensional Beast Unleashed on Forthquill", showed Edward and a few other mages fighting a stout gigantic beast with a four-legged base. It was a live stream.
– What you want? – Asked Astarte with an inviting face.
– We wanted to know more about the history of the legendary mages, the time in blank of the lady Otrera. – Nathan said.
– Ah yes! Can we do this by walking to the living room? – Astarte said a little surprised.
– Of course, and seriously we want to know more things, teacher Anitta said some things, but you were the one who spent the last 10 years with our aunt. – Apollodro said.
– Of course… Well, after the war they stayed here, they tried to live a normal life, but about seven months after the war the situation was untenable, the three of them seemed to be involved in something, but the master never told me... I was in a very depressive phase, after all I had lost my brother... I disappeared from the country along with her in my last year, technically I didn't graduate, but she spent these years training me, I became an elite medical mage , and also the most powerful among the guard captains, but it wasn't easy for Otrera, in front of me she always tried to look happy, but she was always drinking, almost always gin and smoking a lot, that's because smoking was my addiction brother. – Astarte said that she was walking along with her students, she had managed the pain very well and spoke naturally, not to mention that she spoke to special people, the master's nephews and the second in line to the crown.
– It must have been very hard! – Imagined Artemisia.
– Emotionally yes, physiologically, master has the health of a 20-year-old girl, it's ironic, not to say unfair with how much she smokes, she stopped drinking a lot, even so her liver is better than our four together, she wanted to forget everything that happened, so many deaths... Did you know that 60% of her class that graduated from the Academy died in the war? Of the 40%, many are captains, others retired by compulsory disability after the war, it was not easy for anyone... The life of a Royal Guard mage is sacrifice, abnegation, do not expect ease or calm even in times of peace. – Astarte said, remembering how it was at that time.
– I can't even imagine it, honestly. – Nathan said, reflecting.
– And as for you, I cannot imagine that Queen Aria allowed a direct heir to the throne to become a member of the Royal Guard. – Said Astarte reflectively.
– Me and my grandmother have our agreements. – Nathan said with a mischievous and affectionate smile thinking about his grandmother.
– Queen Aria really was always given to modernity and breaking protocol... On second thought, you three are very interesting together, reminds me of the three legendary when they were younger... Artemisia is all reckless and energetic as not Eddy; Polo has this calmer personality, but it can explode if he's under pressure like his aunt... And believe it or not Nathan you remember Morrigan, quiet, thoughtful and always planning something, she was the type to plan attacks of mass destruction, you don't know, but there's a way of someone who is always thinking of something to accomplish a goal, no matter the cost, I just don't know what that goal is. – Astarte laughed, who had some idea, Otrera had commented to her that the prince wanted to reconquer young Hecatrix.
– It is an honor to receive such a comparison, and indeed Mrs. Morrigan is an inspiration... I never liked to be seen as someone with a guaranteed future just because I was born in the crown and in the direct line of the throne, I want to earn my place on my own merit. – Nathan said, and Apollodro had thought that speech was very beautiful.
– Don't let it get to your heads too much, it's also good to go your own way... I, for example, am a student of Ms. Otrera, but my fighting style is not identical to hers, and I don't even try. I have another approach. – Astarte smiled.
So they were talking and going to class, Artemisia had not put her conversation with Edward out of her mind, Apollodro was giving his all and Nathan, the prince was trying to find a way, was in love and at the same time wanting to show his worth.