Chapter 70: Cheers and Thanks!
As Tessa led her group toward the school gates, the fading light of the evening cast a soft glow on Riverdale Academy, a place that had seen chaos but now stood whole once more, thanks to her. The once burning walls were now solid, unmarred by the earlier devastation. It felt surreal to everyone who had witnessed the destruction just hours ago.
The students, still overwhelmed by what they had just seen, couldn't stop talking. Their voices carried through the courtyard like a tide of disbelief and excitement.
"Did you see Tessa?!" one boy exclaimed, wide-eyed and breathless. "She walked through the flames like she was part of the moon itself!"
Another student, her voice trembling with awe, added, "She didn't just fight back; she commanded the elements. She quenched the fires like they were nothing."
A group of younger students nodded eagerly, faces flushed with excitement. One of them, a girl with wide, innocent eyes, whispered, "And those soldiers—they weren't even human! They moved like machines. But they fell… all of them, like they were nothing."
"Yeah, but did you see Adrian?" another voice chimed in, this one filled with admiration. "That guy is insane! He barely broke a sweat, and his eyes—did you see them? When he unleashed that fire, it was like the sun itself had bowed to him."
A chorus of agreement echoed, but one girl couldn't help but add with a sigh, "He's so cool. I've never seen anyone fight like that. He looked so handsome, like a hero from a legend. I wish he stayed longer."
Laughter mingled with cheers as they spoke, their hearts still racing with adrenaline from the battle. They hadn't just witnessed a fight—they had witnessed the supernatural. And in that moment, everything they thought they knew about their school, about the world, had changed.
As they walked, Mr. Hammond, the proprietor of the school, stayed close to Tessa, his usually composed face marked with a mix of guilt and gratitude. He glanced at her, his voice thick with emotion. "Tessa... what you did today—there are no words. You saved the school, the students... me. I don't even know how to begin thanking you."
Tessa gave him a small, humble smile, her face still carrying the weight of the battle but softened by compassion. "Mr. Hammond, you don't owe me anything. This school—Riverdale—means everything to me. I couldn't stand by and let the SSG destroy it. I promised I'd always protect the people I care about. I'm just keeping that promise."
As she spoke, the moonlight bathed her in a silver glow, making her appear almost otherworldly. Her blue eyes glimmered, and for a moment, even Mr. Hammond was speechless, captivated by the raw power and grace she exuded. But there was something gentle in her tone, a warmth that made it clear she wasn't just a force of destruction—she was a protector, a guardian.
Behind them, the school guards, who had previously stood powerless in the face of the Deadly 30, now cheered. Their eyes shone with newfound respect. They were not just clapping out of duty—they were clapping because they had seen a miracle.
"Long live Tessa!" one of the guards shouted, his voice cracking with emotion.
The matrons and teachers, who had once eyed Tessa with suspicion, now followed suit, joining the applause with tears in their eyes. They knew now, beyond doubt, that the girl who had once seemed like a mystery was, in truth, their greatest ally.
The entire scene was surreal. The world still feared Tessa—feared what she could do, what she represented. But here, in this small part of the world, the people of Riverdale Academy had seen the truth: Tessa wasn't just a powerful force; she was compassionate, she was protective, and she would fight for them.
As the group left the school grounds, stepping into the night, the cheers faded, replaced by a quiet sense of peace. But Tessa knew this calm was fleeting. The battles ahead would be even fiercer, and the SSG wouldn't let this defeat go unanswered.
Adrian walked alongside her, his usual smirk replaced by a serious, thoughtful expression. He glanced at her, his eyes reflecting the silver light of the moon. "That was impressive, Tessa," he said, his voice low but filled with admiration. "But you know this is just the beginning, right? The SSG isn't going to back down after this."
Tessa nodded in agreement.
Adrian dragged General Rwald Dune behind them like a sack of grain. The once-proud military commander, who had led a terrifying force, was now disheveled, his uniform in tatters, and his face flushed with humiliation.
Every step he took was a reminder of his defeat, and his furious eyes glared daggers at the group, though he lacked the strength to act.
Adrian, with his usual air of indifference, barely noticed the general's seething anger. "Come on, Rwald," he said with a sly smirk, glancing over his shoulder, "Don't lag behind. It's not often you get a guided tour after a crushing defeat."
Nymff couldn't help but chuckle. She fell in beside Adrian, her sharp eyes glinting with mischief as she glanced at the stumbling general. "You know, for a guy who talks so big, you crumble pretty fast, General," she quipped. "What's next? Gonna hide behind a child? Oh, wait… you tried that already."
The general's face burned redder with each word, his teeth grinding together in fury, but his lips stayed shut.
Ecdy was quick to join in the banter, snickering as he strutted forward to walk beside Nymff. "I guess we could give him a medal for 'fastest surrender,'" Ecdy joked, earning a few chuckles from the group. He bent down, mock whispering to the general, "You know, we'll get one engraved just for you—'Most Cowardly General of the Year.' Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Rwald's fists clenched, his jaw visibly tightening, but still, he said nothing. His silence only spurred on Ecdy further, who threw his head back, laughing. "Look at him, trying so hard to stay serious! You can't scare us anymore, General! All your toys are broken, and your soldiers? Well... they're just piles of scrap now."
Nymff nudged Ecdy with her elbow, grinning. "Don't be too hard on him. After all, he's probably going to spend the rest of his life hiding in a bunker somewhere, trying to explain to his bosses how a bunch of kids wiped out his entire force."
Adrian, shaking his head at their antics, added his own light jab. "Maybe he'll get demoted. Or, who knows, they might make him clean the cafeteria next time. He did make a mess of things, after all."
The general was trembling now, barely able to hold back his frustration. His once commanding presence was reduced to a man who had lost everything, dragging behind his captors. The Deadly 30, his unstoppable machines, were now nothing more than mangled heaps of metal, and his soldiers had been turned to ash.
Tessa, who had been silently listening to the banter, finally spoke up, her tone calm but firm. "Enough, guys," she said, her voice cutting through the air. "We have bigger things to worry about than mocking a defeated man."
Adrian, still dragging the general with one hand, gave her a raised eyebrow. "So, what exactly do you plan to do with him then, Moonlight?"
Tessa's blue eyes shimmered as she looked ahead, the weight of the decisions she had to make heavy on her shoulders. She knew General Rwald Dune held important information, and despite his cowardice, he was still valuable.
"Firstly, don't call me that!" Tessa had a fierce glare that was masking a smile, then she continued, "He comes with us," she then said, her voice resolute. "I have too many questions for him. The SSG's plans, their resources… he knows things we don't. We need him alive—for now."
Rwald's eyes flickered with a sliver of hope as he heard Tessa's words. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way out of this mess. But that hope quickly dimmed when he caught Adrian's cold smile.
"Alive, huh?" Adrian muttered, his grip tightening ever so slightly on Rwald's collar. "Well, don't get too comfortable, General. That just means you get to live with the embarrassment of today for a little longer, and it doesn't mean you get to have all your limbs intact."
Nymff and Ecdy snickered as the group moved forward, the once-mighty general dragged along like a prisoner, his shoulders sagging in defeat. The banter might have lightened the mood, but underneath, everyone knew the fight was far from over. The SSG would strike back—harder, fiercer, and deadlier.
As they reached the school gates, some more guards and members of staff were waiting, their eyes lighting up at the sight of Tessa and her team. Cheers erupted again, but this time, they were accompanied by grateful smiles and nods of respect.
Matron Hilda stepped forward, wiping a tear from her eye. "Thank you, Tessa. You've given us more than we could have ever hoped for."
Tessa nodded, her heart warm but still heavy with the weight of the battles to come. She glanced back at the general, who now stood quietly, head lowered, defeated but not broken.
"Let's go," she said softly. The group moved onward, heading toward the Rhemon hiding grounds, readying themselves for whatever comes next.
But as they left the gates of Riverdale, the students' cheers still echoed in the air—a reminder that even in the darkest moments, heroes could rise. And Tessa was not just their hero—she was their protector, their moon goddess.