The Glitched Mage-Chapter 84: Challenged

The air inside Vera's Tavern was thick with warmth, laughter, and the scent of well-cooked food. The once-abandoned shell of a building had transformed into the heart of the Shadow Kingdom's growing community, a place where warriors, builders, merchants, and travelers alike could gather.

Long wooden tables were packed with workers fresh from the construction sites, their faces alight with the satisfaction of a day's hard labor. Soldiers from the Shadow Knights drank alongside farmers, and traders exchanged stories of the outside world over plates of steaming venison and freshly baked bread.

For the first time in a long time, the people of the Shadow Kingdom had more than just a temporary shelter—they had home.

At a private table near the back, Riven sat with his generals—Nyx, Krux, Aria, Damon, and Mal. Their usual tension had loosened, replaced by a rare moment of camaraderie. Even Aria, who rarely indulged in social settings, leaned back in her chair, sipping from a glass of dark wine.

Krux exhaled heavily, slamming down an empty mug. "I'll say this—walls or not, this is what makes a kingdom." He gestured toward the room with a lopsided grin. "A warm fire, strong drink, and good people."

Damon smirked. "Are you drunk already?"

Krux scoffed, reaching for another drink. "Oh, hell no! I've barely started drinking!"

Riven rolled his eyes and listened in silence, taking in the relaxed atmosphere. The walls were nearly complete, and with them came security. The Shadow Fangs had begun their first missions, and intelligence was flowing in steadily. Trade was stable, and the city was no longer just an encampment, but a functioning society.

For the first time since his return, everything was going right.

Vera, the tavern's owner, approached their table, setting down a fresh plate of roasted meat. She wiped her hands on her apron, her sharp eyes landing on Riven.

"You look less like a shadow and more like a man tonight, Your Majesty," she mused, arms crossed.

Riven raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize I was so ghostly before."

Vera chuckled. "You were. But now?" She gestured toward the tavern. "This place. These people. They see you—not just as a king, but as one of them."

Riven said nothing, but something in his chest tightened at her words.

Before he could respond, the warmth of the tavern was abruptly cut through by a chill—a ripple of magic that only he could feel.

A voice, distant yet unmistakably familiar, echoed in his mind.

'Master. You are being summoned.'

His eyes narrowed, and he gripped the edge of the table as a pulse of abyssal energy flickered through his veins.

Sana.

The undead acolyte he had stationed within The Academy to make sure no one noticed his disappearance.

His mind opened the connection fully, allowing Sana's voice to sharpen. 'I have intercepted a message from the ranking board. You have been issued a challenge.'

Riven's fingers tapped against the wooden surface, his mind calculating.

A challenge?

When he left the academy, people had been terrified of him — actively moving out of his way whenever he made his way through the academy halls.

So who the hell was stupid enough to challenge him?

And why now?

A sharp pulse of dark mana rippled through his veins as the connection to Sana remained active.

'What are your orders, Master?'

Riven exhaled slowly and pinched the bridge of his nose, blocking out the tavern's warmth for a moment. His focus honed in on the unseen battlefield ahead.

"I need to return."

The words hit like a thunderclap, silencing the table in an instant.

Krux's chair scraped against the wooden floor as he sat up, golden eyes narrowing. "What?! Why now?!"

Mal leaned forward, his usual nonchalance fading into a rare moment of concern. "We've barely reached a stage of stability—we can't afford to lose our king right now."

"I know," Riven admitted. His jaw tensed. "But, in all honesty, I was already planning to return after raising those twenty warriors."

A sigh left him as he tilted his head back, eyes briefly closing. The strain was building. The longer he delayed, the worse it would get.

"I need to reach the Fourth Circle as fast as possible. Maintaining the undead warriors, the tether to Sana, and my shadow clone at the Academy—it's all draining my mana at an unsustainable rate."

The revelation was met with more silence. Even Nyx, who had already suspected something was off, frowned slightly.

"Even though the Academy is under Solis's jurisdiction, their training grounds, mana-dense islands, and high-tier battle arenas are invaluable to my growth. If I want to keep pushing forward, I need to keep exploiting their resources for as long as I can." His abyssal eyes burned as he leaned forward. "Or until my identity as the Shadow King is revealed."

The weight of his words settled over the table like a storm cloud.

They all knew what it meant.

If Riven's cover was blown, there would be no more slow expansion. No more time to quietly fortify the Shadow Kingdom. The Solis Empire would move against them the moment they confirmed the Shadow King had risen once more.

Krux let out a slow sigh, running a hand through his wild golden hair. Guilt flickered in his eyes. "Then… we'll go back with you." His voice was gruff. "You can focus on training while we protect you from the shadows, same as before."

"No."

Riven's answer was immediate, firm.

His gaze swept across his most trusted generals, his foundations of power. "I'm only taking Nyx this time."

Nyx's lips curled into a knowing smirk, while Krux immediately gaped in betrayal.

"Why?!" Krux blurted. "You can't leave me!"

Riven sighed. "I need all of you here. The kingdom must remain stable while I'm gone. The walls aren't finished, the Shadow Fangs are still forming, and the merchant negotiations with Deveroux aren't done yet. You all have your own tasks."

Krux pouted, his large frame deflating slightly. "But, my liege…" His eyes practically shimmered with unshed tears.

"There, there," Nyx teased, twirling a strand of his golden hair around her finger as she leaned toward him. "It's only fair that our King takes his favorite general with him."

Krux slammed his tankard down onto the table with a thunderous crash. "NYX!"

Mal sighed dramatically. "Here we go."

Damon rolled his eyes. "You two bicker like an old married couple."

Aria, who had been enjoying the drama with a barely concealed smirk, took a slow sip of her drink. "This is the most entertaining part of our night."

Krux huffed, crossing his arms. "Fine. Go. But don't come crying to me when you realize you need actual muscle out there."

Nyx mocked a thoughtful look. "Hmm. Who needs brute force when you have strategy?"

Krux opened his mouth to argue—only to pause. "Wait. Was that an insult?"

Nyx smirked. "If you have to ask, then yes."

Damon snorted into his drink.

Riven exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple as he processed the situation.

This wasn't just a challenge—it was a problem.

Back when he was still at the Academy, he had cultivated a certain reputation. Ruthless. Calculating. Unstoppable. He had worked his way up the ranks by methodically dismantling his opponents, pushing himself to the limits to refine his combat abilities.

And he had never once backed down from a challenge.

If he suddenly ignored this one, it would raise too many questions. The Academy would wonder why the once-relentless Riven had gone silent. Rumors would start. People would dig.

And the last thing he needed was anyone looking too closely at why he had been so quiet lately.

"We have to leave tonight." Riven said and the table was quiet once more.

Mal sighed, rubbing his temples. "You don't waste time, do you?"

"I can't afford to," Riven replied. His voice was steady, but the weight behind it was undeniable. "If we delay, the Academy will start asking questions. And if they start looking for answers…" His eyes darkened. "It won't end well."

The table was silent. Even Krux, who had been pouting moments ago, straightened, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"I'll need two teleportation scrolls," Riven continued. "One to get Nyx and me near the Solis Kingdom's borders. And another to bring us back when the time is right."

Mal exhaled. "That'll take some work, but I can do it." He stood, already rolling his sleeves up. "Give me an hour."

Riven turned to Nyx, his gaze sharp. "This time, you won't just be watching from the shadows. You'll be undercover as a student—right beside me."

Nyx's smirk widened. "Finally, my time to shine."

Riven reached out through his bond with Sana.

'I need new identity documents for Nyx. She's to be registered as a second-year student. She will need a uniform and a talisman.'

Sana's response was immediate. 'Understood, Master. It will be done.'

"Good." Riven leaned back, closing his eyes for a brief moment. The weight of everything settled onto his shoulders.

Tonight, he would leave behind everything he had built.

Even if only for a time.

—x—

By the time the teleportation scrolls were prepared and their supplies packed, the entire city was awake. Word had spread quickly, and now the people of the Shadow Kingdom stood gathered at the city's gates, torches flickering against the nearly completed walls.

They had come to see their king off.

Riven stood before them, flanked by his generals. Krux, Damon, Aria, and Mal—each one of them carried the same unspoken worry in their eyes. But none of them argued anymore.

The kingdom was in their hands now.

Vera stepped forward from the crowd, arms crossed. "You better come back in one piece, Your Majesty," she said, her voice gruff but warm. "This place wouldn't be the same without you."

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Riven smirked slightly. "I'll be back before you know it."

Mal handed him the teleportation scrolls, his usual smirk absent. "The first will drop you near Solis territory, but not inside. You'll need to cross the city gates yourselves."

Riven took the scrolls and slipped them into his cloak. "That won't be a problem."

Krux let out a dramatic sigh. "Fine, go off and have your secret academy adventures while we're stuck here doing all the work."

Nyx rolled her eyes. "Don't get soft on me, Krux."

Krux grumbled but still stepped forward. "Be careful, alright?" He hesitated for just a second before clapping Riven on the back. "We'll be waiting."

Riven inclined his head. "I know."

He turned to face his people. Thousands of them. Warriors. Workers. Merchants. Survivors. Families. The foundation of his kingdom.

He had built all of this in mere months.

And when he returned, it would be even stronger.

"I leave the Shadow Kingdom in your hands," he said, voice carrying through the cold night air. "Protect it. Build it. Strengthen it."

A chorus of murmured affirmations swept through the crowd.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he activated the teleportation scroll.

Dark energy coiled around him and Nyx, swallowing them whole.

And in the next breath, they were gone.