I thought our awkward exchange of half-assed hand gestures had come to an end, but it seems not. Halfway through bringing back my hand, I was literally pulled back in. That’s right, our ‘Walking Nuke’ here chose to grab onto it at the last second, now leaving him looking like he’s going to drag me off somewhere by my hand.
“Ahem.”
I make my best attempt to hide my discomfort. Try as I might, though, a fraction of a shiver courses through my body, making my right toe wiggle.
Truth be told, I’m starting to feel a bit uneasy. All of this makes little sense. Why would Rainee refuse my handshake only to take it just when I withdrew? There’s no way a man this powerful happens to have the social skill of a rotten hazelnut. So what is it? Is this a declaration of some sort? Does there exist a subliminal message I’ve yet to understand?
I run my eyes along his body in some vague attempt at discerning information. No use. I’m left dangling like a fish on a hook.
When I walked in here, I knew I was dealing with the strongest mage on the continent, but this, this is on another level. There’s no way he isn’t trying to tell me something. The man didn’t reach his power and status through ineptitude, so there must be some kind of meaning guiding his motive.
“Uh!”
He haphazardly returns my gaze and coughs. Then, without warning, he pulls my hand back to him and shakes it.
“Sorry, I hope you aren’t angry or anything.”
Though I begin to grow increasingly suspicious that Rainee might actually be socially inept, I also remind myself that patience is a virtue and that angering him would bring me next to nothing.
“It’s all good,” I reassure.
Out of the corner of my eye, I drift my attention to Morgana and Guillaume. From a cursory glance, I can tell that they’re savouring the situation quite a bit. The latter doubly so. Maybe more than that, given that he has his arms crossed and a broad grin on his face. Knowing him, he probably finds this whole situation more than amusing. Call it old-school humour.
“So, do the rest of us get dead fish for handshakes?” Guillaume interjects, laughing, “Can’t believe it.” He shakes his head twice. “So, this is the Althaiez heir of our time, eh?”
“Yes”. Rainee sighs, “Though rest assured, social uh skills aside, my proficiency in magic and schooling more than compensates.”
“Compensates?” Guillaume laughs again, though noticeably louder and heavier. “Perhaps the next time you seek to impress a lass, you’ll pull out a schooling and magic certificate to compensate for your lack of charisma.”
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Damn. I’d say I’m scared of the consequences of Guillaume’s words, but I’m beginning to find amusement in it too.
“Anyways, let’s proceed onward. I want to get a good look at this school for myself!”
Guillaume casually struts forward, having taken the lead at a moment’s notice. Without retaliation, the rest of us follow, stepping up the marble stairs into the main building. Somehow, despite being the headmaster, Rainee resigns to being a mere chaperone, soon guiding us through the halls.
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Over the course of the last fifty minutes, Rainee gave us a tour of the main school building. During our tour, he also made an effort to explain aspects of the school, wherein I understood a few key details. Of particular notice was the attention to the size and facilities of the academy. Which, from his description, I understood to amount to around 30,000 square metres. In addition, the ‘expected facilities’ as he described were about the same, or superior to other schools, libraries, lecture halls, cafeteria, and magical workshops included.
As a modern academy, the place is kept relatively up-to-date and in line with national standards. Security measures are also in place as a result. Access to certain perimeters is available solely through keycards ascribed to students, and a wide variety of digital screens adorn walls when necessary. All in all, not bad. Certainly, not as technologically advanced as Alpha One, but sufficient for a backwater mountain.
Before I knew it, we found ourselves walking through a long corridor, bumping into a few stray students here and there. There, I caught wind of a few noticeable glances towards my direction—no doubt revelling in my presence and glamour.
"Oh".
After another minute of walking, we stop. I take the opportunity to look around, watching a signboard to our left titled 'Room 04'.
"All right, um, we're going to stop here". Rainee says.
"Alright!" Guillaume yells, patting Morgana and me on the back. "Me and Althaiez here are going to catch up while you two youngsters enjoy yourselves, alright?"
Tragic. And so I must bid my dear butler farewell.
“Will do, Guillaume; I’ll try my best to make the most out of it.”
“Your tone is unconvincing, Lucius.”
No comment. Refusing to respond to Morgana’s remark, I promptly push the door to my left open. I run my eyes around the place. The sight is that of a classroom. Large enough to amass a hundred students or so with chairs arranged in a circular formation. More than anything, the place resembles facilities made for higher education. Like a university lecture hall. Multiple levels of seats and desks and a ceiling of five metres tall included. I don’t reckon normal high schools have such large classrooms. Though I suppose, on the other hand, the place is only fitting for one of my calibre.
Oh, and there are a few other students here. That, too.
In fact, one of them is looking in my direction. Pretty intently, might I add. On closer introspection, it appears to be some kind of elf. With long blonde hair down to their shoulders, a feminine face, and some kind of leather armour. Peculiar. From the way he sits with both feet on the desk, I can tell he’s a delinquent. Better not associate with him, I think. Don’t know what type of disease you’ll get from these people.
Walking around, I settle on an empty outer seat in the first row. In the meantime, Morgana almost explicitly sits at the polar end of the room and finds herself a place alone.
Whatever.
I look at my phone and check the stock market. Noticing a familiar green number, a smile creeps on my face. Good, Mortius corporation’s share prices have risen by 1250 laines today, which means my net worth is now…
“ARGH!”
WHAT THE FUCK!
Processing the situation, I rub the side of my head with one hand and hold out my arm with another. It registers then that something just hit me. That is to say, a very fast shape appeared in my vision for an instant, struck me in the side of my head, and has left me currently wailing in agony.