“Professor, I apologize. I thought you were someone else. Please, come in.”
“I gathered,” Professor Sullivan said as he stepped inside and walked to the bed. “Have you been discharged already? Are you going to classes?”
Emilio shook his head. “Not entirely. He says I am well enough to attend classes for now. But I must come back tonight and stay here.”
“I see. A wise decision.” The man nodded. He paused and then looked at Emilio. He almost seemed hesitant. After a moment, he spoke.
“I should apologize for my hand in your plight,” he said softly. “I would have gone to you in an instant but the Archmaster … you were safe and protected the entire time.”
Emilio let out a safe breath. “That … does not change the fact that I thought I was going to die. The fear, the helplessness, the despair I felt at that moment …”
He heard a soft sigh. “I understand. The Archmaster usually means well, but he can be extreme in his approach sometimes. He is the kind of person who always believe themselves to be right.”
A soft scoff left Emilio. “I gathered.”
Another awkward pause.
And then he looked up at the man. “I’m sorry, Professor. Was there anything you needed me for?”
“Not quite,” the man replied. “I did come to see how you were doin? But more importantly, I wanted to make you an offer.”
Emilio tensed at that. Was this the same kind of offer that the Prince had brought him? If so, he wanted no part of it. He had thought that this man was different than the average noble. He hoped he was not wrong.
He tried not to show his mixture of nervousness and annoyance as he tilted his head in a curious manner. “An offer?”
Professor Sullivan nodded. “I’ll get straight to the point. This power is new to you. But it has a lot of potential. Would you like to learn how to use it in combat?”
Emilio blinked in surprise. “In combat?”
“Yes. To be frank, I did not expect much from you. You seemed like a spoilt brat who forced his way into the Academy through some obscure power you somehow gained. But I was wrong. You have been dealt a bad hand, but you are diligent. I have seen how you move with that sword in your hands. That must have been years of practice and training.”
“Three years of full-time training,” Emilio said softly, a mixture of sadness and pride manifesting in his heart.
The man looked slightly impressed. Well, Emilio understood why. In this world of magic, not many other than Mage Knights used swords. If they did, it was solely for their elemental techniques. Not many bothered to train full-time with a sword and learn sword techniques.
“That’s good,” Professor Sullivan leaned forward, close enough that he could see the flecks of black in his ruby red eyes. “Have you considered using your powers to complement your sword techniques?”
Emilio frowned at that and shook his head. “No. I … my power was just talking to animals and plants. Using it for combat … never really crossed my mind.”
“I can help you with that,” the man said. “That power of yours has a lot of potential. You can learn to use it and go toe to toe with any Mage. At the very least, you will be able to protect yourself and the things you care about.”
Emilio's frown deepened and he fell into a thoughtful silence. He looked down at his hands, calloused and rough and so very weak. He remembered the moment he had been running for his life, blood roaring in his ears. It had felt like his heart was going to pop out of his chest. He remembered how helpless he had been, and how he could do nothing but wait to die the most painful death.
He had somehow survived this time. What about the next one?
It had been like this all his life. Emilio, poor little Laik, always weak, always helpless. He tried and he tried and he tried … but it never seemed to be enough at all. After all, whatever could a Laik do?
“It’s alright if you need some time to think-”
“I’ll do it.”
He looked up at the man, green eyes glowing with determination.
“I’ll do it,” he repeated.
The man did not look at him with concern. The man did not ask him if he was sure. The man did not describe how hard it would be. He just nodded.
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“Very well. Every Saturday, come to the Combat Arena. I’ll teach you how to fight and you will learn how to use your powers to fight.”
At that moment, it felt as if his heart lightened. From the moment he had woken up, it felt as if something was bothering him, scratching his heart and pressing on his shoulders. Now he realized that it was the aftermath of everything that happened. The frightening feelings of desperation and helplessness had never left him. They had burrowed their way into his heart and stayed there. But now… now that he could do something about it, it was slowly lifting. It was not gone. Gods, no. But it was a start.
Emilio nodded in return. “I’ll be there.”
But then a frown marred his face. “But… Professor, why are you doing this? What do you get out of this?”
The man paused before he sighed. “Let’s just say … you remind me of someone.”
Emilio was quiet at that. From the wistful yet sad way he said it, it did not seem like something Emilio could pry into.
“I’ll see you in class then.”
The man turned around to leave after that. But when he reached the door, he looked back.
“A piece of advice,’ he started, making Emilio look up from where he was opening his overcoat to wear. “Be careful about anything the Prince offers. He may promise you a lot of things and he might even deliver. But you will have to pay a price for it.”
Did the man meet the Prince on his way in? Emilio sighed softly and gave the man a soft smile.
“Do not worry, Professor. I have no interest in any offer he makes.”
If the man had any reaction to that, he did not show it. He nodded and made his way out. Emilio sighed again. Finally! Please let him wear his uniform in peace this time.
This time, he did manage to put on his clothes without interruption.
He looked at the package. It had his bag, his Student Card, and his schedule. He took his schedule and gave it a once over. It seemed it changed a bit. Elemental Theory was no longer in there and he had been bumped into the Third Year for Mana Theory. And today, he had two new classes. Arcane Languages and Creatures and Beasts. Both first year. It all looked simple. But he had a bad feeling about the entire day. He shook those thoughts off.
Think good, think good!
He grabbed his bag and shoved the schedule in there and put his Card in his pocket before making his way out. He walked through the corridor and saw a staircase leading down. As he walked towards him, a breeze blew through te open door of one of the rooms. Emilio paused and turned his head out of sheer curiosity and his breath caught in his throat as he saw the figure lying in the single bed in the room.
Evan.
His eyes were closed and he looked as if he was peacefully sleeping. A part of Emilio wanted to shake him awake and scream at him. A bigger part felt both scared of the boy and pity for him at the same time. He had lost control, Emilio figured that out. He had lost control of his mana, of his core. Emilio did not know what it felt like. But he knew it was not a pleasant feeling. He had read that it was one of the worst things a mage could go through. Your core got drained, your mana ran wild in your veins, leaking and hurting everything, and your mind could get twisted to the point you lost your ability to reason. Emilio might not like the guy … but he did not want anyone to do that.
“Want to see him?” A familiar voice asked.
Emilio turned his head to see Healer Adron walking to him.
He shook his head. “No, I …” he cut himself off, not knowing what to say. After a moment of hesitation, he settled on, “How is he?”
The man gave Emilio a soft smile. “He’s recovering. His mana veins were mostly undamaged so we just needed to soothe his mana and guide it back to the core. He will be up in a day or so.”
Relief flooded Emilio. “That … that’s good. I’m glad.”
Healer Adron looked at him for a long moment before chuckling. “You are an interesting young man, Mister Florian.”
Emilio had no idea what to say to that.
“Run along now.”
Emilio had no choice but to listen. With one last glance at Evan, he walked down the stairs. He used the Card to find the Exit. He should have made his way to his first class but he really did not want to start the day without Balsea. But how should he find him? The Card did not reveal student locations, for obvious reasons. Just as he was wondering if he should go to the Student Hall to find the fae, he saw them bouncing their way towards him.
A smile lit up his face. “Balsea!”
He almost sped towards the fae, who just enveloped him in his arms tightly the moment they reached each other.
"You're out, you're out!"
"Yes." He patted Balsea's back. "I'm out. I'll have to go back tonight. Where were you last night?”
“Well, I was roaming the Academy. I checked on you a few times but you did not seem to be as restless as usual so I went back to roaming!”
Anyone else, and Emilio would have scolded them for not sleeping. But Balsea told him that they did not need sleep.
“Do you feel okay? Did you eat? Which class do you have first?”
Emilio chuckled. “Yes, yes, and third year Mana Theory.”
“Aww,” Balsea groaned. “I have History again. Let me see your schedule.”
Reaching into his bag, he brought out the schedule and handed it to him. “Once I have my routine settled, I think you can shift to my classes. Professor Clandor said you have the option. If you want, of course!”
Balsea’s eyes lit up with excitement and he nodded. “Of course I want!”
Emilio smiled at the fae, once again feeling unspeakably grateful for him,
Balsea looked over the schedule. “Oh, we have Arcane Languages together! I’ll see you there!”
“That’s my third class.” Emilio checked his schedule.
They walked together and exchanged small talk until they reached the foundational department. They went their separate ways as the two classes were on different floors. This was the first class he was attending after the incident … and without Balsea too.
Students were filing into the class. He looked up at the sign above the door that says “Mana Theory III” before taking a deep breath and stepping inside.