Ignis entered the dormitory, with a smile. Getting together with Laeticaea was always the highlight of his days. His current position was one of an academic and a teacher. He’d spend his day between teaching classes and writing new teaching material based on his master methods.

He still remembered vividly the day of the selection. All major necromancer working under the church, were brough under the church to discuss who would be given the position. Although literate, Ignis had no academic talent, and most of the assembled mages were his elders. It was within his expectation that the oldest among them would be forced to retire from active duty and given the office.

However, contrary to the youth expectation, he became the first in line due to being the disciple of Firis. Even at that point, he’d expected someone to step up on account that he was too young or something… but his hopes were once again betrayed by the smile of relief on everyone’s face.

No matter how good the pay, or how prominent the position: it was a sedentary academic job, the complete opposite of the life they had up until now. Thinking back, it was probably the reason why Firis and Wendy had gone missing shortly after leaving active duty: teaching an apprentice was one thing, but teaching entire classes while writing new material was another one entirely.

Still, he’d gotten to appreciate the sedentary lie, if only for much time he was able to spend with Laeticaea.

Speaking of which. “Welcome back, sir. Will you be eating soon, or do you want some time to refresh yourself first?”

Rather than a maid, she had been acting as his personal attendant ever since his position had changed. It was good since he had a lot of contact with her, but the situation made courting her quite awkward.

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“Please, don’t call me ‘sir’, aren’t we friend?”

“It wouldn’t do to call my master by his first name while on duty, sir.” Although well hidden, there was the hint of a smile on her face.

“You also call me ‘sir’ at other time, though.”

“Yes, I pride myself on my manners being impeccable at all time, sir.”

As far as he knew, she didn’t have serious suitors besides him, so why did she enjoys making him suffer like this? Furthermore, he could hear the other girls giggle while looking at him from time to time. Even the stone-faced matron couldn’t hide her amusement!

“Why did I do wrong?”

“This one wouldn’t know unless you specify the subject, sir.”

Even Azrael, who was coincidentally going to the mess to eat looked at him disparaging eyes while passing him. ‘What am I doing wrong, damn it? Why won’t they stop looking at me like that and tell me?’

It wasn’t fault of asking, he did on many occasions, but the answer was always along the line of: “Think about it by yourself.”, or “There’s no point telling you.”

‘How should I know what to do? I lived outside normal society for more than half my life, damnit. I don’t know what’s normal and what isn’t!’

Whatever it was, it was important enough to make Laeticaea angry at him, without being so terrible as to antagonize her completely. If anything, it sounded like a load of fun for the other people. Defeated and dejected, he went back to his room to his to ponder on the subject.

“Yet another dud.” Spoke one of the caretakers.

“What do you expect, the odds have been raised to fifty to one.”

“It’s so pathetic that at this point, if someone won, she’d be accused of cheating.”

“There’s some limit to being obtuse though. It’s such a simple thing, how did he not realize yet?”

“It’s because it’s such a simple thing.” Countered Laeticaea. “It seems like a tradition for most mages to lack in common sense.”

“How long are you going to tease him like that though? It’s clear to everyone that you like him?”

“Until his dejected face stops being funny, I suppose.”

“That’s cruel, you’re cruel.” Said the other girls while giggling.

“You’re no very convincing, girls.”