“It’s no big deal.” I reminded myself, for the umpteenth time.
Just another kid.
“I mean really, what’s the worst that could happen?”
You could say something wrong and be arrested for treason?
“Alright, that’s fair.” I nodded in agreement with my own inner monologue. “But really, what are the chances of that?”
Considering our track record? Decent.
“Not helping.” I sighed. “And anyway, they’d have to take me first.”
Ego much?
“Shut it.” I hissed, before receiving a strange look from a stranger walking past me as I bowed my head in avoidance of their gaze.
Probably shouldn’t be talking to yourself in public.
“Yeah, good point.” I muttered to myself.
Still doing it.
“Yeah because I’m nervous as hell.”
Which was true. Today was the day when I’d be faced with my biggest challenge to date.
Educating the next ruler of our country, all without getting myself sentenced to prison for… I don’t know, correcting them?
I’d decided to walk to the academy today, it was a beautiful day much like every other day, and I needed as much time to sort my thoughts as possible.
I mean, what if they’re an entitled little prick? Hell, that’s probably exactly what they are.
I’d been surprised with how many of my students had defied my expectations, genuinely sweet kids no different than any other kids- Aside from their families -but that wasn’t to say that their were no little shits either. I’d already dealt with a few attempting to interrupt class, to wave their family status about as if I cared about some random noble from the west coast whose family was in charge of peanut farming country wide or something.
Random nobles were one thing. Offending the regent-to-be was an entirely different beast. I wasn’t particularly interested in being labeled an enemy of the state, my life had taken an upturn as of late, and I didn’t care to have that ripped away from me.
“It’s fine. It’s totally fine.” I reminded myself, the academy looming just ahead of me.
I shuffled the binder underneath my arm, containing papers that I’d collected over the last few days of classes. My intent was to distract myself with them until the destined class time with the regent began today, but I was beginning to doubt whether I’d be able to put my mind off of what was to come.
It’s fine.
I steeled my nerves, taking the stairs to the main campus two at a time as I quickly nodded to the guards flanking the front door.
“Morning Koor.”
“Morning Dave.” I gave one of the guards a wave, the same guard greeted me every morning, a man in his mid-forties, a former high ranking silver adventurer from what he’d told me.
I quickly wove my way through the largely empty halls, the school day still two hours from starting. Reaching my wing of the academy, the closest to a ‘backrooms’ given the sheer opulence of the school, I slowed, noticing someone standing outside my classroom.
“Um, may I help you?” I squinted at the man, waiting for them to face me.
“Just checking the premise out before the-” The man, turning around to face me, froze as he did a double take. “Wait, you’re the guy from the library.”
“Harris.” I gave the man a deep nod, not all together surprised, given he had been appearing everywhere recently.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.” The man crossed his arms as he examined me. “Explains a lot though.”
“So, you muscle for hire?”
“Bit of a crude way to refer to it.” Harris said with a laugh.
“Well, given I’ve seen you with both the regent and some random noble, it sure seems that way.”
“There aren’t many of my talents who are also avowed to a soul binding. I take it you’re familiar?”
“A rather obvious means of checking my credibility, don’t you think?” I snorted. “Of course I’m familiar with a soul binding. A magical contract affixed to your essence itself, depending on the initial contract statements it can vary in intensity and effects. I’ve experienced a soul binding myself.”
Of course, I hadn’t known at the time what it was that I’d engaged in was a soul binding, I was simply trading questions and answers back and forth with a Great Sage who’d been reborn, turning my life upside down.
“Apologies if that was too obvious.” The man gave me a slight inclination of his head, his ploy at testing my knowledge apparent. “As for my soul binding, it promises that I shall never turn on or abuse my position, that I will faithfully execute my role, and that I will never wander from my duties.”
“Making you a rather hot commodity as muscle for those that can afford you.”
“You could say that.” Harris chuckled.
“So you’re in service of the crown as of now, and you want to make sure my classroom isn’t rigged to somehow harm the precious regent?”
Harris said nothing, the twitching corners of his mouth enough to confirm it.
“Well, are you satisfied?” I spread my arms out, almost as if challenging the man.
“I can’t say with absolute certainty.” Harris shook his head. “But given what I saw of you before… you seem to have a head of education on your shoulders.”
“Thanks.” I said without much energy.
“And maybe more importantly, you’ve got some skills to back up your words.” Harris added as if were what he truly cared about.
“Thanks, again.”
“Mhmm.” Harris nodded before frowning for a moment. “A message of warning. I looked at the class list.”
“Not supposed to have access to that, but sure.” I mumbled.
“You’ve got some rather important figures in your class, aside from the obvious, and many coming from vastly different backgrounds and factions. You’re going to be playing a delicate balancing act. Do try to watch yourself.”
“Pleasant.” I sighed. “Thanks.”
“Well, I should be going. I have several other classes to investigate.”
I raised an eyebrow at the man, but without another word he took his leave, leaving my alone with my thoughts.
Watch yourself.
Sighing once more, I palmed my forehead, exhausted before the day had ever even begun.
“Let the fun begin.” I mumbled, before pushing open the door to my class, it was time to get ready for the day.
-----------------------------------
“Afternoon.” I smiled, forced but the kids didn’t have to know that, as the first of the children began to make their way inside my class.
“Afternoon.” A boy waved at me as he walked in, his head a mass of curly blonde hair that bobbled about as he sat down with a surprising amount of pep in his step.
“Afternoon.” I repeated as another kid walked in, a red-haired girl with wavy hair that came down to her ribs.
The girl scowled at me, silent as she took her spot.
I see we have a rather joyful one.
Several more students continued to make their way inside, some quite friendly, others clearly scornful of that fact that they had to be here.
Still not here.
Perhaps it was because I was expecting the same scene I’d seen from the arrival ceremony, an ostentatiously decked out girl to appear through my door with an entourage.
So when she walked in, I nearly missed her.
“Afternoon.” I repeated my falsely enthusiastic greeting as a girl walked in, her black hair held back in a simple ponytail, her uniform rather plain compared to the luxurious additions some of the other students had tailored onto theirs.
“Good afternoon.” The girl nodded to me, before silently gliding over to take a seat.
Huh, you know, she reminds of someone that I’ve se- oh shit.
It hit me like a sack of bricks, why the rather simply adorned girl seemed familiar.
Because I’d seen her before. Except, at the time she’d been dressed to the nines, carried through a parade in her honor.
Shit. Shit. Shit. That’s her.
The regent.
As more students entered the class, I absent-mindedly greeted them, my mind caught up on that it had finally come, the arrival of the regent. I wasn’t starstruck, I doubted I’d ever meet anyone who could manage that, not when I’d had the perspective of having met the Sage Above All. What I was, was terrified for my station. Offending her could have grave consequences, and I’d all but ignored her walking in.
But.
But I also had standards. I wouldn’t budge if it meant going against my integrity, against what was true, of what I had come here to do. If she proved to be challenging, refuting the things I said, things could turn south quickly.
Oh gods and lords above, please don’t let her be a little shit.
At last, the trickle of students entering my class died down, until satisfied there would be no late stragglers, I stood up with my attendance sheet.
You know, I haven’t actually taken much stock of whose all here, other than the regent.
Starting from the top of my list, I began reading off names, waiting for subdued responses of ‘here’. As I continued down the list, what surprised me most, was the fact that I recognized several names, or rather, I recognized the names of their families.
And given I didn’t much care for nobles or what they were up to, for me of all people to recognize them meant they were some significantly important bloodlines within the room.
Therabell. Eldit. Kazikican. Duvurie. Helsting.
But none could compare to one name in particular, the name that everyone would recognize.
“Arete Narmer.” I called out, my throat dry.
From the back of the class, the girl stood, her black hair spilling around her shoulders.
“Present.” She announced, spoken with confidence, but surprisingly quiet, as if she were attempting to avoid drawing attention to herself.
Instantly I saw as students turned around, staring at the future regent with looks of surprise, greed, and any assortment of emotions.
Right, let’s get a move on before she steals the show.
“Alright, hey, eyes over here.” I called out, snapping my fingers. “We aren’t done with attendance.”
To a chorus of quiet murmurs the class turned forward, and for a brief moment I swore I saw a look of relief upon her face as she sunk back down into her chair.
Interesting.
I continued through the remainder of the names, until at last rattling off the final name, I waited for the class to quiet down for a moment.
Alright Rook, show time.
“What is mana?” I questioned, preparing to launch into my usual lecture meant to catch them off guard.
Rather than silence as I had expected, one hand rose, a hand I hadn’t expected.
“Yes?” I raised an eyebrow in surprise as none other than the Regent raised her hand.
I half expected some line of semi-religious dogma to be spouted from the girl, but what came instead took me by surprise.
“A force of creation, it shapes the realm beneath our physical world, it’s responsible for the flow of action and inaction.”
I frowned, not because what she said was entirely wrong, but because I hadn’t expected such a extrospective response from the crown princess of all people.
“A…. thoughtful answer.” I finally said making sure I didn’t stay silent for too long in front of the children. “But not quite.” I shot a faked smile at the girl, as it was her turn to frown like she hadn’t been expecting to be told she was wrong. “The theory that mana is a force of creation is often debated between those who deny the implications of mana and its importance within our world, and those who fully support such propositions. I will tell you, that neither party is correct.”
I heard a murmur from the kids, those who were part of the pro-magic factions likely not expecting that their magical professor would take an entirely different perspective then they may have anticipated. Even those who called themselves among the anti-magic faction had been taken off guard, expecting the standard view from me.
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“Mana is not a force of creation, it is the byproduct of the forces that were likely the original source of creation.”
For a moment I was eighteen again, standing in the workshop of a Great Sage, reading through the life’s work of perhaps one of the most ingenious people to have ever lived, reading through his explanation and discovery that mana wasn’t what even the Sages of old had believed it to be.
For a moment I mentally chided myself, remembering how in my younger foolishness I left behind the literal trove of untapped knowledge, too concerned with moving on.
One day I’ll go back. I reminded myself. It would just be some time, not until I’d further advanced myself as a Sage. Given how long it had taken to even reach the point that I had, eight years, even with the assistance of the Mana Matrix it was impossible to say just how long that could be.
Focus Rook.
“What you’ve been taught, or what you’ve heard, is all horse shi- crap.” I quickly amended my words, preferring to not offend the sensibilities of the Regent right after calling her out for being wrong. “The lifelong works of scholars of old, foundations of knowledge that have been steadily built over hundreds of years. And yet, what good does such prevailing knowledge prove, when it has been built upon falsely presumed assumptions?”
I raised a hand, muttering once as I did my now signature move of creating a sphere of warm ice.
“Under the contemporary magical understanding, magic, mana, is linear in formation and usage. Addition. Not just that, it is a singular soup of power, like a tank filled solely with pure water. That is not the truth. Mana is both the metaphysical building blocks that you imagine mana as, and the bonds that alter and shape it into the affinities that are well known. Under contemporary theory, to create ice requires the addition of Rentar, earth and Frezess, frigidity. Under what I explain to you as mana works, all that is needed is affinity for Aulous, water, an affinity that is normally entirely unrelated to the creation of ice magic.”
I was ready to lurch into my next portion of my lecture, when a hand raised suddenly, a boy with ashy colored hair.
“Yes… Kal?” I pointed to the boy, son of the Eldit family, a prominent lineage who had since the modern establishment of Haerasong been a loyal retainer to the crown, their fief they governed training some of the country’s most formidable elite soldiers.
“I thought Ice magic would use cold and water?”
I stared at the boy for a moment, processing what he said with disbelief.
He comes from such a notable family, and he doesn’t know something that basic?
In hindsight it made sense, the Eldit family, being loyal retainers to the crown, held firm the belief of supremacy over magic, it only made sense that firm believers would fail to educate even the basics.
“I can understand the mistaken belief.” I nodded, doing my best to not sigh in exasperation. “Perhaps, it may be important to cover the basics of mana theory.”
I turned around, grabbing a piece of chalk as I quickly sketched up a chart with several rows and columns.
“Fundamentally, humans can tap into five basic affinities, what we refer to as the primal affinities. They are, in no specific order, Rentar-” As I spoke I pointed briefly at the top row, gesturing to the matching word. “-which represents earth elements. Then we move onto Scorz, most easily understood as fire elements then Frezess, frigidity. Aulous, water, but more accurately Aulous simply refers to fluid nature, and lastly, Kinzar, force. Do we follow?”
I waited for a moment as the class nodded, none stating otherwise.
“Perfect.” I pointed to the column furthest most to the left. “As you may notice, I have repeated these same affinities in the same descending order. The reason for this, is that under contemporary mana theory, two forms of primal affinity can be utilized together, forming what is known as composite magic. I don’t expect you to know these all as of now, with each primal element being capable of bonding with another element and it’s inverse direction, there are a grand total of forty different forms of composite magic.”
I saw the eyes of several of the kids bulge as I pointed out just how many there were.
Wait until the advanced magic class finds out there is the added layer of deviant magic on top of composite magic.
“You will be expected to know the composite forms by the first test, as well a their inverses, but the first, and only exam that you will be having in this half-elective form of the class, won’t be until final exams.”
I heard a sigh of relief at the announcement.
Hah, little do they know that just means they have to retain what they learn through the semester rather than regurgitate it and forget.
“To answer the original question from earlier-” I pointed toward the composite between Rentar and Frezess. “Ice magic, Fretar, takes root between these two. The casual explanation is that while in the physical sense, ice is simply frozen water, in the magical sense, ice is the amalgamation of solid, physical elements, and cold.”
I saw eyes began to glaze over, as my lecture dragged on in the field of purely educational explanations.
“Right, hands up, who here can use magic or has an affinity they know off?”
I’d already taken the time to affirm who had developed their mana core’s past the inborn state, but I’d learn from a prior class not to call out a student on such things if they didn’t volunteer it themselves, potentially revealing secrets of noble families not exactly high on my list of things I wanted to do.
Several hands raised, among them three raised proudly as if they wanted to show it off.
But, notably, not the Regent.
Which wasn’t all that surprising. I had affirmed her magical abilities after I’d realized who she was, but it would be unbecoming of the crown princess to be revealed to have been a practitioner of magic given what faction she belonged to by simple extension of her lineage.
Still, a bit disappointing.
While those who raised their hands the highest I could tell had a surprising amount of core development, containing enough mana that they could have been at ease amongst Steel rank adventurers, it was the Regent who impressed me the most, her mana reserves greater than my own, around the level of a silver rank adventurer. She was an interesting case, but if she wanted to keep to herself I couldn’t, shouldn’t force anything from her.
Well, it shouldn’t be all that surprising that the crown has the resources to develop the magical capabilities of the family.
“Alright, you three.” I pointed at those raising their hands the highest, two boys and a girl. “Come to the front if you will.”
The three excitedly made their way to stand in the front, looking forward to an opportunity to boast of their ability.
I’m assuming their from pro-magic families then.
“You three, affinities.”
“Fire.” The first, one of the boys, said proudly.
“Earth.” The second, the girl of the group, puffed her chest out as she spoke.
“Cold.” The final boy said with a smirk.
“Any other affinities or composite affinities?”
“No.” The three said, momentarily deflated.
Good. Just making sure.
While they were magically well developed given their ages, I’d never expected any of the three to have access to composite tier wild magic, given that even amongst adventurers it only started to become more of commonality amongst gold level adventurers, and then it was still la fifty-fifty split at best.
“Perfect. That makes this demonstration even better. Do me a favor, stick out your hands and conjure forth your element. And no, don’t take this as a moment to flex, keep it small or I’ll defuse it.”
One by one the students closed their eyes, concentrating for a moment before their respective elements appear above their palms, a flickering flame, a floating stone, and a distorted haze of cold air.
I looked at the rest of the class, waving at the three examples. “As you can see, your peers have demonstrated single affinity, and made it clear they lack any further affinities. But, what if I told you I could push them further? Under contemporary theory, such would be impossible, either you have the affinities needed to create composite magic, or you don’t.”
Passing my own hand underneath their outstretched palms, it took only a moment to lock onto the mana they used to create the element showings. Never adjusting the amount of mana present, I instead used my mana sense to tweak the bonds holding their mana together. All but instantly the elements changed, the flickering flame melting into a black puddle of oil. I heard a gasp, but I continued on, passing my hand under the girl’s as much like with the first student, her elemental conjuration transformed, turning into a floating orb of hydrated lime paste. As I passed my hand under the final students outstretched hand, the veil of cold air suddenly turned visible, billowing out mist that melted away as it escaped the influence of the active mana.
“For those of you who have some background in magic, you should know this, but you cannot directly alter the magic of another person. No, what I did was simply alter the bonds making up their active spells, transforming magic into a higher state of existence, composite magic.”
I looked around the class, where it was readily clear which of the students understood some of what I was saying, their eyes wide like I’d just produced a miracle before them.
Of the students, perhaps the most enraptured was none other than the crown princess herself, her eyes shining with wonder.
Interesting. I get the feeling her curiosity and knowledge of magic isn’t simply from the ‘know your enemy’ standpoint.
“Mana is not a set state, or many differing types of set states. It is a nebulous state of not mystical, but metaphysical matter. It is not the act of divine beings or devious rituals, but of nuance and practice. Mana and magic are neither a curse nor a gifted boon, just as brown eyes or blonde hair are nothing more than ordinary traits that simply are. My goal for this class, is to educate you on what simply is, without delving into thinly-veiled dogma or spirtuality, the same as any other professor teaching mathmetics or linguistics. If you find yourself compelled by what I say, or of the topic itself, I recommend you consider my advanced course, in which we will not just explore the realities of mana and magic, but delve into these oft misunderstood topics, so that you too may be able to harness the potential that exists within all.”
Well, the potential that exists within all except for me.
I would never be capable of walking the path of magic as others did, my inability to develop my mana core meant that my path would always be different, an entirely different world in itself, the path of the only Sage born of this era.
For a moment I found myself curious, almost nostalgic about the thought of the Sage Above All who had led me down this path, but I cast such feelings away. She had never been anything to me other than a temporary savior, doing it more for her own gain than for me. It was only by coincidence that I’d found myself walking the path of a Sage as well.
Plus, for all I know she could be dead, I’ve heard absolutely nothing about an unknown mage with unimaginable power in all these years.
I sort of doubted it, given what I knew of the Sage Above All, she was capable of slaying the mighest True Dragon to have lived. If there was any capable of killing her in this day and age, I was surprised they hadn’t laid waste to the rest of the world.
Pleasant thoughts for when you’re supposed to be teaching.
I shrugged the thoughts of, my face still pleasantly composed, a skill that would be important when dealing with kids who, be kidding, would often look for any crack in your outward exterior, a sign of weakness.
Little bloodthirsty things.
Okay, maybe a bit of a harsh take, but being defensive when it was my livelihood on the line was probably the smarter play.
Waving my hand toward the three students who’d volunteered, I extended null for a split second, snuffing out their mana as they glanced about in surprise.
“Thank you for your assistance. Now, while you’re up here, I’d like you to help me with one other thing.”
Quickly returning to my desk I grabbed a pile of papers, splitting it into three before handing them to the kids.
“Hand the papers out amongst your classmates. As for the rest of you-” I looked out to the rest of the students, making sure they were listening. “-you’re expected to fill these out. No worries, there is no credit on the line. It is simply an assessment of your knowledge, I’ve done this with each prior class, that way I have a way of gauging where each class is starting at and what areas we need to cover the most. If you don’t finish, no worries, your only assignment will be to complete it before the next class one week from now.”
I heard several grumbles, but otherwise their were no outspoken complaints.
Good.
“Further, if you have any questions on anything on the sheets, feel free to raise a hand and ask, and I’ll explain anything that I can.”
Satisfied that I’d covered everything I needed to, I watched as the students received their sheets, diligently, or at least some of them, diligently setting out to work.
For all the talk of noble kids being bratty things, it hasn’t been as bad as I expected.
I had to mentally restrain myself from kicking back and relaxing as I watched the students discuss amongst themselves, casting the occasional glance at the clock as what remained of the class period quickly rolled by.
Minutes passing by the quiet atmosphere was fractured as a single loud bell rang, announcing the end of the period.
“All right class,” I stood up, clapping my hands together once. “If you’re done, bring your sheets to me, otherwise, you’re dismissed. I’ll see you all next week, and for those of you who wish to delve further into mana and magic theory, remember I offer an advanced full-elective class.”
The students began to quickly shuffle out of the room, some of them dropping off sheets of paper on their way out. Waiting patiently, I scanned over the papers as I received them, until at last their was a single person left in the room, waiting behind as she made her way to my desk to drop off her own sheet.
Oh?
It was the crown princess, her eyes shifting around as if afraid to land upon me.
“Is something the matter, Ms. Narmer?”
“Mona.”
“Excuse me?” I raised an eyebrow at the girl, confused.
“Mona. Mona is fine.”
“Right.” I was just as confused as before. “Mona as in…?”
“It’s my midname.” The girl said, finally looking at me, steel in her eyes.
Very interesting.
Her midname. Arete Narmer, the crown princess, preferred to go by her midname.
Well, that’s a whole lot of ‘not my business’ now isn’t it?
“Err, Professor Koor, I, uh…”
Are all teenagers like this, all gawky and hard-pressed at giving a straight answer?
“Ms. Mona, if something is bothering you or on your mind, please feel free to speak your mind, while it is only my first day as your Professor it is my duty to ensure I can best meet your individual needs, something that goes for all my students, not just you.”
While it probably didn’t need saying, I had wanted to make it clear that it wasn’t because she was the crown princess, but because she was another student that I was willing to listen.
Seems like one of those types to appreciate that.
“Right.” The girl swallowed for a moment, like she were pushing herself to do something difficult. “I wanted to sign up for your advanced magics class.”
Oh. I get it now.
I’d been told how the crown princess would be taking my half-elective class, a part of the bargain with the pro-magic faction that the next in line for the throne would take the time to metaphorically speaking, reach across the aisle and understand her political rivals.
Except…
Except, as I’d very quickly put together, they weren’t her political rivals, they were the political rivals of the title she had been born into. Arete Narmer was the Regent-to-be, the next in line to become the rallying pillar of those who treated magic with disdain and fear.
But, the girl Mona, was a girl who had clearly taken an interest beyond simple education.
Hah, well isn’t that a controversy.
“Ms. Mona, I appreciate the sentiment.” I smiled at the girl for a moment. “But, I’m going to have to say no.”
The girl’s face instantly turned down, almost as if she had been expecting it.
Really now Rook, do you really need to be so dramatic with a fifteen-year-old girl.
“That is because enrollment into full electives is done through the class enrollment process.” I chuckled as the girl looked at me once more, tentatively hopeful. “You cannot reserve a spot in my classes in advance, but, given you took the initiative to come to me directly, I do not doubt that you will ensure you sign up in a timely manner, and thus I am confident that you will find yourself a seat in my class.”
Plus, I’m not even sure I’ll have a full class size in the first place.
She smiled widely, before as if remembering her place, she composed herself, handing me her sheet.
“Now then, I do believe you should be on your way Ms. Mona, I do not wish to keep you from the rest of your classes, nor do I wish to receive angry reports of the other Professors from keeping a pupil too long.”
Mona nodded hastily, quickly turning away and making her way out of the class, leaving my behind to watch as she rounded a corner and vanished.
Finally alone, I relaxed in my chair, leaning back and letting out a deep, exhausted sigh.
“Well, at least she doesn’t seem like she’s going to have my head taken any time soon.” I chuckled to myself.
Class itself had been fairly simple, but the tension of having the threat of an offended regent-to-be over my head had weighed far more heavily on me than I anticipated.
“Rough time?”
Looking out the corner of my eye, I saw the Director, standing in my doorway with her arms crossed.
“Not really.” I answered with a shrug. “Just…. You know.”
“Yes, I do suppose I can guess.” The woman snorted. “What do you make of her?”
“The kid?” I thought about it for a second before shrugging again. “Honestly? Maybe a bit cliché, but she seems like a bright kid, whose entirely too worried about the expectations heaped upon her.”
“Quite the assessment to make after meeting her all but once.”
“Kids are kids.” I shook my head. “I know a kid who doesn’t have many friends when I see one. That sort of affiliated exile from peers, it takes a lot out of you. Feel alone like that, you find yourself trying to match up to what is expected of you, in any way you can.”
“You sound as if you speak from experience.” The Director said quietly.
“I was a kid once.” I answered back. “Sure, my situation was vastly different, but I know a bit of what it feels like to have nearly no friends, to feel like you want to get away from it. Especially if for whatever reason you find yourself falling short of the expectations for you, whether they be in your head or not.”
In my case, I had years to come to terms with it as a kid, unable to use magic. My mother had never put pressure on me, but always knowing of what she’d accomplished, I’d felt the need to be free of that shadow, to make the most of myself in whatever way I could.
Which had turned into swinging a sword, every day, for years on end.
Maybe that’s why I’ve always been so keen to just... follow along. The thought hit me suddenly as I frowned.
Maybe not the time for childhood and teenage years introspection.
“Well, I’m glad you feel positively about her.” The Director nodded. “She’s been as you guessed, largely alone her entire life. She wasn’t originally intended to be the Regent-to-be after all, so aside from her mandatory tutors, much of her time was spent in libraries.”
“Should I at all be surprised that you know that much?”
“I may have spent some time around in the palace.” The Director said with a half-smile.
“Hah, so that’s what this really is. You’re checking in on your favorite pupil on her first day with the test class.”
“I will make myself clear Professor Koor. I take no favorites here.” The Director said sternly, before winking once at me. “So assessments such as that shall be left out, are we clear?”
“Crystal.” I said with a mock salute.
“Good. Now then, I simply wanted to check in, I will be on my way.”
Once more I watched as yet another person left my class, leaving me alone.
Again.
I just hope I’m not interrupted any more.
I had only one other class later in the day, and so with time on my hands, I began to scan over the sheets I’d been given, starting with the most recent paper.
That being, the Crown Princess.
With each answered question, my eyebrows rose further and further, until at last, I was forced to put the paper down.
“Saying ‘much’ of her time was spent in libraries might be putting it lightly.” I scoffed as I looked the answers over once more.
Before now, the most I’d ever seen as student answer the questions was from my first place, a girl had managed to get roughly forty percent of the questions correct.
And the crown princess had just blown that out of the water, all but three of the twenty questions correct.
“Hah, a controversy indeed.” I muttered to myself.
Well, not like I plan on telling.