The black cat was never a stray walking inside the academy, but the familiar of a traitor.

A warning for the princess. That the people she had become close to would all be killed.

He even said it himself, that the professor was nothing special.

Iaso did not know why she was doing this. Was it really because she cared about the professor, or was it a way to atone for Penny, or maybe, it was because she had given up on life?

“Yes! Come here! Come right here!”

The magic of the barrier phased against her skin.

The princess… maybe it was giving up.

She had probably resigned herself to her fate.

Not like she could take revenge against a whole kingdom. That was impossible.

She completely escaped the barrier, her eyes closed.

“Don’t hurt anyone else…” she muttered.

“It’s over! Finally!” Zorack screamed out loud.

He raised his sword up high.

Fear crawled up her skin. Even now, she was being selfish and thinking of herself.

She raised her hands, but couldn’t run from the blade.

“DIE—”

A hand grabbed the scruff of her neck and yanked her backward.

The cold touch of the sword… never struck her skin. Confused, the princess, Iaso, slowly opened her eyes and looked back.

Standing outside the barrier, with his hand on her head, was the professor who had helped her all this time.

“Why are… why are you here? It’s dangerous—”

“What… the FUCK!” Zorack’s scream rang through the forest. He dragged his nails on the wound on his neck and growled.

“You bastard!” He screamed, staring at the professor. “How dare you!? Who do you think you are? I’ll kill both of you now! Fuck!”

A suffocating pressure seeped out of Zorack. A killing intent so fierce that it prickled every inch of her skin.

Iaso tried to speak up, but she couldn’t.

Despite facing the madness that Zorack exuded, the professor donned an aloof, almost uncaring gaze.

His eyes were not on Zorack but on the man behind him.

Iaso followed his gaze. In the distance, the minister Abyssinian stood with trembling pupils.

“Where do you think you’re looking!?”

Zorack screamed and disappeared. A burst of magical energy zoomed out of him.

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of them again.

Like lightning falling from the sky, the knight’s sword thundered down toward them.

And stopped mid-air.

Faster than Zorack, the minister had come in between them and blocked Zorack’s sword with his own hands.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

His blood seeped out and dripped to the ground, the sword just an inch away from the professor’s face.

Iaso gulped. She felt her knees trembling. She was about to lose balance, but the professor held her up.

“Major… you…”

That was when she noticed. Far, far more than herself, Minister Abyssinian trembled.

His knees were quaking and his entire body jittered, as if an earthquake had struck only for him.

“You are…” the professor spoke, his voice just as unassuming as ever, but the minister gulped with every word. “That general, right?”

“I.. I-I… I sincerely… apologize…”

“Minister…?” Zorack muttered. “What are you doing—”

“SHUT UP!”

The minister screamed out loud at Zorack.

Iaso could not understand what was happening.

But one thing was clear. The minister, who did not even fear Rathnar or her father, was acting like an abandoned baby in front of the professor.

“Don’t you dare speak a word or I’ll kill you myself…”

Zorack was forced shut by the minister.

Right after, the minister stepped in front of them and lowered his gaze, not meeting the professor’s eyes.

“Sir, that child is a member of our tribe. If you don’t have anything to do with her, please hand her over—”

Iaso shivered. She looked up at the professor and fervently shook her head, but the professor did not notice her.

“This child is my student,” he said. “I have been enlisted as the professor for the Black Rose classroom. For the next three years, she will be a member of my class.”

Abyssinian let out a sigh. He took a step back and shook his head.

“If you had focused a little less on killing her, you might have known.”

Those words made the minister tense up again.

He trembled.

“T-that… that…”

“Go back.” The professor’s voice lacked any emotion. As if he was ordering his subjects.

“Ok. We will go back. I understand.”

The minister stood up and turned to his men.

“Wait wait!” Zorack screamed again. “How can we do this!? What will you tell the king—”

“Ethan Kalenice.” Abyssinian cut him off. “We’ll tell the king Ethan Kalenice asked us to go back.”

Abyssinian started to walk back, and confused, the others had no choice but to follow.

The professor too shrugged and turned around.

“Let’s go,” he said, tapping Iaso’s head.

But before she could turn too, Abyssinian stopped in his tracks and spoke up.

“Sir. If you’ll permit it, can I converse with the princess?”

The professor thought it over for a second, then smiled.

“Go ahead. I’ll move back first.”

Iaso wanted to stop Ethan, but all the fears that had been holding her down just moments back disappeared.

As Ethan stepped away, Iaso could not tear her eyes from his back. Not a word escaped her.

“Princess…” the minister spoke up. “No one will dare go against you for the next three years…”

Iaso still couldn’t make sense of the minister’s words, but he continued.

“The Aegean Kingdom’s history is steeped in darkness. I hope this time is enough for the world to forget you.”

Abyssinian sighed. He picked up the diary that Zorack had stolen from Iaso and handed it to her.

The young princess accepted the diary with shaking hands.

She had many questions.

Many curses.

But she didn’t voice any of them.

“I pray you live a good life. I truly do.”

That was the last she heard of her tribe.

Iaso’s value as a negotiation chip, with the help of the Empire’s spies and agents, only increased in the kingdom of Aegean.

But no one entertained the thought of harming her anymore.

***

Once out of the barrier, even I had no choice but to walk to the front gate.

I was surprised to see a face I had seen back in the war, but it seemed that cat-kin had a good opinion of me.

I had some powerful connections, so it wasn’t that odd a reaction. My network was even stronger during the war. I don’t mean to brag, but even the hero is a very close buddy of mine.

For some people, that tag and the sights from the war must still persist.

I didn’t think anyone would dare touch Iaso after a stern warning and left. And as expected, in just a few moments, the young girl found her way next to me.

“Don’t just run off like that.” I handed Iaso the cookies she had me buy. “Here.”

“Professor… who in the world are you?”

That was a strange question.

“Come to think of it, I never told you my name. It’s Ethan Kalenice, a member of the Kalenice County in the East of the Empire.”

“No I mean… haah, never mind.”

Iaso shrugged and looked away.

“Seriously, just tell your elders if you find someone scary like that.”

Iaso nodded.

“I’ll do that from now on.”

We walked in silence.

It was good to see a child learn from their mistakes quickly.

“Professor… you said I am your student, right?”

“Mhm.”

“If I said I want revenge, will you dissuade me?”

Hoh.

How intriguing.

I smiled and looked at the girl. She was staring back at me with sincere eyes.

Revenge, huh? It was natural to seek it in her position. Her entire kingdom was stolen from her, rightfully or not.

“I won’t recommend it,” I said.

“I thought—”

“But!” I cut her off. “A teacher is not someone who decides your path for you. I only help you through it, the path you tread is one you choose yourself.”

Iaso bit her lips and looked down to the ground.

She clenched a diary tight in her hands. It was something she had taken from the other cats, I believe.

“Ok…” she said.

“Yup. If you want revenge, just study hard.”

“I will.”

A month full of vacations…

I had a feeling that this academy life might just not be that boring.