As the coach weaved through the desolate complex, the imposing ivory-faced clock on the faculty building's tower struck six, its bell tolling the hour. Incidentally, it was this very structure that served as the coach's destination, and the stallions ground to a halt by the steps leading up to its entrance. Eagerly, the goblin hopped off his seat and opened the carriage door. And the man, stumbling out of the vehicle, was given a stunning view of the campus.

"W-wow..."

"Brings back memories, milord?" Oscar joined him in admiring the surrounding estate.

"Always pictured it being bigger."

"It has been fourteen years since you last saw this place."

"It has, hasn't it?" Thomas reminisced about his murky childhood. "On an unrelated note, wouldn't it be best if the academy switched to using automobiles?"

"Was the ride here that unpleasant, milord?"

"No, no, I didn't mean it like that. I was thinking more for your sake. You'd be protected from the abuse you suffered just now with a roof over your head, wouldn't you?"

"I meant it in jest, of course." The goblin chuckled at the man's manners. "As for your suggestion, I'm afraid it would be impossible to implement, given the institute's nature."

"It's nature?"

"We specialise in magick, milord. And like water and oil, magick doesn't mix well with technology. Were we to disregard that, the results would be... devastating, to say the least."

"Ah... I read about that. Never could wrap my head around the principles behind it, though."

"It's a poorly understood phenomenon. One that has barred us from evolving with the rest of Alondis and, by extension, adopting cars as our main mode of transport in and out of campus."

"That's a shame..."

"Well, if you ask me, we're much better off without them, milord. Tried my hand at driving one last week, and my feet couldn't even reach the pedals. Such a glaring design flaw, isn't it?"

"Y-yeah, that bit can't really be helped."

"Indeed! Rest assured, our ebon carriages have been a staple of this academy for decades and will continue to be for generations. Also... do not fret over my wellbeing, milord, for it is my duty to carry on with tasks even in the face of overwhelming adversity."

"Well, if you say so..."

"Now, let's not keep the headmaster waiting any longer. I'm certain he's dying to meet you," Oscar ascended the stairs, fixing his tophat. "Oh, and do leave your belongings in the coach, milord."

"Ah, alright!" Thomas trailed behind him.

Doors creaked open, and the pair set foot in an empty foyer, the entrance hall illuminated by a glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Treading the velvet-carpeted corridors, flanked by sconces and framed portraits on vintage patterned wallpaper, Thomas came to notice the absence of people; the disappearance of students, professors, and even staff had been obvious since their arrival at the complex.

"Say... where is everybody?" The man glanced around, finding not a single soul in his vicinity.

"At home or in their dorm rooms out of fear for their lives, I imagine. It's been that way since news broke of yesterday's incident. For that reason, classes are put on hold until next week."

"The staff, too?"

"Half of them resigned this morning. Only I, Sebastian, and a handful of others opted to stay."

"Things sound pretty dire..."

"Like you wouldn't believe, milord. But I'll leave it to the headmaster to explain the situation."

At the end of the hall lay a solitary door with a polished brass plate bearing the headmaster's initials: G.S., for Grimwald Stone. Gently, the goblin knocked on the hardwood door and announced their presence. Seconds later, a raspy voice answered. "Come in," it said. The two shared a look before Thomas, butterflies in his stomach, stepped into the room. And Oscar, flicking the remaining muck off his shoulder, accompanied him in.

Awaiting them inside was an old-fashioned office, walls lined with dusty shelves replete with leatherbound tomes and antique trinkets. The evening sun filtered through the window, bathing the room in a warm, amber glow, and a balding old man sporting a bushy, white beard and cerulean vestments stood by the curtained glass, staring out with a pensive countenance and a smoking pipe in hand; he looked at the pair and grinned. "Thomas, it's been a while..."

"Grimwald..."

"Thank you, Oscar. I'll take over from here. In the meantime, would you kindly drop Thomas' things off in his room and wait for him in the foyer?"

The goblin politely bowed at his request. "As you wish, milord."

"Oh, and do shower before handling his baggage. Your stench is quite... malodorous..."

"A-ah, understood. I apologise for my sordid state, milord."

"As long as you're aware, Oscar."

"If you'll excuse me..."

Once the goblin left, Grimwald took a long drag from his pipe as Thomas shuffled impatiently. The milky-eyed headmaster proceeded to gesture his guest to the chair in front of his desk. "Come, take a seat. We have much to discuss."

"A-alright..." Thomas sat down, waiting for Grimwald to settle behind his table.

"So, how was the trip? Everything went smoothly, I hope?"

"It had its ups and downs."

"I can imagine; a lot has transpired since you were last here. And how has life in Linxuei been? I rarely find the time to read your letters these days, so pardon me if I'm a little out of the loop."

"Aside from the gruelling training sessions, I'd say I'm doing okay."

The old man cracked up at his response. "I take it Grandmaster Baoshi is also doing well, then?"

"Mm. Along with the rest of the dojo."

"Good, good... Well, I think it's about time I shed some light on why I called you here." Grimwald set his pipe aside and leaned back in his chair. "Plainly put it, I want you to teach here."

"T-teach? You mean, like a teacher?"

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Not like one—as one. You'd receive all the benefits that come with the job: complimentary meals, free lodging, and a five-figure salary. A bonus, too, for being summoned on short notice."

"Hang on a minute, where is this coming from? Me? A teacher? I'm sorry, but I'm just not suited to that line of work. I'm a martial artist, not a... lecturer!"

"Nonsense! You've got the spirit and the charisma!"

"That hardly means I'm qualified!"

"You're familiar with the basics of magick theory, no?"

"Well... I studied it in my younger years, but—"

"Perfect! You're just what we need for the position!"

"Those standards are way too low!"

"Now, now... think of this as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You'd be imparting knowledge to the next generation, and what better way of cementing your legacy than educating the children of tomorrow? It's too valuable an opportunity to pass up, my boy!"

"You're real keen on selling this, huh?" Thomas scratched his head. "So... why me specifically?"

"Why you? Well, the students you'll be tasked with are a troublesome bunch. It's the kind of job that requires the patience of a Linxueian monk. Luckily, I just so happened to know one: you."

"And this has nothing to do with the unrest surrounding the academy?"

Grimwald's cordial smile dissolved into a serious frown. "And what made you think it was? Was it the mob outside? The tabloids written about us? Or did Oscar perhaps tell you something?"

"I-it's not an outlandish connection to make. You do seem shorthanded at the moment..."

And the old man's sullen expression brightened in a flash. "Worry not; this controversy our esteemed institute is unfairly embroiled in is wholly unrelated to your recruitment."

"O-oh, is that so?"

"Think about it: we invited you here more than a month in advance, while this... incident that has soured the public's perception of us occurred only yesterday. It's a simple case of bad timing. Moreover, had we known things would turn out this bad, we wouldn't have sent you to Kobold's Nook. Sending a human like you there amid the rising racial tensions? Preposterous. You were already on your way here; thus, changing the meeting place was impossible."

"Makes sense..."

"Even so, the politics of this city are of no concern to you." Grimwald crossed his arms. "What you should focus on is whether or not you'll take the position. So, are you in, or are you out?"

Conflicted, Thomas stroked his fuzzy chin and mulled over it. "Before I agree to anything, you mentioned I'd be teaching a troublesome bunch. Just how troublesome are we talking?"

"To put it into perspective, three-quarters of the resignations last year were attributed to them."

"S-seriously? Why don't you just—"

"Expel them? Normally, we would. The problem is they're some of the most gifted individuals in the history of this academy. It'd be a major loss for this institution if we kicked them out."

"If they're gifted, what's the matter?"

"Because they're gifted, they downright refuse to join classes. Attempts to corral them have been met with fierce resistance, and since their powers as magi far exceed most professors, overwhelming them with spells is out of the question. As a consequence, they've been held back a year, and our board of directors have been pressuring us to drum them out for the sake of the school's image. Add that to the ongoing mess, and you have one nightmare of a headache."

"And you believe a novice like me can get through to them?"

"I believe you're the only one equipped to counter their magicks."

It then finally clicked for Thomas why he was chosen. "This is about my curse, isn't it?"

"I understand that it's a touchy subject for you, but you have to realise this is the only way to take them down a peg. These children's futures are in danger unless you step in!"

Thomas huffed as the headmaster revealed his intentions. "You should've been upfront about that fact from the start. Look, I came to terms with my affliction a while back, so skirting around it isn't necessary. You may think I'm the same resentful boy you parted ways with long ago, but I've changed, Grimwald. I truly have."

"Oh... then forgive me for my impertinence. It was rude of me to assume otherwise."

"That said, if it means using this curse for some good, I guess I'll give this teacher gig a shot."

Instantly, Grimwald's eyes lit up. "Really?!"

"W-well, you did go through the trouble of bringing me here. Besides, I'd feel bad if I didn't at least pay you back for all the coin I spent on lunch..."

"Lunch?"

"R-right... I haven't told you, have I? I already brought the clothes I packed from home, so I went ahead and used the gold you gave me to buy every menu item at Kobold's Nook... S-sorry..."

A deafening silence ensued, only to be broken by a coarse, hearty laugh. "Baoshi did tell me you have an insatiable appetite! Please do not fret, my boy; the funds I sent you were to be used at your discretion. Nevertheless, we do have a strict dress code we expect all our professors to adhere to, and you are no exception. Fortunately, the wardrobe in your room should contain a few leftover suits. I expect you to use them throughout your time teaching here."

"Mm, gotcha!"

Grimwald rose from his seat and extended his palm. "With that out of the way, I suppose I can consider you a formal member of this prestigious academy. So, welcome aboard, my boy!"

"A-ah, thank you." Thomas shot up to shake his hand. "I'll do my best."

"Can't wait to see what sort of syllabus you'll come up with."

And the newly-appointed teacher's heart dropped. "Um, say that again?"

"As a teacher, your first order of business should be devising a curriculum for your class. Something that'll last the semester. You should also take into account that you'll be teaching a classroom of prodigies, so do try to tailor the subjects to their individual interests. I'll also provide you with the academic files on these students, should you require them."

"Uh..."

"You'll have the rest of the week to think about it. I want an outline on my desk a day before classes resume. If you need references, there are several useful texts you can consult in your bedroom. And should that not be enough, the campus also has a splendid library you can visit."

"H-hold on—"

"Oh, would you look at the time?" Grimwald darted a glance at the baroque mantel clock on his desk. "Terribly sorry, Thomas, it seems I'm late for a meeting. I should be expecting someone soon. It was nice catching up, though. Now, I'm sure it's been a long day. You must be tired from the journey. Just head back to the entrance hall, and Oscar will guide you to your room."

"But I don't know—"

"Goodbye!"

To his dismay, Thomas was promptly kicked out of the office. And as the door closed behind him, the man pondered his next course of action. Admittedly, paperwork was not on the burly monk's agenda when he sailed to Alondis. But as Thomas had already promised the headmaster he would take on the responsibility of wrangling these troublemakers, he couldn't just go back on his word. Accepting this, he took a deep breath and dragged his feet down the corridor.

Preoccupied with his thoughts, he failed to notice the person directly ahead, and the two bumped into each other, their collision cushioned by a peculiar softness between them.

"S-sorry!" Thomas snapped out of his rumination. And gazing up at him through a pair of rounded glasses was a short, pale, well-endowed young woman in a coal-black gown. She wore her raven hair in a bob and tightly hugged a stack of documents beneath her shapely chest. Her icy, ashen eyes remained fixed on Thomas until he decided to speak up. "Is something wrong? You're not hurt, are you?"

Slowly, she parted her lush lips. "Something..."

"Something?"

"Something reeks..."

Thomas froze up, worried she was referring to him. That was until he came to a realisation. "Oh... Oscar passed through here a while ago. He had garbage hurled at him on the way here."

"Oscar?"

"One of the academy's coachmen. He's the one who drove me here."

"And you are..?"

"A-ah, allow me to introduce myself." Thomas pointed to himself with his thumb. "My name is Thomas. I'll be teaching at the academy from now on. Nice to meet you!"

"Thomas..."

"And who might you be?"

Quietly, she stared at him before returning with an introduction of her own. "Mirabelle."

"Mirabelle, eh? You also a teacher?"

"Head librarian."

"Oh! Well, I don't know how often we'll come across each other, but I look forward to working alongside you, Mirabelle! Let's give this teaching thing our best!"

"Will that be all?"

"Uh... pardon?"

"I really ought to get going now, so if you'll excuse me."

Whiplashed by the abrupt end to their conversation, Thomas just stood and watched as the woman coldly strode past him. Alone again, a sigh escaped his lips. "Maybe she was having a bad day. Yeah, that's probably it." And he shambled off, hoping to reunite with Oscar soon. As he did, the familiar hallways warped into a dizzying maze of corridors, and what should've been a brief stroll devolved into a lengthy search for the route back.