It was just 2 PM. Erwin had finished his last class of the day but wasn't heading back to his dormitory; he had other things on his mind. He didn't know if Elaine would accept his request for help, but the only person with the great intelligence he knew was the young Elf. He was certain that only she could help him decipher the contents of the mysterious book.
He had told her he'd wait for her at 2:30 PM in the school square, but that was before he had acted tough, indirectly refusing a request from Elaine. He didn't know if she'd be there, but he was determined to find her as soon as possible to do his part and hope that Elaine would do hers.
As he ran through the academy's corridors searching for Elaine, his sprint was abruptly halted by Professor Valentin, who was looking for Erwin at that very moment.
"Mr. Eda," the professor called out loudly, capturing Erwin's attention, making him stop abruptly. "To my office. Now."
"...Did I do something—"
"I said NOW." Professor Valentin repeated, casting a cold glare at Erwin, who froze.
Erwin was bewildered. He hadn't done anything noteworthy in recent days. He hadn't interacted much with his classmates and hadn't caused any trouble like on his first day of school. In short, he had done everything to stay out of trouble. What he couldn't understand was why the professor was so insistent on speaking with him in his office.
[Well... If I stay here, I'll never find out...]
Erwin was in a hurry, but since neither he nor Elaine had classes, he set aside his urgency and decided to follow the professor.
"Fine, I'll follow you..." he said, almost resigned.
-----
Professor Valentin's office was a place that commanded respect and awe. Located on the third floor of the academy, the room was shrouded in an aura of mystery and authority. As soon as he entered, Erwin was struck by the room's vastness, with tall arched windows letting in the afternoon light, casting shadows on the dark wood-paneled walls.
Lining the walls, neatly arranged on mahogany shelves, were numerous trophies and certificates, testaments to years of academic excellence and successes in the field of magic. Gold and silver trophies, adorned with precious stones, gleamed in the sunlight, each with a plaque bearing Professor Valentin's name and the date of the award. Framed certificates hung on the walls, certifying his participation in international conferences and the accolades received for his groundbreaking research.
In the center of the room stood a massive oak desk, covered with a dark green velvet cloth. Scattered atop were scrolls, books, and a crystal ball emitting a faint blue light. Behind the desk, a high-backed chair upholstered in dark leather looked like a throne, and seated in it was Professor Valentin, his imposing figure and piercing gaze fixed on Erwin.
"Take a seat," the professor said as he settled into his position. After a moment's hesitation, Erwin sat down, finding himself face to face with Professor Valentin, who scrutinized him for several seconds.
The professor exuded an aura of coldness and control. His eyes, cold as ice, scrutinized Erwin with a calm that made him uneasy. There was no trace of emotion on his face; every movement was measured and precise, as if nothing could disturb his inner balance.
"Mr. Eda," he began in a low but authoritative voice, "do you know why I called you here?"
Erwin swallowed, feeling small and insignificant before this man. The professor waited for an answer, and the room's tension grew thicker. Each passing second felt like an eternity as Erwin struggled to find the right words.
"I'll take that as a no..." the professor said, pulling a sheet of paper from one of the desk drawers and handing it to Erwin. "Here, take this."
At first, Erwin hesitated, not understanding what the paper contained. But after a moment of hesitation, he took the paper from the professor's hand and read its contents. At that moment, he understood what it was.
"This is... a request for advancement to section B?"
The professor remained silent. [I'll take that as a yes...] Erwin thought to himself. After a quick glance at the professor, he continued reading the paper.
**Request for Immediate Transfer of Erwin Eda from Section C to Section B**
*Dear Director Armand and Professor Valentin,*
*I am writing to express my absolute dissatisfaction with the current placement of Erwin Eda in Section C. It is evident that his skills and abilities are far superior to those of his current classmates, and I believe his talent is being wasted in that section.*
*I cannot help but notice that many of our colleagues seem to lack the discernment necessary to recognize our students' potential. Erwin has repeatedly demonstrated advanced mastery of the subject and a natural propensity for the magical arts that Section C, with its mediocre standards, cannot adequately support or develop.*
*I propose, or rather demand, that Erwin be transferred immediately to Section B, where he can receive the instruction and challenges appropriate to his level. Continuing to leave him in Section C would not only be a disservice to him but also a grave mistake on our part as an educational institution.*
*I expect no objections to this request. It is our duty to ensure that our most promising students receive the best opportunities to grow and develop. Should no action be taken, I will be forced to raise the issue with the board of directors.*
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---
Erwin was certainly pleased that Professor Martha held someone like him in such high regard. But at the same time, even he, who often spoke bluntly, realized that Professor Martha's words were a bit provocative and forceful.
He also began to understand why Valentin's expression was colder than usual.
[...Damn, I'm in trouble, aren't I?] Erwin thought, but he couldn't help but smile in that situation; if Martha truly wanted him in her section, it meant he was really strong!
This wasn't just a step forward in terms of prestige; it meant he would finally learn something new. And that meant he would become even stronger.
"From your foolish grin, I gather you're happy..." the professor observed, with a slightly irritated tone and an even sharper look than before.
"Y-Yes..." Erwin replied, lowering his gaze, unable to deny it, as he couldn't help but be as happy as a lark.
"I must admit," the professor began, "despite Professor Martha's words being far from respectful, I can't deny they hold some truth. You are strong. Much stronger than anyone else in your class. And I bet you could even defeat five Section C students on your own. Your talent doesn't deserve to be confined to Section C."
Erwin felt a surge of happiness hearing those words; if this was the premise, then he...
“BUT!” - exclaimed the professor, abruptly quenching Erwin’s joy - “The decision is solely mine. Compared to the other students, you have a significant disadvantage; you lack any defense against elemental magic. And that is no small issue…”
In that moment, a cold wave of realization hit Erwin, extinguishing his enthusiasm. He had believed he was finally close to having his worth recognized, but those words made him feel as if Professor Valentin's aim was to discourage him entirely.
Of course, Erwin wouldn’t give up, but it seemed almost as if the professor was mocking him. This irritated him deeply, to the point where he dared to cast a glare at Valentin before looking away, his expression tense and nervous.
[He's angry, huh?...] thought the professor, observing Erwin for a few seconds. The boy's expression, the tension in his face and muscles, and the slight trembling all indicated that he felt mocked. But it also showed how much he cared about advancing to a higher level.
Valentin hadn’t intended to make him angry. In truth, he didn't care much for Erwin, considering him flawed, like many other professors did. However, he was certain that what he was about to say would change the boy’s mood.
“Professor… I don’t think there's anything else to discuss—”
“So, Mr. Eda,” the professor interrupted, “I'm not convinced you deserve to move to Section B. However, I can’t disregard the opinions of others. So, I’ve decided to give you an additional test.”
Erwin, who was about to leave, was taken aback by those words. In his mind, he had resigned himself to being forever confined to Section C, with a professor who likely despised him. Instead, this additional test piqued his interest, offering a glimmer of hope.
[Brats… all the same…] the professor mused, having anticipated such a change in attitude from Erwin.
“What does the test involve?” asked Erwin attentively, ready to do anything to gain admission to Section B.
“As you know, normally, to advance to Section B, you must pass a test—usually by facing a student from Section B at risk of regression,” began the professor. “A direct admission request is very rare, especially in your case. If it were up to me, I’d never promote you. But I want to give you the benefit of the doubt. So, in exactly one month, prove me wrong. Otherwise, I won’t consider—”
“Thank you, Professor… Thank you for this opportunity!” Erwin exclaimed, standing up and bowing to the professor, who was quite surprised by this. The boy then grabbed his backpack and, without wasting time, left the professor’s office. Valentin was left speechless.
“...Satisfied now, sir?” said Valentin after a few seconds, even though it seemed like no one else was in the room.
“Yes. I am more than satisfied…”
Suddenly, with a blink, the academy’s headmaster, Lauren, appeared before Valentin’s desk. His appearance was so sudden and unexpected it seemed almost like an illusion, as if conjured by a botched spell.
Headmaster Lauren, a tall and majestic figure, wore a long ceremonial robe adorned with golden embroidery that sparkled in the candlelight. His face was lit by a serene and happy expression, a stark contrast to the palpable tension in the room.
However, Valentin didn’t flinch, as if he wasn’t surprised at all.
“This is the last favor I do for that low-class woman…” Valentin muttered, referring to Martha.
Indeed, Valentin had wanted to reject the request outright. But due to Martha's whims and the headmaster’s intervention, he found himself almost compelled to accept this compromise. He didn’t like it, but he did it out of great respect for the headmaster, despite not sharing his views at the moment.
“I don’t know what drives you to act this way for that boy, Headmaster,” said Professor Valentin, looking the headmaster straight in the eye.
“Oh? Well… I see something special in him,” the headmaster replied, stroking his thick white beard.
“...Is that all?” asked the professor, looking at his “boss” with skepticism. “Are you sure there’s nothing more behind this?”
“Hmm? Do you trust me now?” the elderly headmaster exclaimed, genuinely surprised by his employee’s words.
“I trust you, always,” Valentin clarified, with his usual sharp gaze. “But I don’t want past issues influencing your judgment in a completely wrong way.”
After those blunt words, silence fell for a few seconds as the two men stared at each other.
The professor didn’t say a word, but from his expression, it seemed he wasn’t bothered by what he heard. In fact, he didn’t seem to care much, despite the professor’s somewhat harsh words.
Valentin noticed this and, after a few moments of silence, sighed deeply. “Well, it seems that’s not the case here,” he muttered.
“Oh oh, I’m glad you realized that on your own,” the headmaster responded, his usual cheerful expression intact.
“Fact remains, I don’t expect anything from that boy… Elemental magic is too versatile: it can cast short-to-long-range spells, erect shields powered by their elements, strengthen their bodies… they can even partially transform their bodies. This is a disadvantage far too great to overcome in a single month.”
Valentin then stood up, taking his briefcase and heading toward the headmaster, who remained silent, listening.
“That’s why I don’t expect anything from him. Because it would take years, if not decades, to achieve any kind of result, and it’s not even certain that it would be enough. Don’t you think you’re overestimating that boy?”
“Oh oh oh! That’s a good point, no doubt!” the headmaster replied, stroking his beard again. “I firmly believe he can surprise you in such a short time. But if he fails, I’ll expel him from the academy, oh oh oh!”
[..How?] thought Valentin, taken aback by those words. Not so much for the way he said he’d expel Erwin if he failed—though that did surprise him a little.
But those words almost suggested that Erwin would never fail the test, and saying that last sentence so nonchalantly showed his confidence in the boy.
*BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.*
Suddenly, the headmaster’s watch began emitting a chirping sound.
“Oh well, I must go now. I have matters to attend to,” said the headmaster, who had nothing more to say at that moment.
Just as he had appeared, Headmaster Lauren vanished with a blink, like a mirage fading into nothingness. His majestic figure dissolved into the air, leaving behind only a faint rustle, like a whisper of the wind.
“Ahh… I’ll never get used to this…” sighed Valentin. Though he never showed it, he was always surprised whenever the headmaster, with his mysterious magic, appeared and disappeared into thin air within moments.
[Exceeding my expectations, huh? That remains to be seen...] mused the professor, thinking about the headmaster's words. Firm in his convictions, he left the room without a trace of doubt, ready to face the afternoon classes.
END OF CHAPTER 49 - OPPORTUNITY