Chapter 382 – Offers and Confessions

Chapter 382 – Offers and Confessions

Easy chatter and laughs washed over the Topaz Hall. Clumps of students lingered among the desk rows, trading muttered woes and plans for the evening, while volunteers stored the Earth Magic supplies in their cabinets. It earned just two merits a week, enough for commoners to fight over.

“Matthew Veernon?” The shadow of a girl touched where Kai stood, bent over his satchel from his chair.

I should’ve recast my veil… the cruelty of hindsight.

Covering a yawn with his arm, Kai stuffed the Earth Shaping Exercises’ textbook in the bag and straightened. He met a pair of wide brown eyes with an arched brow. “Uh, is that your name?”

“My— uh— no. Are you not…” His nonsense answer scrambled her wits, features scrunched up and pupils darting about in thought. If she was acting, her skill was quite good.

“Just joking. Yes, that’s me. How may I help you?” Kai offered a smile of terse politeness. Exhaustion pushed him to fall back on familiar patterns.

Her head lowered with a flush. “Oh… I see. Sorry. It was funny.” She let out an awkward giggle, hands gripping the hem of her uniform. “I’m Elaria of House Elmelle. I saw you in class and thought I’d introduce myself. How did you shape that Earth Spiral so precisely? Your mana control is quite…”

Kai thoughtfully nodded as he finished packing his notes. Even Shadow Magic couldn’t let him pass unnoticed in every course. Curiosity about the first ranker had waned, but not faded. Among thousands of first-years, some missed the memo, some ignored it, and some wanted to try their Luck anyway.

What does she want?

Seeing the girl’s expectant stare, he tried to channel the ease Rain had in dealing with people. “I have an appointment now, but if you need help studying, you can find me in the library most days after classes. Sometimes my friends join too.”

“Uhm… that’s fine, but…” She chewed her lip. “I thought we could talk somewhere more private. It doesn’t have to be anything formal. Not yet. Though my family would support us if we got to know each other.”

Huh?

Kai blinked, his face flushing. Despite his slight headache, he still caught the obvious innuendo.

Spirits, I need a nap. Should I cut and run? What would Rain say?

“I’m flattered you and your House think so highly of me. But I’ve already pledged my future. I’ll have to ask them what they think.”

Her dove eyes froze over. “Them?”

“They prefer discretion.” Kai threw her a look full of empty meaning. He tried to appear subtle enough for a proper retainer of House Blackwoods, while still conveying the intent.

From her pale face, Elaria grasped all he left unsaid, and more. “I–I heard… I thought… It was a rumor. I’m sorry. Truly, no need to bother them. Please. I meant… I didn’t mean to overstep.”

Grasping his success, he leaned in, “It’s fine. I’m sure they’ll understand. What House did you say you were from…”

“No—no one important…” Still mumbling apologies, she spun and fled the hall before he could finish latching his satchel.

Uhm… I should thank Alden again.

Kai shrugged and went to the queue by the lecturer’s platform. What had rattled her enough to flee in panic? Was it implying she wanted him to break his alleged oath and poach him for her House? Allusions and vagueness. Nothing he said could match the scenarios she’d concoct on her own.

Just as long as it works.

Eleven students stood before him. Not every professor stayed to answer questions after class, but those who did never lacked petitioners.

Kai pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ease the headache building behind his eyes. It had been a long day, and a longer week. The skill strain pulsed like a faithful companion.

I’ve survived worse. Almost over.

The line quickly thinned as he organized his mnemonic chains. It had taken some time to fit both their schedules. Going last meant he didn’t need to worry about people waiting on him. The hall was nearly empty when he walked up to the monolithic desk.

“Matthew.” Professor Thornwyn greeted him first and set a paper aside. The wispy plume of her quill drew whirls above her ever-present stack of essays. “You caught up well with theory. I enjoyed your take on the physical properties of Earth despite the rushed delivery. Though I did notice your mana control slipped four times today during practice.”

How did she—

“I’m keeping up with the class,” Kai blurted, forgetting what else he was planning to say. Few students managed to squeeze into an Initiate course with their skill at Orange, and none who had to split their time with four other elements. “Once my Earth Magic skill catches up, I’ll easily reach the upper part of the class.”

Jolene’s eyes rose to watch him above the golden rim of her glasses. “And is that the best you can do?”

“That… Maybe I was a little distracted today.” Ten hours of lectures had crammed his mind, and the headache didn’t help. “I’ll do better next class.”

Jolene studied him impassively for a heartbeat. Her gaze returned to her essays with the slightest shake. “So, what can I do for my mentee?”

“Well…” Kai cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. He’d prepared for this. “I had a few matters to discuss. Is this a good time to talk, professor?”

The corner of her lips slightly quirked. “I appreciate the attempt at manners. Go ahead.”

“Yes. Could I get—”

Jolene flicked the finger holding the quill. Privacy wards sprang up around them.

“Thank you. So, I attended Fundamentals of Space Magic this week.” Kai picked his words carefully. “Professor Asterelle asked me for a demonstration to gauge my skill. And I cast a blink on an inanimate object. Much like what I’d shown you. The reaction I got though… wasn’t what I expected. By a lot. From what you implied, I had the impression having the skill at Yellow was standard to join the course.”

Jolene gave no reaction to the silent accusation. The elegant whirls of her quill never slowed. “Did I say that? Or did you make a wrong assumption?”

“I…” His brows furrowed. The exact words evaded him. The conversation happened just before he was abducted into the Mid-Term Trials, but he remembered the gist of it. Her rebuke for endangering her priceless tome. “You might not have explicitly said it, but you also gave no sign what I did was that impressive.” Hashing it out loud, the argument sounded a lot weaker than in his head.

“I see.” Jolene set aside her last essay and laced her hands above the desk with a faint smile. “Your skills are very impressive, Matthew. I hadn’t realized you were fishing for praise.”

“What? That’s not—” Kai broke the stare, his face heating up. “That’s not what I meant. Just… why didn’t you warn me my Space Magic would stand out that much?”

“I did not think it important. I have only a superficial grasp of Space Magic. And no affinity myself. Professor Astarelle could have given you a more accurate assessment of your ability. And your level would be apparent once you compared with your peers.”

“I would have still liked to know.”

“Why?”

“I showed my skill in front of everybody. The dean was also present.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“And how is that a bad thing? You still haven’t answered the why.”

“Because…” Kai bit his cheek. The glint in her eyes told him all he needed: he’d fallen into her trap with both feet. “I just don’t like being caught unprepared, professor.”

“I’m sure. Were you perhaps trying to hide your skills again? At the course where you’re supposed to learn how to better yourself?”

Damn.

Kai opened his dry mouth, but found his mind blank. His head throbbed, thwarting his thoughts.

Calmly sat at her desk, Professor Thornwyn missed observed him. Her nails drummed on the polished wood with a soft clack-clack. “Is it perhaps you were downplaying your skills even when you displaced my tome?”

Kai closed his mouth. Excuses would only dig him into a deeper hole, and his brain wasn’t fried to the point he’d consider lying to her face.

Why did I think confronting her was a good idea again? She already knows.

“We hadn’t signed the contract then,” he finally said. “And you weren’t yet my advisor, professor.”

“I am now. I’m sworn not to share your status and skills that you tell me in confidence. So, why were you still waiting to tell me?”