The Beginning After The End novel Chapter 54

Pondering what the director had said, I just sat there, my eyes blankly staring at something off in the distance. Like she’d mentioned, there was no real benefit for her to hire me as a professor, which is why I found it so suspicious. It was so ingrained in me to be wary of other people’s motivations no matter who they were. I guess as a figure of authority and power, you naturally become suspicious of everyone around you, which was why I couldn’t fathom why she’d asked me to do this.

Practical Mana Manipulation was a class that didn’t have any extra work to grade, which would make it even easier for me to just teach the class. Even if it wasn’t easier, it would help build a good position for myself and would be a lot more interesting. Seeing as how I probably couldn’t escape attention from the students anyway, I might as well do things a bit differently. Of course, I didn’t plan on revealing my full set of skills to anyone just yet, but I didn’t see the point in trying to be completely inconspicuous anymore, especially after today.

"...Arthur?" I snapped out of my thoughts to see that Director Goodsky was looking at me with a rather worried expression.

"Ah, yes. Although I’m not sure how competent I’d be in that kind of role, I’d like to try my hand at being a professor." I looked over the document stating my duties and responsibilities as a teacher.

"I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job," she smiled.

Looking at her, I asked, "Were there any other classes that Professor Geist taught besides mine?"

"Fortunately, no. We hired him this year after he retired from being an adventurer. For this semester, the other professors and I decided to only have him teach one class, as a sort of test run." She shook her head at the pitiful results he’d produced.

"Before I sign, I have one last question," I stated as I read over the final paragraph of the document.

"Go on," she urged.

"Wouldn’t it be counterintuitive that I’m not allowed to hurt students while being part of the disciplinary committee?" I quizzed.

"Ah, good question. The ’not hurting students’ rule is for inside the classroom. While the situation is always investigated for every case, as long as it is for the safety of other students, such as using a certain degree of force to quell a fight or suppress a rampant student. As for outside of class, during your disciplinary committee duties, I’ll trust your judgment on that."

With that, I nodded and signed the document. "I expect great things from you, Arthur, and I’m sure I’m not the only one." She gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder before ushering me to go eat lunch.

CYNTHIA GOODSKY’S POV:

"Whew, what is it about that boy that always keeps me on my toes? Negotiating with him is more heart-straining than dealing with the royal families. What is your take on him, Avier?" My bond gently landed on the arm I held out, his intelligent eyes pondering what to say.

"He is... different. Do not view Arthur Leywin as a child. Whether it is mental acuity or emotional maturity, there is much more to him than the eye can see." The clear words that came out of my bond didn’t seem natural from the movement of his beak.

"What makes you so certain?" I leaned back in my seat.

"His bond. That white fox’s true form should be that of a dragon..."

I bolted up from my seat. "What?! How is that possible? How do you know?"

"It is because we are of the same kind. I may be of a lesser species of dragons but Wyverns are still the dragons’ descendents." Avier went back to grooming himself.

"Are you saying that bond of his is more powerful than you?" I couldn’t help but be utterly baffled by all of this.

"No, that child has yet to mature. She shouldn’t have hatched more than a few of years ago. However, I suspect that when she does develop, my strength will not be even comparable to hers," he stated matter-of-factly.

I couldn’t imagine anyone stronger than Avier. The fact that he was my bond was only because he grew a liking to me when I happened by him, deep in the Beast Glades. He usually did his own thing and I didn’t dare treat him like pet, but the fact that Arthur’s bond was actually a dragon and that it seemed so subservient to him made me wonder what that boy really was.

"Do not make him your enemy, Cynthia. If treated with trust and respect, he will become the greatest ally, but if betrayed, he may be the cause of this continent’s demise." With that warning, Avier flew off.

I leaned forward in my seat, rubbing my throbbing temples as I recalled what happened a couple hours back.

___________________________________________

"Director Goodsky, I request that you remove the boy named Arthur Leywin from my class!" One of my professors slammed the door open as he stormed inside.

"Professor Geist, you look shaken up. What’s wrong?" I was taken by surprise by the sudden intrusion.

"The boy has no respect for me, his professor! Please do not listen to any of the rumors that you may hear. I’m being framed!" The man’s wide face was filled with desperation and anger.

Two brisk knocks sounded from the door.

"Please come in," I stated. At least this person had the decency to knock.

"I apologize for the intrusion, Director." The petite Kathyln gave me a small bow before walking up next to the now pale-faced professor.

"What’s the matter, Kathyln?" I leaned forward, taking a look at the both of them.

"This sorry excuse for a professor needs to be fired," she said expressionlessly.

Professor Geist grabbed Kathyln by the arm, pulling her close to him. "How dare you! ’Sorry excuse’? Me?"

"You dare touch me with your filthy hand?" Her expression didn’t change, and she somehow seemed to be looking down at Professor Geist.

"Professor, I suggest you immediately remove your hand or else, whatever the case may be, it will not be in your favor." I stood up at this point. Using force to get your point across was deplorable.

He immediately let go of Kathyln’s arm before talking. "Ahem... as I was saying. Please do not take to heart the rumors that you may hear. I swear that this was all a misunderstanding and that I’m being framed."

"I have not yet heard of any rumors. Do you mind indulging me, Kathyln?"

"This scum dares to pick on students to feel good about himself. Even ignoring the fact that he utterly humiliated Feyrith, if Arthur didn’t step in, I would’ve..." Without finishing her last sentence, she glared at the professor.

I turned to Professor Geist, who was desperately denying this accusation. "I’m telling you that it was a misunderstanding. I simply wanted to demonstrate in front of the class the level the disciplinary committee is at; you know, for the other students to know."

"If that was simply what this was, then there would be no reason for you to come into my room and insist that Arthur be removed from your class." I couldn’t help but sigh internally at the thought of handling this dilemma.

I turned to my secretary, who had peeked in to see what the fuss was about. "Tricia, please gather information for me from Professor Geist’s class regarding this incident."

My brunette-haired assistant bowed before running off.

"Now, please be patient as this is sorted out. I will do my best to be just about this." Before I was able to dismiss the two of them, Princess Kathyln walked up to me.

"I trust that you will handle this fairly, but just know that, if it wasn’t for Arthur, you wouldn’t be handling this professor’s ethic case but a student’s injury case. MY injury case. I bid you good day, Director." She turned around, completely ignoring Professor Geist, who was taken aback by her last statement.

_____________________________________________

Recalling the testimonies I received, it seemed like Arthur completely overwhelmed Professor Geist. While this professor’s personality never did sit well with me, his skills were more than enough to teach a basic mana manipulation class. Even while being a light yellow core augmenter, and a quite capable one at that, he had been completely defeated by a twelve-year-old.

I let out a sigh in regret that I didn’t measure the level of the boy’s core while he was just here.

A twelve-year-old defeating a veteran adventurer using only his wind and earth attribute mana, which I remembered him mentioning were his weakest, and who also had a bond with a dragon. What more was there to him? If I asked, would he tell me?

ARTHUR LEYWIN’S POV:

"Art! Over here!" I saw Elijah waving at me across the dining hall.