n

n

n

"Here, you old goat, have my whole day of boredom and pain-in-the-ass sprinkled with the tiniest amount of shock on top.

"

nKros Rul Shuze the elderly light magician with a beard slammed a stack of papers on the desk of his childhood friend, a tall and burly red-haired man with a tanned face, the current headmaster of the Aspakeony Academy, Burdoff Mekhior Vereq.

nBurdoff glanced at the top of the stack, it was covered in Kros's messy handwriting. Kros would always act annoyed and haughty but he also would always take his job very seriously, when Burdoff asked him to pay attention to the new students, Kros would take notes about everything even slightly unusual.

n

"I always liked your... rather particular way of talking in a private conversation.

"

nBurdoff chuckled and poke fun at his friend.

n

"Ey, you're the only one who even remembers how I used to talk, everyone else is just like, oh! Great lord Shuze, it's such an honor! Or, teacher, teacher, help me with that spell...! Honestly! Sometimes I just want to roll in tar then rip some pillows and roll in the feathers, then start to cluck like a chicken just to see how everyone would react! I know we're both old already but even so like being the serious one!

"

nKros sulked and looked to the side.

n

"Really, you would do the tar and feathers thing again? That one time when we were students here, wasn't enough?

"

nBurdoff laughed at the old memories and Kros joined him.

nTwo old serious men were giggling like schoolgirls for a few seconds.

n

"Good times... How are you feeling these days?

"

nBurdoff was the first one to stop and asked in a worried voice.

n

"Arrr! The pain in my back is getting worse and my best friend is making me sit on my arse for days! Can you imagine that!? What an old goat!

"

n

"Kros, you know that's not what I mean...

"

nSince his friend sounded genuinely worried Kros sighed and waved his hand.

"

n

"The throbbing in my chest is getting annoying, I wasn't aware that my own heart can beat in such a weird way. But what can you do? No one can win with old age! But don't you worry, I'm not planning on dying just yet!

"

nEven though he started it seriously, Kros ended his speech with a laugh and turned to the door.

n

"...Kros... are you sure that the magic examination is the only thing you want to tell me about?

"

n

"...!

"

nBut he got stopped by a well-aimed question that stopped him in his track.

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"Don't you want to tell me about that... what was that again...? Oh, right. The demonstration of how a reckless duel could end up like? Staring young Victureo as well as the darkness magician...?

"

nBurdoff asked with a jovial smile but his dear friend was sweating buckets, clearly thinking of a way to get himself out of the mess.

n

"Surprisingly enough the students have all bought that story – and even though you failed to stop a student from getting hurt it was all resolved without leaving any lasting damage and in the end you didn't run away from overseeing a duel.

"

nThe principal nodded with satisfaction, causing the elderly light magician to breathe out in relief.

n

"So... you will not cut my pay...?

"

nHe asked hopefully with a mischievous smile.

n

"I will not. Just answer me this first...

"

nBurdoff's expression turned serious and he leaned forward.

n

"Were you to were late to activate the light barrier because the pain in your chest became unbearable?

"

nHe asked, carefully observing his light-attribute-wielding friend.

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"Huh? What? No! I messed up but not because of my health, you know! If my health got so bad that it would allow me to get away with slacking off, you would be the first one to hear about it!

"

nKros breathed out with relief and waved his hand dismissively.

n

"That's good to hear... still – as for the compensating for your mistake...

"

nBurdoff nodded and a cheeky smile returned to his face.

n

"No cuts in pay!

"

nKros jumped back and raised his hands in a comical attempt of emulating magicless self-defense.

n

"Pffft...! No. I will not decrease your pay, you greedy bastard. I simply want you to supervise the disciplinary lessons for the darkness attribute boy – although it should be young Espine who would attend them, as her attendant he has full right to take her punishment upon himself. Still, as everyone saw with the duel, he isn't without a fault either. To impart some of your life-knowledge upon him, one trouble maker to the other.

"

nThe principal leaned back in his armchair and spread his arms, making a cheerful expression as if he wasn't pushing a work that no one else wanted to do onto his dear friend.

n

"DEAL!

"

n

"!!!!

"

nThe elderly light magician cheered out so enthusiastically that the red-haired principal's eyes widened.

n

"Ehem...! I mean, sure. Alright. I wanted to look into him anyway.

"

nKros cleared his throat and shrugged his shoulders trying to play it cool.

n

"You know my schedule – send the boy whenever I'm free. And stop worrying about my health so much! I bet ten gold coins that I will outlive you, you old goat!

"

nKros evacuated before he could be asked any more questions and giggled before closing the door.

n---

nAfter the elderly light magician left, the magical lock appeared on the door completely sealing off the room.

n

"Curious, I haven't seen you like that for a while... not to mention that...I owe you ten gold...

"

nBurdoff smirked and let out a sigh.

nA really long sigh.

nA sigh long enough to push out all the air from his lungs...

n...and the acting headmaster of the Aspakeony Academy, Burdoff Mekhior Vereq, leaned back in the comfortable armchair and his body suddenly got limp as if he was a puppet and somebody has cut off its strings.

nThe dark red eyes of the corpse were reflecting the fire crackling in the fireplace but didn't register anything.

n*thump*

nAt the same time, a big drawer under the massive wardrobe opened on its own. From within it a sleepy girl - too mature-looking to be called a child and too childish-looking to be called an adult woman, simply speaking someone who looked like she should be a second year in the academy - raised her head and yawned.

nHer eyes and shoulder-length unevenly cut hair were gray.

nNot shiny silver but murky grey.

nTo make her stand out even more amongst everyone else in the building, her skin had the color of chocolate milk.

n

"...mmmm...

"

nThe girl scratched her cheek while looking around lazily.

nFinally, after around five minutes or so, her eyes ended up on the stack of papers on the desk next to Burdoff's dead body.

n

"I better get some work done I guess...

"

nShe sighed without any enthusiasm and got up.

nShe was wearing only a skimpy nightgown...

n...and nothing else...

nWhen she left the comfortable drawer - that actually had the mattress cushioning it on the inside and was filled with various pillows and stuffed toys - her bare feet clapped against the mahogany floor.

nThe gray-haired girl got to the desk and seated herself comfortably on the deceased Burnoff's lap before sliding the stack of papers close to her.

n