The echoes of cheers in the academy hall slowly subsided, but the vibration left by Class 1-D's achievement still lingered in every corner of the corridors. Meanwhile, behind the heavy wooden doors of the faculty meeting room, the atmosphere was far quieter, yet thick with a dense intellectual tension.
Dean Claus, the man responsible for leading the academy, leaned back in his chair. He surveyed his colleagues one by one.
"What do you think?" Dean Claus asked, breaking the silence. "What should we do about Kazien?"
It was a simple question with a heavy answer. Kazien was not merely a gifted student; he was an anomaly that had shattered the educational standards the academy had upheld for centuries.
"What if we ask him and his three fiancés to represent this academy as tournament participants, and then graduate them early?" suggested a male teacher named Lorga without hesitation.
All eyes turned toward him. Lorga was known as a strictly disciplined instructor who held the dignity of the academy's faculty in the highest regard.
"What is your reasoning for wanting to graduate Kazien and his fiancés so quickly, Mr. Lorga?" Dean Claus asked, an eyebrow arched.
Lorga exhaled, placing the exam report on the table with a slight thud. "He has already surpassed the normal limits of a regular human! If he remains in this academy, our roles as professors will be called into question. Imagine the risk, Dean..." Lorga paused, his voice dropping lower. "What will the public say if there is a student far smarter than his own teachers? Our reputation as the kingdom's premier magic institution will crumble if our students are being taught by a fellow student rather than the professors who are meant to be the educators here."
"I disagree!" Dania Rolvold suddenly interjected. She stood up, her eyes flashing with anger. "You should be ashamed, Lorga! Instead of learning from Kazien's methods on how to be a good teacher, you want to 'discard' him just to keep your position secure? I'm starting to doubt you. Do you truly meet the standards of an instructor here?"
"What did you say?" Lorga stood up, bristling at the remark. "Ms. Dania, do you know how many decades I have served here? You doubt my capacity?"
"If your decades of service couldn't produce a single class with perfect scores like Kazien did in just ten days, then yes, I doubt you!" Dania asserted firmly.
"Enough!" Dean Claus's heavy voice halted the argument before it could escalate into a magic duel. "Stop this bickering. The tension you are creating will not help."
The room fell silent again, though the remnants of anger still hung in the air.
"Neither of your opinions is wrong." Dean Claus mediated. "We will indeed graduate them after the tournament concludes. However, there is one condition: we must absorb his knowledge before he leaves. Imagine, he taught an entire class to reach that level in a matter of days. If we can understand his methods, this academy will enter a new golden age."
No one argued. Every teacher, including a still-pouting Lorga, finally nodded in agreement. A grand plan was set in motion.
While the teachers debated his future, Kazien was enjoying a quiet moment in the classroom. He leaned back casually in his seat, listening to the chatter of his classmates, who now treated him not just as a friend, but as a role model.
"Hey, Alvin!" a male student called out from the back row. "What are your plans for the five of you after the holidays?"
Alvin, who was tidying up some of his notes, turned with his signature friendly smile. His golden-yellow hair shimmered under the sunlight streaming through the window.
"It looks like we'll be heading to the Adventurer's Guild to take on some missions." Alvin answered lightly.
"Really? Is it fun being an adventurer?" the student exclaimed in awe. "I've always imagined how cool it would be to fight monsters in the forest."
"Of course it's fun!" Alvin chuckled. "We get to travel freely and see new places. Besides, there's a special kind of satisfaction in completing difficult missions together."
The casual conversation came to a halt when the classroom door swung open. Their homeroom teacher, Dania Rolvold, walked in with a firm stride, instantly silencing the rowdy atmosphere.
"Attention, everyone!" Dania said, her eyes sweeping the room before settling on Kazien. "There is an important announcement. In fourteen days, a major tournament will be held in Larkvood Kingdom, the hub of magic academies on this continent."
The classroom buzzed with excitement again. Larkvood Kingdom was the center where mages from across the Azvel continent gathered. Being a participant there was every student's dream. However, Kazien, Alvin, Allen, and Arken only watched with flat expressions, as if the news were no more interesting than the cafeteria menu.
"Kazien, Alvin, Allen, Arken. The four of you have been chosen as the official representatives of our kingdom's academy!" Dania continued.
Kazien furrowed his brows, a wave of laziness suddenly washing over him. "Why the four of us, Professor? Aren't seniors usually the ones sent?"
"The decision is final, made by the Dean and the entire board of teachers!" Dania replied shortly.
Kazien let out a long sigh. His mind immediately went to the issue of security. "Professor Dania, are you aware that Alvin is not of the human race? It was chaotic enough in the capital. It will be even worse in Larkvood, which is a gathering point for mages from the entire continent. The presence of a non-human in public spaces on this continent is a 'trouble magnet' for the four of us."
"You don't need to worry, Kazien." Dania tried to reassure him. "During the journey and the tournament, you will be under the full escort of the Garveon Kingdom's elite forces. Your safety is our top priority."
Kazien glanced to his left and right. He saw Alvin, Allen, and Arken looking at him with sparkling eyes, especially Arken, who already seemed to be imagining the thrill of going somewhere new.
Seeing the enthusiasm of his three fiancés, Kazien's defensive wall of "laziness" crumbled.
"Fine..." Kazien said finally. "We agree."
Erica, who was sitting next to Allen, cheered happily. "Good luck, Brother Kazien! I'll definitely be watching with Mother!"
Kazien could only offer a wry smile, though internally he began drafting a strategy to protect his "little family" in a foreign land.
"Kazien..." Dania added before starting her lesson. "Once this class is over, go to the faculty office immediately. There is something important Dean Claus wishes to discuss with you privately."
"Understood, Professor Dania." Kazien replied obediently.