(Arin's Perspective)
Midnight. The highest tower of the Academy stood silent, piercing the dark sky.
The Headmistress's office was vast, dominated by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves crammed with thousands of ancient grimoires. A crimson velvet carpet stretched from the entrance to a massive mahogany desk at the far end, swallowing the sound of footsteps into total silence.
Headmistress Selena sat gracefully in her luxurious office chair, leaning back casually with her slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. Before her, I sat helplessly in a wheelchair, my arms and legs encased in thick plaster casts, looking utterly pathetic amidst this grandeur.
Suddenly, the side door opened soundlessly. A figure entered. A slender woman with distinct, tapered ears. She wore a pristine black-and-white maid uniform and gold-chained spectacles. This Elf was likely the Headmistress's personal assistant.
The Elf arrived carrying a silver tray with a porcelain teapot and steaming cups of tea, spreading the premium aroma of Earl Grey. She placed it on the desk with graceful yet precise movements, bowed respectfully, then stood erect right behind Selena like a guardian statue.
For a moment, I felt the crushing awkwardness of the atmosphere. The silence pressed against my chest. Conversely, the Headmistress seemed relaxed, sipping her warm tea and savoring every gulp as if no one else were there. She smiled at me. That smile was beautiful, yet cold. A smile that made panic slowly creep up my nerves. Facing a high-level mage and a master politician like her, I couldn't let my guard down for a second. One wrong word, and I could end up as a lab rat.
"Apologies. If only you weren't severely injured and your hands could hold a cup, I would have prepared tea for you as well."
I swallowed hard, trying to reciprocate the fake hospitality.
"It is fine, Your Excellency. Just being allowed into Your Excellency's private chamber is already a very special experience for me."
Hearing that, the Elven maid behind her widened her eyes. Her eyebrows shot up as if in disbelief at what she had just heard.
"Hoo... interesting," Selena murmured softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
What? What is interesting? Why that reaction? Did I say something wrong?
My brain spun fast, trying to marshal every memory from the noble romance novels I had read in the public library. Trying to recall the etiquette of addressing blue bloods politely. Your Excellency? My Lady? Your Servant? Good heavens, damn it. Did I commit a fatal error unknowingly?
Cold sweat began to pour down my forehead, soaking the collar of the patient gown I wore. Unfortunately, both my hands were in casts, so there was no way to wipe this sweat. My face must look disgusting right now, wet with the perspiration of fear in front of the most powerful woman in the school.
Selena covered her mouth with a golden folding fan she had held since who-knows-when. A small, polite, yet piercing laugh escaped from behind the fan. Seeing my panic seemed to be entertainment for her in the midst of this boring night.
"You were so brave, articulate, and gentlemanly in the courtroom when silencing Adnia earlier. But why do you look like a shrinking chick now?" Selena teased, her eyes narrowing playfully.
"H-haha, Your Excellency is right. I am just a chick."
DAMN IT! WHAT DID I JUST SAY?! A CHICK?!
Why did I agree to that?! My dignity as a man just crumbled under the pressure of her charisma.
The giggling became clearer behind the golden fan. Selena's shoulders shook slightly from suppressing a laugh that was about to explode.
Meanwhile, the Elven maid puffed out her reddening cheeks, biting her lower lip desperately trying not to burst out laughing and violate the maid's code of ethics.
Enough. Before the situation became more unpredictable and humiliating, I decided to discard all these rotten pleasantries. To hell with complicated noble etiquette. Maybe I already looked stupid in their eyes from the start, so I might as well be stupidly straight to the point.
I took a deep breath, looking straight into the woman's golden eyes.
"Apologies beforehand, Your Excellency. Actually, for what urgent business did Your Excellency summon me here in the middle of the night?" I asked with a tone as serious as possible, trying to repair my shattered self-image.
Selena's face turned serious in an instant. Her golden fan snapped shut with a sharp clack. Her playful aura vanished, replaced by the aura of a ruler.
"During the forest exam, you fought a horde of Goblins. You were exhausted and ended up fainting. You did not meet a Grizzly Bear or anything else. Understood?"
Her tone was heavy with pressure, cold, and undeniable. It was not a question; it was an order.
Oh, I see. So she intended to silence me. A cover-up operation.
Fundamentally, this Academy was built by the collective donations of nobles in the Lion Kingdom. Reputation was everything. If news spread about a High-Tier Monster that shouldn't have been able to enter the exam arena but almost killed two first-year students due to security negligence, one could imagine the political storm that would ensue. Pressure from parents, protests from the kingdom, and perhaps funding cuts. Selena's reputation as Headmistress would be tarnished.
I stared back sharply at the Headmistress. My heart pounded, but I refused to look down. I couldn't be swayed by this intimidation. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I had to negotiate. At the very least, I had to get compensation worthy of our lives that nearly drifted away and these broken bones.
Seeing my unwavering, even slightly challenging gaze, Selena suddenly softened her pressure.
"As I suspected, you truly are an interesting man. You have the guts to look at me like that," she said.
Her sharp gaze was replaced by a warm, calculating smile. She turned to the Elf. "Alfin, show the goods."
The Elf named Alfin nodded obediently, her face returning to professional flatness. She walked to the corner of the room and picked up a long box lined with blue velvet.
She opened it before me. Inside lay a set of high-quality light armor made of Drake leather and a new longsword with a blade gleaming bluishly. A sign of Mithril alloy.
Then she opened another smaller box. It revealed a pouch full of gold coins jingling melodiously, a jar containing a large heart preserved in green fluid, and a crystal bottle containing a deep red potion emitting a dim glow.
"A set of Mithril alloy combat gear that is light yet strong, two thousand royal gold coins, the heart of the Grizzly Bear you killed, and a high-quality instant healing Elixir. Is this enough to shut your mouth?"
My mouth opened slightly; my ears struggled to process the information. My eyes didn't blink staring at the pile of treasure.
This wasn't just compensation. This was a windfall! Two thousand gold coins? That could support me for ten years! Not to mention that Mithril sword... its price might equal a luxury house in the capital.
But I couldn't let my guard down. I had to maintain my poker face as much as possible. Don't let a shred of joy leak out and make me look cheap. Inhale, Arin. Stay calm.
Although the compensation looked tempting, the fact remained that the Academy's negligence nearly plunged us into the abyss of death. I remembered Erika's pale face as she was thrown. I remembered the pain as my bones crushed. I absolutely could not accept that Erika nearly died because of this incident. Money could be earned, but life could not.
As victims who were dying, we certainly had the right to demand more. Our bargaining position was high. I stared back at the Headmistress with a feigned hurt look, dramatizing the situation slightly.
"Ahem, Your Excellency is truly generous. A very tempting offer. But..." I gave a dramatic pause, looking down at my cast-bound legs. "No matter how much treasure Your Excellency can offer, it cannot pay for the deep psychological trauma we experienced. My friend, Erika, still has nightmares of being chased by a bear until now."
Selena's smile seemed to twitch slightly. A fine vein on her temple bulged faintly. She knew I was extorting her, but as a politician, she respected the game. She still maintained her smile.
"I see. You are good with words. Very well, how about a full scholarship for three years? Free tuition, dormitory, and access to the advanced library. That should significantly reduce the burden for commoners like you, right? Can that heal your deep trauma?"
JACKPOT!!!
My heart felt like it was going to explode. With this scholarship, I didn't need to worry about the insane Academy fees. I could save my money for other things. My future was secured!
However, I knew Selena didn't give that for free. There is no free lunch in this world, especially from a cunning mage.
"In exchange," Selena continued, her eyes staring at me sharply, "you must conduct research on your methods here, under the Academy's name. You will become a junior researcher bound by an exclusive contract with us."
So that's it. They wanted to claim my brain.
The Cardiovascular Breathing Method and Magic Stacking Method were revolutionary discoveries. In a world where magic was considered a god-given gift that couldn't be changed, my method using a biological approach was a crazy breakthrough. Although not yet perfect, its value undeniably could raise the accreditation of the Lion Kingdom Combat Academy drastically in the eyes of the continent, beating rival academies from other countries.
No problem for me. After all, I also needed their laboratory facilities and expensive ingredients. This was a mutual symbiosis.
"As Your Excellency wishes. I accept the offer with pleasure," I said in agreement, trying to hide a satisfied smirk.
"Good that we understand each other. The documents will be prepared tomorrow. So..." Selena leaned forward, looking at me with a strange gaze. "Do you want to go to my 'private room' now to... rest?"
Huh?! What did she mean? Private room? Why did her tone sound ambiguous? Is this another trap?
"Apologies Your Excellency, this servant's brain is too stupid to understand your meaning."
Selena chuckled, this time sincerely. "Hmmm. You are so innocent. Even though the situation was quite interesting to tease. Alright, I won't keep you any longer. You must be tired and in pain. You may leave. Alfin, help him back."
"Thank you, Your Excellency. I take my leave," I said, bowing my head as respectfully as possible in the cramped wheelchair.
The Elf named Alfin nodded then pushed my wheelchair with one hand, while her other hand carried the stack of heavy compensation gift boxes lightly as if carrying cotton. Truly unexpected physical strength behind her slender body.
When we were in the quiet and dimly lit tower hallway, illuminated only by blue magic torches, Alfin suddenly spoke without turning her head. Her voice was flat yet sharp.
"I suggest you read a book on etiquette for dealing with nobles in the library, Mister Arin. Your remark earlier about 'entering a private room' is usually spoken by someone when entering the private chamber of a lover they have just proposed to. It would be misinterpreted as an invitation to sleep together if the listener were not the open-minded Mistress Selena."
THUMP!
My face turned crimson instantly. The heat spread to my ears.
So that was what it meant?!
"I-I didn't mean that! It was pure admiration for the room's architecture!"
"Certainly, Mister Architect. I understand," Alfin replied flatly, clearly disbelieving.
I knew something was wrong! Damn, taking references from cheap noble romance novels was a fatal mistake!
"A-Alright, thank you for the advice," I replied with a feigned tough tone, even though inside I wanted to disappear into the earth.
I was taken back to the student dorms, not the infirmary. Apparently, they had already moved me. In front of my room door, Instructor Karim was already waiting with arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
Alfin bowed politely to me, placed the gift boxes on the floor, then left me soundlessly, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway.
Meanwhile, Instructor Karim pushed my wheelchair into the room without speaking a single word. His face was serious as usual. But when we entered, the sight inside the room surprised me.
There, it turned out Edna was tidying my bed, fluffing the pillows to be soft.
"Now it is time to rest," Edna said softly, turning to me with a motherly smile far from her usual snappy tone.
"Yes, please."
Edna approached me then helped me lie on the mattress carefully so as not to hurt my broken bones. Her touch was very gentle. Meanwhile, Karim helped lift the compensation gift boxes and arranged them neatly in the corner of the room, even dusting them off.
What is this? Why are they suddenly so nice? This is suspicious.
Instructor Karim was not the type of person to be this attentive; he was the type to tell his students to crawl by themselves. Edna also usually would complain at length and scold me every time she saw me injured due to stupid actions.
Silence reigned for a moment. Then suddenly Karim looked at me deeply. He cleared his throat softly, straightening his collar.
"Listen, Son. The academic world is cruel, full of hungry sharks. You need a co-author or a research partner who has a big name and reputation so your research isn't stolen by other senile old instructors or claimed by outside parties. Put my name as your primary research supervisor, and this Fourth Circle Fireball magic scroll is yours."
Karim placed an ancient magic scroll glowing fiery red on the table next to my bed. That item was extremely rare.
So that's it. Now I understood why he was attentive like that. He wanted his name listed in my research journal. If my research was successful and recognized by the kingdom, his name as supervisor would also be elevated. Promotion, salary increase, fame. Sly bastard.
Well, but there was no harm in including his name as a political protector. I needed a shield to face the academy bureaucracy.
I smiled slyly inside. "Pleasure doing business with you, Instructor Karim. I need your guidance."
Karim smiled thinly, satisfied that his offer was accepted, then nodded.
Meanwhile, Edna suddenly posed cutely beside the bed, twirling the tip of her green hair with her index finger. Her eyes blinked rapidly.
"Hey, Arin. You know I always take care of you, right? When you were injured, fainted, vomiting blood, and helpless, I always accompanied you day and night, changing your bandages, feeding you. So umm... you know that... medical contribution?"
Karim turned his back, his shoulders shaking holding back laughter seeing his colleague's behavior. Edna's face turned crimson; apparently, she herself was ashamed of this unusual behavior just to get a name slot in a prestigious journal.
"Yes, yes. I will also include you as Head of the Medical Research Team," I answered quickly before she got weirder and made me nauseous.
"Really? Kyaa! Thank you!" she shouted happily, then hurriedly cleared her throat to normalize her voice. "Ahem. Oh, that doesn't mean I want to leech off your name, okay! I just pity you if no one treats you properly when you're battered later! Other doctors won't understand your strange anatomy!" Edna said coyly, trying to cover her crumbled pride.
Well, from the start Edna was the one who knew my body condition inside out. The medical data she collected while treating me was the key to validating this research. Including her in the research team was indeed an obligation, not just a benefit.
Karim and Edna, two adults exploiting their student, but at the same time protecting him. A strange team.
Today was truly extraordinary. My mood went up and down. From nearly dying eaten by a bear in the morning, accused of cheating in the afternoon, humiliated in front of the headmistress in the evening, until finally getting a windfall and a support team at midnight.
I closed my eyes, feeling the softness of the pillow. A satisfied smile carved on my lips.
I was still alive. Erika was safe. And my future was bright.
A sweet ending to a crazy day.