A silver-blue lightning bolt arched through the sky of the Duchy of Araka, straight towards Hermes Academy.
In a few moments it reached above the academy grounds.
The clouds churned as the lightning vaguely took a humanoid shape looking down.
A translucent dome surrounded the entire academy as a protective shield.
At this moment, a hole appeared in it as if opening an entrance.
Seemingly taking the invitation, the lightning streaked through the hole, landing at the terrace of the faculty’ building.
As the dust and smoke settled, a lady walked out, her blue hair fluttering.
She wore the uniform of the Headmistress, a white coat with silver-blue lightning patterns, matching pants, and boots.
Her gait was steady and urgent, but then she suddenly paused.
She narrowed her eyes as a feeling of attraction assaulted her, one she was very familiar with.
Every unique mana holder had a distinct pull, and the one this pointed to was someone she did not want anywhere near her.
She moved forward again, her steps even more firm and fast.
Many staff bowed, greeted, and wanted to speak to her, yet she moved forward without even giving any of them a single glance.
So he was the one who invaded her office.
As she walked closer to the office she could feel it.
It had been almost 20 minutes since she got the notice.
She stopped in front of the office door, her heart beating wildly.
For a moment she just stood there, closing her eyes.
Then they opened, crackling with lightning.
She opened the door.
Taking a step inside, she scanned the office.
He was there.
At the far left, in front of the bookshelf, he was standing holding an open book.
Ken felt the door open.
Someone entered.
Turning around, he was about to greet them, but
Flash.
Before he knew it, a silver-blue bolt of lightning was inches away from his face.
Booooom.
Thunder struck.
Elizabeth calmly closed the door, leaving the onlookers stunned and confused.
Was Ken dead?
As the smoke settled though, Ken appeared completely unharmed.
His whole body, including the book he was holding, had turned into copper.
Turning back to normal, he chuckled.
“Well, that was quite the thunderous greeting.
Although truth be told, I was expecting even more.”
Calmly walking up to the large desk, she sat down in the Headmistress’s chair, fixing him with a cold stare.
“Why are you here?”
“And why did you invade my office?”
Ken smiled casually, putting the book back on the shelf.
As he took a step, the place he had been standing was revealed to be scorched with lightning patterns all around it, yet they were slowly repairing themselves.
The air was charged as if lightning could descend at any time.
“It’s hardly invading, you know.”
He took the seat in front of her desk, sitting casually.
“I just opened a door.”
“Did I give you permission to sit?”
She narrowed her eyes.
Raising an eyebrow, Ken tilted his head.
“Do I need your permission to sit?”
“In my office, yes.”
The chair vanished from beneath Ken, yet he stayed sitting without even flinching.
His lips curled up as he muttered,
“Quite childish, you know.”
“If you don’t want to get struck again, I’d advise you to explain why you’re here, especially in my office without my permission.”
Putting both hands in front of her face, she glared at him.
Suddenly Ken gave a devilish smile.
“Well actually, it was Dan.”
She frowned.
“Professor Dan?”
“Yeah.
He told me how much you missed me and how desperate you were to meet me.”
Ken kept smiling as he dug Dan’s grave.
Elizabeth’s face darkened.
Her eyes turned murderous.
“Do you really want to get struck again?”
“Nooo, but it’s not my fault, right?”
“You should hide your feelings better.”
Flash.
Boooom.
Another lightning strike came down, this time even stronger.
Even so, Ken sat there calmly, his body turning into copper once more.
“Stop your nonsense at once, or else.”
Her eyes were glowing silver-blue, ready for anything.
Ken sighed.
“Ok, ok, fine.”
“I want you to enroll someone for a month.”
“That’s not possible.”
She shot him down instantly.
“But you didn’t”
“I don’t have to.”
We can’t make exceptions no matter who it is.”
She said, her words firm.
“Sigh.
I didn’t want to use it, but…”
Ken, looking somewhat regretful took out an envelope from his pocket, setting it in front of Elizabeth.
She glared at it.
“What is this?”
“You know what it is.
Why play dumb?”
Ken mocked.
She scoffed, taking the envelope and reading the letter inside.
It had the headmaster’s and school’s seals on it, approving a special request by the letter holder, Ken Asi Atom.
She checked again and again, but the mana patterns for both the previous headmaster and the school were accurate.
“It’s authentic.
You can check it later.”
“Right now, hear my request.”
Reluctantly she nodded, although her glare never softened.
Ken explained Joshua’s situation, then continued,
“I want Joshua to enroll here for a month.
Educate him in all the subjects except practical magic and we’re done.”
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth calmly said,
“Ok, but I have some rules that Mr Joshua will have to follow.”
Ken frowned.
“First, he can’t speak with any female students in the academy.”
“What?”
Ken was baffled.
“You heard me.”
“Since he’s your student, I can’t trust him near any female students.”
Ken glared at her.
“I see.”
“Fck it.
I thought I should resolve this nicely, but…”
“I’ll just give you what you want.”
“Do you want to spar?”
“Huh?”
As the words registered in her mind, Elizabeth was stunned.
But then, for the first time, a smile bloomed on her face.
Yet the smile held no warmth.
Only anticipation.