During the Emperor's visit here, he used me as a propaganda tool to show that he cared about soldiers who were physically and mentally wounded. I personally did not care about the monarchy.
Even so, he was actually a good monarch. I received a free house in the capital from him as compensation, along with the Purple Star honour medal awarded to those injured in battle.
"Your magic is an abnormal type, correct?" Emperor Drach V asked me.
"Yes, Your Majesty," I answered firmly.
"In that case, when you head to the regular magic academy, I can entrust my daughter to you. Her name is Thelma Clara von Saxoburg, currently a freshman, and it has been difficult to find an instructor for her," Emperor Drach V confided in me.
"I believe I can manage that, Your Majesty," I replied with a smile.
"It would be wonderful if you could help her win the mages' combat championship just like her mother did," Emperor Drach V shared. "You would certainly be a great fit as my daughter's trainer!"
"I will do my best, Your Majesty," I replied attentively.
Afterwards, Emperor Drach V moved on to other rooms to check on the remaining injured soldiers. Brig Gen Thorn approached me again and handed me an assignment document. "By order of Emperor Drach V, you are being sent to the capital's magic academy. You will serve as an instructor there."
"Non-military?" I asked Brig Gen Thorn.
"Yes," he answered. "The higher-ups at headquarters agreed as well. On top of that, it was Emperor Drachne's personal wish to place you there."
I accepted the letter and took on my new job. Only after the Emperor departed was I finally discharged from the hospital. Brig Gen Thorn drove me to Trinity Magic Academy, where I would be teaching. We rode in his official vehicle driven by his aide.
"Trinity Magic Academy is full of nobles, Yogiri," Brig Gen Thorn said. "I have already requested the Civil Registry Office to elevate your status to nobility as well since you adopted the Klausmann family name."
"Thank you, Brig Gen Thorn."
Silence fell over us again as we got stuck in traffic.
"I assume the free house from the Emperor will remain empty then?" I asked Brig Gen Thorn. "Since I will be living in the instructors' dormitory, right?"
"Do not worry, you can choose between staying in the instructors' dormitory or living in your own house," Brig Gen Thorn replied.
Brig Gen Thorn opened his bag and handed me my phone, wallet, and identification card. "A farewell gift from me, Master Sergeant Klausmann."
"Former Master Sergeant, right?" I raised an eyebrow.
"About that, your military status is active part-time," Brig Gen Thorn answered. "Just in case the war worsens, we can recall you."
"Fair enough."
I checked my identification card. Honestly, I did not care whether my birthdate was accurate or not. From my early childhood memories, I grew up in an orphanage. No one knew my exact date of birth, so the orphanage caregiver set it to September 11.
I could be considered nineteen years old now. A product of this country's controversial government program, a measure forced upon the nation to utilise parentless children during the mage crisis. Ordinary citizens who lacked magic had no desire to join the military.
Ridiculously, those same ordinary citizens frequently criticised us mages. Ungrateful people, truly.
Our car moved forward again as the traffic jam cleared up.
"How far is the distance from my house to the academy?" I asked Brig Gen Thorn.
"Since it is located on the outskirts of the capital, I would say about an hour and a half by commuter train," Brig Gen Thorn answered me.
"In that case, I will just stay at the dormitory," I said.
Before long, our vehicle pulled into a vast front yard, easily comparable in size to a public university. As our car drove through the grounds of Trinity Magic Academy, several students and academy staff looked on with curiosity.
Our official vehicle finally stopped right in front of a grand building featuring an LED sign that read 'Academy Leadership and Administrative Centre '.
A valet staff member rushed over to open the passenger door. The moment I stepped out, his eyes locked onto the master sergeant rank insignia and the Purple Star medal pinned to my chest. Instinctively, he snapped to attention and saluted.
"No need to salute us," I said, repeating the phrase Viper 6 used to say whenever he scolded base guards. I formally returned the salute. "We are not worthy of honour."
Brig Gen Thorn stepped out of the car after me. After bowing slightly to return the academy security officer's salute, the two of us walked side by side up the steps toward the building's ground floor. Some of the students watching us were in awe.
Some saluted while others offered curtsies. The male and female students of this academy extended polite greetings to us.
"Welcome, Brig Gen Thorn and Master Sergeant Klausman. Academy Director Lady Selia Weissen is expecting you in her office." A woman dressed in a neat white suit greeted us. She seemed to be a civilian, as she lacked a halo above her head.
"I will guide you there." The woman led us toward the elevator.
"Thank you," I replied and followed her.
Once inside the elevator, the woman pressed the top floor button herself. The elevator doors opened directly inside the academy director's office.
Brig Gen Thorn removed his official military service cap, and I followed suit. A woman sitting in a wheelchair was waiting for us. The woman who escorted us departed back down using the elevator.
"Lady Selia, good afternoon," Brig Gen Thorn initiated the conversation.
"Please have a seat," Lady Selia replied to both of us.
Brig Gen Thorn and I walked over to the sofa in the room and sat down. Lady Selia seemed preoccupied. "Tea or coffee?"
"I do not drink tea or coffee. What would you like, Klausmann?" Brig Gen Thorn asked me.
"Just tea," I replied.
"Judging by how dim your halo is glowing, chamomile tea would be good for you," Lady Selia said as she prepared tea for me. She then transferred from her wheelchair to the sofa across from us. "PTSD, I presume."
"Fortunately, the war is coming to an end soon," Lady Selia remarked.
"This is regarding what we discussed via our online meeting," Brig Gen Thorn said, attempting to brush off Lady Selia's idle small talk.
"Yes, yes, yes, I know. Welcome to Trinity Magic Academy, Master Sergeant Klausmann, though your rank will be kept hidden while you are here. Urgh, I hate how the military did not grant you full retirement and instead put you on part-time duty," Lady Selia spoke. "You already know your job description here, right? If you watch mages combat matches on television or online, you surely know the drill."
"Essentially, I will be training and guiding the students under my care to compete in mage combat, correct?" I replied firmly.
"Spot on. However, the environment here is not quite as strict as the military. Do not worry about encountering troublesome students either, because every student here is gentle and polite. They only turn fierce when competing inside the combat arena," Lady Selia said.
"This is to collect the equipment and facilities provided by the academy. You will receive a tablet, a laptop, a computer, an instructor dormitory room, and an access card to use the academy's official vehicles." Lady Selia handed me a card. "You can exchange this downstairs later."
"And here is your contract, please read it over." Lady Selia presented her tablet displaying my contract.
The terms were identical to a standard teacher employment contract. Nothing out of the ordinary, except that the academy permitted me to leave whenever the military called upon me. After reading it thoroughly, I signed and handed the tablet back to Lady Selia.
"Klausmann, it was an honour leading you," Brig Gen Thorn patted my back. "I hope you enjoy your new life here."
"Yes, thank you," I replied to Brig Gen Thorn and gave him a brief embrace.
"Until we meet again. I leave the rest in your hands, Lady Selia." Brig Gen Thorn took his leave.
I was left alone with Lady Selia in the room. The woman, who was older than me, observed me with curiosity. She returned to her wheelchair and examined the halo above my head.
"This is my first time seeing someone with abnormal magic possess a halo shaped like this," Lady Selia noted as she inspected it. "By the way, I already received word from Emperor Drach V that he wants you to train his daughter."
"Tomorrow is her tryout match. If she fails this final tryout match, she will inevitably be expelled from the academy. This is also our first time having an instructor with abnormal type magic, so there is no training manual available for you to instruct her." Lady Selia added.
"So my duties also include creating a training guide for future abnormal type coaches, given how extremely rare abnormal magic is?" I asked, still allowing the academy director to inspect my halo.
"Pretty much. If you ever have free time, would you mind helping me conduct research on abnormal type magic as well? The military is quite stingy when it comes to sharing information about this magic," Lady Selia requested in a friendly tone.
This person seemed remarkably approachable and easy to get along with.
"Sure," I answered. "So, when will I be shown to my room?"
"Oh right, my apologies. Follow me." Lady Selia asked me to follow her into the elevator. Upon reaching the ground floor, we headed to the administrative right wing dedicated to teachers and instructors.
After exchanging the card from earlier, I received all the mentioned amenities, complete with a free academy bag, an instructor uniform, and a suitcase. I then followed Lady Selia outside the leadership and administrative centre.
We boarded a special vehicle used to navigate the academy grounds. It resembled a golf cart, only slightly larger, with Lady Selia driving it herself. We headed toward the northwest section of the academy where staff, teachers, and instructors resided.
The eight-story U-shaped residential building for staff was quite impressive. In the centre of the U-shape lay a small garden, a cafe, and a bar reserved for teachers.
"The cafe operates Monday through Friday, while the bar serves alcoholic drinks only on Saturdays," Lady Selia explained as she stepped out of the vehicle. "It is relatively quiet right now since school hours are still ongoing and everyone is busy."
"Erm, my room is 4009? That means it is on the fourth floor?" I asked, checking my room access card.
"Exactly," Lady Selia answered. "Oh, by the way, you are free to address me as Lady Selia or Academy Director around here, but I personally prefer Lady Selia."