"A mage grade qualification isn’t an academic examination, no one can hand you a mage grade." Remus continued over the class, now drawing to an end.
The students’ attention had varied at the beginning, as the course was being outlined. But the more the professor spoke, the more his passion and, arguably, his experience came through, and more and more of the students grew interested. Hung on his every word. Surprisingly, unlike other teachers they had in the past, he was very engaging.
Randomly, he would point to someone and ask them to call out something they should know, including them in the speech. If someone didn’t seem to know the answer, he didn’t focus on them. He moved on as if it were no big deal.
All of the students had unknowingly participated by the end of the lesson. A more experienced educator would understand what Remus had done. He was profiling all of them, their educational standing, their emotional behaviour in the classroom. As efficiently as a seasoned teacher.
"Everyone is a Grade One mage. They are born that way, capable of performing basic magic, if taught. Grade Two, as you are all aware, required immense study, building on foundations to increase the complexity of your goals. Grade Three is exactly the same, but at a much higher peak."
Remus continued his slow gaze around his audience as he spoke, eyeing everyone politely. Making them feel included.
"Graduating to Grade Three isn’t just a case of learning Grade Three things. It is a case of becoming an utmost master of Grade Two. Becoming an expert in everything within its domain. Spells. Glyphs. Systems. All knowledge."
Some of the students nodded along, already understanding this to limited degrees.
"Only then will the law of nature allow you to advance to Grade Three." Remus finished. "And you will. I will make sure of it."
It sounded dramatic, but it wasn’t presented that way. As he had spoken during the whole lesson, the professor made this promise calmly. But how the students felt on hearing it made it feel dramatic. Like a reassuring guarantee, while others took it as if they would be dragged kicking and screaming to the finishing line despite their abilities.
But no one questioned the professor’s conviction. His gaze said everything. It was going to happen.
"Class dismissed. See you all tomorrow."
Remus turned and walked back to his desk, hearing a few feeble ’thank yous’ from the students as they all stood to leave. Gathering different papers, he was organizing his things and putting them away into his bag, when he heard a group approach.
He didn’t need to look up to see who it was, he had a good guess.
"Professor Blake," the princess said, as she stopped in front of his desk. Remus looked up from his notes, seeing her and both the knights flanking behind her, but still keeping a respectful distance.
"Today was an interesting beginning lesson, you are good at what you do." She continued quietly, her voice wasn’t weak, just elegant.
"Thank you, Beatrice." The professor nodded his head in thanks. No one corrected him on honorifics. It was known inside the classroom that status and titles didn’t exist between teachers and students.
"I also wanted to convey my condolences. I knew your brother very well, he was very well admired and liked."
Both her knights subtly nodded in the background in agreement.
The professor’s carefully maintained professional expression softened slightly. "Thank you. I didn’t know him personally, but many have told me good things about him."
Beatrice nodded in agreement. "Yes. He was a good knight, and an even better man. He is still missed. Forgive me, but you look just like him, it is quite strange to see." She squinted her eyes slightly, as if investigating further. "Alec had blond hair, of course."
"I’ve been told I take after my mother," Remus agreed with a nod, before glancing toward the doors of the hall. An impatient Jacob was waiting, tapping his foot in annoyance, glaring at the group.
The princess followed Remus’ gaze before looking back with a smile. "Forgive my cousin, Professor Blake. Jacob is used to being the best for his age. Seeing someone as young as you with your success must be quite the blow to him. But I will make sure he behaves himself."
A light smile drew on Remus’ face, mirroring the princess’s. "I will continue doing my job regardless of his behavior."
"I imagine you would," Beatrice replied, her eyes sparkling mischievously for a moment. "Until tomorrow, Professor."
"Good day," Remus replied, nodding to the three of them, ignoring the glaring oaf at the door.
As they left through the door, the Headmaster entered the hall, catching Remus before he left.
"Well, Professor Blake, how did it go?"
"It went fine, Headmaster," Remus said, clasping his bag shut. "No complaints so far."
The old man hummed with an agreeable nod, pleased that there were no major issues. "Professor, if you have time today, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"
Remus paused as he picked up his jacket from the back of his chair, frowning at him in question. "Certainly? What is it?"
The Headmaster approached, dropping his voice. "The City Watch has been in contact, looking for some expert assistance. Not saying much, of course, but they came across something beyond their capabilities. Something involving gravity magic."
Remus didn’t interrupt, listening intently.
"From your interview last week, naturally you popped into my mind as I read the request."
Putting his jacket on, Remus asked, "A crime involving gravity magic?"
"That is what the message said, it seemed urgent. Would you have time today?"
"Of course. Where do I need to go?"
The Headmaster, pleased at his easy agreement, took out a note with address details. The station he needed to report to was not impossibly far away.
"Does this happen often?" Remus inquired.
"Sometimes." The Headmaster nodded. "The Watch have some reputed mages, but it sounds like this is more advanced than their resources can keep up with."
The old man watched as Remus picked up his case and moved around the table to shake the Headmaster’s hand.
"Thank you, Remus. I know you won’t embarrass the Academy, based on your conduct so far."
"I wouldn’t dream of it." The professor smiled.