Professor Gemstone in the snake pit. part 2 (43)

"Where's Professor?"

Ashera observed from the back of the room as the students assembled. Ming, who apparently had some sort of answer, was shrinking on himself at the attention he received.

"He's... Not... He had something to do. He said... Be careful of people."

"That's all?"

"Do you think he was kidnapped?"

"That can't be right. If he said there was something he had to do, then it's the truth."

Lucas turned to Ming.

"Did he say when he would be back."

Ming shook his head.

"No. But... He said it might be long."

"Long how?"

"Weeks long."

Incredulous but wordlessl complaints filled the dining hall.

Ashera personally took it as a sign that their teacher trusted them – or that he'd been kidnapped, but then what were the chances that Ming had said goodbye to the Professor? They shared the same quarters, Ming would probably have seen something if his favorite adult had been violently taken away.

Ashera resolved not to worry for the time being.

***

Ming slipped away as soon as he was done with his breakfast.

In truth, he knew the Professor hadn't come to bed during the evening. From the discussion they had had the day before, he had assumed that it was intentionnal.

The idea of kidnapping might be worth the thinking time, though. For some reason, the Professor had told him to be careful around others and to stick close to his classmates. That meant the Professor had a reason not to trust the people from Luversten castle, right?

But the Count Saera Ilya that Ming knew was with him – because he too had disappeared who knew where – wasn't someone from the Luversten castle. And the Professor had promised the Count would protect him.

...Not that the Professor needed any help protecting himself. Ming had seen it. The Professor kept hidden weapons in his jacket, and he could walk as soundless as a cat!

But that wasn't something he should tell the others. They talked a lot, who knew which malevolent person could catch that information.

Ming knew the importance of information.

***

Dereck arrived to the training hall at last. He looked around. Sandra remained put.

"Good morning every one. Do you know where your teacher is?"

"Haven't seen him since yesterday, sir."

Kai and Hymei exchanged an unreadable glance as Dereck tapped on the hilt of his giant sword, deep in thought.

"Do you not know where he's gone, sir?"

Dereck passed a hand in his hair at the inquiry.

"Sorry kids, he doesn't really tell me where he goes half of the time. Hopefully, he'll be back by tonight. Come on, let's get training."

Well, Sandra thought. If even Dereck wasn't very worried, then it shouldn't be a big concern, she concluded.

"What do you think?" Alexandra whispered.

"What do I think of what?"

"The Prof!"

"Nothing. Teachers are allowed to have their private life."

Ilun scoffed and muttered, clearly intending not to be heard:

"That man doesn't have a life."

"Ilun," Sandra scolded him gently, "That is rude. In any case, I heard from Alan that Professor Gemstone made a friend, recently, so he does have a private life."

Dereck had come behind them.

"A friend that is not me?" he asked teasingly as they turned, mildly surprised at his appearance, "I'm jealous! Who is it?"

Alan heard them from a couple feet away. He turned away from Leo to reply:

"Someone looking like an icecube, but really cool-looking and beautiful. Do you know him, sir?"

Dereck straightened, he frowned.

"...Was it a red-clad young man?" he tried to confirm, suspiciously.

Alan was put off for an instant.

"Uh... Yeah. What about it?"

Dereck shook his head, but his features were still drawn seriously.

"Nothing... At least, nothing for you kids to worry about. I just had an idea. Come on, start your drills, everyone!"

***

The next day, Ming was found sneaking around at dawn. He overheard a couple people speaking heatedly and been curious enough to follow, for he heard the head knight's voice.

"Tell me you didn't do anything out of line."

"What line? Dereck, to you, where is the line now? I only do what the Queen orders, you know it. Don't you go around prancing the word traitor on the back of your armor."

"... Fineas, I just need to know."

"... If something happened to them, I was not privy to what. I don't see why they would concern themselves over some helpless teacher when they could go at it far more quietly if they so wished."

"Thank you, Fin."

Ming heard one of them walking away, and closer to where he was hiding, and he started to make his retreat. Before the voices could fade off in the distance, he heard another piece.

"Dereck, be careful. I don't know what you're getting into... But one day you're going to land yourself in trouble, and I won't be here to clean after you."

Ming didn't know if Dereck answered the one named Fineas.

He spent the rest of the day docily hanging around Shanon. For all she could have a temper, she wasn't one to talk for no reason. He liked that. And she was nice.

Ming liked to have her protective presence next to him when he needed time to think. He was so busy thinking about that conversation, feeling a slow creeping fear that didn't express itself on his frozen features... But among all the doubts and the questions, he also had the memory of his Professor sitting back to him, telling him he would always come back. And it brought him comfort... as well as a new kind of determination.

He saw the man again, kneeling in front of him, saying he was investigating something. And he thought:

I want to help.