A man dressed in a magical robe was sitting at a large table with many stacks of documents on it. Any stufon or professor knew the owner of this office as well as the person who was sitting at the table, it was Director Suga Tin.
It was obvious from him that he was already tired of sorting through documents and filling them out, but he had no opportunity to transfer these duties to others, the deans were busy teaching stufons and observing how they behave within the walls of the academy.
Suga Tin was involved in solving complex problems that professors and deans were unable to solve. At the moment, the director was preparing a list of stufons who would participate in the tournament this year, looking at the names and courses, he noticed that there were mostly representatives of senior courses, but there were three names that stood out two former princesses and a half-elf who was their husband. Suga Tin shaking his head, he didn't know if it was a gift or a curse for Trey to attract so much attention to himself.
He wanted Trey to take part in the tournament as the main participant, but Stufon agreed to participate in the main team only next year. The director understood that they could not avoid ridicule at the tournament again, as the academy had been the first to leave the tournament for ten years.
The director caught himself thinking that maybe next year it would be different, but pushing these thoughts away, the director continued to fill out the documents that needed to be submitted to the Council of magicians.
The tournament was held in different kingdoms and empires this year, the host was the kingdom of Dale, which was in the neighborhood of the remnants of the dwarves who did not even go outside. The tournament was supervised by the council of magicians, and the choice of venue was decided by them, many people wanted to see the best stufons of academies and guilds, and the council, together with government representatives, sold tickets to those who wanted to see with their own eyes.
Hearing someone knocking on the door, Suga Tin rubbed his eyes and stared intently at the door.
- Come in. - Suga Tin said, watching the door and waiting for someone to enter.
The door slowly opened until it opened completely and it was impossible not to see the visitor on the threshold, Professor Ni'lim turned out to be dressed in her black and white robe and short haircut, she looked like a stufon with her unusual smile that scared many, the director tried not to remember how long he had been persuading her to become a professor.
They knew each other for a long time, he was obsessed with learning his magic and developing it, she was looking for someone to whom she could pass on her knowledge, but everyone she chose could not stand her training.
Therefore, when Suga Tin became the director, he immediately remembered his old acquaintance, but she refused to become a professor in every possible way, explaining that it was better to search for a student in a natural environment and not where there are a lot of spoiled children.
The director tried different approaches, but agreed that she would check the most talented in the classes at her discretion, but only one training fight.
Having examined the office for the presence of others in the office, making sure that there is no one and closing the door behind him, walking to the sofa and lying down on it and looking at the director who silently watched the trick of Professor Ni'lim if it was another professor, he would have already felt the full force of the director on himself.
- Sugi, you're as busy as ever. - Professor Ni'lim said in a melodious voice, any professor or stufon if they witnessed her addressing the director was very surprised.
Suga Tin forced a smile, of all the professors, only she could communicate with him so brazenly and not be afraid of retribution from him.
- Someone has to keep order inside the academy and someone has to defend the interests of the academy behind its wall, Lim. - The director replied in a relaxed voice, relaxing in his chair and leaning back.
Both she and he communicated when they were alone without any formalities, they had overcome too much together to adhere to any formalities.
- I understand, I'm the one who looks after the academy inside and you're the one who's outside, right? - Professor Ni'lim said cheerfully.
The director nodded, of all the professors, he trusted only her without looking back, he was always calm about protecting the academy when he had to leave it on business.
- I found a student for myself Sugi, you were right there are more opportunities in the academy. - Professor Ni'lim said in a cheerful voice.
The director looked at Ni'lim in surprise and did not understand she was joking again? Sometimes she said that, but then admitted that it was a joke.
- And who is he? - The director asked cautiously, observing the behavior of Ni'lim.
Professor Ni'lim smiled and closed her eyes, remembering the lesson from the elite class of the first year and the behavior of the half-elf.
At first she thought that he, like everyone else, would beg and beg for mercy, but this half-elf was made of another metal, yes, he screamed, but no request to stop came from his lips and then a lesson when he himself approached her and asked her to train him and then something happened that she did not expect his long conversation with himself and that aura that absorbed her vibrations directed at him.
- A half-elf from the elite class of Stufon Trey. - Professor Ni'lim said with joy in her voice.
The director, even more intently began to peer into the face, he expected that she would laugh or somehow demonstrate that this was a joke.
- Sugi, you look like you doubt my words. - Professor Ni'lim said resentfully.
Suga Tin, trying to hide his growing surprise, waited for Ni'lim to share with him everything about her new student.
- Do you think he'll run away after the first training session? - Professor Ni'lim asked, looking at the director.
The director, after thinking a little, remembering what trials the last candidate went through, nodded confirming her words about his doubts.
- And if I tell you that he asked me to train him?- Ni'lim spoke cheerfully.
The director was increasingly surprised, is it possible that he had not left the office for so long that the world outside the walls was already different?
- And I agreed, but the funny thing is, when was the last time you heard about a swordsman who conducted a dialogue with himself? - Professor Ni'lim asked a strange question, looking at the director.
Thinking about the question of Ni'lim, he had heard for a long time that someone was able to talk to himself, it was a rare situation for both magicians and swordsmen, many dreamed of achieving this at such moments, magicians and swordsmen received enlightenment along their way.
- Quite a while ago, have you experienced a conversation with yourself recently? - Suga Tin asked in a thoughtful voice.
Laughing at his words, Professor Ni'lim, crossing her legs and folding her hands on her stomach and looking into the eyes of the director, she wanted to remember the expression on his face when he told him this.
- Not me, stufon Trey experienced a conversation with himself today, but I will say even more, it was the longest conversation with myself that I have seen or heard in my entire life. - Professor Ni'lim said laughing as she watched the director's face change.
The director looked at Professor Ni'limon with a shocked face and saw that she was not joking but extremely serious in her words. If someone finds out that young stufon experienced a conversation with himself, it will excite all empires and kingdoms in the desire to hire him in the future.
- These are the expressions I wanted to see, but that's not all. When have you ever seen the aura of a monarch? - Professor Ni'lim asked in a serious voice, her joking and cheerful tone disappeared.
He knew that look well, and the tone with which she spoke. If talking to oneself was a rarity, then the aura of a monarch was a legend about famous kings and emperors in whose presence even enemies knelt, so strong was this aura. All kings and emperors had a small part of this aura. Mostly it was felt from the rulers, but none of the living could summon and demonstrate it.
- No. - The director answered, trying to hide his former surprise.
Smiling at Suga Tin's behavior, the professor wondered how much he would react to her next words.
- He evoked an aura so strong that the other stufons knelt and lowered their heads down when I sent him a slight hesitation. - Professor Ni'lim spoke in a serious voice.
If someone else had told him this, he would have put these words under great doubt, but knowing that Ni'lim is not one of those who throw words around.
- So strong? Someone from the stufons was able to understand that this is not a spell? - The director asked anxiously.
If one of the stufons could understand that this is not a spell, but something more, then Trey will begin to be in danger and his task as director is to protect his stufons, especially such a rarity as this strange half-elf.
- No, they probably thought it was Trey's powerful spell, so he's safe for now. - Professor Ni'lim said thoughtfully, remembering the reaction of the stufons.
Listening to Ni'lim's words, the director relaxed, there was a small chance that someone realized that it was not a spell.
- Watch him and tell me everything about his training. - The director turned to Ni'lim in a serious voice.
Nodding at the words of the director, Professor Ni'lim saw how her coat of arms on the uniform began to blink and shimmer with different colors. Surprised by this, after running her fingers over it, she received a message that Stufon Trey had taken assignments and would be absent from classes until the assignment was completed.
- And he doesn't waste any time. - Professor Ni'lim said in surprise.
Not seeing the message that Ni'lim received, the director had to wait until she told him.
- Stufon Trey took the assignments and he won't be in class until he completes the assignments. - Professor Ni'lim said thoughtfully.
Surprised that the same half-elf experienced both a conversation with himself and the fact that he has an aura and now he just goes on assignments?
- It says what kind of tasks? - The director asked Ni'lim.
Checking the information received, Professor Ni'lim did not find out what the tasks were, shaking her head in response to the director.
- I suggest we go to the task bureau to find out what kind of tasks he took. - Getting up from his chair, the director said.
Watching the director get up, Professor Ni'lim couldn't stand it and laughed, she knew well and understood why he wanted to leave the office so much.
- Just say you want to take a break from Sugi's paperwork. - Professor Ni'lim said laughing, getting up from the sofa and heading for the exit.
He wanted to say that it was not so, but knowing that she was right, he smiled stiffly, demonstrating that she was right. After leaving the office together, they went to the assignment bureau, passing through the corridors and stairs, they caught the surprised glances of both professors and stufons who they met along the way.
The director already foresaw how rumors would spread around the academy, looking at Ni'lim, nothing was clear on her face, but he knew that she didn't care what was said about her.
Approaching the task bureau, everyone remembered how they came here to receive their first tasks, so they had an interest in what Trey chose for his first experience. Entering the building, both looking around, remembering how they came here with stufons and chose possible tasks for themselves. Sighing, they headed to the end of the hall where the same professor who confirmed Trey's assignments was sitting
Professor Noel, who was sitting with the same bored expression on his face, for today there were not so many stufons who wanted to take assignments, but watching the director and the professor, whom he knew well, approach him, his boredom disappeared from his face, waiting until they came to talk.
- Good afternoon, Director, Professor Ni'lim, how can I help you? - Noel asked in a polite tone, looking at the director and the professor.
The director nodded and began to think about how to ask without arousing suspicion from Professor Noel.
- Professor Noel, I received a message that Stufon Trey took assignments and he won't be in class is it true? - Professor Ni'lim asked.
Unlike Suga Tin, who had no obvious reason to come here, she had it since she was one of the professors who taught at Trey's.
- Professor Ni'lim, that's right, this stufon came and chose tasks to accompany the caravan. - Professor Noel answered confirming the message that came to her.
Hearing about the assignment and the fact that it was for the escort of the caravan, the director frowned, the escorts were designed for older courses, since there was an opportunity to face a strong opponent.
- What course is this assignment designed for? - The director asked, looking into Professor Noel's eyes.
Seeing the look and listening to the director's question, Professor Noel, no matter how hard he tried, could not curse Trey. The director was right, he should not have given permission to perform these tasks.
- The second or third year. - Professor Noel stammered, trying not to look into the eyes of the director.
Suga Tin frowned even more, he understood if the tasks were only the second but the third course means that there is a risk of encountering danger in this task.
- And you, Professor Noel, allowed the first-year stufon to take this assignment? - The director asked for confirmation.
Professor Noel understood that he went against the rules, but he did not think that the half-elf would attract so much attention, he had given such permission before, but this is the first time someone came to him to find out about the task.
- That's right, I wanted to refuse him, but he said he had an A-rank servant. - Professor Noel replied, trying to find a way out of the situation.
Standing next to Suga Tin, Professor Ni'lim tried not to laugh at this situation in which Professor Noel found himself.
- And did you believe stufon that he really has such a servant? - Suga Tin asked, showing his annoyance.
The professor felt like any word was pushing him to resign from the academy, so he turned his gaze to Professor Ni'lim and with a request in his eyes to help him get out of this situation.
- Director, I understand your indignation, but let's look at this situation from a different angle. - Professor Ni'lim said, touching Suga Tin's shoulder with her hand, unnoticed by another professor.
It was their old sign that they needed to calm down, feeling her touch, the director turned his gaze to her, waiting for what she would say.
- If he is confident in his abilities, he will complete this task and demonstrate that he is strong enough, so I suggest waiting until he returns from the task. - Trying to make her voice serious, Professor Ni'lim said.
Listening to Professor Ni'lim, the director agreed with her point of view, but he wanted to punish Professor Noel's complacency.
- And if he, as an elite stufon and the owner of the disappeared magic, dies on this task? - The director asked without taking his eyes off Professor Noel.
Realizing that he wanted to punish and make Professor Noel worry, she couldn't help but smile.
- Of course, Professor Noel, who gave him permission for this assignment, will be guilty of this. - Professor Ni'lim said, smiling sweetly.
At first, Professor Noel was glad that Professor Ni'lim had found a way to help him, but after hearing her last words, he was ready to curse her along with Stufon Trey.
- It's a good idea, we'll do it and you, Professor Noel, pray if you believe the gods that they will hear you. - Agreeing with Professor Ni'lim's suggestion, the director replied in a serious voice.
Turning to the pale Professor Noel, the director and Professor Ni'lim left the assignment bureau.