Chapter 254: Boys

Chapter 254: Boys

Would I let Buffy the Vampire Slayer stab me if I happened to be a vampire? Well, isnt that a good question

Joey! Adrastus slaps my arm and I almost drop my cigar.

What?

You were drifting off, again! the man takes a puff from his own cigar and shakes his head. Anneus and Marcellus simply enjoy their own rolled tobacco, courtesy of yours truly.

Four guys puffing cigars and eating some pastries that I had in my bag of holding. Adrastus isnt that averse to wasting his time now, is he? Well, chilling with the boys is part of socializing at the Nine Towers Academy.

So, do you have any plans for what you are going with your studies? I ask Adrastus.

Arent we supposed to discuss Amelia?

Yeah, but no one managed a good idea so far, I shrug, we might as well get to know each other better. Plus, you have ditched us off yesterday night. You and the others.

We were busy with extracurriculars, Adrastus shakes his head and sighs, the midterm is not that easy, Joey. Not everyone here is a prodigy.

You two should be worried of all the time this guy is having you waste, Adrastus sighs.

Hes an idiot, Anneus agrees, but hes also been practicing Cantrips with us in private. Alba can probably blow your head off with a ball of [Light]. And Marcellus is not bad either.

We are still behind on theory, though, I nod. Some of it is plain boring. I get the history assignment, but the rest is a bit meh.

Meh?

Meh, I nod.

What is meh?

The rest is meh, I smile.

Hes botching History of Magic and keeps falling asleep during Fundamentals of Magical Theory, Marcellus explains, snapping out of the background check daze. Hes just a bit of a lunatic.

A bit, Anneus snorts. Yeah, right.

Im not botching History of Magic, I snort, I can guarantee you

Whats the latest assignment, then? Anneus volunteers.

Something absolutely and terribly boring, thats what it is, I smile. Also, I peer on the table, trying to see if Adrastus was working on that.

Primitive enchantments, Marcellus says, we have a paper due in four days.

Can I buy papers from Robin to skip the boring classes?

Ill never understand why that class is mandatory, I sigh.

Its mandatory because its supposed to teach us something useful. However, what its supposed to do is not always what it does. In practice, people needed a title as [Professors] and the related class, Adrastus explains.

I mean, they could have tried giving out a less boring class. Or maybe exploring the secrets of how magic was born, more interesting theories. Every time I hear that [Professor], I feel like I should just drop dead. Could teach soporiferous magic, Ill tell you that.

Everyone snorts at my joke and keep puffing on the cigar.

You should stop sleeping during the Fundamentals of Magical Theory class, Joey, Marcellus suddenly slaps his forehead. I got a note the other day because of you! You cant snore that loud!

Whatever, Ill tell the [Dean] to erase it. Whats a note anyway?

They weigh it in during your assessment. If your conduct has not been up to pair

They make you professor, I wink. Come on, forget about it. Marcy, you are going to be fine. If they dont want you, Ill fight tooth and nail for you. Look, Ill go around bribe the other [Professors] and get you in.

Arent you going to meet her again? he shoots back.

Yeah, duh. She wants to teach me some martial arts paired with magic.

Martial Magic, the elective available only to her most loyal disciples, Adrastus makes a face. You do have great connections, Joey Luciani.

Thank you, brother, I smile.

Lucinda and Laura, Adrastus repeats to himself, making another face.

And two others. Cassandre from the Baguetterie. And a certain Penelope, Anneus adds.

With all these girls around, its a miracle you actually study, Adrastus laughs.

Nah, that Cassandre is shady. And Penelope I just met her. Shes hot, but shes also Brshe has a weird accent. Anyway, the only girl for me is Princess Bianca. Thats it.

She didnt come with you today?

Nah, shes taking her royal nap.

Shes very moody, Marcellus says.

A bi

Dont say that, Anneus! Jesus! Dont you dare!

Anyway, what about Amelia? Marcellus says after half an hour of random blabbering.

I dont know, Anneus replies.

Joey, if I may. You have certain connections, right? Why dont you create some job offer around her? Not directly to her, as that may offend her. But if she was a [Caretaker] and shes a good enough [Tailor], Im sure she could do that.

Shes already falling behind on her studies, Anneus shakes his head. She has mold in her brain. You want to give her a full-time job? Sure, go ahead. Why dont you fail her directly for the midterm.

Not everyone is meant to be a [Mage], Anneus, Adrastus shoots back, if she cant do it, she cant do it. We cant just force knowledge onto her, can we?

Maybe we could find a way to employ someone to give her landlord a rough handling?

We all look at Marcellus with wide eyes.

Isnt that the problem? he replies shyly.

I mean, its extortion, I say, but why not. We could pay the landlord a visit, tell him to tell Amelia she won a scholarship for something something.

We could always send a letter to her children, Adrastus adds. She says they are quite well off. The academy is not cheap, but Im sure they could put together a bit of spare change for their mother.

Yeah, not. Lets not do that, I say with a sigh. That wont work. Lets try something else.

Have you tried asking her if she wants a loan? Adrastus asks, clearly tired of the back and forth.

She would never take it, Anneus says.

Why?

Too proud, I explain.

So what? If shes about to starve or be evicted, better to swallow your pride, no? And where are his sons anyway? Why do they leave their mother like this? For all flat ears, its their mother, Joey. Whatever happened between them, they might want to help her, no?

I scratch my head and straight ignore Adrastus.

Whatever. I need a nap. Im going home. Ill think of something.