"Professor?" Olivia said right as I entered the class.
"Yes? Is there a problem?" I replied with a smile, knowing very well why all my students were looking at me so strangely.
"Why are you wearing something like this? Are you sick?"
"What do you mean? I'm feeling very well. I'm feeling even better than when we went to Atlantis!"
I laughed as I looked over to all my students who were confused. After all, I was currently wearing clothes that people would wear when it would be freezing outside, with snow falling down everywhere.
Jackson was the one who spoke up this time. "Mister, why are you something like this? Are you leaving to go somewhere again?"
"That's right, Jackson. You really are smart. Yes, we are leaving for the Snowy Mountains right now."
"RIGHT NOW?!" Everyone in the class shouted as they lost their mind. "But we didn't get any alerts on our watches about this."
"Ah, that. Who cares about that watch? Anyway, get ready. We'll be gone for an unknown of time, so get as much stuff as possible before leaving. You'll need it."
As I said that, I could see the color fading on the faces of most of my students. It was quite a funny sight, and I tried my best not to laugh. After all, most of them were probably terrified of the Snowy Mountains. They also weren't even informed.
"The Academy has to inform us in advance when we are leaving the Academy, so why didn't we get any notice this time?"
I sighed. "Did I get any notice when we went to Atlantis? No."
I shook my head.
"Now, this is not up for discussion. Get ready to leave right away. We are leaving today."
"Does the Academy know about this?" Jackson asked.
"Does this know that, blablabla. Just get ready. We're leaving. You don't need the details. We are leaving, that's all."
Murmurs were everywhere in the classroom as people stood up from their seats.
"Ava...don't worry too much, alright. As long as I'm there, nothing will ever happen to Olivia or any of my students, for that matter."
She started crying right away, falling into my arms.
"But you told them that you had no idea when they would be coming back to the Academy." She slowly looked up into my eyes, tears running down her face. "You know you can tell me what's really happening to you, right? I swear I won't tell anyone...I swear."
She just cried in my arms after uttering those words without saying anything. My shirt started getting wet, but I just stood there with my arms wrapped around her, slowly caressing her back.
"Don't worry too much about me, alright?" I muttered with a smile as she looked back into my eyes.
"Tsk. Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?" I frowned slightly.
"Pushing people away...not telling them what's really going on in your mind. You're always hiding stuff and keeping it for yourself."
She shook her head.
"I just want to help you...so why can't you help me? I won't tell anyone..."
I looked at her with the words in my throat, literally stuck. Nothing would come out of my mouth. I didn't know what to say for the first time in my life. I was just stuck there...unable to say anything.
It seemed Ava was able to see right through me for some reason... It was as if she could understand what I was really feeling behind this wall that I had built up for myself.
Still, I didn't want her to worry.
"It's just something that's related to Derek. Don't worry. All the students will come back in one piece. You have my word."
"And what about you? Students this, students that, what about you? Can you be sure that you will also stay safe out there?"
I smiled as I patted the back of her head. "Don't worry, I'll get back in one piece, too."
Still, as I uttered those words, I knew that there was some part of me that felt like this was a lie. After all, if the choice was between me surviving or the rest of my students, the choice would be easily made.