“Sir, Sunders… Sir, An—Angor already joined White Coral Floating Island Academy, so, so—so…”
Mara did not finish. It was not because he was scared of Sunders. He was sweating because everyone else was staring at him.
The room was filled with the voice of chattering and went quiet when Angor was about to answer Sunders. As all people were waiting for Angor’s choice in dead silence, Mara’s sudden reaction naturally caught their attention.
Angor was only feeling uneasy under people’s gaze because he was still young and did not know much about the wizarding world. He could at least talk like normal. Mara, on the other hand, had seen many incidents showing human natures. He usually knew how to act in certain situations. He knew to be modest when wizards were around; this was why he kept stuttering when all the formal wizards were looking at him.
Looking at the big disappointment, Heroline spat in disgust inside her mind.
Florent lifted a hand and covered his face. He was already burning red.
Mara did not finish his words, but his intention was clear.
However, Sunders never paid him any attention. He was still waiting for Angor’s answer while stroking his gloves.
Mara stood in the center of attention in embarrassment. Before he felt devoured by the terrible quietness, an eerie giggle broke the silence.
“Angor is the academy’s student? Why didn’t I hear about that?”
It was Flora. She was floating in the air like lying in an armchair, with her smooth, bright thighs crossed. Her white toe tips were dipping in rhythm.
“I brought him to the ship—”
“So what? Bringing him to the ship means he must join your… what group was it again?” Flora began taunting again.
“I…”
“Besides, he’s still a mortal. No spirit model inside him. How is he your student?” said Flora. She took out her delicate umbrella and pointed to Mara, “Your academy teaches Triangle Channeling, am I right? So did you teach it to Angor? If you did, I don’t mind leaving him be, like what I did to Easley.
“Or did you not do it at all since you started from the Marginalized Island till Devil’s Water?”
Mara and Florent froze in place. No, they did not.
Flora looked at Angor again. “Angor, is it? Big sis will tell you something. Organizations like theirs are usually referred to as ‘academism’ by us. Similar to how some apprentices divide wizards into black and white. Such organizations value new talents and usually teach their channeling methods while on the guidance ship. I checked on the talents on the ship, more than half of them already have spirit models constructed inside their bodies.
“It means, if they see a talented one as important, they will teach him or her the channeling method as soon as possible. Now, look at you. How long did you stay on The Redbud now? And still a common one. You see now? Heehee. They never cared about you.”
Flora’s remark hit the nail of it.
Mara was trembling hard again. He was planning to teach Angor channeling along with Alan and Aleen. He decided otherwise because he expected some kind of reward back first. He was true when speaking about “equivalent exchange” in the wizarding world, and of course, he would not want to teach channeling to someone for free.
“Any questions? If you already taught Angor, you can take him away as a wizard’s rule, we won’t stop you. But if you didn’t, Angor has the right to choose for himself. You should stop meddling.”
Mara did not move. Everyone else in the room was supernatural, they certainly noticed. Angor was a common mortal, and there was not a tiny trace of channeling training on him.
Flora was using Jellal’s reasoning a while ago to slap Mara’s face.
And Mara could not argue.
Angor neither received the academy’s channeling method nor went through a formal talent test. He could be considered a reserved student for the academy, and a reserved student was still free. There was no contract, no emotional bond. Mara could not even use moral grounds to push the matter.
In the end, Mara no longer had anything to say. He stepped aside quietly.
Looking at how Heroline was staring at him in hatred, Mara could only look down in shame. If only he knew what would happen today, he would have already taught Angor the Triangle Channeling. It was nothing valuable anyway.
If only…
Mara felt his situation changed from fortunate to desolation so fast. Thinking about his possible consequences upon returning to the academy, even Greya’s meal could not cheer him up now.
With endless sorrow, Mara felt himself instantly gaining another ten years in age. He moved to a corner and sulked on his own.
…
“Angor, dear, made up your mind?” Flora floated to Angor and looked at him with a seducing look. She said, “I’m sure you want to become my little junior.”
Her flirtation did not receive an expected outcome. Angor’s eyes were clear as always. He even frowned at Flora’s attempt.
Flora paused, and secretly let out a “little bastard” in her mind. She rolled her eyes, then returned to Greya to keep talking about meals.
People were looking at Angor again.
Angor looked at Mara, then back at Sunders.
He was hesitating not because he was afraid of offending someone. Instead, he was worried about Sunders’ intention. He did not believe in free favors. When Mara refused to teach him Triangle Channeling, he actually felt relieved. Sunders came too sudden. There must be a reason why the man wanted to take him away.
Angor was worried because he did not know if he could satisfy Sunders’ expectation, thus angering the terrible gentleman.
What did he want? How far could Angor satisfy him? Angor was struggling over these questions.
He did not have to worry about these if he chose White Coral Floating Island Academy. But… could he really save his teacher in five years with the help of the academy?
For himself. For his teacher.
Angor clenched his teeth, raised his head in determination and let out a single word:
“Alright.”
Clear and firm.
Sunders smiled. “Very good.”
Even Flora began to show a more gentle look towards Angor.
Apart from those people from White Coral Floating Island Academy, who all showed regret, the rest of the group regarded Angor with a serious look.
Before they came into Barbie’s Restaurant, this young man was only someone extremely lucky, and that was nothing important to them. However, half an hour later, this young man was going to earn himself a higher and higher ground with the help of his mentor. No one would ever consider him a common kid. He might still be a mortal at this moment, but his future… was unpredictable.