Proofread by Thomas F
Zaira Kadiz
"Now that the questions are over, it's time for Miss Swan to show what she will teach you all for the next two weeks," said Vaelith, with a big smile.
I wanted to glare at the man.
He could have stated it more politely and addressed her by her title.
I turned to the woman. In our communication, I had informed her about it and asked her what she would teach, but the woman wanted it to be a surprise.
This is another tradition that every visiting professor has to go through, and the harshest one, because if the student didn't like it, they could just leave.
There is no greater disrespect for a teacher than that—a real blow to their self-confidence.
I have heard a lot of things about the woman, but we have one of the best teachers in every field. Including her own field, we had expert painters and High-Mages.
One of them is level away from becoming a Great Mage. He is very talented, you might say.
I hope students will not be excessively harsh, and at least a quarter of them will remain.
"It will be my pleasure," replied the woman with a smile and put her hand in her bag, and a moment later. She took something out.
A paintbrush?
"Artifact!" Vaelith hissed, while the students seemed shocked. It's an artifact.
Even among the pupils, only a few of their houses have them.
Prismstroke Brush.
My skill revealed the name and its information. It's a trinket artifact that had disappeared for years.
She said nothing and moved the brush. It lit up faintly, and a moment later, it began to paint across the air, as if it were a canvas.
I watched her as she moved the brush. Her eyes filled with concentration, her movements as precise as the brush, creating stroke after stroke.
Nobody spoke, as they watched enthralled.
There is too much mana in the paint. I thought, as I sensed it and looked at Mage Artala, who nodded. If something happens, she will deal with it; if she can't, I will.
Minutes passed, and she took back her brush.
In front of us was a beautiful stag, wearing a violet crown, the emblem of our school.
"A beautiful painting, Miss Swan, but not that special. We have painters who could paint it even better and that without the help of an artifact!" mocked Vaelith.
I want to hit the bastard. Why can't he be like his cousin?
I controlled my emotions and turned to the woman to praise it when something shocking happened.
The stag burst into life.
It became a stag of flame, with a flaming crown on its head. If that was not shocking enough, it raised its head beautifully and mewed enchantingly before it moved.
It trotted through the air, releasing glittering mist on the places it stepped on while it mewed.
I watched in shock, not just myself and Vaelith, but everywhere else the people were shocked.
I have never seen students so shocked. Especially the rich; they have seen everything. It's very difficult to shock them, but here they are, with their mouths wide open.
It made the round of the whole grand hall before it appeared in front of the student and bowed, dissolving into mist that glittered the grand hall for a few seconds.
The applause rang out, and it was loud- the loudest I had ever experienced in my student days here and the longest. It lasted for minutes before it finally quieted down.
"I am not a talented painter or mage as your incredible teachers are, but I have a minor talent for paint casting, in which I will guide any of those who wish it," she said softly, and I could see excitement appearing in the eyes of many.
Isolde was right. She had said I shouldn't underestimate it.
She said everyone, the Madams, are capable—especially the top ones —and that I shouldn't make the mistake of underestimating them.
"Grand Administress will teach the class for ten days beginning tomorrow."
"Those interested, please register for it in the administration office," I instructed, and I know many are going to be.
I had already prepared the place and limited the number to just fifteen, but I looked at the girls' expressions. I knew that number wouldn't be enough.
It made me extremely happy.
I invited her so my students could learn in Artisan's Garden, but even for that, they are going to learn here from this incredible woman.
Paint casting is a rare casting style that only a few could do. It's difficult and not that popular, as it's not useful in battle. However, it's going to be very suitable for these young ladies.
…
Margaux Swan
"That was incredible, Headmistress. Paintcasting is hard, far harder than conventional spellcasting." The woman said as we walked out of the grand hall.
She seemed impressed, her polite face cracking into a genuine smile.
"Thank you for your kind words, Principal," I replied.
This is the first time I have displayed the artifact and my paintcasting talent in public, along with my proficiency with the artifact. Lord Silver had asked me to do that; he wanted me to impress them.
He said it would be a small teaser for the grand show we had planned for Legacy's opening.
Which is another reason for my unwillingness to come here before the opening.
Soon, we stepped into the courtyard, and there I saw a massive brazier made of blade stone. It was straightforward, other than being huge- ten meters in diameter- with blazing yellow-white flame burning in it.
"Thorn's Brazier," I said, and she nodded. "Our protection artifact," she replied.
Yes, it's an artifact, one of three that the academy holds. It's one of the most powerful artifacts under relic class.
They also have a relic, but it remains in Oksall. Though the state pays them rent for it. So, one could imagine the money this academy has.
It isn't just the artifact, but the large amount of land the academy possesses.
Its size is that of a standard Viscounty.
The towns and villages under its domain are among the most prosperous in the Merchant States.
"I heard it is forged from a single enemy the countess had killed?" I asked. "Yes, she herself had participated in its forging process, and that flame is hers," she replied.
I nodded and walked toward the flame.
Unlike the grotesque monster, there was no suppression from the flame. Instead, all I could feel was warmth that seemed to take away all fatigue and worries.
"It's incredible," I said, and she just smiled.
An hour later, after the tour of the castle, we entered the Principal's office, which screams history.
Everything, from the furniture to the pieces hanging on the wall, seemed to have great history attached to it.
"I am envious of you, Headmistress. You get to head a new institution which you can mould to your vision. Here every piece has a great history. I have to think a hundred times before changing the smallest thing."
"And even for it, the board gets on my ass," said the woman as she took her seat.
"And I am envious of your school's history, traditions, and the level of respect the name brings," I replied. She laughed, hearing that.
Even until the carriage stepped onto the ground, I was against it, but now, in just a few hours, I am glad Master Silver had forced me to come here.
I already have tens of ideas I want to implement in our college.
"I hope your two weeks here will be a great beginning of cooperation between our two great institutions," she said. Earlier, I had doubts, but now I feel this might turn into more than a one-off thing.
"We will try our hardest for it," I replied with a smile.
There won't be any new agreements for a while; we want to see how it goes, and they are waiting to see whether we survive the coming threats.
Only after that will we talk about the next step in our cooperation.
"Now, from tomorrow for ten days you will teach a class at eleven every day. After that, you will shadow other leading staff and myself."
"We will meet every day in the evening," she stated. We have already finalized it before I came here.
My job is to teach, observe, and learn from this place, and I will.
I want the college to reach the height this place has. I know many would mock me if they heard it, but we whores have potential, no less than daughters of the rich and powerful, and we have a far greater drive.
We can achieve it, and we will.
…
White Gyrge
The door of the secret passage opened, and a tall, graceful woman walked inside.
"Did you get it?" I asked, and she grinned before throwing the envelope toward me. I caught it and opened the envelope.
When I read it, a grin appeared on my face as well.
Finally, we can take revenge. I will show the world that nobody could mess with White Crown, not even a master of legacy. If they do, they will suffer the same fate as Silver.
"I have waited for this for a long time," she said. Well, to her, it's a kidnapping. So, she could exchange her for Juras, who had been languishing in jail in Greltheaven.
In reality, it's a kill contract.
I was going to do that either way, but then the contract came, offering a lot of money.
So, I am going to kill her and also take that artifact that she had shown off today. It may be a trinket, but it's going to fetch a lot of money.
"I know, and we will succeed," I replied with a smile.
Since her lover got caught, she had worked like a madwoman. Advanced leaps and bounds; if she keeps progressing, she may become powerful enough to challenge me within a year.
It's why she will not return alive.
Already Jragr is making things difficult for me; I do not need another challenger in the gang. He didn't even know about it, nor did the other captains.
It will remain as such until I finish the job.