As he reached the hallway his door was located in, the carpet that lined the floor became wet and darkened in color. It continued to spread until a puddle emerged from the focal point. The water rose from the ground and took the form of something that resembled a pointed oval, swelling round at the center, narrowing gracefully toward each end, in perfect symmetry, from the floor to the ceiling, and continuing eternally beyond.
That mirror-shape, and the way mana distorts around it–This… I've seen this spirit before! It's the Spirit of the Naked River, an Emperor-rank Water Spirit, and also the Headmaster's main familiar! But why is it here?
Did it choose me to become its new master?
Am I finally going to receive a blessing?
Past the semi-transparent membrane of water, the door to his room opened. No new light was introduced to the hallway, but from it, an arm extended. For a moment, each article of clothing could be seen, displayed in uniform order one on top of another. Navy, maroon, sand. These colors existed in his garments, but brown was the primary ingredient.
By the time he identified the colors, Arthur had already dropped to his knees. His head was lowered long before then.
"It's an honor, Headmaster." He could feel with his hand, the carpet dried. The Spirit had moved.
"Oh goodness, I hope Riveryn did not frighten you too much, he is not very good at expressing emotions, or being gentle."
It's actually him, the Headmaster of the Academy, right in front of me, and he knows my name!
"Not at all, Headmaster. I apologize for disturbing the Great Spirit's rest."
It was foolish of me to think that the spirit came here for me, there's no way something so noble would have any interest in me, but what if?
Arthur raised his head. There truly were times when the two brothers looked identical to each other. It seemed like the only distinction was the emotion expressed in their eyes.
"Headmaster, please forgive my insolence, but I must know. Is there any specific reason why you have come to find me?"
He reaches his hand into his robes, and under his relaxed eyes, a smile rises.
"You've analyzed my intentions exactly Arthur. I did come here for you. You are one of our most brilliant students, and I have come to discuss your surname assignment. How would you like to be Arthur Drevayne? I hope it does not sound too boring to you. It means"
The Enduring Protector
"The Enduring Protector."
"I am honored Headmaster, I swear I will not bring shame to your name!"
"I'll take that as a yes then." He takes a palm-sized metallic medallion out, and places it in Arthur's cupped hands, already ready to receive.
It's light. What are those symbols etched onto it? It's certainly not human tongue.
"That will allow you to access any staff facility on Academy grounds with my authority. I would encourage visiting the Inferior Archives. Despite its name, it is the second greatest collection of Magic and Academic texts in the world. Most students, and some staff never get to experience it at all. I'm sure you will find something interesting there."
"Thank you very much, Headmaster!" He darts back the way he came. Pain was not something he could feel anymore, every part of him responsible for thought had burst from excitement.
"Dialogue on the Nature of Thought, Being, and Society", the cover of the 500-page book read.
Away from it, sitting on a stool facing the open window, Arthur reflected on what he read for the last 10 hours. He looked as if he was pondering, but in truth, he was looking at the sky, the students heading to their classes, and the world under it. He believed himself to be the sun, above it all, and he was grinning, for he knew the truth, and they did not.
In the background:
"To be marked present, you must wear your shoes, your socks, your pants and your underpants, your shirt buttoned under your vest, held together by your coat and tie. And they must all be clean. Some of you failed to meet these requirements. Remember to wear something else when in your Magic Combat class if you do not want to wash your clothes."
Arthur heard none of this, by the third word uttered, he had already deemed it unworthy.
I'm special, of course I am. I developed my consciousness long before anyone else. My eyes can see beyond an external appearance. Look at them, not even able to put on their clothes properly. These are my peers? What a joke.
My intellect is unmatched, I am simply limited by my physical body. When I decide to stop holding back, I will be unmatched as a mage as well. The instructors see it, the Headmaster does too! Cedric is talented, I may consider him my equal in that regard, but he is still an immature, ignorant child like the rest of them.
"Hey, do you want to join our group to write the essay together?" A student next to him asked. The rest of the row behind him were also looking at him.
They are so adorable, like a herd of lambs. They need me to survive, but this world has no shortage of them.
"No."
I'm sure I came across as arrogant, but if I try to explain myself, I'm sure they'll see me as weak. I doubt they'll change their mind regardless of what I say, they are probably hoping for me to fail, they are so simple-minded. Speaking to them, any of them, is pointless.
A simple man would not notice it, an intelligent man would not make enemies, but those that are untouchable would not care about any of that. Of which, I am the latter.
"Alright, who can tell me the answer to this equation?" Using a stick, the math instructor taps the blackboard.
"X - 8 = 15"
How elementary, the answer is 23, but there's no point in me wasting energy to raise my hand. I'll prove myself to instructors who still doubt me in assessments, but there is no need for me to demonstrate my abilities to children.