In a luxurious and spacious classroom...
Despite the grandeur of the setting—with polished marble columns, towering stained-glass windows, and desks that could accommodate hundreds of students—only four people were present. A stark contrast to the room's imposing atmosphere.
Each of them seemed far too young for such a solemn environment, which only heightened the feeling of strangeness in the air.
At the center of the room, calmly stepping up to the podium, stood Faruzan.
Below her, sitting with a relaxed posture and an attentive gaze, was Leon—the only one of the three students who seemed genuinely interested in what was about to come.
They exchanged a brief glance. Not a single word was needed for both to sense the glaring contrast between teacher and student. Her maturity, though hidden beneath a youthful appearance, was undeniable.
She doesn't look older than fifteen or sixteen… Leon thought, narrowing his eyes.
But it's clear… in the way she moves, the calm in her eyes, the restraint in her gestures… She carries more than a century of experience.
Still, Faruzan retained the appearance of a teenage girl. Her long blue hair, tied in twin tails, gave her a near-childlike charm. Her white dress, however, was another story: strapless, backless, and with a tight corset—it was far too bold for any expectation. The hem was adorned with diamond-shaped crystals that shimmered like cathedral glass.
So contradictory… Leon murmured to himself.
Cute like a schoolgirl, but as mature as a grown woman.
Meanwhile, Faruzan evaluated Leon with a judgment that was simple yet direct.
Smart… and handsome. A young man with presence. And eyes that notice more than they reveal.
The other two present—Noelle and Euphilia—were there as Leon's escorts. With swords at their hips instead of books in their hands, it was clear they were not students.
Before even beginning the lesson, Faruzan got straight to the point:
"Before we begin, I'd like to know: why did you choose my specialty? I must say, my course is considered unpopular. Some even call it outdated."
Leon didn't hesitate.
"With all due respect, I don't think pursuing knowledge should follow trends. I don't believe in popular or unpopular subjects. I chose your class because I want to learn something genuinely useful to me, Senior Faruzan."
That answer caught her off guard—in a good way.
Leon hadn't chosen the subject on a whim. He had researched Faruzan beforehand and was well aware of the relevance of her field: Mechanical Arts and Ancient Script.
Both areas had direct applications for Leon's interests. Mechanical arts were essential for crafting magical devices. Ancient script would allow him to decipher forgotten ruins, revealing hidden secrets scattered across the world.
Faruzan gave a slight smile and nodded.
"Good answer. Now then, let's begin."
She turned to the blackboard and began writing enthusiastically. Her tone—firm but lively—made her love for the subject unmistakable.
"Many people think mechanics is just about putting pieces together… But to me, mechanisms are a form of life. An art. Like a puzzle: individually, each piece seems meaningless. But together, they form something beautiful, precise… almost magical."
As she explained, Faruzan barely noticed time passing. The night before, she had spent hours reviewing the material. Leon was her first real student—something that made her both excited and anxious. But what began with nerves quickly turned to surprise.
Leon's violet eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity. He absorbed everything with astonishing speed.
"Wait…" She paused mid-explanation, turning to face him.
"You… you actually understood that?"
"Of course. It's just a schematic for dismantling interconnected mechanisms, isn't it? Nothing too complex. Please, go on."
"A-ah… right."
Faruzan could hardly hide her astonishment. She had been called a genius from a young age. She knew talent when she saw it. But this?
Leon didn't just have a photographic memory—he truly understood the material and could deduce the rest after hearing only the beginning. A nerd, sure. But on another level.
If the IQ of an average genius is 140… Faruzan thought, trying to contain her smile.
Then his must be pushing 300.
It was, without exaggeration, the first time she had ever felt truly challenged.
One could say that Leon was capable of learning anything. A true polymath, an omnipotent genius. So absurd it bordered on irrational.
"Professor, if you could speed things up a bit…" he asked casually, as if requesting more seasoning on a meal.
Faruzan raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Very well… Let's see how far you can keep up."
There was a new light in her eyes—a silent challenge had been issued.
From that point on, the pace of the lesson—already three or four times faster than a traditional course—practically doubled. Formulas appeared on the board like spells drawn by invisible hands, concepts were flung like arrows, one after the other.
Noelle and Euphilia, who had tried to follow at first, were soon completely lost. They exchanged bewildered glances and eventually slumped back in their chairs, surrendering like two people caught in a storm.
"What… kind of lesson is this?" Noelle muttered, eyes wide.
"This isn't teaching. It's possession," Euphilia grumbled in defeat.
But Leon? He remained composed.
Not a single note taken.
Everything he heard was absorbed instantly, stored in his mind like volumes appearing magically in his vast mental library—a memory palace that held the knowledge of his entire life.
I thought this would be boring… But I'm impressed. This upperclassman has talent. Maybe it's worth digging deeper…
That was what passed through Leon's mind, even as he absorbed knowledge at an overwhelming pace.
The truth was, he never hated studying. On the contrary, there was pleasure in discovery, in gathering, in connecting… In each new fragment of knowledge, there was a tiny spark—and Leon enjoyed collecting those sparks.
The afternoon slipped away unnoticed. Before they realized it, the sky outside had turned a deep shade of purple through the stained-glass windows.
Faruzan was still speaking, but her voice—once vibrant and enchanting—was now hoarse, dry, nearly a whisper.
Her throat burned like sunbaked earth after months without rain.
And yet, she smiled.
She spoke with a light in her eyes, as if she had finally found her purpose.
"Professor Faruzan… I think that's enough for today."
"N-no need… Just give me a minute, I can still continue…"
She could barely swallow, but her excitement was unmistakable. That lesson—her first real lesson—had been more than rewarding. It had been alive. It had been whole.
Even with just one student.
Even on the first day.
She was utterly captivated by that extraordinary student.
For Faruzan, who had awakened after a hundred years trapped in forgotten ruins, the modern world felt cold and unfamiliar. Everything she once knew had vanished: friends, family, traditions—even her own field of research.
The art she loved had been discarded. Her knowledge deemed obsolete. In the end, she was a living relic of a forgotten age.
A solitary scholar in a time that no longer belonged to her.
Even though she lived in this century, her soul belonged to another. Like a bird that had lost the sky—wings intact, but nowhere to fly.
For years, she buried herself in overlooked research, sustained only by pride and silence.
And now… now there was a student.
Just one.
But one who listened. Who understood. Who absorbed every word as if reading pages of her very being.
He understands… she thought, her chest tightening.
He understands me.
And in that simple act of learning, Leon had become more than a student. He had become a spark of redemption—a warm presence in the darkness she had walked alone for so long.
"Yes, yes, you're right, Senior… your body needs rest. Let's continue tomorrow, okay?"
She nodded, trying to look composed.
"But… don't be late, alright?"
"Never," he replied playfully, flashing a confident smile as he walked out.
Faruzan remained there, staring at the door he had passed through.
She grabbed a glass of water with trembling hands and drank it eagerly. Her fingers were red, still smudged with chalk.
She looked at the blackboard, now filled with complex symbols, and let out a small smile.
A sweet smile—like a girl in love with her own vocation.
"Hmm… What should I teach him tomorrow?"
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."