"What's the point of hiding about the incident 4 days ago if you're going to bust yourself?!"
Major General Muller murmured angrily as they left the 8th floor. Sebastian and Dorin followed him with Prof. Althea trailing close behind. Prof. Dupont left earlier, carrying Johan like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder since the assessment exams were finally over and they were told to go their respective ways.
"Well, things ended up in our favor, more or less," said Prof. Althea, nursing a migraine as they entered an empty elevator. "We just need to be extra vigilant," she added. "Those imperial mages would surely hear about this incident and try to abduct Dorin again."
"The least we could hope for is for them to take their time since their cover has been blown," Gen. Muller grombled. "We have found several other officers in the Military division who are suspected to have ties with the imperial troops. They are currently under investigation."
"And as for you two," Althea looked at her nephew and his friend. "Be thankful that you were given the chance to stay with each other. The Special Classes rooms were reserved for the best mages in the University. Only the privileged can use it."
[Thank you for the suggestion, Prof. Althea] wrote Sebastian.
"You deserved it. You're a silver after all." Dorin whispered beside him.
"The panel will inform the Dormitory head, Ms. Ermingard, about your transfer to the special room," instructed Althea. "You can probably move there by tomorrow."
"In the meantime, stay in your rooms and keep out of trouble," Gen. Muller told them with a growl. "You will be taking different assessment tests for the next 3 days to determine what you need to know, so that way we can mold your curriculum around you and give you the lessons you need most."
As they got off the lift, they found Margarette waiting in the lobby with a bored expression in her face. She lit up when she saw Sebastian, then looked worried when she saw Gen. Muller's face.
"Well?" She asked Sebastian and Dorin. "How did it go?"
The two gave her thumbs up signs.
"I got the scholarship!" Dorin announced.
"Congratulations!" Margarette greeted him with a smile. "So, what's with the long faces?"
[He got busted] wrote Sebastian. [Long story short, we're now part of a Special Class Rank with Johan the fire mage.]
"Special Class?" Margarette questioned. "I've never heard of a special rank before."
"Yeah, they say it's been long since they had students in the Special Classes again..." Dorin answered.
"Well, what about your classes?"
Sebastian and Dorin took out their black class cards and handed it to Margarette. The words '3rd Class Mage' was written underneath Sebastian's name in gold letters. "You did it Sebastian! Up one class! Finally!" Margarette beamed. "And congratulations to you too, Dorin! You just skipped a class!"
[I think I just needed to practice speaking] wrote Sebastian, which was quickly erased before the two could react.
"Okay, people, get on the truck, we're going back to the dorms," Gen. Muller called from the main entrance. Prof. Althea was right beside him, looking tired and noticeably older.
"We'll tell you everything later," Dorin told Margarette as they went after their guardians.
Outside, the group met with Prof. Dupont who still had Johan slung across his back. Several students in the area were looking at them, as the professor seems to be waiting for something. He saw the group approaching and waved at Sebastian and his companions.
"You folks going back to the dorms?" he asked Gen. Muller.
"Right, you need a lift?" Gen. Muller asked back with a stern look in his face.
"If it isn't much trouble?" grinned Dupont. "It seems we have just missed the University shuttle."
"No sweat," reply the general. "Follow me, I've got the jeep parked at the side."
They followed the general to the right side of the main building and got on the big jeep. Margarette and Althea rode up front while the four stayed at the back. Johan was still out cold as the vehicle pulled away from the parking lot and headed towards the direction of the Magic Department's main building.
"Congratulations again to you both," Prof. Dupont said with a carefree grin, Johan's head bouncing on his left shoulder. "It's nice to see you two so close to each other, I only hope you can be good friends with this cute kid here as well." He scratched Johan's spiky scalp and got a groan.
[What's cute about him?] wrote Sebastian. [He's rude, aggressive, and is a hot headed moron]
Prof. Dupont laughed heartily. "Yes, he reminds me of you a lot!"
[Hey, I'm not that rude! And I'm not a moron!] Sebastian replied defensively.
"Yes, yes, that's why it would be nice if some of your common sense could rub off these two," he said, looking at Dorin as well. "It seems they can learn a lot from you."
[More work for me, then.] Sebastian's words grumbled. [I already have my hands full of this one.] Sebastian raised his hand which was being held tightly by Dorin.
Dorin laughed beside him.
"I'm just happy that we can still stay together!" Dorin chattered. "Don't worry, professor Dupont, I'm sure we'll get along with Johan too!"
"I hope you can always be as close as you are now," he laughed, "with the way you two are, I wouldn't have thought that you have only known each other for a week!"
"I know, right?" Dorin replied proudly, "I just knew when I saw Sebastian that we were meant to be together! That's why I decided to make him my sworn brother!"
[Shut up Dorin. Stop saying misleading stuff.] Sebastian tapped him with the slate.
Prof. Dupont simply laughed. "What do you mean, sworn brother?" he asked Dorin.
"It is a sworn promise made by a man to another that they shall stay together through thick and thin," Dorin explained, his face suddenly serious. "A vow to support and to protect. It was in an old scroll I found in my mother's dresser while I was looking for food back when I was younger," he added.
[Gross. I suddenly don't want to be a sworn brother anymore.] wrote Sebastian, [also, where does it say that I need to suffer for your antics?]
"Hey, I did save you after all!" Dorin said with a frown.
[Nope, as I remember it, you were out cold while I tried to climb out of that mound you created.]
"Well, if it wasn't for that mound..."
[I could have easily told those mages to back off.]
"Well, excuse me for trying to save someone with a collapsed lung!" Dorin defended himself. He held up Sebastian's hand, while the other pulled at his collar, about to fight back.
Prof. Dupont started laughing. "You two, really, stop fighting, the main point is you're both okay." He reached out and touched Sebastian's head, then Dorin, rustling the brown hair and touching his face. "There are horror stories still going round the university about the kind of 'classes' young mages are forced to take when the empire gets a hold of them," he said.
Dorin fell silent.
"You are lucky to have each other," the professor went on, "to take care of someone. That is the greatest power of all." He patted Dorin's face some more and laughed again, brushing his hair from his shining eyes. "Still, I can't believe that Sebastian went into debt because of that incident," he chuckled. "Tell me, was it a changeling or a doppelganger?"
"How did you know?" Dorin quickly answered.
Sebastian slapped himself in the face.
"I knew it!" Prof. Dupont laughed harder. "It's just too suspicious to be true!"
[Now you've done it!] Sebastian wrote to Dorin.
"What?!" Dorin asked genuinely baffled.
"Actually, I had my suspicions since 2 days ago when I saw Sebastian surrounded by women," Prof. Dupont told them. "Then my suspicions were confirmed when Dorin let slip that Sebastian was unconscious for three days."
"Oh..." Dorin realized, and looked at Sebastian who was staring at him.
"Don't worry, I won't pry, and I won't be telling anyone either," assured the alchemy professor. "I know you two have your reasons. But I do hope that you can treat Johan here with the same trust and friendship that you have for each other."
He looked at Johan who was currently lying on his lap, still fast asleep.
"This boy had gone through a lot," Prof. Dupont told them, "He lived in an old hovel with his grandmother where they were forced to mine for ore. The only reason he survived was due to his fire – to search for ores to feed themselves and to burn those who would want to hurt them," he sighed. "He had never had a good life, and that is what I want him to experience right now. So please don't take it against him if he acts the way he does, for it's the only way he knows how to survive."
Sebastian and Dorin stared at the sleeping fire mage. It was then that the jeep came to a sudden stop and the doors opened in front. They were already in the Main Magic Building. Prof. Althea stepped out of the jeep and went to the back.
"Dorin, I've still got a lot of work to do in the medical ward," she told her nephew. "You go back to the dorms and stay out of trouble, you hear?"
"Yes, Aunt Agate!" replied Dorin.
"Prof. Althea!" Agate corrected him. "Remember, no more problems!"
"Yes, Prof. Althea!" her nephew replied. He was still waving as they went on their way back to their dorms.