Lilith walked to her assigned classroom. The classroom was designed in gentle tiers, with each row of seats ascending slightly higher than the last, resembling an old amphitheatre with a clear view of the blackboard and the smartboard. From the lecturer's podium below, every seat offered a clear, commanding view. The room was filled with students, chatting animatedly.
Lilith approached the lecturer's podium. She organised her laptop, books, and notes on the table, giving her time to gather her wandering thoughts. Gradually, the lively atmosphere shifted to pin-drop silence.
Lilith then moved to the teacher's table and addressed the class with confidence and authority. "Good morning, everyone. Professor Moore has resigned to focus on her research, and I will be your new mathematics professor, Lilith Blackthorne. This is my first class at Mountainridge, so let's begin with Lagrange's Theorem," she announced.
Lilith strolled across the podium, explaining the theorem in a way that would be easier for the students to understand. She leaned against the table with her arms crossed, scanning the classroom as the students took notes.
"Please feel free to ask if you have any questions or doubts," Lilith said before continuing with her lecture. As she spoke, she noticed a girl sleeping in the back row. Lilith started walking over to her seat, the book still in her hand and the classroom fell silent, all eyes on her as her footsteps echoed softly. She stood beside the girl's desk and tapped her fingers lightly on the table near the girl's head.
"Miss," Lilith called gently but with authority, trying not to intimidate her.
The girl slowly lifted her head, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She rubbed her eyes and glanced at Lilith and replied, "It's Hazel Ashford, Professor."
Lilith's breath caught in her throat when Hazel looked at her. The girl's brown eyes, flecked with amber around the iris, held her gaze, and for a moment, Lilith found it difficult to look away. The silence lingered for a few moments until Lilith blinked and cleared her throat twice before saying, "Ms. Ashford, I don't think this class is the best place for you to sleep."
Hiding her true emotions was something Lilith learned before she could walk. However, with Hazel, her guard dropped for a few seconds, and all she could do was hope that Hazel didn't notice.
With that, Lilith returned to the podium and continued her lecture. She found it challenging to focus on the topic while also thinking about Hazel. For another 45 minutes, she explained the complex mathematical equations before the class finally came to an end.
As the classroom emptied, Lilith gathered her belongings and headed to her office. A couple of hours of solitude was much needed.