Before you read, I'd like to clarify that some things may be lacking in the chapter, like emotional depth, backstories, anchors to the emotions, or going too fast.
I wrote the chapter in a rush, so yeah, sorry. I'll clarify everything in the future, so don't worry, and my writing will improve, much, much more. Just got uni these days
So yeah everyone, sorry, and thank you!
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Back to present.....
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Noel walked towards the board as his thoughts lingered on the past few hours. The question of what he did in those three hours was not one an ignorant would ask; in fact, it would be incredibly wise to ask such a question.
And to it, he would reply that he had been given those few hours of his life to prepare himself for his first class that he would give in his life, despite not having a single inkling of what to speak about.
Unlike modern Earth, where time passed and was calculated in seconds, minutes, hours, and days, with time being processed into things like weeks, months, years, decades, etc., etc. as days and such stacked, the time in this world differed.
That was due to the world being in the domain of God, a domain where time itself was a concept that was present in, yet its functions differed immensely.
Take this, for instance. To humans, fire was a physical concept where one would consternate from. Yet, that very fire, in the presence of water, would disappear. And as the law of conservation of energy, energy in general cannot be created nor destroyed.
This means that in this very water, fire is present, but in a different form.
Now comes the question: was time a concept created by the Gods?
Humming in silence, Noel absent-mindedly popped open his marker as he admired the glistening blue, deep, beautiful color that was unlike anything he had seen before.
Now is not the time for these thoughts. I can think about it later. Right now, I got to properly teach class, or I will be no different than all those unfortunate souls that met their ends at the hands of such a creative devil. Let's see... hm... where do I start?
Pondering over his next words, Noel looked over the class that had gone silent, as he noticed all the eyes on him.
Giving a small smile, Noel placed the tip of the marker on the board, before it colorfully and artistically began writing, as if he was decoratively drawing a visage of an incredibly stunning woman.
Upon writing what he needed on the board, he drew a circle around the word that took up most of the space on the whiteboard.
The words on the board were—
'How to decimate a country in 32 days'
"This will be our first class today, and I hope all of you will keep on listening to the rant of this man... because..." Giving a slight wink, he added.
"I will be giving you a pop quiz at the end of class." He smoothed out his clothing before he opened his hands, as if inviting for any questions. He further confirmed this. "Any questions before we start?"
"..."
The class being silent, Noel's smile widened as he spoke, his brain internally preparing for his next sentence, as he noticed his most cherished students slightly shifting in their seats as if they had decided to mark his words of slight importance.
"None? Excellent, then, let us proceed with class. It is good that all of you seem to be able to differentiate between serious matters and when it's fine to joke, isn't that right, everyone?" he emphasised lightheartedly while staring directly at a certain princess. He noticed her jaw slightly tightening, and her small, clenched fists.
Of course, he did not fail to notice the dignified smile—no, the beautiful smile—barely held together on her face like a fragilely held puzzle, as she struggled internally to snap at him in a fit of unrestrained fury.
Noel chuckled lightly as he traced his index finger on his jawline before he gave his back to his students, his playful expression slowly dissolving into a neutral expression as he seriously considered his first topic. He flipped his marker between his fingers a few times in ponder, as if weighing his options, before pausing, as if deciding upon something.
He closed his eyes briefly before asking a question to no one in particular, a question deeply rooted in the fundamentals.
"What do you think makes a country a country...?"
An introspective question. That had multiple answers to it. But only one correct.
His closed eyes slowly opened, examining the three students before him. For a moment, no one said a word, but a few seconds later—or for what Noel thought were seconds—a hand hesitantly rose up.
His eyes darted towards the source, finding Tegmine anxious, her fingers fidgeting slightly, her arms trembling quite a bit.
Her eyes were shut closed, her uneasy state put on display for all to see. Bellatrix's expression of focus melted into a scowl as she observed her friend's state, a glare directed towards Noel.
Ignoring the glare of hatred, he gently smiled as he looked at Tegmine for a moment, before his lips parted.
"Be my guest, Tegmine."
Tegmine, at the expected selection of her, jolted for a moment, before she maintained eye contact with him for a moment, lowering her head in embarrassment, as she tried to form a coherent and clear sentence.
"I... I'm.... uh... t-t...h ink it's b-b-b.." Her stuttering turned worse, as her eyes darted across the room in nervousness, her eyes turning slightly red and moist.
Bellatrix's expression darkened, as she clenched her teeth, planning to spout a swear towards her new teacher.
"You... don't have to listen to him, just tell him 'screw you.'"
Boy Y barely held any value to the present situation. He merely changed his position in his own seat pridefully, as he continued reading a book he was with mild interest.
However, to Bellatrix's surprise, before she could lash out, Noel walked towards Tegmine, slowly, his footsteps evident on the green and red tiled flooring that held elegance, yet offered a new perspective on tastes in fashion.
He stopped before her desk, his gaze silently looking at the girl that shrunk under his gaze, her eyes fearful as she closed her eyes.
"I-i....m.. So.... rr..." Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a soothing sensation on her head. She opened her eyes suddenly in surprise, as she had expected a reprimandation or perhaps blame from him for her lack of basic social skills. Yet she was dazed when she felt his warm, yet cold hands ruffling her hair gently.
She stood like that for a few moments, her head still lowered in self-blame, tears that seemed to almost spill from her eyes. Noel silently held her chin before raising them, maintaining eye contact with her.
She gulped, as she felt uncomfortable with his dark eyes that seemed to observe her quite well. His eyes made her fear spiral out of control, but she attempted to hold herself together.
Boy Y, who had previously expressed his disinterest in the class, was currently the polar opposite, his eyes occasionally watching the situation, mild amusement flickering in his eyes.
A few moments passed like that, the situation tense as Tegmine held her breath, before Noel chuckled slightly, finally leaving her. He walked a few steps before he stopped, his back still turned. The air in the room seemed to pause with him.
"Pathetic," he spat.
The word cut through the silence like a blade, making Tegmine flinch and freeze abruptly at the unexpected remark. He went on, not pausing, as he snarled.
"You stuttered. You hesitated. You made a fool of yourself in front of your peers, your classmates, your friends that could be with you one day on the battlefield."
His voice was cold, impassive, as he slowly turned, looking at Tegmine in disdain, pure mockery.
"Do you think the world cares how anxious you were?"
The classroom seemed to shrink under his words. Bellatrix visibly seethed with rage, her trembling fingers slowly making their way under her desk as she opened a small space portal. Even Boy Y's smirk vanished, a frown etched deeply upon his face as his eyes narrowed.
Tegmine bit her lips, her eyes lowering, as small tears slipped out, her breathing becoming haggard. Memories of her past continued abusing her without restraint, as if confirming and encouraging the teacher's words.
She knew he was correct.
All he did was state the truth.
Nothing more, nothing less.
She couldn't cry. She had no right to.
He exhaled, slowly. His tone shifted—no longer sharp, but weighty. As if he were no longer speaking only to her, but to all of them, as if he'd softened—a bit, just a bit.
"…But."
He turned his head as he walked towards the board, his eyes closed as he looked at the ceiling in contemplation, his hands behind his back.
"Is it wrong to commit a mistake? No, no, not at all."
Tegmine's eyes that had turned red, her small hands covering her mouth, widened at the unexpected twist. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Even Bellatrix, who was being oddly silent, paused as she dragged the sword from the portal, her eyes narrowed as she tried to guess the man's intentions.
"Mistakes are what create us."
He stopped for a moment.
"I am not standing here because I avoided failure. I am standing here because I learned to learn from every lesson I ever needed. No matter how many mistakes I make, it's not about how many I did."
He glanced back at Tegmine—still trembling, still red-eyed, yet something akin to clarity was visible in her eyes, as she stared into empty space.
"It's about how much I learned."
"The only real shame is refusing to speak because you fear breaking others with your words. With their expectations. With their desires. But you are yourself. Why should you listen to what others are telling you?"
A pause.
"So go ahead. Break them. Break as many as you need. But never stay silent again. Because if you do, it's not me who will hate myself—"
He tilted his head, his eyes unreadable as ever.
"I-t-s y-o-u." He smiled gently before he let out another sigh.
"So don't beat yourself too much, because self-blame only makes you sink deeper into the abyss of despair. Stop dwelling on the shadows of the past..." His genuine smile woke up the little girl that now, although looked shaken, actually held a new purpose.
Noel held his arms open, as he spoke his final words, his lips turning into something akin to a playful smirk.
"And... embrace the light of the future."
Then, as if none of it had happened, he turned back to the board, a smile lingering on his face.
"Now. Let's talk about destroying a country, shall we? And also... Miss Bellatrix, if you could perhaps take back your sword? It's unbefitting of a noblewoman like yourself to hold such a crude weapon," he said without turning back.
"...Fine..." Her eyes still narrowed, she put her sword back into the portal, her sharp gaze not leaving Noel for a moment, before her eyes drifted to Tegmine and she hurriedly walked to her, as she knelt beside her.
"Teg, are you fine?" Concern evident in her voice, as she placed her hand on her lap, locking her eyes with her.
Tegmine smiled, her eyes still red, before she attempted to respond.
"Ye—"
The sound of a man echoed in the classroom once more, addressing a specific girl in the class.
"Everyone, please take your seats, if you will. Class hasn't finished as you have seen... Miss Bellatrix."
In response to him pointing her out in the class, Bellatrix sent him a cold look, before she walked towards her desk. Noel's eyes narrowed at her, his expressionless face slightly tilting as he took notice of the droplets of blood that dripped from her clenched fists, as a result of the nails digging into her palm.
"So, Tegmine, what do you think makes a country a country?" he spoke, his voice laced with expectation. In response to his question, Tegmine closed her eyes, before her lips parted hesitantly.
"I...i t..h...i-ink.. a coun... try..." She bit her lips, her canine digging into it until she drew blood, a slight metal taste filling her taste buds. She took a deep breath, before she raised her voice slightly louder, her eyes resolute.
"I... think a country i-is a place where people live together, with leaders and laws to keep things in order. It is a place that makes... people feel like they belong somewhere… like home."
"Bingo!" Snapping his fingers, Noel nodded his head at her response, giving her a pat on her head, as a light smile tugged on Tegmine's lips, before her expression remained neutral.
"A country is a story told by those who hold the pen—the rulers, the conquerors. It's less about the land itself, and more about the narrative imposed on it. It holds everything people need to survive—whether water, food, shelter, currency, entertainment—a country is supposed to hold all this. In theory, of course."
Noel placed his fingers on his chin as he tilted his head thoughtfully at a question he had in mind before he asked the rest of the class.
"So, what do you think is the most efficient way to destroy a country based on this? You—over there," his fingers pointed towards a certain boy in the class that was not paying attention since the beginning.