Sasaki Johnson (when your father is American, your mother is Japanese, and both are history buffs... well, what can you expect) looked at the student sitting in front of him in surprise. His uniform was ironed, his posture was straight, he had a small smile on his face, and his stubble made him look ten years older. His mature behaviour added to his appearance... Surrealism. It felt as if the headmaster was talking to the student's father, not Castor Brinel himself.
The man adjusted his glasses and sighed. A model student, studying for practically the highest marks. Teachers were happy to have such an inquisitive and punctual boy who often asked questions and was interested in all subjects, but much more in literature and history. During breaks, he was often seen reading world classics or history books. Dark glasses hid his light-sensitive eyes, but Sasaki felt like he could see them through the thick lenses... Perhaps it was all from overwork... So, the teachers loved Castor.
But the other students... Johnson adjusted his tie, lazily looking through Brinel's personal file. The boy did not agree with his peers in terms of opinions, behaviour, and outlook on life. While the rest lived for today, as young people should, this guy thought about the future and his own interests, to which he gave preference. Attempts to resolve this issue... The psychologist was almost tearing her hair out at Castor's manner of speech and his words. Verdict: something had forced him to grow up in a very short time. And most likely, it was his status as an orphan.
"Brinel-san, please tell me, why did you need to finish the year as an external student?"
That was exactly what brought Castor to his office. The student asked to hand in everything at once, which he was allowed to do because of his academic success. And he did! With top marks! The commission checked everything several times and found no traces of cheating or pre-prepared answers! This guy took it upon himself and prepared! He even spent his nights studying, judging by his sluggish behaviour a couple of days ago...
"I got an idea of the local education system during these two months of studying at the academy," Castor's voice was unchanged: calm and even. His smile became warmer.
"Thank you to the teaching staff for wasting years fighting against immature, lazy minds that don't want to sit still and learn. And my special thanks for my education.
"If our English teacher heard that, she would cry," Sasaki smiled. Such praise warmed his heart. Ah... If only more students appreciated their work."I will continue my studies in the second year, but now I am forced to do so for purely selfish reasons," the boy's smile grew even warmer, as if his thoughts brought him joy.
"What are they, if you don't mind me asking?" Jones asked with interest, placing his personal file on the table.
"My desire to travel proved too strong to fight," Castor took a slow breath. "I want to travel the world and see different countries and their cultures along with their history.
"A commendable desire," Sasaki nodded. "Few people travel for that purpose.
"Then can I finish a year early and use the time to travel?"
"I don't see any problem with that.
***
"The reason for my external studies is that I want to travel. I think you're the first person to take exams for that reason."
"I hope I'm not the last. Every genius needs to unburden their mind to avoid becoming insane or broken."
Castor took a big sip of strong coffee from his mug, still wearing his academy uniform. Passing the exams after two months of study presented certain challenges, particularly with sleep, but in the end it was completely worth it. Brinel now had a lot of free time to travel the world and absorb information about the history and culture of peoples different from those of Kairn.
"I never had the opportunity to just sit down, slowly drink my favourite beverage and think about travelling around the world," the mage looked at his reflection in the mug and allowed himself a sad smile. The feeling of such freedom... Strange. On the one hand, it was refreshing and even intoxicating, instilling peace and tranquillity in his soul. On the other hand... The unfamiliar surroundings and daily routine disturbed and tormented his mind with paranoia. It was as if something was bound to happen. And destroy this idyll.
"Such thoughts will lead nowhere, partner," the dragon sighed. "You'll only make things worse for yourself."
"Hard to argue with that. I'd better finish my coffee and enjoy some American animation.
"And rightly so. With a life like that before you ended up here... You need more rest. And a woman too," Ddraig laughed like a madman at the end, but Castor had long suspected the ancient lizard of such things.
Speaking of women... Brinel shifted his gaze to look at Kuroka, who was currently watching TV, sprawled out on the sofa. Her wounds had long since healed and left no scars, so she could go wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted. But she had been living in his house for a month and a week now, behaving recklessly. She was constantly trying to get an incomprehensible reaction from him, staying close by, often flashing her naked body parts and behaving like the most ordinary cat. Thankfully, she didn't relieve herself in his slippers or outside the toilet.
"Kuroka, I need some answers.
"Dya?" Castor sighed, his smile twitching. The mage knows that the cat can speak normal human language, but does not do so in order to annoy those around her. Yes, it is better to call her a cat-woman, because there is more animal in her than in an ordinary woman.
"Are you familiar with the phenomenon of sycophancy?"
"Of course! That's what I'm creating, isn't it?" Kuroka smiled slyly, tilting her head back to look at him. The mage just sighed. He didn't mind some company for the first time in... The archmage shook his head. He had no exact date. Unfortunately.
"I have no objection to your presence, but I'm leaving on a long journey in a couple of days.
"I know," she said, her playful mood instantly disappearing. She got up from the sofa, quickly approached him and sat down opposite him, looking at Castor. He merely raised an eyebrow.
"Do you really have to go?" the woman asked, after staring at him silently for almost a minute.
"I never had the opportunity or freedom to pursue such a goal," Brinel admitted honestly. If the universe had taken a different path, the mage would not be a mage, but would have worked in the government like his father, continuing the dynasty.
"Oh..." Kuroki's mouth rounded, and she looked at him with regret. Brinel's smile twitched in irritation.
"Pity doesn't help if it's not accompanied by action. It's also worth adding that you don't have the ability to control time. Real time, not the ability to influence parallel universes.
"Damn, you even managed to twist that gesture," the non-comatose girl pouted, folding her arms across her chest. The guy just raised an eyebrow. Twist it? He wasn't trying to seduce a stranger, and he wasn't an old lecher whose puberty hadn't ended even after thousands of years.
"Yes, yes, thank you for the compliment."
"I'm getting to the point where I have to ask you to leave my house. Maybe no one is going to attack me, but there is a possibility.
Serapholl, for example, could strike first because of his words about the genocide of an entire race. Rulers have always been known for... Overreacting to something like this, even when there is no real danger. And there was no danger. Castor was not a fanatical follower of God or an inquisitor who would hunt down the enemies of humanity with fury and zeal... There was already too much of that in his life.
"It's because of Serafall, isn't it?" Kuroka raised an eyebrow and then frowned. "You shouldn't have contradicted her.
"Then I couldn't call myself an independent person," Brinel waved his hand, a hint of anger in his voice. "And I can't allow myself to bow down to a creature that considers itself more important and smarter simply because of its status. Gods, demons, spirits..." The boy's smile became sinister. "In the grand scheme of the universe, they are all insignificant and fragile.
And none of them have survived an encounter with true death. Which comes to everyone, regardless of power, personal strength, or wealth.
***
Kuroka sighed sadly as she walked away from the place that had become much closer to her than the headquarters of the Chaos Brigade. It was cosy, peaceful, quiet and, more importantly, a place where she was tolerated and expected nothing more than to keep the place clean. When she met this strange mage two months ago, she could not have imagined that she would stay here for so long and simply enjoy her free time. The owner of the house didn't chase her away, but he constantly grumbled, argued with the Welsh Dragon, and sometimes gave entire lectures on various topics. Kuroka still remembers one such lecture on chaste behaviour around unknown men.
For such a smart and well-read wizard, Brinel turned out to be surprisingly unapproachable and even... Those who didn't like this topic. Her intuition told her that something had happened to the guy in the past related to sexuality, and now he couldn't stand anything like that around him. However... A sly smile appeared on the woman's face. It was fun to tease him a little, but she didn't go any further than hints, as she had with Vali.
Castor looked like a god compared to Vali. He was constantly seeking power, strong enemies, and opportunities to fight, completely ignoring the world and the people around him. Give me an enemy, give me power — those were all his desires! Sometimes Kuroka thought he was some kind of golem created for the sole purpose of... For what? This asshole was silent and didn't say anything to anyone, not even Le Fay, with whom he seemed to have a warm relationship.
Brinel? Calm, level-headed, and not eager to drag those around him into a fight to the death for his own gain. Quite an unusual picture, especially compared to the other Red Bearers who have gone down in history. Either they were perverts or they were just as crazy as the current White Bearer. The man who took her in and healed her... He's different. Yes, he didn't hide the fact that he was from another world, and that may be the main reason, but still. Compared to the others Kuroka had met or even heard of, Castor stood out for his human humility and unwillingness to use his power or get involved in fights.
"Very strange and incomprehensible... And so attractive," the woman stopped and turned to look at the windows of the house where she had lived for two months. The boy (or man?) attracted her. And not because of his dragon aura, which she had heard about firsthand. Vali suppressed it, but it still seeped through. Castor was doing the same, but his own... It was like a cool summer night, pleasant to dive into after the heat of the day. She had never felt anything like it! Perhaps the gods had a similar aura... However, Kuroka had never encountered them.
Add to that his calmness, focus and care, and you get a wonderful guy! The kind you want to take right away and never let go! The woman thought about it. The thought didn't repulse her or cause her to reject it outright, but if she were to take such steps, it would be later. When the foreigner settled in and perhaps revealed other sides of himself. For now, she couldn't understand this man's exact motives and thoughts.
"Damn it, why do all attractive men have to have problems?" she lamented silently and turned away from the house, continuing to walk away. She had to think about how to punish George for his mistake, as well as the others for not coming to her aid.
***
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