by TurtleMe
ARTHUR LEYWIN’S POV:
I k-kissed Tess…
I kissed Tessia Eralith, a thirteen-year-old girl. Isn’t this a crime? Am I a criminal? No, calm down. I’m in the body of a twelve-year-old boy. Why do I feel so guilty then? I shouldn’t, right?
She’s the one that kissed me after all! I’m the victim here! Making a move on me while I’m in this vulnerable state. She sure was smart, that Tess. As I stared blankly at the door that she left through, my shaking hand finally reached my lips and I just lay there, dumbfounded, touching my mouth as my mind can’t help but recall the soft, moist touch of her lips.
This is wrong. Yes, I’m technically only twelve years old, but with the mental age from my previous life and this life combined, I was almost 50! Even assuming that I had kids late, Tess would still be around the age of a daughter if I had one.
Goddammit! All of this is because of this accursed body! These raging hormones in my body right now! The reason I’m feeling so guilty is because I actually enjoyed it. It felt nice when Tess kissed me. It shouldn’t feel nice and I shouldn’t enjoy a kiss from a little girl, but I did.
I groan, half from pain and the other half from thinking what was going to happen between Tess and I. Knowing her, she was probably overthinking a lot of things right now and she’s going to be really uncomfortable around me.
I almost laugh at the thought of what people might think of Tess when she’s with me. If someone didn’t know any better, they might even assume that she hated me since she’s the type to act cold when she doesn’t know what to do.
Something tells me that if I don’t clear things up with her, there will only be more misunderstandings.
How should I clear things up though? It’s not like she confessed or anything. Should we date? No, no, no. Did kids our age even know what dating was?
I look back and think of the time when I was twelve in my past life. When I was twelve, my life was filled with only training. Being raised in an orphanage and getting sent to an institute solely dedicated to raising duelists, I can’t say that I really have any experience in dating.
We were too young anyhow, right? I’m technically only twelve in this body! Is this body even capable of reproducing yet? Oh God, now you’re overthinking this, Arthur.
Haa… it’s not like I hate Tess. I’m actually quite fond of her. She is still immature in some senses, but I shouldn’t let that be an excuse right?
“What do you think, Sylv?” I poke my sleeping bond as her body slowly heaves up and down with her breaths. I’m surprised she didn’t wake up when Tess kissed me.
As I play with my bond’s ears and paws, my breaths begin to synchronize with hers and I soon fall asleep.
_________________________________________
Over the past couple of days, quite a few people came to visit me while my body was recovering. Curtis came by and asked if I was okay. I only shot him a grin and said that his move was pretty damn strong, making him laugh. Claire Bladeheart came by to make sure I was okay. She also kept me up to date on the Disciplinary Committee meetings so I wouldn’t be totally lost when I went back.
I was surprised Kathyln came by herself instead of with her brother. She asked if I was okay and I swear, she had a worried expression on her face. I was more surprised by that than anything else. I could tell everyone had a lot of questions. Curtis looked like he wanted to ask me something a few times but he held back because of my condition. When Professor Glory came by to visit, she brought me some fruits.
“I’ll tell you now, Lucas has been pretty heated up in class. I can’t blame him, though. To him, it must’ve felt like he was beating you in every sense, but you suddenly disappeared from his spells and appeared a few hundred meters away instantly.” She paused before continuing.
“H-how did you do it anyways? I’ve never seen anything like that. You should know that even Director Goodsky isn’t capable of what you just did. Instant teleportation was always thought of to be a myth. Yet, here you are, a twelve-year-old.”
By this time, I was able to sit up without it hurting that much so I lifted myself up just enough to be eye-level to the seated Professor Glory.
“Growth isn’t stopped by a lack of talent or a series of unfortunate luck. Growth is stopped once the person limits his own ability to grow. With that said, I believe everyone has a secret or two they wish to keep to themselves.” I sink back down in my bed, leaving Professor Glory confused and without a means to respond.
Director Goodsky visited once. I asked what was happening to the class I was supposed to be teaching and they said that, for now, Professor Glory volunteered to take on the extra class as a substitute until I’m better. She didn’t stay for long and came mainly to update me on how Tess was doing.
“As her assimilation continues, she’s becoming more and more stable. These past couple of days, she has only had one more fit.” She states.
“Thanks for taking care of her, Director.” I give her a smile.
“Don’t thank me, Arthur. She is my precious disciple after all. Ahh, that reminds me. I will be out of the academy for a couple days for some business. Since Virion has gone back, I need you to help Tessia with her assimilation until I am back. Can you do that for me?” She says before leaving through the door.
“Uh, yeah. S-sure, I can do that.” I shake my head helplessly at this. I’m not sure if Director Goodsky really has errands to run but she was definitely giving me an excuse to meet Tess.
My body’s recovering rate was a lot faster thanks to the assimilation of Sylvia’s Dragon Will into my muscles and bones. I also spent this time while recovering to also meditate and develop my mana core. I was at the threshold of breaking out of the dark yellow stage but it would take a bit more time until I could reach solid yellow. I would still feel a bit weak, but I planned on leaving the infirmary room and resuming normal school life starting tomorrow. My body felt stiff from being in bed for so long.
*Knocks*
“Come in.” I turn my head as Sylvie hops off the bed and goes towards the door.
“I came to visit you!” My father has a wide grin on his face as soon as he notices how much better I look than before.
“Hey, Dad.” I smile back as Sylvie ‘kyus’ in greeting before hopping back up next to me.
Taking a seat, my father catches me up on everything going on at home. We talked for quite a bit of time and I realized how comfortable it was to talk to my father. Family sure was different than anyone else. The fact that he didn’t have any ulterior motives, no plan, no secrets, was comforting. He just wanted what was best for me.
After a brief period of silence, I ask him something that’s been bothering me. “Hey Dad. How come Mom never really uses her magic? I mean, she healed small wounds for me when I was little and stuff, but that was about it. I remember you telling me how great of an Emitter she was.”
Looking at my father, I’m surprised that his usual bright face turns a little sullen.
“Your mother, she carries a lot of weight in her heart.” Letting out a deep sigh, he continues.
“I know you’re mature enough to know this but I want you to be patient. She’ll tell you when she feels ready so I want you to wait for her to tell you directly.” He scruffs my hair as we change the topic.
“How’s everyone doing at home anyway?” It hasn’t been that long but it still feels like it’s been a while since I’ve spent some time with my family.
“Oh, you know, your mother is busy mingling with her friends. Your sister, though, she’s becoming quite a handful.” He chuckles to himself.
“Maybe we had it too easy raising you, but I sometimes just don’t know what to do with Ellie.” Scratching his head, I notice some wrinkles that he hasn’t had before.
“Just give her some space. She’ll come around.” Patting my father’s arm weakly, I reposition myself as I feel my body cramping up.
“I should let you rest, Son.” He pinches my nose softly and quietly leaves t
hrough the door, leaving me wondering what could possibly have happened with Mother that she became too traumatized to use her powers.
“Kyu?” Sylvie asks me what I’m thinking of and I just shake my head. “It’s nothing, Sylv. I hope.”
Chapter 58: First Day At The Job
“Easy… take it slow. There you go.” Elijah supported me back up. It’s been exactly one week since I’ve gotten injured and also the last time since I’ve walked. Even with mana circulating throughout my body, strengthening my limbs, I still felt weak.
“Kyu…” Sylvie looked at me with as close of a concerned face she could have for a fox-like mana beast. She was walking besides me instead of curling up on top of my head, afraid that I won’t be able to hold her up.
Elijah came over to my hospital room as soon as first period was over. I would be starting off my day as a Professor in the Practical Mana Manipulation class and I wasn’t so eager in my current state. With my legs giving out every couple of steps and my back and sides burning, I barely had the strength to get to class, let alone teach it.
After slowly getting used to walking, I stopped leaning towards Elijah for support and used Dawn’s Ballad as my walking stick. I couldn’t help but chuckle because of the ill-humored irony. I remember how I thought that this sword was nothing more than a walking stick instead of priceless sword. I shake my head at the fact that my assumption back then was actually foreshadowing my current situation.
Elijah wrapped the handle and sheathe in a white bandage both for comfort and for safety from suspicious eyes. Here I was, a twelve-year-old, already using a cane to support myself from falling.
“Are you going to be okay by yourself? Maybe I should at least help you out in between classes for today?” Elijah had a concerned look on his face as he stuck close by me, ready to catch me if I stumble.
“I’ll be okay.” I don’t have the confidence to say that I won’t fall, but I didn’t want to make Elijah constantly be by my side.
As we arrived in front of the classroom, Elijah still had his brows furrowed underneath his glasses and I knew he was hesitant to let me go by myself.
“Arthur. Let me help you.”
I turn my head around to see Princess Kathyln run toward me, away from her group of friends. Without giving me a chance to respond, she places her arm around my waist as her other wraps around the hand that I wasn’t holding my walking sti…sword with.
“Uhh… okay. Thank you.” I shrug at Elijah, whose body was frozen, and carefully make my way inside my room.
“I heard our new Professor was finally coming today!”
“Oh really? I liked Professor Glory though.”
“Anyone should be better than Professor Geist, right?”
“You never know, we might get an even more dangerous weirdo this time.”
“Hey, isn’t that the Disciplinary Committee officer that beat Geist?”
“He looks hurt…”
The various discussions that the students were having all changed to murmurs about me as soon as I walked in.
“I’ll be fine now, Princess Kathyln. Thank you.” I ease my arm out of her soft hold.
“You need help up the stairs…” Her expressionless face didn’t match the concern in her voice. I just shake my head and motion her to go on first.
Sylvie followed close behind as I walked to the middle of the room as she took small hops towards the moveable podium that was placed in the center of the small stadium.
“Whew…” I let out a deep breath in relief as I put all of my weight on the podium that was a little too high for me.
I look up to see Feyrith in one of the desks with a curious expression on his face. As soon as Kathyln reached her desk, I spotted her looking back, trying to find me. She also gave me a confused look when she realized that I never went up the stairs behind her and instead came to the middle of the room.
By this time, the conversations amongst the classmates that centered around me diminished as more and more of the young mages began wondering what I was doing leaning against the professor’s podium.
“I’m not sure how many of you know my name, but I believe that most know at least who I am. My name is Arthur Leywin, a Disciplinary Committee member, the only son of two wonderful mages, a doting brother, and your new professor. Let’s get along.”
I counted down in my head in prediction of when the class would erupt. Almost exactly in sync, the noble brats that filled the classroom stood up in disbelief and some in anger as they shouted to stop kidding around and get back up to my seat.
“You expect us to believe that a brat like you is our new professor?” One of the second years that is either retaking this class or is taking this class for the first time exclaimed.
“Stop fucking around and get back up here! Who do you think you are?!” One short first year barked.
Wow… such vulgar language coming out from a twelve-year-old.
“Sigh…” If I could teach this class while lying down, I’d honestly do it at this point. I’m too tired and hurt for this.
This would be a lot easier if Professor Glory or Director Goodsky let the class know that I would be teaching beforehand. She should have at least given me an official document to prove that I was the Professor. I wonder if Director Goodsky did this on purpose.
This seems like something she would do.
“Mmm… would you guys believe me if I said that Director Goodsky appointed me to be the professor for this class for the remainder of the semester?”
“Get real!”
“Stop joking!”
“Shut up!”
Another round of protests resounded within the room as the students were growing rowdier.
Looking at Feyrith and Kathyln, I see Feyrith’s handsome face filled with a mixture of incredulity and doubt, while Kathyln’s face was also that of slight shock.
“Don’t get so cocky just because you beat the old professor! Do you think you could’ve won if Princess Kathyln and Feyrith didn’t tire him out?” A different second year jumped down and landed on the stage with a loud thud.
He had a pretty big build, and judging from the poor circulation of mana in his body, he’s probably at the level of being able to augment only some of his body.
He took big strides towards me, preparing to carry me off the stage if he had to. Feyrith was preparing to jump off the stage as well to stop the big guy but I just shook my head at him.
“You shaking your head at me now? Who do you think you are?” I guess this buffoon thought that my head gesture was directed mockingly at him.
Half of the students were a bit nervous, not wanting to get caught up in another drama during class, while the other half was cheering Mr. Brute here, on.
“Sit.”
*THUD*
The entire room vibrated slightly as I directly bombarded him with mana, making him fall back on his butt.
“…”
Hobbling over to the student that was sitting down confused and stunned on his ass, I felt like an old master of some sort, teaching a rebellious young disciple the true way.
“Don’t ask me why, but Director Goodsky didn’t bother giving me any special documents proving that I am your new professor. Taking a quick glance at all of you, though, with the few exceptions, I can’t see how any of you can even call yourself mages yet.”
I deliberately step over the still shaken Mr. Brute and make my way to the other side of the silent room.
“Do you think that, because you’ve formed your mana core, you can call yourself a mage? I can tell you right now that this cute little fox here, yeah, she can take on any of you.” I pick up Sylvie below her armpits and show the entire class.
“Any of you students that feel like they need proof or don’t even want to bother attending this class, go find Director Goodsky or lie down and make angels in the grass outside. For those of you who are even a tiny bit curious as to what I’ve got to teach all of you, feel free to stay.” I wait a coup
le of seconds, but whether it was because of my little trick with Mr. Brute or because they were too lazy, none of the students left.
“Now... If you’ll please go back to your seat, student, I’ll begin my lesson.” I gaze down at the second year that jumped down, eager to show off his limited ability.
“Uhh...” Quickly getting up, he made his way back to his seat, a look of embarrassment etched onto his face.
I walk back to the center of the stage as I lean on the podium that Sylvie was curled up on.
“Since this is a Practical Mana Manipulation class, I’ll ask a practical question. What is the best way to utilize mana in the surrounding atmosphere?” I look around and almost instantly, a nerdy-looking girl with ponytails shoots her hand up.