Theo sensed the spatial distortion shift from the corner of the wall and disappear, making him gulp as his eyes darted around the room.
And just when he thought that the distortion had vanished, the sa distortion reappeared right in front of him.
Theo instinctively stepped back, only to notice the old man watching him with an amused expression on his face.
Their brief eye contact was enough—the old man’s forehead flashed white, and the distortion vanished from the room completely.
Theo took a deep breath, then let out a low chuckle, trying to show that it hadn’t fazed him that much.
"He isn’t always like that, but when soone detects his presence, the kid gets oddly excited for so reason," the old man said while stroking his long beard.
"I see." Theo wasn’t sure what to make of it. Not only did the headmaster seem a little eccentric, but he had also just revealed a lot about himself, about his ability to perceive things.
"Be seated. The tea is almost ready," the old man added, glancing to the left, where a man in a uniform was brewing so tea.
Theo nodded and took his seat opposite to the headmaster.
Before the old man could say anything, Theo bowed slightly. "It’s a great privilege for to be able to attend this academy, Headmaster. Thank you for giving this opportunity."
The old man regarded Theo with quiet amusent.
"When the emperor himself vouches for soone’s capabilities, one tends to listen, Theo rrick," the old man said and flipped through a book before looking back at Theo.
"You are among the few students who have achieved as much as an adult before even properly joining an academy. We will need to keep that in mind before we put you in the classes."
With that, he began writing sothing down.
"As much as I would like to hear about all your adventures, legal and otherwise, our first priority is knowing what you want to do," the old man spoke again.
"What I want to do?" Theo blinked in confusion, clearly not having expected such a question at all.
"Yes. As you may have already realized, sumr holidays are about to begin. Students of all years will have four months—they all will either return to their hos or go on academy-planned trips," the old man explained.
"But at the sa ti, we have called you here for classes, which ans you will have to sacrifice your vacation ti. Are you okay with that?"
The concern on the old man’s face made Theo slightly surprised. He couldn’t help but smile as he began.
"Thank you for the concern, Headmaster. But I don’t care much about the vacations. Please teach as much as you can this sumr," Theo said with that sa smile on his face.
The old man couldn’t help but lean back in his chair, clearly pleased. "Such charisma and confidence... it’s rare to see soone at such a young age have it. I comnd you, Theo rrick."
With that, his face turned slightly serious as he continued.
"Very well. We will begin with your first-year fundantal class, though it won’t cover everything in detail. With your capabilities, as the emperor has stated, I am confident that with access to the subjects’ materials you choose, you can learn and give the final exams within a few months."
He paused, then leaned forward again.
"Though that will consu all your ti, so I will ask you this once more, Theo rrick."
"We can proceed at a normal pace, slower, and your studies will go on as a normal student, just a little late in life. Or we can take this accelerated path. Which path will you choose for yourself?" he asked.
Theo didn’t even need to think about it twice as a confident smile returned to his face.
"I would feel more excited with the early final exams, Headmaster—if what I understood is right."
The old man laughed a little and clapped his hands lightly in happiness.
"Good. I like the fire in your eyes. You will be assigned professors for all your chosen subjects, and within the next two months, you will be practicing with the knowledge that you would usually learn in a year instead."
He said while continuing to write things down.
The uniford individual on the side, who had the tea already brewed, stared at Theo as if he were so sort of monster.
For the emperor to vouch for him... and the headmaster himself to offer him such a crazy deal...
It could only an one thing.
Theo rrick was going to bring chaos into the academy’s peaceful life, and the man could already picture it.
"Rudery, is the tea ready, child?" the old man asked, his voice gentle, almost as if he were speaking to his own son.
The more Theo interacted with the people of this academy, the more it felt like he had been all wrong.
’rek really warped my view of higher nobles. These people aren’t as arrogant as that one,’ Theo thought and sighed inwardly.
Soon, the uniford man returned with the tea. The mont Theo took his first sip, his eyes widened.
"Hoh? Have you had this tea before, Theo rrick?" the old man asked.
Theo nodded. "I had it once during brunch with the emperor so ti ago, Headmaster," Theo replied, taking another sip of the tea.
The old man just kept looking at him for a mont before returning to his own tea.
They sat in silence until they were halfway through. Just as Theo was about to ask if he could leave and began preparing for his classes the next day, he noticed a shift in the old man’s deanor.
"I won’t lie, Theo rrick. My confidence in you has doubled since we started this conversation. In fact, I can’t help but think of asking sothing... more daring from you."
The old man spoke, and Theo just stared at him, his expression turning serious to show that he was listening intently.
"Are you willing to serve this kingdom in whatever way it needs your service?" the old man asked, his hands clasped on the table. There was that sa seriousness in his eyes, which made it clear to Theo that this conversation was going to take another sharp turn.
"I would do anything for the kingdom, Headmaster. My family lives here, and I would do anything for my family," Theo replied.
The old man looked at him in brief shock before breaking into a grin, as if he had seen sothing in Theo’s eyes at that mont.
"To love your family, huh... I see."
Theo sighed inwardly. His bold way of answering hadn’t been taken badly, but he knew he had just spoken about how he could do anything for his own family while the headmaster had clearly asked about the kingdom. Those were two heavily different things.
"You have been to two gates and returned stronger; that’s what I can tell from the reports," the old man continued. "With that in mind, I am going to offer you another deal."
"If you can fulfill it, then I can confidently rge both the second and the third year of your academy life, allowing you to graduate at the right ti."
Theo didn’t know what to say to that, but his gaze couldn’t stay normal anymore. His gaze sharpened and his lips parted to say sothing, only to stop himself.
The headmaster was making promises before even stating what he wanted from him. That was never a good sign.
"I don’t need proof of your abilities, but the student body is another matter, Theo rrick," the man said.
"I want you to prove your strength as quickly as you can among the students, and then secure a position on the team that will represent our kingdom in the annual ga of kingdoms."
At that mont, Theo frowned.
The old man’s eyebrow lifted slightly at that unfiltered reaction, clearly noting that Theo was daring enough to show such raw emotions.
"Please don’t be offended, Headmaster," Theo said calmly. "But can I hear more about these kingdom gas you are talking about... before I can agree to anything?"
The uniford man looked at Theo as if he had lost his mind, while the old man simply looked at Theo with that sa amused grin.
’If he expects this much from , then it’s safe to assu I have so say in these matters. There’s no way I will blindly do anything he asks to,’ Theo thought instinctively.
"Good. Seeking information before agreeing, that’s a valuable political trait," the old man said with a nod.
"The kingdom gas are exactly what the na suggests. All the kingdoms participate in them to resolve the purpose of making decisions that are simply tough enough to do without sothing like this."
"We can’t wage wars over every resource we discover at our borders—or for every gate we find in neutral territory."
"And in such cases, the kingdom gas play a great role in deciding the outco. The kingdom whose team erges victorious in these gas gains the privilege to claim those resources and titles, and that victory is recorded in their history."
He paused briefly before finishing.
"That is what the kingdom gas are. And I want you to participate in this year’s ga—no matter what."
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