LGT Chapter 15

The four of them left the training grounds and walked toward the building where their next classes were held. As they passed by other students, all the chatter was about the duel. Declaire’s duel had made quite an impact on the academy.

Adrian Heather retrieved a sheet of paper from his locker and handed it to Catherine Esteban. She checked the paper and smiled, offering her thanks.

Catherine and Hans then walked off in the opposite direction from Mikhail and Adrian’s classroom. Hans turned to Catherine and asked, “What class do we have next?”

“…We?” Catherine replied with a playful grin. “Our joint classes ended ages ago. For the record, I’m done with classes for the day~.”

“Damn, I’m jealous…” Hans grumbled, dragging his feet as he walked. Starting in their second year, students could select their courses according to their interests. Hans, who was headed to his next class, History of War and Music, trudged down the hallway alone. What does war have to do with music anyway? he thought. I just want to play the piano. Frustrated, he kicked a leaf that had found its way into the corridor.

***

Adrian and Mikhail’s afternoon class was Introduction to Alchemy. As a dragon, Adrian was naturally interested in herbalism, which primarily focused on plants, but academically, it was situated somewhere between alchemy and elemental magic. After some deliberation, Adrian chose a seat near the front of the classroom. He figured he’d attend the first lesson and decide if the class was right for him. Mikhail, as always, confidently took a seat in the very back row.

Then, the professor entered. Unlike the neatly dressed instructors from the morning’s magic classes, the alchemy professor looked as though he had just finished digging in the dirt. His pants were caked in mud, and he wasn’t even wearing shoes. 

The fresh-faced first-year students, most of whom were nobles or from wealthy families, looked pale with shock. To them, the professor resembled someone they would never associate with.

What a sight… Adrian tried to be generous in his assessment, reminding himself that this man was still a professor, after all. But his efforts were wasted when the professor sneezed loudly and began rummaging through his pockets. Adrian watched in horror as the professor pulled out—not a handkerchief, but a crumpled tissue, the kind you find in the academy’s restrooms. He used it to wipe his face, much to the disgust of several students. Some visibly gagged at the display, and the one whose face showed the most displeasure was Mikhail, sitting in the back. Even from a distance, he leaned back further in his chair, trying to put more space between himself and the disheveled professor.

Adrian mentally labeled the man as a “street beggar.”

“Ahem, good afternoon, everyone,” the professor greeted in a slow, unhurried manner, resting one hand on the desk. His other hand was still fishing through his pockets. The students’ eyes followed his hand, curious about what he was about to pull out.

Finally, the professor withdrew his hand, revealing a metal cup. The students exchanged bewildered glances, as if asking each other why he had pulled out such an object. Without explanation, the professor raised the cup to his lips and took a long drink.

“…I get a bit shy, you see…”

The scruffy professor, after downing his drink in one gulp, continued to speak from the podium, his face flushed—not from shyness, but from alcohol. The freshmen weren’t naive; they exchanged whispered comments with one another.

“The professor just drank alcohol, didn’t he?”

“Did you see that?”

These kinds of actions only reinforced the stereotype people had about alchemists—that they were eccentric, detached from reality.

“What I’ll be teaching you all… is the basics of alchemy… specifically, what alchemy is,” the professor began. “If you follow along well this year, we’ll discover if you have any talent for alchemy.”

He sniffled loudly, wrinkling his nose, which only cemented the students’ preconceptions about alchemists as oddballs lost in their own world.

“Alchemy,” he continued, “is the art of converting the established rules of the world into something humans can manipulate. Some of you may confuse it with magic, but it’s a completely different field. Magic uses mana to make the impossible possible. But alchemy…”

The professor let his gaze sweep over the room full of freshmen before finishing his sentence.

“Alchemy is about making the impossible possible using only human power.”

The professor, in his dirty coat, laughed loudly to himself after this statement, a typical quirk of eccentric individuals. They often got swept up in their own words and couldn’t help but broadcast their excitement. Some students were momentarily impressed, but quickly became disillusioned by his odd behavior.

“So, what do you think? Isn’t alchemy much cooler?” he muttered under his breath, casting a glance toward the magical disciplines with a hint of jealousy. “Those damned wizards always think they’re the best…”

Then, raising his voice again, he asked, “Is there anyone here in Garnet House interested in alchemy? Raise your hand.”

Leaning forward with great anticipation, he peered into the students’ faces. Adrian, seated near the front, turned slightly to glance at the students sitting behind him. Not a single hand went up. Even if some had been interested in alchemy, this chaotic atmosphere would have required a lot of confidence to admit it now.

Adrian, understanding the mood, kept his hands neatly folded on his desk. It was only the first class, after all—there was no need to stand out just yet.

The professor, clearly disappointed, clicked his tongue. “Tsk, tsk. No promising students. Where will I find a disciple to pass my knowledge on to?”

Well, professor, Adrian thought to himself, if you dressed better and didn’t drink during class, I’m sure you’d find a few students willing to be your apprentice.

The professor, lamenting his situation, suddenly seemed to have an idea. His face brightened, and he clapped his hands loudly several times, snapping the students back to attention.

“Alright! Get up! Alchemy isn’t taught in boring classrooms like this!” 

He climbed down from the podium, heading toward the students. As he descended the steps, he began to physically urge the students out of their seats.

“Come on, let’s go! Outside, everyone—hurry, hurry!”

He herded the reluctant students out of the classroom, walking proudly at the front of the group. The classroom was located on the third floor of the building, and as the students followed him down the stairs, many of them exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what exactly was going on.

They descended from the third floor to the second, and then from the second to the first. The students, at first hopeful for an outdoor class, began to shift to expressions of “of course” as their expectations lowered. But the professor didn’t stop at the first floor—he led them further down. The classroom building had a basement.

Unlike the bright and luxurious atmosphere of the academy above, the basement was dark, damp, and had an unsettling air about it. One of the students shivered, rubbing their arms to calm the goosebumps that had risen on their skin.

Without noticing the growing discomfort of the students, the professor walked ahead and suddenly turned around. 

“Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Edwin Nolan, and I teach alchemy here at Basamiel Academy. I look forward to working with you all,” he said with a casual grin.

Just as his introduction ended, the ground beneath them began to rumble—Kugugung! It was an earthquake. The students screamed in panic, but the professor waved them off as if it was nothing.

“Ah, don’t worry. The ground shakes like this from time to time down here. No need to be alarmed. From now on, whenever you have Introduction to Alchemy, don’t go to the classroom—just come straight here.”

Next to Adrian, a student whimpered softly, “I don’t want to take this class anymore.” Adrian gently patted the trembling student’s arm in an attempt to comfort them. “…I doubt he’ll actually kill us,” he said, trying to be reassuring, though the student’s face only grew paler.