Bohen’s expression softened. “However, everything we do has a reason and a motive. Almark, your words were true.”
Almark looked up at Bohen with surprise.
“I agree with what you said. Here at this institute, it makes no difference whether someone is a commoner or a noble. I can’t stand people who care about something so foolish.” Bohen looked around the class again and then returned his gaze to Almark. “You may have taken the wrong approach, but you did it for the right cause. So this time, I’ll overlook your bit of foul play.”
“Thank you, Professor.” Almark bowed his head in gratitude.
Bohen grinned. “However, if there’s one thing I won’t let pass, it’s you two choosing to settle your little feud in one of the few classes I teach. Settle your problems during your homeroom with Professor Fia instead. That was your biggest mistake today. As such, Almark, you’ll be on cleanup duty for martial arts class until the end of the year.”
After class was over, Almark got to work on cleaning things up as he was ordered, and Wendy joined him wordlessly. Morgan and Nelson did the same.
“Hey, hey, if you guys all help out, it won’t make for much of a punishment, will it?” Bohen said with a strained smile. His expression then hardened, though, and he pulled Almark closer. “Almark,” he whispered, “please go to the headmaster’s office today after classes are over.”
Almark hadn’t seen the headmaster since his first day at the institute.
He knocked on the heavy door to the headmaster’s office with an “excuse me” before entering. Eurog glanced up from his paperwork and looked back down at it once he saw who had arrived.
“Oh, there you are, Almark,” the old man said, hastily putting pen to paper. “Well? How’s life at the institute?”
“Every day is full of new experiences.”
“That’s wonderful.” Eurog continued writing without looking up at Almark. “I’ve heard you had quite a time recently.”
“Right.” Almark nodded, a strained smile on his lips.
“Your teachers have told me some things about you.”
Eurog’s tone wasn’t harsh, but Almark tensed up a little. Just what had his teachers said about him?
“But personally, I’d like to hear it from the horse’s mouth. How have things been for you here at the institute?”
“…Understood.”
Almark told Eurog everything that had taken place since he’d started school. His classes, his lessons, his teachers. About his magic, how he failed casting an illumination spell, and about meditation training. Wendy’s tears, his feud with Tohrk and the events of today’s martial arts class. He explained it all concisely, occasionally including his thoughts. Eurog gave the occasional nod and even chuckled once, but let Almark finish speaking.
When Almark was done, Eurog put down his pen and looked at the boy, a glint in his blue eyes. “It seems your time here has been meaningful so far.”
“Yes,” Almark replied. “I haven’t gotten the knack of magic yet, though.”
“And what did Professor Illmis say about your progress?”
“He told me I shouldn’t rush.”
“Mhm.” Eurog nodded. “Trust in his words. The time you spend learning and pondering magic, and the time you spend with your friends—both are necessary for you to become a mage. Don’t neglect these pursuits.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Absolutely fine.”
Eurog narrowed his eyes and smiled. “You really are made of different, sterner stuff. Producing a Dragon’s Flame at your age and then being up and about the same day is astounding, you know.”
“That’s only because Professor Illmis and Professor Selia helped me. People are helping me all the time. Wendy and Morgan are always there for me, too. I wouldn’t have been able to manage anything on my own.”
“Good. Such feelings are at the core of magic. Never forget them. But on another matter…” Eurog changed the subject. “Do you have enough money?”
“Ah, yes, given that I don’t have much use for it.”
The institute provided the students with all their daily necessities—their uniform robes, clothes, daily meals, and lodging—free of charge. But for all their other needs, each student had a minor monthly stipend to buy any other groceries they might require. Everyone else made do with these stipends, mostly spending it on their days off to buy sweets and the like at town. Students from wealthier families also received an allowance from home.
Almark had no allowance, of course, only the stipend he got when he arrived at the institute, but he still hadn’t even touched it.
“I see. Well, your father did ask me to look after you, so do come to me if you need anything.”
“Yes, sir.” Bit by bit, Almark was starting to question why the headmaster had summoned him. “Um, Headmaster, did you need me for something…?”
Eurog simply smiled. “No, we’re done for today.”
Almark stared at him for a moment, confused.
“You can go back to your room,” Eurog said.
Almark left the headmaster’s office, a bit baffled, and found Wendy, Nelson, and Morgan waiting for him with concerned looks on their faces.
“What are you guys doing here?” Almark asked them.
“Oh, um…,” Wendy muttered, her expression grave.
Apparently, Morgan happened to hear Bohen tell Almark to go to the headmaster’s office, and after he told everyone else about it, they saw Almark head there. When they waited for a while and still saw no sign of him—it had taken a while to tell Eurog about all his experiences at the institute thus far—they started assuming the worst and thought he was being punished or even expelled.
“I wasn’t in trouble,” Almark said with a bemused smile.
“Come on, Morgan, you lied to us,” Nelson grumbled, shooting Morgan a peevish look.
Morgan went red in the face. “I wasn’t lying! Almark really was called to the headmaster’s office!”
Almark watched their interaction with a smile. “I appreciate the concern, though.”
He was grateful to know the two of them cared so much about him. This kind of unconditional, selfless goodwill was something he rarely saw in the people of the North. As unpleasant as it was to admit, Northerners equated this kind of selflessness with foolishness and weakness. But Almark knew that this kind of selflessness had already saved him many times. And today, he felt like he was able to repay some of his gratitude for it. In his own way and as a Northerner.
Seeing Wendy and Morgan relieved that he wasn’t in any trouble, Almark finally felt like he’d become part of the class.