The Obsessive Regressor of The Academy

53. Academy Break

The Master has been acting strange today. Or perhaps it started yesterday.

I couldn’t even pinpoint the exact moment I realized it, but sometime along the way, the Master stopped meeting my eyes. Her answers were always brief, as usual, but the emotions contained within them weren’t short at all, but rather complicated.

“Ahem, ahem…”

In order for a child to survive in the slums, they had to work tirelessly to cater to the adults. To discern their moods and adhere to the correct attitude was the only way to grow up with all their limbs intact.

In that regard, Assel was particularly adept at reading other people’s emotions. Figuring out what Ena’s meaningless, random coughs meant was nothing.

*‘She seems confused.’*

Confused, out of the blue. Not an emotion one would expect from someone who spends all day sitting and reading. Something must have happened to be stirring inside her head, but she wouldn’t answer even if I asked, so there was nothing I could do.

“Master.”

“Hiyah!”

“…?”

“C-cough! Why did you call?”

“…Nothing. Just calling out.”

“Indeed.”

Conversations always unfolded like this. When Asel called for Ena, she’d let out a strange shriek and drop the book she was holding. Ena, who usually spoke so softly, rarely made such a high-pitched sound, leaving even Asel slightly startled. One couldn’t help but think, *Can my master even make that noise?*

Sometimes, she wouldn’t even respond when called. Whenever that happened, Asel would look over to find Ena staring blankly at the ceiling. Her lips seemed to be moving, as if muttering something, but her voice was so quiet that Asel couldn’t quite catch the words.

He could have eavesdropped with magic, if he’d wanted to, but Asel didn’t bother.

A magician without curiosity is a corpse, they say, but one shouldn’t extend their grasp so far as to meddle in another’s private affairs.

“…Hmm.”

Anyway.

Ena displayed quite a few oddities like these. She couldn’t meet his gaze, nor could she carry on a lengthy conversation. If he forced her to look at him, her pupils would dart around uncontrollably before she abruptly turned her head away. Then, she’d blink, as if unsure herself as to why she did it.

It seemed her mind was too preoccupied for normal communication.

And that was his chance.

Asel planned to get a firm promise from Ena today that she’d release him from confinement. It would be impossible with Ena in her normal state, but it shouldn’t be too difficult with her so flustered.

The moment he conceived the idea, the plan began. Asel cleared his throat to draw Ena’s attention before carefully placing the book he was reading onto the bed.

“……”

She was pretending otherwise, but Asel knew that all of Ena’s focus was on him. Either she had no talent for sneaking peeks or he could keenly feel her sidelong glances in his direction. But Asel pretended not to notice her gaze and stared out the window with a wistful expression.

Muttering softly, he said,

“…I miss it.”

“……”

“Ah, I miss my friends. How long will I have to stay here?”

“……”

Would she take the bait? Or would she remain unresponsive?

Asel continued to look out the window with a growing sense of unease.

Just then, he heard the sound of a book closing behind him.

The moment he heard it, Asel smiled inwardly.

He’d caught a big one.

“…Do you want to leave?”

Ena asked in a slightly apologetic voice. Asel turned to look at her, a wry smile playing on his lips.

“Ah, did you hear me? I’m sorry. I was just talking to myself.”

“No, it’s alright. It happens.”

They were conversing, but Ena still didn’t meet Asel’s eyes. Under normal circumstances, he’d be disappointed, but right now, it was a most welcome reaction.

Asel’s heart stung a little at the thought of deceiving the one who had cared for him his entire life, but he couldn’t stay cooped up here forever. It was time to play his trump card.

But before Asel could speak, Ena’s voice cut through. She rummaged within her robes, producing a single sheet of parchment.

“Don’t fret. You’ll be back at the Academy soon enough.”

“Pardon?”

This was another unforeseen reply. He’d been sure he was to be confined within the cathedral, held prisoner, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

But if that were so, why keep him here at all? Why such wariness regarding him leaving?

Asel desperately wracked his brain to discern Ena’s intent. But he couldn’t quite grasp her meaning.

Understandably. The reason Ena had kept Asel in a state that was close to imprisonment was simply because she wished to spend time alone with her student, from whom she had been separated for so long.

She herself might believe it was to hinder him from immediately escaping should Birshia attack, but the emotions and desires that were slowly swelling within her were offering a completely different explanation than her reason.

She wanted to have private conversations with Asel. She desired to discuss magic with Asel while sitting close. As fellow Electro-Magicians, she wanted to share their understandings of each other’s spell formulas. Further than that, she wanted to feel his warmth, to feel their skin against skin and commune.

It was a region of the unconscious. A desire she herself was unaware of, born from instinct and longing. An obsession with, a protectiveness, and possessiveness of her disciple had been quietly burgeoning within her since she couldn’t remember when.

She was simply the only one who didn’t realize it yet.

But as always, the sweet moments passed too quickly. Confusing feelings and complicated sentiments must be pushed aside, for now.

Ena reread the letter she had taken out, her expression hardening.

A seal bearing the insignia of the Academy Dean was clearly imprinted on the letter. It had been sent directly by Friede.

[Come to the west mountains of the Academy two days hence. It should minimize damages there.]

In contrast to the large parchment, the contents were brief. But it was enough. Ena folded the letter once more and closed her eyes.

“The Academy will likely begin a temporary leave of absence in two days. It should last about a week, so stay here until then.”

“A temporary leave, you say?”

“It’s the period of time it will take to bring your recent troubles to light and resolve them. Don’t worry too much. I’ll handle everything.”

Breaking and burning were tasks she was more than accustomed to, sickeningly so. Though this was the first time the location was within the borders of Imperial-controlled territory, she had the Dean’s approval, so there was no need to hesitate. Of course, she would need to be mindful of her power, but she wouldn’t need to consider the destructive aftermath before using magic.

So thinking, Ena opened her eyes.

At that very moment, her gaze met Asel’s, who had settled into the chair opposite her without her noticing. Asel leaned slightly forward, asking,

“Is that what your Master said, Sensei?”

“Ugh, hwaaa…!”

Taken aback by the sudden attack, Ena’s face flushed crimson as she shot up from her seat.

She would still need more time to regain a proper distance from Asel.

*

Within the Academy existed elements that were commonly referred to as the entrenched powers. It was a term generally used to describe professors and staff members hailing from noble families. They harbored a deeper, more profound sense of dedication to the Academy where they worked than one might imagine, often considering it akin to their own personal honor.

Even in routine meetings, they were always keener to elevate the prestige of the Academy itself, rather than the students, and they tended to take great offense to anyone voicing opinions to the contrary. In severe cases, they would relentlessly torment those who disagreed, forcing them to leave the Academy or silencing their voices altogether.

Of course, they did not resort to extreme measures such as assassination. Not out of concerns for conscience or morality, but rather, out of fear that rumors of an Academy staff member being assassinated would damage the Academy’s prestige.

It was all to fill their rice bowls. Luminous Academy treated those within its ranks with a deference matching its renown. Students, of course, but also professors and staff alike. To work at the most prestigious academy on the continent was tantamount to having one’s abilities acknowledged.

And those whose abilities were acknowledged naturally found wealth trickling down upon them. Be it salary or bribe. The sums that flowed into their pockets were, to say the least, staggering. All the more reason they regarded the academy’s honor as their own.

Speaking as though they cared for the academy above all else, yet caring for it least of all – a paradox in flesh and blood.

That was the rot at the heart of the academy. It was they who had suppressed the uproar surrounding the incident with the first-year students.

“Let’s bury this quietly. Silencing a few mouths, including Saya’s, will suffice. Their deaths are regrettable, but the living must live. There’s no need to reveal the academy’s incompetence and suffer the consequences. Isn’t that right, Dean? With families to support, like ourselves, it’s best to avoid anything that might tarnish the academy’s reputation. Consider us as much as you consider the students.”

With one of the corrupt speaking thus, the others were naturally silenced.

Of course, some few rose to their feet, decrying such drivel, but they were the minority. And such battles of rhetoric always favored the majority.

Freede, too, felt constrained. It wasn’t her academy alone. Her voice held weight, but not enough to stand against the collective clout of so many high-ranking nobles.

Even if she arrogantly ignored their opinions, their lack of cooperation during the upcoming midterms and other events would create considerable complications.

If it were up to her, she’d tear out the rot, its roots and all, but that was impossible now, before the next round of staffing. At least until after the midterms, when a proper pretext presented itself, could she clean house.

“…Haa.”

The more she thought, the more her frustration simmered.

If not for the responsibilities that came with her position, she would have brandished her swords and danced a blade-song as she once had. How cruelly ironic.

Still, where there was a descent, there was also an ascent. One wasn’t meant to suffer in silence until death.

In that regard, Acel’s letter of survival, followed shortly by Ena’s threat to demolish the academy, was nothing short of a godsend.

Normally, she would have torn her hair out and fought tooth and nail to stop Ena, but not this time.

A pretext? Ample. Her student nearly died, and rather than recompense, they were quick to silence the incident. Even a judge would side with Ena if she came and razed the place to the ground.

A sense of crisis? Abundant. If a great mage randomly calling down lightning wasn’t dangerous, what was?

It was a situation where she could instill a sense of urgency in the academy staff, and the justification for her actions perfectly aligned. The moment Freede grasped this, she struck a bargain with Ena.

Destroy the academy if you will. But target areas where the damage would be minimal, and demand the publicization of the attack on my student as well as compensation and an apology in return for your eventual retreat. Then I’ll play along. And, in exchange for fulfilling my request, I’ll grant you any one favor!

She sent a letter to Ena along those lines, and, unbelievably, Ena agreed.

Freede, who had secretly expected her to refuse, leapt from her chair the moment Ena’s acceptance arrived and danced a jig with Floom. Floom, believing Freede had finally lost her mind, tearfully indulged her.

A fearsome adversary, but an even more dependable ally. With Ena, a heavenly host, backing her, Freede feared nothing.

It was why her recent bouts of hysteria had lessened.

“Heh heh heh.”

She chuckled softly, stirring her tea. She placed freshly baked cookies and cakes on the table, opened the window overlooking the western mountains, and settled on the sofa.

Two days had passed since she told Ena the location and time for the demolition.

Today was the appointed day.

Access to the western mountains had been strictly prohibited for days, so there was no need to fear casualties. She had even cast detection magic to ensure Ena didn’t kill anyone, so she didn’t need to worry about it.

Everything was perfect.

The first collaboration in centuries, a union between an aged elf and a grand mage. Friede beamed, her face lighting up the instant she saw the streak of white lightning bisecting the sky.

KRaaaKoooM!!

A sudden, stark white bolt sheared down, threatening to cleave the western peak of the Academy clean off. Every eye in the vicinity snapped toward the devastation, and Friede, utterly enthralled, nibbled a cookie.

‘I’m scheduled to deploy about thirty minutes after Ena starts raising hell, so until then…’

Might as well enjoy the show.

“Hee hee hee.”

To watch the very Academy grounds she’d nurtured her entire life be torn asunder…

The sheer, illicit thrill sent a wave of exhilaration through her.

Eat dirt, you old guard fossils.