Professor Teia (3)
Teia Muronel von Bernhardt was in a good mood. Taking on the basic magic lecture had breathed new life into her routine, all because it let her catch glimpses of the academy's celebrity in person. The young writer who'd burst onto the empire's literary scene like a bombshell never failed to deliver some quirky reaction whenever he showed up in her class. Take this latest lesson—he'd been so lost in thought, whatever it was, that he hadn't even heard a word she said.
"Fun, right? A celebrity."
Teia had little time for the dusty old wizards who belonged in a trunk or the empire's literary fossils. They were too bound by convention, ignoring progress to wallow in the status quo. No growth there. Nothing changed if you just stayed put, and she was sick of people drunk on past glories, refusing to evolve.
So Teia chased thrills. The world saw her as someone driven by whims, and honestly, that was spot on.
"And this book? Way more entertaining than I expected."
Reclining against a plush, oversized down pillow, Teia levitated volume two of the Shuren Chronicle with her magic. Her purple slip nightgown clung sheer against her skin, and strands of black hair streaked with highlights cascaded over her ample chest.
"For someone born in the empire to write Kun'Rung tales like this? That's talent. He insists it's all fiction, pure fantasy... but still."
It was hard to believe the author, who wove such fierce revenge alongside stark benevolence, was only sixteen. Of course, with her brain pickled by the empire's stodgy novels, Teia welcomed the fresh shock of Alan's work with open arms.
"And from the Mueller family, no less. A writer from a sword dynasty? Never saw that coming. Even the Sword King allowing it..."
The Sword King—Duke Mueller, as Teia knew him—wasn't the type to greenlight something like this. Unless he truly recognized Alan's talent, no way he'd let his son publish under the family name. From anyone else, maybe, but the Sword King's approval? That screamed pure literary genius.
"Hmm..."
The concept of a Clan struck her as pretty unique as she flipped the pages. "A system where non-blood kin recognize each other as family. Maybe a simplified empire translation of Kun'Rung's sects?"
It was a tough sell for Western Empire folk. But what really hooked people wasn't the idea—it was Alan's radical style, the kind that deserved the word unprecedented. Teia herself had gasped in admiration more than once.
"Unlike empire novels that stretch sentences forever as a baseline. No wonder the literary old guard's losing it. Efficient phrasing, that's what this is."
Alan's prose avoided bloated lines. No half-page preambles of fluff before the real story, like in empire novels. That's what made it revolutionary. The old guard couldn't stomach it, and Teia had felt the jolt herself.
"Plus, this black mage noble arc. Solid research there."
The more she read, the more intrigued she grew by Alan. It was an open secret among colleagues that she'd pulled an all-nighter devouring the book the day she got it. Her interest in the author himself only sparked after cracking it open.
"Warning about black magic's dangers while showing how nobility makes practicing it a breeze. Hmm... and lately, whispers of devil worshippers stirring again..."
Did Alan foresee it and write this? As Teia turned the page with magic, a knock echoed from the door.
"Hm?"
Who'd visit her lab this late? Leaving the book hovering, she rose from bed.
'...Crazy!'
The door swung open to reveal Teia's near-nude slip, and Alan slapped a hand over his eyes. Her curves were already a minefield for the eyes, but this sheer number? Thank god he'd covered up fast—lingering might've landed him a harassment charge.
Teia smiled slyly as she opened the door. "Oh? The celebrity? What's up?"
"Meia said you wanted to see me if I had time..."
"Ah, right. Yeah. Didn't expect you so soon, though. Come in."
She held the door and stepped aside. "Meia."
"She's not visible, young master. You can lower your hand."
"Phew..."
Alan dropped his hand at Meia's words, cheeks burning as he willed them to cool.
"She's, uh, pretty open, huh."
"A bit too open..."
"I've always heard she's like that. Famous for being an eccentric."
"Me?"
Had she changed already? Now sporting a wide-brimmed wizard's hat, Teia eyed Alan and Meia.
"Not coming in? Get in here, celebrity."
"Ah, yes."
Clothes changed or not, the outfit was still scandalously revealing. Crop-top style baring her midriff, deep cleavage with sheer fabric showing everything, and a side-slit skirt flashing seventy percent of her thigh. Alan squeezed his eyes shut.
'No safe place to look, this mad professor!!'
He shook his head. 'What a headache.'
As he stood there, a disassembled round table crept out from inside, snapping together in seconds. Chairs followed suit, then teacups and a teapot floated into place. In the back, brooms and mops whizzed about, cleaning noisily.
Alan gaped. 'Disney cartoon stuff in real life? Who knew?'
Teia, now draped in a cape, settled gracefully into a chair. "I said come by, but not this quick. Nice surprise for me, celebrity."
"What did you want to talk about...?"
"Straight to it? Fun."
Grinning, she lifted her teacup. "Nothing big. Just wanted a chat. I like inviting intriguing folks over for talks."
"Intriguing how, exactly?"
"Catching eyes from both empire princesses, making that prickly old Prof. Quiros smile, smashing the literary dinosaurs' heads—a kid genius. Intriguing, right?"
"Not really a genius, though..."
An ambiguous smile tugged at Alan's lips. He wasn't a genius. Born ones dwarfed him. He'd been crushed by their talent in his past life, so he knew.
Teia tilted her cup at his denial, chuckling. "Says the guy whose Shuren Chronicle is shaking the world?"
"I always say I never saw this coming."
"Yeah? Hilarious."
It was a tired topic, so Alan let it drop.
"Fair. Couldn't predict the old farts' reactions. Or what's buried in their psyches."
"What do you mean...?"
"The empire's lit scene? Basically a massive interest group. Especially the provincial nobles' playground."
She set down her cup. "Then bam—a heavyweight crashes in. Mueller Ducal House. That Alonso Odonel fossil flipping out? There's reasons, celebrity."
Alan scratched his cheek. So that's it.
"And volume two's the same. Protagonist Shuren? No status in empire terms. Him offing a noble black mage..."
"Didn't intend a commoner-noble clash, but yeah, it reads that way."
"Quick on the uptake. Heh, I like sharp kids."
Crossing her legs, she propped her chin. "You seem clueless on Kun'Rung culture, yet basing a novel on it? Juicy. Sure, Mueller's lady is Eastern nobility—that's known."
"...You looked into that too?"
"Not 'looked into.' I get antsy sitting still. Wandering picks up gossip, celebrity. Staff room's buzzing about the Shuren Chronicle too."
Alan nodded. Made sense. Plenty of cadets were fans, Alonso Publishers was ecstatic—profs chatting it up wasn't odd.
"Anyway... hear the Eastern Swordsmanship Club's booming? Shuren Chronicle runoff feeding Kun'Rung clubs. No thoughts, celebrity?"
"Not my lane. What changes if I meddle?"
"Hmph, ignores what he can't control? Decisive type."
Alan shrugged. Teia smirked and sipped her tea.
"Celebrity, wanna do something fun with me?"