The Wise Teaching Assistant Life (1)
Early morning. I was having breakfast with Rana at the student cafeteria. Countless stares poured in from around us, but I ignored them and kept eating.
That's when Rana asked, “It's starting today, right? The teaching assistant gig.”
“Yeah, today.” I nodded.
Time had flown by in the blink of an eye, and it was already Wednesday. Wednesday was Ruina Lindel's first lecture day.
“When does it start?”
“Eleven.”
It was eight now. Three hours until the lecture began.
“Not long now. Aren't you nervous?”
“Not really?”
Being a teaching assistant just meant assisting the professor. If I thought of it as a slightly more tiring part-time job, there wasn't much to it.
Rana then said, “If it were me, I'd be super nervous. Even kids who've done it say it's not easy.”
“That's for normal professors. I'm working under Senior Ruina.”
“Yeah, true!”
Rana chugged her orange juice, set down the glass, and let out a relieved sigh.
“Still, it's a relief. That Senior Ruina isn't leaving.”
Rana grinned broadly. She'd been thrilled when she heard the senior was staying on as a professor at Tianis Academy.
“That happy about it?”
“Of course! How sad is it when someone you care about leaves?”
A smile tugged at my lips. Among all the main characters, Rana was the one with the most affection for others. That's why she often became the group's center without Evan around in the novel.
“Kyle, take good care of Senior Ruina. She trusts you the most.”
“I will.”
If we ranked by trust level, I'd definitely be at the top. She relied on me that much.
“Oh, time's already this late.”
At Rana's words, I checked the clock. We'd barely talked, but it was already 8:40. Time for Rana, who had a lecture, to head out.
“Gotta go, Kyle. Tell me how the teaching assistant thing goes at lunch!”
“Got it. Be careful.”
I saw Rana off. Soon, she vanished from sight.
I stood up and started walking. My destination was obvious: Senior Ruina's professor office.
Tianis's paths were familiar, so it took about ten minutes to arrive. I stood before the door and gazed at the glowing letters beside it.
Professor Ruina Lindel
It hadn't been there my first visit, but now a nameplate identified the professor. I wiped off some dust and slowly opened the door.
Inside, Senior Ruina was preparing her lecture materials.
“Senior, I'm here.”
She seemed focused; her response was slow.
“You're here?”
“Yeah. How's the prep going?”
“Fine. Perfect.”
She set down the materials in her hand and spoke. I'd helped check the lecture content multiple times, so there shouldn't be any gaps.
Ruina sat on the sofa, so I joined her. I observed her condition. Her eyes lacked a bit of vigor, but at least she didn't look like she'd pulled an all-nighter.
On my first day as teaching assistant, I'd noticed she still kept her unique habits. I'd advised her to get proper sleep—student and professor schedules were worlds apart. She seemed to have listened, thankfully.
Satisfied with her state, I smiled and said, “First lecture day, finally.”
“Worried?”
“Why would I be? That's what I should be asking you.”
“I'm confident. Don't you get tense.”
That's what I should say. Most people stiffened from the pressure. Being a professor wasn't just about presentations.
She was so oblivious to outside reactions sometimes. But that personality helped her navigate the world.
We spent the time doing final checks with her. Nothing missing? Enough materials? We went over everything meticulously. No room for mistakes on the first lecture.
Before long, lecture time approached. I stood and called to Senior Ruina, still lost in thought.
“Ruina Senior. Lecture time soon.”
“Yeah. Let's go.”
“I'll carry the materials. Just grab the important stuff.”
I picked up the lecture documents and said so. As teaching assistant, I needed to assist the professor.
“Thanks.”
“It's nothing.”
Teaching assistants helped professors—that bore repeating. That was the role.
“Let's go, Ruina Senior.”
“Yeah.”
We headed to the lecture hall. Just then, another professor and their assistant passed by, heading the same way. The assistant stared enviously—especially at me.
“Good luck.”
“Y-Yes...”
I gave a casual greeting.
Meanwhile, inside the lecture hall.
It was packed with freshmen, buzzing noisily. No wonder—they had a lecture coming up.
“Phew, I'm nervous...”
“I-It'll be fine... right?”
Worried, tense voices rose here and there. With each passing minute, their bodies trembled more.
The freshmen had one reason: they were about to meet the professor.
Truth be told, their reaction was overkill for just meeting a professor. They were new to everything at Tianis, but they'd attended lectures the past two days. First meetings with professors, sure, but not first lectures.
Yesterday, half had already adjusted. Yet today, over 90% felt uneasy. There was a good reason.
This lecture, Basics of Alchemy, had a certain professor in charge.
Basics of Alchemy
Ruina Lindel. The professor handling Basics of Alchemy.
To be honest, the freshmen didn't know who “Ruina Lindel” was. Naturally—they might like alchemy, but not enough to scour industry news.
So when they first heard the name, they shrugged it off. Just another unfamiliar professor to them.
But after hearing about Professor “Ruina Lindel” from other professors, they couldn't ignore it anymore.
—Professor Ruina? Good luck with that.
—I'd love to tell you everything, but experiencing it firsthand is best.
The professors just smirked and brushed it off. What was with Professor “Ruina” to get that reaction?
The little they gleaned:
—Ruina the student—no, Professor Ruina is really...
She'd been a student until last year and became the youngest professor ever.
—Might be a bit tough. We're used to her from her student days, but...
Her personality was extremely unique.
That ramped up the tension. What if they were facing some monstrous professor?
Bang—
The lecture hall door flew open. The students gulped.
One meaning: the professor had arrived.
Right after, one pers...on?
The students gasped. They instantly knew the entrant was Professor “Ruina.”
Female professor, after all.
“Uh...”
“Th...”
But they struggled to react.
Long ash-gray hair and an emotionless, blank face. The strange allure of the two captivated their eyes.
But it didn't end there.
Was she even 150cm? The childlike, tiny Professor Ruina toddled slowly toward the podium.
Her waddling gait was adorable. The hair swaying near her hips doubled the cuteness.
Thud.
Professor Ruina set down her materials. The students snapped to attention and unleashed their impressions.
“Professor Ruina! Hello!”
“First time seeing you! Professor!!”
Explosive reactions from guys and girls alike. The freshmen cheered, welcoming Professor Ruina.
Who knew they'd get such a cute, lovable professor! She could stand toe-to-toe with Rana Heytald, Tianis's idol senior.
Plus, Professor Ruina was only 20. Just a three-year gap.
Looks and age—the psychological distance shrank instantly.
“Quiet.”
Ruina told the ear-piercing crowd.
“Yes, Professor!”
“Got it!”
Excited students were usually hard to calm. But those smitten with Professor Ruina obeyed like the most docile pups.
Still, the hyped atmosphere didn't die down easily. Freshmen gazed at Ruina with sparkling eyes.
“Good.”
Satisfied, Ruina nodded. She picked up the mana tool and wrote on the podium's blackboard.
Ruina Lindel
She wrote her name and tapped the board.
“Ruina Lindel. My name. Memorize it.”
“Already memorized!”
“Memorized the second you walked in!”
Over-the-top reactions at every turn. Ruina endured the ringing in her ears. They were students, after all.
She gave a brief self-introduction. Her major, her alchemy specialty, her office location—essential info for students.
“Questions?”
One student shot up a hand at Ruina's words.
“Speak.”
“Professor Ruina. I heard you graduated from Tianis last year. True?”
“Yes.”
“Then can we call you senior...?”
“No.”
Ruina shut it down instantly. She couldn't allow that.
“I'm the professor. You're students. Mind your manners.”
“Yesss...”
He deflated at the rejection. But it was fair—no retort.
They were students.
“Next question. None?”
The students shook their heads. They'd gotten the info; too early for deep probes.
“Then next. Introducing my teaching assistant.”
Ruina glanced at the door.
“Come in.”
“Yes, Ruina Senior.”
Senior? Didn't Professor Ruina just say not to call her that...?
As doubts swirled, someone entered.
The students blinked in shock at the sight.
They knew exactly who the man Professor Ruina called her teaching assistant was.
The man walked slowly from the door. Nothing like the assistants they'd seen.
His gait, gestures, expression—elegance oozed from every move.
He drew eyes for a different reason than Professor Ruina.
He stood beside her. Ruina said,
“Introduce yourself.”
“Got it, Senior.”
He set down his armful of papers and slowly spoke.
“Nice to meet you.”
A casual greeting. But those few words ensnared their minds. His voice held a captivating power.
“I'm Kyle Arden. Assisting Ruina Senior as teaching assistant for Basics of Alchemy.”
After introducing himself, he scanned the students and continued.
“Looking forward to working with you.”
Introduction over.
The students, briefly dazed, snapped back.
“Gasp!”
“Gasp!”
“Gasp!”
Their reactions were all the same.