A Tense Welcome to Medeia Academy
Is this Medeia Academy?!
"Ooh..."
We'd finally arrived at the imperial capital after a grueling three-day journey. Ugh... my whole body was creaking and aching. Not that I had a choice—I'd slept in the carriage, eaten in the carriage, lived in the carriage, except for the brief meal breaks. The coachman was an automata Master had made, so it didn't need sleep. Thanks to that, we'd made it from our secluded spot on the western forest outskirts to the capital in just three days. I wanted to get out, find a bed, and crash.
But we couldn't disembark yet. We'd only just reached the capital's outskirts...
"Next! Ah... an automata? Pardon me."
Through the carriage window, I spotted a guard in plate armor. He peered inside, then called back to his partner. "One little girl and one white-haired old man."
His colleague jotted it down in a notebook. The first guard looked us over and said, "May I see some identification? Or something equivalent..."
Before he could finish, Master thrust out his staff—specifically, the red ruby at its tip. The guard tilted his head, then his face lit up in shock.
"We greet the Leader of the Imperial Court Mage Corps!!!"
What? Leader of the Imperial Court Mage Corps?! Our Master?! No way. I knew he was a skilled mage, but that? And directly under the imperial family, no less... Though something felt off from what I remembered...
"Keh heh heh... Just a retired old codger these days. I've passed my duties to my juniors and now humbly raise a disciple in the mountains."
Master subtly nodded toward me. Ah, so he'd retired. Makes sense— the Court Mage Corps couldn't just be leaderless for over five years.
"Hah! Of course, Sir Rodis! So, what brings you here today?"
"Heh heh heh. Good to see such discipline. Looks like Minelauva's doing well..."
"Haha... The Knight Commander is quite strict."
"Indeed... That fellow's a bit too rigid. Things could slide by with a little finesse..."
Uh... Master, that doesn't sound like something you should say. I wanted to point it out, but I held my tongue. No way was I risking his staff, Aludra, beaning me.
"Can't keep my disciple cooped up in the mountains forever, so I dragged her along."
The guard's face lit up in admiration. "Ooh! Then it's surely that!!"
"Indeed, that."
"Haha... I'd love to go myself someday. If I get the chance. Being mentored by professors at the prestigious Medeia Academy is a lifelong dream!"
"Hmm... What's your name?"
"Me? Kiruba, sir."
"Age?"
"Fifteen this year!"
"Younger than you look."
Kiruba tilted his head at Master's question. I had a pretty good guess, though...
"If I meet the Chairman, I'll recommend you. A straightforward, diligent sort like you deserves an education."
There it was—Master's incurable soft spot for people. Look, the guy's about to cry.
"Sir Rodis..."
Tears welled in Kiruba's eyes. Master spoke carefully. "And my disciple will be joining as an assistant professor... So if you enroll, make sure to attend her classes."
"Pardon? P-Pardon?! Y-Yes, sir!!"
Kiruba's face shifted: bewilderment, then shock, then resolve. Haha, so easy to read... Wait. Wait a sec?! Master?! Why are you signing him up for my classes without asking me?!
I couldn't scream, so I just pouted and stared out the other window.
"Hahaha. Seems the professor's feeling shy. And she looks so young to be one. You've raised an impressive disciple, Sir Rodis."
"Heh heh heh. Quite the disciple. If she'd bothered with proper papers, the mage towers would be fighting over her..."
No no no, Master!! Don't hype me up like that!!
Whether he sensed my panic or not, Master lowered his voice. "And she doesn't just look young—she is young. Let's see... Yes, she's the same age as you this year."
"Whaaat?!?!"
With Kiruba's howl as our finale, we passed the checkpoint without further issue.
The air was heavy. Not figuratively—the thick concentration of mana was crushing it. And the culprits? The two people sitting across and beside me.
One was our Master, Rodis Bern, with his graying white hair fading to misty hues. The other was a woman in her forties, light brown hair under a blue robe—Jania Pieris, Chairman of Medeia Academy.
Former Leader and Vice-Leader of the Imperial Court Mage Corps. Now Chairman and tenured professor... but they were locked in a mana standoff.
And the cause? Ugh... The woes of a popular girl. No, really. It was me.
Specifically, Master's insistence on appointing me assistant professor versus the Chairman's flat refusal: "We can't shame the academy by hiring a child who should be a student, not even an adult!"
The gathered professors, here to meet Master, were flustered, struggling against the mana vortex. These two were ex-top brass—archmages rivaling tower lords. Few could stand firm when they went all out.
Me? This was just daily life with Master, so no biggie. But yeah, the air was heavy.
This room's tough, though. Holding up under their mana barrage? Magic's amazing! Yup!
Bored of their standoff, I scanned the Chairman's office. I'd seen it plenty in the game during downtime, but IRL? Different vibe.
And... beautiful. The magic circles etched everywhere were stunning—stuff you couldn't appreciate in-game. I memorized them eagerly, eyes darting. Drawing them on paper would've helped, but sketching quietly here? Too awkward. Memorizing was fine anyway.
Okay, think I've got 'em. Pretty, sure, but I spotted flaws to fix, tweaks for better use... in my roll-around life. Heh heh—academies were made for lolling about, clearly.
Wonder when these two will quit... Oh, the other professors... Ah. Professor Melian passed out standing.
Poor thing—innately timid magical herbology expert. Even in canon, she was the first professor knocked out. I could probably take her. Heck, Perdita beat her in-game...
"Leader. You're truly set on hiring this girl as assistant professor?"
"Heh heh. What's the issue? She's my disciple, vouched for by this Rodis Bern."
Master laughed heartily, beaming affection at me. The air lightened as if the mana clash never happened, his smile warm. But Chairman Jania shook her head.
"That's precisely why it's not. Leader, she's not even registered with the Mages' Association. We can't verify if she's professor material. Entrusting her with your assistant role? It'll tarnish your honor—and the academy's."
"In other words..."
Master's smile turned ominous. Oh boy, that's bad... Chairman Jania! Abort!!
"Chairman, you're doubting my disciple's skill."
She nodded vigorously. "Yes, Leader."
Still calling him Leader, huh? Respect.
"And questioning the judgment of the one who trained her..."
"Pardon?"
Chairman Jania froze. Everyone did. Whatever. Time for cocoa. Slurp~
The silence was broken only by my sipping. Flustered, she waved her hands and head wildly. "Absolutely not!! Leader!! Our academy always lacks professors! We'd welcome you taking up the chalk!!"
"Yet you doubt the disciple I raised? How's that different from calling me incompetent?"
Master quietly roused his mana again.
"Hic!"
Professor Melian, recovered, started hiccuping. Sigh... headache. I just wanna rest...
How to convince them quick? Ah! Right, that.
"Um..."
I raised my hand timidly. All eyes on me. Ugh, pressure... Maybe bail?
"Yes, Miriel? What is it? If you're refusing the post, I'm thrilled."
Chairman Jania smiled sweetly, blasting mana at me. Four-attribute ex-Vice-Leader power, huh? I subtly pushed back with my own—just a tad.
Her face soured as she felt it. Ooh, didn't know she could scowl like that.
Anyway... "So, if I prove I won't tarnish Master's honor, that's enough?"
She got it—a vein popped on her forehead. Whoa, real-life anger mark! On a woman, too...
"Miriel... You won't regret saying that?"
Vein throbbing, she smiled predatorily. Eek... scary. Hurry up and done so I can crash in the professors' dorm.