After chatting for a short while, and getting to know each other a little, Red began telling Tom and Alex about all of the current events at the campus.
"You see that contraption is actually part of a bet between Professor Keller and Professor Elwin. You see Elwin is the professor in charge of combat here. He is also the vice headmaster as well as a member of the Pheonix family." Red said, with a deep tone of respect. "You see Keller is in charge of the Mana Control and Enchanting classes. But Elwin doesn't think very highly of teaching enchanting."
Tom and Alex were stunned at hearing this. "How could that be? There is no way that someone from the Pheonix family would not know the importance of enchanting in our society." Tom remarked, confusedly.
"That is the thing! He does know how important it is. In fact he knows it better than most. It is just that he thinks enchanting should only be studied by the elite. He spoke about it, in public, only a few months ago." At this point Reds tone shifted to a more nasally and perfunctory one. "Only the upper echelons of our society have the means, time, and intellect that is needed to properly understand enchanting. Teaching it to commoners will only waste the resources of the academy."
"He actually said that?" Said Alex, his mouth hung open slightly with his head tilted to the side as if he had just faintly heard a whisper that he couldn't quite understand.
"He did, and it really pissed off Keller when he heard about it. Keller is from a common family after all. And so, the bet was made. Keller had to come up with something new and useful for the academy before the new semester started or lose half of the funding for the enchanting class." Said Red.
"The Headmaster agreed to this?" Asked Tom.
Red looked at Tom as though he was a very strange and disgusting insect for a moment. "Why wouldn't he! Not only is Elwin a member of the Pheonix family. You know the family that rules this city. But Elwin is also the Vice Headmaster. Not to mention the fact that he teaches the combat course here, that course can always use more funding." Red said exasperatedly. "Exactly how many good reasons do you need to say yes to something that would be forced on you anyway?"
"Elwin could for the Headmaster to agree?" Alex asked, surprise clear in his tone.
"Well, yeah." Red responded. His tone making it very clear how obvious all of this should be. "I mean the Pheonix family is the one that set up the Academy. They are also the ones that fund it using the tax revenue that the people of this city supply. In the end, the Headmaster is at least a yes man, and at worst a figure head for them."
"Poor Keller." Tom remarked offhandedly.
"I wouldn't worry about him too much." Red responded as he leaned in closer to the the other two. "You see it is not that easy on Elwin either. Miriel Pheonix is the one that oversees the Academy for the Pheonix family. She is the great granddaughter of the head of the Pheonix family. And she just so happens to think very differently from Elwin. I feel bad for Elwin." Red said with a snicker.
"You see Elwin may not like that the academy teaches us enchanting, but he would not want to step on Miriels toes. But Keller did not give him an option in this matter. After hearing what Elwin said, Keller marched right into a meeting between Miriel, Elwin, and the headmaster and laid down the bet. Before anyone could say anything about it he left." Red was almost outright laughing at this point in the story. "Can you imagine the looks on the headmaster's and Elwin's faces after that. I mean right in front of Miriel."
Alex once again looked over the crowd to see Keller using his device on students. He could not picture this tall, frail looking man being so angry. He seemed more of the sort to sulk and hide away than fight back.
"What got into Keller? To have the gall to do all of that?" Alex asked.
"Well it is simple. Keller is just to prideful." Red said as he shook his head. "Keller is a genius to be sure, but if that man had one downfall it would be his pride. He can take anything you throw at him, but never insult or damage his pride." Red said seriously. "Last year an upperclassman made fun of Keller. He said that Keller, in his black robes, looked like a black kite when the wind blew."
Alex could easily see the comparison. "So?" He said.
"So, the next day when that student tried to get out of his seat after Keller's class was over he found that he couldn't leave the area around his desk." Red continued.
"Why not?" Tom asked.
"Isn't it obvious? Keller had inscribed runes around his chair creating a low level barrier. No matter what he tried he could not break that barrier. Eventually the other students had to get another professor to come and break the enchantment."
"What was Keller doing this whole time?" Alex asked.
"That's the thing. Keller just walked out of class after the lecture was over. No one could find him until after the enchantment was broken."
"But it was just a joke right? Why would Keller go so far? Couldn't he get in trouble?" Tom asked.
"No, not really anyway. The professors here are given full reign over how they choose to reprimand students. It is just rare that one would be so petty as to react over such a small insult." Red clarified.
It was then that the three noticed that they were near the head of the line. It would not be long now before it was their turn to take the exam. Alex couldn't help but feel worried.