"Wait what?", Zephyrus is more confused, "Please elaborate."
Seventeen opened his mouth to explain but Ruth interrupted, "Don't you speak a word. I'll tell him.", she said icily. He shrugged.
Ruth started speaking, "A month ago I was on the way Cardinal city in a carriage full of ice sculptures to sell in the city.".
"You mean like this one?", Zephyrus asked and pointed at a small ice sculpture of a horse on its hind legs. It is so beautiful that one would think it is made of high-quality glass and not made of ice. "The sculptures of the Aeva family are amazing as they do not melt.", he said.
"You are right headmaster. The sculptures made by us Aevas never melt but somehow this guy...", Ruth pointed at Seventeen, "Managed to not only melt them but also annihilate my entire carriage by falling from the sky flapping fiery wings.", she said angrily.
"You managed to melt the ice of the Aeva family?", Zephyrus asked looking at Seventeen.
Seventeen rubbed his head, "Yeah. But I apologized. I lost control when a pigeon flew out of nowhere and smacked me in the face. I had to protect Selene from the fall and your carriage was the only thing to land. I did pay you for the damages."
"Do you seriously think money is going to solve every single problem? Do you have any idea about the time and effort I spent on each sculpture? And did you think about the person in the carriage? I would've died if it weren't for my darn reflexes", Ruth snarled.
"And what are you doing in the headmaster's office?", she suddenly asked.
"That's because I work here. I am an instructor."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously.", Seventeen and Zephyrus said in unison. Zephyrus added, "He is the instructor of Special class A. That means both of you are co-workers."
"No way.", Seventeen and Ruth said at the same time. "There is no way I would work with a man who has no thought about the value of things and who has a number as a name. What are you? A numbered doll?", Ruth asked.
Seventeen's eye twitched, "Listen here, you princess. I love my name and you know what? I don't want to work with annoying people like you.", he said to her face.
"Me too!", Ruth retorted. Both of them glared at each other. Zephyrus sighed. This is going to be tough.
"Listen, guys, both of you have to work together to help your students become strong. It will be extremely hard for them to improve if both of you act like this.", he said.
Both of them frowned. "Alright, Zephyrus. I'll do it for you and the students. But I'm going to need an apology from the princess here for me to work with her.", Seventeen crossed his arms.
"I was thinking the same thing.", Ruth replied. Zephyrus swore he could see tiny lightning bolts clashing between them. Suddenly an idea popped up in his head.
"How about you guys battle it out. The loser will have to apologize to the winner.", he suggested. Zephyrus was sure that Seventeen would win the fight but he found no other way to solve this matter.
Seventeen also thought the same thing. At least he'll have an apology from this annoying woman, "Fine by me.", he said. Ruth nodded, "Alright headmaster. But I suggest adding one more condition, the loser will have to obey the winner for a week."
She then looked at Seventeen, "I, Ruth Aeva challenge you to a duel.", "Challenge accepted.", Seventeen replied and sighed. This is the second challenge to a duel he had in one day.
"Let's have the duel after tomorrow's class and the students will be our audience. Headmaster, would you be kind enough to mediate the duel?", he turned to Zephyrus who nodded, "Very well.", he replied.
"Be ready by tomorrow. I'll make sure to plug your mouth with my ice. Try melting that away.", Ruth said. She nodded to Zephyrus and left the office. "That woman is damn annoying.", Seventeen muttered.
"Well, you did crash into her carriage.", Zephyrus sat down on his chair and started looking at reports.
"It was that damned pigeon!"
"Whatever. I want to ask you a favor by the way.", Zephyrus pulled out a file from beneath his desk. "The Earth Cardinal sent this from Raveria. She detected a huge amount of magia from the Elder Mountains a week ago. Since I am the only one who explored most of the mountains, she asked me to investigate."
"I can investigate it tonight. Even I sensed a huge amount of magia as I came down the mountains.", Seventeen said as he took the file from Zephyrus.
"Oh yeah. I forgot you don't need sleep."
"Here you go.", Zephyrus threw something at Seventeen. He caught it and saw that it was a full-face black fox mask. "It will be strange if an instructor of Cardinal Academy is found in Raveria in the middle of the night."
"As if this mask is inconspicuous.", Seventeen said drily. "Actually it's a good idea. People in masks are more common in this world than you think. People won't look at you twice if you wear that. Plus, there is another sweet thing about that mask.", Zephyrus smiled.
Seventeen frowned and looked at the mask. He put it on. "Now stream magia into the mask.", Zephyrus instructed.
Seventeen did so and suddenly he couldn't see his hand. "So this mask makes you invisible if you stream magia into it.", he sounded amused. He took it off and became visible. "You can become visible by just stopping the magia flow to the mask.", Zephyrus added.
"Thanks, headmaster. I'll be back by morning.", Seventeen opened the door exited the office. He closed the door and sighed. Despite not having fatigue, he's mentally tired.
(It was a busy day. Honestly, I forgot about that young lady after that fiasco with the carriage. Who would've thought she would be your coworker. But hey, I've dealt with women more annoying than her)
'You mean you killed them?', Seventeen asked in horror.
(Of course not you idiot. But those kind of women have a sweet personality under that rude and icy shell)
'Not this one I bet.', Seventeen said in his mind.
Suddenly someone spoke behind him, "Sir? Is that you?"
Seventeen turned around and saw the boys in his class. "Oh hey, guys. What are you doing here?", he asked. "Mr. Sparky is showing us around the academy, you know since he was held back.", Arthur nodded at Damien who retorted, "Do you seriously wanna die, Night?"
Seventeen laughed, "What happened to you, Damien? Did my presence affect you in here?", Seventeen asked tapping his head. "It's not that! I figured you're strong. So I'll study in your class.", Damien looked away and blushed. Seventeen smiled.
"Speaking of rude people, a lady passed by us muttering something like 'stupid Seventeen'. What was that about?", Ray asked. "Ah. Well that is your second instructor and she hates me.", Seventeen replied.
"Seriously?", they all asked. Seventeen nodded. "Damn she's beautiful.", Ray said. "She's a half-elf, of course, she is beautiful.", Robin pointed out.
"You talk as if elves are the most beautiful beings ever. Look at sir, he's not an elf and he's more handsome than one.", Arthur responded. "What is her name?", Ray asked.
"The headmaster said her name is Ruth Aeva."
"Aeva? You mean the family that creates unmeltable ice sculptures?", Arthur asked. Seventeen nodded. "I can't believe you high-class Arken Families know about them. My parents told me you guys don't care about us lesser nobles.", Damien said in surprise.
"What are your parents teaching you?", Robin sighed.
"But aren't the Aevas a cursed family?", Damien asked. "The headmaster said the same thing", Seventeen shrugged. "Anyway, why don't you boys continue exploring. Please don't make any enemies on the first day.", he said. The five of them nodded and walked away.
"Oh, one more thing. You guys will have breakfasts and dinners in the dorm provided by the academy kitchen. So you only need to enter the mess hall for lunch. Tell that to the girls if you meet them."
"Sure.", Arthur responded.
Seventeen walked in the direction opposite them and towards the back of the building.
(It has only been one day and they are already getting comfortable with you. Don't know if you're that good a teacher or if those guys are too trusting)
'I seriously doubt it's the first one. I barely taught them anything.', Seventeen replied. He stepped outside the academy and walked towards the town. He saw many students practicing their magia codes on the practice areas around the path.
He soon reached the dorm building and found the main door locked. The dorm buildings are 'alive' in the sense that they have enchantments that recognize their inhabitants and locks the doors when everyone leaves. The doors will open for only the ones the building has recognized. The other way to enter them is by using a key which is given to teachers.
Seventeen took out the key and opened the door. He climbed the stairs to the third floor and entered his room. It is slightly bigger than the students' rooms and simple with a bed, a desk, wardrobe, mirror, two couches, a perch for Selene, and a big balcony. Seventeen has a tea table along with two easy chairs on the balcony.
He sat down at the desk and prepared for the class to be taken tomorrow. A few minutes later, Selene swooped into the room with a few dead mice in her claws. "Looks like dinner is ready for you.", he chuckled. By sunset, he got up and went to the kitchen.
(Oh, your gonna cook for tonight instead of asking the academy kitchen?)
'Yeah. Have to make a good impression plus...", he pulled out a knife and smiled, "Time to test my cooking skills.", he took out a big piece of meat from the pantry and skilfully sliced them into steaks. He seasoned them with some olive oil, pepper, and salt. He then left them for an hour and during that time he made the steak sauce.
After an hour, he activated the magia stoves and heated the pan. He added some butter and olive oil to the hot pan and put one steak on it when the butter turned brown and cooked it. The kitchen is filled with a rich aroma as he put the first steak on the plate.
He tasted a small piece with the sauce. His thermal sensors detected the heat of the steak and his artificial taste buds captured the amazing taste. "Amazing.", he said and started cooking the second one.
He was putting the sauce and vegetables on the last plate when he heard the students in the common room. "Damn, something smells awesome.", Flare said.
"Hey guys.", Seventeen came out of the kitchen. "You live here sir?", Robin asked. Seventeen nodded, "Instructors have to live in the same dorm buildings as students to prevent trouble. Come let's have dinner.", he said.
"Everyone dig in. I made tonight's dinner instead of the academy kitchen.", Seventeen said as he brought the steaks and a bowl of salad. "You made this?", Damien asked in amazement.
Seventeen nodded. Soon everyone was seated at the big table. Ray looked at his steak sadly and slid it the plate to Minerva. She smiled and shook her head. Ray's face lit up and he started wolfing it down.
They all loved it.