Mrs. Feiner took a glimpse of the young girl munching some food on her bed as the healer organized the materials she used from her recent patient which she had to perform a quick heal on the duel field. The young girl had become a frequent visitor nowadays and right now, she just woke up.
The issue she had about this young girl was she was incapable of healing her injuries in spite of being a healer. An added bonus was that she often gets into trouble, so a quick trip to the infirmary is inevitable.
In her years of experience in the field, never had she encountered something like this. Never had she once healed a letherian.
She, who had been blessed by the favor of a wind spirit, could use the wind to aid those in need. As such, she could harness her control over the free element and utilize the light energy for restoration.
Light energy is abundant. It is found in every element. Or some would argue that light energy are the elements. They make up the composition of everything—even the essence of a body.
However, if they were to add something unnatural to a solution, like two unstable chemicals mixed in one beaker, would cause an explosion—as for the energies, it would create chaos. It's like adding oil to water, they simply do not mix. And even oil is harmful to water's habitants, it goes the same for one's body.
Yet, the headmaster kept insisting on infusing light energies into the girl for a speedy recovery when in fact, it would only bring her harm. No matter how much she tried to explain the situation, he only told them the girl would be fine. The headmaster is as stubborn as a mule. He always likes thing to go his way.
She sighed, the trouble of young people these days.
Speaking of the devils, one of them has arrived. Verkel might be the youngest to take the position of headmaster, but here comes the younger dean who was only in his late-thirties, fresh as newly-baked bread from the masonry oven.
How the times have changed.
It won't be too long until she hits her hundred-fifties and she'll have to retire. Her skin was starting to wreath with wrinkles.
The youth is finally taking over. It is as they said, this is another dawn of a new era. But as the tides change, the winds grew restless with trouble brewed at shore. It is only calm before the storm.
"Good afternoon, Master Feiner." The dean bowed to greet her.
She heartily laughed. "Sweetheart, how many times have I told you to not call me that. I'm fine with just by name."
"I may be in higher position, but Master Feiner, you hold more wisdom and experience than this unknowledgeable one. Therefore, you have my utmost respect."
"Ohoho, you flatter me. Humbled and justified, you are as always, sweetheart." Mrs. Feiner softly smiled. "Feel free to call me whichever makes you comfortable. This old lady doesn't mind. But the wind whispers that you've come here for something else instead of just the usual greetings?" She slightly turned her head to the others inside in suggestion while the dean nodded in confirmation.
No matter how much the lady constantly reminds them of her aging, she was still sharp as ever.
"Then I'll leave you to it." She walked past him, a kit in hand, her white coat fluttered behind her swift movements. "I'll make a short visit to the fourth-year's training grounds. Those rascals are the rowdiest cookies I've ever handled, injuries here, scratches there. They never hold back, do they. It's too much that it makes this old woman's back hurt."
The dean watched her do circular motions with her shoulders as she complained. He chuckled, feeling embarrassed as her superior. "I'll make sure that I'll have you have some time-off. You've done so much for us that you deserve a break, Master Feiner."
She reached up to pat his shoulder. "Aw, shucks, sweetheart. A vacation would be nice, but I like doing my job."
If Dean Helios wasn't mistaken, he heard that the academy head healer is a workaholic and would often give her aides some time-off, leaving all the unfinished work to her. Despite that, all work would be swiftly done before the due date.
Truly, she's a star sent from the Celestial Realm to someone as lazy as the headmaster. Dean Helios shook his head in disappointment.
"I know there's already a lot on your plate but, can you pass along to the cookie baker that the batch she generously gave hits right at home. It melts my tongue like butter on a pan and it's sweet as morning honeydew. The patients seem to love it very much, hoho!" She leaned in and whispered, "It might be a new contender for the triple-layered cake."
Dean Helios gave a light laugh. "Certainly. I will talk to the cafeteria staff and thank them on your behalf. Do you perhaps have some left? I would like to have a taste."
"I'm so sorry, sugar, but it's all gone. I will definitely save some for you when the new ones come, yeah?"
He bowed. "Thank you, Master Feiner."
The lady healer said her goodbye. Dean Helios released a sigh as the door closed and composed himself. He sets his eyes directly on the female student looking out on the window, a piece of cookie in her hand—the culprit who has the last cookie remaining. But no, he's not here to fight her for stealing the last cookie, that's petty; he's here for another business.
"Heloireean Adeleine."
The young student turned to him with a questioning tilt of her head, the cookie halfway shoved in her mouth. Her eyes widened at the sight of him.
The dean?! What is he doing here? Did he already find out that she was the one who hid in his office?!
Dean Helios stared at the bowl in her hand filled with cookies... the last remaining batch there is. His soul left his body.
If it was rumored to be better than the holy cake, then this person has it full in her arms right now.
He wasn't even able to get a taste of it, not a crumb!
"I- well," he cleared his throat. Maybe he could ask for one after the conversation. No! He must keep his Dean-dignity intact! "I came here on behalf of the school to apologize about the unfortunate event that transpired."
She popped one in her mouth again. "...I see."
"As the dean, the welfare and safety of the students' falls under my jurisdiction. Therefore, I am responsible for this matter. Normally, we would have dealt with the situation by placing the perpetrators under community school service, however, the punishment felt lacking and improper in terms of scale and magnitude. As the victim of the assault, I would like to know your thoughts on this."
Adeleine chewed with an indifferent expression, but as he proceeds, she had this look on her face that tells the dean he asked the wrong person.
"Expulsion."
"Pardon?"
"I want them expelled."
The dean's glasses would have been shattered if it was physically possible right now. The shock written on his face said that the request would be impossible.
"Expulsion..." he held his chin thoughtfully. "Expulsion is the equivalent of the magnitude of this scale. I understand." He nodded his head towards her. "I understand your feelings, however, expulsion is out of the question."
She shrugged her shoulders and huffed. "I know. Just give them the most brutal punishment you have. Make them regret living life. I will never forgive them for what they did," she said, cradling the imbalanced length of her hair.
"It really disappoints me that something like this happened within my watch. Such discrimination and injustice are not tolerable in these walls. I'll be much stricter with the patrols next time." He had his right hand on his chest to express his seriousness. "Even setting the Mir rankers as an example falls short on this division aspect. The rankings used to be just a system to classify students so some wouldn't fall behind, but as things evolved, we made Mir rankers to be, not just an example, but also responsible students who looks after the rest. That is what the Mir and I, the dean, are supposed to do."
"So you're saying is that you made something similar to the high council but it's a student version and it's for the school?"
"More or less. It is to maintain order. People generally follow those who are much stronger than they are, and some are motivated to reach those higher places, pushing them to their best."
Adeleine was uninterested. "Okay, so about their punishment?"
"Ah, yes." Dean Helios chuckled, realizing he strayed away from the main topic. "The situation was at first put on hold, considering the current state of the other party. We cannot simply make the decision based on one account so we have to gather more evidence. This is why it took a while for us to respond, I apologize in that regard. However, a few testaments rose among the companions of the current unconscious patients and verified that the intention aligned with your statements." They only confessed when stated that their cooperation will be rewarded, but Dean Helios wouldn't let them off the hook. Knowing yet turning a blind eye meant they are still accomplices, even if one didn't partake in the assault.
Feigning ignorance at first, then confess under pretense of speaking up for the truth, knowing the reward—selfishness. He cannot forgive such deceiving acts.
But for the sake of simplicity, he spared her the details.
"Additionally, a direct confession from one of the perpetrators solidified it all. The female student who woke up a few minutes ago. But there seems to be a colliding factor between your statements."
Adeleine choked on her cookie. She coughed roughly, pounding on her chest. Her eyebrows met as she wiped her mouth with her sleeves. "What?! That girl..." she growled. "What did they say?!"
Dean Helios shook his head. "We cannot disclose that information."
"Even if I was the victim?!"
"Do understand, we are currently analyzing the data at hand. We are to keep information to avoid each testimony from changing further from the truth." Although Dean Helios was uncertain.
The other female student claimed that they did perform the planned assault, but the victim retaliated back and attacked them to the point that all members of the group dropped dead, and consequently, found them lying unconscious on the ground. In the victim's part, it could be considered as self-defense, however...
The dean brushed his bottom lip in deep thought. "Heloireean Adeleine, I will ask you again, what happened after they attacked you?"
"Nothing. I don't remember anything after that," she replied earnestly as he nodded.
Just as he expected, troublesome indeed.
"I understand..." Since, there are no physical injuries inflicted on any of the perpetrators, the other student's account can be considered invalid.
But it doesn't explain why they were all found unconscious. There's a missing piece. It could have been orchestrated by the assault party to avoid punishment, but it seems, that wasn't the case.
They couldn't give an outright punishment to the victim for putting them to an almost-coma state as well since, first, it might not be related to her at all; second, it could be for self-defense, although the victim has no recollection of it, or she could be hiding that fact to avoid consequences; third, the assault party was unharmed, saved for their unconscious state.
What a complex situation... Dean Helios could do nothing but sigh.
"We'll have to review the pieces we have once again for better investigation. Albeit, we'll hand in the punishment now for the conscious female student who partook with the assault. The extreme one we could give is indefinite suspension since they could not be released out of academy, and community service, specifically, the public bathrooms in each year-building. The student body will be pleased to hear this."
"Okay." Adeleine wasn't pleased but the indefinite suspension sounded like an expulsion so she can't complain any further. The academy still has laws to abide after all.
"Please, if you find yourself into trouble, do not hesitate to come for me. Just like any other student, be it Adhelian or not, your safety is my concern," he smiled. "I believe we are all on equal standpoints and that no one is better nor the higher. Feuds... They only cause grief and pain."
He uttered the last part with a distant look and a melancholic smile. Adeleine knew that gaze—the feeling of lost. The lost of love; lost of hope; lost of future. Everything blurs with a flicker of a dying flame, and next, you see darkness.
"No matter what people tell you, we are one, all the same."
Adeleine hid her bemused grin. What a foolish thought. "Pardon, sir, but what makes you think that?"
"We are all humans. We live, we breathe. We are not so different, you and I. Like the sun and moon, they guide us with their light. They may be different, but they live under one sky. They make way for each other, one to give us day, and one to give the night—a perfect balance. They co-exist. Can we not do the same?"
"Well..." Adeleine pondered. He spoke facts, but naïve ideals. "Sir, people tend to exaggerate things that aren't supposed to be a problem. People love to create problems. Adhelians may like it or not but we are all greedy creatures, we love to feel superior among others, even if we stomp on other people just to reach higher goals. Like you said, we are one and all the same, but ideals sets a line on themselves and others. Arrogance and superiority amplifies that. And currently, those ideals are implemented to the youth—the caste of black and white that was caused by the very sun and moon celestials themselves, and it will continue on for generations."
"Ah, so you're one of them... I understand," he looked down with a saddened smile. "I thought you'd be more moved than critical considering your...case."
Adeleine's face went hollow. Out of all the things she said, that's what he concluded? She massaged the space between her eyebrows. "Sir, what I mean to say was, it'll be hard for everyone to get along since the majority has that kind of mindset. Society follows what the majority says. Even if I wanted for them to treat me like equals, as long as society remains as it is, they will treat me as they like. They think it's right because everyone is doing it."
"As I've expected, those who experienced it would see the underlying problem." Suddenly, his whole mood changed. From an emphatic dean to a sharp discerner.
Was he testing her? Would all of the things he said just for show? We are all the same—she couldn't believe she fell for that! "Are you trying to read me just now?" she sent him a wary gaze, glaring. What does he want from her?
"Ahaha, absolutely not!" He raised his hand defensively. "Please be at ease. The intentions with my words are genuine. Thoughts just tend to slip at some given occasions." He nervously laughed. "However, it is true that with the majority's mindset, it'll be hard to abolish such oppressive system. What I want is for people to be free, free of judgement, free of the old beliefs, free from the old shackle our ancestors locked us into. I want a new world that brings peace..."
Adeleine noticed the sparkle in his eyes. It was almost like child-like wonder and enthusiasm.
"I want a world with no wars and that we can live in harmony. Our deities may have fought in the past, but that shouldn't mean we should now."
It makes her wonder...
"That is my ideal, and my ambition."
How can someone be older than her...
"If I make the world finally accept change then, would you join my cause?"
...have young fantasy beliefs?