Astral and Adam shared their first encounter when he was a freshman in high school. He was willing to pick up the younger classes, as he mainly taught the juniors and seniors. Under the condition that it was Adam's class, the school would oblige being weary of the situation.
The class would start as Astral started his lessons differently than the other class, he would use the curriculum as a loose guideline rather than something that must be followed to a tee. The kids would be in awe as the teaching style showed a hook into learning.
Astral would also offer any student to come to his room in his off hours if they had questions with any of their other classes. Adam would perk up at this statement, the way the teachers barked at him constantly drained them, Adam felt like this could be the one person to help him.
Adam felt like he had been struggling constantly, in the last two years no one would look at him and become friends with him, why would they? He bounced from home to home in foster care, dressed in his ragged clothes and covered in acne.
Adam would see this class as a new home in the off hour, his head was dizzy from the joy he got from being around Astral. During this first lesson it was all about the class rules and a fun little trivia game. Where Astral would call on Adam.
"Adam, for this candy bar, could you tell me the name of the library in the middle east that seems to be the host of all the knowledge of the world?" Astral would hold out the candy bar in the air.
"The Starry Library. Named after the two saviors, Astral and Jaimie." Adam blurted out. The rest of the class looked at him in awe, they all didn't know the answer as Astral tossed the candy bar to Adam, subsequently trying to catch it and dropping it.
"Correct, while we are on the subject, these ancient bits of history are all aligned, its not repeating itself. Its rhyming." Astral would continue on with the lesson, passing out candy to everyone as they answered questions. At the end of class Adam would stay in his seat as Astral walked by.
"Sir, would you mind if I stayed in this classroom?" Adam would quietly ask. "It feels like home to me and I have a study hall." Astral would cut him off.
"Not a problem Adam, I will contact Sue in the study hall." Astral would sit down at his desk and look around. "Its my free hour next hour, so if students come in and out don't worry too much."
"Thank you sir, I'll just sit here and draw." Astrals interest peaked over as he dialed up the study hall warden. He would start scribbling away with no worry on notebook paper.
"Hello Sue, Adam is currently in my room. If you aren't worried about it, I can hold him here for the rest of the year, talk to Carrie about it? Okay." He would hang up as a student entered.
"Professor Anders, can you help me with the calculus lesson?" A male student entered with his booming voice. "The teacher confused me so much with it all. He is terrible and the lesson made no sense unlike last year."
Astral was typing up an email to Carries as he walked in. "You know that Monson provides you with the nones, this year you have Angie, she provides no notes and won't hold your hand through it." Astral sends the email out as he turns around. "As for you Derrick, I think you can catch on." He would point to his chair next to his desk.
"What you are looking at is extra fancy Algebra, break it down step by step like last year and you should be fine." Astral would look at the assessment and be perplexed at why it was so difficult.
"Can you break it down a bit so I can help the rest of the class catch on, we made a group chat and everything, we are clueless." Derrick would plead with him.
"Yes, it won't be too hard." Astral went up to the board in the front of the room, seeing Adam's artwork bounce around on the page and took a quick mental note. "Derrick, record this." He put up his phone and would record it. "Each lesson will be growing off of the same core concept. Just getting more complex."
Astral would draw on the board his example, solving it as he wrote it. "As simple as it is, add together your last class." Astral would show his work step by step. "And grow from it to show a gradual understanding.
"Thank you professor." Derrick would give Astral a thumbs up as he blitzed out the door.
"Adam, how is your art going?" He drew intrigue with how he saw it.
"Good." He got a one word response. Astral would roll his eyes and sit back at his desk, going over different notes for his classes and for the scouting report in football.
The bells would ring as Adam would get up and leave, whispering out the door. "Thank you." Astral would smile as the year passed and Adam slowly came out of his shell.
The years would pass. Astral would keep setting up a time for Adam to be in his room. As well as seeing his art constantly improve. Astral would teach him about general mannerisms of being a normal person. He would learn and grow becoming a more sociable person.
It became his senior year and Adam wanted to know more about the Starry Library. Astral would have a private lesson with Adam and during christmas break, bring him out to the location itself.
Astral would be recognized by the library itself, hiding that factor was easy as the intrigue behind the secret puzzle from the library had all of Adam's attention. He would be slowly walking around piecing it all together.
Astral would walk around with him, as Adam solved it Astral was pleased. He never intended this to be a true test for Adam, just a test for those who could become great! Adam had all of the puzzles solved and made it to the secret entrance and entered the code.
It would be a success as Adam and Astral smiled. "Professor, look at this marvel of technology. It is ancient and yet so advanced."
"Ah, stuff was made a lot simpler in those times." Astral would try to downplay his own creation as Adam made it to the center and would read the books in the private library.
"Is this a part of your binder of history?" Adam asked as Astral stood there in awe. "This place is so neat and yet there in the binder of knowledge of yours." Adam would write notes as Astral tilted his head in wonder.
"Well, I suspect that none of the kids came to the library and found the puzzle and solved it." Astral would answer as he looks at the history of all of the people to come through. The list was small as it was only five, and they were the fifth.
Adam would be awe struck as the hours waned. He became tired and was ready to rest. Astral would nod in agreement and would drive the two to the hotel before going back to the mainland.
Adam had been able to graduate as one of the top kids in his class. His art is untouchable by modern standards. The kid had special untapped talents and after graduation Astral retired and invited Adam over.
Adam would happily agree with this invitation, being glad that his biggest mentor is guiding him through life on the right foot. Showing how much he cared for him all throughout high school, even if his friends were isolating him from time to time. He was happy to be with Astral every step of the way.