When morning came, Ezera was still reeling from the night's events.
He hadn't expected to find anyone else in the woods. It hadn't seemed to be someone from the palace, but Ezera couldn't know for sure.
He knew a few things. The man was a swordsman. The swordsman had helped him kill the very strange monster lurking in the forest. Judging from his surprise, he had been equally convinced to have been alone with the monster.
And, worst of all, the man had seen him.
With a tiny bit of luck, the swordsman was a random adventurer from outside the palace, and they would never cross paths again. With a bit less of luck, he would be a knight or a noble but would very much not like for people to know where they'd both been that night, and that worked with Ezera.
Worst case scenario, he had been supposed to be there or had nothing to hide, and Ezera's activities would be outed for the world to know.
It wasn't actually that big of a deal if people came to know of his nightly trip. He had indeed promised to Ashera to find Saemi's hairpin. However it bothered quite a bunch that his martial prowess could be revealed like this.
For all these people knew, he was a nice, harmless teacher who knew about literature and high school maths and who'd been teaching these for all his life. Little did they know those kids were his first class, and that he had excelled in all sorts of martial arts in the past. If they did learn it, he would suddenly become a bigger threat. He'd rather they underestimated him, from his influence on the children to his physical abilities.
Breakfast came, Ezera already sitting inside since hours before his students came in. He would have laughed at their disgruntled faces if he was in the mood. Instead, he mustered up a casual smile and waved at them. It wasn't as though he had actually slept the rest of the night.
"Professor Gemstone!" Ashera greeted as he walked up to him, Saemi quick behind him.
Their eyes roamed nervously. Ashera had probably told Saemi of his promise. Did they think he had gone in the forest after he rose early morning? It wasn't a bad assumption.
"Are you looking for this?" He smirked, flipping a metallic object out of his jacket.
Saemi gasped at seeing it. It was a silver and red hairpin designed with ore flowers – Ezera couldn't recognize them – and with a rusty sharp end. It was probably very old.
"Thank you Professor!" She exclaimed, taking it from him carefully, with tenderness. "It was my mother's. I didn't want to lose it..."
He smiled sympathetically.
"Then you shouldn't climb anymore trees with it in your hair. Keep it safe, alright?"
She nodded, relieved. Once she had run back to her friend Alexandra, Ashera looked back toward Ezera.
"Thank you, professor... But also-"
Ezera cut him, putting his hand in a stop gesture.
"It's fine. As for what you felt yesterday... I think it was taken care of in the mean time."
Ashera frowned, confused. Before he could ask, queen Lenacia, Dereck and her usual escort arrived to greet them. Dereck had his eyes narrowed in a preoccupied manner. If Ezera were to guess, he would say they had found the remains of one big snake during their patrols.
It was exactly so, as Dereck announced their findings after having eaten.
"The access to the forest is restricted for now, until we can find out more about the origins of the creature, as well as its slayer," he explained afterward. "Rest assured, it had only killed a few wild beefs, no human damage is to be reported."
That was reassuring. Ezera hadn't had time to look around and evaluate the damages. At least he now knew the blood on the leaves hadn't been that of a man.
"Class will take place in the training hall, in the morning as usual. Everyone is required to attend. That is all."
"I also have an announce to make. I have evaded my duties long enough now, therefore I shall wish you well and retire to the inner palace. My youngest son Onyx will join your lessons in the meantime."
She met Ezera's gaze, tired but earnest.
"Professor Gemstone, would you also agree for him to join your classroom in the afternoons?"
"I will have to evaluate his level but this is no problem, Your Majesty," he bowed slightly.
She seemed relieved. She gave him a grateful smile, then responded with a nod as she concluded:
"That is great. Then, by all means, be well."
She rose gracefully and disappeared through the door with her escort and her sons.
After she had left, the dining room filled up with musters and whispers. Ashera threw a glance Ezera's way, who gave him a comforting smile. Ming also kept stealing furtive looks at Ezera. They kept silent.
There was a far away sound, music.
Ezera frowned at gestured for a servant to come closer. The day before, he had acquainted with a few of them. This one was Sara.
"Is there an issue?" He asked her.
"No," she replied. "That's just the sound of a noble visiting the castle. I don't think you need to worry about it."
"Oh, that's a relief. Thank you Sara."
He looked around and saw that most students were busy with their breakfast, not yet ready to train. He stood.
"Do you have free time on your hands?"
"No," she shook her head. "I'm in charge of laundry."
"How about you ket me help you? I have some time to kill."
She stared at him, intrigued.
"But don't you have to be with the hero apprentices when they train?"
"It's fine if I'm not here for an hour or two. They know better than to slack off," he joked.
"Then I don't mind."
He waved to his kids, then they were off.