Hearing someone call his name, Dean Bruce paused and turned in the direction of the voice. What he saw was a woman dressed in leather armor, exposing her midriff and thighs, with two daggers strapped to her belt.
Her name was Alita Miller. Despite her gentle voice and youthful appearance, she was actually around thirty years old and one of the more seasoned instructors at the academy. It was said that she not only mastered more than five types of magic but also possessed impressive combat skills, capable of besting most second or third-tier warriors.
A striking contrast, to say the least!
Alita Miller had no idea what Dean Bruce was thinking as she approached with a smile, her eyes appraising him from head to toe.
Noticing her gaze, Dean Bruce snapped back to reality and couldn't help but ask, "Instructor Alita, what does the headmaster need me for?"
"I'm not sure," Alita Miller replied, shaking her head. "But tomorrow is the day for the new students' assessment, so it's likely related to that. Also, in seven days, Sophia will be heading to Mist Intermediate Magic Academy to take up a teaching position. We're planning a farewell gathering for her at the Moonlight Tavern. Will you be joining us?"
Dean Bruce's position as an instructor had been granted by the Alliance as compensation after his parents' disappearance. Since he didn't know any magic, he hadn't attended any of the previous gatherings with the other instructors.
He simply had nothing in common with them and no way to keep up with their conversations.
But this time was different!
To gather more information about the magical world and better bluff Joan Michelle and the other students, Dean Bruce realized he needed to build connections with the other instructors. Attending this kind of gathering was a must.
Once there, he could ply the other instructors with drinks, and after they loosened up, he could ask whatever he wanted.
By the time they sobered up, they would likely have forgotten their drunken conversations, leaving no chance for his lack of magical knowledge to be exposed.
With that in mind, Dean Bruce immediately replied, "Sure, count me in. I'll definitely be there!"
"What?" Alita Miller's eyes widened in surprise. She couldn't believe it. "You actually agreed? In over a year, you've never attended any of our events!"
Dean Bruce grinned. "How could I refuse when a beautiful woman invites me personally?"
Hearing this, Alita Miller burst out laughing, her ample chest bouncing with each laugh. Even though Dean Bruce had just satisfied himself earlier, he couldn't help but feel his throat tighten, swallowing a bit more than he intended.
Desire flared up within him.
Joan Michelle's looks were on par with Alita Miller's, but her figure wasn't quite as voluptuous, making the attraction between the two women quite different for Dean Bruce.
Suppressing his emotions, Dean Bruce decided not to engage further with Alita Miller. After a brief farewell, he headed directly toward the administration building.
As she watched him walk away, Alita Miller's expression changed. The smile faded from her face, and her eyes narrowed as she intently observed Dean Bruce's retreating figure. She murmured to herself, "Dean's aura has changed, and his behavior is different from before. Interesting..."
Despite the world of swords and magic lacking technology, the architecture was not all that different from Earth's. The administration building stood impressively tall, about thirty meters high, its entire structure made from white jade, intricately carved with patterns and designs that added an air of refinement.
Stepping inside, Dean Bruce found himself in a hallway flanked by numerous rooms, with a wooden elevator positioned in the center.
He stepped onto the elevator and pressed a raised button. A light immediately flashed, and the elevator began to vibrate, slowly lifting him upward.
Reaching the top floor, he pressed the button again, and the elevator stopped precisely at his destination.
The top floor was the headmaster's exclusive space. There were no hallways on this level, and only three rooms in total.
The headmaster's office, the training room, and the resting quarters.
Dean Bruce headed straight to the office, where he knocked on the door. An elderly voice promptly responded, "Come in."
Entering the room, Dean Bruce found a spacious office dominated by a large circular conference table that could seat over a hundred people. The walls were lined with bookshelves, each crammed with books.
An old man with white hair and a matching beard sat at the head of the table, dressed in a white robe. He was holding a quill, busily writing.
This old man was none other than André Maxwell, the headmaster of Notting Primary Magic Academy.
As Dean Bruce approached, he was about to speak when André Maxwell, without even looking up, said, "Dean, you're here. Tomorrow is the first-year students' assessment day. I want you to accompany them."
Dean Bruce frowned slightly and questioned, "Headmaster, you know I don't understand magic. Why do you want me to go?"
A protector's role wasn't just to accompany the students; they had to be ready to intervene if the students encountered enemies or beasts beyond their capabilities.
André Maxwell finally looked up at Dean Bruce, his expression serious. He spoke in a grave tone, "There's no need to worry. Other instructors will be going along as well. Besides, you've been an instructor for over a year now, and you've never acted as a protector or taken on any tasks. This has caused some discontent among the other instructors."
André Maxwell sighed and continued, "Even though I'm the headmaster, I can't make decisions unilaterally. I have to consider the perspectives of the other instructors. This time, you have to participate in the assessment! I've specifically chosen Instructor Xerath to accompany you. He's a third-tier mage and a fourth-tier swordsman, skilled in both magic and martial arts. Even though he only recently broke through to these levels, there won't be any issues with him protecting you during the assessment."
In the world of Meze, swords and magic were always interconnected.
Meze was no exception; besides magic, there was also a system of cultivating the body and mastering combat techniques.
Each system had its own advantages and disadvantages. Some geniuses, seeking greater power, chose to train in both magic and martial arts.
As for those who weren't geniuses?
They struggled to advance in just one system, let alone have the energy to pursue both.
Forcing themselves to train in both would only result in failure to master either, ultimately leaving them as ordinary people lost among the masses.
For Xerath to be proficient in both magic and martial arts, and at such high levels, indicated that he was exceptionally strong. Realizing this, Dean Bruce decided not to refuse but instead complained, "Even if he's strong, there's no guarantee he'll always be watching over me. Headmaster, don't you have any treasures that could help me protect myself?"
André Maxwell's lips twitched as he responded with a hint of frustration, "If it weren't for the debt I owe your parents, I would've kicked you out long ago!"
With that, André Maxwell reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll. He handed it to Dean Bruce, speaking softly, "This is a fourth-tier magic scroll for the Shield of Nature. Once activated, it will draw upon the nearby plant elements to form a protective shield around you. It can withstand any attack below the fifth tier for ten seconds."
"If you activate it in an area with abundant plant life, it can also create a Nature's Prison, binding your attacker and rendering them immobile."
Before André Maxwell could finish explaining, Dean Bruce snatched the scroll with a grin and said, "Thank you, Headmaster."
Unbothered by Dean's eagerness, André Maxwell waved him off and said, "Go on, then. I have other matters to attend to. Just remember to bring the staff I gave you tomorrow and wear your mage's robe. And for heaven's sake, don't let anyone find out you can't actually use magic!"
Dean Bruce, uninterested in further lectures, waved cheerfully and left.
"Ding!"
"System Notice: The host has acquired a fourth-tier magic scroll—Shield of Nature. If the host continuously activates the same type of magic scroll or talisman, the host can consume Supreme Mage Points to fully comprehend the corresponding skill!"
Seeing this sudden notification, Dean Bruce couldn't help but smile, feeling elated. [If that's the case, I just need to buy more magic scrolls, and I can learn magic! Today's truly my lucky day—not only did I activate the system, but I also got two valuable items. Time to head back to my quarters and prepare!]
Returning to the instructors' dormitory, Dean Bruce had just finished taking a bath and was getting ready to sort his things when he heard a knock at the door.
He opened it to find Joan Michelle standing there, causing his heart to skip a beat. She found my dormitory this quickly—did she figure out she's been tricked?
"I'm sorry to disturb you at this hour!" Joan Michelle said, her breathing heavy, causing her chest to rise and fall in waves. Despite this, she didn't seem to notice, her eyes filled with anticipation as she nervously added, "I've had some revelations from your teachings and would like to try them out in front of you!"