~DING~DONG~
The loud bell of the Grand Lecture Hall reverberated through the air, signifying the end of the first class. Arthur snapped his fingers, bringing the lighting of the classroom back to a normal level whilst he looked across the sea of students.
"For your first assignment," Arthur began, his voice carrying across the massive hall effortlessly, "I want each of you to research The Great Spirit Exodus and bring a document detailing your findings. Bring me your theories, why do you think it occurred? What drove most Spirits back to the Spirit World?
A hushed murmur rippled through the class. The Great Spirit Exodus was an event drenched in mystery, debated by scholars and historians for centuries, with many truths and lies interwoven in various theories.
Some students exchanged looks, already brimming with excitement at the intellectual challenge, while others looked nervous, knowing the weight of such an assignment and wanting to make a good first impression on Arthur's assignment.
"Remember," Arthur continued, his tone sharpening like a blade, "I expect you to have a good understanding of your findings and your personal theories.Dismissed!"
The students stood in unison, bowing respectfully before collecting their belongings and shuffling toward the exits. Nerida lingered briefly, giving Arthur a small, admiring smile before following her peers.
Leonus left with a composed stride, while Seraphina stormed out without sparing him a glance.
Arthur waited until the last student had exited before he himself decided to leave, stepping out of the lecture hall and into the polished marble corridors of the University as he made his way to his personal office.
He could spot various professors and students on his path who respectfully stepped aside as he passed by, their conversations dying down temporarily as Arthur passed by.
This was Arthur's only class for the day, an easy introduction to the new part in his life, and he just wanted to head to his office to finish organizing his things, but halfway through the corridor, he felt it, a faint twinge at the edge of his consciousness.
A flicker of annoyance, like a splinter wedged beneath his skin. Arthur's brows furrowed slightly as he stopped in his tracks, wondering what that was.
Annoyance?
He had been attempting to characterize his emotions into the various ones on the emotional spectrum, and the feeling he was experiencing was annoyance based on all of the characteristics.
He was instinctively frowning, and tapping his fingers on his hip, his tolerance slowly shortening. The sensation was foreign to him, but this was what he understood.
"Hmm." Arthur closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath, trying to suppress it and drown it out with his usual logical clarity that had helped him so many times before.
However, It didn't work.
The irritation scratched at the back of his mind, a weird foreign feeling that refused to fade no matter what he did. He exhaled slowly, opening his eyes as his sharp golden gaze flickered with faint suspicion.
This isn't my emotion. It's… external.
Naturally, if there was an external cause, there was only one person Arthur knew who might have such an effect on him and the way he felt.
Ayame.
Knowing this, Arthur's pace of walking quickly increased as he moved towards Ayame's personal office to check what is going on with her.
***********************
Previously, Ayame had been in her office, stacking her meticulously organized papers into a Magic-bound folder. The faint hum of mana-infused lights overhead illuminated her cozy office.
Her pink eyes flickered toward the small clock on her wall, it was the early afternoon. She only had one class that day and she had finished it not too long ago, and now she was ready to leave, as she had promised herself she'd head home early today.
Early.
The word felt foreign given her usual mountain of responsibilities. But today had been smooth, her students attentive, and there were no looming deadlines as the semester just begun. She grabbed her coat, a light cream overcoat that complemented her white hair, and prepared to leave.
But the moment she reached for the brass doorknob, a sharp knock echoed through the office door. Before she could even grant permission, the door creaked open, and he stepped inside.
Professor Kael.
"Professor Ayame," Kael said smoothly, his voice dripping with practiced charm as he leaned against the doorframe, effectively blocking her path,"Leaving already? Such a shame. A beauty like you gracing the halls always makes this dreary place a little brighter."
Ayame suppressed a groan of annoyance and embarrassment as his statement, clutching her folder a little tighter against her chest as she tried to leave.
"Professor Kael," she greeted evenly, her tone polite but firm, "I was just heading out for the day. If this isn't urgent—"
"Oh, but it is urgent," he interrupted, pushing off the doorframe and stepping further into the room, his presence imposing, "You see, those annoying colleagues of ours aren't here anymore. So you don't need to keep rejecting me. Why don't we grab dinner? I know an exclusive place downtown—reserved tables only. I could arrange something special just for us."
Ayame took a measured step back, her fox-like ears twitching faintly in irritation as she stared directly into his eyes. Now, with her physique changes due to the Soul Binding, she was 6'4, one inch taller than Kael, and that provided her with more confidence, "I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I have other responsibilities and, "
Kael clicked his tongue, shaking his head as though she were a child who'd dropped her ice cream cone. He took a step forward, now directly standing in front of her as he spoke, "Come now, Professor Ayame. Surely you're aware of the opportunities someone like me could offer you?"
He said with his cocky grin before continuing, "Wealth, status, protection. I'm not just any DragonKin, I'm from the Veyra Family. You'd be set for life. Do you know how many other FoxKin sluts would gladly crawl into my bed for even a fraction of what I'm offering?"
Ayame froze for a heartbeat, her jaw tightening as the faintest flicker of anger sparked behind her pink eyes. She wasn't unfamiliar with prejudice or sly remarks about her race, it was something she had grown numb to over the years. But coming from a colleague? A supposed academic peer?
"Professor Kael," she said sharply, her voice cold and precise, "I would suggest you reconsider your words before they become something you regret. Now, if you'll excuse me—"
But Kael merely shifted, stepping into her path again, his arms crossing over his broad chest as a smug grin spread across his face.
"Feisty. I like that," he chuckled, as if her defiance amused him. "But let's not pretend, Professor. Someone of your status, despite your impressive intelligence, could never truly climb the upper echelons of academia without someone like me clearing the path."
Ayame's patience was wearing thin. Her hand twitched faintly at her side, magic prickling at her fingertips, but she forced herself to remain composed.
"Move. Now," she said icily.
But before Kael could smirk or retort, another voice sliced through the tension like a blade.
"Ayame."
Both professors turned to see Arthur standing in the doorway. His sharp golden eyes locked onto Ayame first before briefly flickering to Kael.
Arthur's expression was as unreadable as ever, calm, composed, but carrying a weight of quiet authority that made Kael instinctively stiffen.
"Ayame," Arthur repeated, his tone steady yet firm, "are you ready?"
Ayame blinked, her brows furrowing faintly. Ready? Ready for what?
Kael turned toward Arthur, his brow creasing in irritation as he looked at the well respected researcher, "Professor Andrius, this is a private discussion—"
Arthur didn't spare him a glance. Instead, he casually stepped further into the room, his presence filling the small space effortlessly as he walked over to Ayame's desk and grabbed a few folders from her neatly stacked pile.
"Ayame asked me earlier if I could give her some pointers on her recent research paper," Arthur said flatly, turning back toward her and giving a faint nod, "It would be rude to keep me waiting, don't you think?"
Ayame, catching on quickly, clutched her own folder tightly and nodded, "Y-Yes. Of course, Professor Andrius, sorry I just got caught up."
Arthur turned slightly, his sharp gaze landing squarely on Kael. Even when he was not using magic, Arthur's natural aura was overwhelming due to the intense concentration of Aether around him, and he wasn't bothering to protect Kael from it like he did for others.
"Professor Kael," Arthur said calmly, "I'm sure you have better things to do than stand here wasting time."
Kael's nostrils flared slightly, his jaw tightening as his golden eyes burned with frustration. But even he wasn't foolish enough to push further, not when Arthur was involved.
With a sharp exhale, Kael stepped back toward the door. "We'll continue this conversation later, Ayame," he said curtly before storming out, his footsteps echoing sharply down the corridor.
The silence that followed felt almost deafening.
Ayame let out a small breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, clutching her folder to her chest. "Thank you," she said softly, her pink eyes glancing up at Arthur.
Arthur gave her a brief nod, his expression still unreadable. "Are you alright?"
"Yes… Just annoyed," she admitted, her fox ears drooping slightly.
Arthur turned and gestured for her to follow. "Come. Walk with me."
Without hesitation, Ayame stepped out of her office and followed him down the polished marble corridor, her earlier irritation gradually fading with each step.
Behind them, Kael's shadow lingered just around a corner, his golden eyes narrowed with simmering resentment.
And somewhere deep inside Arthur, that strange irritation he'd felt earlier finally began to fade.