Two weeks later.
Vanitas took in the sight of his workplace. From everything he gathered so far, indeed, it was the start of the game's narrative.
He had been a Professor for four years at this point in time.
Immediately, Vanitas strode the halls and made his way to his office.
"Everything has to be—Ah!"
A high-pitched yelp broke the quiet.
".....?"
He blinked, stopping mid-step.
Before him, a flurry of silver hair and blue eyes stumbled into view.
She was barely managing to keep a precarious stack of papers from toppling over.
"Professor! I—oh no, no, no—ah!"
The inevitable happened.
The stack swayed, tilted, and then scattered into a chaotic rain of parchment in the air.
Vanitas instinctively caught one mid-air before it hit his face.
"...And you are?" he asked with a deadpan expression.
The woman frantically dropped to her knees, scrambling to gather the scattered papers.
"I'm—I'm Karina Maeril! Assistant Professor! Oh no, oh no…. This wasn't supposed to happen!"
Her voice trembled, and her hands fumbled as she tried to organize the mess on the floor.
Vanitas crouched, placing the single page he'd saved on the growing pile in her arms.
"Relax," he said curtly, watching her fumble further. "The papers aren't going anywhere."
Karina froze. She looked like she was about to cry any second now.
"Y-Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir. I just—oh no, your first impression of me—"
"Relax, I said."
Assistant Professor. Vanitas didn't even need to wear the spectacles to ascertain her information.
He had already checked his own set of documents beforehand, which displayed Karina Maeril's application form.
[Karina Maeril.]
[23 years–old.]
[Position: Assistant Professor]
Furthermore, Karina Maeril was Vanitas Astrea's assistant Professor in the game.
It was all pre–determined.
"These are?" Vanitas asked, his gaze fixed on the papers Karina was nervously arranging on his desk.
Karina flinched at his question, clutching the remaining stack of papers as if it were her lifeline.
"Y-Yes, Professor! These are the class rosters, lesson outlines, and your weekly schedule."
Though her character wasn't central to the storyline, she was a familiar face.
A commoner who had climbed the ranks through sheer determination and intelligence.
However, at the start of the storyline, Karina was a newly appointed Assistant Professor.
"These rosters," Vanitas said, gesturing at the pile. "Are they complete?"
"Yes, Professor!" Karina nodded so quickly it looked like her head might fall off. "Double-checked them myself!"
"Double-checked?"
Karina froze mid-nod, realizing what she'd just implied.
"Well, um, I mean…. I did my best! But if there's a mistake, it's probably my fault, and I'll fix it right away!"
Vanitas sighed.
"Calm down. I'm not going to dismiss you over a typo."
Karina blinked, her mouth forming a small "o" shape. Then she straightened, nodding her head.
"...Thank you, Sir! I'll do my best to meet your expectations!"
Vanitas glanced at the rosters, noting a few familiar names.
Nobles. Commoners. And several students he remembered being pivotal in the game's narrative.
He set the papers aside.
"I'll review these later. Anything else?"
Karina bit her lip, shifting nervously.
"Well, um, about the first lecture… I wasn't sure if you wanted to stick to the usual introductory material, or—"
"Unusual material?" Vanitas interjected, almost amused.
Karina's cheeks flushed. "I mean, not unusual! Just…. your style! I thought maybe you'd want to make an impression?"
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Vanitas tapped his fingers on the desk calmly.
In the game, Vanitas Astrea had been known for his unorthodox teaching methods.
Methods that often left students either awestruck or traumatized.
He didn't plan to follow in those footsteps.
"Noted, anything else?"
"I…. I think that's all."
"Is that so? Then you may go."
"Y–Yes," Karina nodded and left the office.
Vanitas turned his attention towards the roster list.
One of his lectures was assigned to first year's class A.
Class A harbored the most number of named characters.
But one name stood out amongst the rest. A name he was well familiar with.
A commoner, and the top first year student.
"Ezra Kaelus."
***
Karina sighed as soon as she stepped outside the Professor's office.
"...What am I doing?"
At this rate, she'd lost her job on the first day.
For mages who hadn't graduated from a University Tower, but still aspired to become Professors, the path began with a mentorship program.
In simpler terms, they served as assistant Professors under a mentor.
"Why did it have to be him?"
Karina had the opportunity to be accepted in the greatest university tower in the world.
The Silver University Tower.
Yet, as if fate itself were mocking her, she was assigned to the one Professor no assistant would ever wish to work under.
Vanitas Astrea.
He was notorious for his stern demeanor and difficult nature.
It was especially prevalent when he was conducting research, and would harshly criticize his assistants for even the smallest mistakes.
"Haaa….."
Mentorship programs usually spanned two years, offering aspiring Professors the chance to learn under an experienced Professor.
Yet, in just four years, Vanitas Astrea had seen three assistants resign prematurely.
The reason was no secret.
Vanitas's expectations were unrelenting, leaving no room for mediocrity.
Every task, no matter how minor, was scrutinized ruthlessly.
Assistants who misfiled documents or miscalculated even a single mana formula found themselves on the receiving end of his suffocating glare and toxic beratement.
"Just two years, Karina. Two years," she told herself.
Professorship was the pinnacle of respect in this era.
For someone like Karina, a commoner without connections or wealth, it was her only way forward.
Silver University Tower didn't offer this lightly. They had seen her talent.
The very fact she'd been chosen amongst the other candidates was nothing short of a miracle.
Her talent alone carried her this far, but she knew talent wasn't enough.
Now, she faced a Professor notorious for driving his assistants away.
But she refused to give up.
"Two years," she repeated, gripping the stack of papers in her hands.
No matter how cold or exacting Vanitas Astrea was, Karina Maeril was determined to endure.
But then, the thought of her first impression gnawed at her mind.
"Ugh! Get it together, Karina!"
***
"Huaam."
A loud yawn broke the stillness of the grand auditorium as the opening ceremony for the school year commenced.
It came from a student seated near the back.
Ezra Kaelus.
A commoner, yet was often described as blessed by the heavens themselves.
A prodigy born once every century.
He leaned back in his chair with blatant disinterest, eyes half-closed
Despite the murmurs and stolen glances around him, Ezra seemed oblivious—or simply didn't care.
At the podium, Headmaster Elsa Hesse stood.
Her piercing blue eyes scanned the sea of students, silencing the murmurs with a mere glance.
—Welcome, students, to the new academic year at Silver University Tower.
Her voice rang out, echoing through the grand hall.
—You are the brightest minds of this generation. Each of you has earned your place here, whether through perseverance, talent, or a combination of both.
Ezra stifled another yawn, earning a sharp look from the student next to him.
Whoever it was, he would probably forget. So, he never once paid the student a glance.
Headmaster Hesse continued.
—Here, you will be tested, challenged, and refined into the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
—Our expectations are high, and the road ahead will not be easy. But I have no doubt that you will rise to meet every challenge.
The hall fell silent as her words sank in.
—Welcome to the Silver University Tower. Let the academic year begin!
***
After the announcement, lectures quickly commenced.
Astrid Barielle Aetherion sat at the front. Seated beside her were people she knew during her high–school years.
"Astrid~"
A voice reached her ears. Sophia Clementine, a classy noble girl, with bright pink hair from the Clementine Duke Household.
"Yes?" Astrid turned to the side, meeting Sophia's gaze.
Sophia's eyes lingered somewhere, and continued, "That's him, isn't it? The commoner who ranked first in the ESAT exams."
"Ah?" Astrid followed Sophia's line of sight.
There he was.
The familiar sight of his flaming red hair was all Astrid needed for confirmation.
"...Is he sleeping?" Astrid's brows twitched in disbelief.
Ezra was slumped over a desk, arms folded as his head rested on them.
It was this lax attitude that rubbed her the wrong way, despite Astrid convincing herself that it was her own lack of ability.
It was as if he mocked the effort of every mage in the room.
The one who stood at the very top among the first years appeared to care the least.
He, who was at the very pinnacle among the first years, appeared utterly effortless.
"Oh~? You might suffocate him with that glare, Astrid~," Sophia teased, her voice dripping with amusement.
"What!? Don't be ridicu—"
Slam—!
The doors to the lecture hall burst open, silencing the room instantly.
A figure strode in, followed closely by a beautiful woman with silver hair.
The air grew tense as every pair of eyes turned toward them.
Even Astrid felt the weight of his presence, her back stiffening instinctively.
No one knew what to expect.
But the realization dawned quickly.
Their first lecture, on the very first day, would be led by the Professor known as the terror of Silver Tower.
At least, that's what the Seniors would often say.
Astrid briefly glanced towards Ezra's figure.
"..."
He was still sleeping.
'What are you doing, idiot!? Do you want to be expelled on your first day!?'
—Good morning.
He began.
In any University Towers, aristocracy held no weight.
Every student was treated as equals, without exception.
Professors, regardless of their background, commanded utmost respect.
Whether a student was a princess or a commoner, they were expected to honor their instructors.
No titles or House names mattered within these halls.
—I'm Vanitas Astrea, and I'll be your Professor for Spellcraft Fundamentals.
A cold smirk tugged at his lips, causing a chill to run down Astrid's spine.
—I hope we all get along.