Casual Heroing

Chapter 254: Boys

Would I let Buffy the Vampire Slayer stab me if I happened to be a vampire? Well, isnt that a good question

Joey! Adrastus slaps my arm and I almost drop my cigar.

What?

You were drifting off, again! the man takes a puff from his own cigar and shakes his head. Anneus and Marcellus simply enjoy their own rolled tobacco, courtesy of yours truly.

Four guys puffing cigars and eating some pastries that I had in my bag of holding. Adrastus isnt that averse to wasting his time now, is he? Well, chilling with the boys is part of socializing at the Nine Towers Academy.

So, do you have any plans for what you are going with your studies? I ask Adrastus.

Arent we supposed to discuss Amelia?

Yeah, but no one managed a good idea so far, I shrug, we might as well get to know each other better. Plus, you have ditched us off yesterday night. You and the others.

We were busy with extracurriculars, Adrastus shakes his head and sighs, the midterm is not that easy, Joey. Not everyone here is a prodigy.

You two should be worried of all the time this guy is having you waste, Adrastus sighs.

Hes an idiot, Anneus agrees, but hes also been practicing Cantrips with us in private. Alba can probably blow your head off with a ball of [Light]. And Marcellus is not bad either.

We are still behind on theory, though, I nod. Some of it is plain boring. I get the history assignment, but the rest is a bit meh.

Meh?

Meh, I nod.

What is meh?

The rest is meh, I smile.

Hes botching History of Magic and keeps falling asleep during Fundamentals of Magical Theory, Marcellus explains, snapping out of the background check daze. Hes just a bit of a lunatic.

A bit, Anneus snorts. Yeah, right.

Im not botching History of Magic, I snort, I can guarantee you

Whats the latest assignment, then? Anneus volunteers.

Something absolutely and terribly boring, thats what it is, I smile. Also, I peer on the table, trying to see if Adrastus was working on that.

Primitive enchantments, Marcellus says, we have a paper due in four days.

Can I buy papers from Robin to skip the boring classes?

Ill never understand why that class is mandatory, I sigh.

Its mandatory because its supposed to teach us something useful. However, what its supposed to do is not always what it does. In practice, people needed a title as [Professors] and the related class, Adrastus explains.

I mean, they could have tried giving out a less boring class. Or maybe exploring the secrets of how magic was born, more interesting theories. Every time I hear that [Professor], I feel like I should just drop dead. Could teach soporiferous magic, Ill tell you that.

Everyone snorts at my joke and keep puffing on the cigar.

You should stop sleeping during the Fundamentals of Magical Theory class, Joey, Marcellus suddenly slaps his forehead. I got a note the other day because of you! You cant snore that loud!

Whatever, Ill tell the [Dean] to erase it. Whats a note anyway?

They weigh it in during your assessment. If your conduct has not been up to pair

They make you professor, I wink. Come on, forget about it. Marcy, you are going to be fine. If they dont want you, Ill fight tooth and nail for you. Look, Ill go around bribe the other [Professors] and get you in.

That earns me a row of glances and silence.

Oh, what now? We can kill people in a goddamn arena but someone mentions bribery in this god-forgotten nation and you get scared?

I mean, you could get expelled for that, Adrastus points out.

Sure, they are going to expel the guy teaching the good magic to the [Archmages], Adrastus. Thats exactly whats going to happen. Come on, guys, its school, not the end of the world. If someone had a wand to your head, I could see the solemn face and let me tell you, even in that case Id consider not worth it. Have a smile. You dont want to worry to much? We become adventurers and dig up the old magic! Whats all the fuss with this Nine Towers Academy, anyway? They were teaching subpar Cantrips, dont you think theres anything better out there? You think that they hold the secrets? If they did, they wouldnt be here! Hell, they would hoard them for themselves! Come on! Stop worrying about this stupid school and enjoy your life!

Joey Anneus starts.

No, Joey. No. All this anxiety, all this worry. For what? Listen, I have severe anxiety because of stupid shit. If someone could help me out with that, why wouldnt I thank them? You have a problem with this school? As a [Mage] of quite the caliber, let me tell you, you can do it. You dont need the [Archmages], you dont need the towers. You dont need this place. Life is beautiful because its full of variety, not just because you have to go through school to succeed. Sure, they have some good stuff, but lets enjoy this place! Its not a death sentence!

Anneus takes a deep breath letting some of the ash from the cigar fall on the table and swears.

This stupid fuck is right.

I can see why he would think that, Adrastus shrugs, and

Unconventional path to unconventional outcomes, Marcellus suddenly says. I like that.

Adrastus doesnt resume what he was saying, he simply stares at the dark table with a long face.

You promise a lot, Joey, he says. You did the same with the Princess, whos now apparently after you.

The sudden change in topic has me reeling for a second.

What do you mean?

You said you would marry her if you got the permission to do so. These news, they circulate fast among the court and the nobles. My gens is not among the great nobles, but they do have the Kings ear. Apparently, a Human suitor promised war on Teiko in exchange for his daughters hand. Now, you promise the world to us. But you didnt keep your promise with the [Princess], did you? Why should we trust you?

All of Adrastus' words take a while to sink in.

I was almost killed by an illegal intervention of Marcus and his personal disciple, Adrastus, I smile sadly, do you think the crown cared about that? When that happened, I saw it in Lauras face: she would never give me what I would have given her. Also, Im not sure how good she would be in a zombie apocalypse. Shes an opportunist. She might be lying to herself, maybe. Who knows. Not everyone knows they are a piece of shit, you know? But her? I saw the look in her eyes. She was waiting. If I had survived, she would side with me, otherwise well, shed a few tears and move on.

Joey saved Lucinda, Marcellus adds among the silence.

The Human girl, Anneus nods.

Marcus was scheming some shit and I foiled his plans, yeah.

The court is insidious, Adrastus closes his eyes with a grimace on his face.

So, yeah. I fucked up with Laura, but saved Lucinda. If someone needs my help, Im there. If someone schemes, Ill kick them.

You did give Laura some lip yesterday, Anneus says while taking out a flask of liquor. His slightly impaired speech makes me a bit nervous sometimes, especially when he says stuff like that.

You already met Princess Laura? Adrastus now looks more interested.

Yeah.

Lucinda too! Marcellus adds.

So what, Marcy? You have a crash on that lunatic? Ill introduce her to you, if you want.

The guy goes silent and lowers his gaze.

She must not have been happy, Adrastus says in a measured tone.

Yeah, Lucinda told her we fooled around a little after the duels and that got her going.

Archmage Alonna intervened, Anneus says. She has a crush on Joey.

Jesus, dont say that. Please. Dont even joke about that.

Arent you going to meet her again? he shoots back.

Yeah, duh. She wants to teach me some martial arts paired with magic.

Martial Magic, the elective available only to her most loyal disciples, Adrastus makes a face. You do have great connections, Joey Luciani.

Thank you, brother, I smile.

Lucinda and Laura, Adrastus repeats to himself, making another face.

And two others. Cassandre from the Baguetterie. And a certain Penelope, Anneus adds.

With all these girls around, its a miracle you actually study, Adrastus laughs.

Nah, that Cassandre is shady. And Penelope I just met her. Shes hot, but shes also Brshe has a weird accent. Anyway, the only girl for me is Princess Bianca. Thats it.

She didnt come with you today?

Nah, shes taking her royal nap.

Shes very moody, Marcellus says.

A bi

Dont say that, Anneus! Jesus! Dont you dare!

Anyway, what about Amelia? Marcellus says after half an hour of random blabbering.

I dont know, Anneus replies.

Joey, if I may. You have certain connections, right? Why dont you create some job offer around her? Not directly to her, as that may offend her. But if she was a [Caretaker] and shes a good enough [Tailor], Im sure she could do that.

Shes already falling behind on her studies, Anneus shakes his head. She has mold in her brain. You want to give her a full-time job? Sure, go ahead. Why dont you fail her directly for the midterm.

Not everyone is meant to be a [Mage], Anneus, Adrastus shoots back, if she cant do it, she cant do it. We cant just force knowledge onto her, can we?

Maybe we could find a way to employ someone to give her landlord a rough handling?

We all look at Marcellus with wide eyes.

Isnt that the problem? he replies shyly.

I mean, its extortion, I say, but why not. We could pay the landlord a visit, tell him to tell Amelia she won a scholarship for something something.

We could always send a letter to her children, Adrastus adds. She says they are quite well off. The academy is not cheap, but Im sure they could put together a bit of spare change for their mother.

Yeah, not. Lets not do that, I say with a sigh. That wont work. Lets try something else.

Have you tried asking her if she wants a loan? Adrastus asks, clearly tired of the back and forth.

She would never take it, Anneus says.

Why?

Too proud, I explain.

So what? If shes about to starve or be evicted, better to swallow your pride, no? And where are his sons anyway? Why do they leave their mother like this? For all flat ears, its their mother, Joey. Whatever happened between them, they might want to help her, no?

I scratch my head and straight ignore Adrastus.

Whatever. I need a nap. Im going home. Ill think of something.

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