NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33: Stay Behind
"Hello," Instructor Dan greeted with a smile that almost looked scary. "I'm Daniel Hubbard, your homeroom teacher. You can call me Instructor Dan."
The kids who had already rushed to their respective seats nodded their heads at him.
"Why are y'all so hung up?" Dan asked with a smile.
"I would love to know all of you by name... But, from your number, I'm not sure that's possible."
"Let's cut to the chase then," Dan said as he began sharing a sheet with each student.
He pointed at some students to help him with the distribution, making it faster.
After he was done making sure every student got a sheet. He began to explain:
"As you can see already, on that sheet lies all the elective courses offered by the academy.
Just use your writing aid to tick on the box besides the one you wish to offer."
A chubby student raised his hand after he was done talking.
"Your name, element and question." Dan signified calmly.
"Ehhm... My name is Paul Dickens. An earth elementalist," the boy introduced nervously. "I just wanted to ask if we can choose more than one course."
"Well, Dan... If you observe your timetable, you'll see that there is only one period for the elective course," Dan explained.
"But, if you can somehow be in two classes at the same, you're free to do so."
Laughter and snickers erupted from the class after Dan finished talking, making Paul cover his face in shame.
"Silence!"
Dan announced with a sharp tone, unconsciously releasing some mana, which sent chills through some students.
He smiled after seeing the result, retracting back his aura. "Did I say anything funny to warrant a laugh?"
The whole class that had just felt the brunt of Dan's mana remained quiet to his question.
"Well, I don't think I made a joke," he answered his question with sharp eyes before directing his gaze to Paul. "You may sit. Don't let anyone intimidate you, you have the freedom to ask your mind, okay?"
Paul nodded, swallowing hard in embarrassment while he took his seat.
"Now, let's continue," Dan suddenly said with a warm smile, his face taking a 180-degree turn.
"By now, y'all should have chosen the elective course you want to offer, correct?"
The class nodded, well, a majority did.
"I'll give you two minutes in case you haven't, after that, I'll be collecting the slips."
Kyle looked at the sheet before him. 'How did this skip my mind?'
Alchemy.
Forge Mastering.
Beast taming.
Rune making.
All of them sounded interesting, but he could only choose one.
'I won't go for Forge mastering. It seems boring already. I'm a fighter, not a craftsman.'
With that thought he mentally crossed out forge mastering, 'Alchemy as well, that's ano-noo. Making pills and potions seems too boring for him.'
'Now I'm left with Beast taming and Rune making.'
Both drew him for different reasons.
He considered it nice to have a battle partner and was curious about how mana beasts were tamed, but a certain egg in his inventory immediately wrote it off.
'So I guess Rune making it is.' Kyle thought, using his pen to tick the box next to his choice.
Rune making wasn't bad at all. The memory of the magic circle the Dean used in teleporting them to the academy was still fresh in his mind.
Plus, as Mrs. Elizabeth said, Rune making was a versatile skill. He could attack, defend and even use it for his utility.
"Time's up." Instructor Dan said, startling those deep in thought about their choices and satisfying those waiting for him.
He began to collect the sheets, this time without the help of any student.
As he collected the sheets, he patiently waited for a few who were still indecisive, giving them some tips between.
'What a nice guy?' Kyle thought, not knowing the reality he would soon find out.
Dan glanced at his comm when he was done with the retrieval.
"Okay. We still have about ten minutes before your wing classes, any questions before then?"
Orion raised his hands calmly, preparing his question.
"Go on," Dan indicated. "Name, element, and question."
Orion stood up, lightly clearing his throat before asking.
"Orion Glaide. Lightening and Metal dual elementalist." Orion introduced, earning some murmurs of reverence from him being a dual Elementalist.
"We haven't received any information regarding the Library; could you please clarify how we are expected to utilize it?"
The class nodded at Orion's question, thinking why it skipped their mind.
"Nice question, Orion," Dan remarked. "I believe you've tried visiting the Library before, correct?"
Orion nodded. "I was denied access."
"Yes, that was during your first week," Dan clarified.
"Your details had been updated after your promotion, so, when you visit again. You'll receive a library card, which would determine a lot, like your access and all that."
"I won't dwell on it much. Master Orlin, the librarian will guide you during your next visit, okay?"
"Thank you," Orion said with a satisfied smile before taking his seat.
"You're welcome." Dan replied before asking the class, "Any more questions?"
The class thought for a while but remained silent.
"Since we're all cleared, for now at least, the class is dismissed," he said, signaling them to go.
"Don't forget to attend your wing classes on time," Dan remembered, as there were still over 5 minutes left before the class's time for closure.
The students nodded, replying with a unified 'Thank you'.
"Kyle Lin, stay behind."
The students who were already packing their materials paused to listen to Dan's announcement.
'Oh no,' Kyle thought wryly.
The rest of the students left, occasionally turning their heads towards the demon who would always obliterate them in General Weapon Training Class, wondering what could have happened.
"Best of luck, my man," Zack told Kyle with a wink, solidly slapping his chest. Unlike the others, he had a clue about what could happen.
Kyle nodded his head, beads of sweat already forming on his head.
Slowly, the whole students left the class, leaving Kyle alone with Instructor Dan.