Mercer stood by the window, overlooking the entire school's training yard and watching the few knight trainees who had stayed over the summer practice.
He could see the trainees working hard, doing exercises or sparring to get acclimated to new weapons.
Mercer couldn't help but let out a small smile, remembering his own struggles through the same experiences.
He had once attended the academy as a young trainee chosen by the headmaster himself, despite not being able to use magic well. Luckily, a grimoire chose him, unlocking his talent for magic.
He can remember the rush of adrenaline as the world opened up to him. Alas, that was years ago.
Now, as the new headmaster, he owed it to the students to do his best by them and to all the kingdom.
It's why he's done his best to offer training for people wanting to use magic over just weapons or runes.
Granted, it was still best to go to the eastern half of the kingdom if one wanted a better understanding of magic.
Though with how destabilized the eastern part of the kingdom is now, most of the magic users have come to the Knight Academy instead.
"Sir, I was told to come visit once released from the hospital," a male voice called out, breaking Mercer out of his thoughts as he looked over the training yard.
Not surprised to see Poke standing in the doorway. It's been a month since the attack, and thankfully, the healers were able to save him completely.
Mercer quickly made his way to his desk and sat down, gesturing for Poke to sit in the chair across from him.
"Glad to see you're doing well, my boy," Mercer remarked as Poke sat down.
"Honestly, I'm just happy to be alive." Poke admitted, sitting down in the seat across from Mercer.
Mercer just stared at him for a moment, a strange look on his face. For a second, Poke saw a flash of disgust on his face.
Poke blinked but only saw the same emotionless expression on Mercer's stone face. He began to grow uncomfortable.
Poke tapped his foot nervously on the ground, doing his best not to fidget in his seat. "Geez, what's with the general day? He's acting so weird."
"As of today, the team you formed with Lyra," he began, his eyes looking dead at Poke.
Poke stood up abruptly from his chair, knocking it over. "Sir, that isn't fair!" he interrupted. "Yes, one of us died, but before that, we had an impeccable record.
Releasing some of his aura, Mercer's eyes tightened as he looked at Poke. "Control yourself, boy!?
Poke felt a huge amount of pressure, almost enough to make him kneel on the ground. Behind Mercer, he saw a silhouette he could barely make out; yet it scared him relentlessly.
"Don't let him intimidate you," a dark, soothing tone whispered into Poke's mind. "Raise your head and show no fear to anyone, even if that person is your teacher!"
Poke gritted his teeth, listening to his thoughts; he forced his body to stay upright and not give in to the feeling of wanting to bow.
Mercer noticed the struggle and withdrew his aura; a steely gaze replaced the caring look in his eyes.
Poke had a bead of sweat going down his face, but listening to that, he refused to back down.
Clearing his throat, he spoke up once again. "Sir, I think I've shown that Lyra and I have made a good team; there are other students we can add to fill out the team if that's the issue."
Mercer shook his head. "I am disbanding the team moving forward."
"Without a team, I can't continue to go on missions!"
"Poke, I'm not doing this to punish you. Instead, I would like you to train for the next year. Hone your skills to prevent an accident until you graduate, then get assigned to a team."
Poke's face began to turn red in anger as he glared at Mercer. "Will you continue to oversee my training at least?
"No, you'll be assigned a regular class schedule unless one teacher decides to take you on as an apprentice."
"This is bullshit!" Poke yelled, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. "You always push me off when I want to learn. Now you're just throwing me to the side as useless."
Poke huffed as he backed away from the desk. Picking up the chair, he sat back down as he glared at Mercer, trying to hold back his anger.
Mercer resisted the urge to rub his temples, but he could feel a headache coming on.
"Poke, while your concerns are valid, at the moment I can't risk sending out students who haven't graduated from the academy," Mercer tried to explain.
"Yet Lyra still hasn't returned to the academy, right? I'm older than her, yet I've been forced to disband and stay at the school while she is still out there adventuring." Poke argued, his hands tightening on his knees.
"It's not about being older or how many-"
"Does she know?" Poke interrupted, his voice low as he lowered his head. "Does Lyra even know I survived the attack?"
Mercer remained silent, his lips turned downward.
Poke let out a snort. "Thank you, Headmaster, for your tutelage and for being a part of your team," he said, standing up and giving a quick bow.
Mercer didn't comment, his gaze already turning back to the documents on the table.
Poke clenched his fist in anger at being dismissed so easily, turned, and walked out of the room.
He walked down the hall before making his way towards the stairs, wanting to go back to his dorm room.
Mercer's office was on the third floor, the highest point in the academy. The head teachers' offices could be found here as well.
⟢
The negative aura coming off Poke made the other students avoid him. Strangely, he was very popular among the school's students.
People know him for his helpful demeanor and good grades.
What makes Poke stand out from the pack compared to others is the fact that he has taken missions officially before graduating.
It's very rare for trainees to be combat-ready after leaving the academy. Poke being on missions and personally picked by Mercer himself showcased his talents as a prodigy.
"That old man is wasting your talents forcing you back to the academy," the voice muttered into his
Poke nodded his head in agreement. 'He's undeserving of the title of Wizard King,' he spat.
"We need to grow in strength and take the title for ourselves."
Poke went to reply, but suddenly stumbled backward. His head hurt as blood began leaking from his forehead.
He looked at the ground, where a sizable rock lay. Poke took a deep breath, trying to control himself, before raising his head.
In front of him was another student, taller than him with a slightly muscular build. He had short, spiky blonde hair that seemed always to catch the light at a right angle.
'I don't feel like dealing with Trevor today,' Poke growled in his thoughts, doing his best to keep his face neutral.
"Yes, the noble who's been tormenting you, I still don't see why you haven't put this beast in his place yet."
'Because I don't feel like getting in trouble with the other nobles, plus I have to keep my facade as a kind student to others, remember.'
"A pity if it were me, I would've already killed the little brat and been done with it."
Poke a soft hand, grasping his, breaking him from his thoughts; looking down, he saw his girlfriend looking back at him with worry in her eyes.
"You've been standing here staring off into space. Both Trevor and I tried calling you, but you didn't reply."
Poke let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry, Kim, a rock hit my head, and I feel it might've aggravated past injuries, He breathed, not wanting to upset her.
"Let's go back to the healing wing right away, just to get you checked over again."
"Babe, if I can help it, I'd rather not see-" Poke paused in the middle of his sentence as he caught a rock aimed at his head out of the air.
"Are you finally listening, you fucking peasant?" Trevor growled, his arm outstretched with a brown, green aura surrounding it.
Poke's face slipped into an emotionless mask, staring straight at anger as if he were a pest.
Trevor snarled, "Don't think you just look down on peasants because you're Mercer's little bitch."
Kim, seeing that Poke wasn't responding, stepped in front of him. "Poke has always been kind to you, yet you continue to harass! Why don't you just fuck off already?"
"Tch, so now he needs his bitch to fight his battles for him now."
"Are you just going to let him get away with pushing you around? He made us bleed, and yet stand here quiet!" the voice mocked.
The sounds around Poke came to a halt as he stood there, frozen, with the same emotionless mask on his face.
'Do you think I do this for my own pleasure, Lo? We have to seem useful, even helpful to people, if we want to accomplish our goals.' Poke argued.
Lo let out a frustrated sigh. "I know I told you to hide your powers, but being this meek has caused the ruffian to come search for us. I know you feel that hatred, that anger building just let out."
Poki struggled with disagreeing with Lo, but the anger he pushed down, the one he hid behind a fake smile, began to bubble up.
The resentment of always being looked down on by annoying people. His body began to move on its own.
"Poke…" Kim muttered as she stumbled to the side.
Poke stared at Trevor with an uncaring expression.
Trevor shivered at his expression. He puffed out his chest, trying to throw around his weight as Poke slowly walked forward.
"Hey, you fucking peasant, to come any closer and I swear I'll take you and your little bitch back there."
Poke didn't respond, just continuing to walk slowly.
Trevor, keeping his promise, raised his hand, the brownish green magic forming around his palm.
"POKE WATCHOUT!" Kim screamed.
A rock shot out of Trevor's palm like a bullet, going through Poke's head before hitting the wall behind him.
"Serves you right, peasant," Trevor gloated.
Kim's eyes watered as she stared, words coming to her mind at the sudden shock at seeing the rock go through Poke's head.
To the shock of both of them, Poke's body disappeared.
"What the hell?" Trevor muttered
Suddenly, Trevor's body was crippled to the ground, a heavy blow hitting the back of his neck.
Kim let out a loud gasp at seeing Poke standing there, but Poke didn't pay attention to her.
Instead, he lifted his foot before stomping the back of Trevor's head. Trevor let out a grunt of pain as his face grinded into the ground.
"Next time you try to fight me, don't look into my eyes, dumbass," Poke growled as he constantly stepped Trevor's head into the ground.
Kim stared in horror at the amount of blood and some teeth spilling across the ground. Her body froze when Poke stopped and stared at her, his breathing slightly heavy, a smile on his face.
At this point, if Kim had known the future, she should've reported Poke instead of covering for him, but her heart loved him. She wanted to do what she could to protect him, even if she was scared.