The Novel's Professor

Rio reached out his hand as he tapped Arcuied's forehead.

In that instant, Arcuied's eyes turned vacant — mesmerized from the memory he had received. His body stilled, not swaying and staggering unlike the last three. He could handle the information, however his mind was so spellbounded by the technique.

The legacy technique he had received was seemingly connected to ice. The memories showed a man wielding a sword — in each of his every strike, snowflakes followed after and landed on his target. As soon as the snowflakes landed, it immediately froze the target's body and the snowflakes transformed into sharp spiky ice, stabbing on his target's body like soft cotton.

"An ice sword technique..." Arcuied muttered, in a daze.

"Correct," Rio said, his hand crossing on his chest. He continued, watching Arcuied's eyes slowly return to clarity. "Practice it. The ice showed in the memories are not simple sharp ice — they have the properties of absolute penetration, able to stab at anything. Well... that's only if you managed to reach grandmastery to it, though."

Arcuied nodded in understanding. Grandmastery was a long way to go. For now, he hadn't even reached minor mastery yet.

In terms of understanding legacy techniques, there were a difference of categories.

Minor mastery in which a person had grasped only the minor application of technique.

Major mastery in which a person grasped the majority application of technique.

And finally, Grandmastery — utterly grasping the essence of the technique. Beyond that, the person has to rely on themselves to improve the technique further.

"Any questions?" Rio asked, his eyes staring at the four... After this, he was going to train his own Sorcerer powers inside the private training room he owned. He was a bit interested in the perks he had received when he ascended to Rank B.

The four stared at him, too stunned to speak. Their mouths opened — before abruptly closing as they couldn't find the right words to say. In the end, they all shook their heads.

"Well then, Club Activities are dismissed," Rio said as he waved his hand in dismissal. He turned his back. "Also, don't expect me on your class anymore. I'm no longer your Magic Theory teacher. But I'l still attend this club to monitor all of your progress."

After he left the room, Xiao immediately dashed in to his small laboratory in the corner. Amber smiled cheerfully, her body occasionally vanishing, leaving black feathers in her wake as she ran through the room. Arcuied and Eugene exchanged glances, sighing before nodding as their eyes stared at each other — understanding the intent to fight again.

—

[I can finally rest atleast one part of my spiritual bones..] Faust sighed, his body floating on the air nonchantly. [I was a bit worried that with your stagnant progress on your Martial Artists Miracle Core, you wouldn't be able to absorb all of my legacy. But with those kids... everything should be fine.]

"Spiritual bone? Does that even exist?" Rio asked, his body walking through the hallways. He was just on his way to the private training room he had used in his first week as a teacher.

[Well, no. But you get my point.] Faust said as he hummed cheerfully.

Rio sighed, shaking his head as he changed his direction to the right. He had mostly memorized the whole school — and even if he missed something, there was the GPS anyway. He looked at the corridor, his eyes noticing a silhouette.

"Is that..." Rio muttered, staring at the ends of the hallway. His eyes widened in surprise. From a distance, he saw a familiar figure quietly humming in silence at the end of the hallway.

It had been a while since he had last saw her.

He slowed down his footsteps, sneakily walking through the hallway as he reached the figure's back, undisturbed. The figure's blond hair sparkled, cascading behind their back. Rio raised his hand, tapping at the figure's shoulder. "Hello."

"Eeh!"

Samantha squealed, jumping in surprise as her body slightly swayed. Rio grasped her shoulders, preventing her from falling. Samantha sighed in relief, her body stabilizing — she raised her head, staring at Rio as she muttered. "Oh, it's your Mr. Rio..."

"Hey, Samantha. Long time no see," Rio said, a smile gracing his lips. Above him, Faust got bored and dived deep into Rio's body.

"Mr. Rio....Wait."

Samantha muttered, suddenly pausing as her eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at Rio intensely, her body closing in as she suddenly grabbed his hand. Rio took a step back, bewildered.

"Uh...Ms. Samantha? Is there something wrong?"

Rio asked, withdrawing his hand slightly. However, Samantha grabbed it tightly, not letting it go.

"Mr. Rio, are you alright now?!" Samantha asked in concern, her voice resounding in the hallways.

"...What do you mean?" Rio asked, tilting his head in confusion. He stared at Samantha, pondering over her words — then it didn't take long before it dawned on him what she meant. He waved his hand in dismissal as he continued: "Oh, I'm already alright now. I just got discharged from the hospital a couple of days ago. Don't worry."

"Oh...thank goodness!" Samantha sighed in relief, her eyes shifting to him as she asked. "I read an article about that disaster in the past few days... I was surprised to see your face appear there! I say, Mr. Rio, you shouldn't take travels for the time being."

Rio nodded, a soft calm smile gracing his lips. Internally, he was surprised at her knowing about it. Everyone — the whole world, for that matter — completely forgot about his existence solely because Eugene was also included in the articles.

In the topic of possible casualties between a duke's heir and possibly a simple ordinary man, it was obvious the former was more eye catching. Because of that, his existence was buried from the sudden news of Eugene's possible death... Not that he minded that turn of events though, even now he still preferred to be undisturbed of his normal life.

"Now that you're okay, are you going back to teaching now?"

Samantha asked expectantly, her voice calming down.

"Oh, you haven't heard yet?"

Rio questioned. Well, the meeting did just happen recently so the Director probably has not announced it yet.

"What is..?"

Samantha asked, tilting her head cutely.

"I got promoted to become an Arcane Teacher," Rio answered. "I'm no longer going to teach the First Years, but the Second Year's from now on."

"What? That's great!" Samantha congratulated loudly, her eyes dazzled as she stared at Rio. She continued. "Does that mean you ascended to Rank B, Mr. Rio?"

Rio nodded, his eyes staring at Samantha. Oddly enough, even with her cheery personality — he didn't feel uncomfortable. Well, he didn't feel anything at all, anyway. In any case, who knew she would be this cheery?

"Wow..." Samantha cooed, a wide smile gracing her lips. "Mhm, if that's the case, why not celebrate it then?"

"Celebrate?" Rio asked, raising his brows in interest. Celebrating... he had never really experience it once before. He was about to reject until he heard Samantha's reply.

"Well, yes Mr. Rio! Let's celebrate it together! I know many places we can go to if you're interested!" Samantha answered, her eyes filled with stars — imagining the scenery's she wanted to travel on. This was definitely not an excuse to go to some places she wanted to go, definitely not!

Rio stared at her blankly. Was she interested in him? Unfortunately, he wasn't interested in any romantic relationships for the moment — and he didn't know when he will be interested.

"Are you..." Rio asked, confused. His head tilted, staring at Samantha in confusion. Samantha was similarly confused. He continued. "...asking me for a date?"

In that instant, Samantha's eyes froze — her cheeks suddenly colored with a reddish pink hue. Her eyes lowered, embarrassed as she realized the possible implications of her words. She said, stuttering:

"N-no..! Not at all, Mr. Rio! I mean...by the definition of date, it is indeed what you call 'date'! Bu—but not the romantic kind of which that you are implying! But the one as friends. Not that I know if friends could date... I—I mean, if you don't want to...of course, feel free to reject!"

'How cute.' Rio thought as he stared at her blushing state.

"Between friends, you say...?" Rio softly asked. He stared at Samantha's hands that were grabbing onto his hand. His lips curled into a smirk, continuing: "Then, what do you call this?"

Samantha furrowed her brows, confused. She followed Rio's gaze — shifting her attention to her hand that was grabbing him. In that instant, the blush on her cheeks thickened — she immediately released her grasp as embarrassment took over her. Before she could open her mouth, Rio's hands silenced her.

"It's alright... I understand. Let's go on a 'date' between friends then."

Rio said, his head nodding with an understanding smile.

Samantha was speechless. She wanted to say something about it — however, hearing his words, she merely sighed and shook her head.

"But not right now. I'm a bit busy for the week...and my classes start next week." Rio frowned, his hand caressing his chin. He didn't really have a tight grasp on his schedule. Hell, he didn't even know when he would be free and when he would be busy.

"Ah, is that so...? That's alright, Mr. Rio." Samantha said, her nodding. Suddenly, the smartwatch on her wrist beeped. She raised her head, staring at Rio as she apologized. "..I'm sorry, Mr. Rio, but it seems I have to do something in the faculty — perhaps we can continue this conversation another time then?"

"Sure, and for easier contact, here's my number — feel free to add if you want." Rio said as he raised his arm slightly. He pressed the smartwatch. The smartwatch projected a mini hologram of a set of letters and numbers.

Samantha stared at the numbers for a few seconds, nodding right after as she memorized the number. She shifted her stare to Rio, saying:

"I'l go now, Mr. Rio. Be sure to take care and not wander to some places again."

Rio nodded slightly, watching her back leave. His eyes stayed on her figure longer. Perhaps in another timeline or in another world, where he was a normal man and not a monster in guise, he could fall in love.

"But unfortunately..." Rio muttered as he shook his head, turning his back as he turned left — walking through the hallways. "I'm not even human to begin with."