Chapter 19: Meeting Professors

As dawn broke over Verdant Dawn Academy, Alaric was already wide awake, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon from the window of his room. The rising sun bathed the sprawling campus in golden light, bringing with it a fresh sense of opportunity. Today would be his first full day at the academy, and he intended to make every moment count.

His mind buzzed with thoughts of what was to come—classes, instructors, and, most intriguingly, the academy’s female teachers and students. The system had already proven useful, quietly analyzing the people around him, feeding him valuable information about their attributes. He was keen to see how the day unfolded.

After a quick breakfast, Alaric joined Cedric and Natasha outside their dormitory. Both of them seemed just as eager, though Cedric was more relaxed, a casual grin on his face.

“Ready for our first class?” Cedric asked, stretching lazily.

Natasha’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “I can’t wait! I wonder what kind of magic we’ll be learning today.”

Alaric nodded in agreement, though his mind was elsewhere.

First, the teachers, he thought, suppressing a wicked smirk. The system would give him insights into each one—insights he planned to use to his advantage, albeit carefully.

They made their way to the main lecture hall, the massive stone structure looming ahead of them. As they entered, Alaric quickly scanned the room, taking note of the other students filing in. Many of them appeared nervous, some excited, others simply curious. Among them were several beautiful female students, their figures catching Alaric’s eye for a moment before he refocused on the matter at hand.

The hall was buzzing with energy as the first instructor of the day walked in—a tall, raven-haired woman with striking green eyes. She was dressed in flowing, dark robes, her presence commanding the room. Alaric’s system quickly triggered:

[Overall Score for Professor Lilliana Valtor: 79.3

Appearance: 89

Personality: 82

Status: 87

Pride: 88

Strength: 70]

Alaric’s eyes narrowed slightly as he assessed the information. Professor Valtor was no ordinary teacher—her pride and status were formidable, and her strength indicated she was no novice in magic. Seducing her, or even getting close to her, wouldn’t be easy. He noted her high pride; women like her wouldn’t easily fall prey to his charms. Still, Alaric enjoyed the challenge.

Professor Valtor’s voice cut through the room, calm yet authoritative. “Welcome to Verdant Dawn Academy. I am Professor Lilliana Valtor, and I will be guiding you through the theory of elemental magic this semester. Before we begin, let me remind you that at Verdant Dawn, we value discipline, focus, and above all, mastery. You are here because you have the potential to become powerful magicians. Do not waste that potential.”

Her eyes scanned the room, briefly pausing on Alaric, but not lingering. He smiled inwardly—she had noticed him, even if for just a moment.

The lesson began with a detailed explanation of elemental theory, focusing on how different magical elements could be harnessed and manipulated. Alaric paid close attention, though he was far more interested in observing Professor Valtor than the lecture itself. Her confidence was apparent in every word she spoke, and her sharp intellect was undeniable. He knew he would have to tread carefully around her.

After an hour of theory, Professor Valtor clapped her hands, signaling the end of the lecture. “That’s enough for now. You will have the opportunity to practice what you’ve learned in the training grounds this afternoon. Dismissed.”

As the students began to pack up, Alaric leaned over to Cedric. “Interesting start. What did you think?”

Cedric shrugged, a grin on his face. “She’s tough, but I like her. Knows her stuff.”

Natasha nodded in agreement. “Yeah, she seems strict, but fair. I can’t wait for the practical lessons!”

Alaric gave a noncommittal nod, though his mind was already racing ahead to the next class.

The trio made their way to the next building, where their second class was scheduled—a lesson in advanced combat magic. This time, the instructor was a striking woman with long, silver hair that shimmered in the light. Her presence was colder than Professor Valtor’s, but no less commanding. The system once again buzzed to life.

[Overall Score for Professor Maelis: 73.2

Appearance: 91

Personality: 72

Status: 80

Pride: 50

Strength: 73]

Professor Maelis. Alaric hid his amusement at the coldness in her appearance and demeanor. Her beauty was undeniable, her figure perfectly sculpted, and her face exuded an icy aloofness. What caught Alaric’s attention was the imbalance in her scores—low pride but high strength and status. She seemed like a combatant.

“Welcome, students,” Professor Maelis began, her voice as cold as her appearance. “In this class, you will learn the art of combat magic—not just how to cast spells, but how to wield them as weapons. The battlefield is unforgiving, and so am I.”

She walked up and down the rows of students, her gaze cold and analytical. When she stopped in front of Alaric, her eyes narrowed slightly, as though she sensed something in him that intrigued her. Alaric met her gaze calmly, masking his thoughts behind a neutral expression.

“This will not be an easy course,” Professor Maelis continued, moving away. “Many of you may think you are capable, but I assure you, you are not. Not yet.”

Alaric found himself intrigued by her demeanor. While her pride was off the charts, she was still approachable—just not in the same way as Professor Valtor. The key with Maelis, he realized, would be to appeal to her intellect. She would appreciate a student who demonstrated tactical brilliance, rather than mere magical strength.

As the lesson progressed, they were given a demonstration of various combat spells, which the students were then expected to practice in pairs. Alaric paired with Cedric, though his mind was partially elsewhere, contemplating his interactions with the instructors so far. The system, ever present, provided subtle feedback on everyone he interacted with.

After an intense hour of training, the class was dismissed. Alaric’s muscles ached slightly from the strain, though he barely showed it. As they left the training grounds, Natasha caught up to them, her face flushed from exertion.

“That was brutal,” she said, panting slightly. “But it was fun!”

Cedric grinned. “I almost got blasted to pieces, but hey, I’ll take it.”

Alaric smirked, watching the playful banter between his friends. “It’s only going to get tougher from here.”

As they made their way to the dining hall for lunch, Alaric’s mind drifted back to the female teachers. He hadn’t had much time to fully assess them yet, but the system’s information was already proving invaluable. He knew it would be a delicate balance between keeping his desires hidden and playing the long game.

The afternoon classes consisted of more practical lessons, this time with a younger, curvier teacher named Professor Amelia Lyon, who specialized in enchanting and artifact creation. The moment she stepped into the classroom, Alaric’s system flared to life once again:

[Overall Score for Professor Amelia Lyon: 72.5

Appearance: 88

Personality: 85

Status: 74

Pride: 80

Strength: 35]

Professor Lyon was noticeably more approachable than the other instructors. Her warmth radiated through the room as she explained the intricacies of enchantments and their applications in both battle and everyday life. Her personality score reflected this—she was kind and patient, unlike the other more severe professors. Still, her pride remained high enough that Alaric knew any advances toward her would need to be carefully calculated.

As she lectured, Alaric occasionally caught her glancing in his direction, though whether it was because of his magical potential or something else, he couldn’t be sure. He remained attentive but kept his thoughts guarded.

The lesson involved enchanting basic items, and Alaric’s focus never wavered. He expertly applied the enchantment to his object, earning an approving nod from Professor Lyon as she passed by his workstation.

“Very well done, Alaric,” she said with a smile. “You have a natural talent for this.”

[System Notification: You have received positive feedback from Professor Amelia Lyon. Intimacy score increased slightly.]

[Experience received from Amelia: +11]

Alaric hid his smirk as the system’s notification popped up in his mind. It was a small victory, but every bit of positive contact was a step toward his larger goals.

As the day drew to a close, Alaric, Cedric, and Natasha found themselves in the dorm common room, reflecting on the day’s events. Natasha was buzzing with excitement about the enchanting class, while Cedric rambled about the combat magic training.

Alaric, however, remained silent, his mind already analyzing the system’s information and planning his next moves. He would need to be patient, cautious. The academy was full of challenges—both academic and personal—but he had no doubt that he would emerge on top.