Heaven's Greatest Professor

"So, Professor June, may I show it to him in public?" Warden asked, slightly amused. "In case you're wondering, I'm referring to my sword."

"You'll have plenty of time to mess around after you've completed the test," June admonished him. "Now, please go inside."

Of course, she escorted him inside while Warden engaged in small talk to gain a better understanding of the test.

"The first part will be an interview," June explained. "Given your condition, I'm sure it'll be a disaster for you... the same goes for the teaching component. Your only real chance of getting in will be through the combat test."

"How many have applied for the position?" Warden inquired.

"For our academy alone, over two hundred qualified," June detailed. "They will be tested throughout the week, and only twenty-four combat instructors and six healers will be appointed."

"That's quite good odds," Warden remarked, somewhat relieved. He had assumed that only a few combat instructors would be appointed, but twenty-four was a significant number.

"Every year, over ten thousand awakened individuals join the academy," June elaborated. "Although most of them don't graduate, we always need instructors to help them master their powers."

June led him to a waiting room where over a dozen individuals were already waiting, including Gene and Aurel, all vying for the combat instructor position.

"By the way, did you get your badge?" June asked before leaving.

"Of course," Warden showed it to her. "I received an A for potential. Impressed?"

June raised an eyebrow and examined the badge to ensure he wasn't making it up. She was somewhat surprised to see it was true, but considering this man had defeated a professor in a fair fight, it wasn't entirely unexpected.

"I'm slightly impressed," June conceded.

"Professor June," Aurel approached to greet. "Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity."

June nodded. "You seem a bit nervous," she observed. "There's no need to be. I recommended you because I believe you're qualified for the job."

"Thank you," Aurel said, bowing deeply to show her respect.

"I must go now," June announced. "If possible, keep an eye on this man and ensure he doesn't cause any trouble."

Aurel immediately shot Warden a scowl, but June had more to add.

"Try to keep quiet for most of your stay here if you're serious about this position," June advised him as she made her way out. She paused just before exiting the room. "Also, the garden is surrounded by high fences."

Warden couldn't help but laugh heartily as June's slender figure disappeared from the room.

"How do you know Professor June?" Aurel asked as soon as June had left.

"By coincidence," Warden replied as he took a seat, though Aurel's questioning was far from over.

"You? Why would she recommend someone like you?"

"Perhaps she was charmed by my dashing heroics."

Aurel snorted, clearly disbelieving every word out of his mouth. "She's right; you do have a problem with running your mouth unnecessarily."

"I see it as a quirk, not a problem," Warden replied and turned to find the scholarly mage. "Hey, Gene. Good luck on your test."

Gene nodded on his way to the interview. The boy emerged five minutes later, looking exhausted, as if he had soloed a dungeon on his own. The interviews didn't take long for each participant, but since Warden was one of the last applicants, he had to wait over an hour for his turn.

Aurel had gone before him and emerged with a calm expression on her face that betrayed nothing about the interview.

As his name was announced, Warden entered the room after ensuring his clothes and hair were prim and proper. Inside was a wide hall with five people sitting around, surrounded by many empty seats. Uncertain whether he was supposed to sit, Warden stood there waiting for an indication.

"Greetings, esteemed Elders of the Third Arcane Academy," he greeted, bowing properly. Who said he didn't know etiquette? Clearly, they didn't know him at all. In times of importance, Warden could perform with just as much ease.

"Warden," an elderly woman asked, reading the papers on her table. She wore thick-framed glasses on her nose, though they hung clumsily, as if she were seeing half the world without them. "Tell us, where are you from?"

So, they decided to start with the hard questions, Warden thought. "I'm from a faraway land," he said vaguely. "On the other side of the southern lands."

"There are only ruins on the other side of the southern lands," a middle-aged man retorted.

Warden could only shrug. He had woken up in the southern wilderness, so he simply guessed he must be from around there.

"Does your home have a name?" the elderly woman asked.

"Of course, it's called home," Warden responded as if it were only natural. June was right to think his interview would be a disaster. Unfortunately, Warden couldn't do anything to prove her wrong. He could tell them he had lost all his memories, but that would make him an even less appealing prospect for the job.

At least this way, he left them with the impression that he preferred not to disclose it.

The other woman snorted. She appeared far younger, in her early thirties, dangerously beautiful with her raven hair, perfect face, and a sharp nose. There was also an aura about her that seemed to warp others' opinions of her. Unconsciously, Warden heightened his mental defences lest he fall prey to her passive manipulation.

"So you don't want to tell us your origin," she said. "Why do you think we'll allow someone of unknown origin to stay in our academy?"

"Because you'll find me better than any other candidate," Warden said flatly. This was a little arrogant, but he reasoned it to be necessary.

"The arrogance," the man in the middle, who was silent the whole time, yelled.

"It's just confidence," Warden corrected.

"The report says you received Grade-A for your potential," the elderly woman said, causing others to perk their eyes at their papers. "I guess some of it was confidence."