「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(270) Complacent

Whispers and chatters spontaneously ceased as the youngsters registered us arriving in the large hall. Their silent stares pierced the still air, tossing the somber atmosphere further into a grim abyss. Most of their listless eyes expectedly spelled out how they had been thoroughly frightened, but a handful beamed with sheer vulnerabilities, utterly incapacitated by their qualms and apprehension.

They looked desperately to their esteemed headmaster, eager for their shaken souls to seek shelter, but noticing our blatantly weary and indisposed figures, intense concern contradictorily saturated their faces.

Yet, they were not sickened by the nasty view and maintained their keen gazes, still hoping to be somehow energized and stimulated. Charles was obviously not too chipper himself, but despite the disturbing troubles and prevailing exhaustion, he discreetly clasped my hand in his and decisively braved a convincing smile.

"Is everyone alright?" Charles probed in his inherently empathetic tone and gradually, we received assuring nods from all the little ones.

"Good," Charles commended genuinely, albeit only marginally relieved mentally.

"It's been a rough night. I know that all of you must be tired, and that you all just want to go home," Charles articulated in an understanding tone and was reciprocated with a sea of strikingly appreciative faces as they were acknowledged of their utmost desire.

"Frankly, it's really what I want, too," he admitted with unreserved honesty as he glanced fleetingly towards me.

"Unfortunately, the mansion is still unsafe," Charles announced solemnly as he faced back to the children.

"Mutants. Since the discovery of their existence, they have been regarded with fear, suspicion, and often hatred. Across the planet, debate rages. Are mutants the next link in the evolutionary chain? Or simply a new species of humanity, fighting for their share of the world? Either way, it is a historical fact that sharing the world has never been humanity's defining attribute," Charles lectured in a calm fashion but his provocative statements had surely garnered everyone's undivided attention.

"Over the past decades, we have made conscientious efforts. We have done well to assimilate. We have produced excellent alumni, seamlessly rejoining the world while others stand here with us today," Charles emphasized proudly, skimming his eyes over the adults congregating to the left of us and they mustered inspiring smiles for the young ones.

"The people have learnt to be better. They have indeed grown to accept us. Everything was ideal but beneath the roses are thorns, sharp and brutal. Radicals have risen with aggression," Charles warned in a grave manner.

"I should have seen this coming, but I was complacent," Charles confessed uprightly.

"I'm sorry that you have been forced to witness all these awful things. I'm sorry that I was not able to protect you like I said. And I'm terribly sorry, to have left you in such danger," he profusely apologized, constantly sweeping his remorseful gaze around the packed area.

"I'm truly sorry that you had to bear the consequences of my negligence and here, now, I sincerely ask for all of your forgiveness," Charles pleaded earnestly and swallowed awkwardly as his guilty eyes settled on me.

It's not your fault, my dear, Charles. But if you really need me to say it, I forgive you, anyway, I pacified encouragingly and he smiled, sentimentally, as he returned his gaze to the kids.

Quietly, the children scrutinized him. They were young, but not immature. They studied him with great respect and honour. The love he has always, and unconditionally, showered upon them was not forgotten. They recognized the weight of our current situation, and what surfaced was not the anticipated bitterness, but an emergence of unadulterated compassion.

"It's alright, Professor. I'm happy enough, knowing you're back to guide us," Peter consoled with a purely contented face as he got on his knees amongst the sitting crowd.

"I don't blame you, and I think I speak on behalf of all of us," Peter affirmed confidently, gesturing to the remaining of his schoolmates and they all nodded adorably in agreement.

"You really didn't have to, but thank you. All of you," Charles conveyed gratefully, smiling benevolently at the delightful bunch who mirrored mollified grins.

"There are going to be a few things we have to discuss with the President, so it might be a couple more hours before we can head back. Try to get some rest," Charles urged softly.

"And I promise, that after all of this is over, I will treat all of you to a grand feast," Charles gleefully declared and cheers immediately roared, rowdily, from the excited horde.