16 | Schoolmaster Reverdan

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XVI | SCHOOLMASTER REVERDAN


    Kael waited in line to get his lunch. Wynt, Rita, and Fadhia were already seated at a table. After returning to class, Kael had been held back by Kita, the teacher in charge of teaching the world's history and geography, to explain why he had been late, resulting in a late lunch.

    A young woman was cleaning a piece of glassware when Kael came up with his student card. When she saw him, she dropped the cup, and shards of glass shattered on the wooden floor.

    "Y-you," she paused and cleared her throat. "Sorry about that. My hand slipped."

    She crouched to pick up the large pieces. Kael watched her from over the counter. "Do you need any help?" he asked.

    "No," she snapped. "I mean..." She sighed as she brushed the smaller pieces into a dustpan. "Sorry. I'll be with you. Just hang on for a second."

    Kael felt restless. He looked at the back wall. Lines of glass bottles decorated built-in shelves. Though students were strictly prohibited from taking alcohol, there were a few brands of wine and beer Kael recognised on the shelves. He suspected they were for the school faculty rather than decoration.

    In front of him was a glass display case, through which he could see the woman wiping down the ground. He saw a white tag with "Jora" in black letters hanging on the breast of her shirt. She stood and wiped a brow.

    "So," she said, rubbing her hands on a piece of cloth. "What do you want?"

    Food was displayed on trays behind the glass window. Kael hesitated at the unfamiliar bread, rice, and soups.

    "Um...I'll just have a bread roll and some milk, please," he said.

    "Sure. That'll be seven-hundred and fifty sols on you. Do you have the money with you now, or should I put it on credit?"

    "I have the money." Kael jostled a bag hanging from his belt and produced a five-hundred sol note and three one-hundred notes. Jora swiped the notes from his hand and dropped a fifty sol coin into his hand.

    "Hold on a moment," she said. She grabbed a bread roll with tongs and put it on a tray. She handed it over to him before disappearing through a back door only to return shortly after with a small bottle of milk in hand, which she put it on his tray. "Enjoy."

    Kael nodded his thanks and began to turn away.

    "Hey," Jora called out, making him pause.

    Kael raised his brows in question. "Yeah?"

    She averted her eyes from him and wrung her hands. "Uh, you aren't related to the Silver Wolf proctor by any chance, are you?"

    "You mean Kl—"

    "Shh-shh-shh!" she shook her hands. "I don't want to hear his name. Just tell me."

    "Um, okay..." Kael made a face, wondering what was wrong with the girls in the academy asking him about Kly. "He's my brother. Why? Did he do something wrong?"

    Jora laughed bitterly. "Oh, he did something, all right. Nevermind. Just go have your lunch."

    Though Kael was confused and curious about his brother's relationship with Jora, he backed away and began looking for his friends. He'd ask Kly later. The mess hall was packed with first-year students. Kael couldn't imagine having all students of the academy gathering in one place.

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