novelraw Chapter 14: Kennen
Chapter 14: Kennen
Fischer slept until nearly noon. When he woke again, his bed was empty, just as Renée had said—she had left upon waking, leaving only the lingering fragrance on the sheets behind.
Fischer blinked, noticing the Hart bird had also flown away from his hand at some point.
Renée was gone.
He rubbed his stiff shoulders from sleep, then pushed open the window and headed to the washroom to freshen up, shaving off the stubble that had grown.
Kennen, the headmaster of Saint Nary University, had expressed his desire to meet with Fischer upon his return to discuss the teaching position. Today, Fischer planned to visit the university.
The other matter—publishing his thesis—was more complicated. Though he hated to admit it, academic theories weren't just confined to scholarly circles, especially one as groundbreaking as his. Simply publishing it would drown him in attention from all sorts of people. He needed a reliable backer, like his former employer, the Royal Academy.
So, the thesis would have to wait. He would discuss it later with Damian, the Royal Academy's headmaster.
"Fischer, Renée left early this morning. Did she mention it to you?"
As Martha asked, Fischer buttoned his shirt and nodded.
"She told me last night. She won't be back for a while.""My goodness! How could you let such a beautiful lady leave alone for so long? You should already be planning your wedding. A 28-year-old gentleman in Saint Nary ought to have at least three children by now!"
Eating the breakfast Martha prepared, Fischer chuckled silently. He couldn’t even imagine what a child of Renée’s would be like—if they inherited her personality, it would be disastrous.
The elderly woman’s nagging didn’t last long. After assuring her he understood, Fischer grabbed his cane and top hat, bidding her farewell before heading out to visit the prestigious Saint Nary University.
Saint Nary University was located in the suburbs. Taking the tram would require multiple transfers, which would take too long, so Fischer opted for a paid carriage instead.
The ride from Fischer’s rented home to the university took nearly half an hour. Only when the bustling city noises faded did Fischer glimpse through the carriage window the sprawling campus nestled against the hills, resembling a grand estate.
The university grounds were vast. As a boarding school, it housed several dormitories behind the main academic buildings. The structures were no taller than four or five stories, but their elegant design exuded Nary’s cultural essence, leaving a strong first impression.
The front gate bore a golden inverted seal—three concentric arcs shimmering under the sunlight. This was the "Goldline Golden Seal," the symbol of the Nary royal family. Its presence here marked the university as a top-tier institution recognized by the king, its degrees on par with those of the Royal Academy.
"Sir, the university is currently closed to visitors."
"I’m here at Headmaster Kennen’s invitation. This is his handwritten letter."
As soon as Fischer stepped out of the carriage, a security guard approached, informing him of the closure before the carriage could leave. Fischer produced Kennen’s letter, explaining his purpose. After carefully examining it, the guards nodded and escorted him past the golden-sealed gate.
It was early July, still summer break in Nary. Students wouldn’t return until after the "Victory Festival" in early August. The only people around were groundskeepers trimming hedges and mowing lawns.
Before the largest academic building stood a massive black slate, nearly two stories tall, shimmering with magical runes. At the very top was a maxim penned by the king himself:
**[Expand Your Horizons, Delve into the Details]**
Fischer quietly averted his gaze and followed the guard into the main building. The headmaster’s office was at the top. As they ascended the stairs, a young black-haired girl carrying books descended toward them.
Her fair skin and delicate features stood out, clad in a white dress. The books she held were familiar to Fischer—the first edition of *Theories of Magic*.
But what truly drew attention was her chest—far more developed than most girls her age. The way she clutched the books accentuated her curves, making even the guard glance sideways.
She was beautiful, yet lacked confidence. Sensing their gazes, her face flushed, and she instinctively shrank back, even muttering a soft "Sorry" to Fischer and the guard before hurrying past and vanishing down the stairs.
Fischer watched her disappear. She must be a student here—odd that she remained during the break.
Apart from that small encounter, the building was silent. The headmaster’s office door stood open at the top floor. Inside, an elderly gentleman with a long white beard and a monocle over his left eye stood by the window. Behind his desk hung a grand portrait of Goldline I, Nary’s founding king, holding a golden scepter. The current king was Goldline IX—soon to be X, given his declining health.
"My apologies for the intrusion, Headmaster Kennen."
The door closed behind him, leaving only the two gentlemen in the office.
"Not at all—I was the one who invited you. What do you think of our university so far?"
"It’s too early to judge without seeing the students."
Kennen chuckled and gestured for Fischer to sit, then poured him a cup of amber-hued tea.
"Royal reserve tea. Before the *New Economic Act*, we’d never have had such privileges... I’ve heard of your work, Mr. Fischer. I trust you’re also aware of our university’s current predicament. So let me assure you—this institution is dedicated to pure education. That’s why His Majesty appointed me as headmaster."
The *New Economic Act*—the New Party’s hallmark economic policy—boiled down to "free market" ideology. The New Party believed deregulation would stimulate production and sales, drastically lowering market entry barriers. Goods once exclusive to royalty were now available to commoners.
"I was nominated by the king to build a sanctuary of learning, yet I’m trapped in a cage of our own making. The Gryphon Party, that tumor in education, still dreams of monopolizing it. The king has long been dissatisfied with their methods."
Kennen, being a scholar, wasted no time on pleasantries and cut straight to the point.
"The Gryphon Party has blocked our hiring of traditional faculty. Education has always been their domain... In the worst-hit College of Magic, we only have three instructors. Three!"
His elegant mustache nearly curled in frustration. "Every Magic Association member has declined our invitations. The Gryphon Party warned them off in advance. You’re the last senior member I could reach out to. This is the king’s premier institution—how can we not have a proper magic professor?"
The two parliamentary factions were utterly shameless. Having witnessed their antics before, Fischer wasn’t surprised. The New Party hadn’t interfered only because they’d already achieved their goal of disrupting education funding. Otherwise, they’d be ten times worse than the Gryphon Party.
Sipping his tea, Fischer mulled over the details, but Kennen couldn’t wait.
"The autumn semester begins soon. If the College of Magic can’t operate, students will petition Parliament. That’s exactly what the Gryphon Party wants—they’ll push for a no-confidence motion to replace me with one of their own, like that hack Arkado, turning this place into a second Royal Academy..."
Magic was a top-tier profession. Only Magic Association-certified mages could legally sell enchanted items, which commanded high prices for their extraordinary effects. Thus, mages were always well-paid.
Many students enrolled here specifically for the College of Magic’s degree, which granted exemption from 1st to 4th-tier certification exams and carried more prestige than uncertified practitioners.
"Mr. Fischer, the king has high hopes for this university—so much so that he’s even sending the princess here. I... I can’t fail him. I must make this institution thrive. So, on my own behalf, I humbly ask—will you stay and teach magic here?"
His aged face was earnest. Fischer considered it. Helping Saint Nary University meant opposing the Gryphon Party, which was likely why so many Magic Association members had refused. But Fischer had no such concerns.
He was known as "The Rebel of the Royal Academy"—the Gryphon Party’s stronghold. The fact that he’d remained unscathed all these years proved they couldn’t touch him. Plus, he was about to hand them a gift they couldn’t refuse.
He’d love to see them perform some instant amnesia—how they’d seethe at first, only to grin like fools when self-interest took over.
Exhaling, Fischer nodded.
"Very well. I’ll stay and teach. There’s one more thing—I’ve been researching demi-humans. If possible, I’d like to offer a course on them."
"Demi-humans?"
Kennen paused, then looked puzzled. "That’s... possible. We use a credit system where students freely select courses. If at least fifteen sign up during pre-registration, we can proceed. Should we place it under the College of Economics?"
"...Let’s put it in the College of Truth."
With matters settled, Kennen cracked a smile and extended his hand.
"I look forward to working with you, Mr. Fischer Benavides. I’ll provide the faculty terms, which differ significantly from the Royal Academy’s."
"The pleasure is mine."