Chapter 71: Tam
Tam frowned, somewhat intrigued by the notion. In the end, he decided to join the class. Although an hour could be quite insufferable, he would get 10 credits just for attending, which was better than nothing. Not to mention the free entertainment he would get out of it.
Some guy with zero experience in teaching would be coming to instruct dozens of brats in the ways of combat. Tam could already imagine the chaos those noble brats on their high horses would create. Arsela told him it was kind of like a ritual for the noble brats to embarrass the new instructors.
He felt a bit of pity for the poor souls who would be dealing with the brats, but that was all there was to it. Only pity. So far, from what he experienced, just having more experience as a Ranker wouldn't make you better. Most of the people he met were simply far too arrogant for their own good just because they were stronger than you, benefiting from awakening their system years earlier.
It hadn't even been a year for Tam since he awakened his system and learned combat, and he could already give the other copper rankers a run for their money. His most significant challenge came in learning the language, however. He had to put in just as much effort, if not more, learning the common tongue; thankfully, it didn't have the threat of his life.
The combat classes were held in the open, where over a couple of hundred students were already making a ruckus in the absence of any instructor or staff from the academy.
"The class is supposed to begin in 5 minutes," Arsela informed him.
Tam, from his experience, had learned that Arsela was a good encyclopaedia for learning new things he wasn't aware of. Her knowledge seemed to include all the tidbit nuances to the complicated theories of magic and spells. But more importantly, Arsela never backed down to prove how well-informed she was in all sorts of things.
Well, good for him, as he didn't have to ask her about every little thing and prove his lack of knowledge.
Creeping along at his own pace with many thoughts in mind, Tam didn't notice when he bumped into a pillar. Wait, a pillar in the middle of the path?
He perked his eyes up to notice a towering figure, and a woman at that, standing over or close to seven feet tall, a huge shield fitting of her station equipped on her back.
"Holy mother of Jesus, who gave birth to you!" His mouth blurted out to his own chagrin.
The woman's stare turned icy instantly as she studied him. A shiver ran down Tam's spine as he saw the shadow of the hulking woman over him. Could she be one of those combat instructors? His mind wondered.
"Excuse him, Senior," Arsela apologized in his place. "He's new here and doesn't know any better."
Tam swallowed a sharp breath, biting back some retort to apologize as well. "Sorry, it won't happen again."
Although on the academic grounds, they wouldn't be able to do anything more than give him some punishment, it was better to apologize, as his remark was quite stinging.
The giant woman's eyes had already moved to Arsela. "You're excused," she said, then helped herself to her spot.
"Who was that?" Tam couldn't help but ask. The woman was probably Iron rank, but Tam could only imagine how much strength she possessed in those strong and robust limbs of hers.
"She probably has some giant blood in her," Arsela added to her credit. "Come on, this way."
As there wasn't much time left for the classes to begin, more combat instructors were coming along, other full-time professors in tow to see how they measured up handling the students.
"An Elf!" Tam exclaimed abruptly, his heart pounding in his chest as his eyes laid on arguably the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
"First time seeing one?" Arsela asked.
Tam's mouth remained open, too mesmerised by her beauty to answer. She was in a pristine white magic gown, which looked all too complicated for combat. Her white hair was laid free on her shoulders, which glowed passionately in the sun, stealing the hearts of--he didn't know how many of the students present there.
Now, Tam might have some views of the world, but he never had any crushes on any of his teachers, but this elven woman--her well-endowed shapes were just too perfect for his sore eyes.
"That is Professor June," Arsela said, playing her role as an encyclopaedia. "She specializes in Theoretical magic and spell casting."
"Is she taken?" Tam heard his treacherous mouth ask.
Arsela spared him an odd look and laughed, contempt clear in her laugh. Well, for once Tam didn't blame her because the woman's beauty was way above his league.
"I don't know anything specific," she said. "But Professor June has the image of an aloof ranker. You don't usually see her in social circles. People say she's married to her work. She has already rejected countless young men who wanted to court her, so don't even think for a second that you, as a common student, will ever get anywhere with her."
Hearing her say that seemed to only make him more serious about the woman. Although his age might be a concern, but elves do seem to live long lives according to folklore. Perhaps there was still a chance? Besides, he had already heard of students getting into bed with their professors more than a couple of times. He had to try and--
"Who's that person with her?" he asked, finding a tall man with shoulder-length grey hair with her.
"That's," Arsela considered, "probably one of the interned instructors."
The opening words from the guy proved Arsela to be right. "Alright students," the grey-haired guy said, "those of you in the physical combat class stay for the class, as for the remainder, Professor June will help you get to a more magical combat instructor."
"You all don't know me, so let's start with the introduction," the guy continued, taking the stage. "The name's Warden, and for the next hour, you all will be under my care."