33
Finally, the Nabegin Institute classes began.
It was a tentative start, but without a request to change, lessons will continue as is, effectively making it the start of the semester.
Evie checked the lesson guide she had been given.
She had heard that very popular classes might be reassigned to a different professor if they were full.
“Fortunately, none of the lessons have changed.”
Evie reviewed the list of lessons she had chosen, and found them as they were, without any modifications.
“They say students often get closer while taking the same classes.”
From what I heard in the restaurant or cafeteria, I learned that most of the students were either friends before they joined the institute, or grew closer because they shared the same room.
“But in the end, what is most common is that they become friends through shared lessons.”
Evie was aware that her image among the students was not positive.
How she wished that Remora had apologized and explained her mistake in front of everyone, but she suddenly withdrew, leaving the confusion and misunderstanding uncorrected.
“But, maybe if I attend classes and talk to others, I might find at least one friend...”
With a hopeful heart, Evie headed toward her first lesson in the math hall.
On her way, she saw from afar Irene, who was still surrounded by students heading somewhere.
“How I wish we had the same lesson.”
Contrary to her fears, Erin didn't seem to be deliberately avoiding Evie.
But Evie didn't dare ask her what lessons she was taking.
“What if I'm going to upset her?”
It was enough for her that Irene, unlike the rest of the students, did not avoid her. But she feared that her insistence on approaching would alienate Irene, which would make her very sad.
So, Evie couldn't ask Erin about her lessons.
If this was the case with Irene, how could she have asked Arcel or Lusca?
“Even if I wanted to ask, we parted ways before I could.”
She spent two days in Lusca's constant conversation, but on the third day, they parted without being able to say a proper farewell, so she was left alone again.
“But they, like Irene, were only there for me because they were worried about me.”
It was greedy of her to expect to attend joint classes with them.
The proof of this is that Arcel and Loska did not appear again until that day.
“It's enough that they spent a few days with me.” But their absence left an undeniable void in her heart.
With slumped shoulders, Evie checked the location of her first lesson.
“Today's first lesson is mathematics, with Professor Mallis... in East 23?”
Her eyes widened when she read the website.
The institute's classes are usually held in buildings close to the main building.
Previously, all the buildings were crowded with students, but this year, due to the small number of enrollments compared to the past, only the buildings closest to the center were used.
But Building 23 East?
Evie, who had memorized the names and locations of all the institute's buildings, knew that it was located at the far end of the institute.
“I don't have time!”
There are only ten minutes left for class to start.
While the other students were quietly heading to the nearby buildings, Evie didn't have that luxury.
"Yes!"
She grabbed her side bag and ran at a crazy speed towards the aforementioned building.
As the voices of the students gradually faded away, I arrived at the building and heard the bell ring in the distance, signaling the start of class.
“Huh... huh...”
She was panting as she quickly climbed the stairs, until she felt the taste of iron in her mouth due to extreme exhaustion.
Before the bell stopped, she finally reached the aforementioned hall.
She opened the door and shouted:
“Hello! Sorry for the delay...”
But she stopped suddenly.
She raised her head, and her eyes widened.
The hall was completely empty.
“Did I get the wrong place?”
But the paper in her hand confirmed that she was in the right place.
“Why is there no professor and no students?”
Evie's face paled. Did I make a mistake because of a glitch?
How could the hall be empty, even of her colleagues?
“What should I do? Should I go back to the administration to check on the hall?”
As she was about to leave, she noticed something written on the blackboard.
[Mathematics - Mallis
The first lesson is replaced by taking the existing book and solving all the given problems by the next lesson.]
Evie approached the desk after reading the note.
On the desk, there was a thick book.
“Advanced Mathematics, Part I.”
A book she had seen before.
In Advanced School, a teacher once brought him to show the students.
At recess, the students gathered around the desk, leafing through it and complaining about its difficulty, stressing that they could not solve a single problem.
Evie wanted to look at him, but she didn't.
She knew that would bring her more harassment.
But after work ended, while cleaning, I found the book left on the desk.
Her happiness was indescribable.
She washed her hands well, then carefully opened the package.
As the students said, it was full of explanations and difficult problems.
But she enjoyed seeing the new knowledge, and she kept browsing it for a long time.
Then, the teacher suddenly entered and shouted:
"What are you doing? Why are you touching him?"
He approached with long strides, violently snatched the book, and shook it as if Evie had soiled it.
Then he stared at her angrily and left with the book.
Since then, she has not seen the book in the hall again.
She just saw the teacher explaining something to one of the top students in the administration room.
And now…
“Am I really allowed to take it?”
Evie reread the note, then clutched the book to her chest.
"Really amazing!"
She was sorry not to meet the professor, but she was convinced that there was a reason.
“Someone would lend such a valuable book to students!”
In the past, she had been rebuked just for touching it, and now she was allowed to use it freely.
“Haha…”
Evie smiled as she caressed the book in her hands.
But suddenly, a strange idea occurred to her.
“But why aren’t there other students?”
Mathematics is a compulsory subject for everyone.
Why, if this hall was correct, did she not see any other students?
Since there was time left until the next lesson, Eppie sat down at the desk and opened the book.
She saw issues marked with circles.
Next lesson in just two days.
Solving all these issues by then seems difficult, but…
“I will do my best.”
Evie clenched her small fist tightly, her eyes shining with determination.
* * *
Two days later, Professor Mallis was heading towards his hall.
A tall, strong man, his thick white hair reflected his age, but his sharp eyes betrayed a prestige that forced anyone who met him to lower his gaze.
He passed between the students who hardly dared to look at him, and headed with light steps towards his hall.
At the Nabegin Institute, each professor is assigned a fixed hall throughout the semester.
Therefore, professors usually compete to have larger, cleaner halls closer to the center.
But Mallis was different.
He asked for a hall in the furthest corner, where not many people reached it, and which was not well kept, so that it would be quiet.
“Are you sure about choosing this hall? There are much better places, why choose the oldest building?”
“Enough, just give me the key. The fewer people around, the better. The noise is hindering the search.”
"But think about the students too. Some of them are very young, and they may find it difficult to come here."
"What's the problem? Just ten extra minutes of walking! On my days…"
“Here are the keys to the hall and the professor’s room next door. If you need to clean up, tell the clerk in charge. I’ll go now!”
The institute employee was afraid that the conversation would be long, so he laughed and quickly handed over the keys, then bid him farewell with a respectful gesture.
Malice entered the hall, and he liked its simple appearance.
“This is definitely the oldest hall in the institute.”
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