Taming My Beast Professor [COMPLETED]

Chapter 8: The Academic Retreat

The announcement came during Ariana’s afternoon class.

“Attention to all finalists of the Inter-University Research and Innovation Competition,” the dean announced. “A two-day academic retreat will be held this weekend at the university’s training center. Attendance is mandatory for all participants and their faculty mentors.”

The room buzzed with excitement.

Some students looked forward to the workshops.

Others were simply happy to escape campus for a weekend.

Ariana checked the schedule on her phone and smiled.

“This could really help our research,” she whispered.

⸻

Saturday morning…

A university bus waited outside the main gate.

Students loaded their luggage while professors reviewed attendance lists.

Ariana climbed aboard with a backpack full of notebooks and reference materials.

Just as she found an empty seat, Ethan walked over.

“Is this seat taken?”

She shook her head.

“No.”

“Mind if I sit here?”

“Not at all.”

The trip began with cheerful conversations, music, and laughter.

Several rows behind them, Professor Kael quietly reviewed research papers. He barely looked up, focused on making notes in the margins.

⸻

After arriving at the training center, participants gathered for orientation.

The facilitator divided them into groups for a problem-solving challenge.

“Each team must solve a real-world research case. You have three hours.”

Ariana’s team included Ethan, two engineering students, and Professor Kael as their faculty mentor.

As the discussion began, everyone spoke at once.

Different ideas.

Different strategies.

Different opinions.

Kael listened without interrupting.

Finally, he spoke.

“One person at a time.”

The room immediately fell silent.

He turned to Ariana.

“Present your approach.”

She stood and confidently explained her proposal, carefully connecting each point with evidence.

When she finished, Kael looked around the table.

“Questions?”

One engineering student frowned.

“I think her methodology is too ambitious.”

Another agreed.

Ariana listened without becoming defensive.

Instead, she answered each concern calmly.

By the end of the discussion, even the students who had questioned her were nodding in agreement.

Kael closed his notebook.

“Good.”

It was only one word.

But Ariana had learned that from him, good meant a great deal.

⸻

That evening, the retreat organizers hosted a simple bonfire gathering.

Students laughed, sang songs, and roasted marshmallows.

Ariana sat slightly away from the crowd, enjoying the cool mountain breeze.

“You’ve been working too hard.”

She looked up.

Professor Kael stood a few steps away, holding a cup of coffee.

“I wanted some quiet,” she admitted.

“So did I.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The crackling fire echoed through the night.

Then Kael finally said, “You’re improving.”

Ariana smiled.

“I’ve had a demanding mentor.”

“You’ve also been willing to learn.”

She looked down at the fire.

“My parents always told me that education is something no one can take away from you.”

Kael nodded slowly.

“They were right.”

Before the conversation could continue, Ethan approached with two paper cups.

“Ariana, I brought you hot chocolate.”

She accepted it with a grateful smile.

“Thanks, Ethan.”

Ethan then noticed Professor Kael.

“Good evening, Professor.”

Kael gave a polite nod.

“Mr. Castillo.”

An awkward silence settled between the three of them.

Sensing it, Ariana quickly changed the subject.

“The workshops start early tomorrow. We should probably get some rest.”

“You’re right,” Ethan said with a smile.

As Ariana walked back toward the dormitory with Ethan, Kael remained by the bonfire, watching the flames rather than the departing students.

He reminded himself, once again, that Ariana was his student.

His role was to help her succeed academically—and nothing beyond that.

Even so, he couldn’t ignore the quiet feeling that something in his carefully ordered life was beginning to change.

⸻

End of Chapter 8

Chapter 9 Teaser:

The retreat ends with a surprise announcement: only one student from each faculty mentor’s group will advance to the final presentation. As competition intensifies, Ariana faces her biggest academic challenge yet, while an anonymous complaint about her close interactions with Professor Kael lands on the dean’s desk, threatening both of their futures.