Fragarach

Tea Apprentice

*Creak*

Opens door*

“I apologize for making all of you wait in your busy schedules.”

Elder Rigor said as the other elders follow behind him as they enter the room.

“We will now continue the test that was postponed last time due to some unforeseen incident.”

Instructor Andrew said while the other instructors went to their respective classes.

[Due to the last incident with another instructor who specializes in rune formations that left him incapacitated, we resorted in using the old testing method for testing the mana of each students. Though it is not the same as the last one since it also evaluates their mana manipulation and their mastery of mana. This instrument is now outdated.] he told himself as he carries a giant crystal that will calculate the mana of each student up to a certain extent.

*KUCHUK!*

“Instructors please, tell your students form a line right now so that we can start a lot faster, we are going to test their physical abilities next after we are done with this test.” He shouted with a cool demeanor so that the other instructors can hear his orders.

Instructor Andrew placed the giant crystal at the center of the testing grounds and told the instructors to line up their students in order so that the test will progress smoothly.

The students followed the instruction and formed a line and the test started immediately when a group of students appeared in front of the line first and finishes the test one after another.

“Sir, are we just going to sit on this one?” one of the students asked with an anxious expression.

Instructor Edward’s boys are sitting on the chairs inside the test grounds to wait for the other classes to finish the test before they can join them in the next test.

“Yup, you guys finished your tests last time. Well, except for the girls. That’s why you are all waiting for them to finish before you can join them.” He said as he turns his head towards the student who asked. “You better have brought snacks because this is going to take quite some time to finish.” He said with a smile as he takes a sip at the water bottle that he brought.

*SIP!*

[Ugh, this tea really calms the soul.] he thought as he savors the tea that Raven gave him.

[What is that wonderful smell?]

Is the first thing that comes to their mind when the fragrant smell reach the noses of his students that forces them to turn their heads towards him.

“What?” he mumbles when he saw their heads turn towards him instead of watching the other students finishing the test looking at him with surprised expressions.

“Is that tea Sir?” the student who asked earlier inquired again as he walks slowly towards Edward.

“Oh, this? Yeah its tea.” He said as he showed them the water bottle that he used to store the tea that he is drinking.

“Mind if I have a smell?” the student with the glasses ask. “No, not at all. Here.” he replied as he extends his arm to the student.

The student with the glasses moves closely to instructor Edward to take a sniff at the source of the beautiful fragrance.

[Woah, the fragrance keeps improving as you walk closer.] he thought as he walks closer to instructor Edward.

*Sniff* *Sniff*

“I have never smelled a wonderful tea such as this.” He said with a happy face. “My family are very meticulous about tea that we will travel even for an another kingdom just to get a taste and bring a type of tea that they find wonderful so I am quite knowledgeable about the types of tea there is and I can surely say that this tea is on a different level than what my parents bring home.” He said as he adjusted his eye glasses. “With that being said, where on earth did you manage to get your claws in that wonderful tea Instructor Edward?” he said with eager eyes.

[Even the tea that I make are causing a scene, if I followed instructor Edward’s advice to sell the tea we can really get by with just that. But it would stray me from the path that I am walking and I don’t really have the need of such things. Maybe making instructor Edward take all the credit for some things will have a great impact in the future.] Raven thought as he watches his fellow students flock to instructor Edward.

*Chuckle.*

He chuckles as he watch them ask him a lot of things. The questions was flooding when instructor Edward decided to take a glance at Raven and ask him what to do with a quick flashes of his eyes and raven responded with an ‘I don’t know’ gesture and a smile.

[Wah! Are you going to leave me in the air again?!] he exclaimed in his thoughts.

[Instructor Edward, please do what your judgement is telling you.] Raven answer in his thought with a quick flashes of expression.

[He really is leaving me alone again! What to do? I can’t just tell them that I got it from Raven right? He might get mad at me for giving them the information. And based on his behavior he doesn’t want to stand out that much to want the attention of everyone to himself. Should I tell them that I got it from a friend?] He thought as he faces the countless questions of the boys in his class.

“Instructor Edward, you have not answered my question yet. Where on earth did you manage to get your hands on a wonderful tea like that?” the student with the glasses repeated.

“I-uhhm. I- I made it myself.” He said with a broken voice.

[*Facepalm* Why did I say that? He is surely going to be angry for taking the credits for his tea as well.] he thought as he imagines himself burying his face on his hands.

[Let’s take a quick glance to see if he is contented with my answer.] he thought as he took a glance at Raven.

His jaw dropped the moment he laid his eyes on Raven who gives him a thumbs up and a huge smile.

[What the?! He is not angry at all! He looks like he is happier that I said it like that to his classmates.] he thought as the corners of his lips twitch when he flashes an awkward smile to his students.

*WOAH!*

His answer made an uproar that surprised the students who are taking the test when his students cries in admiration towards him.

“How cool can you really be Instructor Edward?!” one of Thomas’ friend exclaimed.

“I know right? First he can create a clear elixir and now you can make a wonderful tea?! I would not be surprised if someday the royal family asks you to go and work for them instead of here.” another one added.

“Hehehe.” He laughs awkwardly.

“What are they talking about in there?” one of Kate’s friend thought as she turns her head towards her classmates.

“Maybe something awesome? They would not react like that if it wasn’t the case.” One of Kate’s friend added.

[There must be some surprising news- that made them react that way.] her thoughts are interrupted when she laid her eyes on the student who wears eye glasses.

She did not realize that her cheeks are burning red if her friend did not mention it to her.

“Kate, are you sick? You look like a tomato.” Her friend said while checking her temperature.

“No, no. It’s a little hot in here and its starting to get to me.” She denied as she fans herself with her hands.

“It’s not hot here at all. Are you sure you are not sick?” her friend persisted. “I’m telling you that I am fine, I don’t feel anything weird at all.” She insisted.

[What the hell?! I got flustered just by seeing him once? Him of all people? That nerd?] she thought as she continues to fan her face.

[Hehehehe! If I gift my parents this wonderful tea. They might change their mind from sending me to another family and marry someone I don’t even know. That way I can continue making my experiment and make it a success. I might just live my days in peace, no. it will change the course of my destiny, this smell. This smell is my ticket to a peaceful life that I have always dreamed of.] the student with the glasses thought as he flash an ominous grin.

[There is one way to make that dream come true. And that is] he thought as he glance at the instructor getting bombarded by his classmates’ praises.

“Instructor Edward. There is something that I want to ask you.” He said with a serious tone.

Everyone was taken aback by his sudden remark that some of them stayed silent to listen to what he has to say. Raven and instructor Edward did the same as well.

“Who cares what he has to say-hmmmf hmmmmf”

Thomas brute fully covered his friend’s mouth.

The student walks confidently and slowly towards instructor Edward with eager eyes. Then he pounce towards him and landed in with grovel.

“Please make me your student! Please teach me how to make that wonderful tea!” he screamed with a desperate tone.

His voice echoed throughout the whole testing ground that even made the students taking the test stop to have a look at what is happening.

“Huh?” instructor Edward mumbled.

“Woah! Did he just do that? Is he really desperate that he even had to do something embarrassing as that?” one of Kate’s friend said as she chuckles.

[Why is he so desperate? To do something like that with so many people around. Does he have no pride?] Kate thought as she and her friends look at him groveling in the ground.

[Screw pride! I don’t give a single f*ck about it. My life is more important, no- my future is more important than a measly thing like pride.] he thought as he grovels.

All of the boys around instructor Edward and raven are staring at him with blank expression when they heard what he had to say. Everyone was shocked with his desperate attempt to gain the instructor’s approval.

[What an i***t, there is no way that the instructor would just teach him something for free.] Thomas thought as he smiles while enjoying the view in front of him.

Instructor Edward is looking at the student with a sad expression. He looked at Raven to see if he will approve of what the student wants and saw Raven nodded with a smile.

[Is it really okay? No- Mr. Oston is giving his approval, therefore he is expecting me to take care of it with my own abilities. No worries, I will deal with it with the best of my abilities.] he thought as he encourage himself.

“Why not?” he answered with a serious tone.

*EH!*

Everyone was left in awe with instructor Edward’s response.

[He did! What the hell?! Is he really going to teach that nerd?!] Thomas thought as he started to break some sweat.