Strongest Noble's Daughter Uses Water Magic

Responsibility

"Headmaster, I am telling you! That damn beast went and attacked a group of promising students in this academy! It is clear that thing is a danger to everyone here and must be removed immediately!"

With the events at the training ground now coming to an end, Lilith and Ethan had returned with a professor, who like Zaldon seemed oddly familiar to me. Though I could not place my tongue as to where I had seen him.

As soon as they had arrived, the professor had inspected the assaulted students' injuries. Good news, despite how bad their injuries were, they were going to recover well from them. Bad news- well, stupid news, rather- apparently this professor was biased. Why was that stupid? Well, even though I was one of the injured as well, since I was a commoner, my injuries did not matter to him. Thankfully, I knew a healing spell with my magic, though not that effective. Worse news, because he was biased, as soon as this guy found out the crossbreed- who turned out to be Kyle, one of the nobles I was searching for, much to my surprise- was the one responsible for what happened to those bullies, he did not bother asking why, and instead just tried to drag the frightened boy to the headmaster's office. 

Of course, I didn't let him do as he please, not when he was clearly being stereotypical in his actions. And who knows what those bullies will tell him? I may not know what happened that led up to Kyle entering his Feral State, but I was going to turn my back on a frightened child. Thirteen years of age may be an adult age here in this world, but in the world I once came from, it is not even the age of a teenager.

Instead, I stood between this so-called professor and Kyle, and went with them to the headmaster's office. Though I may be a commoner, after what I saw back in the auditorium, I knew the headmaster had to be a lot more reasonable than this biased adult. At least... I hoped he was. Besides, something told me Kyle needed some emotional support while he was here. 

"That is far from true!" I exclaimed. "Sure, he went into Feral State and attacked them, but he was forced to go into that mode! Headmaster, surely you know of the condition for a crossbreed to ever go into that state. It was not as though he wanted to attack them in the first place! He was just scared. Tormented for who-knows-how-long by those 'promising students'. He was only protecting himself."

"What utter lies! As to be expected from such trash," the professor retorted. "Headmaster! It is just as clear that these people do not understand the regulations of Flammel Royal Academy! Such beings do not deserve to breathe the same air as many here!"

The headmaster was silent this whole time, as he listened to the whole situation. "Hmm... As you say, it seems these two students do not know much of the rules of this academy," he spoke, much to my surprise. He was taking the biased professor's side?!

Said professor seemed happy to hear the guy's thoughts on the case. "I knew you'd see things my way, headmaster! Then by all means-"

"However, is it not our job as professors to guide such students to the right path? To teach them of the ways of the world?" the headmaster then questioned. "It sounds an awful lot like you wish to be lazy on your duties, Professor Hazelaye. Or is that just my imagination?"

The professor flinched when asked that, practically confirming the headmaster's claim. "Headmaster, how could you say such a thing?! Of course that is far from true! I am simply stating for the sake of the other students-"

"'For the sake of other students' you say," the headmaster interrupted. "If that is true, then all the more reason for us to properly lead them, not kick them out of the academy. Furthermore, as Miss Caribbean had stated, it was not as though Mister Icewink meant to take such action as he had. Surely you know just as well as I do how and why a crossbreed will ever go into such a form, even if they are half. They only turn once they've experienced an overwhelming wave of negative emotions, such as anger, sadness, and pain. Many things can trigger such negativity, especially in a kingdom where both humans and crossbreeds are supposed to be treated as equals, only for the two sides to still be separate. Tell me something, Professor. Why do you think I have been keeping the doors open for everyone? Humans, crossbreeds, and commoners alike. I want to find a way to coexist with both sides, just as much as His Royal Majesty is and has been doing. That includes accepting and helping the crossbreeds control their Feral State, or at the very least prevent them from ever getting to that state. And yet, you and many others seem to be against that. Is there a reason for such a thing?"

As he questioned him, Hazelaye seemed quite baffled at the accusation. "Of course that is far from true! I just want what is best and safe for our people!" 

"In that case, then you should be supporting Mister Icewink's enrollment here, and be willing to assist him as you are to the people who had forced him into turning to his Feral State."

The biased professor was quite baffled at the order given to him by the headmaster, not that I can blame him. If anything, I was just as surprised. I knew the headmaster was reasonable, but not to this extent. I guess it only goes to show how different the leader of an organization was to the rest of the members within.

"I will be speaking to you and the boys about this later, once they have recovered. For now..." The headmaster turned to me and Kyle. "Mister Icewink, I can never apologize enough for what you had experienced. I assure you, it will not happen again."

Kyle could only wordlessly nod in response to those words. Though from the look on his face, he did not seem to be paying much attention to what the headmaster really said.

"And Miss Caribbean," the guy spoke, getting my attention. "I understand as a student of this academy, a classmate to Mister Icewink, you felt it was necessary to do what you can to stop him while he was in his Feral State. However, you just turned an adult. There was no need for you to put your life on the line so early."

"With all due respect sir, as you said, Kyle is my classmate. More than that, he's a friend," I retorted as lightly as possible. "Even if he wasn't a friend, if you saw someone in pain right in front of you, can you really tell me you will turn a blind eye to that person? To risk letting them struggle alone a little longer just to get help that may never come? You may be willing, but I'm not. Well, I suppose this coming from a commoner, though, you may think of it as foolish. But that's how I feel. And I would not hesitate to do it again."

"Even if it may cost you your life?"

I went silent at that, unsure of how to answer. However, thinking back to when I confronted Kyle, to Felix, and then way back to when Mindy and I were kids, especially the last one, I knew my limit.

"... Even then. Because at the very least, I can die without regretting not helping the person who needs it," I said.

The headmaster stared at me when I said that in silence, no doubt studying me, observing my expression, see how serious I was in my response. After a few seconds, he lightly nodded.

"I see... If that is how you truly feel, then Levi Caribbean, consider this your very first task at Flammel Royal Academy. Since you got yourself in the situation with your classmate, Mister Kyle Icewink, you help him control either his Feral State, something no crossbreed has ever succeeded in doing, or you help him control his emotions, so his blood does not act up and force him into such mode. I shall give you until... Hmm... Can't really pick out a definitive date yet, but I know it will not be easy to help a crossbreed control that form in any way. So for now, let's say some time in your second year. Failure in doing so, should he ever revert to that form and fatally harm another student, you two will be expelled from the academy, and Miss Caribbean, you will be seen as an outlaw."

My eyes widened in shock at the condition he gave, as was Kyle's and even Hazelaye.

"W-Wait! Why would you give her that harsh a punishment?!" Kyle questioned.

"Because Miss Caribbean has practically already taken responsibility of you. The fact she is here to be some moral support for you proves that, as well as her loyalty to you. Plus, she practically said it herself; she will not hesitate to help you should you go into that form again. If that is the case, then surely she should not mind helping you control your Feral State, or at the very least help you control your emotions. And since she has taken responsibility of you, anything you do will reflect her as well, as your caretaker," the headmaster reasoned. "I have heard of your situation, Mister Icewink, as I have heard of many other things happening in my academy and the students attending it. If you ask me, I am giving you and her a big chance to make a change in this academy. I noticed how commoners- though accepted in this school- failed to graduate for various reasons. Some I wish never came to be." As he said that, I noticed he briefly glanced at Hazelaye before looking back to us. "If Miss Caribbean helps you control yourself, she will make a great change to all crossbreeds, who will seek the two of you for guidance in controlling their own Feral State, especially given the discrimination hidden in the academy. Likewise, as a commoner, she would make a leave a long lasting impression on the nobles, and prove that even a commoner such as herself deserves to stand on their level. A high hurdle it may be, I believe this is the best option for the two of you. Wouldn't you agree, Miss Caribbean?"

When he put it that way, the headmaster had a point. Though it was realized how crossbreeds go into their Feral State, no one knew exactly how to help them control that mode. Whoever was to make this discovery will be seen as a hero to the crossbreeds, and may be granted a title by the king. While I did not care much for titles, I did want to do what I can to help Kyle and the rest of his kind control their Feral State somehow. To be misunderstood over their own pain was just sad and unfair. I was not going to let anything happen to them over a misunderstanding. Just like how I helped clear the misunderstanding towards harpies, towards Mindy, growing up.

"I understand, sir," I responded at last. "I will do my best to see that Kyle will not lose control of himself ever again."

The headmaster nodded in response to my promise. "Very well. You two are dismissed," he said.

With that, the two of us bowed and took out leave. As we left, I noticed a sinister-looking grin on Hazelaye's face, and already knew he will plan on something to get me out of the academy.

As we left the room, doors closed behind us, Kyle turned to me. "What were you thinking? You can't help me control this form! No one can..." he said.

"Just because no one has succeeded in doing so does not make it impossible," I told him. "I was not kidding about helping you out again, even if it costs me my life, and I don't hold back on my promises. Besides, we already have a clue as to how your Feral State comes to be. Negative Emotions. If we can do something about that, you may not have to go into that form ever again. Heck, you may be able to control that form if we find out the trick to it. Of course, that's only if you want to."

Kyle looked at me in confusion when I said that. "What... do you mean? The headmaster said you have until our second year to help me control it somehow."

"No, he gave me until some time in our second year to do that, or to help you simply control yourself, your emotions. Going by what I've read about Feral State, if won't be easy to control it. But at the very least, I can help you control your emotions, forget fear, not worry about ever being bullied here again. While I can't promise that last one so well, given how arrogant nobles can be, I do know a few calming methods that can help you. And even if you do into your Feral State, I will make sure you don't harm anyone. The headmaster said if you fatally harm another student. Not any student, but another. As you are now my responsibility, it is okay if you do harm to me, so long as you don't hurt anyone else. I will do what I did back there and bring you back to your senses."

"Why... are you being nice to me?" Kyle asked, a question I did not think I would hear again from another person. "I'm practically a monster after entering that state. I was always seen as a monster ever since I got into it. So... why...? Why are you willing to help a monster like me?"

A soft smile formed on my face, as I kept seeing Mindy in this guy, and placed a hand on his head. “If you are a monster, you sure don't act like one,” I said. "Besides, I already have someone who is considered as a monster under my wing. As it would turn out, a lot of people misunderstood her and her kind. She was no monster; just a living creature who can talk and be reasoned with, wanting to live peacefully, like you and me. And I know like her, you are also misunderstood. And one day, you won't have to live in fear any longer."

I must be the first person who said such a thing to him, for tears started to form in Kyle's eyes, and the crossbreed let out soft sobs. He tried to wipe his tears away, only for more to form and leak out. I said nothing else, and only comforted him.