Her Boundless Compassion
1289 Words
Though he may lack significant magical prowess, there's potential for him to become an outstanding mage in the future.◎
Indeed, the world is full of coincidences, and Bella didn't believe that someone's presence in the greenhouse today was one of them.
“Tell me, how did you find this place? Did you follow Eric, or was it me?”
When Bella posed the question, she believed her expression carried the right severity. Yet, why did the young man before her seem even more pleased upon hearing it?
“I might never get another chance to see you,” the youth said, eyes locked on hers. “So, before that happens, I wanted to see you one last time.”
Bella furrowed her brow, unable to comprehend his meaning. However, she did catch the crux of it: “Davis, are you saying you followed me?”
Davis hesitated to label it as “stalking.” To him, it was more a “search,” though he remembered that in human culture, the two words often held no distinction.
Following that magic theory exam, he’d spent considerable time immersing himself in human culture.
Only then did he realize his error. The spark in his eyes dimmed, his tone dropping slightly. “Yes, I used a few means.”
Bella couldn’t fathom why, despite no chastisement from her, Davis bore the semblance of someone already rebuked.
Wasn't she a gentle professor… right?
Ending her internal complaints, she shifted the conversation back on track: “Go on, Davis. Why did you follow me?”
Davis looked up, perplexed. “Huh? But I’ve already explained, Professor.”
Bella: “Ha?”
Davis: “It was to see you. That’s my wish.”
Bella: “...”
Bella’s mind descended into chaos. After a few seconds, she finally found a retort: “But won’t we be seeing each other often from now on?”
Had he forgotten he was to become her apprentice? Or had the Magic Tower not informed him? Even so, he should have been aware of winning the trial, shouldn’t he?
Bella couldn’t untangle Davis’s thoughts. The young man appeared more confused than she was; shortly after, as though he had reached an epiphany, he clenched his fists, a newfound determination in his gaze.
Bella suddenly had a foreboding sense, suspecting he was about to say something just as bewildering.
True enough, he declared, “Professor, you’re right; I avoided the heart of the matter.”
Bella felt weary and gave up trying to decipher his words, gesturing for him to continue.
“I came to see you because there’s something more important to tell you. It’s about the second trial. I shouldn’t have passed it. An enchantment, a wind spell, carried my fireball to the target. I won by cheating. I should’ve been disqualified then.”
At that point, Davis seemed like a prisoner bearing countless sins, too shamefaced to look at her, his lips turned a ghastly white from biting.
Meanwhile, Bella paled because she was the mastermind. Detached from her spectator’s role, she anxiously rubbed her fingers together.
Davis noticed her unease and, understanding what troubled her, had thoughtfully prepared a countermeasure.
He proceeded to share this plan with Bella: “Professor, I’ve decided to confess this to the Principal and the Magic Tower. I’ll claim it was my wrongdoing, that I borrowed the spell but failed to report it to you. I believe if I put it this way, they won’t hold you accountable... What do you think?”
Bella: “...”
If Davis had an Emily-sized ounce of her ability to read Bella’s expressions, he’d have known she was expressing, “You may as well just bury me.”
However, being an experienced professor with considerable experience in “misconduct,” she swiftly regained her composure.
She summarized to Davis: “So, you came to tell me you cheated, hoping I’ll remove you from the competition?”
Davis: “Yes.”
Bella was puzzled, “Couldn't you just skip the third trial?”
Davis replied, his voice tinged with sorrow, “Because I wanted to prove to you that I am capable of being your apprentice. Even if I know, I’ve lost the chance.”
Bella pressed, “Was that an appropriate way to prove yourself?”
She was irked by the incident where he damaged the equipment, even though it was likely due to the machine’s own malfunction.
After all, she could only see the faint glow of a novice mage emanating from him unless he possessed a demigod-level concealing ability, which baffled her otherwise.
Yet, facing her critique, Davis genuinely exhibited remorse, albeit contemplating an entirely different concern.
He remembered he shouldn’t have recklessly displayed his magic to impress Bella or outdo that Eric, especially knowing that the trial results might reach “their” ears, resulting in his deportation home.
Moreover, he felt deeper guilt recalling how his hesitation against those wolves led to injuries among the humans involved.
Flooded by these reflections, Davis plunged into self-reproach, his face painted with distress.
“You’re right; I’ve been utterly immature.”
“...”
Bella didn’t grasp his words; her question seemed unrelated to maturity.
But throughout their exchange, she sensed he was an upright young man.
Though he might lack magical strength, he had potential to become an accomplished mage someday.
Pondering this, Bella started to feel relieved about the apprenticeship match. Of course, it mostly helped that the Magic Tower had finalized his name; she couldn’t alter it even if she desired.
She decided to personally reveal the outcome to him.
She raised her hand, gently patting his shoulder.
“Davis, despite many surprises in this round of apprentice selection, the outcome remains unchanged. You are my selected apprentice; stop worrying about other matters.”
When she finished, the youth lifted his head, gazing at her, his deep eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Bella panicked, “That's too dramatic; you’re not going to cry, are you?” That wasn’t something she knew how to handle!
Davis shook his head, “I’m not, Professor. I don’t cry easily.”
His sisters always said a man should never cry. He had grown up with this belief, yet in this moment of joy, excitement, and newfound albeit fleeting opportunity, he couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
His vision blurred, and amid the haze, the silver-haired woman pulled out a handkerchief, wiping his tears away.
“There, there, I saw nothing. Maybe it’s just the wind.”
There was neither wind nor sand; all that existed here for Davis was the professor’s kindness.
Once the “unwanted liquid” had dried, his voice was hoarse as he said to Bella, “Professor, you’re extraordinarily compassionate.”
Bella didn’t bother with humility, “Yes, that’s what everyone says.” Though no one actually has.
Davis: “I’ll assist you, help you find the one who cast the wind spell, and see they’re punished.”
Bella remained silent upon him reopening this subject, then nodded firmly.
“Indeed, they must be punished! But leave it to me, Davis. Your first lesson under my tutelage is that dangerous tasks are for adults.”
“But, Professor, I’m already an adult?”
“No, you’re not, not by a long stretch.”
In Bella’s eyes, the young man was honest and straightforward, but perhaps a bit too naïve.
If he wished to follow her, there was a great deal he still needed to learn.
And the good news was that today’s meeting had effectively quashed any notion she’d harbored about him as a potential romantic interest.
She would have to report this to Emily.
He definitely wasn’t her type.
- Writer
