Home/The Peaceful Academy Life of a Magic Potion Professor/ch22

Chapter 22

Knock, knock.

"You've arrived."

After confirming the visitor, Benjamin ushered Lamiya into the Headmaster's office.

"Good day, Headmaster."

"Ah, you're here. Please, sit down."

Kamirgold offered her a seat. Beside the chair he indicated sat a familiar face.

"Lord Blanchard?"

Unlike when he visited her laboratory, he was dressed in pure white priestly robes. Lamiya, who had only ever seen him in simple everyday clothes or his black robe, found this appearance somewhat unfamiliar.

...He really does look like a High Priest.

With his long platinum-blond hair and piercing blue eyes, his already striking appearance gained an added layer of sacred nobility from the priestly garments. He looked like a messenger of the gods. The kind of sight that would inspire devotion in any worshipper. Lamiya thought to herself: So this is what a noble truly looks like.

Perhaps because she'd been staring rather openly, Garyu cleared his throat with a slightly awkward expression. Snapping back to attention, Lamiya sat down beside him.

"I called you both here because there's something I'd like to discuss, so please make yourselves comfortable. You've met a few times now—have you grown any more at ease with each other?"

"..."

"..."

Neither Lamiya nor Garyu said a word, leaving Kamirgold feeling rather embarrassed.

"Ahem. You'll be seeing each other from now on, so try to get along. Anyway, I called Professor Lamiya here regarding the matter I requested last time."

Having already heard about the matter from Benjamin, Lamiya nodded.

"Thank you for your concern. Thanks to you, my student can now attend the Academy without worry."

"I didn't do much. The one who actually helped is Garyu here. He was with me when I heard the news from Benjamin. Garyu was the one who first offered to take in Media's siblings at the temple and act as their guardian."

Lamiya turned her head to the side. From her first impression, he hadn't seemed the type to be passionate about helping others—but perhaps a priest was still a priest, no matter the reason.

Caught under her penetrating gaze, Garyu cleared his throat again.

"I'm just repaying my debt."

But hadn't that been settled with the restaurant? Just how far did he intend to repay her...? Lamiya began to feel increasingly burdened as a trivial matter returned with excessive compensation. Of course, she wasn't in a position to refuse. Sigh... should I improve the potion a bit more...

Unaware of Lamiya's complicated feelings, the Headmaster and Garyu explained in detail what procedures Media and her two siblings would go through and how they would be cared for. Garyu mentioned that although his sight was restored, he would keep his position as High Priest for the time being—so there was no need to worry about support being cut off. The Headmaster had handled it personally, so she trusted things would be managed properly, but as the professor in charge, it was good to know the details. In her opinion, even if the temple's facilities or support were lacking, it would still be better than living with that detestable father.

After exchanging a few personal remarks, Lamiya and Garyu left the Headmaster's office together.

"..."

"..."

Walking through the corridor in silence, they turned onto the path leading to the main gate. Garyu spoke first. He'd always thought someone else was usually the one to initiate conversation, but strangely, with Lamiya, he found himself speaking first.

"I had no idea something like that happened that day."

Lamiya, momentarily confused, understood and replied flatly.

"Neither did I."

"If I'd been with you, I could have acted sooner."

Garyu regretted not having escorted Lamiya when she'd said she wanted to explore the city alone. He hadn't expected her to be out until late. Why hadn't he simply agreed to guide her for a day—she was his benefactor, after all. She wasn't a swordsmanship professor, but a potions professor—he should have been more mindful.

"It's fine. I'm just glad it worked out so well. There are plenty of people who face worse situations."

It wasn't meant to comfort him. Lamiya genuinely believed that. She knew all too well how deep the world's darkness could be. That she'd been able to stop Media before something truly terrible happened was simply a stroke of luck.

"You were in danger too."

The thought of Lamiya's slender frame fighting a grown man wasn't a pleasant one. If he'd been there, she wouldn't have had to go through such an ordeal. He kept replaying that day in his mind, regretting it.

Gazing absently at the flowers blooming along the path, she answered.

"I can protect myself well enough. I'm not the fiery type who'd charge into a losing battle."

Once, I was fiery. But not anymore. If anything... she was closer to cold ice.

"Fiery... Speaking of which, may I ask you something I've been curious about?"

It was a question he'd wanted to ask since last time but hadn't found the right moment. Lamiya gave a slight nod of permission.

"Go ahead."

"It's really nothing major... but is there a reason you chose blue for my eyes?"

It wasn't that he disliked the color. On the contrary—it was the color of his natural eyes. When he'd first opened his eyes after the drops, he'd been startled, thinking they'd reverted to normal. Of course, he could have found out from Kamirgold or others, but it wasn't as if she'd had the leisure to choose colors.

Her answer surprised him in a different way.

"Because it's my favorite color."

"...What?"

It was such an unexpectedly sentimental reason to come from someone who wouldn't even frown if pricked by a needle.

"You didn't specify a particular color, so I chose one I liked. If I had to pick from countless options, there was no reason to choose a color I didn't like."

"..."

"Ah, do you not like it? If so, I can brew a different—"

"No, it's fine."

Lamiya looked as if she'd brew a replacement on the spot, but Garyu quickly declined.

"I was just curious."

Having heard the answer to his question, Garyu somehow felt as though he'd received more than just a reply.

Having escorted Garyu to the main gate as they talked, Lamiya turned back toward her laboratory. Though he'd declined, her mind was already filled with hundreds of methods for changing eye color.

"I thought it suited him though..."

Still, everyone had their own preferences, she mused, imagining his eyes shifting through various colors. Ridiculously, all of them suited him. Musing on life's unfairness, she arrived at the laboratory building—and found a familiar face waiting at the door.

"Professor Lamiya!"

It was Media, one of her magical potions students. The matter was supposed to be settled—had something happened? Lamiya opened the laboratory door and ushered Media inside.

"Sit down."

"Yes."

Media sat down, fidgeting as if she had something to say. Lamiya guessed there must be some issue and tried to reassure her.

"If you're going to say it anyway, why not say it now and save yourself the stress?"

She'd made an effort in her own way.

"Ah! Well..."

Media seemed momentarily taken aback by Lamiya's directness, but she could tell there was no ill intent. And it wasn't wrong. Media rose from her seat, bowed deeply, and held out a prepared gift.

"Th-thank you, Professor Lamiya!"

Suddenly? For something that was already resolved? She found it hard to understand but accepted the gift without showing any reservation.

"Oh... thank you."

It was a rather unfamiliar situation for Lamiya. First Loki, then Peter... these days, children were so unpredictable.

Opening the box, she found neatly arranged macarons in various colors, perfectly baked.

"I made them... for you... myself. I wanted to thank you for saving me... and for finding us a place to stay... and... for looking out for me without letting the other students know..."

Media's cheeks flushed as red as if they might burst, and as she spoke, her voice grew thick with emotion.

"Oh... I see."

Lamiya, equally unsure how to respond, gave short, clunky answers.

"Peter was right. I should have come to you from the very beginning. I was too stubborn... Mary and Matthew are both safe and doing well because of you. They said they don't have to be afraid of Father coming in at night anymore... I'm... I'm truly... so grateful."

"Alright—now lift your head."

When Media looked up, her face was already streaked with tears. Lamiya took a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to her.

"Sob... thank you."

She sat back down and wiped her tears. Lamiya rested her chin on her hand and watched her quietly.

"Ah, I didn't mean to cry... the tears just suddenly came."

Media tried to stop crying, swallowing hard with choked sobs. Lamiya shook her head. Yes, from what she could see, Media must have endured a great deal to protect her siblings. Physical pain wasn't the only kind of suffering.

"Just cry."

Strangely, being told to cry made her stop. A laugh escaped at the sight. Seeing Media look up at her with tear-filled, bewildered eyes, Lamiya said softly.

"It seemed like you'd never cried in front of an adult before."

She'd hidden her situation so thoroughly that neither professors nor friends knew—how could she have ever allowed herself to cry freely? This was all Lamiya could offer. She didn't know how to give empathetic words or comfort.

But those words must have been the trigger—Media's face crumpled, and tears began to pour out far more violently than before.

"Sob... sniff... waaaaah!"

The sound of Media's suppressed anguish echoed through the laboratory.

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