Chapter 233: Advanced Professor The sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the long marble hallway. Each time Professor Rudeus’s boots slammed, it had enough force to shake the ground a bit. It seemed like he was angry. Azel walked behind him at an even pace but he noticed the way other students passing through the halls turned to glance at the professor. Most of them stepped aside quickly, not wanting to get caught in his wake. The sound of his footsteps was practically a warning signal: the man was pissed. Beside him, Flare walked silently for a while, her hands folded neatly before her. But eventually, she let out a sigh that carried both exasperation and worry. "You just made an enemy of a professor," she said quietly. "There were really better ways you could have handled that." Azel tilted his head, his eyes flicking toward the broad back of the man ahead of them. "Well, I needed an example to make it authentic. He just happened to be the only one that could make it possible." He watched the professor disappear around a corner in the winding hallway. "Besides," he added, shrugging, "I already have many enemies. What’s the point of adding one more?" He wasn’t exaggerating. As the one who was now probably the Hero, enemies that were never meant to be his now stared down at him from every shadow. There would be a lot to fight. Flare turned her head away. "Thank you..." she whispered under her breath. "Huh?" Azel asked, turning toward her with a puzzled look. He hadn’t quite caught her words. Flare shook her head quickly, embarrassed that she had slipped. Her crimson hair brushed across her cheeks as she looked back ahead. "I said thank you for... for coming with me to the new class." Azel gave a little shrug. He didn’t press her further, though inwardly, he wondered why she was thanking him for something so small. Eventually, they arrived at a large door made of dark wood, this was the Advanced Enchantment room. Rudeus stopped, turned back to face them, and spoke in a calm tone. "Be sharp, The Advanced class isn’t as easy as the basic class." He didn’t wait for a reply. With one large hand, he pushed open the door. Azel and Flare stepped through after him and froze. It wasn’t a classroom waiting on the other side. It was a forest. Towering trees rose high into the air, their leaves catching light from no visible source, casting dappled shadows across thick green grass. A faint breeze brushed past his cheek, and the chirping of distant birds echoed through the place. Sunlight streamed down as though there were no ceiling at all. ’How?’ Azel thought, his mouth parting slightly in surprise. His boots sank slightly into the soft grass, and as he walked forward, the blades brushed against his shoes. It felt real. Flare must have caught the look on his face, because she answered before he could even ask. "It’s the stacked effect of an Advanced Enchantment," she explained softly. Azel glanced around once more, still stunned. ’Even with that, it’s a forest inside a classroom. Is this even legal?’ But there was no denying it. Rudeus led them down a narrow path through the trees The deeper they went, the more Azel realized the place wasn’t just for show. In a small clearing ahead, other students were scattered about. Some wielded weapons that were glowing with enchantments. Others had bare hands raised as they activated enchantments with fluid gestures. "Ah, Mynes. I’ve brought them," Rudeus said, his voice louder than usual as they stepped into the clearing. Azel froze again. His eyes widened at the name, his gaze snapping to the professor standing at the center. It was Mynes. Except she looked different from before. Gone was the casual coat she had worn during Rune class. Instead, she wore a pristine lab coat that contrasted with her dark hair. Her hair itself was styled now, it made her look like a prim proper lady, though her smile was anything but. Her lips curled into a grin that was far too devilish for a teacher. "Thank you, Professor Rudeus," Mynes said brightly, stepping forward to extend her hand. Her grin widened as their hands met briefly in a handshake. "I’ll make sure to teach them incredible Enchantments." Rudeus gave a short nod and turned on his heel, already walking away. Now only Mynes remained, standing before Azel and Flare with that grin plastered across her face. "Tora," Mynes called suddenly. Almost instantly, a purple-haired woman appeared at her side, as though she had been waiting nearby. She bowed slightly. "Yes, professor." "You’ll be educating Miss Flare on Advanced Enchantments," Mynes said. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶 Her grin remained fixed, her eyes flicking toward Azel for only a second before returning to the assistant. "I’ll take Mr. Azel myself." Tora’s gaze snapped to him, her amethyst eyes burning with unspoken hatred. Her lips pressed into a thin line as if holding back something venomous. "Okay, professor," she said tightly, "I’ll do as you asked." Without another word, she turned and began walking deeper into the forest, her long purple hair swaying behind her. Flare hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Azel. Her lips moved as if to say something, but in the end, she only offered him a small wave before following after Tora. And just like that, Azel was left standing alone with Mynes. The woman’s grin widened as her eyes locked onto him. "I told you that you wouldn’t be able to escape," she said. Azel’s brow arched. "You’re the Advanced Enchantment professor? I never thought someone as lazy as you would be a professor." "This is a clone, silly," Mynes replied without missing a beat. She twirled a strand of her styled hair playfully. "My main body is sleeping in the classroom right now." Azel’s eyes narrowed slightly. She could use runes to create clones? Or was that an enchantment? "Now," Mynes continued, her voice brightening with childish excitement, "shall we learn more runes?" Azel blinked. "...In this class?" He tilted his head toward the clearing where other students were practicing enchantments. "This is an Enchantment class, not a Rune class." "You’re not the professor," she shot back instantly, and with a dramatic flick of her wrist, a fan of paper appeared in her hand along with a pen. "Let’s get to it," she said. "Time waits for no one."