Peony huffed, "Right now is not the time to be contemplating our value in the school board. This symposium has invited many students to join us in the celebration. Yet, not only did we've allowed danger to occur, we've also nearly put their students and representatives in harms way! Moreover, we also have nearly a thousand students studying under us, many of which are still first years. Between the lives and well being of the students and the standing of the school, all headmages ought to know which is more improtant as a teacher moreso than just being the headmage. Revealing just one of the barrier artifacts is nothing compared the lives of those students. We would have had to reveal the entire trove if they requested it. Just the fact that they made no such demands was already quite considerate on their part."
Surprisingly, this was the scenario the two of them walked into the very next morning. Uncertain how to approach this as Axel is no longer in charge and the current headmage is has such a powerful presence, Rollo remained quiet and uncomfortably so.
"Well, now, let's not stand around. I see, she has already prepared some tea. Let's have a seat as their argument fizzle out in a bit." The former headmage pointed out to the two sofa and tea table. A pot of tea was sitting before them steaming as a fragrance of tea wafted in the room. Was that in the room before?
Sitting down, the former headmage noted, "Looks like she's really gone out of her elements."
"She bought this herself?" Rollo raised a brow in confusion.
"Did she?" The old man wore a small smile and pointed to the glass carving of arm of the sofa.
He looked at it carefully and remained puzzled before a ray of light shone in through the window and he noticed a strange light on the ground, he paused in bewilderment. ASH
"Ash?" Rollo noted in bewilderment, "Isn't he the mysterious craftsmen that comes and goes as they please with ties to the Briar Valley? It would seem her connections is really broad."
Could she have used their funds for this payment or did she boldy make a personal purchase and just put it in their school's office? How bold.
"Hm..." The former headmage hummed thoughtfully, "Is that so... I don't think that the only reason."
Rollo was confused by his words when Peony stepped in with a frown, "Old man, we'll head out to the staff lounge. Will you be all right by yourselves?"
"The staff lounge?" He nodded with a smile, "It's quite all right. However, the teachers-"
"If you're worried that the teachers may not heed my words, there's really no need for worry. I have my own way of running the school according to the school boarding system. Aside from that, I have my own expectations of them as well." She noted before turning to Rollo, "Watch over him while I'm gone."
Rollo, reluctant, nodded his head, "I understand."
Once gone, she turned her head and strode out of the room with Axel following close behind her."
After they left the room, Rollo turned to the headmage who was quietly sipping on tea in deep thought before the old man finally opened his mouth breaking the awkward air, "The tea is quite good, is it not?"
Seeing as Rollo had not touched his own cup of tea, the headmage wore an dry smile, "Is the tea too bitter for your taste?"
"Ah! N-no…" Rollo shook his head nervously.
The old man shook her head, "The air is too tense, is it? I've thought to dispel it but it seems this way of breaking it really does not suit you either…"
After a moment of silence, the old man put down his cup and sighed, "I'd like to apologize, Rollo."
The former headmage's words caught him off guard as he looked to him in bewilderment, "Pardon?"
"Regarding what happened that day. I had thought it would be better to bring you boys with me to Briar Valley when I was summoned. I had thought I could even reject the offer and stay here to protect the both of you. However, when I discussed this with that fella, he told me to go and leave you two with him at my place. I never expected his son would be so bold and work with someone so dangerous. I was too over confident and my flaw forced the two of you to experience something so traumatic. Him too. You probably feel resentful towards me and I understand that. However, all I can do as a guardian is apologize. I can't bring your brother back and I can't give you back your family. All I can do is ask that you give me another chance. I can't make up something that's value cannot be calculated or weighed, but I can only ask you to accept my apology and to give me another chance for your trust. Regardless how small now that may be."
Rollo was left thinking to himself in confusion with mixed emotions. Regardless, he was still angry over what happened. However, when he recalled how resentful he was towards others just because they simply left his brother to die, he can't help but recall that student's words calling him a coward and thrown everything back at him. Everything that was certainly true.
However, following the princess around have made him realize he was quite ignorant himself. Although he blamed others for his own failures, he never wanted to consider the whole story. He only wanted to know who would be blamed for this sin and the best course of action to prevent it from happening again. Their revenge on those who hurt him and his brother. It's been years now and his brother is long gone. But it's only now that they've finally dug out the skeleton in the closet. His younger brother and the family he no longer remembered. What was his really family like? He no longer cared. He opened his mouth and muttered bitterly, "Your apology. I won't accept it."
It was as Tropin expected. If it was him, he also would not accept the apology if someone did the same to his son.
"However…" Rollo grumbled reluctantly, "I still want to learn more about this grandfather I don't remember."
"The old Frollo?" He looked to him in surprise.
"The headmage still kept me around. I expect she wants me to take on the role or assist her in the future. I want to know more about this position as the candidate. The only person who has more information and understands my position better would be none other than my late grandfather and yourself. I want to know what was his point of view and prepare myself. However, I cannot say for certain if I want to be the next headmage, but I want to know how to best take my next step. I don't want to be involved as a clueless pawn in anymore schemes, so I want to know more. As you said, an apology does not bring back the dead. So, I want you to help train me as though I plan to become the next headmage."
"The next headmage?" He looked to him in bewilderment, "I can do that. However, are you certain? The headmage of Nobel Bell College is certainly not an easy feat as you can expect from what you've seen. However, the training begin starting middle school, so you will have a lot of catching up to do."
"Even so, I need the knowledge from the training." Rollo insisted.
Hearing this, the old man wore a bitter smile, "I understand. Well, I recall we managed to regain my old home. You should still have that old fella's house as part of the inheritance. I left the key hidden away in the old library. As for training, I can certainly help you train. However, it may be better to leave the coaching to your junior."
"The princess?" Rollo raised a brow, "She's certainly observant. However..."
"It seems you've already missed it." The old man wore a small smile and pointed to the arm of the sofa, "For example, this sofa was made by the mysterious craftsman called Ash. However, the current headmage is very well aware of power struggle and a sense of responsibility. How could she, in charge of a school and city of another kingdom, put something she's already purchased with her personal money in the office of the headmage where most of the power in the city reside? Was she actually so bold or was there another meaning for this?"
"Another reason?" Rollo muttered to himself in confusion. Was there another reason she, who knew it was inappropriate to put these sofa here, still dare to do something like this? Unless... He frowned with hesitation as his conclusion seemed ridiculous. It couldn't be, could it?
The old man wore a small chuckle, "And that's where you're already fumbling."
Rollo looked up to him as he continued, "When you pay attention to the details around you, you must start to record everything around you as clues to draw what sort of situation the environment you entered are in and, in doing so, you will draw a better idea or what sort of situation you are in as well as what impact you could create through whichever action you choose to take."
"Even if you don't understand or doubt the conclusion you draw into are, what you think about it have to come after. All of the possible ideas need to be remembered in your head," He snapped his finger, "Like a snap. No matter what you think of it, you must remember this possibility. This way, you also know how to best put a plan and handle the situation carefully if that is the situation. Whatever the possibility is true or far fetched, it does not matter. What matters is that it is a possibility and you need to make note of it."
Hearing this, Rollo was rather impressed. He raised a brow in bewilderment as he muttered, "I-I see."