Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Our Hope Chapter 45: Our Hope
Rose had called for a meeting with the Year 2 teachers in the Academy. She was one of the most influential in the Academy, so yes, she could do that.
She opened the door. The teachers were already there, seated and waiting for her patiently.
"Thank you all for coming," Rose said, and took her seat.
The room was silent. A long table, black and shiny, five chairs. The Ice, Earth, Lightning, and Wind Affinity Year 2 teachers were already occupying them.
The Fire Affinity seat was hers. The other four looked at her like she’d dragged them out of bed.
Thomas Leopard, Year 2 Earth Affinity teacher, leaned back with his arms crossed. His voice dripped with arrogance and impatience. Big guy, full of muscle. "This better be important, Firehart. I was about to sleep."
"It is important. Very," Rose said, she didn’t smile.
On her left, Selene Cooper, the Ice Affinity teacher, sipped tea. White hair, a very stunning face, eyes blue and cold, skin pale.
Her loose top did nothing to hide her figure. "We’ve heard rumors. About your new student." Selene looked at Rose over the rim of her cup.
"4 affinities, although he has never attended my class, or any other teacher’s here," muttered Jace Norm, Year 2 teacher of the Lightning Affinity Class.
He was young, tapping his hand on the table nonstop. "Kid blew up the internet. Trending everywhere on the Academy Instalite Platform."
"Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about him," added Mira Scott, Year 2 Wind Affinity Class Teacher. She was the youngest teacher here, blonde hair, big dark eyes.
Her breasts were not as big as Rose or Selene’s but it wasn’t small at all, and her ass and tantalizing curves that turned heads made up for it. "But I don’t think I’ve seen him in the Academy. He has never attended my class."
Rose nodded once. Her heart was beating faster than she wanted to admit. "His name is Lynx Azarion."
She lifted her hand. A blue screen flickered to life above the table. She played the video from Lynx’s fight.
3 seconds.
Lynx steps aside. Controlled flame wrapped around his fist and he punches. Kael flies 40 meters, landed with a bang and passes out.
The video ended.
No one spoke.
Thomas scoffed first, but it sounded forced. "That was obviously edited."
"It’s not," Rose said flatly. "I was there at the fight."
Selene set her cup down. It made a ’clink’ sound. "Fire Affinity. We know. What does this have to do with us?"
Rose looked at each of them, one by one. "I want him in your Ascension Trials. Let him compete for the top 2 spot."
Silence.
Then Jace laughed, sharp and disbelieving. "You’re joking."
"I’m not."
"You want a default Fire Affinity student, who we don’t think can use his other affinities well," Mira said slowly, like Rose was dumb, "in Ice, Earth, Lightning, and Wind Affinity Ascension Trials? ...Okay, even if he can use his other affinities. He has to choose one."
"He’s not picking one," Rose said. Her voice didn’t shake. "He’s doing all five."
"Absolutely not," Thomas slammed his hand on the table. Dust puffed up. "We can’t do that. His name isn’t among our students. He is not my student."
"That is why I am here," Rose replied calmly, already expecting their refusal. "Put him among your students who are in the trials. He should be among the students who compete for the top 2 position of your various Affinity Classes."
Selene’s eyes narrowed. "You’re overstepping, Firehart. You’re not Head of Department. You can’t order us."
"I can," Rose said quietly. "Because I’m taking full responsibility."
She stood up. The temperature in the room rose by a degree. Her flames reacting to her nerves.
"My class has 30 students. Each of your classes has 29 students. We were not expecting another Blessed to be awakened, but he did. Not even at the normal age of 16, but at 18 years old. And He will become the thirtieth member of each of your classes. Just like he is in my class."
She paused and looked at each of the teachers. Her eyes cold and her voice getting louder.
"This kid, this Lynx, he’s our only shot at not getting embarrassed again. I believe he is this Academy’s Only Hope. Our Hope... Lynx has five affinities. The only Blessed in the history of the Human Continent to wield more than three affinities. And he is going to fight in every one of your class trials."
Jace shook his head. "Even if that’s true, we can’t risk—"
"You can," Rose cut him off. "There is nothing to risk. Add Lynx to your classes and make him the 30th student of your class. Arrange the students 15 v 15."
She looked at each of them again and continued "The strongest 10 students of your affinity class fight against Year 3 students in a 10 V 10 and the two strongest Year 2 students will be chosen."
All four of them stared at her.
"If Lynx doesn’t place Top 10 in Fire, Ice, Earth, Lightning, AND Wind Affinity Class by the end of this Ascension Trial," Rose said, voice steady, though her stomach twisted, "I will resign. Effective immediately. And I will pay you all 500 thousand H-Crystals from my own account."
Mira’s mouth opened. "2 million? Are you insane?"
"Probably," Rose said, and for the first time since coming here a small, tired smile touched her lips. "But I believe in him."
Thomas rubbed his face. "Gods, Firehart..."
"Think about it," Rose pressed. "You’ve all been teaching for 8, 10 years. When’s the last time you saw someone like this? Someone who could actually win us the tournament? Bring honor back to this Academy?"
Selene looked at the frozen frame of the video. Lynx’s fist, his flame, right before impact. Her expression didn’t change, but her fingers tapped once against the table.
"Fine," Selene said finally. "Ice Affinity Arena. 8AM tomorrow. If he dies, it’s on you."
"Lightning Affinity Arena," Jace sighed. "1 PM. I’m not giving him time to rest. He should be there."
"Earth Affinity Arena, tomorrow 4 PM," Thomas grumbled. "He better not complain about being tired."