Heaven's Greatest Professor

As Warden entered the gymnasium, he found that most of the students were slacking, much to their credit. Some even bunked the training entirely, as the number of students didn't meet the usual sums. Only a few among the group were spar, while the rest engaged in conversation among themselves.

"Attention, class," Warden said as he entered. His voice was cold and raspy, snapping at the slacking students with tangible pressure. "Join your usual groups and proceed with the usual drills. I have some announcements to make at the very end of it."

In panic, the students jumped up from their spots, hurrying into their designated groups and positions.

"Sorry for the delay," he continued, still not sounding apologetic, only colder. "But I thought you people are responsible enough to do the drills. Looks like the students are more immature than I thought. I have been lax with you for a few days"

Some disgruntled faces avoided meeting his eyes, but soon, with his instructions, they burst into activities. Warden watched them all without joining today. Although the exercises and drills had their benefits, Warden believed all his attributes were calibrated to the limit to get anything out of them.

The 12 days of deadly training and fights had already done much good to his body. He needed some time of relaxation to be back in the game again. Of course, the day of dungeon diving was approaching, and it was about time he reached a three-figure mark in most of his attributes. He'd change their drills to something tougher soon.

As he watched, his mind couldn't help but return to June and that elf. The guy had come to take her back into the Elven Kingdom, thinking her job as a professor here was nothing but a joke. With him being late for the class, June had sent him away before he could hear more of their conversation.

He didn't complain, considering it wasn't his business to butt in, but he couldn't say he was fine with it.

Warden let out a sigh. He had no say in what she wanted to do with her life. But he hoped it was she who made the decision, choosing to stay and not getting pressured into leaving her job. June was a self-established woman. He doubted anyone could pressure her into anything. But it seemed to be a call from some old elders, possibly the deciding factors of all Elven people.

"Kane," he shouted at a student. "Stop slacking. Don't think I don't see you. Correct your form."

The boy stiffened immediately and hurried to correct his form. Even those who weren't working diligently perfected their form in their drills.

"The instructor is in an icy mood today," Tam said to Arsela, assuming Warden couldn't hear him.

"You Idiot," Arsala cursed. "He can hear you, you know."

Tam snorted as he spar with her, sparing a glance towards the instructor to find him staring at him coldly. His heart chilled. Then, a duelling cane smacked into his side.

"I told you so," Arsala giggled.

Tam acted as if it did not matter to him at all as he focused on the spar.. After gaining the upper hand, he pushed further to claim victory over her. Now it was two minutes of rest.

"I am right, though," he said. "He looked fierce; even the colour of his skin turned red. What could have happened to cause such events?"

"He could just be in a dungeon fight, Tam," Arsala said, though she did not sound convinced herself. Warden's skin looked swelled like he had a good bath in magma.

"Hey," Tam said, "Could those Noble ass bitches complain to the administrators and get him fired from the job? As far as I know, the combat instructor is more like a part-time job."

Arsala frowned. "It has happened before," she said after thinking for a while. "Though I don't think the academy would wrongly fire someone if there is no harm. Instructor Warden has been fair so far, though highly cruel in training us. I hear there's already some complaints from some students, especially from Kassie and his group, but I hear they weren't getting anything out of it."

"Well, Kassie had a bone to pick with the instructor from the very first day," Dirk snorted after finishing his spar. "He didn't even see it coming that the Instructor won't give a damn about all the nonsense he had to say."

"They were trying to band up with other students after the administration didn't listen to their complaints," Arsela said. "Alice, Kassie's girlfriend, came asking me through some convoluted ways, but I told them I'm not joining their fool's crusade."

"One of his minions did come to me," Dirk nodded after remembering. "I didn't even listen to him and said I'm on a tight schedule."

"Nobody came to me," Tam said.

The two of them gave him a look that said it was only natural.

"You know, I think the instructor's ways are working for me fine," Tam said. "There was so much potential in me that I didn't even think was possible.I used to need a lot of power to beat you, but now I can, I take 20 to 30% less."

Arsala scowled at him. "You just want to gloat, don't you?"

Tam snickered.

"I think the instruction during the spars is invaluable," Dirk said, "Even though mostly he asked us to do was hard exercise and endurance training through sprints. I must say the Instructor has a way about himself. I heard from my brother from the upper class that he had beaten up a bunch of students after giving them hope of earning 100 credits if they managed to put a scratch on him."

"Did they manage?" Tam raised an eyebrow.

"Even in four against one, all of them failed," Dirk added after a silence. "And they had Albert Stain in their class. You know who that is, right?"

Tam shrugged, not having a clue.

Dirk was about to explain, but Arsela dismissed him with a shook of her head. Telling him now would make no difference.