“The dregs of the academy. Those either too dim witted, incompetent, or unmotivated to advance. You will receive no respect from me. I disdain your very existence; however, I will do my duty as instructor and, like the clouds above, spill out my knowledge, unfortunately you lack bowls from which to catch and consume it. Instead, you all wallow in the puddles, splashing about in your imbecilic ignorance.”
Kizu sat in the back row next to a dozing Ione as Professor Krimpit went on a soliloquy about how idiotic they were and how nobody had any right to question his teachings. Politics F’s welcome lecture was a retelling of what he’d heard on the first day of History F last semester. He’d decided to actually try and listen to the lectures this semester, to really give Krimpit another shot, but this starting point was a fresh reminder of why he’d given up in History F so early on.
Most of the faces were the same as Krimpit’s class last semester. Unsurprising. If a student was dumping one of Krimpit’s classes, they might as well do both. However, a few of the first years had switched out. Probably over to the E or D classes. Kizu doubted that many of them would test much higher on the politics tests if they failed the history ones.
“And then there are those of you who purposefully failed.” Professor Krimpit seethed. “For those of you who treat my class with such disrespect, know that I will not forget this slight. This is perhaps the most valuable class at Shinzou Academy, and you decided to treat it like a fanciful jest.”
For once, Professor Krimpit’s ire was on someone other than Kizu. He leaned forward in his seat to get a look at who Krimpit was sneering at.
Prince Inari Akira lounged in a seat in the second row of the lecture hall, legs propped up on the seat in front of him. The professor’s gaze might strike terror into most students’ hearts, but Akira appeared utterly unperturbed by it. He wore his characteristic slight smile at the corners of his lips. He listened to Krimpit’s scoldings but, unlike Kizu on his first day, didn’t rise to the bait or talk back to the professor. That uncaring attitude must have gotten under Krimpit’s skin even more because he switched tactics, burying them all in readings for the first day’s homework. And he made it crystal clear that Akira was the one to blame for the avalanche of work.
“Why are you here?” Kizu muttered to himself. Akira was raised as a prince of the Hon Empire, he doubtlessly knew more on politics than nearly any other student at the academy. Aoi, his cousin, was ranked just under Sene in the subject. He should be up there alongside her. Not with the dredges like Kizu and Ione.
Unless….
Kizu felt a shiver go up his spine as his mind fell on an obvious answer. Politics F was a paper test. Cheating to get in a higher class was difficult, but purposefully failing to get into an F class? That would be simple.
“Orb,” Kizu whispered, carefully withdrawing his scrying orb from his pack. “Give me Inari Akira’s rankings. Muted please.”
Instead of speaking the ranks out like it usually did, his scrying orb flashed an image of a scroll on its glass surface. Kizu scanned the ranks.
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Inari Akira, Third-Year. Combat 124, Astronomy 173, Divination 159, History 4, Politics 799, Rejuvenation and Restoration 89, Conjuring 243, Brewing 400, Numerology 799, Music 290 (Biwa), Enchanting 431, Illusion 321, Elemental 12.
Kizu’s heart fell as he read the list. Two classes alongside Akira. Politics F and Numerology F. Both of which were failed paper tests. And with his history rank being one of the top in the academy, Kizu had no doubt that Akira failed it purposefully. The only student lower was Ione, and Kizu was fairly confident that she used her testing time to doodle monsters as all the paper tests.
“Orb, stay muted but remind me of how the rankings match up with the classes.”
Please note - classes schedules are based solely off of the student’s placements at the start of the school year. New classes will be assigned in the fall. S 001 -010, A 011 - 159, B 160 - 307, C 308 - 455, D 456 - 603, E 604 - 750, F 751 - 800.
“Okay. Now tell me my class schedule for the semester.”
- Politics F, 2. Combat F, 3. Rejuvenation and Restoration F, 4. Divination B, 5. Illusions A, 6. Conjuring F, 7. Numerology F.
Kizu let out a sigh of relief. He barely dodged having to take a divination class with Akira, that meant he only had to deal with the prince in two of his seven classes.
“I expect a few of you might be cluelessly wondering why both history and politics are taught by the academy. Many of you are foolishly ignorant of the difference. Allow me to enlighten you, though you may still lack the mental faculties to fully grasp even this.
“History is the rise and fall of civilizations. The events of the known world. The discoveries and expansions of knowledge. Politics is the regulation and policies of these civilizations. It is the direct reaction of history, a field of study forever intertwined but ultimately separate for the purposes of your studies. This class is the civics of the known world’s nations. We will begin the semester by breaking down the most basic foundations of the Hon Empire and then over to Tross.”
“And Edgeland?” Akira quipped.
Krimpit ground his teeth and narrowed his eyes at the young prince. Kizu could tell that in that half a second, the professor was debating banishing the student from class. But he must have decided the question was worth answering.
“Edgeland is a unique situation which I will be watching carefully. We are focusing on modernly implemented policies for this class. Edgeland is not a topic worth broaching at the moment as there is far too much turbulence in their governing at the moment. If I believe there are any notable changes in their political landscape, I will explain them at the end of the semester. ”
“Notable changes!” Surprisingly, another student spoke out of turn. That rarely happened in Krimpit’s lectures. “My boyfriend is dead! He died!”
And then the student burst into tears. Nobody comforted her. If anything, other students edged away. Kizu winced as he watched Professor Krimpit open his mouth, ready to hear the rebuke for interruption and adding nothing to the lesson.
“It is a regrettable and unpredictable situation. I am sorry for your loss. If you require an ear, you may speak to me after class.”
The stiff professor’s tone was softer than Kizu had ever heard it. Not tender, but not sharp and utterly devoid of empathy. Kizu looked over to dozing Ione, who now had an eye cracked, watching the events play out below.
Once the student quieted down, Krimpit returned to his lecture as if nothing had happened.
Now that Kizu really looked around, he couldn’t help but see dozens upon dozens of empty seats. History F’s lecture hall had never been even close to full, but the current numbers in attendance were even less than last semester’s class.
Not a single Tainted student to be seen.
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