The Mysterious Black Magician

After coming inside, the professor asked him to arrange the herbs. While doing so, he was also asking questions to the professor about each of them. He tried to remember every bit of information he could get. In fact, with the help of his Deity, it was easy to record them at the moment, then study them later.

While Yman and Prof. Ronnie were busy arranging the herbs and plants that Ronnie gathered from the mountain which they called 'backyard' in a habitual call, some people came knocking at their door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Everyone's attention was pulled by it.

"Professor, did you expect a visitor today?" Airi who was currently showing to Rea and Cinde her skills in mixing the medicine and other materials, asked the professor.

Professor Ronnie tilted his head with a frown. "No I'm not expecting a visitor today," he replied.. 'Who, might be the hell who came to disturb someone's busy day,' thought the professor.

"Apprentice, kindly open," the professor pleaded him.

"Mhm," he nodded without a tiny spec of dissatisfaction. He walked towards the door and reached his hand to the broken doorknob.

But before his hand could touch it, he back stepped out of a sudden which caused the people who were staring at him at the moment to be puzzled by his action.

However, a second after he stepped back, they were dumbfounded when the door fell in a dull sound of a heavy crash.

They stared at the door which is now lying beneath at an inch away from his feet.

Prof. Ronnie was stunned to see the door of his beloved little facility, lying on the floor. "Who the he—!" He was about to yell but stopped when a sudden intrusion came ahead. "Hehe, sorry about that!" The professor was not able to finish his words when a sudden laugh came intruding ahead of his words.

Yman returned his gaze to the doorless entrance just to see several people in Academy uniforms. Most of them were wearing a training vest on top of it.

His brow twitched slightly as he could not identify the people in front of him.

"You people from Knights and Magic, what's the reason for coming here and destroying my facility?" Said Prof. Ronnie.

Yman finally learned that these people in front of him were from the Department of Knights and Magic.

The one at the front step-in without waiting for the Professor's invitation. "Such dusty place," grumbled the person.

He was a tall person with wolf ears. His almond eyes have hazel color. A slight beard was on his face. And his distinct long red hair was nicely tied on his back.

"Disrespectful lad!" Professor Ronnie yelled.

The person was stunned to hear the professor. Then they saw him whisper to the person at his back.

"Who said the professor wasn't here?"

"Oh, sorry about that, I didn't expect either that he's here. He supposed to be at the mountain at this hour," replied the person beside him.

"Idiot!" He grumbled.

Yman in front of them was staring at the five people with blank faces. 'What the heck, they barge in and destroy the door without knowing that the professor is here?' He could not believe such an insolent act in the presence of one of the academy higher ups.

But Yman sooner shut his mouth when the stranger in front of him opened his mouth again.

"Nevermind, he isn't a bigshot now and there's a high probability that the higher-ups will kick him out of the academy," the person whispered his reply but Yman was able to hear him as he was standing closer to them.

'--Will be kicked out?' The words the man mentioned repeated in his mind. 'What he meant by it...?' Yman was doubting the person's words.

He was about to ask them a question but failed to do when, "Older Brother Czar?!" Someone inside the room called out in a voice with a mixture of surprise. They glanced to where the voice came from, their eyes gathered to the girl who was standing with a puzzled face and mouth that formed like 'o'.

"Fufu, Cinde! You're here," he replied.

Cinde slightly squinted her eyes. She was surprised at this person's way of talking.

"Why are you here, Older brother Czar?" She initially wanted to ask if he was a member of the Alchemy Department, but got rid of the thought when because the professor already revealed their identities and they were wearing a vest with the logo from the Knight and Magic Department.

Aside from that, this was the first time they had actual conversation. Even inside the family's domain, they didn't converse even for once.

He used to be a quiet person in the family. Even in the family gatherings, he barely joined a group to chat. So seeing him here surrounded by people was kinda new for Cinde.

She even once thought that they were the same, the anti-social type of person.

Then why did they come here? Maybe they have something with the professor? Cinde thought so.

However, his next words puzzled her further.

"Did you finally decide to become serious with your magic training?" Asked the person with the name Czar. He was the same person who mentioned that the professor was about to be kicked out.

Cinde blinked her eyes twice, wondering why this person asking about it. Her mouth twitched and said,

"It's not like that. Nonetheless, what's your purpose for coming here?" She asked, though she was slightly annoyed by their entrance.

"We came here because I heard that you returned to the academy and someone pointed us here when I tried to search for your whereabouts. As an older cousin, I cannot let my younger cousin who doesn't know about the world would lose her way inside the academy." Czar replied with a smile.

"Eh?" She wondered how this older cousin was able to find out about her coming to the academy. And what was the connection of it with him? To be honest, they had never been the close cousins' eversense childhood. They barely talk in the family's domain. Not just that, they only saw each other about twice or thrice. So he was almost a stranger to her.

And what is this sudden acting close? Cinde could not believe the change of personality this person had. Then again, she didn't know his real personality. Maybe he was always like this. 

Regardless, 'Could it be that Ember was the one who told him about me going back to the academy?' She thought. One time she saw them conversing with each other inside the family domain.

And yet! Everything is just too weird. The sudden appearance of this cousin of hers together with his friends and the coming here because of her. This gives her a bad feeling for some reason.

Seeing the doubt in her face, "The uncle told it to me. He even asked me to bring you in the Department. Don't worry, with me as your backer, it's easy for you to join without the need for a test," said Czar while puffing his chest. 

"The boss was telling the truth!" The person at his back seconded.

Yman and the others were listening to them. In his mind, 'so it was Cinde's relatives,' he thought. But he was still curious by his recent words; however, he could not find the right timing to ask.

Cinde was more confused. 'How that guy who was supposed to be a silent and anti-social person now surrounded by people. And one of them even called him a boss?'

"So, it was my father who told you about it. Regardless, what do you mean that my father had asked you to let me join your department?" Cinde asked with a can't believe face. 

"Ah that, yes the uncle asked me no doubt," Czar replied.

Cinde narrowed her eyes. 'Why did father do that?" She asked inwardly.

Yman and the others just listen in silence.

But, "hey you insolent kid! How dare you barge in and destroy my paradise's door!" Prof. Ronnie bellowed, could not hide anymore his annoyance.

"Paradise you say…"

"....."

"Puffft!"

"Puwahaha!" They laughed.

"Fufu, what's there to be so dramatic about it, Professor? You should be thankful to me for helping you get rid of the trash."

Said Czar with a grin that made the professor gulp and clears his throat. "How disrespectful!" He roared. He could not believe that such a young man had such arrogance towards him. "Get out of here!" He shouted.

However, Czar and the others stood still on their feet. A moment later,

Yman squinted his eyes.

Professor Ronnie's face twitched into an angry face. If not because of the academy's rule he already slapped this fool. Then they noticed Czar opened his mouth again.

"How ironic to see the mighty professor fell below. He is supposed to be the most famous person in the academy. But thanks to his being chossy, he lagged and fell to the 'pit of no improvement' . This whole Alchemy Department is just a load of trash now!" Czar purposely increased his volume at the end of his words, seemingly mocking and looking down at the alchemy department.

His friends guffawed while shaking their heads.

Yman was wondering. He glanced around him and saw their faces.

He saw Airi's worried and scared face. The professor was having an angry face. His face was changing color from pale to fuming red. Perhaps angry at the disrespect of these people towards him. But Professor weirdly fell silent while raising a brow.

Cinde was the same as him. Puzzled at what was happening.

On the other hand, he saw Rea seeping her tea, seemingly uninterested by what was currently happening. And Sistela was sitting on his shoulder, gazing at the people in front and listening to the conversation with great interest. She looked like someone who was watching a movie.

Yman finally understood a little of the situation.

"Hehe," he chuckled. 

Czar and the others laughing suddenly went to a stop when they heard the person in front of them chuckled.

"You are so kind, Mister, for getting rid of the trash. Perhaps, you're trying to apply as a housekeeper? But unfortunately, your work isn't commendable. Tsk, tsk!" He said while shaking his head and sighing in regret.

"....."

Now, it was Czar, and the other's turn to fall silent.

'Who is this man?' Their thoughts.