I stood in front of the closed door. It was unlocked. But my hands hesitated from opening it. I looked up once again at the nameplate of the room. One can say this classroom was equivalent to that of grade 7 on Earth. It was a norm here; children upto grade 6, by Earth standards, were to receive education in the private nurseries and tuitions. Only after that can one apply for the nationwide examination, pass it and join academies according to their national rank. And this academy...the Sparkhaven Academy was one of the top choices among millions of aspiring students, naturally. Steadying my gait, I opened the door with a little push. A middle aged professor was lecturing the class and writing something on the blackboard. However his words trailed as he saw me at the doorway. Same with the students as each pair of eyes turned towards me. A hush fell over the room. ’This was my moment....Creating a good first impression was of utmost importance.’ My hands were still on the door knob. But that lasted only for a moment as I felt a smile lighting up my face. With a confident stride, I entered the room full of unknown faces and potential allies. The professor smiled politely and extended his hands in a greeting, which I shook with a smile of my own. "It’s nice to see you, Vice Principal. I am Professor Donald. And these are my dear students." His face formed a dimple as he said the last words. He looked quite proud of his class. ’Damn all the good teachers happen to be in famatsy worlds only??’ I thought bitterly. But nevertheless, I addressed the entire class. "Good morning, students of class 1-A. As you just heard from your professor I happen to be the new Vice Principal...well one of the two new Vice Principals." I said with a small chuckle. The effect was immediate. The students who had all benn sitting stiffly now found their muscles relaxing, as if in ease at my words. Though their faces still maintained that composed expression, even when few pair of eyes twinkled with held off laughter. "This alongwith with few other classes of your dear seniors fall under my jurisdiction for this month. As such, if any of you face any problems regarding any facilities or want to complain against anything you find a hazard to your academic life...be sure to come to my office." My eyes scanned them briefly and I asked, "Got it?" Most of them nodded their heads in response while a few mumbled out "yes". Something that caught my attention was the hesitating nature of these students. They looked a bit nervous of me, as if afraid that speaking out of turn would lead to some strict punishment. I glanced at the professor behind me and thought, ’I think I don’t really understand the student-teacher dynamics here. Either they are too much disciplined...I mean trained to be disciplined or this professor might be one of that two faced teacher - acting all nice and buttering up the higher ups with praises while abusing the students behind them.’ This....would be interesting. Slowly I added, "Since today I am short on time, I shall be coming on another day to have an introduction session with you all. Till then, I ask for your cooperation. Only then can we both maintain a harmony in this academy." Smiling I said to Professor Donald, "Please carry on your class. I shall be going now." I walked from the room a short while after. Taking a deep breath to hold my nerves, I started towards the next room under my administration. Sparkhaven Academy mainly consisted of classes 1 to 7, each having two sections with a total of 100 seats in both the sections combined. Thus, in total 700 students. Now that had gotten me curious over why the principal of an academy of only 700 students be called an honorary Duke? That is until, I saw the actual lands under the academy. When I had first woken up in this building after killing the assailants at the cliff, I had assumed that this main building alongwith the few dormitories composed of the entirety of the Sparkhaven Academy. Imagine my surprise when I went out of this building for taking a walk around the academy perimeters and find out several houses....actual houses on the campus. Not of the staffs of this academy but of common people. Not just that, there were many shops ranging from clothes to medicines with even a huge abundance of agricultural land, farmers loitering around the fields, preparing for the year’s harvest. And as I walked on, I realised the actual extent of the perimeter when even with my enhanced stamina, I had gotten real tired of all my walking....and yet wasn’t able to complete even one-fourth of the academy perimeters. In a crux, Sparkhaven Academy wasn’t just a centre of learning. It was a mini country on itself, engaging in trade with neighbouring lands and having a goddamn army behind its walls. All stationed for both external and internal threats. I reached class 2-A. Maybe Principal Cormac thought it would be fun or maybe he just wanted to maintain some sort of unseen balance. But coincidentally I have gotten all the section A’s from class 1 to class 7 under me whereas on the other hand, Reinhard got all the section B’s. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽 As I reached for the door, I paused a bit. Unexpectedly I heard a myriad of voices from inside, all undoubtedly belonging to multiple students. For a moment, it felt like I was back in my own school. Sitting at the back bench, watching all the teenage drama unfold while I smiled through all of it. Even if I didn’t have anyone to actually call a friend, I have to say...their presences didn’t exactly made me feel that lonely. I...just needed to fade into the background so that everything happened accordingly to the plot set by the universe ...maybe? "Good morning students..." I started.
