Chapter 10 Becoming Brave
Evelyn's POV
I entered the classroom and sat down just as the bell rang.
Magical Creatures 101 was taught by Olivia Knopson, an elegant woman with thick-framed glasses who spoke in a slow, measured tone. She was standing at the podium showing us a plant called, "Silverdew Grass."
It’s said this grass feeds on moonlight and helps with sleep, calming the mind and soothing the spirit.
Kane and I were still sitting in the back row. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him staring ahead blankly, not listening to what Olivia was saying . I guessed he was worried about my conversation ahead with Ambrose.
The bell rang soon enough. I packed up my things, took a deep breath, and said to Kane, "I'm going to the office to see Professor Johnson."
"I'll wait for you." Kane looked up at me, his deep golden eyes filled with worry.
"Okay, wait for me to come back." I smiled at him and gave his shoulder a light pat, then turned and headed toward Ambrose's office.
I stopped at the office door and knocked gently. "Professor Johnson, it's Evelyn."
"Come in."
A voice answered from inside. I pushed the door open and entered. The air smelled like old newspapers. I saw Ambrose sitting behind a dark brown desk.
Hearing my footsteps, he put down his pen. "Sit," he said without looking up.
I walked over and sat in the chair across from his desk, waiting calmly for him to speak.
"Evelyn."
He finally looked up at me. "How is your core energy?"
"A bit weak." Thinking of what Kane had said last time, I answered truthfully.
"Take your time—it will improve." For once, Ambrose wasn't particularly strict.
"Thank you, Professor Johnson." I replied politely, though inwardly thinking—he didn't just call me here to ask about this, did he?
Ambrose's tone suddenly became harsh. "Why are you getting close to Kane?"
"Kane is my friend. We're just hanging out normally as friends." My heart sank—so this was why he wanted to see me.
"Evelyn, I have a duty to remind you that Kane is the last shapeshifter of the Phoenix Clan. Many people must have warned you to keep your distance from him, right?" Ambrose's tone turned cold as he stared at me.
"Kane is a good person. His family's issues shouldn't affect him, and besides, he hasn't done anything wrong."
I looked at Ambrose without backing down, challenging his words.
"Just because he hasn't done anything now doesn't mean he won't in the future." Ambrose said coldly. "You need to understand that keeping your distance from him is the best option for you. Otherwise, no one can guarantee what will happen to you."
"I don't need anyone's assurances. Even if I don't get close to him, we still don't know what the future holds."
I found Ambrose's words ridiculous. As a professor, he could actually say something like that.
"Besides, he's being excluded and bullied by the Lycan Clan. Have you even investigated that?" Unable to control my anger, I stared at Ambrose, demanding answers.
Ambrose clearly hadn't expected my response. His face became very serious. "Evelyn, mind your attitude. I'm doing this for your own good. Magpies bring bad luck."
"For my own good? But when he was being bullied, what did you do as a professor? And now you're using this prejudice to tell me to stay away from him too?"
My voice wasn't loud, but I stared firmly at Professor Ambrose as I spoke; my words echoed through the office. I left him speechless.
"You... Evelyn, if you talk back to a teacher again, I'll give you a major demerit."
He slammed his hand on the desk in anger and glared at me.
"Whatever. If this is Thornwick Academy's teaching philosophy, then I guess I'm just not right for this place." After saying that, I turned , pushed open the door, and walked out without hesitation.
After the door closed behind me, I saw Kane standing outside waiting for me. At this distance, he must have overheard my conversation with Ambrose. I looked at him, feeling a pang of heartache.
"You heard everything?" I asked him, still holding onto a bit of hope.
"Yes. Thank you." Kane nodded, his voice hoarse.
"I meant every word I said, so don't worry about what other people think, okay?" I looked into his eyes, hoping he could feel my sincerity.
Kane nodded; his mood didn’t seem too bad. "Let's go then. Next class is Charms. Don't want to be late."
The Charms teacher was an elderly professor named Michael Williams who looked quite impressive. Today's lesson was learning the "Levitation Charm."
"Relax your wrist, give it a gentle flick, and make sure your pronunciation is clear and accurate." Professor Michael demonstrated at the podium.
As he finished the spell, a feather gently floated up.
Kane watched the feather, his brow furrowed, and muttered under his breath, "This spell really has no beauty to it. It's both complicated and ugly-sounding."
I couldn't help laughing out loud. It was rare to see this side of Kane, and I couldn’t help smiling.
"What's going on?" Michael asked, looking in our direction.
I was nervously wondering how to respond when I heard Kane continue, "Nothing, Professor Williams. I was just amazed at how... unique your spell is."
Michael looked at Kane but didn't press further and continued with the rest of the lesson.
This time I covered my mouth, laughing as I watched Kane's deadpan nonsense. For a moment, I thought he must be possessed by something, but then he glanced back at me, and I was certain it was really him.
The next class, Shapeshifting 101, wasn't so relaxed.
This class was, unfortunately, taught by Ambrose again. He stood at the podium, his gaze sweeping across the class before finally landing on Kane and me, his eyes filled with disapproval.
"Today we're talking about 'form stability' in shapeshifters." Ambrose's low voice rang out, completely different from his earlier angry outburst in the office.
"Many lower-class shapeshifters, because of impure bloodlines, can't maintain human form and may even regress to primitive beast forms. For example... certain birds. Instability means danger, so you should stay away from them."
Ambrose spoke sarcastically, and everyone in front turned to look at us.
Kane clenched his fists and suddenly spoke up, "Then Professor Johnson, let me ask you—how do you define what's 'lower-class'? Because in some ways, maybe certain birds are stronger than you!"
"You...you insolent...!" Ambrose's face instantly went pale then flushed red as he pointed at Kane.