32 - Can I Cry Now?
Episode 32
A week had passed since the official schedule of the Academy for the Gifted began.
Over the past week, students toured not only the Imperial Palace but also all related affiliated institutions.
It wasn't just a simple tour.
Many of the students who graduated from the Academy for the Gifted ended up working in the Imperial Palace.
Even students who had planned to go on to the Academy or return to their families often changed their minds after touring the Imperial Palace.
While taking on various tasks, the students of the Academy for the Gifted received explanations about each class.
They then searched for subjects related to their desired future and contemplated whether to take them.
Students hoping for a position in the foreign affairs department desired foreign language classes, while those interested in the ongoing reconstruction project studied architecture or mathematics more.
"Hmm..."
Ibi sat on a chair that was a little too high for her and looked at the paper.
It was the Academy for the Gifted's class schedule.
'Everything looks good... but what should I take?'
True to its name, the Academy for the Gifted offered virtually every class imaginable.
According to the brochure, if a student wanted to learn something outside the scheduled classes, they could request a professor after an interview.
After staring at the class schedule for a while, Ibi looked around.
Students from the Academy for the Gifted were sitting at tables throughout the garden.
Most of them were with students of the same age.
"Then, shall we take this class together? This professor is famous."
"Really? Which one should we take, the morning or afternoon class?"
They seemed to have become quite close already, sitting right next to each other and choosing classes to take together.
Ibi looked at them with envious eyes.
'How nice.'
In an unfamiliar place, children became friends more quickly. So now, when she looked around, most were with their friends.
'I wish I had a friend to take classes with.'
A week had passed, but Ibi was still alone.
Actually, until a few days ago, she wasn't alone.
After the day she was left alone in the museum, Irene, Arcel, and Ruska had been with her for about two days.
But there wasn't much conversation. To be precise, Ruska kept talking, and Ibi answered her.
Irene and Arcel were there, but they didn't say much.
It wasn't that they were completely silent, but they only said what was necessary.
Irene seemed uncomfortable with Ruska and Arcel, and conversely, the two didn't seem to pay much attention to Irene.
Fortunately, it didn't seem like they were on bad terms.
She thought she could continue to be with the three of them, but
The subsequent schedule was divided according to age.
This was to guide the classes conducted according to age and gender.
Because of that, Ibi had to separate from the three again and be alone.
To be precise, there were about three other 7-year-olds, so she wasn't entirely alone. However, those students were very anxious when they didn't see their familiar siblings.
In the end, the staff had to take care of those students, half coaxing them.
The staff repeatedly apologized to Ibi and took care of the sobbing students.
In the end, Ibi, who was fine on her own, was sent to the group of 8-year-old students and had to be alone there again.
Moreover, another incident occurred in the meantime.
'Limora quit the Academy for the Gifted.'
In the end, Limora couldn't come to apologize to Ibi on the first day.
Was it because of that? The next day, Limora, who was with Seraphina Dean, seemed to be holding back tears, her face flushed as she hung her head.
After Seraphina Dean left, Limora looked around and came to Ibi.
However, when she saw other students around Ibi, she hesitated, unable to open her mouth, and left.
This went on for three days.
When she went to the dormitory lobby in the morning, she saw Limora, no longer in the Academy for the Gifted uniform but in plain clothes, getting into a carriage.
The confident attitude she had when they first met was gone, and Limora's hurried appearance as she got in looked like someone running away.
The carriage, loaded with Limora's luggage, left as it was, and that afternoon, Seraphina Dean called Ibi.
"Limora has quit the Academy for the Gifted."
"Yes?"
Seraphina, seeing Ibi's surprise, sighed, saying it wasn't her fault.
"To quit altogether because she didn't want to admit her mistake in front of others. How pathetic."
Seraphina's voice, muttering like that, clearly revealed her displeasure.
After Limora left, the children who used to hang out with Limora became quieter than before.
At the same time, they strangely avoided Ibi, watching her every move.
Moreover, because of the rumors Limora had spread, no students still approached Ibi.
"Hmm..."
Ibi looked at the class application form again.
Last night, she had circled the classes she wanted to take.
She wanted to take them all, but that was impossible.
'I can only take up to six subjects in the first semester.'
She had circled more than 10 subjects.
Which of these should she take? Moreover, subjects like mathematics had multiple classes because many students applied.
'Which professor should I take?'
Ibi pondered, looking at the names of the professors.
Should she do what she wants to learn? Or should she choose something that can get her a good job later?
Every subject seemed interesting. In particular, philosophy and ancient languages, which she hadn't learned in upper-level schools, seemed fun.
'Headmaster told me to learn what I want to learn, but...'
Still, wouldn't it be better to study things that could earn more money after graduation?
Ibi held her small head in her hands and pondered for a long time.
"I want to learn everything!"
Headmaster would surely be curious about what classes she was taking here. He had asked her to write it down in a letter before coming.
So, if she only chose things that were good for getting a job later, he would definitely be sad.
'Then I should take three classes I want to take and three classes that can earn a lot of money.'
Thinking she had made a truly wise decision, Ibi marked the classes she wanted to take.
After marking this and that, there was one thing left. Mathematics.
The problem wasn't whether to take it or not, but which professor's class to choose.
In the end, Ibi pondered over mathematics for a long time, marked the name of the professor at the top, and organized the paper.
Then, she immediately went to the place where she submitted the documents.
The staff of the Academy for the Gifted were working busily there. They greeted Ibi with a smile, as if glad to see her, and asked.
"What's the matter?"
"I came to submit the class application form."
"See that drawer over there? Just put it in there. Did you write your name correctly?"
"Yes!"
After Ibi put her application form in the drawer and left, a group of students came in, talking to each other.
"I can bear with all the other classes, but I really hate mathematics."
"But it's a required subject. It's not like we can run away because we don't want to take it."
They sighed deeply and opened the drawer to put in their application forms.
Then, they saw the application form that was already in the drawer and their eyes widened.
"Oh my, someone applied for Professor Malles for mathematics."
"What? Really?"
The other students were surprised at the mention of Professor Malles.
Then, realizing that their voices had become too loud, they whispered to each other again in a small voice.
"Who in the world would apply for Professor Malles's class?"
Their voices were full of disbelief.
Then, the staff looked at them and said.
"You there, you shouldn't look at other people's application forms. Put it down and go back."
"Ah, yes!"
At the stern voice, they put in their application forms and hurried out.
Before entering the Academy for the Gifted, students tried to find out what kind of person the professors were by mobilizing as many connections as possible.
The friendships of the professors here were as important as making friends with children from other families.
Many of the professors were nobles, of course, and they had very strong connections.
Naturally, they were introduced to many people through those connections and received advice or help when starting new businesses.
Moreover, when they later left the Academy for the Gifted and went on to the Academy, which professor they had studied under had a significant impact.
'But to apply for Professor Malles.'
He had great achievements, but his personality was so eccentric and his classes were known to be difficult even in the Academy.
Moreover, he was said to be retiring this year.
No matter how genius and accomplished he was, what good was it?
"That... person, doesn't he hardly contact other professors or former students?"
"Then it's hard to get introduced and impossible to build connections."
He was truly the person that the students of the Academy for the Gifted should avoid the most.
They sighed and shook their heads.
"Besides, I heard he gives a lot of homework..."
"I don't know who applied, but they're really going to suffer."
