The Apathetic Professor of Esper Academy

September 10th

The sky had barely dimmed as the sun crawled lower over the small city of Minos. Nestled in the woods, it was an orderly community built around the Academy. Along its border was an invisible barrier, like a shimmering bubble, expertly maintained by a well-trained team of guards who kept the Academy safe from the outside world.

Drekra and Ciradyl stepped into the chaotic Minosian market, the sun shimmering off the countless stalls selling goods. Every which way they looked, there were strange herbs, exotic fruits, vibrant clothes, and flashy jewelry. The smell of freshly cooked food swirled in the air like a vice, making Drekra and Ciradyl's stomachs growl from hunger.

But hunger was not why they had ventured to this market. Instead, something far more significant had driven them to the older man's herb stall. With a gentle smile, he asked if they were looking for something to cure a hangover. Immediately, the two nodded their heads in agreement.

In a matter of moments, the older man had produced a bag filled with a concoction of herbs. He handed it off to Drekra and Ciradyl with a knowing wink before wishing them luck in their recovery.

It had been an eventful day; many of the students from the local Esper academy had been gathered in the city's center, their faces a mix of excitement and apprehension. The Academy was putting on an outdoor market for the new students.

Ciradyl and Drekra had decided to have fun, even after a few drinks. But as the night went on, they both knew that their heads would pay for it in the morning. Nevertheless, there was hope with this newfound remedy from the older man's stall.

Growing herbs by infusing every step of the process with telekinetic energy made it possible to elevate medicine to a new level, to make the plants contain raw healing power. Great for a battle for old Captain Moe.

"If nothing else," Drekra said, "the worst thing in the world would be for these new students to catch us hungover." They both laughed before making their way back to the Academy grounds. As they walked, ideas of how to avoid such a disaster filled both minds.

Without warning, Ciradyl's voice echoed in Drekra's head. "Quick, hide!" The pair moved in unison, Drekra ducking into the shadows while Ciradyl quickly cloaked her presence. In a moment, they were both on the roof. Drekra had leapt onto the ledge while Ciradyl had vanished and reappeared in a flash, almost like a trick of the light. Ciradyl teleported and managed to get up there second like a scrub.

Below them, a heated argument had broken out between Amethyst and Fusha Flame, two of the new Academy students. Despite the difference in attire, they gave each other quite an earful.

Amethyst, her immaculate pant-suit wrinkle-free with the hems of her trousers just above her ankles, took a step closer to Fusha, who had toes exposed in fashionable yoga sandals. Fusha's tank top was starting to smoke. She shook her head in disagreement with Amethyst's remarks. At the sight of Fusha, Amethyst's usually pale complexion had become flushed with anger, and her voice now raised to a loud volume as she continued to argue.

"What do you know about anything?" Amethyst shouted. She gestured around her sharply with her wrists as she spoke, her voice holding an intimidating quality that made both Ciradyl and Drekra pause mid-conversation. "You're here because this is some free ride for you! You don't even have to work for your keep."

Fusha shook their head firmly, standing tall despite their petite frame. "That's not true," they said coolly. Their gaze was never wavering from Amethyst's own - a silent testament to their strength of will. "You have no idea what I have been through, okay?" She spreads her arms wide as a ribbon of purple fire forms as if to say, 'see for yourself.'

Amethyst seemed taken aback by this answer but recovered quickly enough to launch back into her tirade: "No matter what you say, it doesn't change the fact that I work twice as hard as anyone else here!" The statement seemed more directed at herself than Fusha; while still firm in its delivery, there was fatigue behind it – something Drekra and Ciradyl could understand.