The Apathetic Professor of Esper Academy

September 27th

The atmosphere in Professor Ciradyl's classroom was palpable with anticipation. Rows of wooden desks were filled with twenty eager students, their eyes fixed upon the chalkboard as they awaited the start of their lesson. The room was silent except for the occasional rustle of paper and creak of chairs as the students shifted in their seats. The word Fieldtrip underlined from the night before left on the board.

Professor Ciradyl strode into the classroom with purpose, their footsteps echoing off the walls. They scanned the room, and their tired blue eyes finally rested on the sea of students, who had fallen silent at the sound of their raspy voices. Then, with a loud clap of hands, they declared, "Alright, class, listen up. We're going on a field trip, and I need you all to find groups of four. End of story."

Fusha flame, a petite young woman with a fiery spirit, raised her hand tentatively. Her eyes were filled with eagerness and apprehension as she nervously asked, "Professor, what if we can't find four people to go with us?" She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her slender fingers twisting in front of her.

Professor Ciradyl, known for a matter-of-fact demeanour, fixed a disinterested gaze upon her. Then, with a shrug of narrow shoulders, they said coolly, "Not my problem. Figure it out." Fusha's face fell as she realized she wouldn't receive the reassurance she sought. The professor turned away, attention already focused elsewhere, leaving Fusha to join the throngs of students as they bustled about, trying to find enough people to make a group.

Bones, a skinny student with a sharp wit, raised his hand with a flick of his wrist. The soft black of his outfit was brought to life by his rainbow nail polish. His brow furrowed in thought as he asked, "Professor, can we pick our groups, or will you assign them?" The students around him quieted, eager to hear the answer.

Professor Ciradyl, impatience clear in the tight set of the jaw, let out a huff. "Does it matter? Just find four people and be done with it," they said, waving their hands dismissively. Bones sank back in his seat, a mixture of frustration and resignation on his face. He glanced around the room, sizing up his classmates and searching for the right group dynamic. The obvious choices for him are Angel and Reggie. The hard part was finding a fourth person. With a shrug, he rose from his seat and joined the throngs of students as they bustled about, trying to find enough people to make a group.

Duke Anderson, a tall and confident student with a deep curiosity, raised her hand with effortless grace. She leaned forward in her seat, her eyes shining with interest as she asked, "What if one of us can't go on the field trip?" The other students turned to listen, eager to hear the answer.

Professor Ciradyl, annoyance plain on their face, let out an exasperated sigh. "Then they'll miss out," he said, rolling their eyes. "Move on." Duke's face fell as she realized the lack of flexibility in the situation. She sat back in her seat, her mind already turning to find a solution, but the professor had already moved on, attention focused elsewhere. 

As the minutes ticked by, more and more hands shot up, each student eager to ask a question. They pressed forward, voices rising in a cacophony of queries and concerns. But Professor Ciradyl, with their androgynous features and piercing blue eyes, had none of it. First, they ran a hand through their silver hair, a gesture that seemed to exude both annoyance and a hint of amusement. Then, with a flick of their wrist and a shrug of their broad shoulders, they deflected each question with short, apathetic answers, leaving the students to fend for themselves.

Some students slumped back in their seats, defeated, while others perked up, their eyes bright with determination. They knew that they would have to find answers independently if they wanted answers. So they buzzed amongst themselves, forming alliances and strategizing, their excitement for the upcoming field trip palpable. But all the while, Professor Ciradyl remained at the front of the room, their gaze focused on the board as if the students' questions were of little consequence.