What Makes a Human?

Enter: Diane Paloux, Part 2

"—chickadees?" Alex snickered. Eleanor raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed by the mentor's playful demeanor. Amaya let out the quietest sigh of relief.

The principal probably isn't looking at me anymore, at least, she thought.

"Anyway, why are you still in this room? You know you're supposed to be on the rooftop right now." Diane grinned at the girls.

"Wait, but you didn't tell us to–"

"I guess I can help you all out, but just this once!" With those words and a quick flick of her wand, another portal appeared beneath Diane and the young mages, landing them on the rooftop–still in their chairs and more than slightly startled.

"Diane, could you try and return those chairs, I do need them–" the principal called out, scowling.

"Hmmm...probably not. Toodles!" Diane's portal shrank into itself and closed with a final burst of stars, cutting off the principal's cry of protest. Her eyes turned to her new mentees. "So...how are you guys?"

"I'm very disoriented and confused. I also don't like these chairs, they feel weird." Amaya said, scratching at her arm.

"Oh, you can sit on the floor if you want, I don't really mind." Diane said. "As long as you're comfortable enough to focus, then I'm fine with you doing whatever you need to. Before we get started, do you guys have any questions for me?"

"I mean...sure. For starters, who are you, exactly?" Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, sure! My name's–"

"That's not what I meant. Clearly you're strong–strong enough for someone like the principal to call you capable while apparently hating you, strong enough to be entrusted with teaching us by yourself," Alex gestured at herself and the other three girls. "When the principal wouldn't shut up about how we're super talented or really powerful or something. You don't work here, I haven't seen you at sparring tournaments against other schools–hell, I don't think I've ever seen you before. So who are you?"

Is it...is it really just okay to talk to her like that? I know Alex has never been shy around authority figures, but what if she gets mad? What if she doesn't want to talk about it or–

Diane's lips curled into a wide grin. "Well, aren't you just such a smart cookie!" She gingerly pat Alex's head, much to the wind mage's confusion. "So you want to know what I did before I came here? Sure, I can tell you. I was part of a special unit of the military. We went on international and domestic missions I'm not allowed to give you any details about, and reported directly to the prime minister."

"To my father?" Eleanor smiled brightly, but it was slightly strained, mixed with another expression that Amaya couldn't quite place.

"Right on the money! Anyway, right now, I'm a field commander for the unit, but–"

"Wait, you're right below a general!" Nia exclaimed.

Why is she here? She makes enough money to live comfortably, which is more than what most mages can say.

"Yup! I've tried to become a general, but something about "risking internal military relations" always gets me denied." Diane spun her wand in her hand absentmindedly as she spoke. "So I figured that I might as well change course, look to a different area of life and work, and it brought me here. Originally, I planned to act as a fourth-year military mentor, but I got a special request to work with the four of you...well, maybe request isn't the right word. You know what I mean."

"Wait, so if they made you do it, are you still getting paid?" Amaya asked, noticing Alex's stare out of the corner of her eye. Wait, I didn't say something wrong, did I?