Mirage (Shall We Date Wizardess Heart Fanfiction)

Chapter 23: Free advice is often overpriced

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"That is not true." He finally broke the silence.

"It's not...?" Aurora blinked, trying to figure out what he meant by that.

"I was quite the failure in my students years." 

"You were?" She was a little surprised at his sudden confession.

"Yes. I was also a student at this academy as much as you and so many others." He proceeded."But my grades were pretty horrid and I was in danger of not being able to graduate. I often got bullied for it."

"Then how were you able to...?" She found herself cutting off her own dialogue.

"Studying hard and always pushing forward. Eventually, I was able to graduate." He paused, obviously struck by another thought."And, from then on. I just kept that line of work and became an educator here."

"Amazing..." She looked up at him, awed once again by his words.

"Not really. I was an average student with an average ability to perform magic. I always had to work very hard, harder than the others even." He closed his eyes shut; a fifty-fifty mixture of pain and anger washed over his expression."All my life I wished I could have the innate disposition towards magic as some of the students in my time as well as now... it's infuriating seeing some of them throwing it down the drain so mindlessly. But, I guess they're the lucky ones. If only I could have more power..."

"Professor..." Realization washed over her; he seemed to have endured so much in his past student-time that left him with several emotional scars for life. And still, what he did, pursuing his dreams and trying hard to do better in magic no matter what the obstacles might come his way, was very courageous of him. She was somewhat impressed by his perseverance and, perhaps, beginning to perceive him from another perspective.

He laughed as he turned to his student."Well, it must be weird for a professor to be saying something like this."

"N-Not at all!" Aurora immediately spat out.

"Oh?" He raised his eyebrow.

"I understand how you feel! I... I've never been bullied before and couldn't even imagine how it feels but, even I have some hardships coming my way when it comes to magic and thought many times about giving up, as you did." She said empathetically."Yet, I never did it because the only way to be successful in life is through hard work! We just have to believe in ourselves. Besides, we are human too. Everyone has times when they feel down. But, that's a normal thing. So, hang in there sir!"

"Interesting words." Then threw her way a faint, fake-like type of smile."I have a hard time reading you, you know? You are a mysterious girl Aurora, maybe that's why he's so infatuated with you..."

She almost choked on the tea."I-I beg your pardon?"

He set down his teacup on the center table and got up, "Don't mind that now, just finish your drink." leaned back and crossed his right leg over his left. 

"O-Okay..." She muttered in a low tone under her breath, taking another sip of her tea.

Professor Merkulova stared at her for a minute, "Tell me something Aurora," before finally speaking up.