Chapter 11: The Shifting Tides

The air in the Dean's office was thick with tension as all the professors who had barged in earlier turned their piercing gazes on Logan. Their eyes, filled with suspicion and confusion, drilled into him, as they simultaneously asked in disbelief:

"Is he really your illegitimate child, Dean? Everyone's talking about it in the academy... What's going on right now?"

The Dean's face twisted in confusion. His brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the accusations. He stood up from the floor, his robes flowing around him as he looked to the group of professors with exasperation. "What are you talking about...? From which angle does he look like my son to any of you? He's my friend, and he came here to meet me... Is it not possible for friends to meet each other?"

The professors exchanged uneasy glances, but it was clear they had already formed their own opinions. An old history professor, a woman with sharp features and spectacles perched on her nose, spoke up.

"So, he's your friend... It's absolutely fine for a friend to meet another, but he looks like he's only twelve years old..."

Frustration surged in the Dean's chest. His face reddened as he glared at the group, raising his voice for the first time. "So a twelve-year-old child cannot be my friend...? Huh?"

The professors all lowered their heads, their faces flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and guilt. Not one of them dared to utter a word in response.

The Dean, feeling the weight of the awkward silence, sighed deeply. "If you don't have anything else to say, then leave." His tone was cold and commanding.

One by one, the professors filed out, their steps hesitant and their expressions lingering with doubt. However, there was one person who stayed behind—Professor Alice Madeline, the academy's esteemed history professor. A lady of a certain age, much like the Dean, Alice had a sharp mind and a wit that could rival anyone. She stood with her arms folded across her chest, her gaze soft but full of questions.

After the others had left, the room fell into an uneasy quiet. Alice's voice broke the silence, her tone calm but inquisitive. "What are you two doing right now, dear? And won't you introduce your friend to me?"

The Dean nodded toward Logan, motioning with his hand. "Logan, this is my friend Alice Madeline, the history professor," he said, gesturing with a kind smile.

Logan looked at Alice and gave a polite nod. "Nice to meet you."

Alice smiled warmly and replied, "Nice to meet you too, Logan."

As the conversation settled into a more familiar rhythm, Alice looked from the Dean to Logan. "So, what are you two working on?"

Logan glanced at the Dean before answering. "Just exchanging knowledge on magic and space."

The Dean then looked at Alice and, with a slight chuckle, said, "Can you please get us two cups of coffee? We could use a break."

"Oh, sure," Alice replied with a nod, turning on her heel and heading out of the room.

A few moments passed, and Logan, who had been deep in thought, suddenly extended his hand towards the Dean's head. A string-like structure appeared from Logan's palm, weaving into the Dean's mind. The Dean winced as the magical energy surged into him, his face contorting in pain, though his expression remained mostly unchanged. The process continued for a few moments, and when it was complete, Logan gently withdrew his hand and looked at the Dean.

"Take a break for a while," Logan suggested, his voice calm and reassuring.

After the brief moment of silence, Logan shared with the Dean the knowledge of fleeing the planet's magnetic fields, detailing the intricacies of how to manipulate the forces that governed their world.

It wasn't long before Alice returned with the coffee, setting two steaming cups on the table. The three of them sat down in comfortable chairs, exchanging small talk and stories, allowing the earlier tension to dissipate. The calmness of the room seemed to settle over them, but the weight of the knowledge that Logan had just imparted was not lost on any of them.

As evening settled in, Logan decided to take a walk around the academy's campus. The cool air brushed against his face, but the students he passed on the path kept their distance, whispering amongst themselves. The rumors about him being the Dean's child had already begun to spread like wildfire. Logan didn't care. The gossip of the students couldn't shake him.

As he walked through a corridor near the central courtyard, a small group of children, including a girl named Cecil Bently, approached him. Cecil, with curiosity sparkling in her eyes, asked, "Are you really the Dean's child?"

Logan didn't even break his stride. He simply ignored the question and continued walking past them. Cecil's companions, who had been watching intently, began to sneer.

"He doesn't even have manners," one of them muttered. "How can he just walk past without saying anything?"

Logan paid them no mind. The whispers, the mockery—they meant nothing to him. He was focused on the path ahead.

The next morning, a meeting was called with all the professors in attendance. The Dean stood at the front of the room, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something more serious. He addressed the gathered professors with a sense of finality.

"I will be gone for a long time," the Dean announced. "In my absence, Professor Alice Madeline will be acting as Dean."

The professors exchanged uneasy glances, their voices rising in opposition to the sudden change. "But Dean, why must you leave? What's going on?"

The Dean held up his hand, silencing them. "This is not a discussion. Alice will lead in my stead. It is for the academy's good."

Reluctantly, the professors agreed, though many still wore expressions of uncertainty.

After the meeting ended, the Dean and Logan made their way to the training grounds. Logan looked at the Dean and, without wasting a moment, gave his next set of instructions.

"Now, make a layer of magic around your body," Logan said. "Make sure it's as close to your skin as possible. This will allow you to manipulate the space around you."

The Dean nodded, focusing intently. After a brief moment, he managed to create the magic layer, a faint shimmering aura surrounding him.

"Good," Logan nodded approvingly. "Now, follow me."

With a gentle push of energy, the Dean began to rise from the ground, flying upwards toward the sky. Logan followed closely behind him, his eyes fixed on the Dean's movements.

End of Chapter 11