007. Book of Regulation

Something black, dark enough to create an extreme contrast to the bright daylight; Something light, like a feather, that it almost stops in the air as it tardily falls.

By the next moment, I see a silhouette of a being from the corner of my eye, at a level up high beyond both of us. Before I am able to turn my head and give it a gaze, I hear a deep voice speak…

"So that is what's hidden beneath."

As soon as the third voice is heard, Jullian stops his unhinged behaviour and looks to the end of the student council room.

Into the same direction I turn. When I lay my eyes on the tall timber bookshelf placed by the window, I glide my eyes all the way up, until I see a man sitting on top of it.

He hangs his legs down with them crossed. He rests one elbow on his knee, and his chin in his palm. In a vitriolic temperament, he bends his lips. He says, "Beneath the face of the angel."

Sharply Jullian takes a gasp. He falls a step backwards from the table, startled, "Who are you!?" at the man sitting on the timber bookshelf, Jullian yells, "How did you get there!?"

As Jullian's heed is diverted, I seize my chance and push myself up. Away from him I run, yet not too near to the one who is sitting on top of the bookshelf.

In embarrassment I grip my undone blouse tightly in front of my chest, and pull my collar up in order to cover my neck, "It is not like what you think…" the previous situation caused me to pant even while I talked to the man on the bookshelf, "Mr Llevric…"

"Mr Llevric?" after Jullian hears me, the tension in him rises, "D-do you know him… Aletris?"

With an alarmed glare I lay at Jullian, I answer, "He is the new lecturer… You should have heard the news…"

Unsettlingly Jullian takes a gulp in his throat, like a child being caught doing something which deserved him a punishment.

Indeed… As the president of the student council, he should be serving the university by assisting lecturers and students in need like me. Instead, he forced me into an unfavourable circumstance.

For that, I should be glad to have Mr Llevric, a lecturer who has a higher authority than a student council's president, here in this room. However, his bizarre appearance halts me from expressing my gratitude.

While he notices my concern, Mr Llevric decides to push himself off the bookshelf and jump off… Perhaps I have not recovered from what was happening between Jullian and me, I think I feel time pausing for a moment…

Acting against the law of gravity, Mr Llevric falls more tardily than a free falling object does. When he lands on the floor by the tip of his toe, every possible impact of speed and force cannot be observed. He looks almost like he is floating, gracefully.

After he lands on the floor, he slides his hands into the pocket of his black trousers, spreading his long legs and walks towards Jullian. With his waist slightly bent forward, Mr Llevric stares into Jullian's hazel eyes, "Jullian Greene…" says Mr Llevric, "Is it?"

In trepidation Jullian stones. He does not dare to move his head, nor rolls his eyeballs. With the rhythm of his breath slightly changed, he answers, "Yes… Sir…"

"Good." in his deep voice Mr Llevric mentions, "I was told to look for the president of the student council by the order of the chancellor, in order to receive aid upon a tour among the campus that allow me, who just arrived this morning, to bring the chances of getting lost in this new environment to the lowest."

As his voice falls, he lays his hands on Jullian hoping to help him adjust his uniform that is messed up during the subjugation. He grabs Jullian's blazer by the collar and pulls it up until his shoulders fit. Lightly, he picks up the knot and the tail of Jullian's undone tie and slowly pulls it up, until the knot reaches the top. 

While I watch from aside, the knot of the tie is only about half an inch away from choking Jullian. 

When Mr Llevric is finally satisfied with the propriety of Jullian's attire, he presses his palm over Jullian's shoulders, "Isn't this the correct way to welcome your new lecturer?" asked Mr Llevric.

Obediently Jullian agrees to Mr Llevric, "Yes, sir." he answered.

"If so…" Mr Llevric then orders, "Do explain to me——What were you attempting against Mr Averell?"

Jullian gives me an apprehensive glare as he listens to Mr Llevric. Yet in spite of it, instead of raising a siege for Jullian, I choose to turn a deaf ear at him, just like how he ignored my plea. 

Finding Jullian refusing to speak the truth, Mr Llevric overtakes the power of speech, "As the president of the student council, I assume you know the regulations of the university better than anyone." in a calm tone he requests, "Can you repeat the one hundred and twenty sixth subject in the nineteenth section from the book of regulation, please?"

This is only Mr Llevric's first day in the university… Has he memorised everything in the book of regulation?

While Jullian sees himself not provided with a functional method to fib his action out the way, Jullian figures he has no choice but to obey. He searches across his mind as he reads it out, "As of one(s) who is/are reported to have being seen performing inappropriate behaviours, including and not limited to, undressing in public, committing harassment against the others, having improper body interactions, whom status of student shall be confiscated, and expelled from the institute. The penance shall be irrevocable."

Guilefully Mr Llevric mentions, "I, as a witness of the earlier incident, am capable of expelling you from the university. Am I correct?"

Instead of a question, Mr Llevric's words sound more like an admonishment to Jullian. And Jullian must be astute enough to realise the unfavourable situation he is placed in, "Yes, sir…" he hence answered. 

Holding up a pleased smile, Mr Llevric nods, "Perfect." he folds Jullian's collar and brushes the fibre off the garment with his fingers. He says, "From now on, you'll do exactly as I said in order to keep your name on the books, right?"

There, as Jullian senses the intimidation Mr Llevric conveys in his words, his glare turns from dismay to hostility. With his tone aroused, Jullian questions, "What are you trying to make me do…?"

"Pardon me?" while Mr Llevric seems bothered with the attitude Jullian bears.

Although reluctant, Jullian lowers his tone and redresses his sentence, "W-what would you like me to do for you..? Mr Llevric, sir…"

Only then, Mr Llevric's lips bend into a contented smile. After he gives me a glimpse, he tells Jullian, "First of all, your apology to Mr Averell is demanded."

In hesitation Jullian clutches his fists, for that he is now being placed in a dilemma——He does not want to disobey Mr Llevric, because he knows Mr Llevric now possesses the authority of making the expulsion happen.

Meanwhile, he has his pride to cling on. He is always too haughty to admit a mistake he made. Or to be precise, he is perfect, he will never relate himself to situations that involve an apology.

Jullian switches his glance between Mr Llevric and me as he struggles. While Mr Llevric loses his patience, the smile on his face gradually fades. He urges in a solemn tone, "Go on."

After weighing the consequences of the affairs, Jullian eventually makes his decision. He turns to me and says, "It was shameful of what I did, I owe you a sincere apology." at me, he bows, "I am sorry, Aletris…"

His action startles me, for I have never seen him like this. Sacrificing his dignity, placing himself in humiliation in front of people… 

After he straightens his back again, Mr Llevric continues to mention, "Secondly, no matter if Mr Averell decides to forgive you, you will stay nowhere near him from this moment onwards." he asks, "Do you understand, Mr Greene?"

As Jullian figures he may need to spend the rest of his time in the university under Mr Llevric's heel, tears surge up and fill his hazel yellow eyes. The lights dull in them as he speaks in a soulless voice, "Yes… Sir."

Pleased, Mr Llevric says, "Good."

Just when everything seems settled to me, Mr Llevric leans close to Jullian until their cheeks are aligned at the same height. In Jullian's ear, Mr Llevric whispers, "If I see you lay your fingers on Aletris Averell again… I will burn them with the eternal flame of hell."

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Mr Llevric claimed his presence in the student council room to be conducted behind an inquiry for a tour around the campus with the president's assistant. Yet when I turn back as I walk at my fastest pace down the hallway, I see him having me tailed.

It has been almost five minutes since I escaped from the student council room, and Mr Llevric is still at my back, even after he clearly noticed that I discovered his presence…