More Than Just a Teacher

A month passed in a blur.

Julian barely had time to breathe, let alone sleep. His green eyes, lined with exhaustion, scanned over the endless stacks of paperwork on his desk. His once small workshop—used only for basic tool-making—was now undergoing a massive expansion.

A company.

He had registered it, poured in capital, and risked everything to make it happen. He wasn't sure if this idea would succeed, but if they could make their way into high society, this wouldn't be their only innovative product.

The theater search had been left to Chloe. She had been given a generous amount of money to scour the city for a struggling, commoner-owned theater—one that lacked funding but had potential.

Meanwhile, Gideon? Absolutely useless.

Julian pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. The only silver lining was Jonny—the boy had become his greatest asset.

If Julian had a hundred Jonny's, he could have built an empire by now. The boy wasn't just talented—he was a prodigy. He grasped complex mechanical concepts that even experienced craftsmen struggled with. Without him, everything would have taken twice the time.

And they needed every second.

Julian glanced at the latest financial report. The peeling tool Seraphina had introduced had been a hit in the market.

Had.

Its success had drawn copycats. Other merchants had replicated the tool and sold it for a cheaper price, making their sales plummet.

Julian sighed, tossing the report aside. It was expected. A simple tool, no matter how effective, was always easiest to replicate.

That's why he had moved forward with their next product—the bicycle.

Jonny approached the desk, carrying a stack of newly finished blueprints. Julian took them with a tired but genuine smile.

"You've been a huge help, Jonny." He ruffled the boy's hair. "Do you want anything in return?"

Jonny shook his head, his brown eyes shining with determination. "No… I've learned a lot about my own ability from you. It's you who's taught me so much, Master!"

Julian laughed at the boy's humility. He reached into a drawer and pulled out a small, ornate card, placing it in Jonny's hands.

"Take this."

Jonny blinked at the unfamiliar object. "This—"

Julian smirked. "Try to figure it out yourself."

Jonny activated his ability, his golden eyes glowing as he focused on the card. A surge of information rushed into his mind.

"A pass…" he murmured.

Julian clapped. "Good! Now look deeper."

Jonny concentrated harder, his breathing growing labored. His head throbbed as he pushed his skill to its limit. He could see more—the card held traces of enchantment, a magical signature linked to a specific location.

Then, finally—

"A library pass…" His voice was barely above a whisper, but his eyes widened in pure shock.

Julian's grin widened. "Exactly. This pass grants you access to a private library owned by Count Ashford. Very few people have permission to enter." He leaned back, folding his arms. "And—"

He didn't get to finish.

Tears spilled down Jonny's cheeks. His hands trembled as he clutched the card. "T-Thank you… Master."

His voice cracked.

Julian's expression softened.

Jonny never cried.

Not when he was beaten for stealing food.Not when he was kicked out onto the streets at four years old.Not when he was shunned by everyone because of his origins.

His own mother—a prostitute—hadn't even given him a name. She kept him only because she realized too late that an abortion might kill her.

For four years, he had endured her rage, neglect, and beatings.

And then, one winter night, she had simply thrown him out.

Jonny had survived for two years on the streets.Eating from trash heaps.Stealing scraps, only to get beaten if caught.Begging for help, only to be ignored—or worse, punished.

Until he found Lucian and the others—the first people who had ever treated him as an equal.

And now, for the first time in his life, an adult had done something just for him.

Jonny sobbed openly, his tiny fingers clutching at Julian's coat as if afraid it would disappear.

Julian sighed, pulling the boy into a gentle embrace. He ran a hand through Jonny's hair, speaking softly.

"There, there… It's alright, kid."

Jonny shook harder, unable to stop the tears.

For the first time… he felt worthy.Protected.Warm.

On the Other Side…

For an entire month, Seraphina, Rose, Luke, Lucian, Alaric, and Adrian had endured hell.

Lucian, Alaric, and Adrian handled it better. They had natural combat talent.

Seraphina, Rose, and Luke? Not so much.

Seraphina, despite knowing what was coming, still cursed Gideon's name at least three times a day.

By the time the month ended, their frail, malnourished bodies had transformed.

They could run faster, endure longer, and fight harder. Their bodies no longer looked fragile, and their faces had color again.

But just when they thought the torture was finally over—

Gideon appeared.

His entire aura had changed.

Gone was the friendly, loyal right-hand man of Lucian.

Before them now stood a demon in human form.

He cleared his throat. "Now that you're all in decent shape—"

Seraphina rolled her eyes. Decent? They had survived hell!

Rose was clearly offended but said nothing. The last time she complained, she had suffered even worse training.

Gideon smirked. He enjoyed their misery too much.

"From today onward, we'll cut the time spent on physical training and focus more on your skill development."

A pause.

"…But before that."

Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "What?"

Gideon's smirk widened.

"Let me teach you about the division of skills." His sharp eyes swept across them. "Lucian already knows, but you children don't."

He crossed his arms. "So let's begin, shall we?"