Having obtained Lavia’s forgiveness, the male student who had questioned her walked away from the square with a heavy expression.
Several instructors remained around the fountain, questioning the students who had been closer to the incident.
Only Meli did not do this.
She was solely responsible for healing the injured students; the other matters were left to the other instructors.
“I happened to run into you, so you’ll come with me to the lab later.”
As she spoke, Meli had already taken Lavia’s hand, leaving no room for negotiation.
Lavia clearly wasn’t very willing.
“Do I have to go today?”
“What’s the matter?”
Meli smiled gently. “You’ve only had one class today, and you’re already thinking about leaving?”
Lavia’s expression remained cold, her tone reluctant.
“I only had this one class this morning anyway.”
“And it took up the entire morning.”
At that, she deliberately gestured toward the square.
“Besides, with such a big incident, don’t you plan to deal with it first?”
“Those matters will be handled by others.”
Meli said with a smile. “But I am your instructor.”
“I want to know how you spent your vacation and whether you seriously studied magic.”
Lavia’s expression stiffened slightly.
Harvey had almost been in danger just now, and she really didn’t want to leave his side.
She needed to think of an excuse…
Such small thoughts naturally didn’t escape Meli’s eyes.
“What’s this?”
She spoke slowly, her tone carrying the knowing amusement typical of an elder. “Can’t bear to part with him even for a short while?”
Lavia’s face stiffened, and she immediately hardened her voice.
“You’re overthinking things.”
“Am I?”
Meli followed the direction of Lavia’s subconscious gaze and turned to look at Harvey, who was standing nearby.
The boy had been standing there quietly, not disturbing their conversation.
His demeanor was completely unlike the one who had stepped forward to speak for Lavia in front of so many people just moments ago.
Meli gave him a once-over, then asked gently, “Little one, what’s your name?”
Hearing that familiar form of address, Harvey was momentarily startled.
He quickly collected himself and respectfully bowed to Meli.
“I am Harvey. You must be Instructor Meli.”
“Back at the mansion, I often heard Miss Lavia mention your name.”
At this, Lavia’s already cold face stiffened slightly.
She frowned at Harvey, clearly not expecting him to suddenly say that.
Meli, however, let out a light laugh.
“Oh?”
She looked at the boy with his clear features, the smile in her eyes softening further.
“And how did she mention me?”
Before Harvey could answer, Lavia spoke first, her tone carrying a hint of unnatural warning.
“Harvey.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but the meaning behind it was obvious.
Harvey immediately fell silent.
Seeing this, Meli looked at Lavia with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
“Why scare him like that, Lavia? Afraid I’ll hear something bad?”
Lavia replied uncomfortably, “You’re overthinking things.”
Meli beckoned Harvey closer.
She naturally placed her hand on his head and gently ruffled his hair.
“What a polite child.”
Harvey was slightly startled but didn’t pull away.
But the expression on Meli’s face suddenly shifted almost imperceptibly.
Her fingertips paused in his hair, and the words she had been about to say also stalled.
Then, Meli lifted her gaze toward the fountain.
Wien was standing on the other side of the fountain, looking their way through the dispersing crowd.
The old man said nothing, but with his usual gentle and composed smile, he nodded at her.
Meli was silent for a moment, then withdrew her hand as if nothing had happened.
She smiled warmly and said, “Come on, good child, tell me how Lavia usually talks about me.”
On the other side, Wien, leaning on his cane, slowly walked toward the entrance of the teaching building.
…
The three chatted for a while until the other instructors had mostly handled the situation.
“All right.”
Meli turned back to Lavia. “Come with me.”
Lavia hadn’t expected her to still not let her off, and she stood there without moving.
“Instructor Meli—”
“Don’t call me that.”
Meli interrupted her with a grin. “If I find out you haven’t made any progress during the vacation, I’ll be even angrier.”
Lavia: “…”
Harvey, standing nearby, could rarely see such a look of helpless stiffness on her face.
It was uncommon for him to see that expression on her.
It seemed Instructor Meli was truly strict with her.
Meli was clearly satisfied with her reaction, then said to Harvey, “Lavia might not be able to come back tonight.”
“I still have a lot to ask her.”
Harvey was taken aback.
“Is it because of what just happened?” he asked.
Meli nodded. “After all, the elemental that went berserk was ice, and we need her assistance.”
“This…”
Harvey turned to look at Lavia, but she remained silent without refuting.
In the end, she didn’t insist further and turned to face Harvey.
“You go back first.”
“Don’t wait for me tonight.”
Harvey nodded.
He had been worried that Lavia might be in a bad mood, but thinking that Instructor Meli would definitely be giving her a private lesson, he knew this wasn’t the time to say too much.
So he earnestly reminded her, “Then please be careful on the way.”
“And listen attentively in class.”
Probably finding his words odd, Lavia shot him an exasperated glare.
“What are you talking about?”
Ignoring his “concern,” she turned and followed Meli.
As she walked a few steps away, Meli still looked back at Harvey with a faint, meaningful smile.
This trip hadn’t been a waste after all.
Harvey only withdrew his gaze after their figures gradually disappeared around the other side of the teaching building.
The square had mostly cleared out as well.
He walked down the stone steps alone, heading toward the mansion.
The afternoon wind brushed through the shadows of the trees, dappled light swaying on the ground, and the tense atmosphere of the square faded into the distance.
So why had the water in that fountain suddenly turned into a magical attack on the students?
Harvey had no idea.
Most of the people present were nobles’ children; with such a dangerous incident, the academy would definitely investigate thoroughly.
Still lost in thought, Harvey suddenly stopped.
Not far ahead, a familiar figure was walking.
It was Cassius.
He wasn’t using wind magic but actually walking back to the academy-assigned mansion?
Cassius also sensed the movement behind him.
He turned around warily, and upon seeing Harvey, his expression showed some surprise.
Harvey hesitated for a moment, then took the initiative to approach.
“About what just happened…”
He stopped beside him and looked at him seriously. “Thank you.”
Cassius flinched as if stung.
His expression turned even sourer.
“Don’t misunderstand.”
He frowned, his tone stiff. “I was just doing what I had to do.”
Harvey was momentarily taken aback.
“What you had to do?”
He thought for a moment, then asked hesitantly, “You mean the duty of a noble?”
This overly simplistic remark drew a snort from Cassius.
“Looks like you also think a noble’s duty is just to dress well and speak nicely.”
Harvey didn’t respond to that but waited for him to continue.
The pride in Cassius’s demeanor didn’t fade, but his tone grew calmer than before.
“The reason nobles are nobles isn’t just because of a surname or title.”
“It’s because of the education we received since childhood, requiring every action to be worthy of our family.”
“Admitting one’s mistakes is never something shameful for us.”
“On the contrary, taking responsibility for what one does—that’s what a true noble is.”
Seeing Harvey nod as if he half-understood, Cassius said bluntly, “Take Aidemeng just now. He stepped forward to question Lady Lavia, speaking as a noble.”
“So once he was proven wrong, he couldn’t just bow and apologize and be done with it.”
“He had to put his discourtesy, his judgment, and even his life on the line.”
Harvey pressed his lips together silently.
The bowing gesture that male student had made—he had seen it in books.
Completely handing over the power to decide one’s fate to the other party.
Recalling that person’s pale face, yet not showing much hesitation, Harvey said solemnly, “…I think I need to take back what I said earlier.”
“What?”
Cassius frowned at him.
Harvey looked up and said very seriously, “You two are really impressive.”
He truly didn’t understand.
Why could they go that far?
But precisely because he didn’t understand, he felt that kind of pride was all the more dazzling.
And so this admiration came from the heart.
Cassius’s expression stiffened.
It looked like he wanted to sneer but also like he was choked up, the tips of his ears even flushing slightly.
“What do you know, you idiot!…”
He shot Harvey a hard glare, his demeanor showing an unusual hint of fluster.
“Don’t go around spouting self-righteous praise!”