Chapter 46 - Professor Morin

A beautiful red-headed mermaid in a wheelchair. That’s what Daniel had brought in.

Long, scaled tail folded up beneath her, and a dark green shirt sticking closely to her body, seemingly made of kelp or some other underwater plant. And a wide, childlike smile on her face.

How did your trip to the port end up like this, Danny?

Behind her, Felicia heard one of the other students make a strangled sound of surprise. A book hit the floor with a soft thud.

"Her name is Merry, and she greets you all." Daniel's voice carried a casual confidence that suggested bringing mermaids to class was a perfectly normal activity. "Her English is not great, she can't read our writing, and she has no formal education before this. So I figured she would fit right in here."

The professor's pocket watch was saved only by its chain as it slipped from his fingers, swinging wildly against his vest. He stared at the mermaid in shock, mouth wide open..

“A… a mermaid?”

"Yes, Merry is mermaid!" The creature—the person, Felicia corrected herself—bounced slightly in her chair, making the gold light shimmer.

"She is indeed." Daniel moved to stand beside the wheelchair, resting one hand casually on the back. "Her primary reason for coming here is to learn formations, but I think everything in the curriculum will help her."

Professor Morin struggled to tear his eyes away from Merry, tracking his gaze from her bright hair to her folded tail and back again. But eventually he looked up at Daniel. “I have so many questions.”

“Ask away.”

"Yes, I am trying to order them…" Morin's hand came up to rub his temple, a gesture Felicia was coming to recognize as universal among people dealing with Daniel. "Who are you?"

"My name is Daniel Hansen. I'll be teaching the class on advanced formations when I have the time, more as a guest lecturer for now. And I'm Felicia's guardian."

He looked over at her and smiled as he said it. She smiled back despite the strange scene.

Though, this was hardly the most surprising thing she had witnessed this week. It might not even crack the top five.

Maybe I’m getting used to it. Maybe I’ll have to get used to it as long as I’m around Danny.

She didn’t mind that.

Professor Morin glanced at Felicia, seemingly connecting dots in his head. "I see… Well, I was already planning to have a talk with Felicia about her current level of education. I'll have Merry here join us, and perhaps you should as well, Daniel."

"That is probably a good idea."

"In fact, we might as well end the day here." He turned back to the class, moving to stand behind his desk as if the familiar position could anchor him. "Thank you for your effort today, everyone. I'll see you all tomorrow."

All the other students started packing their books away, though Felicia noticed how their movements were slow, with eyes constantly darting back to Merry. Felicia understood them well—she would be doing the same if her mana vision didn’t hide her curious glances.

They packed everything into the storage in their indexes before quietly walking out of the classroom. Clarc and Zoltran greeted Merry briefly on their way out, while the three others only stared or nodded at most. Then the door closed behind them, leaving Professor Morin, Felicia, Daniel, and Merry alone in the room.

The silence stretched for a moment.

"They seem nice," Merry said, craning her neck to look up at Daniel behind her.

“Yeah, I hope you get along with them.”

Morin seemed to shake himself out of his daze, straightening his shoulders and walking closer to Merry. He stretched out his hand to her, falling back on familiar social protocols. 

"It's lovely to meet you, Merry. It seems I will be your teacher going forward, and I hope you'll have a good time here. You can call me Professor Morin, or just Morin if you'd like."

Merry took his hand in hers, but didn’t shake it. “Good to meet, Morin. Merry hope you teach good things.”

"I hope so too." Morin smiled at her. It was a warm smile, honed over years of caring for unusual children. Though Merry hardly seemed like a child in anything but her behavior. 

"This is called a handshake, by the way. It's a form of greeting people, by taking their hands and shaking them up and down a few times, like this."

He demonstrated the motion slowly, moving their clasped hands in an exaggerated up-down movement.

Merry's eyes lit up with understanding. "Ah, Merry see! Interesting greeting." She released his hand and immediately grabbed it again, shaking it with such enthusiasm that Morin had to brace himself to avoid being pulled forward. "Like this? Is good?"

"Yes, almost like that." Morin laughed, extricating his hand gently. “I have thousands of questions for you about mermaids, Merry. But that can wait for now. I take it you know very little about most things we teach here, but perhaps you know some magic?”

"Merry knows magic, yes." She nodded eagerly, shifting her tail beneath her. "But is mostly used in water, so not much surface magic."

“Of course, that makes sense. I think we should refer you to a speech specialist as well, while you’re here. And since you can’t read, I’ll seat you next to…”

Morin looked troubled for a moment before looking up at Felicia. “Felicia, can you read through your mana sight?”

She nodded, straightening slightly in her seat. "I can, but I have to strain my mana slightly to read correctly. And I've been blind for seven years, so I'm not a great reader yet."

"Is it alright if Merry sits next to you so she can ask questions about the books, then?" Morin gestured between them, already picturing the arrangement. "The only other students who can read properly are Clarc and Zoltran, and they're already helping the others."

I'll have a mermaid as my desk partner. The thought was surreal enough to make Felicia smile. "Sure, I'll do my best."

"Thank you, Felicia. And did you see everything well? I can move you closer to the blackboard if that would be easier for you."

"Thank you, but I can see perfectly well from here." It was only a few meters away, which was close enough to let her use her mana sight all day without exhausting her mana pool.

"Good." He leaned against his desk, folding his arms. "Do you have any questions after your first few lessons?"

"Not many." Felicia tilted her head thoughtfully. "Does this class only teach the basics until students are ready to join regular classes, or does it last until graduation?"

"It varies from student to student." Morin's fingers tapped against his arm as he explained. "Clarc leaves for advanced telekinesis when those classes are scheduled, and so does Kiara for more advanced Sarun classes. I don't think you will need to stay here long once the introductory courses are done, but it's also up to you to choose."

“Oh, that’s good.” Having a choice was always better than not having one. “I will also be leaving for Sarun classes, then. And formations.”

“Yes, I heard.” Morin turned to Daniel, raising an eyebrow at him. “But Merry is at a beginner level, so she’ll learn formations with me?”

"Well, she is," Daniel admitted, glancing down at Merry, "but Felicia isn't much further along. In fact, I might be able to teach them both."

Mmh… Okay.

“In that case, would you like to teach the entire class? Formation studies are one of my weakest courses, if I’m being honest.”

"Oh…" Daniel blinked, clearly not having expected that. "Sure, I could do that. But it won't be every class, because I'll often be busy."

Felicia sighed—very quietly, barely a breath.

It was better than being taught by strangers, and Daniel was undoubtedly the best formations teacher in the world. But she valued those lessons with just the two of them for more than the educational content. Those quiet hours where it was just his voice guiding her, where she had his full attention.

I'm being greedy. She chided herself internally. The more people he can teach, the better. And it's not like those private lessons will stop entirely... right?

"Then I'll be ready to step in," Morin replied with a smile, reaching his hand out to Daniel.

Daniel took his hand and shook it firmly. “In that case, count me in.”

"Good!" Morin released his hand and moved to his desk, rifling through papers before pulling one free. "Here is the schedule for formation classes, then."

He handed Daniel a piece of paper covered in details too small for Felicia to make out. “Just notify me when you’ll be busy. I’ll save your contact in my index.”

"Ah, right." Daniel tucked the paper away with a pulse of mana. "I'll probably be available tomorrow."

"Then I'll see you then." Morin's attention shifted back to Merry. "Is it fine if I talk to Merry alone for a while?"

Daniel looked down at the mermaid. “That’s fine, as long as you help her get to the bath in the western quarters once you’re done. She can move on her own, but she doesn’t know the way.”

Oh, that’s right by our quarters. Makes sense for a mermaid, I guess, but does that mean the bath will be closed?

She'd been looking forward to trying it out.

"I'll be sure to bring her back safe."

Daniel nodded, then looked over at Felicia. "Ready to go home, Fillie?"

Home?

The word caught her off guard. Was it already home? After one night?

Oh, right… Home is where the people are.

She smiled, stood from her desk, and walked to stand beside him. Then she bowed to her new teacher, as proper as only a noble girl could. "It's been a lovely first day, Professor Morin. I can tell you love teaching, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

Morin's smile widened. “You sure know how to flatter me. I look forward to it as well.”

Then Felicia turned to Merry, reaching her hand out in the gesture she'd just watched the mermaid learn. "I look forward to getting to know you, Merry."

Merry had learned well, grabbing her hand back and shaking it with only slightly less enthusiasm than before. "Merry likes Felici's mana! It feel funny."

Felicia felt heat rise in her cheeks. Ah, she can sense mana as well? Then she sensed all the poking I did earlier…

She should have known better, especially with Zoltran sitting right behind her. But she'd been too curious about this mythical creature to avert her magical gaze

"I use it to see." She tried to keep her voice steady and polite. "I hope it doesn't bother you."

"Ooh, see with mana? Very smart! Not bother Merry at all."

Then Merry closed her eyes as well, scrunching her face up in concentration. "Mmh, not easy."

A prickling sensation suddenly appeared on Felicia's bare skin—her face, her hands, her arms. It felt like being studied under intense light. The sensation intensified until it was almost uncomfortable.

"Merry, you're using way too much mana," Daniel interjected. "You just need a little bit."

The pressure immediately lessened, becoming gentler, more controlled.

"Oh." Merry's eyes opened. "Merry need to train."

"You do that." Daniel's hand squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "Be nice to Morin, okay? And remember what I told you."

“Merry remembers!”

"Good. Let's go, Fillie."

Felicia gave one final wave to both Morin and Merry before following Daniel to the door. He held it open for her, and she stepped through into the hallway beyond.

Just the two of us, again. As it should be.

Ch.45 --I-- Ch.47