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“They are the only exceptions,” Amy reveals with a proud grin. “I’m sure they’ll tell you details if you ask, but your observation is correct. Professor North and Professor Blackbird both earned their positions and right to teach at a younger age than anyone in the last ten years.”
“How old are they?” Blair questions. “Professor North looks like he’s in his late twenties. Professor Blackbird looks super young, though.”
“Professor North just turned thirty,” Amy announced. “His birthday is today.”
“Wait… really?” we gasp. “And he’s here?”
Amy giggles. “Professor North takes his position here very seriously. I’m sure you can understand what I’ve explained. Many doubt his abilities to teach all because of his youth.”
“Do they do the same to Professor Blackbird?” I wonder out loud because I feel like they’re treated rather differently. “Maybe I’m overlooking it, but it just feels as though Professor North and Professor Blackbird are on two different spectrums. One end represents the professor, who everyone second guesses their potential, and on the other side, no one dares look at him funny. At least, that’s the vibe I got when I saw how they briefly interacted with their colleagues in the lobby.”
It was only a few minutes as we waited to head to Headmaster Atlas’ office to sign our finalized paperwork, but from the other administrators walking to and from the lobby to the few workers attending to various tasks assigned to them, it was a prominent difference in how they greeted or acknowledged Professor North versus Professor Blackbird.
What really intrigued me was how it seemed like Professor North and Professor Blackbird looked to be really close friends, if not best friends, yet the obvious difference in treatment didn’t seem to bother either of them.
Examples are quick hellos or slight nods of acknowledgment in Professor North’s direction versus humble bows and words of praise in Professor Blackbird’s direction.
“Your ability to observe will take you far, Miss Guinevere,” Amy praises. “I’m rather confident you both will see the reasoning as to why the two younger professors are treated a certain way here at N.M.U. As for Professor Blackbird, I believe he’s twenty-five.”
“Super young,” Blair whispers. “Only two years older than me.”
“Five here,” I admit while taking note that Blair is twenty-three. “Doesn’t that mean their attendance in N.M.U. was rather short in nature?”
“The one thing both professors have in common is their attendance time at N.M.U.,” Amy reveals. “They both graduated in a year.”
“A YEAR?” Blair and I gasp.
“At N.M.U., that would be termed two Arcs,” Amy declares with a bigger smile. “Yes. Those two are rather competitive with one another. They worked very hard to earn early opportunities to explore the university while gaining immense knowledge from the Main Library. Many secrets of knowledge lie within those old brittle books, and those two were not hesitant to expand their wisdom and capabilities for the sake of advancement. N.M.U. decided they were deserving to graduate within a year, and they both were offered professor positions.”
“Meaning they were even younger when they became professors,” I mutter.
“Indeed. They both have been teaching for two years now, though they each have been offered new roles this year since Headmaster Atlas’ wished to change the curriculum to embrace more of the youth.”
“Embrace the youth?” Blair ponders Amy’s wording.
“You’ll notice that many of your classes are run by older professors. Their knowledge is one thing, but obviously, it’s hard to connect with one who isn’t in your same generational gap,” she admits and giggles. “It’s kind of the reason why I’ve been assigned a guide for this sector. I’m one of the youngest guides, but I do try to keep up with things, so I don’t act too cringeworthy old.”
“We appreciate that,” I praise. “You’re really helpful, Amy. Thank you for taking the time to elaborate on so much.”
“That’s why I’m here,” she declares with pride. “Why don’t you both go explore and rest? Your official IDs are being molded in the fires, so they should be ready and stabilized for picture engraving in a few hours. The library access will be open all day today, so if you wish to go start reading and researching, be my guest.” She claps her hands together and leans in to whisper, “But if you’re like me, who enjoys a bit of gossip and hidden secrets, go further into the library near the Manga section.”
“Manga section.” I’m grinning from ear to ear.A guilty pleasure of mine is reading comics of various kinds, including Manga.“Say less. That’s where I’ll be.”
Blair laughs.
“I’d never think you’re into such books, Ophelia,” she teases.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” I tease back.“But your girl can’t help but fall in love with leather-bound books and the smell of ancient magic texts.”
“I can agree with that,” she admits with a giggle.
We thank Amy for her help before she gets a call that the next set of students is here and ready for a tour. That leaves us the opportunity to admire the unique architecture of the place.
To be honest, my expectations for our living space were rather low because N.M.U.’s aesthetic was wrapped around ancient castles—walls decorated with ivory and black vines, plentiful rose gardens, trinkets of gold in their statues, floating candles, and some of the most sophisticated artwork I’ve ever seen decorate the halls and classrooms.
We got a glimpse of the classrooms and how the desks were polished with gold surfaces and matte black legs. The blackboard was framed with gold and brass, and even the wands that some of the professors proudly held wherever they went were either black, gold, silver, or brass. I hadn’t seen any other colors, but from my interpretation, silver and brass were plentiful in numbers, but I’d rarely seen gold or black.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to try our uniform. From the various students we saw when we made our way to Headmaster Atlas’ office, the uniform was based on a few things. The primary shade would represent the wand you’re designated with. The N.M.U. brooch would display the club you belonged to, and finally, our capes were in the shade that represented our potential at N.M.U.
