Even walked back to the front of the room again.

"Students? This is Ienzo. He's going to be joining our class."

Shocked gasps and furious whispering broke out immediately.

Trying to talk over them he said, "I know he's young but his proficiency exam placed him here. He's six years old and-" He paused to look at Ienzo, who nodded. "He's mute." More gasps. "He can't talk but he can hear perfectly well. Be nice to him."

The fierce woman coughed.

"And that's his Trace," he said with a sigh of exasperation. "She's going to be watching over him and making sure he transitions well."

Je turned back to the board and continued with his lesson.

"Even?"

The class gasped together.

It was a rule that you didn't interrupt his teaching.

No matter what.

His policy was 'Don't Talk, Learn' and he followed this very closely and it worked.

Even bit his lip to control himself as he forced himself to look at the Trace.

"Yes?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"You haven't explained any of this to Ienzo."

Even smiled as sweetly as he could.

"I have a feeling he already knows what we're learning. Let's try being quiet now so the students can learn, hmm?"

The woman pulled a clipboard out of nowhere and quickly jotted notes down.

'Great. Day one and I'm already on her "watch" list.'

He faced the board and finished his lesson.

When the bell rang his students stood up and left.

Ienzo walked up to the front of the room, Trace following as ever, and stopped before Even's desk.

"Yes Ienzo?"

'YOU'RE A VERY GOOD TEACHER EVEN.'

'THANK YOU IENZO. BUT YOU CANNOT ADDRESS ME SO FORMALLY. NO ONE IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW WE KNOW EACH OTHER AS WELL AS WE DO.'

Ienzo nodded.

'SORRY.'

'IT'S FINE.'

The Trace watched their conversation closely once she noticed it but luckily was just the last part.

"You sign very well," she commented.

Even started to say 'thank you', but she cut across him.

"It's quite a strange talent. Not many people know it so for you to…" She let her sentence drop.

Even narrowed his eyes.

"What are you insinuating?"

"Nothing," she said elusively. "It just seems like you know Ienzo very well. More than just a student."

Ienzo's eyes widened but the Trace didn't notice.

Even desperately tried to think of an excuse.

"I know his father," he finally admitted.

"Why do you know sign language so well, Mr. Even?"

"PROFESSOR Even," he corrected. "Or Doctor Even."

"Whatever. Just answer the question."

Even looked at the ground.

"I had a son who was deaf…but he died."

Ienzo looked at him curiously.

The Trace seemed to accept that and let the subject drop.

Looking to her watch, she grabbed Ienzo's hand and pulled him towards the door.

"Come along Ienzo. We're going to be late for your next class."

Ienzo threw him a helpless look over his shoulder as he was dragged out of the room.

When the end of the day finally came, Ienzo tore away from his Trace and ran to Even's classroom.

He waited patiently for the last person to leave before bursting inside and sprinting to Even's side.

"Ienzo? What are you doing here?" He looked around. "And where's your Trace?"

"I ditched her. May we go home now?"

Even nodded.

"Yes. We have a lot of work to do tonight."

Ienzo sighed.

"Can we walk around a little first? I don't want to go straight back home. The castle is stuffy and boring."

"Fine. I'll buy you a sea-salt ice cream and then we'll go back. Is that fair?"

Ienzo nodded happily.

"Come on then," Even said as he led Ienzo out of the room.

They didn't notice someone watching them leave.

Dilan looked up at the sound of the door to the castle closing.

"Sounds like they're home," he commented as he put down the beaker he was inspecting.

Braig looked up happily.

"Really?"

"Did you not hear the door closing?" Dilan asked with a sigh.

"Well obviously not!"

The door to the laboratory opened and Even stepped inside leading Ienzo by the hand.

"Welcome back!" Braig yelled as he picked up the little boy and hugged him. "How was your first day of school? Did you show everyone up?"

Ienzo nodded.

"They made me a Freshman but they wanted me to be a Senior."

"Congrats dude!"

As Even watched Braig talking excitedly to the little boy, Ienzo started laughing and he smiled.

Sadly, the little boy only acted like his real self with them, but still.

Ienzo was happy either way and that was all the mattered.

As much as he didn't want to destroy the happy scene, he had to.

Even walked up to Braig.

"Braig?" He turned to look at him. "Please put Ienzo down. It's four thirty."

The smile slipped off Braig's face and Ienzo's became serious.

"Already? But he hasn't even been back that long!"

Even nodded.

"Yes Braig. Can I have him?"

Braig set Ienzo on the ground and the little boy walked to the blond's side.

"We should go," he said as he slipped his little hand into Even's.

Even nodded again.

"let's go."

The pair walked out of the room with Braig and Dilan watching them sadly.

Dilan sighed.

"I wish he could act like a child a little longer," he said. "Being forced to be an adult is tough on him."

Braig nodded.

"He may be a genius, but he's only six. He should be allowed to live like one."

They both sighed and went back to work.

AN: Ooh! What happens at 4:30?

Find out next time!