Hello to everyone who is reading the second chapter. I hope you are enjoying the story so far, even though it may be too early for most to tell. This chapter, like some chapters, focuses primarily on my OC and is the end of the introduction to the story.
Enjoy.
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It was two days until Thellin was scheduled to start his new job, but unlike Negi who had planned to just show up in Japan the door before his first day Thellin had arrived several days earlier. He had been scouting around the area outside of Mahora academy and, after much trouble, found an apartment complex in which he could stay. The problem behind finding an apartment complex at which he could stay was that he had a need to hide his residency after certain past events and his way of hiding it was creative, to say the least.
Now was the moment of truth though, as Thellin crossed the line onto the Mahora campus in the late morning. It was still two days before the start of the new term, and Thellin needed to speak with the headmaster before the term started to get some issues worked out. He was wearing a pair of his beaten up jeans and a red shirt with a poorly illustrated face on it that was, at least one would assume, winking. Thellin hadn't made it very far when he was picked up by a member of the faculty.
"You must be Thellin Herose," said the older man. Thellin stopped and looked at him, trying to decide whether or not to extend his hand or to bow or just to simply nod. In the end the other man extended his hand and upon shaking said, "I will be your senior in the guidance department, you can call me Nitsuta."
After the hand shake Thellin replied, "Nice to meet you, Nitsuta-san. I appreciate you coming to pick me up." Thellin's words, for a change, were sincere since he had already gained some respect for Nitsuta. Nitsuta obviously knew who he was and yet was still willing to shake his head and greet him, much like the headmaster of the school he attended in Wales.
Turning around and leading off into the school Nitsuta said, "Think of nothing of it. It was a request from the headmaster, anyways, and I had need to talk with you before your first day as a counselor. After you talk with the headmaster I would like a few words with you as well." Thellin nodded and the rest of the walk to the headmaster's room was done primarily in silence, with only the occasional hello to someone they passed in the halls.
The door to the headmasters room opened up revealing an old man who looked very similar to the headmaster of the school in Wales. Nitsuta and the headmaster eye's met for a moment and the headmaster nodded as Nitsuta took his leave. Sitting down in a chair in front of the headmaster's desk, Thellin decided to wait for the older man to speak, figuring he would let him continue to stroke his beard with the thoughtful expression on his face until he was ready to talk. Finally, the headmaster stated a simple short sentence and fell silent again.
"I do not think of you as a monster."
It was the one sentence that Thellin had come to both dread and joy. It was always a delight to hear that phrase come out of someone's mouth, especially when it was someone that he would be spending a fair amount of time with, but it was never a clause without follow. The silent wait, dreading whatever the person would say next was always the worst, most consuming time for Thellin, but he had learned to bear it and wait quietly for the second part. As always, it came.
"However I do believe that what is inside of you is a monster." It was worded differently from person to person, but the message was the same every time. "I attempt to do my best to allow you the freedoms and liberties that I'm sure you want and deserve, but I will have to impose upon three rules that you must not break."
This was where things began to get new and interesting for Thellin. Normally, people choose to voice their disapproval, and them act as if it had never happened or the exact opposite, act like they had never known him. Feeling himself slouched in the chair Thellin sat himself up and asked, "And what are those?"
"First, you must follow all the rules set out for normal mages." A simple request, and Thellin agreed. "Second, you must only use the Adin only when you deem it necessary, and you must take the proper precautions when using it." Thellin stood shocked, having it be the first time he had heard something like this. His shock hung over and the headmaster ignored the face that looked as though it was looking for the words to question. "Third, you, and your students, must enjoy yourselves and get a proper education."f
Finally regaining his voice Thellin raised his voice and said, in choppy Japanese since he was too riled up to speak clearly in a language that he hadn't fully mastered, "But, Sir, surely I misunderstand. When I deem it necessary?"
The headmaster smiled, it was a carefree smile that only old age and wisdom could bring to a man's face. "Yes, when you deem is necessary. While I understand this may be a little, different, then previous circumstances and orders, I thought about it for a long time and came to a conclusion." Thellin wanted to say something else, to add on some note, but couldn't think of anything and ended up waiting for the old man's explanation. "You see, Thellin, you won't always be under the guidance of someone, one day you'll be on your own. If all of a sudden you have full, unsupervised access to the Adin, and misuse it you could not only injure or kill yourself, but many other people as well. The best idea is to let you slowly get used to the power in a more controlled environment, like Mahora Academy."
The words made since to Thellin, as he had made that argument before but to no avail, but to hear those words from someone else was a surprise. Most people didn't trust him, and he felt that was to be expected. It struck a chord in Thellin and with a twinge of guilt he asked, "Even after the incident with the Mechiette contract, you trust me?" It was a painful question to ask, and hurt more after he had asked and heard the words echo in the air.
"Who would you trust more; someone who does something considered to be wrong and tells no one about it or someone who does something considered to be wrong and lets it be known?"
Thellin's response was instanteous, "I wouldn't trust either; both are untrustworthy, the only difference is that the first is a liar and a schemer and the second is likely just crazy or dumb." Taking a deep breath Thellin said, "However, if you choose to trust me I'll take it at face value. After all, what's that saying from the Greek War? Never look a gift horse in the mouth?"
The elderly man chuckled, "Close enough. Those were the main points of concern that I had to bring up with you today, even though I may want to talk to you more about it later." After a moment the headmaster asked in a slightly grimmer tone, "And I hate to ask about it, but do you have the note from the psychiatric institution?"
Thellin reached into his pocket and pulled out a sealed envelope, "Of course. According to them I'm within reasonable crazy parameters. Was there anything else you needed?"
The headmaster put the letter down on his cluttered desk and began shifting papers around, "Hmm, I had a list of things to talk to you about and I wrong them all down so I wouldn't forget them … where is that list at … ahh, there it is." The headmaster picked up the list and read down the items on the list until he finally stopped and asked, "Oh yes, you said that you will be living off campus, so I would like to get the location of the apartments that you are Negi will be staying at."
"One problem." Thellin's response was slightly delayed, but his tone was matter of fact.
"What's that?"
"Due to certain … lodging arrangements … even should I want to room with Negi it would impossible for him to stay with me. I'm afraid you will have to find other lodging for him."
Scratching his head, the gray haired man said, "Are you sure he can't stay with you?" Sighing, Thellin reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, taking a card out of it and showing it to the headmaster who let a surprised, "Oh."
"It's a necessary precaution, and I was actually planning on bringing up the subject as I have a slight favor to ask of you."
Taking the card in his hand and rereading the headmaster replied, "Why do I get the feeling this will be more then a 'slight' favor?"
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Thellin left the office and was immediately found by Nitsuta who had apparently been waiting for him, for how long Thellin didn't know. "You had said that you needed to talk to me about something, Nitsuta-san?"
The man nodded and showed Thellin to his office where the two of them sat down and Nitsuta began his long speech. "As you know you have been instructed to come to Mahora Academy as part of your training and work as a guidance counselor. While I know that you have studied basic psychology and sociology, being a guidance counselor is not such an easy job and is different then teaching in that there is no real right answer. As such it has been decided that you will work as an assistant guidance counselor and only work with class to start with. This will, however, also leave you with a lot of free time so we have decided to accept your proposal to work a second job as a groundskeeper and have given you a small area of land like you asked as well as the funds to turn it into a much nicer place. Putting all that aside, though, I'd like to give you a warning about your counseling job. Since we have decided it would be best to not split up you and Negi-sensei we are having you be the assistant guidance counselor for class 2-A, the class that Negi-sensei will teach. It will not be an easy assignment but I believe with some hard work you can learn a lot from this experience." His speech ended leaving Thellin slightly surprised and curious as to whether or not he had breathed throughout the entire monologue.
"Uhm, was there anything else you needed?"
Looking over Thellin from head to toe, Nitsuta responded, "As a matter of fact, yes. While I know you will also be working as a groundskeeper and therefore you won't always want to wear nice clothes, please wear something at least as nice as what I am wearing on your first day so that you can give a good first impression." Thellin looked at Nitsuta and made notes of what he was wearing. It was a two piece suit with a tie, and it looked uncomfortable.
Thellin looked down at what he was wearing and then responded, "Well, I guess my first impression to you wasn't the greatest, huh?"
Nitsuta, in his monotone voice said, "I already had my frisst impression of you after the Mechielle scenario," and before Thellin could respond in any way continued, "however I have neither the time nor the nerve to talk about that at the moment. I believe it is about time that you leave, as I need to get some work done." Deflated, Thellin nodded and said a good bye. As he was nearly out the door Nitsuta said nonchalantly, "see you in two days. Please remember to dress appropriately."
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So, how was it? Any reveiws are greatly appreciated, as I am always looking to try and improve my work.