Chapter 45. The law applies to everyone.
The hallway was empty. The second floor of the Academy was where the faculty members had their offices. It was a Monday morning an hour before the classes would begin. Students usually would walk in the hallways, but now there was only stillness and quietness.
Silas and Elizabeth walked side by side, their steps in sync as they passed the dark wood doors. One of the walkway connected to another building. The windows gave clear view of the courtyard with trees and the fountain with a statue of the school’s founder. And a helicopter on the grass.
Liz paused and turned. The squeaking of her heel was audible as she stared at the helicopter.
“What is Lucifer doing here?” She asked.
He looked out at the courtyard and saw the black metal bird with the hunter association logo on its side, the blades were still and only the pilot was sitting in it. No movement.
Shrugging before he grabbed his wife’s shoulder and started to massage it through her suit.
“Probably something boring, come on we will be late,” he said. The tension in her muscles eased and she walked with him again. His hand dropped.
As they reached the door to the faculty room, he pushed it open, letting his wife enter first before following her in. The room was full of other teachers who were standing around, talking to each other and waiting.
It was a long room with rows of chairs facing a low stage, the morning light coming through tall windows on the east wall.
The smell of strong coffee and tea was in the air.
Lucifer stood on the stage with Isaac standing to her left. Her white hair looked beautiful in the morning light that came through the windows. Principal Morgan stood to her right.
“Let’s sit at the back,” Liz whispered in his ear, her breath tickled him.
He nodded and they walked over. Isaac looked up from his tablet and glanced at them.
Lucifer did not acknowledge their presence and neither did the principal. Everyone was quiet now as the room got filled up.
“This is like being back in school. Except now I can’t doodle on the desk,” Elizabeth whispered to him and sat down.
He chuckled and sat next to her, his eyes focused on the Judge. Lucifer stared back at him with a blank expression before her crimson eyes looked over the crowd.
Henry Smith also arrived in the back of the room, standing against the wall. His mana glasses still on his face.
Silas watched Isaac, who seemed to notice Henry’s glasses. The bald man’s frown deepened as he stepped forward towards Henry. Henry didn’t move, just looked straight forward. A strange tension formed as the Hand walked.
The bald man stopped in front of Henry. They were whispering but Silas’ space magic picked up every word.
“I must ask you to hand over those glasses Mr. Smith,” Isaac said.
Henry blinked, a slight frown formed on his face before he removed the glasses and put them in Isaac’s hand. The Hand walked away from the man, going back to his spot next to Lucifer, with the glasses in his hand.
Silas tilted his head. Did Lucifer not know about Project Ark?
But the mic clicked before he could think more about the strange interaction. Lucifer stood on the small stage with the microphone in her hand, her ruby eyes surveyed the teachers.
“Good morning Aethelgard faculty. For those of you who are unaware I am Lucifer Litorei, Judge of the Hunter Association and current President of the Hunter Association,” she spoke and the silence was only interrupted by the sound of someone drinking their tea.
A lightness in his chest formed and a grin crept on his lips. He raised his hand, his eyes locked with Lucifer.
“Does the HA have to send their president for an emergency faculty meeting?” He asked, the smirk still on his face. He wanted to annoy Lucifer because she interrupted his breakfast with his family.
Elizabeth hit his thigh with the back of her hand to get him to behave.
“Under new management of the association, yes, Mr. Vane,” Lucifer answered calmly, the same monotone voice. Then she continued.
She continued the meeting as Silas’ attention wandered to his wife, who had her legs crossed and was listening to Lucifer with a bored expression.
After 15 minutes the meeting came to an end and everyone stood up. The sun was up fully now and it warmed the room with the sunlight.
“Mr.Vane a moment please,” Lucifer said as he was about to leave.
The other teachers gave him looks like he was in trouble. They whispered to each other as they walked by him. Only Henry Smith gave him a nod.
Liz gave him a kiss and a hug before leaving with Morgan to talk about student counselor duties. She winked and then it was just him and the Judge with Isaac standing to the side.
The room felt larger with only three people in it.
Silas sighed. This was not worth skipping his family breakfast for. He sat down on the front chair, Lucifer sat on the stage edge with her legs dangling. He could smell her perfume: a very floral scent. It didn’t suit her.
“You’re sending your own friend to prison. I doubt even Matilda would’ve done this,” he joked with a chuckle.
She didn’t laugh.
“Evelyn broke the law, she must face the consequences,” Lucifer replied. “As for you, your employment contract was under Berlin’s authority which I now possess as the president of the Hunter Association.” She was cutting straight to the point. That was just like her.
He raised an eyebrow.
“And?” He waited for her to finish. If she was going to fire him from the job then she should just say it.
A moment of silence passed in the room as two powerful S-rankers stared at each other. Her red eyes held a cold fire in them while his violet ones were filled with amusement.
“Aethelgard Academy is under the Hunter Association’s Education act and as such every member of faculty must adhere to our standards and rules. I’ve reviewed your file Silas,” She paused. “Setting aside your obscenities, you lack a degree in formal education and a teaching license. You have a month to rectify those two things or seek employment elsewhere.”
There was no room for argument.
His violet eyes narrowed.
“Are you really asking me, to get a degree to teach combat class?” he asked. She couldn’t be serious.
Lucifer didn’t flinch, her expression unmoving.
“I’ve led hundreds of raids and defeated armies of monsters and you are telling me I need a piece of paper from a university to prove I am qualified?”
Jumping from her spot she landed on her feet in front of him.
“The law applies to everyone, Silas.” Her voice held no emotion. “Even you.”
She turned to leave, Isaac followed her out.
He was left sitting there with a frown. Was he actually going to get a university degree at 38 years old? It was ridiculous. Who was more qualified than the strongest hunter alive to teach how to fight?
A notification pinged from his phone. Taking it out of his pocket he saw an email from Lucifer.
It was an attachment to an enrollment application from a university and a short message:
'Congratulations on enrolling to the University of Arcane studies for the Fall semester.'