“I don’t... I know I’m timid and let people walk all over me. People tell me all the time I should speak up and defend myself. Everything he said felt so true, and I was too scared to deny it. But it really meant a lot to me that you would fight someone on my behalf. I know you already didn’t like that man, so it probably had nothing to do with me, really, but I’m grateful, regardless. So... thank you, Professor. Thank you for believing in me.”

She released him after several more seconds. Then, with her face blushing bright red, Nadrina fled the room like a scared rabbit.

Aldric was left alone again, blankly staring at the door as it swung shut behind her.

~~~

A WEEK HAD PASSED BEFORE Aldric was notified that the new guest instructor would finally make their appearance. Despite his best efforts, neither Zasia nor Kedrin had yet to spill the beans on their identity. Aldric was honestly getting nervous. The last time his friends had tried to surprise him, they’d saddled him with a whole new career.

He and his class were waiting in the courtyard that had recently been repaired after the incident with the rogue gate. Apparently, they were to be this guest instructor’s first class. Aldric was feeling more than a little impatient, but thought he was doing a relatively good job keeping a lid on it. His class, however, was having a harder time.

“It is already fifteen minutes past the class bell!” Codrin blurted out. “Where is this new instructor of ours? Being late on the first day is beyond shameful. For that matter, why do I even need to be here? Our instructor is supposed to be an enforcer. What does a meathead have to teach me?”

“Can it, Caffaret,” Cira Barclay, one of their newest additions to the class, barked back. “People don’t have to bend over backwards just because your noble ass is feeling impatient. Sometimes people are late. Get over it.”

“Is it really so much to ask that a professional be on time?” Codrin shot back, getting louder as he got more irritated. “Not that I would expect the likes of you to know anything about decorum! Did the pack of wolves that raised you not teach you any manners?”

“My family is just as much nobility as your den of con artists and backstabbers! At least my upbringing was better than being raised into a pampered little snot who whines whenever he doesn’t get his way!”

Aldric rolled his eyes up to the heavens in protest. What did he ever do to deserve two Codrins? Every time these two went at it, which was always, he could swear there was an invisible hammer trying to drive a nail through the center of his forehead. Now he knew how Kedrin felt playing referee for Aldric and Zasia all those years.