All-around teacher at the magic academy

Leon and Lian walked side by side on the road leading out of the academy.

“I plan to visit Amy; she lives in Barton City, which I only found out after I arrived here,” Lian explained the reason for his trip.

Leon didn't ask why he had to come along. Shouldn't she be visiting her old friend alone, so the two of them could catch up? Would it seem a bit abrupt to bring him along?

"Professor Lean, I noticed that you've also signed up for the upcoming competition." Leon recalled the list he had seen earlier and asked with a hint of curiosity.

“Yes, the dean invited me to participate, and I am indeed very interested in such a competition.” Teacher Lian replied with a smile. “Teacher Leon, you have also signed up. I hope we will not meet in the competition.”

"I don't think so, at least not in the early stages of the competition, because the rules are designed to ensure that teachers or students from the same college don't meet too early," Leon explained.

“Yes, I went to visit Amy this time to give her a ticket to the game. She’s one of my few good friends, and I really hope she can come and watch the game.” There was a hint of melancholy in Lean’s words, and Leon noticed the change in her mood.

"Actually, Amy's situation hasn't been ideal lately. She's always longed for the outside world, so she was eager to leave when she was in the orphanage."

But the last time I visited her, I found she had become very thin and had lost her former vitality. This time, I visited hoping she could have a chance to get out and relax, and change her situation.

"I remember Amy once mentioned that she hoped to marry a rich man and live a carefree, happy life."

However, her love life seems to have been very bumpy. She went through two marriages, but neither of them brought her the life she wanted.

"When I visited her last time, I noticed that her husband was looking at me strangely. I was too embarrassed to mention it to Amy, so I thought I'd invite you to come along this time," Lian explained, a hint of helplessness in her voice.

Leon hadn't expected Amy's situation to be so complicated. He thought to himself that perhaps this was the true face of life, always full of ups and downs.

Marriage is like that; it's a gamble, and no one can predict what kind of person their partner will be.

Sometimes, the sweet words spoken during courtship may turn out differently after marriage. Once people enter the hall of marriage, they no longer hide their true nature.

"Let's buy something to take with us," Leon suggested, feeling that it wouldn't be proper for the two of them to go empty-handed; it would seem impolite.

“Okay,” Lian agreed. They walked together into the street and began to choose a suitable gift.

...

Leon gazed at the dilapidated house before him, a strange sense of melancholy welling up within him. He hadn't expected Amy to live in such conditions; the place was far worse than Ilya's tidy little courtyard.

Lian stepped forward and gently knocked on the door, while Leon stood behind him with the gift, waiting.

A moment later, the door slowly opened, and Leon saw a man with a full beard standing behind the door, looking Leon up and down with an unsettling gaze that conveyed an unpleasant feeling.

Leon frowned, coughed twice, stepped forward, and politely introduced himself: "Hello, is this Amy's house? We are her friends and have come to visit her."

The man's gaze softened slightly after Leon appeared, and he seemed somewhat displeased. However, when he noticed the gift in Leon's hand, his face quickly broke into a smile: "Please come in, please come in." He warmly invited them inside.

Leon stepped into the courtyard and was greeted by a desolate scene. Even the living room looked old and worn, as if it bore the marks of countless years.

Lian spotted Amy washing clothes in the yard immediately and rushed over to gently help her up.

"Stop washing, a friend is here to see you." The man's tone was somewhat rude, and Amy stopped what she was doing after hearing that.

Leon and Lian followed them into the house, put down the gifts they had brought, and casually found a place to sit down.

Lian inquired about Amy's recent situation with concern. Amy's answer seemed hesitant. Although she said she was doing well, her eyes kept drifting towards the man.

Leon observed him, guessing that this man was probably Amy's husband. Judging from Amy's reaction, she seemed somewhat afraid of him.

"Go pour some tea," the man said to Amy in a commanding tone.

Amy immediately got up and hurried towards the kitchen. Seeing this, Lian also quickly got up and followed, seemingly wanting to help Amy.

"Excuse me for asking, what is your profession?" Leon asked the man with a hint of curiosity.

Upon hearing this, the man paused for a moment before replying, "I do some business with a few friends, and we often have the opportunity to interact with important figures from all walks of life."

Leon didn't say much after hearing this. He was skeptical of the man's words. Judging from the man's attire, he didn't seem to frequent high society. What person of status would want to become close to someone dressed like that?

"And what about you?" The man looked Leon up and down with a scrutinizing gaze.

Leon felt a little uncomfortable under the man's gaze, but out of politeness, he replied, "Like Lean, I hold a teaching position at St. Peter's Academy."

"Oh, so you're a teacher. Not bad, not bad," the man replied dismissively. "Why are you so slow? This woman is such a nuisance."

Leon didn't respond to the man, so the two sat there silently waiting.

Soon, Lian and Amy came out of the kitchen, carrying kettles, ready to pour water for everyone.

As the man saw Lian and Amy approach, his gaze involuntarily fell on Lian. Leon sensed a wicked glint in his eyes and felt a surge of urge to punch the man. Now he finally understood why Lian had invited him along.

He quickly stepped forward, took the tea from Amy's hand, and gestured for Lian to sit down.

The four began a halting conversation. During the conversation, he noticed that Amy's arms were covered with bruises, and he guessed that these might be signs of domestic violence.

Leon felt sympathy for Amy's misfortune, but he believed it was a private matter between Amy and her husband, and that it was not appropriate for him to interfere.

As time passed, Lian gently tugged at Leon, realizing that they shouldn't stay any longer.

Thinking he needed to come up with a reason, he immediately stood up and politely explained that they had other matters to attend to and could not continue to bother them.

Without asking the other party to see him off, Leon naturally took Lian's hand and left Amy's house together.