All-around teacher at the magic academy

“Renault…” Hall’s voice trembled slightly as he looked at Renault, who was lying on the bed with his body tightly wrapped in white bandages. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his heart.

“You’ve come, Hall.” Reno’s voice was weak, but he tried to remain calm. His lips were pale and cracked, and he managed a weak smile.

"I'm sorry..." Hall's voice choked, tears welling in his eyes, but he held them back. His heart was filled with self-reproach and guilt.

"What have you done to wrong me?" Renault's eyes showed a hint of confusion as he tried to lift his head to see Hall more clearly.

“It was my intelligence failure… I…” Hall’s words were broken and intermittent. He couldn’t look Renault in the eye; the guilt in his heart weighed on him like a boulder, making it hard to breathe. He understood that if it weren’t for his mistake, Renault might not have suffered such harm.

“How can I blame you? It’s just that I’m not as skilled as you.” Renault’s tone was full of regret, but his eyes were clear and sincere. He knew that everything Hall had done was to help him win the game, and he was always grateful for that.

"Alright, I'm not dead, why are you being so sentimental?" Renault tried to lighten his tone; he didn't want to see Hall blaming himself so much. Although the physical pain was unbearable, he didn't want to see his friend suffer because of him.

Hall looked up, his eyes shining with gratitude. He knew Renault was comforting him, and this kindness warmed his heart. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

Hall was always like this; once he felt he couldn't help Renault, he would fall into deep self-blame. He always believed that it was his incompetence that caused Renault to face more difficulties.

Renault always regarded Hall as his own brother, and he never blamed Hall for his mistakes. In his heart, Hall's care and support were invaluable, and even when Hall could not provide substantial help, Renault always remembered that sincere affection.

"Alright, you should get some rest. I won't bother you anymore," Hall said gently, his eyes full of concern.

"Alright, go ahead and do your thing," Renault replied casually, not wanting the guy to stay here any longer.

Hall nodded slightly, turned and left the ward, leaving Reno alone on the bed.

Renault's gaze drifted through the window to the distant sky, his thoughts wandering. He began to reflect on himself, wondering if he was truly not mature enough, if he lacked the ability to handle family affairs. He had once so firmly believed in his ability to shoulder responsibility, but now, that confidence was beginning to waver.

...

Hall wandered alone, his steps heavy, along the academy's paths. His mood was as dark and heavy as a sky filled with overcast clouds. Why was he always so useless? Why couldn't he help Renault at crucial moments? These questions pierced his heart like needles.

He knew how much Renault longed to prove himself in this competition. After all, he was already a third-year student, and this opportunity was crucial for him—it might be his last stage to showcase himself in his college career. However, because of his mistake, Renault's dreams and efforts were all shattered.

Renault had always wanted to contribute to the family; as the sole heir, the responsibility and pressure he faced were unimaginable to most. Although Renault never mentioned it to anyone, Hall knew how much he craved recognition and how demanding he was of himself.

Unlike Reynolds, Hall's life was relatively easy. He had an older brother who shouldered the family's responsibilities, which gave him more freedom to pursue his interests as he pleased.

However, this incident made him realize how much of a failure he had become. He couldn't even handle such a small matter, and he couldn't even help his best friend. This filled Hall with immense self-blame and frustration.

He stopped and looked up into the distance, his eyes filled with confusion and disappointment.

Hall walked alone to the lake at the academy, bent down to pick up a stone, and threw it with all his might into the lake. The stone traced an arc before landing with a splash, instantly creating a large spray of water that rippled outwards. His heart, like the splashing water, remained restless.

He plopped down on the cold ground, burying his face in his hands, his eyes glazed over. He didn't know what to do next to make up for his mistake or to stop feeling so powerless.

"Hall? What are you doing sitting here?" A voice broke the tranquility of the lakeside. Hall looked up and saw Mr. Logan looking at him with concern.

"Professor Logan?" Hall's voice was tinged with surprise; he hadn't expected to run into his teacher here.

"What's wrong? Something on your mind?" Logan walked over to Hall, sat down gently, and looked at him with concern.

"No, it's nothing..." Hall quickly shook his head, not wanting his question to bother others, especially the teacher.

“You can talk to me about anything. It’s not good to keep it bottled up inside. Maybe I can help you?” Logan said gently, his tone conveying a reassuring strength.

Hall hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Professor Logan, whose wise eyes seemed to see right through him. Finally, he decided to stop hiding and pour out all his frustrations and self-reproach.

“Teacher, I…I feel like a failure. I couldn’t help Renault. He trusted me so much, but I let him down.” Hall’s voice trembled slightly as he recounted the match and his guilt towards Renault.

“Oh, I thought it was something serious. I’ve been through something like this myself.” Logan smiled, his tone carrying a calmness that comes with the experience of life. His words brought Hall a sense of comfort.

"So how did you solve it?" Hall asked eagerly, hoping to get an answer from Professor Logan and find a way out.

"It's simple. Just work hard to become stronger, to become someone who can truly help your friends." Logan's words were simple and direct, yet they revealed a firm belief.

“I know I should do this, but… it’s not that easy to become stronger. Renault is already very powerful, how could I possibly compare to him?” Hall’s voice carried a hint of frustration, as he felt there was an insurmountable gap between himself and Renault.

“Nothing is impossible; you just aren’t willing to try.” Logan patted Hall on the shoulder and said earnestly, “Remember, as long as you want to work hard and have the determination, you will definitely become stronger.”

"Teacher, can you help me?" Hall's eyes were full of pleading; he knew he needed guidance and help.

“That depends on you.” Logan looked at Hall intently, his eyes sharp. “Are you ready to put in the effort? Are you ready to face the challenges?”

"I can. As long as I can become stronger and help Renault, I won't give up." Hall's voice was firm and powerful, and his eyes shone with determination.

Logan looked at Hall and saw the determination and resolve in his eyes. Finally, he nodded and gave in: "Alright then. Since you're so determined, I'll give you a hand."