All-around teacher at the magic academy

Elsa and Melly strolled briskly through the bustling streets of Barton.

The two had come from elsewhere; they were students from other colleges who had come here to compete. They had just finished a qualifying match today and won it easily.

Everyone wanted to stroll around the streets to relax and unwind. The lively atmosphere on the street mirrored their joy, but the crowds still made them feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Elsa, let's go check out the shops over there. The other shops are all so crowded," Melly suggested, pointing to a shop not far away.

Elsa looked up and saw that the shop's storefront was small and seemed out of place on the street. She nodded and smiled in response, "Good idea, there are fewer people there, we can take our time choosing." Elsa also felt that there were far too many people, and she was a little uncomfortable with it.

Elsa's thoughts drifted to her teacher, the young and talented mentor. She couldn't help but recall his handsome face, a strange feeling welling up inside her, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

In her heart, the teacher is not only a transmitter of knowledge, but also a guide who can inspire her unlimited potential.

Although he was young, he already possessed a wealth of knowledge and teaching experience, which Elsa both admired and wondered about. She often wondered why the teacher would choose to teach at their unremarkable college instead of a top institution like St. Peter's College.

Elsa knew that her teacher's abilities were enough to make him shine anywhere, but she also selfishly hoped that he could stay by her side. Whenever she asked him a question, he always answered patiently, and his wisdom and understanding warmed her heart. Every time she spoke with him, her heart would race involuntarily; this subtle feeling left her both confused and excited.

"What are you thinking about?" Melie glanced at Elsa beside her, noticing her wandering eyes and slightly flushed cheeks, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

Elsa was pulled back to reality from her thoughts. She waved her hands in a flustered manner, "No, no, no, I wasn't thinking about anything." Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was trying to cover something up.

A playful glint flashed in Mary's eyes as she pressed on relentlessly, "Wait, something's up. Are you thinking about a certain man?" A mischievous smile played on her lips, as if she were thoroughly enjoying teasing her friend.

"No, don't talk nonsense." Elsa gave Melly a shy, reproachful look, her face turning even redder, as if dyed by the colors of the setting sun.

"Let me guess, are you thinking about Teacher Aiden?" Melie still smiled, her sharp gaze piercing through Elsa's disguise.

When Elsa heard the name, her heart seemed to be gently touched. Her face turned even redder, like a boiled shrimp. For a moment, she was speechless and just lowered her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes.

"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore. Let's go check out that shop." Seeing that Elsa was really shy, Melly changed the subject at the right time, not wanting to embarrass her too much.

"Merry!" Elsa called out in exasperation, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness and protest, but more so the intimacy between close friends.

"Hahahaha," Melie laughed happily, her laughter echoing in the air. She had long seen through Melie's little scheme. Every time Elsa saw Teacher Aiden, her eyes would become dreamy, as if she were lost in some beautiful fantasy. Her infatuated look was truly hilarious.

Although Elsa didn't say it aloud, her eyes had already betrayed her secret. Melly smiled inwardly; she knew Elsa's feelings for Teacher Aiden, and sighed helplessly.

The shop owner was a middle-aged man. When he saw the two young and beautiful women, Melie and Elsa, walk into the shop, his face immediately lit up with a smile.

"Welcome, ladies. Please take a look and see if there's anything you need. I have a wide variety of goods at fair prices," the owner greeted them warmly.

Melly and Elsa strolled hand in hand through the store. They noticed that although the store was uniquely decorated and had a wide variety of goods, for some reason, there were very few customers; only a handful were browsing.

The two women wandered around the store for ages, but still couldn't find a gift that would catch their eye. Elsa was a little disappointed; she had wanted to pick out a special gift for Teacher Aiden, but realized she knew nothing about gift selection.

“Let’s go, let’s go see some other places,” Melly suggested, noticing Elsa’s disappointment.

"Mmm." Elsa nodded in agreement, and they were preparing to leave the shop.

Just then, the boss's voice suddenly rang out: "Wait a minute, ladies, I saw you two acting suspiciously just now, and I suspect you stole something from my store."

Elsa and Melly were stunned. They turned to look at their boss in surprise and said in unison, "We didn't!"

The boss raised an eyebrow, looking dismissive: "You think it's gone just because you say so? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

Mary frowned, feeling insulted, but tried to remain calm: "Then what do you suggest we do?"

The boss's smile held a hint of slyness: "It's simple, just let me search you and I'll know."

“You…” Elsa and Melly looked at the shopkeeper with shame and anger. They finally understood why the shop was so deserted. This unfounded suspicion and insult made them feel extremely uncomfortable and angry.

"Impossible! We didn't steal anything from you. We wouldn't even look at your lousy stuff," Mary said angrily, her voice echoing in the store, drawing the attention of the surrounding customers.

“Every thief says the same thing,” the boss replied nonchalantly, his attitude even more arrogant and disdainful.

Both women were furious upon hearing their boss's words. Elsa's eyes even welled up with tears; she couldn't believe she had been so wronged. Mary clenched her fists, feeling a surge of anger burning within her.

"What should we do, Melly?" Elsa's voice trembled slightly as she looked at her friend for help. This was the first time she had encountered such a situation, and she felt both scared and helpless.

“It’s alright.” Melly took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. She gently patted Elsa’s shoulder, reassuring her, “Don’t worry, we’ll handle it. What evidence do you have that we stole it?” Melly turned to look directly at her boss, her eyes resolute.

"I just saw it," the boss said with certainty.

“You…” Mary frowned. She realized that she might have fallen into her boss’s trap, but she couldn’t think of a better solution for the moment.

The surrounding customers were whispering among themselves, but no one stepped forward; they just silently ate their melon seeds.