All-around teacher at the magic academy

In a secluded corner, surrounded by dense woods, the silence was so profound that time seemed to stand still, broken only occasionally by Aiden's footsteps.

Alone, facing the empty land, he practiced his magic relentlessly. Every summoning of elements, every incantation, was filled with his determination and perseverance.

Aiden's brow furrowed, his heart filled with worry. Every battle from now on would be a tough one; his opponents would be incredibly powerful, and he had already revealed his trump cards. If his opponents figured them out, it could be very disadvantageous for him.

For the past few days, Aiden had been troubled by this matter. Every detail of the previous battle kept replaying in his mind as he searched for his mistakes and areas for improvement.

He simulated the battle scenario again and again, trying to identify his shortcomings. He knew that if he couldn't make a breakthrough, he might find himself in an inescapable predicament in future battles.

He wanted to go further, to showcase himself on a bigger stage, and to tell others that he wasn't that far behind the genius teachers from the eight academies.

In fact, Aiden once stepped through the solemn gates of Gredia Academy with dreams and hopes in his heart. It was another top academy in the Kingdom of Odris, whose reputation and status were comparable to St. Peter's Academy.

He remembered that day, the sunlight shining through the ancient tower onto the cobblestone path, and his heart was filled with anticipation for the future.

At the time, Aiden applied for a faculty position at the college with full confidence and expectation. He believed that his years of hard work and study were enough to secure him a place in this elite community.

However, reality dealt him a heavy blow. Despite demonstrating his abilities and knowledge, he was ultimately not selected. That sense of loss and frustration lingered in his heart like a shadow.

Aiden did not consider himself inferior to others; his magical skills were superb, and his knowledge was extensive, fully meeting the standards of the Gradia Academy.

He believed that he wasn't selected because of bad luck and his background—an ordinary working-class family. In a world that values ​​lineage and background, his identity undoubtedly became a stumbling block.

Pulling his wandering thoughts back, Aiden looked at the marks of magic damage in front of him—the result of his recent practice. He shook his head with a wry smile, a mixture of helplessness and defiance in his heart.

For Aiden, participating in the competition was not only about proving his own strength, but also about letting more people see that a commoner magician could also stand on the top stage.

He wanted to show those arrogant professors and students at Gradia Academy how this person they had eliminated could climb to a higher position step by step, overriding their bodies, through his own efforts.

"Teacher Aiden!" Elsa's voice came from afar, clear and urgent, breaking the tranquility that Aiden was immersed in his own reverie.

“Here.” Aiden looked up and replied, his voice gentle, though his mind was still caught up in his thoughts.

Elsa hurried closer, her brow furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with confusion. When she saw Teacher Aiden's tattered clothes and the mess before her, her heart skipped a beat. These marks were undoubtedly from magical practice, and she knew what that meant.

"Teacher, are you practicing again?" Elsa asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Yes, the competition is coming soon, so I need to prepare myself properly," Aiden explained softly, his eyes resolute, and a trace of magic still lingering on his body.

"Teacher, you've already worked so hard. You've been practicing for so many days with very little rest. You still need to take care of your health and keep your spirits up," Elsa said with concern, her eyes filled with respect and support for her teacher.

Elsa knew how excellent her teacher was, and she knew he had prepared for this competition for a long time, but there was nothing she could do for him except silently cheer him on. Even if he couldn't go further, he would still be the most perfect teacher in her heart.

"What are you thinking? Teacher Aiden will definitely keep winning!" Elsa shook her head, her eyes filled with trust in her teacher, silently cheering for Aiden in her heart.

"What's wrong, Elsa? Is there something you need?" Aiden asked, his brow furrowing slightly as he realized something important might be wrong.

"Teacher, the competition is about to start, and the dean sent me to find you. Everyone is waiting for you," Elsa explained, her tone revealing a hint of urgency.

"I'm sorry to have kept everyone waiting," Aiden replied, feeling apologetic, knowing that his delay might affect the entire academy's preparations.

“No, everyone is really looking forward to it. Compared to the honor of the academy, everyone wants to see Teacher Aiden reach a higher stage,” Elsa comforted, her smile warm and sincere. “Everyone knows, everyone knows that Teacher Aiden really wants to achieve a good ranking in this competition.”

"Mmm." Aiden nodded, his heart filled with gratitude. He had always known that all the teachers and students at the academy were very supportive of him, and the dean had taken exceptional care of him.

He really enjoyed the atmosphere of unity and encouragement, which made him feel lucky to be in the college.

“Let’s go, we shouldn’t keep everyone waiting.” Aiden took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and said, his voice carrying an undeniable firmness.

"Mmm," Elsa responded, her eyes revealing respect and support for her teacher.

The two walked side by side on the way back, their footsteps echoing along the quiet forest path. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on them. Although the atmosphere around them was tense, the silence between Elsa and Aiden felt unusually harmonious.

“Teacher Aiden,” Elsa said softly, her voice almost carried away by the wind.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Aiden turned to look at her, his eyes filled with concern.

Elsa looked up at Teacher Aiden, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she finally chose a simple reply: "It's nothing."

She felt it wasn't the right time yet; Aiden's competition was the most important thing, and she should wait until his competition was over before making any decisions.