yasinovel Chapter 35 The New Semester
Chapter 35 The New Semester
As the clock struck six in the morning, Fafnir opened his eyes precisely on time.
He changed into his old robe—it wasn't convenient to wear a priest's robe while mopping the floor, and it would get dirty.
Fafner got a mop and bucket from the logistics department and started mopping from the first floor.
At 7:30, he finished mopping the teaching building, returned the tools to the logistics department, and went back to his dormitory to change into the priest's robe embroidered with brown raven feathers on the chest.
This morning was Mr. Victor's spell class.
Some students were already seated in the classroom. When Fafner walked in, several students looked up at him, their gazes lingering on his chest for a moment before shifting away.
Fafner noticed that there were more students in this class this semester than last semester, likely because there were more new students this semester.
Several students, wearing ill-fitting old robes, sat in the back row of the classroom.
Mr. Victor entered the classroom at 7:55.
"Good morning, students," he said, placing the forms on the podium and glancing around the room.
"In the first class of the new semester, most of you are freshmen, but some of you failed the exam last semester and are repeating the course. Let's take attendance first."
Fafner Beckett.
"arrive."
Victor nodded and continued reading the next word.
Fafnir sat in the first row by the window. A copy of *An Introduction to Spirituality* lay before him.
Starting this semester, he needs to assist Mr. Victor in teaching the spellcasting and bookkeeping classes every Monday. Of course, there will also be pre- and post-class work to complete.
After the roll call was finished, Mr. Victor pointed to Fafnir:
"This is Fafnir Beckett, a second-level assistant priest of the Church of the God of Death. He is serving as the gentleman usher for this course this semester. You can ask him any questions you may have."
Fafnir stood up, bowed slightly to the students, and then sat down again.
Mr. Victor exchanged a few pleasantries before beginning his lecture.
This lesson covers the concept of first-order spells, the connection between first-order spells and the spirit world, precautions for casting spells, and the construction of the fireball spell.
Fafner listened attentively, jotting down a few notes in the old ledger. Although he understood everything, he figured there was no harm in listening to more lectures, and besides, he couldn't do anything else during class.
During the break, Mr. Victor said to Fafnir, "Little Fafnir, could you please distribute this stack of handouts for me?"
This is a new approach, and I think students might learn better because of it, haha, it's a pity you didn't get to experience it last semester.
Fafner rose and walked to the front of the classroom, picking up the stack of bound booklets.
—Excerpts from the lecture notes of "Introduction to Spirituality," which are materials prepared for new students.
He handed out the cards one by one to each student's desk. When he reached the few freshmen in the back row wearing old robes, they looked up at him and whispered "thank you."
Fafnir nodded.
……
When the bell rang, Mr. Victor called out to Fafnir.
"Little Fafner, last semester's bookkeeping course didn't have a textbook, and most students didn't learn it well."
For the bookkeeping class this afternoon, could you please distribute the teaching materials for me? These are ones I compiled myself.
Go eat lunch.
"Okay, Mr. Victor, goodbye."
……
The air in the cafeteria hall on the first floor was filled with the aroma of stewed meat and baked bread.
It was lunchtime, and the long table was full of people. Students in gray school uniforms sat by the window, while laborers in coarse cloth clothes sat in the middle. The sound of spoons clattering against bowls filled the air.
Fafnir was in line at the window; ahead of him was a freshman in a long robe.
The child was very small, and the robe hung loosely on his body, with the cuffs rolled up several times and the hem almost reaching his knees—Fafner could tell at a glance that the clothes were not his size, and were probably given to him by an adult in the family after they were worn out.
The freshman stood by the window for a while, reached into his right pocket, touched it, and then touched it again.
He pulled his hand out and looked down at his robe. There was a tear in the seam of the right pocket, revealing the lining underneath.
He paused for a moment, then quickly checked his left pocket, turning it over twice, but found nothing.
His fingers gripped the hole so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"What would you like to order?" the man at the window asked.
The child opened his mouth, his voice very soft: "A bowl of thick soup, a piece of mixed wheat bread..."
"Two copper coins, or points. One copper coin for two points, one point for soup, and free mixed wheat bread," the man said.
The boy's lips moved, his eyes fixed on the table, his voice muffled in his throat: "I brought two copper coins... my pocket was torn, they probably fell out on the way."
He spoke quickly, his voice trembling with tears, as if afraid of being interrupted.
After he finished speaking, he reached into the tattered pocket again and felt around, this time stuffing his entire palm inside. He turned it over and over, but there was nothing there.
There were people waiting in the line behind him. Fafnir heard someone click their tongue softly behind him. The boy heard it, took a half step to the side, but didn't move.
"Alright, either leave here, or you'll have to eat free mixed wheat bread." The man put the spoon back in the pot.
The child didn't move. He stood by the window, while people in the queue at the next window walked over with their trays. Some ordered fried meat, and some ordered fruit pies.
Fafner walked up from the back and handed his employee ID to the window: "Deduct it from my allowance and give him an extra serving of fried meat."
The man took the employee ID card, glanced at it, then looked at the brown raven feather on Fafnir's chest, and nodded.
The child froze, looked up at Fafner, blinked a few times, and his eyes reddened.
"Here you go, little one," Fafnir said.
……
In the afternoon, Fafnir arrived at the small classroom twenty minutes early.
Fafner placed the textbooks one by one on each seat, and the students came in one after another.
Mr. Victor entered the classroom at exactly two o'clock, carrying the attendance list.
Just like in the morning, roll call was taken first, and then the lecture began.
This lesson covers the basic principles of double-entry bookkeeping—assets, liabilities, and equity.
Mr. Victor gave several examples, all of which were common shop accounts. He spoke slowly, stopping to explain any new terms he encountered.
Fafnir sat in the front row, not taking notes, even though he had already thoroughly learned the material, but he still listened attentively and occasionally helped Mr. Victor erase the blackboard.
After class, Mr. Victor called Fafnir to the podium.
"Little Fafnir, although everyone is still not quite there in bookkeeping class this semester, and the basics aren't good," Mr. Victor said, looking down at him.
"Your bookkeeping skills are far superior to theirs. If you have time after class, please help those students who are falling behind."
Fafnir nodded: "No problem, I'll help them."
"Just don't let it interfere with your usual spell practice." After saying goodbye to Fafnir, Mr. Victor took the attendance list and left.
Fafnir returned to his dormitory, changed into his old robe, and went to mop the floor of the student dormitory building.
After he finished mopping the corridor, he returned the tools to the logistics department and went to the canteen for dinner.
After finishing his meal, Fafnir returned to his dormitory, lit a candle, and carefully examined the book "The Language of Spirits".
The clock tower in the distance crackled with the sound of ten o'clock.
Fafnir blew out the candles and lay quietly in bed.
I have to get up early tomorrow to mop the floor.