Magic Academy's Bastard Instructor

Chapter 106: Für Elise [4]

Chapter 106: Für Elise [4]

——Professor, what do you think?

Elise stood proudly with her hands on her hips as showed off her graduation cap.

At this point—two hours and thirty-five seconds into the play—the audience was fully immersed. 

It no longer felt like acting. They weren't watching a performance anymore. They were watching Elise herself, as if the story had come to life before their eyes.

The scene shifted slightly as Professor Valen stepped forward.

——You've done well, Elise.

Only a few months remained. Just a few more exams and, of course, the submission of the third-year final thesis before graduation.

By this point, even if Professor Valen were biased enough to give Elise a high grade, her efforts and talents only managed to keep her ranked twelfth in her entire batch.

Her adoptive parents had already lost hope of her securing a spot in the top three. 

They had at least expected her to make the top ten.

But twelfth?

[I don't care anymore. Expectations or not, whether they disown me or not, I have a secure future with my current grades. Honestly, who do they think they are?]

Elise had completely let go of the idea of family.

[As long as the professor is here to support me, I wouldn't ask for anything more.]

Indeed, Professor Valen's presence had become her anchor, keeping her from falling into complete despair. 

Despite the bright, joyful front Elise displayed, everything else—the subtle lighting, the atmosphere, the music—told a different story.

——....

The entire aura around her radiated some sort of unspoken depression. Perhaps undiagnosed, but the hidden nuances told enough.

Elise was nearing her breaking point.

——Professor, we need to commemorate this! Who knows? The Aiselle Family might force me to drop out before I could graduate. Haha~

Aiselle Family.

She no longer referred to them as her parents.

——....

Professor Valen gave her a solemn look. Silas's portrayal evoked some sort of tension, almost bordering on disgust.

"She's losing it."

"Don't tell me the professor's going to abandon her?!"

The scene evoked strong reactions from the audience. It was easy to predict where the plot was headed from this point.

It was a tragedy, after all.

"...."

Vanitas sat frozen in his seat, his expression blank. His mind was in turmoil, and all sorts of indescribable emotions suffocated him.

The scene on stage wasn't entirely accurate to what was flashing in his mind.

But he could see it clearly.

"Where are you going, Vanitas?" Franz asked, noticing the shift in his demeanor.

"…Bathroom," Vanitas muttered, standing abruptly from his seat.

He quickly left the theater room, and the sound of Elise's monologue followed him down the hall.

[Maybe I'm jinxing it, but I feel like things will change after I graduate.]

Tak. Tak. Tak.

His footsteps quickened. His head was a mess, and the migraine was worsening by the second.