Heaven's Greatest Professor

"There's a huge gap betwe an adept and a master," June said. "What you're asking is beyond me. Ev among master alchemists, making a potion that can improve attribute points is very hard to find."

"Do you know somebody?"

"Well, Elder Vess is a grandmaster at Alchemy," she said. "I don't know if she's free for it, though. I'll ask her about it."

"Thanks, June," Ward said, smiling at her illusionary figure in his mind's eye. "Are you done with the classes?"

She nodded. "Almost. I have some other tasks left, however. Also, I learned about the indtured services for the six months."

"Tell me it's not in local time, please," Ward said.

"It is in time of the Frontline," she said, as Ward sighed in relief. "So, you'll only have to work unpaid for a couple of weeks to a month. However, considering you have not had your obligatory service of six years in the front lines, they might rope you in for that much time."

Ward groaned.

"Well, considering your job at the academy, they'll let you take vacations," June mtioned. "Not to mtion, the six years' service is not continuous. Like Aurel only did two and a half years with a six-month gap betwe. She'd have to go back to complete her terms later.

Considering how the time dilation ratio is :, it wouldn't be a problem to take a month's break from the academy to complete a year of service."

"I get it," Ward said. "So about my post as a combat instructor, did they decide anything on that?"

"I fear not," she said. "From what I heard, you're likely to be suspded till the d of your service in the front lines. I'll talk to you later about this later wh I come back."

"Over dinner th?" He asked.

June nodded slowly as the connection discontinued shortly.

Ward didn't keep Jason waiting for long. He explained, and they decided to keep the hearts with him for the time being.

"Now that only leaves the matter with your armour," Ward said. "Considering I'll have to leave within in a few days, I plan on working on it in the next couple of days."

Jason was delighted to know his armour would be done very quickly, though he didn't know where Ward would be leaving for.

"Front lines," Ward said with a sigh. "That reminds me, June mtioned it is mandatory for all Iron Rankers to be drafted for six years in the frontline. Did you complete your terms already?"

That was probably not the case, as Jason looked no older than twty years of age. Well, high attribute points slow down the natural progression of age, but Ward didn't think Jason completed his terms. His embarrassed smile was evidce ough.

"I was on the frontline for about eight months," Jason said. "My Father pulled some strings to get me out of it, providing my expertise is esstial in other business."

Ward arched an eyebrow. Well, a governor of a big city like Navin seemed like the right type of person who could pull such strings for his son.

"Um, I'll complete my terms though," Jason added awkwardly, as though thinking Ward was looking down on him for that.

"Well, doesn't matter," Ward said. "Do what you think worthwhile, if you don't like it you may as well get out of the trouble."

Jason didn't reply to that. "So why do you have to go to the frontline? The obligatory term?"

"That, and it's a big mess," Ward said with an exhale. He explained briefly what happed with Torin Walt, and Jason's response was what Ward imagined.

"Fuck!" he cursed. "They can't do that. Indtured service in the front lines is the place for the criminals and the worst sort of them. Fuck!"

Ward sighed. "Complaining will only make it harder for me," he said. Considering everything of it was staged.

"Still, they cannot just put you with convicted criminals wh it wasn't ev your fault," Jason shouted. "You know, this is why I hate politics, why I left home. All these big talks about honour and pride, and th how they used people of lower standing to their gain... I hate them with zeal."

"Well, th how far have they come in forging your armour?" Ward changed the topic. "I cannot do anything about it if they hav't worked on it yet."

Well, Jason would have to wait a month at best if that was the case. It would only be six months for Ward, after all.

"I'll ask Miss Ard about that," Jason said. After mulling over something for a minute, Jason added, "Hey, Ward, I might not be able to help you with the injustice the Walt family has done to you, but I might be able to help you not be drafted with the convicted and se as one."

Ward narrowed his eyes. "Are you going to ask your father?"

Jason shook his head. "I have another line other than my father," he said. "I took your advice on clearing my quarrel with my family, but I feel it's only worth it after I make something of myself. My father won't respect my choices if I cannot show it to him."

"Th how are you going to help me?"

"I have my ways," Jason smiled.

***

After reaching his apartmt in the city, the first thing Jason did was call his elder sister for the favour through a longread. He feared the call wouldn't connect, or she wouldn't be prest to answer his call, and he would have to sd a letter to the front lines.

Jason was delighted to be mistak.

"Hey, Sis," Jason called. Ev though his relationship with his family was rather iffy, his elder sister was someone he could turn to anytime. She was, after all, his idol for going into a quarrel with his father. "How are you feeling today?"

"Bored and lethargic," she said. "I'm actually on a task of transporting a batch of weaponry into the front lines, you know how boring they can be."

Jason did not, but he laughed. "List, I have a favour to ask."

There was a silce for a while, and th she said, "I'm listing."