"Professor?" Hermes nearly choked on his own breath. "Wait. Hold on. You're telling me… you're teaching law here? At AUPU?"
Shani smiled with the same unbothered calm he always carried. "Yes. The faculty asked me to handle a few courses while I prepare for practice. I just passed the national board exams too…. Top ten, somehow. I'll be working under Samavurti and Co. soon."
Hermes stared at him, at a complete loss for words. "You… you passed the top ten? And you're going to Samavurti? That's like… Like winning the legal Olympics! I…"
He scratched the back of his neck, shame pricking at his chest. "I can't believe you've already achieved so much and I didn't know. I was—"
"Busy being a hero?" Shani chuckled warmly, clapping Hermes's shoulder. "Don't belittle yourself. You've had your hands full ever since your debut. I've watched every story that came out about you."
Hermes winced inwardly, thinking to himself with bitter humor, You could say that again.
