Casper pushed open the wrought‑iron gate, revealing a three story building that was wider than it was tall.
A handful of students loitered near the entrance chatting and playing.
"Why are there so many people here? I thought it would be slightly more deserted." Adem raised a question.
"The school doubles as a boarding school," Casper replied, "It's quite cheap too, compared to others."
As they approached the entrance, a bell rang from somewhere inside. As if on cue, the students gathered their things and began filling inside.
They walked into the reception, a modest room filled with dozens of chairs towards the side. At the center rested a circular wooden table.
The walls were adorned with old black-and-white photos of graduates, trophies, and a large bulletin board cluttered with announcements and schedules.
Behind the table sat a woman in her early forties, wearing a kind smile and wire-rimmed glasses. She looked up, her eyes widening at the new arrivals.
"Oh, Casper! It's been a while." She stood and extended a hand, "It's been how long now? Two months?"
"Three," Casper quickly corrected her. The woman chuckled softly, shaking his hand warmly before her eyes drifted to Adem, "And who is this young lion?"
"This is Adem, a new assistant I'm hiring. The reason I came here is to admit him to the school." He said with a drawl.
The woman's eyes sparkled, "Good to meet you Adem. I'm Miss Parker. We'll be seeing lots of each other."
She said with a gentle smile.
Miss Parker then motioned for them to follow her through a wooden door at the rear of the reception. "The professor is busy right now. But I'm sure he'll make some time to see you — his star student."
Hearing her words, Adem leaned towards Casper. "Star student?"
Casper smiled, slightly proud. "I'm kind of a celebrity around here."
Adem nodded, "Hmm, nice. I thought you were an uncouth pig. It seems like you're not all brawn," he said with a smile.
Casper's lips twitched, He would make a good Provoker, he thought silently before quickly shooting back, "Uncouth? It seems like someone's reading up."
Adem rolled his eyes but kept pace as Miss Parker led them down a long, well-worn corridor.
"The classrooms are just ahead," Miss Parker explained, "You'll be taking your placement test there. Nothing too intimidating, just a way for us to figure out the right level for you."
Adem nodded quietly.
Inside the headmaster's office, an elderly man looked up from a pile of papers, his eyes lighting up with recognition. "Casper," he greeted with a warm smile.
"I haven't seen you since June," he said slowly, driving his wheelchair forward.
He was old — quite old. His skin sagged in places with wrinkles present everywhere, if one stared hard — they'd think he was an ancient relic stubbornly clinging to this Epoch.
Adem's eyes widened as he looked at him with surprise.
"The going's been great, Professor X." Casper replied as he pushed Adem forward, "This is Adem, your new student."
Xavier raised his eyebrow, "You've already decided that he's a student without even a word from me?"
"Hehe," Casper laughed lightly.
Professor X shook his head, "You've always been headstrong," he muttered, his eyes sharpening, "Very well, let's start the placement test. Then we'll get started with the paperwork."
Adem shifted uncomfortably, glancing between the two men. "Placement test?"
"Nothing difficult," Xavier assured him. "It's to see where to start you—nothing to stress over."
Casper gave him an encouraging nod. "You'll be fine unless you're slow."
Xavier shot him a look, "Language." He said slowly.
Adem smirked, "Don't worry, I'm pretty quick."
…
"Pretty quick huh? Pretty quick in failing!" Casper said loudly, glancing at the boy next to him.
"Hey, it's not my fault! That test was hard!" Adem defended himself, wrapping his arms together.
"Only a retard would get 9 on 30. The test wasn't even hard! It was basic grammar and history."
Adem snarled. "I'm not a retard!"
"Oh yes you are! Retard!"
He shouted before quickly continuing, "Your marks are truly atrocious. The scary thing is — you answered 47 multiplied by 957 and divided by 231 but couldn't answer a simple fill in the blanks! You curly haired baboon."
"Go kill yourself, you unemployed jerk." Adem answered back.
"I'm not unemployed!" Casper shot back quickly, "Detective work isn't some nine-to-five desk job. It's grinding, waiting, and occasionally throwing punches when things get messy."
Adem deadpanned, "Get a job, bro."
"Being a detective is a job!" Casper shouted out loud, his hands clenching into a fist.
Adem nodded, "For sure," after a pause, he quietly added, "Broke-ass."
Casper growled, standing up, he yelled, "Retard!"
"Broke-ass!"
"Retard!"
"Broke-ass"
"Retard!"
"Children!" A sharp voice erupted behind them as Professor X wheeled himself in front of them.
"Let's mind our language shall we?" He said softly.
He turned towards Casper and shook his head, "As for you, young man… your score was just as bad as his. So I wouldn't advise gloating."
Casper blinked, caught off guard, he stammered. "Wait—that's not fair!" he protested, standing straighter. "My test was objectively more difficult! It had questions from the previous Epochs, for crying out loud! Half the stuff was ancient history!"
Professor X smiled faintly, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "And yet," he said in a soft, deliberate voice, "the results remain the same."
Adem perked up instantly, practically bouncing in excitement, "Wait, wait, he did bad too? What were his marks?!"
Professor X's lips pursed, "Mr. Star Student here got eleven."
Adem blinked before bursting into laughter. "Eleven? Eleven?! That's only two points higher!"
Casper glared at him, his face twitching. "That doesn't prove anything! My test was way harder!"
"Doesn't matter. You're a retard and a broke-ass!" Adem said, then giggled.
Casper's glare deepened, "Oh yeah? That's how you want to play it? Well at least I have a home!"
Adem froze mid-laugh.
____
A/N - This chapter was slightly hard to write, that's why it took so long. Anyways, donate some powerstones and leave a review