After being informed by his classmate that he was being called by Tidsear Farras, Raibeart reluctantly left Solielle, who was in an odd condition, and responded to the call.
*
Laboratory IV – Special Proctor Gildas Junior High School.
The laboratory was eerily quiet as if it is separated from other parts of the school. The only sound was the faint hum of the room's temperature control system.
A man dressed in the signature black formal attire of a Special Proctor Gildas instructor sat at the teacher's desk. His eyes were fixed on the floating holographic screen before him. The blue light reflecting from the screen makes his expression appear more rigid than usual.
Raibeart stood before him. His body was upright yet leaning too far forward. His chin was raised in an attempt to hide his anxiety. The palms of his hands were slightly sweaty. He tried to remain calm even though his heart was pounding much too loud compared to the breath he was keeping steady.
"Raibeart," Tidsear Farras started the conversation in a flat voice, "your proposal is quite mature. But... the methodology is too rigid. I think you're too eager to finish many parts before the final exam. You can do better than this."
With furrowed brows, he asked, "Is it lacking in innovation? In what way?"
The man nodded slowly several times. "Lacking in many aspects. Especially in the area where you clearly want to appear perfect."
He clenched both hands. "I just want to prove that I can be better than anyone."
"In the end, you're neglecting the perspective that's more needed."
The teenager's breath began to feel heavier.
The man immediately understood where the direction of their conversation was heading. "Don't focus on others. Hanasta is indeed extraordinary. It's hard to imagine someone from the slum area like him. He has a different approach that shows a broader analytical and data exploration capability. But you are yourself. You only need to compare yourself with your past self, not with others."
He clenched his hands tighter. "But I'm sure I'm still better than someone like him!" he said with a somewhat defiant tone.
Tidsear Farras smiled faintly. He replied, "Forget it. Just focus on developing your proposal. You have potential, Raibeart. So stop comparing yourself to others."
Raibeart still seemed reluctant to accept it, but he gave a small nod. The teenager's heart pounded rapidly. Why was that boy's homeroom teacher still acting this way even after the rumors he had spread?
Suddenly, the atmosphere around there felt more oppressive. Raibeart felt the hair on his neck bristle with a mix of confusion and fear. But soon he tried to shake off that discomfort and leaned closer to the table.
"Tidsear Farras," he said more softly, "about Hanasta and the rumors going around... As his homeroom teacher, are you really not going to do anything?"
Farras's gaze was blank for a moment. "Rumor?" He lifted one hand. "Wait, what are we talking about right now?"
The teenager gasped upon hearing it. No wonder the situation had felt strange all along. "About the rumors circulating in all the student chat groups, Tidsear Farras. About him being suspected of being a spy for an extremist organization in the slum area. Even about the Allerick Gildas who..."
"A spy for an extremist organization? Allerick Gildas? What do you mean?" The man still looked confused, as if he didn't understand anything Raibeart was saying. "The teacher's council hasn't received any reports about that. Are you okay?"
Raibeart took a step back. What is this? he thought. He began to feel something was off. Tidsear Farras, who was usually very perceptive to what was happening among the students, seemed completely unaware of the rumors that had almost become common gossip.
He tried to ask again more cautiously, "I should be the one asking if you're okay, Tidsear Farras. Are you sure you're not forgetting something?"
The Tidsear responded with a small laugh. He said, "Raibeart, you must be tense from studying too much. Just focus on your proposal for now."
At that moment, Raibeart realized something. This was no longer just about the proposal or his long-standing rivalry with Hanasta. There was something wrong, and he had to find out what it was.
Before the peaceful life in the elite area of Sylvaine Macarena vanished.