CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 64: DON’T CLEAN

Mr. Nikolai’s smug smile widened as he looked directly at Ryker and Zane, his tone deliberately taunting as he said, "Yes, I want you to do precisely that. Are the people who pick trash and clean somehow less than human? You cannot look down on them or discriminate like that. Everyone is capable of such work, so I don’t understand why you are acting as if I’ve asked you to perform some impossible task. You have two hands, two legs, and one head, just like everyone else. So why can’t you do it?"

He had barely finished speaking when his wolf-sharp hearing caught the softest whisper from Aiden, who muttered under his breath, "But they’re not human."

Nikolai’s eyes snapped toward Aiden, glaring at him sharply, and Aiden froze. His hand flew to cover his mouth, as though he could shove the words back in before they did more damage. His mind raced as he pieced everything together, and realization struck him like lightning. So that was what Mr. Nikolai was. A wolf. It made sense now—how else could he have heard such a faint whisper? Until now, Nikolai had only introduced himself by name and by stating his role as the leader of the disciplinary committee. He had never mentioned his race or background.

Aiden mentally cursed himself and quickly reminded himself to keep his mouth shut. He could not afford to dig himself into a deeper hole.

Ryker then complained and said to Mr Nikolai, "I haven’t done any menial jobs before in my life", and Zane was quick to cut in and he said to Mr Nikolai, "likewise", Ryker couldn’t help but glare at Zane and he would have got into another argument with Zane if it wasn’t for the fact that they are inside the disciplinary hall right now, because he just could not understand why Ryker could not wait till he had finished talking because making his own dissatisfaction known too.

But Ryker force down his dissatisfaction and continue telling Mr Nikolai, "like I was saying, I have never done menial jobs before in my life, I don’t even know how to make even my own food so how can you just expect me to know how to clean and pick trash, I don’t have the skill for it". Mr Nikolai then sinckered and then said to Ryker, "well no one was born with the skill, you just have to do it and get it right". After Mr Nikolai finished talking Zane wants to say something too, and Mr Nikolai was quick to tell him "if you’re only going to talk to me about not having the skill for cleaning, then don’t bother opening your mouth". And Zane shut his mouth.

Mr. Nikolai’s gaze swept over the four students once more before he said with a slightly impatient tone, "Does anyone still have something to say apart from not having the necessary skil for cleaning? If not, I have somewhere I need to be."

Aiden slowly raised his hand.

Mr. Nikolai’s brows furrowed together as though he could already guess what was coming, and he said curtly, "Talk."

This time, Aiden stood straighter and took on a respectful stance before speaking. The sudden shift in demeanor made Nikolai sneer inwardly. How amusing, he thought, that Aiden was suddenly trying to act polite. "Do you really think it’s not too late for you to pretend to be respectful now?" Nikolai thought to himself, though he kept the words unspoken. He simply waited, his expression cool, for Aiden to say whatever he was about to say.

Aiden finally spoke, his voice earnest but still careful. "Mr. Nikolai, please, may we have our punishment postponed until maybe our semester break? You see, I am a very responsible student—one who doesn’t miss a single class, even when I’m sick. Tomorrow marks the start of our regular academic classes, and I truly do not wish to miss anything. If we start carrying out the punishment you assigned us right away, I will inevitably miss class, and that will be detrimental to me. So I beg you, sir, to reconsider."

Mr. Nikolai’s lips curled into a quiet, knowing snicker. He was well aware of Aiden’s debating skills by now and could practically feel the young man gearing up for another round of verbal sparring, this time dressed up in respectful language. Nikolai was not impressed. He was not Mr. John or Miss Flecine, who might be fooled by such politeness. If Aiden believed that a few clever words could get him out of this punishment, then he was gravely mistaken.

"I don’t think you will have any issues missing three days of normal classes," Nikolai said flatly. "Do you know why I specifically gave you three days to complete the punishment? It’s because I know you are currently the only one among the four of you who has not yet learned how to manifest your supernatural abilities. For the others, it doesn’t matter when the punishment takes place, but you are different. You need to focus all your energy on manifesting your powers. That’s why I didn’t assign the punishment to the first four days of the week, when you will have supernatural classes. I only set it for the last three days of the week, when you will have your normal academic classes."

He smirked smugly and added, "Aren’t I a genius for thinking of that?"

Aiden was struck completely speechless. He couldn’t help thinking to himself that this man was absolutely detestable. Nikolai caught the glare that flickered across Aiden’s face and raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Are you cursing me in your head?" he asked dryly.

Aiden immediately rearranged his features into the most flattering expression he could muster. "How would I dare curse you, Mr. Nikolai? I wouldn’t dare," he said with a sheepish smile. "But there is one thing I must disagree with. You cannot say that normal academic classes are less important. In my heart, academic classes and supernatural classes hold equal importance. That is why I am pleading for you to shift our punishment to the semester break. Mr. Nikolai, when I was still human and attended a human school, my academics had my full devotion. Everyone knew me as the school genius. If it weren’t for my parents insisting that I not miss out on my youth, I would have already started my undergraduate studies at fifteen. But I had to obey their wishes. They wanted me to have a normal school life, and they insisted I never miss a single day of class. So now, if I were to miss school, I would feel miserable for disobeying my parents, and also knowing I lost knowledge I could have gained that day. So I beg you, please reconsider."

Mr. John and Miss Flecine’s lips twitched as they tried to contain their reactions to the back-and-forth between Aiden and Nikolai. Even Carl was staring at Aiden like he was some kind of rare creature, utterly shocked that he dared argue with Mr. Nikolai so openly.

Zane and Ryker, meanwhile, were watching Aiden intently, their eyes practically glowing with encouragement as if silently backing him up. The other members of the disciplinary committee exchanged glances, stunned by what they were witnessing. On a normal day, their leader was the picture of impartiality and restraint, but now, angered and provoked by these four students, he was sparring with them like a child who refused to lose.

When Aiden finished speaking, most of the committee already knew exactly what Nikolai would do. There was no chance he would grant Aiden’s request. In fact, he would probably do the exact opposite of what Aiden wanted, just to prove a point.

As they expected, Nikolai did not disappoint. His lips curled into a sly smile as he said, "Aiden, you can’t just say that and expect me to change my mind. Listen to me. I am not being unreasonable here. Like you said, you should already be in university right now. And with your brilliance, I’m sure you would be close to finishing your degree by now. So missing three days of class will not hurt you. I know you’re intelligent enough to catch up."

Aiden’s frustration nearly boiled over. He couldn’t believe that Nikolai was using his own words against him. Still, he forced himself to take a deep breath and calm down, refusing to give up so easily. He was determined to get out of this punishment if it was the last thing he did.

"No, Mr. Nikolai, you can’t just say that!" Aiden protested, his tone still respectful but edged with desperation. "I really will miss a lot if I miss three days of academic classes. In a human school, we study five out of seven days each week, but here, we only get three days for academic learning, with the other four dedicated to supernatural classes. Even though I may be intelligent, as you said, I can promise you that I have never studied beyond my grade level. My parents never allowed it. Whatever will be taught in class tomorrow will be something completely new to me. Please, Mr. Nikolai, don’t cut short my bleeding heart for learning. I am begging you."

The room was silent for a moment after Aiden’s final plea.