The Wiz
Chapter 16: The High Court (2)

Zelden sighed furiously. Several times, he was seen rubbing his long white beard with pacing steps in front of Barcus. Making the man in the shabby clothes clatter loudly. He drank the beer next to him in one gulp.

"You made me drunk before drinking this drop. What's wrong with you, old man? You look like you're going to meet the god Ares" Barcus said in an annoyed tone. Zelden glanced sharply before he let out a long sigh for the umpteenth time. Although at this moment, the man chose to stop, and sat down in his chair. Right in front of Barcus.

"If Ares hears it, your life is over, Barcus." Barcus laughed out loud hearing that. He even held his stomach because he laughed too hard.

"Haha. Ah, it's no longer a problem. You just called that cruel God directly by name. Obviously, our history will end in the same second" Barcus said. He came back laughing. Moreover, when Zelden put on his upset face. The man seemed to have realized his mistake. Maybe because he was too agitated, making himself not pay attention to the sentence that came out of his mouth.

"All right, you win now. And well, I feel anxious like I'm going to meet her. However, this time it was more dangerous with that God of war." The laughter of Barcus instantly disappeared. Replaced with serious. The man leaned his body to get closer to Zelden.

"The strange man in the hat? Ck, I myself still can't understand. What do they really want from this lousy academy? They have had power and wealth for a long time. Humans are greedy" Barcus said. He leaned back on the chair and looked at Zelden.

"Let me guess. You have a bad feeling about their arrival today, don't you?" Zelden nodded immediately. That's what he's been feeling since. Even since last night. He's not a fool they can fool. From the beginning, Zelden already knew how the habits of each of the higher-ups were. Nothing is too different. In essence, they were seven greedy and cunning people. Unfortunately, gaining full power in the world.

"I just feel like this has something to do with those new students. Including the students you always teach. Her. Yeah, he's the one I'm most sure has something to do with why the higher-ups are speeding up their arrival." Barcus stared at the bored Zelden before focusing his gaze on the glass of beer he was about to gulp back in.

"Camolina? Sure oes. The greedy humans, of course, want the Opal stone inside the girl's body. Of course, anyone would want to have it. Except for me, who is lazy to face such voracious fleas," said Barcus who unknowingly told him things he should not say easily. Recalling his mistake just now, Barcus' body stiffened. He glanced slowly at Zelden. I hope the man doesn't hear clearly.

Unfortunately, Zelden heard it very clearly.

"So, the stone was on his body? Why didn't you tell me from the beginning!? It'll be a disaster for him, Barcus!"

Barcus moved slowly to improve his sitting position. He blinked his eyes a few times with a slow thump. "Bad things will happen if I say them directly. Besides, I can't figure out how he has it yet" Barcus said. He drank his beer back to the end.

"They're coming soon. You better get ready, old man." Zelden nodded in understanding. He immediately stood up and tidied up his slightly tangled clothes. Sighing a few times, he tried not to worry.

"Master, the entourage from the Palace will soon enter the academy area," Azura said. Then, his eyes turned to the figure of Barcus who looked indifferent as usual. He smiled thinly.

"I'm guessing you're discussing something important?" Barcus turned his head lazily towards Azura. He stood up and walked towards the door. It looked like it was going to approach Azura who was indeed standing nearby.

"Not really. He only lectured long on my habit of hunting naughty fairies. Old man, I won't join them. I'm lazy" said Barcus and walked out of the room. Azura looked at the man's back with a hard to interpret look.

Zelden sighed softly. He walked over to Azura. "Come, Miss. Do not let there be a look of their dislike when we find out we are late to welcome the arrival of the Palace officials." Azura nodded. He followed Zelden's steps.

Moments after walking, the two had found students lined up neatly on both sides of the red carpet that was held. Zelden's eyes were naturally, moving in search of a student. It wasn't difficult, because he had noticed the student before. His guess all this time was right, if there was anything strange with the student.

Refocusing his sight. He still continued his steps, until he stopped right in front of the academy's gate. Where the other teachers, other than Barcus, had stood to greet the higher-ups of the Palace.

Sighing slowly, the wrinkles on his face turned back to being friendly. Wearing his mask again. At least, for the day, he could figure out the little things that filled his head. Ah, it's because of Barcus. The man who unfortunately was his biological sister, really could not see her quiet stuff for a day.

Although in fact, Zelden admitted the existence of Barcus is very important. Aside from being because there was no one he trusted other than the shabby man, it also became a person who had a lot of unexpected information. One of them was, the fact that the academy he led had Opal stones. Can he say it like that?

"Welcome to Topaz's small academy, gentlemen of the Palace's top brass," Zelden greeted in a very friendly tone. The seven men who wore white robes as well as the same colored hats that had a height of about 5 centimeters— - except for one person at the back who wore a hat as high as 10 centimeters— stared around haughtily and low. As if, whatever was in front of them was no more respectful than the trash on the edge of the abyss.

"You should have bowed to the Great Lord for letting you meet us" said one. Zelden did not know if this was due to his conversation with Barcus or what. However, to this day, he could not help but clench his hands tightly. So he hid his hands into his great sleeves. No he let, both his hands were seen by the haughty person in front of him. It could be, the academy's self-esteem instantly fell right then and there.