Psionic Academy

Chapter Thirty-six: The Professor

Ten minutes later, Shane found himself standing in Professor Seabend's office.

"So Shane, why are you here?" the teacher asked curiously.

After lengthy debate and discussion, Shane and his friends had finally decided to get a teacher's help. They had considered going to Mr Fujimoto because he focused on the Academy's defense. At first it had made sense. After all, the possibility of another Onyx League agent sneaking onto the school grounds was a threat to the school's safety, so it seemed appropriate that they would go to the teacher who was responsible for the maintaining of that safety.

However, they had thought about it and realised that Mr Fujimoto wouldn't be able to answer any of their questions. He wouldn't be able to tell how the Onyx League agents had gotten onto the campus and into the dormitory, or why they had decided to give Shane the message in the first place.

Mr Fujimoto wasn't focused on finding the knowledge - just enacting an effective defense force. He would simply sound the alarm to boost the campus security. Everything would go on lock down.

While they were still willing to let that happen for the sake of the student's safety, they wouldn't be allowed to investigate or ask any teachers questions after that.

They would have missed their chance to gain some valuable knowledge.

Then they had argued about contacting Headmaster Farmaris because he ran the school. They hoped he would take the time to give them some possible answers, while also commanding the defense lockdown to begin. Then they had remembered how much work he had as the Headmaster of Psionic Academy.

He wouldn't have enough time to provide them with the information they were looking for, and he probably wouldn't even want to tell them, to begin with.

Finally, they had come to an agreement: the first teacher they would tell would be Professor Seabend.

As an expert in Mental Psionics, she was very skilled at sensing disturbances and noticing changes - perfect for discovering a recent upset in the equilibrium of the Academy's force field.

So it meant that they would get some of the intel they wanted.

And Professor Seabend was a responsible teacher, they knew that. After providing Shane and the others with some answers, she would make sure to warn the Academy's defense system.

Shane thought back to the Professor's question.

So Shane, why are you here?

That's what she had asked.

Honestly, Shane didn't know why. He didn't know why the Onyx League was targeting him.

Shane didn't know the meaning of life, why there were living things on this Earth, what their purpose was.

So he was tempted to dive headfirst into a long philosophical conversation, but he decided to go with the pragmatic answer.

"Because of this message," Shane answered.

As he had done for Luciana, he passed the envelope into Professor Seabend's open hand.

As she read the note, the Professor's eyes narrowed with worry.

When she gave the note back to Shane and looked back up into his eyes, he saw that she had controlled her emotions. Her face had a calm, poised expression. She looked resolute.

Determined.

Ready to do something.

"OK," Professor Seabend said, the resolution making her voice strong, "I am going to go and conduct a disturbance search on the school's force field."

Shane nodded.

Still, he wanted to see what the Professor would actually do. After all, it really concerned him too.

"Can I - " he began, but was cut off.

"Yes, Shane. If you would like, you can follow me and observe the process of the disturbance search."

Shane glanced to the window of the classroom. Outside, Fernando, Luciana, and Ava had their faces pressed against the glass. Their breath misted the surface of the window with clouds of condensation.

Shane could barely resist giving them a roll of his eyes.

This was not what he had envisioned when his friends had told him they would watch his conversation with the Professor 'discreetly'.

They looked at him inquisitively - wondering if he had been permitted to view Professor Seabend's work.

Shane smiled at them and gave a slow nod.

Fernando, Ava, and Luciana looked at each other and cheered, their mouths open and grinning. Of course, Shane couldn't hear them through the sound-proof walls.

"Erm, Mister Marino?"

It was Professor Seabend.

Shane hastily looked away from the window and met the Professor's eyes, suddenly very aware that his Psionic Science teacher had been watching the ridiculous exchange with his friends.

Professor Seabend sighed wearily.

Shane's stomach sunk.

Still, there must have been some hope in his eyes.

Either that, or Professor Seabend had decided to read a snippet of his thoughts.

Then she gave a wry smile.

"Fine," she said, "I give you permission to bring the others too."

Hello everyone, Sylver here! So the friends have finally revealed the message to a teacher. After a lengthy and somewhat awkward exchange during which Professor Seabend discovers the threats to the safety of the Academy, she allows the others to go with them. Now, they are moving forward to inspect the force field, gain knowledge from the mysteries of the past - and hopefully discover some of the League's secrets. I hope you've enjoyed reading this chapter!

If you've enjoyed reading this story, don't forget to vote, comment and add it to your reading lists. Stay tuned, because I will be publishing a brand new chapter every second day! If you have any tips for how I can improve my writing, or what I did well this time, please feel free to tell me (in a nice manner). Thanks so much for reading my story!

- Sylver