The Talkative Professor

A’U Science Academy Branch 8, Inside a classroom.

“Math is interesting and is one of our greatest inventions. Take note that any number can be represented a million times. Take the number 1 for example. Two over two (2/2), three over three (3/3), ten over ten (10/10) and you can keep going for as long as the number is divided by itself will always be equivalent to 1.

Similar to the next digit which is 2. This can be represented a million times as well. Multiply 2 by any number divided by itself is 2. Two times four over four is two (2 x 4/4 = 2). Two times fifty over fifty is two (2 x 50/50 = 2) and the list goes on. The question is, why would you do it? Why calculate and put yourself into a never ending sequence which you know follows a predictable logic.

It is not a bad thing per se. I mean during ancient times, early mathematicians had to do it for the sake of calculating Pi. To understand the value of Pi, our ancestors had to go the trouble of having to draw a hexagon inside a circle, then bisects the hexagon into a dodecagon which is a regular 12-sided shape, then 24-gon, then 48-gon and so on. The first few steps were simple but as you move along the sequence, the calculation involves square roots and then turning them into fractions but it does follow a logic.

Then one day, someone discovered another type of infinite sequence then relate the two together, and what do we get? A better understanding of Pi which liberated us from that ridiculous way of calculation.

*Exhale

Great! I hope everyone is still enjoying this class. Tomorrow, we will move on to chapter 8. So if you have no more questions, class dis….”

“Teacher, when will we have a discussion of imaginary numbers? I want to skip grades.” Before the teacher could finish his sentence, an Elven kid who looks like 6 years old asked a question.

“Ha ha ha. Come find me later and we will talk about it. Alright, class dismissed.”

A group of fifteen students stood up and prepared for their next lessons. The class is a mix of young Elvens between the ages of 6 to 14 years old except for a human adult mixed in.

He is Clay with wrinkles on his forehead. It has been two months now since he enrolled into this academy.

Three months ago after he left Grizzly School, he went to de-register himself from being part of the planet’s Token Holders and he was advised it will take 92 days to complete his request and until then, he will still be considered a Token Holder. During this period of time, he did research on what Tokens are for and aside from being able to easily enter any of the Major Sects within Navarum Tri-Empire, nothing else would benefit him. The only drawback which to him is not really a loss is that he will give up this privilege but he can still enlist anytime but he has to undergo series of tests. At least he can avoid unwanted challengers.

In the past, he wanted to exit the planet and become a scientist but given that the planet has already advanced, he decided to stay and matriculate to simple school for his start.

At that time, he was worried about his tuition and while searching for a school with the least fees, he came across a scholarship offered to cultivators. The offer is irresistibly great especially that graduates can get recommendation to pursue higher studies which he had always dreamed of.

Upon acceptance, he was recommended to attend high school class but he knew he had to start from the beginning. The school was reluctant but having no records of having attended any academy, they later agreed to his request to attend elementary.

It is humiliating for someone his age to join a class of younger generations but it is the least thing of his worry. Maybe he will taint the records of the school but after a thousand years, his existence will be forgotten.

Clay has all the time in the world and he will take his time starting from scratch. He may have attended school during his previous life but the basic education of this world is not the same.

The only thing wrong with his plan is that it never occurred to him that the academy which he matriculated into is a place where the brightest have gathered. A place where superior IQ s have conglomerated and he just realized the vast difference of their intelligence. Barely ten and they have a mental capacity of someone who finished a degree. He anticipated that he will have an advantage as a grown adult but it turned out it was the opposite.

Yesterday, they had a quiz about fractions and they had to answer 100 questions in ten minutes and he was the last to finish and while everyone perfected the test, he committed 3 mistakes.

He had been to countless life and death situations and he had always maintained his calm composure yet who would have thought that attending school would make him irritable and grumpy.

Clay was silent as he stared the back figure of the kid who just asked about “imaginary numbers”.

“Imaginary numbers, my arse.” Clay thought. He wanted to curse this boy to be afflicted with bad luck and endless suffering for nine generations to come. Every day he has to endure sitting beside geniuses and witness their level of intelligence.

While Clay is thinking if he should transfer to another school, the teacher stopped and said, “Oh I almost forgot, Clay Endremilas whoever you are. Professor One-Hand would like to speak with you. Meet him at Laboratory Room E-303 before four. “

Clay woke up from his stupor and when he looked at towards the door, the teacher already exited the classroom.

Clay suddenly thought if he had misbehaved or if he had committed any crime. He had been careful this entire time and not attract anything similar to being challenge to that life and death duel three months ago.

There is another hour before his next class and he did not want to be late and decided to answer the summon so he stepped out of the classroom as well.

The campus is overall peaceful and conducive to upbringing of science enthusiast. Unlike the school Clay attended back on earth where there is bully and delinquents infestation and coupled with other students who came to make friends and find their true love, this school is the embodiment of every parent’s dreams to have their children realize their aspirations.

Clay enjoyed the quiet walk as he approached a large building located on the east wing of academy. Unlike the outer ring where he rarely meets adults, he started to encounter more physically mature students. And unlike the cultivation school he previously worked at as a janitor, he has yet to meet an arrogant Elven.

After fifteen minutes of walking, Clay arrived inside the building and upon confirming the room number, he swiped his ID card to open the door.

The door retracted to the side creating a swishing and revealing the interior of the room. Clay looked at the sign board again to make sure he is at Room E-303 before stepping inside.

There is only one person in the room and Clay is reluctant to speak as the elderly Elven wearing a white laboratory gown not far from him looks occupied while extracting a yellowish drop of fluid inside a glass tank.

“Amazing, isn’t it? What you’re looking at is Topaz Matter -10TH Form. Why don’t you come closer and have some tea.” The moment Clay heard Topaz Matter, his eyes squinted and allowed a portion of his Qi to circulate around his eyes and observe his surroundings.

The High Elven before him is a Foundation Establishment cultivator and he can’t find anyone with stronger cultivation. Topaz Matter is directly related to Sleepers and while he was promised that he will be cleared of suspicion, he still can’t help it but raise his guard.

“I’m a friend.” Seeing that the Clay is not moving, Professor One-Hand spoke again as he enclosed the small drop of golden liquid and sealed it into a transparent square glass.

Clay calmly assessed his surroundings. The Elven is missing his left hand and he cannot feel any presence of threats. There was an awkward silence and Clay watched as One-Hand poured tea on an empty desk.

“Have a seat.”The professor made a gesture with his right hand to signal Clay to seat before him.

Clay did not want to complicate things and since he has no clue why they have to talk, he walked towards the table and sit then grabbed his cup of tea.

*Sip

“Are we even allowed to eat and drink inside? For a substance so delicate, you seem relaxed and not afraid it gets contaminated.” Clay did not know how to open a conversation seeing that the professor is maintaining an amicable expression.

“You have nothing to worry about. It’s not as delicate as you think it is. In fact, even if this liquid is ingested, it will only cause slight indigestion and sleeplessness. You can combine it with other substances and play with it however you wish and it will still remain a useless liquid. However, change our environment to the 9TH Spatial Subspace and it becomes volatile and reactive that when properly imbued with Dao Power, the force it creates is enough to obliterate this entire planet.”

*Sip

Professor One-Hand spoke like he was talking to an old friend as he sipped his tea. He placed the transparent cubic glass containing the Topaz Matter he extracted earlier and pushed it towards Clay on the table.

“I heard you wanted to become a scientist majoring in Primordial Energies so I wanted to show you a little bit on what those scientists are currently working on.”

Clay picked up the transparent cube and observed the golden liquid floating inside. He can tell it contains a Spiritual Qi but it does indeed do not emit any kind of dangerous fluctuation.

“Did the professor summon me here just to encourage me to become better in the field?” Clay smiled as he attempted to shift the conversation.

“Ha ha ha. Flatter yourself not.” Professor One-Hand laughed softly and then said, “It’s actually the opposite. You may not know this but every major quizzes everyone has been taking related to Math all have hidden questions in them. Not only have you not discovered them, you even committed mistakes.

I don’t know what your plan is but with these scores, you will be bound to stumble upon more advance questions and we’re not even talking about real Math problems here. So while you’re taking your time figuring out these fundamentals, a new generation of geniuses will have been born. In Layman’s term, you’re unfit to become a scientist.”

“I may not be the brightest but it is not a reason not to appreciate and pursue a career in science.” Clay answered honestly. It is true he is not good now but he believes that after a hundreds or maybe even thousands of years of study that he will become better just like Lord Lao.

*Sip

There was momentary silence and when their eyes met, Clay forced a smile a sipped his tea as well.

“You know, I remember a time when I told someone he should look for another career and without me knowing, the boy was devastated he went mental and he planned his death and framed me. His family came after me but I managed to get away with it with luck.”

Clay had his fair share of talkative old men and he can already tell he met another one. Although he does not know why this professor summoned him, he gets a feeling he is being scolded for not studying hard enough. His guess is that this old Elven is trying to inspire him through a friendly talk and to not offend the man, Clay decided to go along with it. “Maybe because you did not properly tell that boy why he should find a better career?”

“I’m actually serious when I say when I say you’re unfit to become a scientist. With the current state of modern science, hard work is not enough. Do you want me to elaborate?”

Clay sensed the change of the professor’s tone but he still smiled and slightly nodded in response.

“Take a look at that box in your hand. I am sure with a 100 percent certainty that you only see a transparent glass with a yellow drop of liquid in it, right? Tell me if I’m wrong.”

Clay nodded as it was the truth. It is just a transparent box with a yellow liquid at the center.

“But you see, on the perspective of someone with higher IQ, they see something else like the shape of that cube. They see the lines and the right angles each corner and question why does the liquid floats at the center. They are thinking of reasons why such a drop of liquid is suspended at the center. Why is it not moving towards any of the sides?”

Clay smiled inwardly as Professor One-Hand is making a contrast of him to an actual genius. Just earlier he thought he is being reprimanded for his academic performance but it looks like he really is being talked into changing careers. He just hopes this old man will get to his point. Right now, he feels the professor is telling him he is dumb without directly telling him he is dumb. He can only blame himself for his ignorance. “I guess I’ll have to look for another school.” he thought to himself pretending to be interested.

“There is this crazy notion that people are born with predestined jobs. Some become doctor, others lawyers, some become police officers, biologists, physicists and for those with little luck, they end up with other jobs. And I am not saying this to belittle burger-flippers or janitors as we all play important roles to run a functioning society. And you on the other hand was born to become a cultivator.”

“If this senior wants to relay that the school is kicking me out, then there is no need to further waste his time.” Clay felt the conversation is going to drag further so the moment Professor One-Hand paused, he gained the courage to end the conversation.

There was no change on the professor’s face and stood up while preparing to leave.

“As a teacher, it is my responsibility to help promising students but since you are a cultivator, I would like you to have that cube as my gift, to remind you of your aspiration so you could do better. You may not be a genius but I hope that when you look at that cube, especially when you go home today, that you will change the way you see things. I want you to remember this conversation as you look at those lines at the edges of the cube as you analyze its relation to the Topaz Matter in the middle.”

Clay was confused as he watched Professor One-Hand walked towards the door.

“Study hard and you will not be kicked out.”