Prof. Hugo Johansson
Alice and Claire a year four student who became quickly acquainted with her were walking along the school corridor engaged in discussion when a man in a black coat walked past them. He had black gloves on and was holding a briefcase, he was also wearing a black hat and had a monocle on. He was walking rather fast and nervously too as he approached the stairs that led to his office.
"It seems someone is in a bit of a hurry," Alice said and Claire chuckled.
"That's Prof. Hugo," Claire said.
"That's a Professor?" Alice asked in surprise.
"Yeah he is, he was transferred from the Academy in Sweden last year. He's the elemental magic teacher and he's pretty good at offense magic too but not as strong as you guys" Claire said.
"He looked rather nervous to me and suspicious too," Alice said.
"That's just how he is. They said Nomags killed his wife and daughter when they saw them use magic to save a girl and he's been like that ever since" Claire said.
"That's tragic," Alice said as she heaved a sigh. "That's why Melissa hates them so much," she thought to herself as they continued to the class.
"Sit down everyone Miss Alice is here," Claire said loudly.
"I've told you not to call me that, just Alice is fine" Alice whispered.
"Oops, my bad" Claire said and laughed. Alice then proceeded to the board and using telekinesis she picked up a chalk and wrote on the board "FLAMMEUM".
"This is a spell that can be a curse if used effectively on a person. It conjures a flaming spear and shoots it at the opponent setting them ablaze but it can easily be blocked too. But you also need to know the specific spell that cancels this curse" Alice explained.
"What happens if we use another cancellation spell?" Franco asked.
"Nothing happens and then the curse just hits you and if you're not lucky, you die a very painful death," Alice said as the mood in the class dulled. Lighten up now students let's just hope it doesn't get to that, "Now the cancellation spell for flammeum is reicio flammeum, take note of this" Alice said. She called out to Franco to demonstrate the spell on a statue. Franco was a very fast learner and a very malicious boy, he had already grasped the working of the spell and he intended on using it on Kylian, another student in the class whom he didn't like. Franco readied himself facing the statue and after he took a deep breath he bellowed:
"Flammeum!" redirecting his wand to Kylian and a small flaming spear flew towards him. but Kylian was a very smart and Intelligent boy, he already figured out the counter spell for flammeum during the lesson and he somehow knew Franco would do something like that because he was well aware Franco didn't like him.
"Ego vicissim!" Kylian shouted and instantly the spell reverted and struck Franco on his right arm and it caught fire. He was in intense pain as the fire burned his arm, Alice panicked and didn't know what to do, she just stood in shock looking at the boy, just then she remembered that the flowers in the flower vases have healing qualities, so she took out the flower from the vase on her table and squeezed it tightly so the drops of water that came from it fell on his hands, instantly the flame stopped and the injury on his arm created by the spear closed up but at this time Franco had already passed out. Claire and Alice left as they took him to the infirmary for further checkup and treatment, they climbed the stairs and entered another corridor with offices to either side of them which was a little dark having only two lamps giving light to it, with the infirmary located at the end of the corridor. As they walked they noticed a bright blue light like that from a portal coming from the crevices on the third door to their left, they looked closely at the door and saw the name tag "Prof. Hugo Johansson".
"I wonder what he's doing, using a Portal within the school premises," Claire said.
"Portals aren't allowed inside the school?" Alice asked.
"Of course, they aren't, didn't you read the journal?" Claire asked.
"What journal?" Alice said feigning ignorance.
"I'm sure you must've gotten one, the school always hands them out to newcomers," Claire said. Shortly after, the door opened and it was Prof. Hugo staring. He was a tall man that stood six foot five inches and looking at him up close he had pale skin, this time his tie was loose and his hair looked scruffy and he was also missing his monocle.
"What can I do for you children?" The Professor asked.
"We were just taking...." Alice said before she was interrupted.
"Oooh, I'm sorry Miss Alice I didn't see you there. It seems you're off to the infirmary with young Master Franco?" He asked bending down to closely examine the boy's burnt sleeve and closed-up injuries. "He'll live," he said.
"Thank you for the assurance sir," Claire said and they left for the infirmary. They laid him on the mattress and called for a nurse who rubbed a healing lotion on his hand to clear out the scar caused by the fire. While they sat waiting by Franco's bed they started talking about the poor state of Prof. Hugo, at first they thought he just had too many to drink but then Alice asked.
"Why are portals prohibited"
"So that the school can keep records of the teacher's whereabouts" Claire replied. "Wait, now that I think of it, he isn't supposed to be able to open a portal in school because transportation magic is blocked here," she said.
"Then how's he doing it?" Alice asked.
"He's probably with a relic" Claire replied. As they continued talking the head nurse Madame Margrette walked in.
"Aren't you supposed to be in class Miss Alice?" Madame Margrette asked.
"We were about to leave, please take care of him," Alice said and they left. They walked slowly as they came out from the infirmary closely observing the Professor's door and this time they saw red rays of light shining on the opposite door and they became scared as two things crossed their minds. The first was that, if a red light is emitted from a spell it meant that the user might be using summoning magic and it was highly prohibited in the school, the second occasion where a red light is emitted would be from a curse used to kill a nomag And both cases were very frightening. They attempted to dart through the corridor but before they could run the door opened and the Professor came out and walked towards them.
"It would be in your best interest to mind your business and stop snooping around the teacher's area," he said and walked past them heading for the infirmary. The both of them left for their classes and didn't speak to each other on the way but their faces especially Claire's showed evident fright.
Later that day after school Claire and Alice were together and this time with Peter in the school garden. They sat as they enjoyed their Pink Pralines which is a famous sweet specialty in Lyon especially back then in the 19th century and it was only served once in two weeks in Nazaire. They greedily ate it while ignoring the other before Claire broke the silence.
"Aren't we going to talk about Professor Hugo?"
"Like he said you guys should mind your business," Peter said as he continued with his Pastry. While students were served just a piece and teachers served two pieces Peter had four because the Lunch Lady Mrs. Brigitte a chubby woman possessing a large wart by the side of her nose liked Peter very much because she thought he looked like her son who worked with the Magic Council in Romania.
"I just feel he's up to something shady in there," Claire said with a puzzled look on her face.
"You're right. He is up to something in there and we're going to find out" Alice said casually as she got up and disposed of the reusable plate in which the pastry came in.
"Don't you think we should be telling a teacher about this?" Peter said.
"We're teachers, remember?" Alice said holding up her staff card in Peter's face.
"Now that you mention it, why don't you guys have offices?" Claire asked.
"Melissa didn't want one so we didn't take any, anytime we aren't teaching a class we just go back to the cottage or stay here in the garden" Alice responded.
"So what's the plan?" Peter asked.
"We'll meet at the facilities room, the one next to the cafeteria and hide out there," Alice said.
"And then what?" Peter asked impatiently.
"And then... when all the teachers leave and check out for the day we break into Mr. Hugo's office," Alice said as she smiled crookedly.
"That's mental Alice, how would we even know if he'll leave," Peter asked.
"Well... that's the downside, we won't but if there's a chance at all we'll get to find out anything, I won't let it slip," Alice said.
"I'm with you," Claire said holding Alice's hand. The time clocked at 9 pm and the bell rang echoing around the school signifying Lights out. Claire left Alice and Peter and went to her dormitory as the both of them also made their way to their cottage.