An Alternative Method For Gaining A Girlfriend

[Professor Charles]

Back at him I stared, impassively, my chest rising and falling as I breathed. “Stop, she's … Ayna, step away from him.”

But the girl did not move. In fact looking back now I realised she could not move, likely out of fear mostly. Morningstar, however, did lower his hands, face curling into a snarl. “Charon."

A sharp intake of breath came from Ayna. Calmly, I looked at her, bringing a smile to my face. “Ayna, please ignore my brother. I think you should tell us what you heard, take your time with it.”

The young drow swallowed hard, her eyes flickering back over to the fearsome form of my brother. She shivered slightly beneath his raw prowess, then ducked her head before she took in a breath and looked back to me.

“You're … you're not tieflings,” she sighed.

I paused, frowning a little. The sigh was odd - not what I had been expecting in the slightest. It was full of disappointment instead; raw and unbidden. Blinking twice I folded my arms across my chest.

She noticed then, the tone in her voice. Gasping lightly she raised her hands before her and shook them. “Ah, s-sorry professor. I meant that, tieflings are fascinating, you're - their culture. Everything. I thought …”

Morningstar burst into laughter suddenly. Throwing him a dark look I scowled as he spluttered.

“She - she was interested in you, not your tedious waste of a subject.”

“It's not a waste,” I muttered.

Ayna suddenly came to my aid, “oh, no sir, I am still wanting to learn.”

“But you forced yourself to gain interest just to get closer to him?” My brother was being horribly cruel.

She stopped, her coal black skin, if it was possible, going pale. Slightly, she bit her lip. “I …”

Morningstar grinned, then he looked right to me. “Well. There's no point in you staying here, anymore, brother. We should be going.”

“One student not being truly invested in what I teach is no reason to leave, Morningstar,” I snapped. Though my heart burned in my chest, aching with discouragement. Ayna had only wanted what she thought I was, the supposed lifestyle and behaviours. Not what wisdom I could bestow. My pride in inspiring the next generation had diminished to some significant degree.

Twisting away from her I looked to Morningstar. “Get rid of her memories, if you want,” I said darkly, “I am heading back to my home.”

There was a mumble behind me. “I didn't say I did not care for the subject.”

I raised my brows but kept my back to her. There was a pause.

“What did you hear exactly?” Morningstar said in a bold voice: now he was being the reasonable one.

She pulled in her breath. I was hesitant to care as she had already hardened my heart with the admittance of not being enthusiastic about the subject purely because it was what it was; wondrous. Nay, instead she had to like tiefling me, fancy my fake species.

“I … that you are not tieflings, but rather some beings from the beginning of time. That you are saving the world. That he … you want him in a cell?!”

My jaw tightened slightly. Silence reigned for a moment before Morningstar replied.

“Well. I do not want him there. I'd rather have him working for me. As for saving the world …” he growled, “that's his desire. Mine is … different.”