Chapter 443 Professor Barak Gorm
After the group left the Spellcasting field, Lioran approached him, casually placing his arm around Archer's shoulder.
Lioran's unexpected gesture took Archer by surprise, but he didn't mind the friendly interaction, knowing he had no other friends.
He spoke with enthusiasm, "You went head-to-head with three Battle Witches! Are you trying to provoke Nala even further?"
As the lion boy spoke, he playfully pointed to the left, which prompted Archer to turn his head in that direction. There, he saw Nala intensely staring at him.
Hemera and Leira couldn't help but notice the lion girl's unusual behavior, which led them to exchange knowing giggles.
The Sun Elf approached the Lionheart Princess and teasingly inquired, "Nala, why are you gazing at Darling as if you're ready to pounce on him?"
Archer and Lioran came to a halt, and Nala approached them, determination in her voice as she spoke. "When Father arranges our engagement, we will spar and prove that I can keep up with you."
Archer grinned at the spirited challenge from the blonde girl, and replied, "Certainly, my lioness. When your Father visits for the festival, I'll gladly take on both of you."
Nala nodded in agreement, and Leira was the next to speak. "Arch, what lessons do you have today?"
Recalling the information she had shared with him earlier, Archer replied, "I have History and geopolitics, and if I remember correctly, Hemera has Magic Fundamentals."
The Sun Elf, Hemera, nodded in confirmation, and they made their way into the college. She kissed him affectionately before departing for her class.
Nala turned to him radiantly, before planting a cheeky kiss on his cheek, then hurried off to her lessons.
Lioran couldn't contain his laughter as he observed Archer's interactions with the girls. He bid Archer farewell before heading to his lessons.
Leira, still amused, led him to their classroom. As they strolled down the corridor, they crossed paths with Ella, Teuila, Nefertiti, and Sera.
The girls exchanged warm kisses and shared their lesson schedules with Archer. Then, Sera asked, "Sweetheart, we're going to Hecate's shop. Will you meet us there?"
Archer nodded and replied, "Yes, I have to see the emperor first before I can join you."
With smiles all around, Ella added, "We need to get to our lessons now. We'll catch up with you later, husband."
They hurried off down one of the corridors and entered a classroom, leaving Archer and Leira standing there.
He chuckled before resuming their journey to the history classroom. They soon arrived at the history classroom and pushed open the heavy wooden door.
The room was already half full of students, and the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. At the front of the class stood a large man who appeared to have Orc heritage.
His muscular frame and stern countenance gave him an imposing presence. With a hearty and resonant voice, he introduced himself as Professor Barak Gorm.
"Welcome, class! I am Professor Gorm, and I will be your new instructor for the history and geopolitics lessons. Today, we embark on a journey through the annals of time, exploring the rich tapestry of our world's past."
The Half-Orc turned toward Archer and Leira, a warm smile gracing his face as he addressed them. "Ah, it's Mr. White Dragon and his muse, the Avalonian Princess. Please, take a seat next to Halime."
Archer glanced over to the adjacent desk, where the Nagendra Princess, Halime, greeted him with a friendly smile. He made his way to the chair and seated himself, Leira alongside him.
Halime turned to him, her voice carrying an exotic Southern accent as she inquired, "Arch! How have you been? It's been a while since we last crossed paths."
He looked at the snake girl and smiled before replying. ''I've been good Hali. What about you?''
The black-haired girl nodded her head. ''Classes were canceled and we were only allowed in the college grounds so it's been boring.''
Archer chuckled as Leira spoke up. ''Yeah, some of the professors joined the war and the headmistress had to stop classes for a while.''
The three continued chatting until more students walked into the room causing Professor Gorm to start his lesson while everyone sat down.
That's when Archer spotted the lilac-haired girl walking into the room looking like she was angry until she sat down with a group of girls.
Leiro nudged him and spoke in a hushed voice. ''That is Aurelia Vitalis the youngest princess of the Vitalis Kingdom in the south. They are mermaids who created a kingdom on land and in the sea during The Continental Chaos when the Avalon Empire was founded.''
Archer smiled at the news and found the war she was talking about interesting before the Professor started speaking.
He stood at the front of the classroom, his deep voice resonating through the hushed room. The students fixed their attention on him, eager to hear the tale he was about to share.
"Today, my dear students, we shall embark on a journey back in time, to a time when our empire faced a calamity like no other," Professor Gorm began. "I speak of the Doom of Frostholm."
The students could feel the gravity of the subject as he continued, "Frostholm, our once-proud city in the Frostwyn Duchy was a beacon of prosperity and culture in the north. Its soaring spires and grand architecture were unparalleled, a testament to the greatness of our ancestors."
He paused for a moment, letting the image of the magnificent city settle in their minds.
"But," Professor Gorm's voice grew somber, "that greatness met a terrible fate when the Swarm descended upon it. A horrifying amalgamation of creatures, a nightmarish coalition of monstrous beings from the frigid abyss."
The students leaned forward in their seats, captivated by the story.
"The Ratlings, Ghouls, mutated humans, demi-humans, and countless other horrors comprised this swarm," he continued.
"They surged through the streets of Frostholm, laying waste to everything in their path. The once-thriving city was plunged into a nightmare of destruction and terror."
Gasps and whispers filled the room as the students tried to imagine the horrors that had befallen Frostholm.
"In the face of this dire threat," Professor Gorm said, "The previous Emperor Rein Avalon had no choice but to order the construction of the Frostholm Wall—a monumental barrier designed not just to protect the city, but to shield the rest of our empire from the encroaching Swarm."
The professor's gaze became intense as he continued, "Only a handful of survivors made it to safety that dreadful day decades ago, among them, our esteemed college historian, Draven Drakebane."
The students exchanged wide-eyed glances. Draven Drakebane was a renowned figure in the college, and his presence among them now took on a new significance.
The Half-Orc continued talking. "Draven Drakebane's firsthand accounts of the Doom of Frostholm provide us with a unique perspective on those harrowing times,"
He continued. ''His bravery and knowledge have preserved the memory of Frostholm and serve as a reminder of the strength of our empire in the face of adversity."
When Archer learned about the city in the north, a spark of curiosity ignited within him. He turned to Leira and inquired, "Is this city wealthy?"
Leira cast her gaze upon him, a hint of concern in her eyes as she sighed before responding, "Yes, it was the most prosperous city in the empire before its tragic downfall. The empire has made several attempts to reclaim it, but no one who ventures there ever returns."
As the words left Leira's lips, a realization struck her, and her eyes widened in fear. She had inadvertently told a greedy dragon about wealth.
Meeting Archer's eager gaze, she understood the thoughts that must be racing through his mind and hastily cautioned, "Don't you dare! You already possess plenty of gold; risking your life for more is not worth it."
Archer's chuckle caught the professor's attention, causing him to pause in his lecture and turn his gaze toward the couple.
The Half-Orc professor spoke, his voice stern but not unkind, "I wonder what is causing you two not to pay attention in my lesson. I can excuse you if you don't want to be here."
Archer met the professor's gaze and spoke honestly, "Leira was cautioning me about not going to Frostholm because it's perilous."
The professor's eyes widened with concern as he pressed further, "What do you mean by 'cautioning'? Have you been considering a trip there?"
Archer nodded with a grin, "Yes, but not in the immediate future. I've had my fill of adventures for now."
Barak's sigh in response to his comment prompted a chuckle from Archer, which in turn earned him a playful poke in the side from Leira.
Their light-hearted exchange created a jovial atmosphere, and the laughter of the students around them was contagious.
That's when the professor walked back to his desk and took a seat, his expression grave as he spoke, "It's an exceedingly perilous place. Not even Thorin Ashguard can venture far within the city before being forced to retreat by something more formidable."
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