The School of Literature and History assigned two apprentices to Siles.
In the letter Siles received yesterday, he had already seen the names of the two apprentices: Jules Hans and Dorothea Grant.
Judging solely by their names, they were a male and a female.
When these two young people came to Siles’s office, Siles couldn’t help but size them up.
Jules Hans was a pale young man wearing glasses, looking somewhat cramped in both expression and movement. He seemed to come from an ordinary family background, but his gaze toward Siles was respectful and simple, like a bookworm.
Dorothea Grant was a young girl with a slightly proud demeanor. She wore a slightly gorgeous long dress, had beautiful features, blonde hair, and blue eyes, standing beside Jules like a noble young lady.
She looked quite young, and when she looked at Siles, there was also a scrutiny and suspicion that she thought she had hidden well.
Just as Siles thought, the students assigned by the college were not perfectly obedient ones.
Jules and Dorothea sat on the sofa in the office. Jules seemed unaccustomed to sitting with a young girl, sitting very nervously and stiffly on the edge of the sofa.
Dorothea, on the contrary, was graceful and generous. Before Siles could speak, she took the initiative to introduce herself: “I am Dorothea Grant, Professor. I have undergone two years of basic education at Lafami University. I know you were my senior before.”
Jules subconsciously followed her words and also introduced himself: “Professor, good afternoon. My name is… uh, Jules Hans. I didn’t study at Lafami University before; I am a research scholar admitted to Lafami University this year.”
Then the office fell into a brief silence.
Jules moved uneasily on the sofa, then looked at Siles cautiously.
Dorothea’s eyes just looked at Siles quietly.
Siles wore only a white shirt, his black pupils carrying a sense of calmness and indifference, looking at his two apprentices as well.
A moment later, he finally spoke: “Good afternoon, both of you. My name is Siles Noel; you can call me Professor Noel. I don’t have much time, so regarding the weekly guidance time for the first semester, I give you two choices.
“First is every Tuesday from three to five in the afternoon; second is every Thursday from ten to twelve in the morning.”
Probably sensing Siles’s indifference, Dorothea cleared her throat and said, “I prefer Thursday, Professor.”
Siles gave a noncommittal response and turned to Jules.
Jules looked at Dorothea, then said cautiously, “Thursday morning… I have no problem.”
Siles smiled slightly and said, “Then we have reached a consensus.”
He felt that his two apprentices… were quite interesting.
Siles spent a moment recalling the content of that letter and his own time as an apprentice, then said, “Before school started, I listed a booklist for you, but I want to know about the topics you are currently researching first.”
It was still Dorothea who spoke first: “This academic year, I plan to research literature related to a specific God. I first selected the God of Music and Art.”
“Atkinia?” Jules subconsciously followed up.
Dorothea nodded reservedly.
Siles said, “What literature about Atkinia do you plan to research?”
Dorothea said, “The changes in the style of hymns before and after His fall.”
Siles looked at Dorothea with slight surprise: “This is a very detailed topic. Have you found enough materials?”
Dorothea nodded and added, “However, Professor, compared to the issue of hymn style, I am more confused about what kind of God Atkinia Himself was.”
“Do not cast too much curiosity on Gods,” Siles warned first, then said, “I will list a booklist and related papers for you.”
Dorothea immediately said, “Thank you.”
Changes in hymn style. Siles thought. This was a topic not academic enough, but “faithful” enough. Did Dorothea seem very interested in the relationship between Gods and believers?
Curiosity flashed in Siles’s heart, and he turned to Jules.
Jules had been muttering nervously. When he noticed Siles’s gaze, he sat up straight abruptly, then stammered, “Pro-Professor… I, I am also researching literature related to a certain… uh, God.”
“Which one?”
Jules said slightly dejectedly, “Antinam.”
“…Antinam?” Siles was stunned. “Is your major Mist Era literature?”
Jules nodded.
Siles thought with a headache, this is terrible; his major was Silence Era literature. Did the college shove both troublesome apprentices to him?
Siles knew well that this was very possible.
And there were more troubles waiting for him. Like the Professor Club, like student clubs.
…University professor was truly a profession that looked decent but actually had a pile of troubles.
The sigh in Siles’s heart flashed by, and he continued to ask, “Which specific issue are you researching?”
Jules said with a hint of fear and trepidation, “I plan to research literature related to Antinam throughout my apprenticeship.” He looked at Siles, confirming that his mentor did not change his attitude because of this.
Then he continued: “The first year is to research the ‘human’ part in literature related to Antinam. Because… you know, literature related to this God rarely features many elements related to human civilization.”
Siles suddenly realized, understanding why the college sent this young man to him. If it were a completely unrelated topic, it would be difficult for him to give targeted advice.
But in fact, literature related to the God Antinam would inevitably involve texts related to those fallen Gods of the Silence Era. The differences, evolution, and similarities between them were all parts worth researching.
Siles knew that many scholars regarded the Silence Era and the Mist Era as two eras worth comparing. Even regarding whether it was necessary to separate the Silence Era and the Mist Era, many historians had different ideas.
The beginning of the Silence Era was the death of a God; the beginning of the Mist Era was the birth of a God.
Many people believed that the Silence Era was just an extension of the Shadow Era; the Mist Era was just an extension of the Silence Era. They—perhaps in a sense, were still in the Shadow Era.
But people tend to divide the eras closer to themselves in detail and clarity.
The older the era, the longer the years it possessed.
It was said that the Era of God’s Birth and the Era of Faith each lasted nearly ten thousand years, the Empire Era nearly five thousand years, and the Shadow Era over a thousand years; while the recent Silence Era and Mist Era were only a few hundred years, adding up to less than a Shadow Era.
Siles fell into a brief silence, then nodded and said, “I understand. I will also list a booklist for you. I’ll give it to you this Thursday.”
He thought for a moment and added: “Although you are already research scholars and can conduct research courses independently, I know you also need to attend classes and complete assignments, so I won’t assign you too many academic requirements.
“My requirement is: submit one paper each semester, based on your respective research topics, and read the booklist I assigned, and submit reading reflections.”
Dorothea asked: “Professor, are there formatting requirements for the reading reflections?”
“Academic monographs not less than two thousand words, papers not less than five hundred words,” Siles said. He informed his apprentices according to the standard Professor Bright had set for his reading reflections back then.
Dorothea and Jules nodded simultaneously.
“By the way, there is one more thing I forgot to say.” Siles suddenly recalled Lorenzo’s advice earlier, “Regarding the issue of my teaching assistant.”
Dorothea, who was previously a student at Lafami University, stiffened slightly in expression, while Jules looked at them with slight confusion.
Siles said, “Because I only joined Lafami University this year and there is no suitable teaching assistant assigned to me temporarily, I need you to become my teaching assistants. You will receive the college’s teaching assistant subsidy, I remember it is twenty Duke coins a month, and free accommodation.
“And what you need to do is help me grade assignments, occasionally help me teach a class, and share some teaching tasks. College teaching assistants will have priority for opportunities to stay and teach at the school. You should have heard of this.”
Overall, the benefits were not bad. Of course, there were quite a few things to do.
Jules nodded without thinking: “Of course, I am honored, Professor Noel.”
Dorothea’s expression looked somewhat reluctant, but finally she also nodded, revealing a smile as if she had figured it out: “I am also very honored, Professor.”
Thus, Siles happily gained two teaching assistants.
He said, “That’s it for today. On Thursday, we will get into the main topic. I will bring the teaching assistant application forms for you to fill out. You can go now.”
Jules and Dorothea politely said goodbye to Siles and left one after another.
Siles breathed a slight sigh of relief, feeling that the meeting with the apprentices went smoothly. Although Dorothea was a slightly proud student, Jules kind of neutralized this feeling, although he might lean too much to the other extreme…
Siles shook his head, thinking that everyone had strengths and weaknesses. From another perspective, Dorothea was proactive and enterprising, while Jules was serious and careful. This might not be a bad thing.
He zoned out in the office for a while. Because he had lunch late, he wasn’t hungry now. And the public elective course in the evening was from six to eight-thirty, still early.
Siles stood up intending to move around a bit, when he heard a knock on the door, and then Professor Bright walked in.
“Professor Bright.” Siles looked at him with some surprise.
Professor Bright walked into the office smiling and asked, “Good afternoon, Siles. How was the first class?”
“It was okay. Just felt the students were a bit afraid of me.” Siles didn’t hide his emotions in front of his mentor. “Did I act too indifferent?”
“Don’t worry, Siles. Students are always like this; strange teachers naturally make them feel afraid.”
Siles thought half-doubtingly, maybe so?
Before he could figure it out, he heard Professor Bright skillfully change the subject: “But this is not the purpose of my visit today. The college asked me to notify you of some things.”
Siles looked at him hesitantly.
Professor Bright patted his shoulder: “Young people should always take on more responsibilities. Like clubs and societies.”
Siles: “…”
Lorenzo, that jinx!
Probably noticing Siles’s slight emotion, Professor Bright said, “Don’t worry, Siles. The college treats new professors quite well—clubs will have activity funds, and society advisors also have a considerable subsidy.”
Only then did Siles breathe a slight sigh of relief. He said somewhat distressedly, “I feel that the job of a university professor… is not easy.”
“Of course.” Professor Bright restrained his usual relaxed attitude and said earnestly, “In this era, it is not easy for people to do anything. Effort and sweat are the only things we can give.”
Siles said seriously: “I understand, Professor.”
He couldn’t confess his identity as an Revelator to Professor Bright because of the agreement signed at the Historical Society earlier. So he had no intention of refuting the subtle accusation that might exist in Professor Bright’s tone.
He seriously accepted Professor Bright’s instructions, then asked, “Professor, what exactly do clubs and societies do?”
Professor Bright shook his head and sighed: “Your employment was indeed too hasty. These things were actually discussed with Professor Cabel’s teaching assistant before, unfortunately…”
He didn’t delve deeper into this topic.
“It’s like this, Siles, you also participated in my club before, so you shouldn’t have any confusion about the content of Professor Club activities?” Professor Bright asked first.
Siles said: “Yes, I understand that the club is mainly for deeper discussion of professional content, like an interest group formed by a professor.”
“That’s enough!” Professor Bright said with satisfaction, “Later you just need to fill out a few forms, then announce the conditions for joining your club to the whole school or some students, and then conduct screening, picking no more than twenty students to participate.
“These preparatory works need to be completed in August. By September, the club will start formal activities. You can conduct club activities according to your own ideas and wishes.
“The time for societies is about the same, so starting from September, your schedule will probably look busier.”
As he spoke, he handed the folder he carried to Siles: “These are the forms you need to fill out.” Saying this, Professor Bright complained again, “If Professor Atley hadn’t been called away to be questioned about something, this tedious work wouldn’t have fallen on me.”
“You are my mentor.” Siles took the folder and added, “Even though I have graduated.”
Professor Bright blinked, then revealed a smile: “Indeed, Siles. You are the student I am most proud of.”
Siles opened the folder and looked, getting a headache from the number of forms—what’s going on, are administrative procedures in the Fisher World also so huge and complex?
Professor Bright generously shared his experience in filling out forms: “Skip all non-mandatory fields, pick a classroom you like for the activity venue, write whatever name for the club, activity funds… just fill in 100 Duke coins per month.”
“100 coins?” Siles was subconsciously stunned. “Will this pass?”
As a newly hired professor, his monthly salary was only 50 Duke coins.
Professor Bright gave him a look: “That depends on the college’s budget recently. However, filling in higher is always better than lower. I know a professor who filled in 1000 coins directly.”
Siles: “…”
Scamming funds in a different world’s university was actually so simple and crude.
Siles sighed greatly and bluntly wrote 100 on the form.
Then, following Professor Bright’s guidance, he filled out all the forms. His club’s name was randomly named “Noel Literature Club,” but according to Bright, this name could be changed at any time.
Siles didn’t care much about this.
Next, Professor Bright took out another stack of forms from the folder: “These are materials related to the student society advisor. The students have already filled in what they should; you just need to sign.”
Siles glanced at the society’s name, couldn’t help but be stunned, and said, “What society is this?”
“Suffering Chronicle”.
…What is this for?
Professor Bright recalled for a moment, then said, “This seems to be a society applied for this year, so it needs a temporary advisor assigned. Specific research content, uh…”
He looked at the form, then pointed to one place: “Here, it’s written.”
Siles looked over.
“This society aims to study descriptions and related records of suffering, asceticism, and self-restraint in literary works from the Era of God’s Birth to the Empire Era, attempting to summarize different ways early believers practiced their faith.”
Siles pondered this statement carefully, then asked with some surprise, “They want to study Brancani?”
God of Asceticism and Silence, the Lonely White Shadow, Brancani.
This was a very mysterious God. Just like His title “Lonely White Shadow,” in the entire Silence Era, no one knew when He disappeared. He fell invisibly.
However, before His fall, there were indeed quite a few records about this God because His believers were all rare devout believers, implementing Brancani’s pious, ascetic, silent, and low-key style from behavior to concepts.
Because of such characteristics, Brancani and His believers gained an excellent reputation among research scholars in the Mist Era. They restrained themselves, devoted themselves to asceticism, and never provoked trouble.
Brancani was also rare in that there were no clear records of helping or influencing any empire in the Empire Era.
“Perhaps.” Professor Bright answered uncertainly. “However, if they wanted to study Brancani, they could have written it directly here. Maybe they will also study ascetic records that may exist among believers of other Gods.”
Siles nodded as well.
He became a little interested in this society. Were the students in it also accustomed to introspection, calm, and introverted?
Siles preferred this type of student.
He signed his name one by one on the documents.
Then, Professor Bright put away this large stack of forms and said, “Still have to give these to Professor Atley.”
Professor Atley was a highly respected old professor in the School of Literature and History specifically responsible for administration. He was old, so he retired from the teaching front line but still remained in the college.
Siles said, “How about I give them to Professor Atley?”
Professor Bright was happy to relax, so he handed the folder to Siles.
Siles asked casually, “Where did Professor Atley go?”
“I’m not sure either. He was supposed to come to find you just now, but was temporarily called away by a group of people. Seemed to be for investigating something.” Professor Bright said, “That’s why he asked me to bring this folder to you.”
Siles was slightly stunned, then said, “Could it be related to Professor Cabel’s disappearance?”
“That crazy old man Cabel disappeared?” Professor Bright acted extremely surprised.
Siles said, “I heard so. Maybe investigators came to ask for some information.”
Professor Bright clicked his tongue in amazement, then said, “Let him go study those bizarre things, ha.”
Siles then asked, “I am somewhat curious, Professor. What did Professor Cabel study? I still have many of his manuscripts and materials here.”
Professor Bright obviously hesitated for a moment, finally probably considering that Siles was not his student now but a professor who could conduct research independently, so he still gave a hint: “He frantically pursued original manuscripts and first editions of books.”
Siles was stunned, asking slightly puzzled, “Original manuscripts and first editions?”
“Yes. Author’s manuscripts, publisher’s first editions… in short, the most initial appearance of literary works.” Professor Bright said, “He believed these versions fit the author’s train of thought during creation better and can better reflect the primitive charm of literature.”
Siles had some doubts.
From the perspective of literary research, things like first editions, first drafts, and manuscripts had collection value but not much research value. Different revised editions were of course a different matter, but why did Professor Cabel pursue the initial appearance of works so frantically?
Siles thought again, if Professor Cabel was an Revelator, then his disappearance was another matter.
However, judging from the reaction of the Church of the Past, Professor Cabel seemed not to be on the Historical Society’s list, otherwise they should have reacted immediately that there might be dangerous Time Traces in Professor Cabel’s office.
Now the Church of the Past was only treating Professor Cabel’s disappearance as a “disappearance case of an ordinary person connected to out-of-control Time Traces.”
Was the truth really just this? Did Professor Cabel really just inadvertently touch an out-of-control Time Trace?
…No, wait. Siles suddenly thought. What made him suspicious of Professor Cabel at first wasn’t the out-of-control Time Trace, but that manuscript obtained from the office.
One manuscript increased Siles’s spirituality by two points. That was the thing that made him feel incredibly unbelievable at the beginning.
Now, that manuscript was still pressed at the bottom of the drawer in Siles’s dormitory, unknown to anyone.
Professor Cabel chased the initial appearance of books… then, did he obtain a sufficiently ancient, sufficiently dangerous original book or manuscript? When did he get it? From where?
Was his teaching assistant’s disappearance also related to this matter?
A series of thoughts flashed through Siles’s mind.
Finally, his brain only thought that perhaps the most dangerous situation should be that Professor Cabel had the aptitude for being an Revelator but had never been exposed to any knowledge related to the Revelator.
Thus, even if he came into contact with a Time Trace, he never knew what kind of danger he was facing.
Siles sighed slightly in his heart.
He told Professor Bright about going to the Church of the Past for help at noon today. He didn’t mention terms like out-of-control Time Traces, but just the dangerous woman’s head statue and that strange attraction startled Professor Bright.
Professor Bright said angrily, “Damn Cabel! To actually leave such a dangerous thing behind!”
Siles observed his expression, confirming that Professor Bright didn’t know about the existence of the Revelator at all, but he seemed to know that some kind of danger existed in this world.
…In other words, the supernatural power of this world was indeed semi-public, just that ordinary people couldn’t access deeper secrets and knowledge.
This made Siles breathe a slight sigh of relief, feeling that he didn’t have to live in fear every day, afraid that his identity as an Revelator would be discovered.
Professor Bright scolded Professor Cabel for a while, then calmed down. He patted Siles’s shoulder and said, “The matter is over; the people from the Church must have handled everything.”
Siles thought of that necklace… and felt for a moment that there seemed to be something wrong with Professor Bright’s sentence.
He didn’t show it, just said, “Thank you, Professor.”
Professor Bright laughed and said, “Siles, let’s go, let’s have dinner together. Leave those worries behind.”
Siles nodded and added, “By the way, Professor, I still have many manuscripts and materials left by Professor Cabel here. If those investigators really came for his matter, I have to give these…”
“That won’t do.” Professor Bright shook his head unexpectedly. “Those are the college’s research results. At most, let them copy one set; they can’t take them away untouched.”
Siles was somewhat surprised to hear this way of handling things.
Professor Bright looked specifically at the door, then lowered his voice: “Actually, this kind of thing happened before. Some ancient books we were studying well were suddenly taken away by some people, leaving only copies.
“The library had a big opinion on this matter and protested to the Duchy government many times, but received no feedback.”
Siles thought to himself, those were probably dangerous Time Traces.
He felt slightly ridiculous, and also felt a dangerous sensation that made his hair stand on end. Perhaps, the former Siles Noel had personally touched those ancient, old books, yet never knew he almost touched the power of time.
Siles was silent for a moment, then said to Professor Bright, “I understand, Professor. Perhaps I should still wait for the investigators to come to me. Professor Atley should bring them over.”
Professor Bright nodded and added, “In that case, I won’t eat with you. You wait for them here. Maybe they will come here in a while.”
After Professor Bright left, Siles checked the time and found it was nearly five o’clock, couldn’t help but sigh that the passage of time was imperceptible.
He stood by the window. The sun was still shining brightly. The sun in this world was not quite the same as the sun on Earth, but unexpectedly pointed to the meaning of the same word: Light.
This world indeed once had a God related to stars, that was the God of Stars and Radiance, the bright lamp twinkling high in the sky, Lusmi.
However, this God had long fallen at some point in the Silence Era.
Countless Gods fell during the Silence Era. That kind of fall and the impact brought by the fall were destructive, leaving people unable to react at all. Siles found it hard to imagine how humans of that era faced such a situation.
He thought, perhaps—at that time, the weak humans simply faced such a situation numbly and calmly.
Or… he suddenly thought, since Revelator exist in the Mist Era, did such supernatural powers also exist in previous eras? Did Gods bestow Their power on Their believers?
This was also a question difficult to verify.
Siles shook his head, throwing out his various thoughts.
A moment later, the fourth batch of visitors of this Tuesday arrived at this office.
Leading them was Professor Atley, an old man nearly seventy, white-haired but still vigorous. He wore a gray robe and introduced the three people behind him to Siles.
They were two men and one woman, all around thirty years old, with eyes carrying that calmness, peace, and tolerance belonging to the Church of the Past that Siles was now somewhat familiar with.
They greeted Siles, and then, as Siles expected, asked for information about Professor Cabel. In terms of Siles’s identity as a professor and former student, he actually didn’t have much contact with Professor Cabel.
However, Siles still talked about going to the Church of the Past for help today. He found that the expressions of the three people in front of him immediately became serious.
“Who handled this matter for you?”
Siles answered calmly: “Ms. Catherine Kinsey.”
He didn’t reveal that he was a Revelator, after all, Professor Atley was still there. If Professor Atley wasn’t there, he might actively ask about more hidden things, such as what stage this case had actually reached now.
But… forget it.
You just started. Siles cautiously warned himself in his heart.
The three from the Church of the Past recorded this name, presumably to ask Catherine some related questions later.
Siles glanced at Professor Atley, who had been standing aside with a serious expression, and then said, “I still have some materials left by Professor Cabel here. Do you need them?”
“Need, but not necessarily valuable.” One of them shook his head. “Cabel probably wouldn’t keep those secret materials in the office.”
Siles was slightly stunned, hearing some subtle guard and vigilance against Cabel from this sentence.
…What exactly did Professor Cabel do?
Siles thought he encountered misfortune; why did the investigator’s tone sound like Professor Cabel asked for it?
Siles hid his surprise and unease without batting an eyelid.
Then, under the witness of Professor Atley, the three investigators browsed through the materials left by Professor Cabel one by one. Finally, they shook their heads: “Didn’t find any important information.”
They browsed very fast, looking like they didn’t care much about the content on the paper. Maybe they were in ritual time, using the Revelator method to investigate?
Siles didn’t understand, keeping silent throughout.
The browsing process took up most of the time, but the three of them were kind enough to put these materials back into the low cabinet.
Siles thought about it and actively said, “I still have a part of the materials left by Professor Cabel in my dormitory, including a manuscript… maybe you need to check it?”
One person said politely and friendly: “It’s getting late, Professor. I know you still have class tonight.” He looked at Professor Atley, signaling that his information came from here. “If you have time in the future, you can take those materials to the Church of the Past.”
He introduced himself as Dominic Milner.
“Just mention my name then.” Dominic said; he was a slightly dark-skinned man who looked very fond of outdoor sports. “However, if you don’t have time, don’t worry about this. Cabel probably wouldn’t leave important materials in the office.”
Siles thought of that manuscript that increased his spirituality by two points in one breath… fell into a subtle silence.
Then he realized that Dominic had mentioned the news that “Cabel wouldn’t put important materials in the office” for the second time.
His implication seemed to say that they had already found those important materials hidden by Cabel elsewhere, so they felt there was no need to investigate the office, just going through the motions.
Siles thought, Ms. Catherine Kinsey had told him before that the police found out-of-control Time Traces in Cabel’s home. Probably the Church of the Past had already investigated his home and found some important materials…?
Or maybe other places.
Anyway, Siles breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, “Okay, I understand.”
He still planned to take that manuscript to the Church of the Past, just in time for him to go to the Historical Society for class tomorrow afternoon. It was on the way.
With that manuscript sitting with him for a day, he felt uneasy, always feeling that his spirituality would secretly increase by a point sometime.
That would be too much of a loss.
The three investigators said goodbye in turn. Before Professor Atley left, Siles gave him the folder with the filled forms.
The always serious Professor Atley smiled slightly and said, “You are a young man who just became a professor this year. The future belongs to you, good luck.”
His words carried a slightly eager hope, approachable, quite different from the Professor Atley in Siles’s usual impression.
Siles was slightly stunned, then thanked him.
Next, he mentioned one thing: “By the way, Professor Atley, I want to take two teaching assistant application forms.”
Professor Atley nodded: “Follow me.”
Professor Atley’s office was also on the fourth floor. Siles went to his office to get two teaching assistant application forms, then said goodbye to Professor Atley and returned to his office.
Looking at the empty office, Siles finally felt that his troublesome matters for the day were resolved… No, there was still the public elective course in the evening.
He checked the time and found it was already five forty-five. He didn’t have time to eat dinner at all, and his brain was filled with things like out-of-control Time Traces, missing Professor Cabel, apprentices, clubs, societies, etc.
How to go to class like this.
Siles shook his head, sat on the chair and closed his eyes to rest for a moment, gradually calming his mind. He finally reviewed the lesson plans once, confirmed tonight’s course content, then got up, put on his vest and suit jacket—it was almost six, and the weather wasn’t that hot anymore.
When he left the office and walked toward the public elective classroom on the third floor, his mind gradually calmed down, focusing on today’s class, no longer considering other things.
At five fifty-five, he appeared at the door of the classroom.
This handsome, introverted young professor with a steady and indifferent temperament looked at the noisy students in the classroom with his calm and deep gaze.
About ten seconds later, the classroom was silent.
Siles was troubled by the fact that the deterrent power of his gaze was so huge, but he thought of Professor Bright saying this was normal, so he relaxed, maintained his expression and gaze, and walked calmly to the podium.
The classroom large enough to accommodate a hundred people was much wider than the major elective classroom in the morning. Siles stood on the podium, saw the densely packed students below, and for a moment felt a little speechless.
He eventually calmed down within a short time and pulled a list from the folder: “Good evening, everyone. We start roll call at six o’clock.”
Roll call. A slight commotion erupted below the podium.
Siles was unmoved.
Five minutes later, Siles read every student’s name in his deep voice. A familiar name triggered the sound of dice rolling in his brain. In addition, Siles found three students skipped class.
Siles: “…”
Skipping the first public elective class of the semester! These otherworld students seemingly haven’t encountered Earth’s university professors, who show no mercy when failing you based on daily performance.
Siles shook his head in his heart, said nothing, put away the list expressionlessly—making a note behind the names of the three absent students—and then said: “Alright, now we can enter the main topic of the course.”
The students below were all quiet as quails. In their view, the expression of the professor who discovered three students skipping class appeared even more indifferent. Although he was very handsome, he was really scary.
The situation of public elective courses was different from major elective courses. Siles was now facing students from different colleges; a large part of them might just be here to muddle through for credits, or thought this course was interesting, so they chose it.
Therefore, at the beginning of this class, Siles first explained the requirements for the final grade of this class.
“The final grading of this class is divided into two parts. Daily score, that is, your attendance, accounts for thirty percent; the grade of the course paper accounts for seventy percent.”
This grading method was not rare at Lafami University, but it was also somewhat fresh, especially in public elective courses. The vast majority of public elective professors were very tolerant; as long as the assignments were completed, one could pass. Only professors of major courses would specifically value attendance rates.
The students emitted a low hum of discussion.
Siles still didn’t express any attitude. He wrote the name of this course on the blackboard: “Overview of Literature from the Era of God’s Birth to the Mist Era.”
Then he said: “The content of the course paper revolves around this course. Choose any topic and write a paper of no less than five thousand words. I will tell you the paper format later.”
Facing the almost glazed eyes of all students, Siles smiled slightly: “This is not a very strict requirement.”
