I was brought out of the hall and into a magic formation where I found myself being teleported somewhere else.

The Grand Chancellor wanted to have a private meeting with me so I was supposed to be teleported to her private study here.

I found myself standing in what looked like a cross between a mage’s study and a priest’s sanctum where there were shelves of various arcane tomes and scrolls with what looked like magic sigils and circles carved on the walls.

But on the other hand, between those bookshelves were holy idols and paintings of Isre which I supposed made sense since she was the goddess of magic.

The Grand Chancellor herself was seated behind a large study table on a high backed chair that had a carving of the goddess at the top, looking like the goddess herself was looking down at her and whoever the Grand Chancellor might be speaking to.

She nodded at me when I stepped off the platform with the magic circle inscribed on it.

"Student Aster. Welcome. I hope you didn’t feel like you were pressured into accepting this arrangement?"

I blinked at her, a little surprised, "Erm... No? Should I be?"

"Hmm... It would be if you were aiming to study under a specific professor. But I suppose you were not, are you?"

I shook my head, "I’m not familiar with anyone here, I’m afraid."

"Ah, I understand. In that case, it is quite fortunate for everyone involved then. I will openly admit that there were a few professors who had almost come to blows over you."

I grimaced, "That bad? Do they really need to go that far?"

"Hmm... It seems like you don’t even know your value, student Aster. No matter, please, take a seat."

She waved her hand and a chair came flying out of nowhere to place itself in front of her desk.

I accepted her invitation and went to sit down on the chair under her watchful gaze.

I couldn’t help but stare at her a little, since I was expecting her to look more like a mage than a priestess. You know... Like having the thick robes and the really big oversized mage hat on her head with a giant mage staff or something.

But I see none of that on her which kind of entranced me a little.

She reached up her hand and ran her fingers through her silver hair, "Mmm... Are you perhaps wondering about my hair? Seeing that you have a hair colour similar to mine as well."

I jolted slightly from surprise, "Ah... That’s not it... You’re just a little different than what I expected..."

"Hmm? Were you perhaps... Thinking that I would be dressed in thick robes with a really oversized hat on my head?"

"Eh? Umm... How did you know?"

She gave me a lazy smile, "Because that’s what usually Off-Worlders will picture me like."

I froze up and my body tensed itself, unsure of what she might do since she knew I was an Off-Worlder.

Her smile widened slightly, "No need to worry, student Aster. You are not the first Off-Worlder we have encountered. In fact, we have several faculty members who are also Off-Worlders. We do not discriminate here. The only thing we care about is the pursuit of magic and skills. As long as you do not do anything that goes against that, we have nothing against you."

I let out a sigh of relief, "Ah... Ok. Thank you."

"You don’t have to be so tense, student Aster. I am not planning to eat you. Fufufu."

I nodded, trying to make myself appear relaxed.

The Grand Chancellor smiled as though she saw through me but chose not to comment on it. Instead, she gestured towards the air where a tea set appeared out of thin air with one of the tea cups depositing itself in front of me.

"Tea?" She asked, letting the teapot hover over my cup.

"Yes please. Thank you, Grand Chancellor," I nodded, prompting her to pour some tea out for me.

She then moved the teapot over to her own cup to pour some for herself as well while smiling at me, "There’s no need to be so formal, student Aster. You can just call me Chancellor Vastraea. If you would allow me to call you Aster, that is?"

I nodded, "Of course, Chancellor Vastraea."

"Now... I know that you are my apprentice but I suppose you’re not sure of what that entails?" She asked, taking a sip of her tea.

I shook my head, bringing up the tea cup to my own lips and taking a sip as well.

Mmm.. Sweet. Seems like there’s lemon and honey in there~ She has good tastes~

She placed the cup back down without a sound, "For me, personally, I am able to teach any subject that you might want. I am not as specialised as the other Chairs but if you are just looking for general guidance in a particular subject, I would be able to do it. Once again, I am afraid that I won’t be available all the time due to my duties, but I should be able to accommodate normal school hours now and then to give you personal lessons."

I lowered my head slightly, "That is more than what I can ask for, Chancellor Vastraea."

"Well, there is also one other thing that I can offer though... And I only offer this to the very best of my apprentices who have fulfilled my requirements... But I honestly believe you are worthy of it."

She stood up from her seat and moved towards the side where I realise there was a small alcove with what appeared to be a shrine of Isre built there.

She turned to me and her lips curled up into an even bigger smile, "Just to let you know... I’ve never done this for anyone else... Everyone before you has needed to impress me before I allow them this honour... But I believe that you will be able to achieve that easily so I’m giving you this little gift early."

I wondered what she was going to do until she turned and clasped her hands together, right as two feathered wings burst out from her back, revealing her as a Comissar.

Her figure was then shrouded with golden light and I watched as the altar also started to glow as well.

I wasn’t sure what was happening so I kept my mouth shut and just watched the entire thing while holding my breath.

The light swirled around her and I could feel a massive influx of mana flood the entire room before the magic circles that were etched on the walls lit up, containing it inside the walls instead of bursting out.

The mana then gathered themselves above the altar and I watched as it slowly formed itself into a figure which I had already guessed who it might be.

Isre appeared, the goddess of magic looking just like what I remembered her.

That’s when I found it really ironic that Isre was wearing the real stereotypical mage robes and oversized hat while the Chancellor was not.

Isre slowly opened her eyes and I realised her eyes were glowing blue in colour and she had no irises within them.

She then slowly lowered her gaze to Chancellor Vastraea, seemingly not seeing me.

"Vastraea... You have asked for an audience?"

Chancellor Vastraea lowered her head even more, "Yes, my Goddess. I have recently come across a very promising student which I believe is worthy of your blessing. I implore you to grant her some time from you to speak with her."

"Hmm... Very well. If it’s you that is asking, I will at least see--" Isre stopped when she looked in my direction and saw me seated behind the Chancellor.

I gave her a smile and a wave, "Hello Isre--"

Chancellor Vastraea immediately snapped her head back and a wave of mana crashed into me, crushing me beneath its weight.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" The Chancellor screamed, her previous calm and slightly seductive demeanor completely disappearing to give way to a look of absolute rage.

"How DARE you?!" She repeated, turning to face me fully.

Right as I was worried that she might crush me, the pressure suddenly disappeared as Isre appeared beside me, her hand waving in front of her to protect me from Chancellor Vastraea’s rage.

The Chancellor quickly recoiled when she realised the goddess had moved beside me and was looking at her in confusion.

"M... My Goddess?"

"It is not my first meeting with Aster and I have allowed her to address me by name. There is no disrespect."

The Chancellor gaped at her before shifting her gaze to me, her eyes widening comically and her jaw hinging open so wide that I’m sure I could fit an entire apple in there.

Isre simply turned to me and I realised her eyes were no longer glowing and looking pretty normal.

"I suppose I should have expected something like this to happen. Anyway, I don’t mind blessing you as well, Aster. Would you like to be blessed?"

"Err... Ok?"

"Very well," The goddess nodded before placing a finger on my forehead.

I felt some kind of energy flow into me before she pulled back and I blinked, wondering just what she did.

She then turned to Vastraea, "It is done. She is indeed quite promising and I believe your time in the school will be much more interesting than before, Vastraea. Continue your good work."

Without waiting for a reply, the goddess disappeared in a flash of light, leaving me alone with the Chancellor who was still standing there gaping at me.

Umm... Are you ok?