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Tyrant

Page 10

by James K


  "That's-ian-iarmor-itechnology-ithat-icould-iform-ia-iweaponised-iexoskeleton."

  As-iWilliam-ianswered-iquickly,-ithey-icouldn't-ihelp-ibut-iglance-iat-ieach-iother-iand-idoubted-itheir-iinstructor.-iThey-ithought-ithat-iElaine-ialready-ibriefed-ithis-iperson-iabout-itheir-iresearch.-i

  "Mhm...-ithat's-iright.-iWe're-ihaving-itrouble-iin-ithe-ioperation-itime-iof-ithis-isuit.-iIt-iwasn't-ibeing-iresolved-iby-iprevious-iresearchers-iand-idevelopers-ias-ithey-iblamed-iit-ion-iour-iinsufficient-iadvancement-iin-itechnology-iinstead."

  William-icould-isomehow-iagree-ion-iwhat-iMei-ihas-isaid.-iHe-ialready-iobserved-ievery-ipiece-iof-imetals-ion-ithe-itable-iand-inoticed-ithat-ithe-isuit-iheavily-irelies-ion-imana-iand-ino-iother-isource-iof-ienergy.-iHe-iobserved-ias-iwell-ithat-ithey-ilean-imore-itowards-ithe-iadvancement-iof-imagic-istructure-ito-iresolve-itheir-iissue.-i

  As-ia-isource-iof-ipower,-ithey-iall-irelies-ion-ia-imana-istone,-ia-imaterial-ithat-icould-istore-ia-imana-iwhich-ican-ibe-iuse-iindefinitely.-iIf-iWilliam-iwill-ihelp-ithem,-ihe-ihas-ito-iprovide-iknowledge-iwith-iregards-ito-ipossible-ialternative-ienergy-isources-iand-ieven-iconsider-isome-ichanges-ion-ithe-imetals-ithat-iis-ibeing-iused-ihere.

  If-inot-ithat,-iWilliam-ihas-ito-ieither-icreate-ia-irevolutional-imagic-istructure-ito-iresolve-ithis-iissue.-i

  "If-iyou-ihave-ian-iidea,-ijust-itell-ius.-iAnyway,-iwe-idon't-ihave-ito-icreate-ia-iworking-iarmor-iitself.-iWe-ijust-ihave-ito-imake-ia-iviable-iresolution-iand-iprove-iit-ion-iour-ipapers-ithen-iwe-ican-isubmit-iit-ito-ibe-ichecked."

  It-iwas-iEric-ithis-itime-iwho-ifurther-iexplained-itheir-isituation.

  "I-ihave-ia-icouple-iof-iideas-ithat-imight-ibe-iable-ito-ihelp-iyou-ihere."

  Actually,-iWilliam-iplans-ito-icomplete-ithe-imission-iwith-ihighest-irating-ito-iget-ithe-ibonus-ireward.-iHe-iwas-ithinking-ithat-iif-ithey-iweren't-iable-ito-icreate-ithis-iarmor-itechnology-iwith-ilonger-ioperation-itime,-ihe-iwouldn't-iget-ithe-ibonus.

  Unfortunately,-iresolving-ithis-iissue-iwill-ibe-idifficult-iand-icould-ionly-igive-iup-ion-ithe-ibonus-ireward-ifor-inow.

  As-ihe-iwas-ithinking-iof-imissing-ia-ibonus-ireward,-ithe-ifive-istudents-icouldn't-ibelieve-iwhat-ithey-iheard-ifrom-iWilliam.-iHe-iactually-ithought-iof-ia-iresolution-ialready?-iAre-iyou-ireally-iaware-iof-ithe-iproblem?-iDo-iyou-ireally-ithink-iit-iwas-ithat-ieasy-ito-isolve-ithis?-i

  They-icould-ionly-ihope-ithat-iWilliam-ireally-ihas-ia-iresolution.-iIf-ihe-iwas-imessing-ion-ithem,-ithey'll-iimmediately-ithrow-ihim-iout.-i

  ***

  Car-iPark-i1-iof-ithe-iAcademy.

  Elaine-iis-icurrently-iinside-iher-icar-italking-ito-iher-iphone.-i

  "Brother,-iwas-iit-ireally-ithat-iamazing?"

  "Yes,-ilast-inight,-iI-ialone-idefeated-ithe-ispies-iwith-ithe-ihelp-iof-ithis-imagic-istructure.-iIt's-iquite-iamazing-ifor-ia-i16-iyear-iold-ikid-ito-idevelop-ithat-ihighly-icomplex-istructure.-iHe'll-idefinitely-ireach-ihigher-istanding-iin-ithe-ifuture."

  Elaine-iwas-isilent-ifor-ia-imoment-ibefore-ianswering.-i

  "Ok-ithen,-ilet's-isee-ihow-ifar-ihe-ican-ireach."

  Elaine-ismiled-iand-icontinued-ihis-ichat-iwith-iher-ibrother-iwith-iother-itopics.

  ###-iChapter-i22-i--iArmor-iTech

  William-iwas-iabout-ito-isuggest-ihis-iidea-ibut-isuddenly-iremembered-isome-ithings.-iHe-ithough-iabout-iit-ifirst-ibefore-ivoicing-ihis-iideas.

  He-iwas-iasked-iby-ithe-iheadmaster-ito-ihelp-ithis-igroup-iof-iseniors-ion-itheir-iproject.-iHe-iaccepted-iit-ias-ia-ifavor-igiven-iby-iPercival-isince-ihe-isomehow-iappreciated-ithe-imagic-istructure-ihe-icreated.-iSo,-iwhy-idid-ithe-iheadmaster-ichoose-ithis-itask-ispecifically-ifor-ihim?-iWhat-ido-ithey-iexpect-ifrom-ihim-ito-ibe-iable-ito-isolve-ihis-isenior's-ipredicament?-i

  After-ithinking-ifor-ia-ifew-imoments,-ihe-ideduced-ithat-ithe-iheadmaster-iPercival-ior-ieven-iinstructor-iElaine-iwould-ibe-iexpecting-ihim-ito-iprovide-iassistance-iwith-ithe-ihighly-icomplex-imagic-istructure.

  Yes,-isince-ithe-imagic-istructure-ifor-iMagic-iJammer-iCanceller-iwas-ialready-ileaked,-ithey-irealized-ihow-iextremely-icomplex-iit-iworks.-iWithout-ihis-ienhanced-iintelligence-ibeing-imigrated-ias-iwell-ito-ihis-icurrent-ibody,-ihe-imay-inot-ibe-iable-ito-iaccomplish-isuch-itask.

  He-ilooked-iat-ithe-ipieces-iof-imetal.-iThis-icould-iform-ian-iexternal-iframework-iof-imetallic-imuscles-iand-ibones-ithat-iwould-iprotect-ithe-iwearer-iand-ialso-ienhance-itheir-iphysical-iprowess-iexponentially.-iIt-iwould-ibe-ia-ihuge-ibreakthrough-iif-ihe-iwas-iable-ito-ihelp-ithem-isolve-ithe-iproblem-iof-ioperation-itime.-i

  William-idid-inot-ihesitate-ianymore.

  Since-ithat-iwas-iwhat-ithey-iare-iexpecting...

  "Yes,-iI-ihave-ian-iidea.-iBut-iI-ihave-ito-itake-ia-ilook-ifirst-ion-ithe-icurrent-imagic-istructure-ithat's-ibeing-iused-ifor-ithis-iarmor-itech."

  William-irequested-ithis-ito-ieveryone-ias-ialthough-ihe-ihas-isomething-ion-imind,-ihe-ihas-ito-ilearn-ithe-icurrent-ilimitation-iof-ithe-imagic-istructure-ithey-imade-iand-idecide-iif-ihe-ihas-ito-icreate-isomething-ifrom-iscratch-ior-ijust-ito-iimprove-ithe-istructure.-i

  The-igroup-idid-inot-ihave-iproblem-ishowing-itheir-icurrent-imagic-istructure-ias-ithey-ialready-iexpected-iit.-iThey-ithen-iwaited-ifor-iWilliam-ito-istudy-iit.

  After-ichecking-ithe-istructure.-iHe-istarted-igiving-ihis-iideas-ito-ihave-iimprovement-ion-itheir-icurrent-imagic-istructure.-iThis-idiscussion-ilasted-iuntil-iseven-iin-ithe-ievening-ibefore-ithey-idecided-ito-icall-iit-ia-iday.-i

  Everyone-iis-inot-iexpecting-ithat-iwith-ijust-ithe-iaddition-iof-ithis-i2nd-iyear-istudent,-ithey-iwill-ibe-iable-ito-iresolve-ithe-iissue-iimmediately.-iBut-ithey-iclearly-irealize-iduring-itoday's-ibrainstorming-ithat-iwith-ithis-istudent-ijoining-iin-ito-itheir-igroup,-ithey-iwill-ihave-ibetter-ichances-iof-iresolving-ithe-iissue.

  ***

  William-iwas-inow-ilying-ion-ihis-ibed-ias-ihe-iwas-ithinking-iof-ihis-idecision-ia-iwhile-iago-iof-ideveloping-imagic-istructure.

  In-iouterspace,-ihumans-ihave-iacquired-ithe-igreatest-ipower-isource-ithey-icould-iever-ifind.-iThey-icalled-iit-iAether,-iit-iis-iapparently-ia-imysterious-igas-like-ithing-ithat-ionly-iexist-iin-ithe-ispace.-iThe-ionly-iproblem-ifor-ithat-iis-ithe-idifficulty-iof-icontaining-iit.-i

  Aside-ifrom-ithat,-ithere's-ia-icompact-ithermonuclear-ifusion-ireactor-ithat-iwas-ibeing-iused-iby-imech-iframe.-iThis-iwas-icalled-iIon-Sting-ireactor.-i

  As-iWilliam-ihave-icheck,-ithis-iworld-idoesn't-ieven-iposses-ia-inormal-ireactors!-iSo-inothing-ito-isay-iof-ia-icompact-ione-ithat-imech-iframe-ipossess-iand-iultra-compact-ireactors-ifor-ilatest-igeneration-iof-imech-iframes.

  William-istill-iwasn't-iquite-isure-iwhy-ithere-iis-ino-inuclear-ipower-iplant-iin-ithis-iworld-iand-icould-ionly-iput-iit-iaside-ifrom-inow.

  "Hmm..-iEven-iiridium-ienergy-icell-ias-ipower-isource-icould-iprobably-inot-ibe-iused.-iThere-ishould-istill-ibe-isomething-iI-icould-iuse-ias-ialternative-iif-iI-ithoroughly-icheck-ithis-iworld's-ielements-ibut-igoing-ifor-ia-idifferent-ipower-isource-iwill-ideviate-ithe-ipeople's-icurrent-ipath-iof-idiscovery."

  William-imuttered-ito-ihimself.

  "That-iwould-ibe-itoo-imuch-iif-iI-istarted-iit.-iI-ishould-ilet-ithem-ithoroughly-iexplore-ior-idiscover-ithe-imagician's-ipathway-iinstead.-iWith-iall-ithose-iconsidered.-iCreating-imagic-istructure-ishould-ibe-imy-ibest-ioption-isince-ithat-iis-iwhat-iheadmaster-iis-iexpecting-ion-ime-ias-iwell."

  He-isettled-ihis-imind-iand-iplans-ito-icompletely-idevelop-ia-irevolutionary-imagic-istructure-ithat-iwould-iresolve-ithis-idecades-iof-ifruitless-iendevour-iof-iproviding-ilonger-ioperation-itime-ion-ithis-iarmor-itech.-iHe-iwill-icreate-isomething-ithat-iis-ibased-ifrom-ia-inuclear-ireactor.-i

  William-ismiled-ias-ihe-ifell-isleep-iwhile-itrying-ito-ithink-iof-ia-iname-ihe'll-iuse-ionce-ihe-icompleted-ithis-istructure.-iWilliam-iReactor?-iRavencroft-iMana-iReactor?-iMana-iFusion-iReactor?

  ***

  On-ithe-iafternoon-iat-ithe-iForging-iGarden

  Although-ihe-isaid-ithat-ihe'll-icreate-ia-inew-imagic-istructure,-ihe-istill-irequires-ia-ispecial-imaterial-ito-ii
nfuse-ithat-imagic-istructure.

  William-iplans-ito-iuse-ithis-imaterial-ias-icentral-ilocation-iof-ihis-imana-based-ireactor.-iNot-ionly-ithat,-ihe-iplans-ito-iinfuse-ia-ilittle-ispecial-imagic-istructure-ion-ieach-ipieces-iof-imetal-ias-iwell-ito-ilessen-ithe-iburden-iof-ielectromagnetism-ibeing-iused-ion-ithe-iarmor-itech-ias-iwell.-i

  "I've-ibrought-iit-ihere.-iWhat's-iyour-iplan-ion-iasking-ime-ito-ibring-ithis-ithing?"

  Mei-iopened-ia-ibox-icontaining-ia-imetallic-iwhite-istone-iwith-ia-isize-iof-ifist-iand-iplaced-iit-ion-ithe-iround-itable.

  "Thank-iyou..-iI'll-ishow-iyou-ilater."-i

  Their-igroup-iactually-iworked-ifor-ia-iweek-imore-ibefore-ithey-icompleted-ithe-itask.-iIt-iwas-inext-iFriday-inight-iwhen-ithey-ifinished-itheir-iproject.

  "At-ilast,-ithe-istructure-iyou-imade-ihas-ibeen-iinfused-ito-ithis-iarmor-itech."

  "Yes,-iMei.-iThat-itook-ius-imore-ithan-ia-iweek.-iI-icouldn't-ihave-idone-iit-iwithout-iall-iyour-iefforts."-i

  "I'm-ijust-ihoping-inow-ithat-ionce-iit-iwas-itested,-iall-iwill-ibe-iworking-ifine."

  "That's-ialright-iNeo,-ieven-iif-iwe-ihad-iissues-ion-icreating-iphysical-imana-ibased-iequipment,-iwith-iour-ipapers-ithat-ihas-isolid-ibase,-iwe-iwill-istill-iachieve-iperfect-iscore."-i

  It's-itrue-ias-ithey-iaren't-ireally-irequired-ito-irealize-ithe-idevelopment-itheory-ithey-isubmitted,-iit's-ialready-ienough-ito-ihave-ithis-irevolutionary-imagic-istructure-ithat-iWilliam-icreated-ifor-ifuture-idevelopment.

  ***

  [-iCongratulations-iUser!-iYou-ihave-iassisted-iyour-isenior-ito-iresolve-itheir-ipredicament!

  Pathfinder-iwill-inow-ianalyse-iyour-icompletion-irate...

  You-iwill-inow-ireceive-iyour-irewards.-i]

  [-ix2-iMemory-iCrystal-i]

  [-ix1-iMystery-iBox-i]

  Great!-iWilliam-iwas-idelighted-iupon-iseeing-ithe-iresults-iof-ihis-ilabor.-iNot-ionly-ihe-iwas-iable-ito-idevelop-ihimself-ias-ia-imagic-iengineer,-ihe-iwas-iable-iget-ireward-itoo.-iHe-ieven-ireceived-ithe-ibonus-ireward!

  William-ithought-ifor-ia-ibit-iand-idecided-ito-iopen-ithe-iMystery-iBox.-i

  [-iOpening...-i3..-i2..-i1..

  You-ihave-ireceived-i1-iBracelet-iof-iClarity-i]

  William-iwas-ia-ibit-idisappointed-isince-ihe-ialready-ihas-ia-iNecklace-iof-iClarity.-iHe-ichecked-iit's-idescription-iand-inoticed-ithat-iit-iwas-iactually-ieven-ia-ibit-iworse-ithan-ihis-icurrent-inecklace.

  [-iBracelet-iof-iClarity

  Increases-ithe-iuser's-iconcentration-iand-imemory-i]

  It-idoesn't-ieven-ipossess-iincrease-iin-ireaction-ispeed-iand-ioption-ifor-iability-ilike-ihis-inecklace.

  Since-iit's-inot-ireally-ihelpful-ito-ihim,-isomeone-iwho-ihas-ienhanced-iintelligence-ideveloped-iby-ithe-imost-iadvanced-ihuman-idiscoveries,-ihe-ithought-iof-isomething-iinstead-ithat's-ibothering-ihim.

  "Are-ithe-ithings-iI'm-igetting-ifrom-ithe-iPathfinder-ican-ibe-itaken-ior-iconsume-iby-iother-ipeople?"

  He-iwas-iquite-icurious-ito-itry-inow.-i

  ###-iChapter-i23-i--iParticipant

  Eric-iand-ihis-igroup-isubmitted-itheir-icompleted-iproject-ito-itheir-iinstructor.-iIt-iincludes-iboth-ithe-imagic-istructure-iand-ithe-ifinished-iproduct.

  "You-iguys-ihave-icompleted-iit?"

  Elaine-iwas-isurprised-iupon-ilearning-ithat-ithey-ihave-icompletely-iresolve-ithe-iissue.-iHer-ibeautiful-iface-iexpressed-iastonishment-ias-iher-ieyes-igrew-iwide.-i

  After-iall,-ithe-istudent's-iproject-ionly-irequires-ithem-ito-iprovide-ia-ipath-ifor-ifuture-idiscovery.-iIt-iwould-ibe-ifine-iif-ithey-icould-ijust-iprovide-ia-itheory-ifor-idevelopment.-i

  She-ilooked-iat-ia-isuitcase-icontaining-ithe-iparts-iof-ithe-iarmor-itech-iand-ichecked-ithe-itablet-idevice-icontaining-iinformation-iabout-ithe-inewly-icreated-imagic-istructure-iand-iit's-icapability.-i

  In-ithe-iinformation-igiven,-iit-iincluded-ithe-iresults-iof-iimprovements-ion-ithe-iarmor-itech-ithey're-ideveloping.-iNot-ionly-ithe-ioperation-itime-iwas-iresolved,-ibut-ialso-ienhanced-iit's-iothers-iaspects-ias-iwell.-i

  Elaine-icould-ijust-iimagine-ihow-imuch-iamazing-ithis-inew-imagic-istructure-ithat-itheir-igroup-ideveloped.-i

  "Yes,-iall-ithanks-ito-iWilliam.-iAt-imost,-iwe-iprovided-ithe-ispecial-imaterials-irequired-ito-iprove-ihis-itheories.-iIn-ithe-iend,-ihe-iwas-iable-ito-icomplete-ithe-idesign-iof-imagic-istructure."

  It-iwas-iMei-iwho-ifirst-iexplained-iwhat-ihappened.

  "That's-itrue...-iand-iit-iseems-ithat-ihe-iactually-ihadn't-iplan-ito-icomplete-ithe-istructure-iat-iall-iand-ijust-ito-iprovide-ia-ipath-ifor-idevelopment.-iBut-ihe-imaybe-igot-iengrossed-itoo-imuch."-i

  Eric-iagreed-iwith-iMei-ias-ihe-ivoiced-ihis-iopinion.-iYou-icould-ihear-ia-ihint-iof-iamusement-ias-ihe-ispeak-iand-igratitude-ion-iwhat-ihad-iWilliam-iaccomplished-ifor-ithem-ias-iwell.

  "Since-ithis-iis-iactually-icreated-iby-iWilliam,-iwe've-ialready-iadvised-ihim-ito-iget-ia-ipatent-ifor-ithis-inew-imagic-istructure-iand-ihe-iinstead-iadvised-ius-iabout-ihis-iplan-ifor-ithis-irevolutionary-imagic-istructure."

  "Correct.-iWhen-iwe-itold-ihim-ithat,-ihe-isaid-ihe-iwill-idiscuss-iit-ifurther-iwith-ithe-iheadmaster-iabout-ihis-ifuture-iplans."

  Neo-isaid-ilast-ias-ihe-ijoined-ithe-iconversation.

  "That's-igood-ito-ihear.-iThis-imagic-istructure-iseems-ito-ibe-imuch-imore-iamazing-ithan-iwhat-ihe-ipreviously-imade."

  Elaine-isoftly-imuttered-ithe-isecond-ipart-ias-ihe-ifurther-iquestioned-iher-istudents.-i

  "What-idid-iWilliam-ior-iyou-iguys-inamed-ion-ithis-inew-istructure?"

  Everyone-ilooked-iat-ieach-iother-ibefore-ianswering.

  "He-icalled-iit-iCompact-iMananuclear-iReactor."

  ***

  William-iwas-icarefully-iconsidering-ihis-ithoughts-ias-ihe-iplanned-ito-igift-ithis-ibracelet-ito-isomeone-ifor-ia-itrial.-i

  Honestly,-iWilliam-iwas-inot-isure-iif-ihis-idecision-ito-igift-ithis-ibracelet-iis-ia-icorrect-ione.-iOnly-itime-iwill-iknow.-i

  At-ithe-ivery-ileast,-ionce-ihe-icould-iconfirm-iit-ias-isoon-ias-ipossible,-ihe-iwill-ibe-iable-ito-iplan-iahead-ifor-ithe-ifuture-iin-icase-inecessary.-iAlso,-ithis-ibracelet-iis-iweaker-iversion-iof-ihis-inecklace-iright-inow.-i

  William-iwas-isoon-isummoned-iat-ithe-iheadmaster's-ioffice.-i

  "It-iseems-iEric-iand-ihis-igroup-ialready-icompleted-itheir-ireport."

  William-isaid-iafter-ihis-iinstructor-iGaren-itold-ihim-iat-ithe-iend-iof-ihis-imorning-iclass.-iApparently,-ihe-ihad-inot-ibeen-iprudent-iabout-ithis-iso-ieveryone-iin-ithe-iclass-iwas-inow-iaware-iof-ihis-imeeting-iwith-ithe-iheadmaster.-i

  It's-inot-icommon-ito-ibe-iin-ialways-icontact-iwith-iheadmaster-ior-ieven-iinstructors-iof-ihigher-iyear.-iSo-iGilbert-imade-ihis-iconjecture.

  "William-imy-ifriend,-iare-iyou-igoing-ito-ibe-iaccelerated-inow?-iWill-iyou-ibe-ijoining-ithe-i3rd-iyears-iand-igraduate-iwith-ithem-ithis-iacademic-iyear?"-i

  His-ivoice-iwas-iloud-ias-ihe-iasked-ithis-iseriously-isince-ihe-ihad-ibeen-iaware-iabout-iWilliam's-iactivities-iin-ithe-irecent-iweek.-iHe-iwas-iwith-ia-igroup-iof-iseniors-ievery-iafternoon-idoing-ia-iproject-iwith-ithem.

  "What-iare-iyou-isaying?-iI-iwas-ijust-ihelping-ithem."

  You?-iA-isecond-iyear?-iHelping-iour-iseniors?-i

  They-idid-inot-isay-iit-iloud-ibut-ihis-iclassmate's-ifaces-ishows-iwhat's-iin-itheir-imind.

  "Alright,-iI'll-isee-iyou-ilater."

  ***

  William-iwas-inow-inearing-ithe-iheadmaster's-ioffice-ias-ihe-iwalk-ion-ithe-ihallway.-iBut-ihe-iwas-istopped-iby-ithe-imost-ibeautiful-iinstructor-iof-ithe-iacademy-iand-istriked-ia-iconversation-iat-ihim.

  "Congratulations-iWilliam!-iIt-iseems-ithat-iyou-iwill-ibe-ijoining-ias-iparticipant-iin-ithe-icoming-icompetition.-iKeep-iit-iup."

  Elaine,-iwith-ia-igenuine-ismile-ion-iher-iface-igreeted-iWilliam.-iIt-iseems-ithat-ishe-iwas-ireally-ihappy-ifor-ihim.-i

  "Thank-iyou,-iInstructor.-iI'll-idefinitely-iwork-ihard."

  With-iher-igreeting,-iit-iseems-ithat-ithe-iheadmaster-iwill-ikeep-ihis-iword-iwhen-ihe-igave-ithis-imission-ito-
ime.-iA-iguaranteed-islot.-iWilliam-ithought-ias-ihe-ipolitely-ispoke-iwith-iElaine.

  "Instructor,-iI-iwould-ilike-ito-igive-iyou-isomething..."

  William-idid-inot-iwait-ifor-iher-ireply-ibefore-itaking-iout-ithe-ibracelet-iin-ihis-ipocket-iand-igave-iit-ito-iElaine.

  She-iwas-iused-ito-ireceiving-igifts-ifrom-iher-icolleagues-iand-ieven-imore-ifrom-iher-istudents.-iBut-ishe-istill-ireceived-ithe-ired-ibracelet-iwith-iher-ileft-ihand-iand-ihad-ia-iquestioning-ilook.

  She-itook-ia-iglance-ion-iit-iand-inoticed-ithat-iit-iwas-iactually-ia-isimple-ibut-ielegant-idesign.-iShe-iwas-iattracted-ito-iit.

  "I-inoticed-ithat-iyour-ifavorite-icolor-iwas-ired,-iso-iwhen-iI-ihad-ithis-icreated,-iI-iimmediately-ithought-iof-igiving-ithis-ito-iyou-ias-ia-i'thank-iyou-igift'.-iThank-iyou-ifor-itrusting-ime-ithat-iI-icould-ihelp-iyour-istudents."

  William-icreated-ian-iexcuse.

  "How-idid-iyou-ilearn-ithat-ired-iwas-imy-ifavorite-icolor?"

  It-iseems-ithat-iElaine-ihas-idifferent-iconcern-ion-iwhat-ihe-isaid.-iShe's-imore-iinterested-ihow-iWilliam-iknew-isomething-ithat-ishe's-inot-itelling.

  "The-iearrings-iyou-imostly-iwear-iis-ired.-iThe-icar-iyou-idrive-iis-ired.-iEven-ithe-iphone-iand-iyour-iumbrella-ihas-ia-itinge-iof-ired-ion-iit.-iI-idoubt-iyou'll-ihave-iother-ifavorite-icolor-ior-iI-iwould-ihave-inotice-iit-iso."

  "Thank-iyou,-iWilliam."

  Elaine-ismiled-ias-ishe-iheard-ihim-iexplain.

  As-iWilliam-iheaded-ito-ithe-ioffice,-iElaine-idialed-ia-inumber-ion-iher-imobile.-iIt-iwas-iher-iboyfriend.

  "Hi.-iAre-iyou-istill-iworking?"

  "No,-iI'm-ifree.-iWhat's-iup?"-iHer-iboyfriend-iquickly-ianswered-ion-ithe-iother-iline.

  "What's-imy-ifavorite-icolor?"

  "Huh?-iWhy-idid-iyou-iask-iso-isuddenly?"

  "It's-inothing.-iJust-iplease-ianswer-ime."

  "Alright,-iIt-ishould-ibe-iyellow-icolor-iright?"

  "..."

  "No..-ii-ithink-iit's-igreen.-iAm-iI-iright?"

  "..."

  "Purple?"

  ***

  At-ithe-iheadmaster-ioffice.-i

 

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