Chapter 6; Owls should not be professors.

                                    

                                          
According to his schedule, Asta had Magic next. 
                          
Needless to say, THIS was a class he that filled his with excitement... that is, until he spotted Adar in the classroom. 
                          
Immeditaely, Blue noticed him as well and quickly signed something along the lines of 'good luck' before hurriedly walking to his own class.
                          
Wonderful. Well, it looked as though Asta was on his own now.
                          
 Keeping his head down, he slipped in the room without being spotted and took a seat closest to the door. Unfortunately, it was only a moment later when he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Jin grinning at him enthusiastically.
                          
 "I THOUGHT it was you sitting here." the other boy said, "Why don't you come sit with Adar and myself?"
                          
Dear gods, Asta thought desperately, How does one say 'I'd rather go toe to toe in an axe fight with Smithy rather than sit next to Adar' politely?'
                          
No! He would not let himself be cowed into sitting where he did not want to sit; he simply had to say 'no', that was all. He would be polite but firm. He would stand up for himself, by thunder!
                          
"Of course," Asta blurted
                          
Idiot! You stupid idiot!
                          
 Still, he was much too awkward to take back what he had said and with another internal ripremand at himself, he reluctantly stood and followed Jin over to where Adar sat.
                          
 When the prince saw them, he let out a groan and rolled his eyes. "Oh, simply WONDERFUL." he said, his voice laced with sarcasm, making Asta want to curl up in a ball. 
                          
"Adar, be nice." Jin replied in almost a scolding tone, "He is a Guild mate, after all. "
                          
"Don't remind me."
                          
Taking a seat next to Jin— and as far away from Adar as he could get— Asta focused on the surrounding area of the room, rather than the odd tension that hung, thick and choking, in the air. 
                          
The room was bigger than the forge, with walls that were lined with bookshelves stacked with every size and shape of book imaginable, all organized by colour. The air was a bit on the stuffy side and smelled like a mix of dust, old parchment, and, strangely enough, coffee. And there, at the front of the classroom, sat a huge oak desk piled high with papers. Beside that, there was a wooden perch beside where a large owl sat, preening its feathers as though it was bored with the entire ordeal.
                          
Keeping his gaze fixated on the owl, Asta nearly jumped out of his skin when a new voice piped up from behind him with the phrase, "You should tell the professor that you are new."
                          
Apparently, this other boy was unaware of the fact that Asta had no intention of speaking to anyone for the rest of the class.
                          
 Nevertheless, he did not wish to appear rude, and turned about in his seat, coming face to face with a black-haired, freckled boy, who grinned at him with a charming smile.
                          
Feeling rather self-concious Asta replied, "I don't see the professor. Only that owl. "
                          
The other boy's eyes widened almost comically , "She IS the owl. Sylvia Bywater is a shape shifter. "
                          
"Do you honestly think that I believe you when you say that our teacher is an OWL? " Asta demanded.
                          
The boy blinked at him.
                          
Blimey. Supposing he was right? Supposing the professor WAS an owl and Asta was being a terrible pupil by not introducing himself? And yet... an owl as a professor? It DID seem rather unlikely...