A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor-Chapter 928: Order in Short Time - Part 5

"You cannot even commit to saying that you will give me your aid regardless?" Skullic said, glaring at Oliver for a handful of seconds, before the look broke, and he snorted, hiding a small smile. "So be it," he said. "Use these last few days at the Academy wisely. Ensure you give your thanks to all those that have assisted you.

Professor Volguard and Minister Hod should be foremost on that list, but I think that General Tavar would wish to see you too."

"Tavar?" Oliver said. He rarely made contact with Minister Tavar, though he often had a feeling that the man was watching from afar. He'd always seemed like an ally, though he was a quiet one, and he had never had the opportunity to step out into the open, to give Oliver direct support as others have.

"Indeed," Skullic said, ignoring Oliver's doubt. "Give him a meeting. You've a handful of days without lessons. I am sure you can at least spare the time."

"I suppose so…"

…

…

Skullic had been right when he'd said that Oliver could spare the time. It was odd to be in a time crunch, but yet still have so much time to go around. He only had a handful of days left at the Academy, but he had no lessons in which to fill his time. Indeed, there wasn't all that much to do.

Those students that Oliver had grown close to had mostly long since graduated. The young alchemist Nebular had graduated the year before, along with Oliver's retainers in Kaya and Jorah. The other acquaintances that Oliver had made during his time there weren't the sort that he could really drop in on to deliver a heartfelt goodbye.

They would offer him well wishes if they saw him, but Oliver didn't see the merit in going to see them out.

It was only really his professors that he went out of his way to see, but that didn't take all that long.

He saw Professor Yoreholder first. The tall and slender huntress, who'd taught him the bow for the past few years. Oliver thought that she had done a good job with him. His skill with the weapon was far above his peers. But when he knew a person like Nila, and he compared himself to the likes of her, he realized that his skill with the weapon would never fly high enough to make him excited.

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"So it is decided," the woman said. She sat on the stump of an old and broad tree with her bow across her lap. Oliver had caught her just as she was taking a few shots at the targets down in the archery range, nestled between a dozen trees. She often spent time here in the early evening, and if Oliver ever needed to seek her out, this was usually where he wandered to find her.

"To the battlefield, and so young."

"You do not seem so surprised, Professor," Oliver noted.

"There have been rumours," she said, looking at the sky. "And your situation has always been different. You came to the Academy far later than you should, and even whilst you were here, it always was a surprise to me that you were here for long. There were always forces trying to drag you off elsewhere."

"Is that right? I did make an effort to attempt to settle," Oliver said. "I have very much appreciated your tutelage in that regard. Studying the bow as a companion with the sword, it has been enlightening. My perspective is far broader than it once was."

The Professor nodded, taking the compliment. "You could have gained far more here than you were offered," she said. "But I suppose that too feels almost natural. The resistances that you felt, in themselves, were as good a teacher as any that you could find here in the Academy."

Oliver was a little surprised to hear Yoreholder speaking so thoughtfully. She was usually a more straightforward woman. She would give training commands with a stern face, and point her finger, directing him elsewhere, or tut when he'd made a beginners blunder. This Yoreholder that looked at the sky, and spoke so sombrely was not a Yoreholder that he had much experience in dealing with.

"The resistances… Hm. I do not resent them," Oliver decided, giving the thought due consideration. Indeed, if not for all that had been sent his way by the High King, Oliver did not think that he would be in the position he was in now. He had a village, an army, strength and opportunity.

He didn't resent too much the fact that he was losing his Passing Scroll, he simply resented the man that used it as a way to get at him.

"It pleases me to hear that," Yoreholder said. "It is a shame that my husband is not here to see you off. I know he would have wanted to."

After the Trial of Oliver Patrick three years ago, the Minister of Blades, Gavlin Yoreholder had resigned out of shame. He was disappointed with himself for not putting it all on the line. He resented the fact that he could hold a position of such power that was meant to represent justice and impartial judgement, but yet not be able to exercise on those ideals. After that revelation, he had left.

"What has the Minister spent the years doing?" Oliver asked. He'd never commented on it much before. He held no animosity to Gavlin. He thought that the very fact that Gavlin had refused to vote at the trial was resistance enough. He'd refused to actively work against Oliver in injustice, and he'd even helped him before in the past, when Oliver had gone hunting the Boulder Crab.

"Training, and ruling," Yoreholder replied, sounding tired. "Training what for, I did not know… not until recently. He is of the same belief as Minister Hod now. He holds to it like a vision. He whispers of it, as though it's a prophecy from times of old… and I suppose it is."

"The Time of Tigers," Oliver noted.