Chapter Forty: Troy

"Professor von Schneider?" Lin Nian repeated the name. "I believe I heard my roommate, Fingel, mention the existence of the Department of Execution."

"It seems your impression of the Department of Execution is not particularly favorable," the Principal said.

"I have never been one to enjoy conflict," Lin Nian said softly.

"Yet, you got into a fight for a girl when school started, and you even received a disciplinary record." Angers looked at Lin Nian, who had suddenly looked up, and shook his head with a smile. "Do not be surprised; we are quite capable of digging up such information with ease."

"After all, it is something for which you could find videos on the Shilan High School forum," Lin Nian said with an indifferent smile.

"I must say, that uppercut of yours was sharp. For your close-quarters combat course, I would recommend Bajiquan; you seem well-suited for a style that is bold, decisive, and forceful." Angers picked up a piece of chalk from the podium and flicked it with his thumb, sending the fragment flying straight toward Lin Nian’s face.

Lin Nian raised his hand, caught the chalk inches from his eyes, and opened his palm. The piece of chalk had completely crumbled into powder, which flowed away between his fingers. Watching this, Angers said, "I have read your physical examination report; your physical fitness is excellent. However, you still need to learn how to control yourself. For people like us, self-control is the most important and fundamental requirement. Joining the Lionheart Society might help you learn how to master that better."

"If there are no surprises, will I be joining the Department of Execution after graduation?" Lin Nian let the chalk dust fall away before clapping his hands, stirring up a bit of white powder.

"With your aptitude, it would be a great pity not to join the Department of Execution." The Principal’s answer was diplomatic, yet it served as a direct response to Lin Nian’s question.

"I understand. I have no objections to the War Practice course. As we say in China, regardless of the time or occasion, one should never offend those who might be one's superiors," Lin Nian said. "The current situation reminds me of some things Senior Sister Mandy told me before I came to the academy. I couldn't understand them then, but now I understand much more."

"You are opinionated and independent. I like the Chinese style of education," Angers nodded in approval. "In European countries, most children your age are filled with thoughts of vague, aimless freedom, yet they do not know what true freedom is or what the price of it might be."

"But I have one personal request. If possible, please keep it from my sister. I do not want her to know that I signed something like a repatriation of remains agreement."

"Actually, you do not need to worry too much. Although the War Practice course is called a real battlefield, first-year students are generally only assigned to surveillance, sentry duty, and logistics. The primary purpose of this course is to observe and experience the atmosphere of the war between humanity and the dragon race, not to have you personally intervene and become the deciding factor in the conflict. The truly bloody work is handled by the agents of the Department of Execution," Angers explained.

"I will relay these exact words to my sister," Lin Nian nodded.

***

"Now that we have finished discussing the War Practice course, there is one last thing I want to tell you," Angers said. "If nothing unexpected happens, you will likely need to go to the Information Department this afternoon to begin changing your Department of Execution file number."

"Why change my file number?" Lin Nian paused, taken aback.

"Because your 3E examination results are out, and NOMA’s assessment is 'Excellent.' This morning, the application for your bloodline rating upgrade was stamped, and by now, the documents should have reached the Board of Trustees," Angers said with a smile. "Congratulations, Lin Nian. You have become the first 'S'-grade student in recent years!"

Lin Nian’s expression stalled for a moment, but he did not show any signs of 'ecstasy' or 'excitement.' Upon hearing the good news, he appeared quite calm. Angers understood exactly why. He picked up a pencil, turned around, pulled down a blackboard behind the podium, and drew a wooden horse on it. "Have you heard of the Trojan War?"

"The Trojan War?" Lin Nian looked at the simple sketch of the horse. "I’ve seen the movie, the Brad Pitt version. It was stunning but bizarre, with a sense of magical realism."

"Are you referring to the depiction of Achilles, against whom a thousand armies could not prevail?" Angers put down the chalk and rubbed the white dust from his fingertips. "The Trojan movie blended Greek mythology. Achilles was the son of a sea goddess and a human hero, so he was half-divine. The film exaggerated history, but it also downplayed the myth. In the myths, Achilles chased Hector around the city three times until Hector was exhausted and fell in battle, but in the movie, they staged an evenly matched fight."

"One man leading fifty soldiers to take the beaches of Troy—even if it downplayed the myth, it was still too outlandish," Lin Nian said. The Literature Club had organized a screening of that film, and he had sat through the whole thing.

"What if I told you that such things really happened in history?" Angers stood behind the podium, watching Lin Nian. "The Trojan War was real. Someone discovered traces of dragons in modern illustrations of the Homeric epics. Hybrid archaeologists have found evidence of alchemy in the ruins of the ancient city of Troy. Therefore, they are convinced that the war between Greece and Troy was a secret war led by hybrids."

"Principal, are you saying that Achilles and Hector were both hybrids?" Lin Nian was stunned.

"It is quite logical, is it not? That is why he could stand alone before two armies and defeat enemies stronger and taller than himself, and lead fifty soldiers—or rather, fifty hybrids—to occupy the beaches of Troy. The entire sea and sky could hear the soldiers calling his name. Some have speculated that Achilles’ Spirit of Speech was 'Unfettered,' which allowed him to be invulnerable on the battlefield, and the final arrow to his heel can be explained by the moment his feet were exposed as he deactivated the domain." Angers smiled. "In wars between armies, there will always be brave men. The Trojan Horse can be called a victory of human wisdom, but seizing beaches and capturing cities can only be accomplished by 'hero' units; otherwise, humanity would pay a price hundreds or thousands of times greater."

Hearing this, Lin Nian finally understood what Angers wanted to tell him. Under the Principal's gaze, he remained silent for a long time before finally looking up to answer: "But I do not want to go down in history."

"Young people always harbor dreams of being heroes, and I believe you are no exception. I only want to tell you that this world does indeed allow for the existence of heroes, and you have that aptitude." The Principal wiped the white dust from his hands with a handkerchief and patted Lin Nian on the shoulder. "Can you tell me that when you watched the movie and saw the black-sailed galleys landing on the beach, you did not feel a surge of grand ambition?"

"I only saw men falling like winter wheat, rising and falling," Lin Nian said softly.

"But heroes remain evergreen," the Principal said. "I hope Cassel College can produce a few heroes who can leave their names in history, so that we might avoid the scenes you described."

***

"How famous does the Principal want us to be?" Lin Nian shook his head with a smile.

Angers scratched his eyebrow. "According to the parlance of you young people... at least a 'limited-time banner' character?"

"A five-star limited-edition dragon slayer?" Lin Nian let out a dry laugh; he hadn't expected the Principal, who had just been lecturing him on serious history, to suddenly drop internet slang.

"I don't understand the culture of you young people very well, so I suppose I am outdated and cannot be a hero of the new era. We need a 'Hero,' a 'The One.' The first 'S'-grade student to appear in recent years—very good. I look forward to your performance." Angers stood behind Lin Nian and placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders.

"I need some time." Lin Nian did not know how to respond to the heavy expectations of this old man. He had only met him today, after all; how could he immediately turn around and respond with a heart full of fervor?

"That is, of course, for the best. Everyone needs time to grow, and you are no exception." The Principal nodded and tucked his hands into his pockets. "I suggest you take a leave of absence from this afternoon's Spirit of Speech class. After all, you will likely have a lot to attend to at the Information Department. Furthermore, I recommend you accept Caesar Gattuso’s gesture of friendship and attend the Student Union party at the Amber Pavilion."

"Isn't the Principal suggesting I join the Lionheart Society?" Lin Nian turned slightly to look at Angers, who was walking toward the classroom door, looking surprised.

"A newly confirmed 'S'-grade student appearing at the Student Union in the evening—I can already guess the headlines on the Night Watcher forum. The school is a bit stagnant right now and needs some external factors to stir things up. Perhaps you can change the current atmosphere and bring us a breath of fresh air." Angers opened the classroom door, glanced back at Lin Nian with a smile, and stepped out.

Lin Nian remained alone in the lecture hall, standing before the podium. He accidentally glanced at the chalk graffiti Angers had left on the blackboard and froze. At some point, the simple sketch of the wooden horse had been adorned with armor and fangs, its wings blotting out the sky and its eyes piercing. Beneath the horse, a small figure wearing an ancient Greek Attic helmet held a sword pointed directly at the horse, which was many times its size. Beside it was a string of obscure text:

*planktosynēs d' ouk estin kakōteron allo brotois*