Damien slammed the manuscript onto the desk. An elderly man stopped his pen and looked up at the drow.
"What is this, Edwards?" Damien seethed.
"My new book. I should be asking what this display is all about. I know you have a flair for the dramatic, but really my boy--"
"You're new book? Based on my data?" He emphasized the last two words with jabs at the stack of papers.
"Damien, please, we've talked about this before. Come now, sit. No? Alright. As I was saying, we've talked about this before. You've gone far too long without publishing anything, and while I quite enjoy our little arrangement we really need to put something out there." The professor gave a mournful expression to his student.
"Our... Little arrangement? Edwards, I all but do your job anymore."
"Oh, come now. That's ridiculous!" Edwards said, aghast.
"Is it? I lecture your classes, grade your students, hold the office hours, collect the data..."
"I am hurt! I hold office hours. And technically I supervise your lectures, but I simply trust you enough to do a good job. And I've been writing my book."
"Who's going to go to office hours of a professor they've never seen! And this is my project," Damien said holding up the manuscript. "You didn't even put my name in the acknowledgements!"
"Is that all that is bothering you? Really, you didn't write anything in that manuscript yet you want to be second author?" Edwards chuckled.
"That's... Not the point... But I have other issues with it." He opened up the manuscript. "This section is a clear misrepresentation of the data. And this? This is classist."
Edwards smiled behind round spectacles. "That is a matter of interpretation. And what do you intend to do about it, anyways?"
Damien dropped the manuscript back down and paced about the room, hand running through his short hair. He stopped and pointed towards the aged man. "I'll bring a case against you. There's an honor court here for a reason."
"Now, Damien, my boy, let's consider this course of action, shall we? Even if they side with you, and I am removed as your advisor, what then? If no one took you on two years ago when [student name] left, do you really think anyone would take you on now? And yes, I know you were looking for other advisors. But I don't take offense. You see, you've been here far too long. No one wants to take on a student well over halfway through his program. And certainly no one wants to take on an elf. Your kind don't exactly have a reputation for expedience."
Damien glared, red eyes full of hate, then stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
❖❖❖
It had been two years. Two years, and still Edwards got more prestige while Damien floundered. He let out a groan as he placed his head on the dimly lit table. He was in an alcove deep in the stacks. No one came here, and he liked that. Especially when reading a letter detailing his failure on the senior exit exam.
He made perfect marks on the theory section, but the practical section? A massive migraine had pierced his skull right as he started. He hadn't been able to copy even the simplest spell. And all requests for a retake had been swiftly denied.
Well, now he was on academic probation. Absolutely ridiculous. And... gut wrenching. Damien absently stroked a pendant featuring four pointed stars that he had taken from his pocket. He started to think... When was the last time he had copied something into his spellbook? It couldn't have been that long ago... Oh gods, had it been years?
He blocked out the wisps of worry that began to invade his mind. He just... needed to make it a little while longer. Another year, and he would be done with this nightmare.
❖❖❖
"Unfortunately, due to repeat offenses and your conduct here today, the counsel will be advising the dean to move forward with your expulsion, Mr. Simmyns. Theft on top of academic probation was already enough, but if you truly want to make it in academia, in the future I suggest you learn to control your tongue." The robed wizard removed his spectacles and shook his head. "It's a shame really. You have a lot of potential."
As the words barely registered as Damien flipped from seeing red to a deep sinking feeling. His eyes went wide. "Wait... Expulsion? I... wait... The senior exam was the only reason I was put on probation. And the spectacles situation can be fixed." He felt like he was about to vomit.
"The 'spectacles situation' as you so delicately word it will be dealt with either way. Bring them to our offices tomorrow along with any other university property, and it will be settled. But our decision on expulsion is firm. You may go make your arrangements now."
Damien continued to stand in stunned silence for a few moments longer before being led out of the room. He felt like he had fallen to the bottom of a pit, and instead of there being nowhere to go but up, the dirt was now falling in on him as well.
❖❖❖
Alex opened the door to find his friend looking as disheveled as ever standing there with a bag slung over his shoulder. The half elf furrowed his brow with concern.
"Damien? It's almost 1 am.. Are you alright?" Alex asked. Gods, had he been crying?
"I... ran into some trouble at the college. Could I just... I need a place to stay."
"Of course, come inside," Alex said, placing a hand on Damien's back and guiding him in. "Do you need to go to your family's place? I could help get you there."
"No, no." Damien sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "They, uhh... They expelled me."
"Oh."
Then the tale started to spill out. Alex figured it had a few embellishments, his friend was nothing if not dramatic, but he still felt for him.
"Listen, why don't you get some sleep, and we'll figure something out in the morning. I'm sure we can find you a job at the temple. The head mistress already said she was looking to hire you on after your graduation. You're practically already one of us." Alex pointed to the pendant hung around Damien's neck. He winced and clutched the pendant.
"Yeah... Thanks, but it doesn't help the fact I've apparently wasted decades."
"Don't be stupid. So what if you're expelled? You hated it there anyways. And don't object, you complained about your advisor and the politics every time you visited us. Everyone gets bad turns, and everyone gets good turns. That's just how life goes. Nothing's wasted if you learn from it, and you're one of the most detailed researchers we've had in a while. You'll do well in the Lady's service. Get some sleep and you'll see this isn't so bad in the morning." Alex patted him on the back one last time before retiring, leaving Damien to his thoughts.
In the morning, Alex groggily answered a knock at the door. A city watch guard looking for Damien. Apparently his nocturnal friend had missed another morning deadline, this time to turn in his remaining college property. No matter, this could be sorted out quickly.
Except when he led the guard inside, there was no trace of Damien. Couldn't he at least have said goodbye? Or mention where he had run off to?