Chapter Text
Iruma found himself in a chair as the instructors sat side-by-side opposite him.
On the table sat an enormous kettle and a large glass jar of loose-leaf tea. He sipped the tea, cautiously at first, but drank freely after the first test sip.
"It's really good tea! Thank you!"
Professor Balam smiled, "I'm so glad you like it. Take your time, but please be honest with us. We have to get to the bottom of this."
Iruma set his cup down and reclined back in his chair. "I never had wings, and I tried to tell you that, Professor," he looked directly at Professor Naberius.
Professor Naberius went pale. "I pushed him off the cliff," he muttered in a horrified whisper.
"What did you say?" Professor Balam said in his one horrified gasp.
"I assumed he had wings," Professor Naberius commented, his face blank. He held his head with his hands, fingers interwined in his hair, but the action lacked any true intensity.
"I-I did try to tell you," Iruma said meekly, head down as he picked up his teacup.
Professor Naberius regained some color, and "You have to speak up! You can't be so meek and passive! What kind of demon are you? Be bolder, more assertive-"
"That's enough, Kalego." Professor Balam said sternly. His eyes narrowed, and his body posture was tense.
Professor Naberius's eyes widened, nodded, cleared his throat, and took a moment to drink tea.
Professor Balam took the pause to redirect the conversation. "We understand you ...have no wings and you were born that way," saying the words was difficult. He almost wanted to look at Iruma's back again, just to confirm, but he knew what he would see: a large variety of scars but no signs of wing roots. Iruma was telling the truth; they were never there. "But that doesn't explain the scars. So many scars. Some are older, and others look pretty new. We must know what happened so we know how to help."
Iruma actually peered up. "But I don't need help anymore. I have Grandpa-"
Professor Naberius grunted and sneered.
Iruma chuckled nervously, "I know you don't get along, but I live with him now. With my parents, my life was in constant danger, and they didn't protect me like they should have. Or provided much. Or..." He refilled his teacup. "I don't like thinking about it, but they were abusive and negligent. But Grandpa came into my life, adopted me, and I've live with him and never seen my parents ever again," he said cheerfully.
"Why weren't we told anything about your past or condition?" Professor Naberius asked sharply as he poured his own tea.
Iruma shrugged. "Ask Grandpa, but privacy?"
Professor Naberius snarled and growled while Professor Balam sighed and closed his eyes for a second.
Iruma drained another cup in an instant. "You know, I think in the early days of school, he might have been keeping an eye on me. Monerting me, you know, like when you nearly blew my arm off-"
"You what?!" Professor Balam shouted, and he grabbed Professor Naberius by the biceps.
"I can explain!" Professor Naberius insisted.
"Then explain!" Shouted Professor Balam.