“Pardon me Marilyn, are you sure you’re referring to the right student? Since Ms. Byrke and I have been meeting weekly, I’ve been continually impressed by her profound understanding of the current material and endless appetite for further study. It’s been quite refreshing, working with such an exceptional student. I wish there were more like her.”
Her mouth opens and closes like a fish gasping for air, and the rush of petty glee at Brandt’s rebuke nearly makes me lightheaded. “Well. That’s?—”
“If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. My door’s always open for anyone in need of assistance. Take care.” He turns and walks back up the steps, and when our eyes meet, the corner of his mouth tips in a sly smile before he disappears through the door. When I look back to the head of the classroom, McCall is still holding the papers Brandt handed her as the room waits in awkward silence. And then I decide to stir some shit up.
“Did you want to go over my work now, or later, Professor?”
She clears her throat and sets the papers on the lectern, plastering the fakest-ass smile I’ve seen yet, and shakes her head. “That won’t be necessary, Ms. Byrke, thank you.” And withthat, she regains enough composure to finish teaching the rest of the class. I don’t have to say another word.
I’m still riding that high when I enter Politics, only to see Brandt speaking with Dr. Allard, whose typical apathetic demeanor has been replaced by nervousness if the sweat on his brow and fidgeting are any indication. Oh God, this is going to be fun, isn’t it?
“Students,” he announces when the last stragglers find their seats. “We have a guest lecturer this morning—if you don’t already know Professor Wolfram Brandt?—”
“Grandmaster.” He interrupts, and Allard stutters, eyes shifting uneasily. “Well, technically, Grandmaster of the Fourth Order as I’ve achieved Grandmastery in Wielding, Elemental Studies, Alchemy, and Astrological Studies.” He chuckles, like we’re all in on the joke together. “Though truth be told once you achieve your third Grandmastery, there aren’t many wielders qualified enough to review your work.”
Allard breathes out harshly and continues when Brandt nods. “Right—Grandmaster of the Fourth Order, Wolfram Brandt has been kind enough?—”
“Apologies, Dr. Allard, I should have reminded you that I also hold multiple Doctoral degrees in Theoretical Mathematics, Applied Economics, and Philosophy of Diplomacy. I wouldn’t normally insist, but you most of all know how powerful language is in political discourse. In fact, that’s one of the lessons I’m honored to impart to your students today.”
“Right, of course.”
“Wonderful.” He smiles, and I have no doubt Allard sees the sanctimonious twinkle in his eyes.
“Class, please welcome Grandmaster of the Fourth Order, Dr. Wolfram Brandt, professor emeritus here at Dreadhurst.”
“Thank you Dr. Allard. Now class, who here can tell me what the five key functions of political language are? Ah, Ms. Byrke—thank you for volunteering, please go ahead.”
Oh you sneaky little shit.
“Political language functions primarily to inform, persuade and influence, foster distinct and separate identities and ideologies, incite action, and shape perception.”
“Correct. Can you provide an example of how language has been used in political discourse in the past?”
“Religious texts like the Bible, for example.”
“Explain.”
“There’ve been countless of iterations of the Bible. Texts have been removed, added, translated. Numerous interpretations have been recorded across the world, and often the text has been used to justify political ideology and reinforce authority. In the Great Schism of 1054, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches separated when disputes arose around alterations to established scripture. The Spanish Inquisition forced Catholic orthodoxy by censoring passages in the Bible and other religious texts to warrant forced conversions, torture and executions, and persecution of marginalized groups for over 300 years. In the Americas, both the Old Testament and the New Testament were used for centuries to defend and legitimize the concept that slavery was ordained by God, as was Manifest Destiny, which led to the conquering, colonization, and eradication of native peoples in the Americas. Modern and historical political discourse cannot be examined separately from Biblical influence as it combines theoretical authority with political reality.”
“That wasexcellent, Ms. Byrke. Dr. Allard, you didn’t mention your class had already covered all this material!”
He clears his throat, tugging on the collar of his shirt. “We haven’t.”
“Then I am even more impressed, Ms. Byrke. Tell me, how…”
Brandt doesn’t call on anyone for the rest of the class. By the time it’s over, he’s practically bouncing with glee, in sharp contrast to Dr. Allard’s pallid complexion.
“Keep up the good work, Ms. Byrke. I expect great things, don’t you, Clement?” he asks as the three of us ascend the steps to the classroom doors.
“Yes, of course. Well done today, Ms. Byrke,” he hastily agrees and all but sprints down the hall, leaving Brandt and I alone.
“So… is this going to be a common theme now?” I nod back towards my classroom.
“Is what?” he feigns ignorance, but his smile is completely unrepentant.
He visits each of my classes over the week. Even my new earth elemental rotation on Friday. The professor is an older Asian woman with graying hair held back in a loose bun, and while my fellow students and I literally toil in the soil in one of the many greenhouses on campus, she and Brandt sip tea together on a chaise lounge.
It’s probably good for me to touch grass.
