Waver looked beamingly at the two completed forms with all his information and required fields. However, just as he was about to sign it, he saw a small clause next to it in bold large letters.
Disclaimer: By signing this CHIP application form, you also hereby sign away your rights of autonomy as a conscious entity and the work hours protection law within Herta Research Station work hours, 9am to 5pm.
Waver gulped in fear, then looked at a few magi who had come to visit from the Clocktower sign away with their lives. "Handed it in! Let's go!" One celebrated while the other whispered, "Hey did you see the doll? It's so lifelike, almost comparable to Red. I heard the only reason these dolls aren't as good are due to aesthetic choices."
Waver shook his head, if even these idiots didn't have any fear, why should he? He scribbled his name and signed the papers before handing it into the Herta #186. His soul seemed to leave his body as he had effectively potentially signed his rights as a human away.
"Let's go master! It's time for another round." Iskandar slapped Waver's back causing a large crack. The tethering soul in his mouth soon ascended as two Hertas arrived with a medical sign beret.
"Please step back from the patient and collect him in twenty minutes." The two Hertas took Waver away on a stretcher out of view. Iskandar stared at his own hands before chuckling sheepishly, he had forgotten that Waver was weak.
~~~~
"What's on my schedule today?" Herta asked as he woke up and Herta dolls came in with clothes and a schedule. "You have a schedules class due at the Clocktower, a meeting with the Lords, selection of CHIP candidates and the preparations for creating the simulated universe."
Herta raised an eyebrow, "Oh? We're already going to start on creating the simulated universe? I suppose I should ask Sion to come over. Who else? Maybe Alba... Welp leave it for me to think about later."
"Let's go." Herta entered the private elevator as he soon walked out with his signature outfit and giant pointy hat.
The Herta dolls waved goodbye before continuing with their chores and tasks. Herta walked along the streets of Fuyuki before disappearing in a shatter of spacial shards.
The students clamored and discussed among themselves. Today, they were going to see the legendary Herta in person and he'd be taking a class.
The numerous magi sat in the rows of the lecture theatre and gasped as a purple crystal mirror appeared and a figure emerged from the ripple. "So many runts this time. Huh? What's with that look? Are you people slow?" Herta questioned their puzzled faces.
They all tactically looked at the poster image before staring at the figure that had appeared. His aesthetic was so much different than the poster.
"Hmph~ What you expected was a doll? I'm sure you already know who I am, handsome, young, genius and attractive. To separate me from my dolls you can refer to me as The Herta. Short, simple and straight tot the point."
Immediately the girls all screamed while the boys started tweaking out in excitement. "Professor Herta!" Everyone shouted as they all raised their hands attempting to ask questions.
"All right pipsqueaks, quiet down. I have some announcements before we begin. Im sure many of you know about the program between Herta Research Station and the Clocktower no? Perfect, those who are looking to have their chance at an internship and potential future job are to hand in these filled forms by the end of the day to this small box."
Herta waved his hand as the papers all materialised in front of them in a shower of purple sparkles.
"Please fill it in after the class. Now let's begin with with the Herta sequence and the proofs." Herta clapped his hands together as the classroom was enveloped with a starry sky.
"A change of environment sometimes helps people think. Now let's begin with the what the Herta Sequence is and the uses it has."
Time passed as the scribbling of notes and many scratching heads were heard. Herta's eyes glared as Lorelei Barthomeloi raised a hand, "I've finished my quiz." She spoke confidently while staring at the other students with eyes that seemed to say, "This is the difference between the heaven and sky peasants."
Her eyes blinked at the finished quiz appeared in Herta's hand, a quick skim and her score was made public, "55 points, barely passing." The paper reappeared in front of her with a big red 55 circled on the corner.
"Are you joking?" Lorelei exclaimed? She was about to protest as Herta noticed the other students concentrating. "Quiet down Lorelei." Herta spoke unsparingly. Usually he wouldn't care, but if he did a job he did it well.
"But!" Lorelei protested only to find Herta throwing a piece of chalk towards her. Her face smirked in response, "A piece of chalk?" She thought. That was when she realised something was terribly wrong.
Time around her seemed to slow and freeze along with her movements, the thrown chalk seemed to get larger to a sufficient size as it landed on her forehead leaving a red round mark with white edges.
"Herta!" Lorelei was fuming only to see another chalk being thrown, this time she was prepared with various defenses. "That's Professor Herta within the classroom." The smooth arrogant voice rang out as the chalk struck true once again.
"Don't bother, you won't even dodge by chalk throws." Herta pointed the finger gun at Lorelei before shooting and blowing on it. Everyone had seen it, that chalk throw was impossible to defend against.
Lorelei was a prodigy and numerous defenses were rendered useless.
"Now sit down and accept the results. Leave the others to complete it in peace and quiet." Herta hummed quietly as he started planning out the Simulated Universe project.
"Well done all of you, that'll be it for today. Those that have qualified for an internship will be contacted." Herta watched as the students filed out in a line while a few made an attempt to make a rush towards him.
They soon found themselves displaced and smashing into each other. Herta turned around behind the mirror and was replaced with a portrait. A note was stuck to the portrait as they rushed to have a look.
The portrait came to live as it stared at them. "Ta-da~ Splitting magic~"
"My time is precious, this portrait will have to do."