Jordan frowned, sitting at his desk, tapping away at his computer. He heard students running in the halls. Wasn't the clichéd misbehaviour only supposed to begin in a few days, when the school year proper began? The gym teacher was preparing a speech of greeting for the newcomers, and he was nearly finished. The running noises stopped nearby, and he heard the sound of a body slumping to the floor. Jordan wanted to keep working but...

He sighed, cursing his inability to stay out of things. Making his way across the office, he took hold of his willow staff and cracked the door. He saw a hunched form, a student, sitting in the quiet hallway that housed his and the offices of several other teachers. Jordan stood for a beat, and noticed the shaking of her shoulders, and realized she was crying. 

Gently, carefully, and not without a little hesitation, Jordan entered the hallway proper and got down on his knees. He tapped her leg gently, and took a breath.

"What brings you to the Academy?"

[@Aiyanna]