"You were stunned and speechless, right?".

"Yes, and... so mortified, because -- well, I already doubt myself enough without anyone's help, then I'm told I'm a failure and I better quit, and what do I know? Anyway, not long after that, I dropped out", Adrien said, his tone dry and factual. He sighed, then looked up at Valerion and continued: "So, okay, what I wanted to say was -- if you think that you're not a good teacher, fuck, then what was he? You -- your pinky finger is a better teacher than -- that entire -- den of assholes. So, really, believe me; you're just fine".

Valerion stared back at Adrien; there was now a faint smile on his face. "Thank you for telling me this. And I am so sorry that this happened to you. To discourage you like that... Frankly, what that teacher did to you should be considered criminal. Den of assholes, indeed". He shook his head and leaned back in his armchair, the shock at what he had just heard still visible on his face.

"I wish I had said something and I hadn't quit, because -- after all, I've proven him right", Adrien said with a weak shrug.