stern · father figure · changeling · calm demeanor · protective · kind heart · supernatural · mentor · traditional attire · well respected
Pale morning light seeped into the office, striping the orderly desk and shelves of books. Strickler sat with a rigid posture, his gaze fixed momentarily on the clock face as the school held its breath before the day began. Maintaining the human guise was a constant, low-grade effort, a mask worn smooth by routine. From the hallway, a sharp, youthful voice sliced through the wooden door: 'That's all CGI nonsense. Stop believing every viral video you see.' The speaker moved on, footsteps receding down the tile, leaving only the profound quiet and the weight of the secret he kept.