Luo Qiu knew that none of what lay before him was tangible, but that did not affect his communication with Cicero... Or rather, even if it were tangible, it probably would not be as real as this place—at least in terms of sensation.
Suddenly, a small blue bird spread its wings in the courtyard and flew up to the corridor. It landed on Cicero's shoulder, as though searching for food.
Cicero smiled faintly. The bird on his shoulder seemed startled and immediately flew away—then, in the next moment, it appeared before Luo Qiu. Luo Qiu raised a finger, and the bird settled on his knuckle.
He felt its weight through his finger.
"This bird is called a Blue Flycatcher," Cicero said with a smile. "Among our people, it symbolizes exploration and advancing without hesitation."
Luo Qiu glanced at Cicero and noticed that his robe bore an embroidered image of the same small bird spreading its wings, stitched in blue thread.
"This is considered a symbol of the school we established there." Only after noticing Luo Qiu's gaze did Cicero casually explain.
Luo Qiu nodded. From the moment they met, Cicero had given him the impression of being extremely knowledgeable... Scholar was indeed a very fitting title.
"Mr. Cicero." Luo Qiu tilted his finger, and the little Blue Flycatcher flew directly away from it. Watching the bird's flight, he asked, "You seemed to know that I would come?"
"Mm. Rather than saying I knew you would come, it would be more accurate to say that only certain fixed individuals can come here." Cicero smiled. "The others may always have some way to know where they will go in the future, but in your case... I'm afraid that's impossible."
"You said 'certain fixed individuals'?" Luo Qiu tilted his head and looked into