Seated in the northern chair was a young woman in a black clerk's uniform, holding a writing board and fountain pen. She looked even younger than Shade, and nodded somewhat shyly at the five of them:
"Hello. I am Ashley Simpson from the Academy Secretariat. According to regulations, when Academy professors communicate with correspondence Ring Arcanists outside of teaching duties, a Secretariat clerk must record and archive the conversation."
That was how she introduced herself.
"Miss Simpson is also a third-year Academy student. She is interning at the Secretariat for credits."
Professor Sanchez introduced her, then briskly got straight to the point:
"Schneider, have you heard about Miss Mana Falianna?"
"Yes, Professor. News has already spread through the Local Black Market, but it is a mess and difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood."
Doctor Schneider, the group leader, answered.
"What sort of news?"
The professor asked. Priest Augustus handed his notebook to the doctor, who cleared his throat:
"What can be confirmed is that a High-Ring Sorceress calling herself 'Mana Falianna' used large-scale Thaumaturgy yesterday afternoon in the forgotten district of the city's south to drive away a Relic. Unconfirmed reports claim that the woman who shares a name with the Academy's Founding figure is Miss Feliana, the Witches of the Fifth Epoch. There are also rumors that Miss Feliana's appearance was connected to the meteor shower that lasted more than an hour last night; that she attacked the Orthodox Church last night, causing the Sacrifice of at least twelve Ring Arcanists; that her Thaumaturgy turned every Ring Arcanist within its range into a woman; and that her appearance was caused by someone finding a golden cup and calling forth a soul from the past to fight."
"Enough, enough."
Before Doctor Schneider could say anything even more outrageous, Professor Sanchez