"Did the professor go to Kalas Mountain?"
Shade asked. By then, the two had passed through the bookshelves and arrived at the hall by the library entrance.
The tiled floor was translucent, with a flowing river of stars beneath it. Saint Byron's School Badge hung above the circulation desk at the entrance, but no librarian assistants were on duty behind it. Farther back, students sat quietly reading beside the towering bookshelves.
The red-haired girl stopped walking, confusion appearing on her face again.
"Kalas Mountain?"
"Yes. Don't you know that place? No, Daniste, you definitely know it. After all, we promised that one day, we would go there together."
Shade stared into her rose-red eyes. A dazed expression appeared on the young Sorceress's face, much like when Shade had woken from beside the desk just now.
"Yes, Kalas Mountain. How could I not know it? Teacher went—"
But she abruptly shook her head and took Shade's hand again.
"Let's not talk about Teacher for now. Let's go see the Unicorns. They're clearly a species kept by the Academy, yet they never let us visit whenever we want. Come on, come on. We can discuss everything else later. Today, I have to see the Unicorns. If one of them is willing to carry me for a ride, I'll be happy for an entire year."
As she spoke, she tugged hard at Shade, only to find that he had not moved at all.
He continued asking:
"Daniste, come to think of it, I've never asked. In the present year of 1821, how old exactly are you?"
"What a strange question. Of course I'm—"
She abruptly shut her mouth, pursing her lips as she looked at Shade. That dazed expression appeared on her face again. Shade did not rush her, merely waiting a few