Cyril leaned back in his chair, leafing through the newspaper in his hands. The rustle of turning pages sounded beside him now and then, mixed with the sounds of someone pressing his lips together in extreme restraint.
Without even looking, he could sense the agitation and anxiety radiating from the gentleman beside him.
A few minutes later, the middle-aged man wearing half-rimmed glasses left his seat in a huff.
"Studying is something that brings pleasure to both body and mind. But when you can't absorb anything, it becomes something that makes you irritable."
The young man opposite Cyril chuckled as he watched the middle-aged man leave.
Cyril glanced at him without responding. Unbothered, the young man continued with easy familiarity:
"Want to take a look? Groselle's Travels, this year's bestselling illustrated book."
"Only those rigid, stubborn fellows who refuse to adapt would think reading something for entertainment means willingly sinking into depravity. I don't think you're that kind of person."
Cyril raised an eyebrow and said thoughtfully:
"You don't seem to be from Lenburg."
The man opposite him nodded with a smile. "I'm from Feynapotter. I came to Lenburg because I didn't want to get married and have children."
"If it were a normal relationship, followed by marriage and then a child born of our love, I'd actually be willing."
"As a sacred place for all scholars, the Temple of Knowledge is partially open to the public. But to prevent excessive crowds from compromising its sanctity and solemnity, admission must be earned through an examination."
"To accommodate everyone, regardless of their level of education, the question bank covers all sorts of subjects. As for the difficulty, though..."
Cyril understood what he meant from the slightly helpless look in his eyes.
*Earning a chance to enter the church through exam results...