Laughing and joking, the two followed a tree-lined path to the office building of the academy's magical engineering department.
"We're here," Ansu said.
Cecilia nodded.
Honestly, the good mood she had enjoyed along the way left her feeling wistful. If not for the bloodline she carried, she would have quite liked to become a student at the Royal Academy.
Talking about coursework with the fellow beside her every day, going to the dining hall together, heading home together after class—it seemed like a wonderful life forever beyond her reach...
But sadly, there were no ifs...
Her identity meant she would never have such a peaceful life.
Cecilia sighed inwardly and let the smile fade from her face. "Let's go meet this Duncan Adams."
Ansu led Cecilia straight up to the fifth floor of the office building.
He had already asked around the academy to find Professor Duncan's office. To his surprise, the professor belonged not to the history department, but to the magical engineering department.
Magical engineering was one of the Royal Academy's two most popular majors, yet Ansu had never seen Professor Duncan teach. With several books like those to his name, he should have enjoyed some modest fame, but he kept such a low profile at the academy that Ansu had needed to ask quite a few students before finding out where his office was.
When they found Professor Duncan's office, they stood in the doorway, surveyed the seemingly empty room, and exchanged a glance.
"It feels so deserted..." Ansu frowned. "Is Professor Duncan out?"
But the door was open. Ansu looked around a little longer, then quietly stepped inside.
Duncan's office was large. Like any scholar's office, it was lined with towering bookshelves, while the alchemy bench was piled with a jumble of experimental equipment, including many