The silent Ancient Castle sometimes resembled a slumbering beast crouched on the ground.
The group strolled through the castle.
Ruger tilted his head slightly, feeling as though he had overlooked something.
His brow twitched. He glanced around and suddenly understood: his teacher was missing. He had felt this back in the carriage, when Varin said her teacher, Jillian, would fight as the Vango Family's Three-Ring Wizard. The word "teacher" had reminded him, but he had not quite grasped it then. Only now did he realize that he had not seen his teacher in quite some time.
Immanuel; Caputo.
Not just in the carriage, nor just at the spacious dueling grounds. It seemed he had already gone some time without seeing his teacher back in the Library.
"My dear sister, please give Lady Jillian my regards," Phyllis said with a smile.
The family head was still holding Varin back to talk.
Ruger glanced at them, then turned and took a branching corridor alone. It led to the Library. Voices and Mahama's footsteps were still faintly audible behind him, but he had already unconsciously quickened his pace.
Returning to the Library, he passed row after row of bookshelves.
Only when he saw the small round table and the chair beside it did he stop.
Had his teacher gotten lost?
Ruger looked around, took out the Old Recliner, and placed it where it had been before. Then he sat down beside the small round table.
He was not worried about Immanuel's safety as a Four-Ring Wizard. Rather, he feared that his teacher might disappear without a sound.
He took out the book he had not finished and set some fruit tea brewing on the small round table. He lowered his head to read, listening to the bubbling. When he turned his head again,