Standing before a corridor window, Qin Ran gazed at the Latt Family's fountain in the distance.
It was late autumn, and the weather was growing cold. The fountain had long since stopped flowing, but the statue of the Fountain Goddess cradling a water vessel remained breathtakingly beautiful.
A master's craftsmanship was enough to make a statue exquisite, flawless.
Qin Ran studied the statue.
Ratt's introduction surfaced in his mind.
"One of the few works Master Haiserge left behind in his youth!"
Qin Ran had no idea who Haiserge was.
But an appreciation of beauty was universal.
From his first glimpse of the statue, Qin Ran had believed its sculptor must be an extraordinary master. He hoped studying it would give his mind a brief rest and ease his taut nerves.
In fact, Qin Ran had been doing just that for the past two weeks.
Whenever reading or trying to control that unruly wisp of flame left him exhausted, he would come out for a walk and look at the statue to take his mind off things.
Today, however, that clearly would not work.
Harold's and Coffin's footsteps were far too distinct.
Especially Coffin, who still used a cane. Even an ordinary person could have clearly heard it tapping against the floor from a long way off.
And the two were heading toward him.
"There are some things even I can't do!"
Qin Ran turned to face the two approaching men and spoke before either could open his mouth.
He knew perfectly well why they had come to him.
Jonna!
The disfigured Jonna!
They were all Herbert's students, but compared with Harold and Coffin, who had only suffered broken limbs, the young Jonna had been disfigured. It was truly infuriating and heartbreaking.
Over the past two weeks, Herbert had tried more