Music Salon Invitation

On the way back from the funeral, the three silently followed Vice Principal Huxley and Dean Gould ahead of them.

Qiong walked between the other two, holding Hiran's hand on one side and walking shoulder to shoulder with Fan Ning on the other.

At one point, Huxley turned around. His eyes were sharp, but his tone was gentle. "Caloin Van Ning, right? You composed a piece called Fantasy Impromptu during the improvisation test two days ago?"

Fan Ning nodded.

Huxley asked again, "Was that funeral march you just played also your composition?"

Fan Ning nodded again.

An exquisite, sturdy card wrapped in golden velvet was handed to Fan Ning.

"An invitation to the Music Salon on Saturday evening, December 7. You're welcome to come, and you may bring your companions." Huxley immediately turned his head back, without the slightest hesitation.

Fan Ning had no time to think. He instinctively thanked Huxley for the item placed in his hand.

Qiong looked at Fan Ning curiously.

"The Marchioness McAdam's Music Salon? Wow... That's a major family with considerable influence throughout Ufransel and even the empire."

Her eyes glittered. "Caloen, you're amazing! No wonder you're a young composer! You'll go, right?"

"Hm?..." Fan Ning leaned closer to examine the card in his hand, and Hiran looked over from the side.

He had learned a little about salon culture in the Theolan Empire. It was somewhat similar to modern Europe in his previous life.

Usually, a powerful female head of the family organized such gatherings at a private residence. The discussions revolved around literature, art, theology, philosophy, and current social issues, with attendees invited to speak freely.

The rise of salon culture broke through the limits on dialogue between the empire's various social classes. Whether royalty, nobles, merchants, scholars, the middle class, or the poor, anyone who could contribute valuable content to a salon's discussions would earn the respect of others.

Organizing such an elite social occasion first required powerful connections, as well as immense wealth to support an almost extravagant banquet.

Conversation naturally took place over fine wine and delicious food, with everyone continuing to eat exquisite, expensive desserts as they talked.

To the organizer, the salon reflected the family's overall power and refined tastes.

To the participants, the level of the salons they were frequently invited to attend directly reflected their social status, as well as their expertise and authority in a particular field.

Fan Ning looked at the introducer's name below, as well as a set of gilded patterns formed from Old Hoffmann.

These nobles loved using Old Hoffmann in their written works, to display their family's ancient heritage and refined education.

He could just barely make it out: Kai Huxley, Saint Leniya University branch of the Bologna School.

Seeing the name in writing reminded Fan Ning that Vice Principal Huxley was also a sculptor. His small-scale works had been exhibited and auctioned at Fan Ning's family art gallery quite some time ago.

"The Bologna School, the Guidance School... They're all schools..." Fan Ning thought secretly. Is this also an organization of Knowers?

"Since this is the Saint Leniya University branch, that means there are other school branches... So these imperial aristocratic academies have a unified school power behind them?"

And which faction does the Guidance School belong to?...

As Fan Ning thought, he toyed with the invitation in his hand, flipping it back and forth.

Seeing that Fan Ning had not spoken for a while, Qiong poked him on the shoulder. "If it's convenient, could you take us with you? Hiran wants to get some fresh air too, right?"

Only then did Fan Ning look at them both. "As long as I decide to go, I'll take you with me. Is that all right?"

Vice Principal Huxley was certainly a Knower...

It was only Monday, so he had nearly two full weeks to gather and investigate other information before deciding whether to go.

But most importantly, he had to advance to Knower as soon as possible.

Only then would he be confident enough to deal with all kinds of situations. Qiong stretched out her little hand, her fingers as white and flawless as scallion roots. "Caloen, as a reward, I'll give you three dream interpretation sessions for free. Very professional ones, too. How about it? If you have any troubles, that is. Mm, most people have troubles of that sort."

At the end, she tilted her head and made a V sign at Fan Ning.

Girl, are you a master or a beginner...? Fan Ning felt that he understood her less and less.

The group split up after returning to the school's west gate.

Fan Ning, Hiran, and Qiong had lunch together in the cafeteria.

"Caloen, take good care of Hiran."

After reiterating their agreement to meet at the main gate on Thursday evening, Qiong said goodbye to them and headed northwest toward the Faculty of History and Literature for class.

"Caloen, when you said that just now, did you mean you were going to stay at my house, or... or that I should follow you..."

Fan Ning had once been a frequent guest at Professor Anton's home, though the situation was somewhat different now.

Fan Ning smiled. "I'll stay at your place like before."

The apartment he was living in now was far too ordinary.

"If my Turner Art Gallery can reopen someday, I'll definitely let you experience those luxurious guest rooms."

"Oh." Hiran shuffled along, catching up with Fan Ning.

There was already quite a bit of snow on the main campus road. The two of them walked through the silver-clad landscape, their feet sinking alternately deep and shallow.

"The most awkward problem right now is that I can't obtain the Luminous Essence Elixir myself to activate that Four-Fold Line Drift Waymarker. Otherwise, I would have become a Knower in no time." Fan Ning continued thinking.

If ten milliliters of Candle Phase Luminous Essence Elixir cost £100 to £150 on the regular market, it would be even more expensive on the black market. He could not afford that at all.

Then again, he could swallow his pride and temporarily borrow some money from Hiran... Once he became a Knower, he would find a way to pay her back immediately.

But the key question was, where could he buy it?

A trading gathering organized by some hidden Knower organization? He did not know where one was, and even if he did, he would not dare go.

Should he make another trip to the Woodpecker Inquiry Office? Lord Viadlin would certainly provide it for him—of course, putting the debt under his name.

But he could not exactly say in front of him, "This one you gave me won't work," then pull out another strange waymarker and ask, "Would you mind stepping outside for a moment?"

Although Lord Viadlin might not watch him the next time, the initiative would not be in his hands.

For now, the only solution Fan Ning could think of was to find someone relatively reliable, obtain information about a relatively reliable "black market," and then scrape together some money.

All right, a relatively reliable "black market" still sounded extremely unreliable.

What an awkward problem...

The professors' residences had been built in an area north of Saint Leniya University, close to the Music Academy. The sixth villa in the row before them was Teacher Anton and Hiran's home. It could not be considered a mansion, but it had its own private courtyard. Not far beyond the north gate was Cedar Square, a relatively prosperous area connecting the inner and outer districts of Leniya, making daily life and travel extremely convenient.

"Caloen, don't frown." Hiran suddenly tugged at Fan Ning's arm.

"Oh, all right." Fan Ning came back to himself. "How many days were you able to get leave for?"

"Just today. Including the weekend before, three days is just enough to finish handling everything... I'm taking the entrance examination next year, and my studies are under a lot of pressure right now." Hiran unlocked the courtyard gate.

"Your grades won't be a problem, Hiran," Fan Ning comforted her. "And the dean made his position fairly clear today. The recommendation-based admission route shouldn't be a problem either. It would even be easier, so don't put so much pressure on yourself."

The front yard was covered in grass, with ice and snow blanketing the swing and miniature rockery beneath the trees.

A large chestnut tree as tall as the roof stood by the house, its branches pressing against one side of the second-floor windows.

Hiran's fingers were slender and fair. She pointed toward the other side of the courtyard. "Caloen, you planted these yourself several years ago, when you were a freshman. Do you remember?"

"Back then, I carried the water while Dad and you each used a shovel to dig holes. You kept complaining that every time you drove the shovel in, it made him veer off course."

Fan Ning gazed at the row of snow-covered fragrant-leaved trees. There were ten of them, and they were not evenly spaced. It was obvious at a glance that the row was crooked and crooked again.

"Hiran, I know how you feel right now, because I feel the same way."

Fan Ning looked up at the delicate little house again. "This is my first time coming to the home where Teacher Anton is no longer here. The last time I came was three or four days ago, when everything was still fine."

Hiran continued speaking blankly. "The last time I saw Dad was when I went to school last Monday. I stayed at school for the next few days, then came rushing back after hearing the news. I cooperated with the police at the scene and dealt with some of his belongings. I don't even know how I managed to walk out of this house in the end."

Her voice caught. "These past few days, I rested at Qiong's place during the day, and she stayed with me while I kept vigil at night. In short, I didn't dare come home and face this situation. It felt as though, if I didn't come back, my memories of home would remain frozen in that happy weekend..."

Fan Ning looked at the girl before him, on the verge of tears, and let out a long sigh.

After his father disappeared three years ago, he had experienced firsthand how difficult it was to face everything alone.

For Hiran, who was so young and now in such a situation... Someone more psychologically mature might appear calmer to outsiders, but that would not lessen the grief in their heart at all.

He removed his top hat, took out a handkerchief, and wiped his hands.

Then he stepped forward and gently placed a hand on the girl's smooth hair.

"Hiran, if you're sad, you can cry."