It was already late at night when Kallen returned to the guesthouse.
In the clearing outside, the enormous crab had appeared again. Beside it, the guesthouse looked as tiny as a toy building block.
It was probably a utility Demon Beast raised by one of the colleges, but as Kallen passed beneath it, he felt a tremor from a soul.
Not his own, but from above him.
Kallen looked up at it. Its body was still, but it gave the impression of forcibly holding its breath, persevering against something.
Was it tired or sleepy?
Kallen thought no more of it and entered the guesthouse. In the large ground-floor dining room, people were dining at over a dozen tables. He could tell at a glance that they were teachers with their students, probably celebrating a recently completed project.
At this hour, even if the university cafeteria still served late-night snacks, it could hardly compare with a guesthouse that properly catered to paying customers. As for the Lakeside, where Kallen had just been, ordinary teachers and students could not afford it.
Kallen went upstairs and returned to his room. Philomina was sitting in a chair, holding a book.
The sight did not quite suit his image of Philomina. Kallen was still more accustomed to seeing her holding a blade.
"The quiet, studious air suits you," Kallen said.
Philomina stood and put the book down. Kallen noticed that it probably was not a formally published book, but notes compiled and circulated internally, bearing the Guman family crest.
It was a practical collection of notes summarizing common formations, primarily teaching how to break or evade them.
There was no need to guess. Richard must have brought it out for her.
Kallen actually had many valuable books and notes on formations himself, gifts from Mr.