“Sage Yeltz?” The voice called out.

  “Hello Seraphine, and Ms. Sylven. It’s good to see you again.” The sage replied politely.

  A wide eyed Seraphine stood with her mouse familiar. She had been on the way back to her dorm early after dinner with her friends. On her way out, she had run into Aurelius’s table by chance.

  A curious eyed Mr. Tona and the baffled Aurelius watched on as the sage unexpectedly pulled out a chair and invited the girl to take a seat.

  “I suspected that a sage or two might be deployed to the Academy after the lich threat, but I would have expected them to call in someone from one of the other cities!” Seraphine started happily.

  “Ah, yes. We did actually get one, but the Deputies couldn’t quite spare another. They’ve placed me on babysitting duty for a bunch of… children.” The sage replied, seemingly holding back a mouthful of unsavory words.

  “Haha, we all know you’re a busy woman Ms. Yeltz. At least you get a little break from the paperwork! I know how much you enjoy field work most of the time!” Seraphine continued good-naturedly, putting her books down and letting her familiar jump out onto the table from her breast pocket.

  “Good evening Sage. I share your sentiment on ‘babysitting’. After all, I’ve been stuck with this dense youngling here for nearly 5 years.” Sylven greeted, sympathetic to the sage’s annoyance.

  This comment earned a smile on the sage’s face, a rarity given her grumbling personality. This smile actually made even Mr. Tona do a sarcastic double take, a testament to the woman’s usually miserable facial expressions.

  Aurelius had to wonder what the fuck was even going on now. Why were they acting all… chummy with each other?

  Thankfully, Tiberius, the ever ‘philosophical questioner’, spoke up on his behalf.

  “Who’s this Ms. Yeltz? How do you know each other?” He asked.

  “Boy, you have a lot of bloody questions.” The sage growled, turning her head to stare with narrowed eyes at the innocent looking boy.

  “Ms. Yeltz here has been extremely helpful for my scholar education! I’ve been a fan of her research into some novel ideas about the theory of mana. While practical applications are limited, I loved the conceptualisation of mana and the proof she managed to give in her papers!” Seraphine answered excitedly, her eyes shining brightly with a dorky gleam.

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  “Hmm, you overestimate the worth of my studies as always Ms. Dwayne. I’ve merely added onto the work from other well known scholars and organised their processes. It’s hardly praiseworthy.” She replied, acting all… flustered and… shy?

  What the actual fuck? Aurelius was at a loss for words.

  “Nono, it’s amazing how you can juggle your invaluable scientific pursuit and the work as a sage!” Seraphine countered enthusiastically.

  “This still does not, in fact, answer my question. Actually, it’s done the exact opposite!” Tiberius interjected, stopping this strange train of conversation between the two… scholars?

  “I’m Seraphine, a scholar in study!” Seraphine cheerfully replied.

  “I’ve actually been pursuing Theoretical Mana Physics as my specialty. And Ms. Yeltz happens to be one of the experts in the field. She has been pursuing the subject since her academy days, and she’s well-known for her out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to Mana Physics!”

  “I had the pleasure of meeting her after one of her guest lectures at the Academy last year and she has been guiding me in my scholar journey occasionally!”

  The sage actually CHUCKLED at Seraphine’s eager explanations, taking another bite of her food.

  “She’s always been delightful to talk to with regards to theoretical models. Theoretical Mana Physics is a slightly more niche field, given the lack of practical applications for the theories. However, it was very interesting to find someone as obsessed with the field as young Ms.Dwayne.”

  “I would have taken her on as my apprentice if she were a water elemental mage. Unfortunately, she’s an earth elemental mage, and she already had a mentor.” The sage said, her mouth curving upwards in a regretful smile.

  “Pft, that old fart? I would be happy to take you as my mentor any day! Plus, I can always get myself a water elemental layer for my soul-shape!” Seraphine pouted unhappily.

  “Hmm, you can consider that after you’ve finished with your current soul-shape kid. I’m hardly seeing any satisfactory refinements in your shape these days.” Sylven, the familiar sighed, a furry eyebrow raised in a questioning manner.

  “Pft, this is plenty for a scholar mage like me! It’s not like I’m going to be digging through ruins for lost magical knowledge! I’m perfectly content with my pursuit of theory.” She replied incredulously.

  “Anyways, who’s your colleague Ms. Yeltz? Also, what’s Aurelius doing here? Did he screw up a spirit summoning or something?” Seraphine asked, finally noticing Aurelius’s familiar mug.

  “Ah, so he is a trouble-maker! I knew he had a stupid face!” Mr. Tona teased, pulling everyone’s attention towards an unamused Aurelius.

  “I’m Wally Tona. It’s a pleasure to find out that my little apprentice has inspired a promising young mind such as yours!” He greeted.

  “And Aurelius here is actually the reason we’re here at the Academy. This little schmuck has introduced us to your little lich faculty, Dr. Varion!” He continued delightedly.

  This earned Aurelius a glare from Sage Yeltz. Again. And a cautious look from the mouse on the table. The mouse squinted up at Aurelius with a searching look.

  “Would you have preferred that I kept this kind of information to myself? How am I supposed to live with a lich in my academy?” Aurelius defended with annoyance.

  He in fact, was looking forward to the next loop, one where he would just not report the lich in his damn school!

  “What? How in the name of Dragons did you manage to get yourself involved in this kind of mess?” Seraphine asked, completely taken aback.

  Mr. Tona geared up to tease Aurelius once more, when the small mouse on the table interjected to answer.

  With a cautious tone, she stepped back towards Seraphine carefully as she dropped a solemn statement.

  “Perhaps it involves that thing on his soul.”

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