Lloyd wiped his mouth with a napkin, still chuckling. "Then there was the Field Trip Vote. It was for all years, and everyone had four options to pick for a one-week campaign. The first option was a trip to the Beach, the second was a Theater in Nuevo, the third was visiting the capital, and the last was the Monster Zone."

Reinhard blinks in surprise, he didn't think the school would have field trip events like those.

He had to admit, the school seemed to be going out of its way to let the students enjoy their lives.

It's not just helping them fulfill their goal but also helping them enjoy their youth as much as possible.

Jessie sighed before smiling and saying. "I originally wanted the beach, but Kyle convinced me to go to the capital with him. It was pretty fun, especially walking in the garden at dusk and seeing the stream of fireflies moving around."

Suzy sighed dreamily. "Nuevo theaters were amazing. The play of the Legend Of The Crimson Veil was astounding. Especially the lead actor whose voice cracked on the final line. I am pretty sure most of the people were crying, and the applause lasted ten minutes."

Kyle shrugged. "The capital was fun, especially the palace kitchens that let us taste the royal dessert."

Bruno leaned back, chair creaking. "And then in January, we had the Great Story Night on the fields outside. We had a Bonfire so big you could feel the heat from the top row. We roasted marshmallows until they caught fire, and we danced all night. While the professors each came together to tell their own stories, and even the students joined in."

Reinhard closed his eyes as he could imagine such a fun event. "I missed everything."

Marie beamed at him and said. "We can always make up those events later and do the new ones."

Reinhard smiled and nodded.

The server returned with dessert, which was a warm apple tart, vanilla bean ice cream melting into rivers of gold. The scent enveloped the table as conversation slowed to murmurs and the soft clink of spoons against porcelain.

…

A week slipped by in a blur of classes, studying, and soul absorption. Reinhard found himself slipping into a routine of waking up, attending lectures, meeting with his friends, absorbing souls in his dorm room, and sleeping.

The six months he'd missed hung over him, but Marie, Joseph, and the others helped fill in the gaps wherever they could.

It was on a clear afternoon when one of the staff members from the Information Institution found him leaving his last class. The man, middle-aged, wearing the standard administrator's uniform, handed him a folded letter sealed with the academy's crest.

"Principal Klaus requests your presence in his office." The man said with a respectful nod. "At your earliest convenience."

Reinhard accepted the letter, breaking the seal to scan its contents. The message was brief, Klaus wanted to speak with him about the expedition request, and the earliest convenience essentially meant now.

"Thank you." Reinhard replied, tucking the letter into his jacket pocket.

The administrator nodded again before departing, leaving Reinhard standing in the corridor. He adjusted his black-white academy jacket and began making his way toward the administrative wing. Students passed him occasional nods of recognition or quick greetings that he returned automatically.

The Main Hall opened before him with those familiar columns rising toward the ceiling, the grand staircase sweeping upward. Gas lamps flickered along the walls despite the daylight. Reinhard bypassed the stairs entirely, heading instead for the elevator.

The operator, a young man, stood at attention inside. He nodded with a smile as Reinhard entered, reaching for the lever without needing to be told the destination.

"Principal's office?"

"Yes."

The gate closed with a metallic clang, and the elevator lurched upward. Reinhard watched the floors pass as he saw glimpses of corridors, the occasional student or professor visible through windows.

When the elevator stopped, the operator pulled the gate open. "Have a good day."

Reinhard stepped out and walked through the corridor. He walked past the portraits that lined the walls, they were the former principals, professors of note, and benefactors who'd contributed to the academy's founding. Each frame had gold with the Academy symbol and leaf pattern around the edges.

Reinhard passed several doors, each bearing brass plaques with names and titles, before reaching the one at the corridor's end.

Principal Klaus's office.

Reinhard reached for the handle, and then the door swung open smoothly.

The office was spacious, exactly as he remembered from his last visit. Tall windows dominated one wall, covered by heavy velvet curtains in deep burgundy. Bits of light leaked through where the curtains didn't quite meet, casting thin golden lines across the polished hardwood floor.

Bookshelves lined two other walls, filled with leather-bound volumes, and a sitting area occupied one corner with plush chairs arranged around a low table.

Klaus sat behind that desk, the dark-colored wood nearly black in the subdued lighting. His right hand rested atop a walking cane propped against the desk. The handle was shaped like a crow's head, its eye a small red gem that caught the light.

Klaus looked up as Reinhard entered, and a smile spread across his face. He gestured toward one of the chairs positioned before his desk. "Reinhard. Please, sit. How is everything so far?"

Reinhard moved forward, his boots silent against the plush carpet that covered this section of floor. "It was a bit difficult with the six months I had to make up." He admitted before sitting down in the chair. "But with everyone's help, it's been manageable."

Klaus chuckled. "That's good. You should rely on others when it's possible, or else you'll tire yourself out." He leaned back slightly, the chair creaking under the shift in weight. "Trying to do everything alone is a silly mistake, one I hope you'll avoid."

Reinhard nodded while his fingers drummed once against the armrest before he asked the question that had been on his mind. "So, did the expedition to the Forerunners get approved?"

Klaus's smile widened, taking on an edge of amusement. "We'll get to that. But first, I want to inform you that Brunhilde will be acting as a security guard for us."

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