Mondri was left speechless, feeling as if a cold hand was tightly gripping his heart. With a pale face, he barely managed to respond.
“I apologize for being unable to assist… The selection of special admissions is entirely at the discretion of the admissions director… I only give the final approval…”
It was right after this exchange that the oppressive anger weighing down on Mondri dissipated. Tristan, leaning back in his chair, remarked,
“I see. I understand what you mean.”
Relieved of the pressure, Mondri gasped for breath.
‘This young brat…’
He barely restrained himself from cursing. Mondri Cremont, a legendary magician esteemed as nearly a sage, who dedicated fifty years to the royal court and now the chancellor of Meikahel University. Everyone who recognized him would bow their heads in respect.
Yet, this young man was not intimidated at all. Like father, like son, he thought.
Mondri stared at Tristan. An ominous man with abyss-like, dull eyes, revealing nothing. In that void, Mondri felt an inexplicable fear.
‘Fear? Me? Against a noble who looks younger than my own son?’
The shame of being afraid of a young aristocrat.
‘Am I seeing the ghost of the deceased Millium?’
Mondri was confused. Yet, he did not change his expression, a skill honed by years of experience.
“Thank you for understanding. If you wish, I can call the admissions director to discuss this matter.”
“Let’s do that.”
“Yes. But… may I ask one thing?”
“What is it?”
Mondri voiced the question that had been on his mind.
“It’s remarkable that you’ve discovered the joy of learning, even late. However, for a student without magic power to study at this institution…”
“Mondri, Sir.”
Tristan cut him off, his expression subtly changing. Mondri realized he had touched a sore point – the Ruelverta family’s inability to use magic.
“Ah, my apologies. A slip of the tongue…”
“It’s not me.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m not the one seeking admission. It’s my attendant.”
Confusion furrowed Mondri’s brow. Had he misheard? Mondri took a sip of his tea, pondering over the conversation.
The Count might have mistaken
the place. This is Meikahel University, not an institution where mere attendants are admitted. But Mondri reopened the conversation with the same expression, a testament to his experience.
“The attendant of the Count… you mean?”
“Yes, this girl here.”
Tristan pointed to the girl in a coat beside him, causing Mondri to look at her. She seemed young and frail, lacking confidence and mental strength. She appeared far from talented.
“Hmm…”
Mondri fell into thought. Despite the egalitarian education policies of the Empire, Meikahel University’s alumni were almost exclusively aristocrats, largely due to the prohibitive tuition costs. Even if one could afford the tuition, the entrance exams were notoriously difficult.
“The special admissions exam is another level entirely, for students with specific talents. Not something that hard work alone can conquer. The Count surely knows this.”
Mondri regarded Tristan. The young Count’s motives were unreadable.
“If the Count insists, I understand. I’ll call the admissions director right away. The special admissions test takes time to prepare; will this afternoon be acceptable?”
“That’s fine.”
Tristan remained unphased, seemingly confident in the girl’s abilities.
Mondri’s curiosity was piqued. The son of the man he had once feared, Tristan’s intent was intriguing.
“Then, shall you wait here while I make the arrangements for the exam?”
“I have a place to visit before the test.”
“Where might that be?”
Mondri inquired, stroking his beard.
“What is the location?”
*
“Count… please go ahead without me. Just remember me as someone who didn’t cry until the end… Sob.”
“Close your eyes.”
“What?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself. Close your eyes.”
“Yes…”
Obediently, Wendy followed my instructions. I took her hand, and she flinched slightly at the touch.
“Listen to me, Wendy.”
There’s a secret to these stairs.
“You are standing right in the middle of the staircase.”
“Yes…”
The way to ascend these magically created transparent stairs.
“I’ll hold your hand, so step forward.”
“Yes?! But I can’t see anything…”
“Even if you open your eyes, you won’t see it.”
In this magical staircase, the next step appears where you believe it to be. Just climb like a normal staircase.
“So, close your eyes and come up.”
“Sob… What if there’s no stair in front of me? I can’t trust myself…”
Only those who believe can climb these stairs.
“Do you trust me?”
Thus, if you don’t think you’ll fall, you never will.
“Then trust me.”
“Sob…”
Wendy, with her eyes closed, wiped her tears.
“I trust you, Count…”
She then hesitantly lifted her right foot.
One step.
The air seemed to hold her foot.
Then she lifted her left.
Two steps.
She began to move faster, confidently climbing the staircase. I held her small hand and ascended with her.
Around us, students who had come to study during the holidays were visible. I looked around for any named characters as we ascended the high staircase but didn’t see any.
Stopping on the Staircase of Truth, I said,
“Wendy.”
“Yes?”
“You can open your eyes now.”
Before us was a sight grander and more magnificent than anything I had read in books.
“We’ve arrived.”
The Meikahel University’s pride, the magical library.
