The rest of the morning went by in a blur. When midday finally came, I headed straight for The Great Hall to find Professor Willow, I needed to hear the news from my father.
I walked through the main hall doors and found Scarlet, waiting for me. She looked quite bored with her body leaning on the wall, idly playing with her dagger.
“Have you seen Professor Willow at all today?” I asked.
“No, barely notice the guy outside of Language & Latin class, still haven’t read over the papers he set for tomorrow.”
“I didn’t even see him at breakfast, we need to go to his office.”
I turned around and headed up a flight of stairs on the left. We passed a few students walking in the opposite direction to us, going back towards the hall. They were students from the year below us, immature.
“Professor Willow, are you in at the moment?” I knocked lightly on the wooden door of his office.
The door swung inwards, and Professor Willow was standing inside holding it open. I turned to my left to ask Scarlet whether she wanted to come in, but she was already gone. I cleared my throat and went into the room.
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The curtains were nearly fully drawn over the windows so on the inside there was barely any light. It made the room feel cooler, and the darkness seemed to swallow all of the external sound. There was only a faint tick, tick, tick of a grandfather clock, towering over us in the corner. It was safe to say that Professor Willow was a man of peculiar taste. Even more strange was that my father had befriended him over the years that I had attended the college. This man, who was spindly wound and religiously only wore grey tweed jackets with black elbow patches. Underneath, would be a checkered vest, an ironed, white button up, and a fat tie which changed colour to compliment the vest.
“I suspect you are here to hear some good news.” Even though his voice remained tame and low, each syllable seemed to sink deep into me.
“Yes, sir. My father told me you would have his word by now.”
“Winter, I need you to know something first.”
I didn’t know why he was delaying this, what could be more important? “Yes, sir?”
“The Shattered Valley, where The Eastern Architect resides. It is home to many unkindly ones. There could be many obstacles, many things willing to retaliate if provoked. Do you understand?”
“What does this have to do with the news of my father?”
“Please understand that you must remain calm, and not react unduly. I promised Darius I would take all necessary measures to keep you in the city, to keep you safe.”
“Professor Willow, I do not need to be condescended to, what are you saying? Tell me the news!” The uneasy feeling from yesterday returned to my gut. The very same feeling I had been swallowed by when I stared into the eyes of The Mother.
“There’s been no word nor sign from him. I’m sorry, Winter.”