Laris was looking at the autumn forest through the window. All this abundance, blooming with colours, was spread in front of him, as if inviting him to put everything else down, and immediately go for a walk. It was tempting, and distracting him from what he really needed to focus his attention on. Namely, from the tedious tone of the dean, delivering his typical rambling lecture. His mentor's voice was grating on his nerves, leaving Laris with the itching desire to escape.

" - and there will be Trials soon. Of course, you are ready for them. But just being ready is not enough! Great hopes are pinned on you, Laris, and you must become an example for other students. When your current performance is rather… mediocre.”

Laris looked over his shoulder at his mentor. Ereand continued his speech as if he was oblivious to his apprentice’s growing annoyance. The mentor was pacing back and forth through the cozy room. This one, as many others, was located in "Dormant Quarters", the web of semi-living buildings, connected by a system of lianas and roots, that were nestled right in the crown of the gigantic taure tree. These small houses were casually called "Dorms" by the students of the University of Magic.

Dormant rooms in the branches of ancient trees.

Listening to the dean, Laris sighed. Well, it was his own mistake to invite his friend for a cup of spicy yaere right now, in the middle of the exams preparation. That is why now it was simply impossible to avoid this scolding about how ineptly he spends his days at the University.

"Are you even listening to me?" The dean's sharp voice brought the student out of his pleasant state of sleepiness.

"I do listen to you..." drawled Laris, still throwing a melancholy glance out the window, where a golden flicker was just about to fall on the ground, foreshadowing the approach of noon.

"Good, because we're not done yet. You will have a chance to admire nature later." Saying this Ereand grabbed the edge of the curtain with his long fingers, and pulled it to cover up the window. What he was not expecting was that the rack would collapse immediately.

Laris blinked in surprise as his friend, the respected dean of the University, floundered in the floating tulle, like a butterfly in a spider's web. It was simply impossible to withhold his laughter. The light green eyes that glared at him from under the airy fabric brimmed with reproach.

"I will help you now!" promised Laris, but then burst helplessly into laughter again, throwing his head back and allowing the ginger mass of his hair to wave down in spectaculous lava. As his carefree laughter was contagious, Ereand echoed him.

Finally, Laris stretched out his hand and helped the dean up, freeing him from the curtain.

The mentor brushed off his robe and sighed resignedly.

“Thank you very much. Very well, now…” He paused. “Pour me some yaere, if you please, Laris. I am ready to change the topic.”

The apprentice perked up at these words. He took the delicate fabric from the floor, neatly folded it and wandered to the kitchen corner of his room.

Soon the tantalizing notes of cinnamon and citrus reached the Ereand’s nostrils, The smell was mixed with the tart-sweet aroma of giten-root, which grew only in the University forest, and was worth its weight in gold in distant countries. Then the dean heard the trickle of hot liquid against the thin walls of the ceramic mug, and a faint smile appeared on his pale face.

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Laris handed the dean the round cup and then sat down in the opposite armchair, climbing onto it entirely, and pulled his legs up under him like a cat.

Taking a sip, the dean looked at Laris with appreciation.

“No need to thank me, I know that I brew the best yaere in the Meadow Lands.” Laris’ whole slender figure, dressed in the golden-beige robe of an apprentice, radiated pride.

“You do.” Ereand agreed.

“Well, Eri, what did you want to talk about?” Laris asked casually, hoping that the dean would not lose his good mood, and return to the topic of his apprenticeship.

“Yesterday, I received a message from the Ambassador.”

“Really? And, what does Aquel want?” - The student leaned forward with an obvious interest.

“He says he will be visiting soon.” Ereand began explaining in a deliberately calm tone. “There is something troubling happening at the Wet Coast. Rumours are spreading of unrest in the Far Lands, in Charoy. There are people in Porto claiming some grandiose Cult event is being planned there. Reports of sacrifices have increased in the villages, and the Empire is losing control over it.”

“Sacrifices?” The student rearranged himself on the chair, his whole appearance changing in an instant. His features sharpened as he shifted his weight forward, his thin nose started to look somewhat predator-like on his triangular face. The mage’s whole figure reminded me of an angry bird ready to attack. Even Laris’ hazel eyes flickered with gleams of amber.

“Calm yourself, otherwise, you’ll transform!” Ereand warned, raising his hands apologetically. “These are just rumours. I don’t think you need to believe everything that is said in the port taverns, right?”

“...Okay then.” Laris leaned back in his chair, almost regaining his human appearance.

Ereand, who was observing the metamorphoses with pedagogical interest, finally broke eye contact with Laris and looked down, studying the mug in his hands, as if he saw it for the first time.

One of the many amazing properties of this drink was that it never got cold, even at temperatures below the freezing point of water. This attribute came from the fact that it contained taure juice, and these trees were always warm, alive. In moments of anxiety, Ereand would put his palms on the warm bark of a taure, and listen to the unified beating of the forest’s heart. It was comforting. He knew that his students used to do the same, and it warmed the dean’s soul.

Even now, before meeting with Laris, he’d spent a good half hour in this manner of meditation. The Ambassador’s letter had seriously worried Ereand, and Laris knew it, although both men were pretending that nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

The student sighed, as if he was reading his mentor’s thoughts like an open book. Ereand even made a small gesture with his hand, creating a psychic shield, just in case.

“Anyway, there is no reason to be concerned. This is not an official visit, but I anticipate that the University Council will insist on a ceremonial reception, so we cannot avoid the traditional demonstrations.”

“I heard that Aquel himself can perform the show.” Laris interrupted him with a wicked smirk.

“Could have” is the correct verbal form in this case.” The dean answered with firmness in his voice. “You know very well that Aquel lost his place in the Council as soon as he entered the service of the Empire.”

“But has he improved his powers since then?” Laris responded in a mysterious voice, and the corner of his shapely lips quivered slightly again. “This is where the secret lies…”

“In any case, it is none of our concern.” Ereand repeated. He then was silent for a moment, lost in his thoughts and continued after this brief pause. “Mariol will take over the preparations for the reception, and I’m going to assign you to lead our freshmen.”

“With great pleasure!” Laris smiled broadly. “You know how I love to spend my time with non-fledglings.”

“That’s why you’re the one who will do it.” The dean confirmed, “But for now, it is all, and I have other matters to attend to. Thank you for yaere.”

Ereand got up from his chair, and Laris also stood up to accompany him. At the doorway, the dean turned back, and looked very seriously into the eyes of his student.

“Don’t worry, ok? You know that all our thoughts will materialize sooner or later. The best strategy is to relax, and trust life.

“I know.” Laris whispered quietly in response, as Ereand turned his back and disappeared down the ladder, hanging from the platform next to the entrance of his tree house.