"Answers. I need Answers. I need MOAAAARRRRRR" – an impatient philosopher

The sunset starts streaming into Reynold's bedroom. The once magnificent drapes, in tatters. The elegant bookshelves, fallen, their contents spread over the floor. His king-sized mattress ordered specially from a foreign merchant, the feathers from a magic beast, ripped and upside down. Alex looks at the devastation they had caused and then looks to Reynold, who seems to be successfully ignoring reality.

'I was able to survive in the end, but I created such a mess in the process. Though to be fair, a majority was caused by a certain someone…'

Alex glares at the princess, who only smiles back.

Through all of it, the only island of calm that remained is the desk that Reynold sits behind. It is at this moment when the tensions had calmed, and a ceasefire had been declared that Reynold spoke up.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm in getting to know my student…"

Alex looks at his teacher, a betrayed expression clearly on his face.

"But, you really need to start acting your age, you can start by preparing the repair costs that your little tryst here will incur."

Seeing Reynolds admonishing gaze, she nods, "I will make sure to do so Reynold, I'm sorry about the mess I just wanted to-"

"Leticia, when someone is 'out' when they are actually present, it means they don't want to talk at the moment or have some sort of business to attend to. In this case, that is with my student, if you wouldn't mind giving us some time to finish that business it would be much appreciated."

'So, her name is Leticia'

Alex quickly looks over to the princess before averting his gaze, hoping not to attract any attention.

Leticia squirms as Reynold's gaze intensifies.

Leticia then puffs out her cheeks and says, "I didn't come here just to check on you, there's actually something really important that I needed to tell you."

Reynold's dead eyes meet her gaze.

"I learned something while I was at the tournament. Apparently, the kingdoms knights and army have deserted it. Are you proud of me?" Leticia's gaze fills with hope as she edges closer as if expecting adulation.

'What the heck is their relationship?'

Something that she does not get. Reynold's cold gaze meets her puppy eyes, "I thank you for the confirmation, but I was just learning that information from another source," Reynold looks to Alex and pauses, which causes Leticia's to do the same. Alex himself feels very uncomfortable under her gaze and starts backing away and getting himself into a defensive state.

'I don't want another repeat of that, if she comes at me, I'm going to retaliate.'

"Which you interrupted. A source I still need to finish conversing with." Reynold finishes.

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Leticia waits silently.

"Privately, Leticia. Though sometimes I doubt you know the meaning of the word."

Leticia looks a bit hurt at that, before starting to retreat out the door.

"I'm sorry I interrupted," Leticia says, tears starting to spring up in her eyes, "I'll just get going now and leave you two to your business."

Leticia steps over some wreckage and makes it to the door, "I'm glad you're doing okay, I know you had a good relationship with the Albent king, so I wanted to let you know…"

"We can talk about this later Leticia, thank you for your time," Reynold says.

Leticia nods, before leaving the room.

Reynold waits a few seconds for the footsteps to disappear before sighing and slumping further back into his chair.

Alex gives him a questioning look.

Reynold looks over to him.

"I'd rather not talk about it."

Alex nods.

"Well, to be honest, I lost my train of thought… but the points distill down to this."

Alex listens intently.

"You're going to need to fulfill your contract with that beast, one way or another. I'm pretty sure the one that made that contract with you also messed with the results of that Rogue mage's experiments, it would match with your 'hallucination.' You should be fine with the guards, I'll put in a good word for you."

Alex nods.

'Well, that's one problem off my list, though fulfilling the contract.'

Alex touches his neck.

Reynold continues on, not paying heed to his student's actions, perhaps still shell-shocked from Leticia's visit, "In regards to Bernhart…'

Alex's gaze sharpens.

"You are probably fine meeting him; I can go with you if you'd like. The class he teaches and the profession he endorses are not the prettiest things. Still, he is considered a hero for fighting in the revolt. I don't think he'd do anything too drastic, if not only to preserve his teaching position and reputation."

Alex shakes his head, unwilling to get anywhere near Bernhart.

Reynold sees this and sighs, "Suit yourself, he does seem to have information on your condition though… I'm sorry that I'm not much help there, I don't make it my business to practice the darker components of the rogue arts, I'm more of a mage."

Reynold continues, "I might be able to find something if I talk to him if you feel too uncomfortable to…"

Alex gives him an even stare.

"Well, you're probably not really worried about any of that, are you? From what I've heard around town, the kingdom hasn't been conquered, though a few towns like this have defected, and I don't believe that they have a standing army anymore.

Alex gives Reynold a confused look.

'How could the kingdom stand without an army.'

Reynold looks at the boy, "The power of a magic beast is really amazing, as well as the contracts. It's why you'll need to be careful about yours. Anyways, I would suggest you visit at one time or another."

Alex starts to ask a question.

Reynold raises his hand, while the other covers his forehead, "First off, no talking, you should know that by now. Second, I'm exhausted right now, Leticia does tend to do that to me, and I need to clean this mess…" Reynold gestures to the room, "so we're going to need to continue this later. I'll have Jeffrey lead you to an open room, feel free to settle in and stay as long as you need, though it's a bit dangerous for you to stay here and I wouldn't suggest and an extended stay at all. When you're ready to leave, though, you'll need to talk to me again, okay?"

Reynold raises from his seat, and gestures for Alex to do the same. Reynold and Alex pick their way through the wreckage before making it to the door.

Reynold then opens the door and says, "Oh, and regarding Jeffrey, he's an apprentice teacher candidate, so please be kind to him because no one else is."

Jeffrey stands waiting outside the door.

"Hey Jeffrey," Jeffrey's attention snaps to Reynold, "Here's a chance to make up for letting Leticia in earlier."

Jeffrey looks as if he is going to say something, but is shut up by the harsh gaze of Reynold.

"Lead Alex here," Reynold pats Alex's back, pushing him forward, "to an open room, pronto."

Reynold claps his hands twice, and Jeffrey takes Alex's hand and drags him off.

Reynold waves from the doorway, and yells after them, "Come visit tomorrow, we'll finish our discussion then."

As Alex is dragged through different hallways and corridors, he feels a sense of relief.

'It wasn't just my postulations, the kingdom really still stands.'

Alex is then pushed into a room while still thinking over the implications of what he had learned. Alex then starts to feel woozy and collapses onto the nearby bed, still fully garbed, and falls to sleep from exhaustion.