While speaking, Dr. Schneider took a sip of the black tea, then glanced into the teacup with mild surprise:
"This black tea is quite good."
"Churches and colleges?"
Shade wasn't in the mood to care about his guest's opinion on tea—or the former detective who once lived here. He was still trying to digest all this strange information.
"Yes. Churches can train ringbornes too," Schneider said seriously. "In fact, in my opinion, the proper channels for becoming a ringborne are limited to the five orthodox churches and the three thaumaturgy academies. The so-called evil churches, secret societies, ancient orders, and various underground organizations either lack standardized training or hide deadly risks. So, believe me, you're lucky to have met me during your awakening... lucky for both of us, in fact."
"Then... the church..."
Compared to an unfamiliar academy, Shade found himself instinctively more interested in the church, which likely worked with the kingdom's official institutions. The doctor noticed this inclination. Smiling knowingly, he shook his head and explained:
"The academies and the orthodox churches aren't enemies. In fact, they cooperate at times. But, to put it bluntly, the church doesn't particularly like academy students, whether correspondence or formal. They consider us... dangerous trouble magnets."
He raised his eyebrows slightly, and seeing that Shade wasn't interrupting, continued:
"So, while being a correspondence ringborne isn't illegal, we typically avoid drawing church attention. I understand your interest in the church, but let me ask you—"
The corner of his mouth lifted in a slightly teasing smile.
"Entry into the church requires a clean history. Even if you don't have a criminal record, you need a fully traceable background, proof that you're not a potential threat. Can you provide that?"
As a psychiatrist, Dr. Schneider was now half-consulting, half-testing his patient.
"Have you investigated me?"
The words slipped from Shade's mouth before he could stop them. Regretting it immediately, he added weakly:
"I suppose it would be strange if you hadn't..."
He fell silent, embarrassed.
"Only basic checks,* Schneider replied casually. "The college needs to confirm potential students' identities too. I can't recommend someone dangerous. But since it's correspondence teaching, do you understand what that means?—the background requirements aren't nearly as strict as those of the church."
He smiled gently, his blue eyes meeting Shade's.
"Ringborne awakenings can disturb the mind. That's why the Shade Hamilton of yesterday is different from the Shade Hamilton of today. When I first saw you yesterday, you looked lost, afraid of the world itself. After checking your background, I understood. For you, awakening wasn't just talent... it was literal waking up, wasn't it?"
It was a reasonable misunderstanding—that Shade had previously suffered cognitive issues and had only stabilized after awakening. Shade found it convenient to let the doctor believe that, so he nodded earnestly.
"If I told the church this explanation?"
"It would work," Schneider admitted. "But wouldn't it be better if you understood the college and what a 'ringborne' actually is first? Wouldn't you prefer to decide after knowing more? I trust you can see that I'm not a bad person."
Shade nodded again. The doctor was right.
"Thank you, Dr. Schneider. I'd like to learn more first."
The doctor checked his pocket watch.
"We don't have much time. Awakening usually lasts seventy-two hours, but it varies. To avoid losing this chance—"
"What happens if someone awakens without guidance?"
Shade awkwardly interrupted, embarrassed by his curiosity.
The doctor shook his head lightly:
"Curiosity is good. It means you're open to mysticism, not instinctively rejecting it. People usually fear the supernatural. I'm glad you're only curious."
He paused, then answered bluntly:
"Without guidance? High chance of madness. Small chance of... well, head explosion. You've seen a hammer smash a watermelon, right? Pink and white flying everywhere."
He asked the last part with unsettling politeness.
"No need to elaborate," Shade winced. "That's vivid enough." His empty stomach churned; skipping breakfast hadn't helped.
"Good. There's also a small chance stranger things might happen... we'll discuss that later. For now, you need to understand what being a ringborne means. A simple explanation isn't enough. Please, come with me."
The doctor stood.
"Where? To St. Byrence Comprehensive College?" Shade lifted the admissions paper.
"Of course not. Correspondence students only qualify to visit the main college after reaching fifth grade. It's hidden in the Arctic ice cap of the old continent. Its address is top secret. Until then, we live ordinary lives, learning within our own circles. Remember, Mr. Hamilton, we're adult education students. Correspondence students."
So even after joining, Shade wouldn't be isolated in a secret school like Hogwarts. That had its pros and cons—but at least he'd be free to live while gaining power.
"Now, I'm going to take you to find the person who killed Sparrow Hamilton."
The doctor gestured for him to follow.
"What?"
Shade shot to his feet. He hadn't expected that.
"Yes. I discovered this while investigating your identity. Since you're already entangled with extraordinary matters, why not use this opportunity to solve the issue? Aren't you worried the killer might still target you?"
Despite Sparrow Hamilton's assurance that he wouldn't be implicated, Shade had indeed worried.
"Don't worry. This isn't complicated. The killer even deliberately hid his tracks, thinking Sparrow was just an ordinary person. Let's handle this before lunch. By the way... do you own a pistol?"
"No."
"Then please, don't stand in front of me. Stay behind, and I guarantee nothing will harm you today. After all, your enemy isn't a ringborne."
Sparrow Hamilton had said the same before dying.
"Ordinary people can't distinguish powers. Anyone using something supernatural looks like a ringborne to them. But to us professionals, it's obvious. That person has no [Destiny Wheel Ring], no spiritual accumulation, no grasp of the four elements—[Miracle], [Enlightenment], [Blasphemy], [Whispers]... He's just someone who stumbled onto a [Relic]..."
Schneider paused, corrected himself:
"No, someone unlucky enough to have found one."
"You're using a lot of strange terms..."
Shade noted. Though he'd heard of [Relics] and the four elements before, there was no reason to admit that now.
"That's fine. We'll talk as we walk."
Detective work was dangerous. During his investigation, Dr. Schneider had uncovered the real cause of Sparrow Hamilton's death—a failed investigation.
To prevent Shade from digging into it himself, Sparrow had erased all records of the commission before his death. But the doctor's intelligence network had reconstructed the incident in full.
"You figured that out overnight?"
Shade couldn't help asking. The doctor smiled but promised to explain after the matter was resolved.