"Well done, apprentice!"
Sellen cried out, rushing forward in a single bound and taking the notebooks from Nolan's hands.
She was so excited she looked like a delighted little girl, waving her arms, bouncing on her feet, even spinning in place. Since the day they met, Nolan had never seen Sellen display such intense emotion. Right now, she looked as though she had finally received the gift she had long dreamed of, joy written plainly across her face.
The two notebooks were badly damaged, but that hardly mattered. Having them in her hands at last filled Sellen with overwhelming happiness.
She craned her neck forward and gently pressed her red lips to the cover, then turned back to Nolan. Her deep blue eyes shone, the joy in them nearly spilling over.
"As long as you like them," Nolan said with a smile.
He followed her mood, laughed, dropped heavily into a chair, and took off his helmet.
Still basking in her excitement, Sellen noticed the bright smile on Nolan's face and felt even happier. But her expression quickly changed when she caught sight of the dried blood at the corner of his mouth and the clearly visible cracks in his armor. Worry immediately replaced her delight.
"You're hurt? Well… I suppose that's only natural. Geralt and Roman are both Preceptors, after all."
Her concern was undisguised. She casually set the notebooks down on the table and hurried to Nolan's side, reaching out to check his condition. As soon as her eyes settled on him, her brows drew together.
"Take off your armor first. Let me examine you properly. I still have some of a Perfumer's secret potion. It should be useful."
She retrieved what was now her most valuable possession aside from the Witch's outfit she wore and her staff.
The Sacred Tear Flask was not something money could buy. It carried sacred significance, and there were only a handful of people in the entire academy who could produce one.
Hearing his Witch teacher speak like this, a warm feeling welled up in Nolan's chest. He explained that he had already consumed the Sacred Tear, but Sellen refused to let the matter rest and insisted on examining him herself.
Faced with her worried gaze, Nolan could only sigh and remove his armor, exposing his body to Sellen's inspection.
The process was nothing like the awkward scenario he had imagined. Instead, it was marked by a scholar's precision and professionalism. Sellen carefully observed his physical condition, occasionally asking detailed questions and diligently recording notes.
Her eyes were focused and intent, as though she were studying a priceless work of art.
Nolan silently endured her scrutiny, though his thoughts inevitably began to drift.
Could it be that she wanted to study his body first, then turn him into a sphere?
Exploring origins was the highest pursuit of Primeval Sorcerers. From her perspective, turning a student into part of the Primeval Currents might even count as doing them a favor.
"This has become quite a mess. The academy will definitely conduct an investigation," Sellen said. "Have you thought about how you'll deal with it?"
She finished examining the last muscle, her delicate fingers gliding lightly over his skin, sending a faint tingling sensation through him. She frowned slightly, looking at the young student before her with clear concern.
The library had only come into use after the Grand Library was sealed. Nolan's direct infiltration into its most central area would easily draw suspicion from within the academy itself.
"What do you mean by that, Teacher? I've been right here the whole time, studying magic with you."
Nolan waved his hand casually, an innocent look on his face.
Sellen's status was special. She had always been under close scrutiny by the academy, her movements watched at all times. Even the classroom they were in lay under the professors' strict surveillance.
That was why Nolan had been especially careful this time. He entered and left through the window, covered by Hidden Body and Spook, confident he hadn't been discovered.
And those watchers themselves were the best witnesses.
"Very well. Last night we studied Chapter Three, Sections Two through Six of Advanced Sorceries. Don't mix it up."
Sellen nodded lightly, thinking to herself that Nolan was becoming more and more slippery.
Still, that wasn't a bad thing. At least he knew how to protect himself.
The thought eased her mind somewhat, but she still reminded him seriously:
"Remember, this is a matter of life and death. You must be careful. Don't let anyone see through you."
With that, she turned to tidy the books on the shelves, helping Nolan review his magical knowledge.
Sellen was always attentive and considerate. Worried her student might forget, she deliberately mentioned material they had learned just days ago.
The fierce battle earlier seemed to have left no impact on Nolan at all.
If anything, the cool night breeze brushing his face made his thoughts sharper and clearer. Closing his eyes and recalling the lessons, the knowledge from the textbooks replayed in his mind as vividly as scenes from a film.
Once he was sure everything was in order, he washed up in Sellen's room, changed into a clean apprentice robe, and began preparing his belongings.
That said, Sellen's household had already been stripped bare by Nolan, so there was actually little to pack.
The application to go to Caria Manor had been submitted the day before yesterday. Yesterday, Miriam and Her Highness the Lunar Princess had approved it.
Caria Manor was in urgent need of people, and given Nolan's status, he was certain to be sent there.
What no one expected was that he would also bring a Witch along.
After everything was settled, Sellen finally had time to carefully read through the two precious notebooks.
But as she read on and turned more and more pages, her brows slowly knitted together.
"Half of Master Lusat's notes were burned away entirely. And Master Azur's notes are missing a full third."
"There is indeed information later on about creating Primeval Currents, but it's all fragmented. In this state, it's impossible to make sense of it."
Sellen felt deeply frustrated and anxious, her heart filled with a sense of defeat.
It wasn't that she blamed her apprentice. She had prepared for so long, and Nolan had even risked his life, only for the result to be so disappointing. The thought was painful.
After giving so much, how could one remain calm in the face of such a return?
"I found these in the fire. I'm sorry, Teacher. I couldn't protect them."
Nolan lowered his head apologetically. Deep down, an inexplicable trace of relief surfaced, but he swore to himself that it hadn't been intentional.
If he could, even if it hurt, he wanted to help his teacher realize her dream, provided that outcome was truly the right one.
If turning into a sphere ultimately meant failure, he would do everything in his power to stop Sellen. He would never allow her to continue researching the Origin.
Sellen stared at her apprentice for a long while. In the end, she let out a long sigh and spoke to comfort him.
"There's no need to blame yourself. Bringing them back at all is already the best outcome. At least some parts remain. They're not completely useless. With these leads, I can still continue my research."
Her voice carried helplessness and regret, but beneath it lay firm resolve.
"Besides, exploring the Origin doesn't necessarily mean you must become a Star Seed, does it?"
Nolan slowly stood up, his gaze sharp as he looked straight at Sellen.
As he calmly put on the apprentice robe that symbolized his identity, he spoke in a thoughtful tone. His eyes gleamed with contemplation, as though he were searching for an answer among countless possibilities.
"To explore the Origin is to pursue the mysteries of the stars. But stars are fixed in place. Other than turning myself into one, I truly can't think of any other method."
Sellen shook her head helplessly.