Professor Bright was Sirles Noel's mentor during his two-year apprenticeship.
He was an elderly man nearing sixty, with slightly disheveled brown hair interspersed with gray, and an unkempt appearance. He was a widower without a wife or children, and always kept his past a secret.
However, he was indeed a strict yet kind mentor. A glint of wisdom and cunning always shone in his amber eyes. This professor provided Ciles with immense help in his studies.
Yesterday afternoon, when Ciles arrived at the university for his interview, Professor Bright subtly advised him not to be nervous, as if the position had already been reserved for Ciles. It's unclear how much influence Professor Bright had instigated this.
Ciles took two steps forward to greet Professor Bright.
Professor Bright wore a long, warm brown robe that covered his short, stocky frame. He was a small man with a ruddy complexion, and looked very healthy and strong. He quickly approached Ciles.
Before he could speak, he glanced around the office and immediately exclaimed in surprise, "What's going on here!"
"I haven't had time to organize it yet," Ciles said.
Professor Bright grumbled and complained, indignant on behalf of his former student, saying that the college's attitude towards the young professor, Sirius, was too dismissive.
"They're probably worried that there's some important information here that needs to be sorted out by professionals," Ciles said.
"That crazy old man, Cabel?!" Professor Bright exclaimed. "What important information could he possibly have?"
Sirius looked slightly surprised and asked, "Professor Cabel?"
Professor Bright's expression froze for a moment, then he realized he had let something slip and said awkwardly, "Yes... this office, and your position, used to belong to Professor Cabel."
Ciles nodded slowly, seemingly lost in thought.
Professor Bright said, "Let's go inside and talk. Have you eaten?"
Ciles hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, thinking of the small piece of white bread he had received that morning.
Professor Bright glanced at his former student with slight displeasure and said, "Young people who have just graduated..." He continued to himself, "Then let's go to the cafeteria together later."
They roughly organized the documents and papers in the office. As for the other dust and dirt, they couldn't do anything about it for the time being. Soon, Ciles selected several manuscripts about the course content, intending to take them back to study.
After doing all this, he asked Professor Bright, "Professor, Professor Cabel has resigned?"
"Of course," Professor Bright said. "He's getting old and says he can no longer continue teaching. But he seems to be in very good health; who knows what's wrong with him."
Bright was very dissatisfied with Cabel's attitude.
Professor Cabel was quite famous in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. There were several professors in the faculty who studied literary history, but Professor Cabel was the most reclusive. He was a solitary, eccentric old man with a full head of white hair.
When Ciles was still a student, he often heard his classmates talk about this professor behind his back, and their tone and words were very... disdainful.
Siles's interactions with Professor Cabel were limited to a single elective course; he never attended any of Professor Cabel's other classes. He seemed not to mentor apprentices or interact much with other professors in the department, instead focusing intently on his own research.
Furthermore, the college's attitude towards this matter is ambiguous. It seems to support it, but at the same time, it allows rumors and gossip to circulate within the college.
Ciles then asked, "Then, how did you choose me?"
Professor Bright hesitated for a moment, then finally confessed, "We originally intended for Cabel's teaching assistant to take this position. Do you remember that gloomy young man?" Seeing Ciles nod, he continued, "But we can't get in touch with that kid."
Ciles asked, somewhat surprised, "Can't get in touch?"
"Yes," Professor Bright said. "The semester is about to start, and he still hasn't sent over the teaching plan, so the dean contacted him, but couldn't reach him anywhere, let alone anyone close to him."
"In the end, we had to find someone temporarily. But don't worry, now that you're here, you won't be kicked out. I'm here."
Sirius gave a genuine smile and said, "Thank you."
Professor Bright clapped his hands with satisfaction and said, "Cillis, you are indeed a good boy. You will do great things, that's what I say." He stood up. "Alright, let's go eat. Look how hungry you are."
This kind, slightly playful elder took Ciles to eat at the university cafeteria.
In Celes's memory, he had also spent countless mealtimes here. The food in the canteen was decent and cheap, but the dishes were not what He Jiayin, the Earthling, was familiar with.
...But he still needs to get to know this world, doesn't he?
After lunch, Ciles and Professor Bright took a walk on campus and discussed issues related to the course. Ciles asked some questions with a troubled expression, while Professor Bright offered some pointers, somewhat with amusement.
Finally, he concluded, "You need to have some confidence in yourself, Sirius. You're my best student. In a couple of years, I'll be retiring too, and then..."
He didn't say anything, but gave Ciles a rather suggestive look.
Senior professors with extensive experience naturally receive far better treatment than younger professors like Ciles.
Ciles was unsure of Professor Bright's actual income, but recalling Professor Bright's extravagant spending habits in the past gave him a sudden sense of motivation.
However, he wondered how long he could really stay in this professorship.
Sirius thanked Professor Bright for his kindness.
Soon, Professor Bright said he had other business to attend to and needed to return to his office. His office was also on the fourth floor, so he was probably on his way there when he ran into Ciles.
Ciles then bid farewell to Professor Bright.
He couldn't think of a solution for the slightly messy office yet. Perhaps he could come and tidy it up after he moved to his dormitory at Lamifa University.
There is neither time nor the tools available now.
Soon after, Ciles boarded a public carriage on his return journey, carrying the manuscript materials he had found.
The return route was slightly different. The public carriage he was traveling on ran a clockwise loop, like a circle. He had come from the top half of the circle, and now he was on the bottom half.
This allowed him to see more of the bustling scene in the East District: a huge and spacious central square, a majestic and tall statue of the founders of the nation, a magnificent and towering cathedral, bustling commercial districts, and quiet and elegant residential neighborhoods...
Suddenly, the driver shouted, "We've arrived at the history school!"
The public carriage slowly came to a stop.
Sirius was stunned. For a moment, he hesitated, thinking of the business card Glenfield had given him, and then decided to push past the other passengers to get off the bus, looking at the small but exquisite building in front of him.
He couldn't quite put his finger on what style of architecture it was; it didn't seem to fit any of Earth's architectural styles.
With its spires, clock towers, Gothic louvered windows and stained glass, and Roman-style semi-circular arched roofs, it's an endless mix of styles that seems to blend together a history of the past.
However, considering that this was the location of the Historical Society, Ciles found the appearance quite normal.
Now, Ciles was dressed in casual black clothes, with a large stack of documents tucked under his arm and a long-handled umbrella in his hand, looking quite inconvenient. But in the end, he still headed towards the History Society building.
Some information about the Historical Society flashed through his mind, but not much.
As a scholar fresh out of academia, he wasn't very familiar with exchange organizations in the city, such as the History Society. He roughly knew that the History Society provided a platform for history enthusiasts to exchange ideas.
The existing deity in this world is Antinam, the god of the past and history, known as the "Guardian of the Time Rift".
The Church of the Past, which takes Antinham as its faith, is the only legal religious organization in the world.
...That's why Grenfell said the Historical Society is a semi-official organization?
Soon, Ciles spotted a woman in the spacious lobby of the Historical Society. She was sitting on a sofa in the lobby, as if waiting for something.
She was around twenty years old, dressed in a well-fitting blue dress, carrying a wide-brimmed hat and a beaded handbag, looking more like a pampered aristocratic young lady.
But the excited and thrilled expression on her face ruined her elegant demeanor. She was like a little girl who had stumbled upon an adult's secret, both panicked and nervous, yet also excited and expectant.
Ciles had a gut feeling that she might be able to bring him some information he needed.
As he walked toward her, Ciles waited for the sound of the dice, but he did not hear the gurgling sound until he reached the lady.
...So this lady won't trigger the judgment?
Why is that? Is it because he already has the vice president's business card, so he doesn't need anyone else to trigger the relevant information?
As a former keeper of secrets, Ciles habitually analyzed things in his mind.
Unfortunately, he was unable to communicate with his host, had no idea what his character card looked like, and had no idea what kind of script he was working on.
This is really difficult.
As he approached the woman, she noticed him. Seeing Ciles walking towards her, the woman, as if finding a kindred spirit, immediately stood up and asked, "Are you also here about the Revelation?"
Ciles was slightly taken aback.
The Revelation? What Revelation?
Before Sirius could answer, the young woman continued on her own, without pausing for a single word: "I've heard from friends about that magical power, but I don't know if I can master it."
"In any case, the History Society is my best choice. I won't go to a church with too many rules, nor will I go to those evil and strange sects."
"...I got a business card, what about you?"
The young woman took a business card out of her purse and showed it to Sirles.
Ciles maintained a polite distance, glanced at it, and then said in a low voice, "Yes, I got this business card too."
That was the business card of Joseph Morton, the vice president of the Historical Society.
"That's wonderful!" the young woman exclaimed. "Now I've finally found a companion!"
Ciles smiled, but in his heart he thought that he might not know as much as this lady.