The sun peaked through the window of the guestroom. Albion had been asleep for longer than usual, he had exhausted himself so much these past few days, it was understandable that he still needed sleep.

  Joan had even come to check on him a few times, but every time she looked in all she saw was Albion drooling happily in his sleep.

  Probably thinking about food.

  She could only chuckle and let him rest, she didn’t have the heart to wake him after having such a rough time out in that icy hell.

  It was only when the sun began to beat against his closed eyelids that Albion slowly began to wake.

  He rose up in his bed with a yawn and stretched his arms wide. His muscles finally had some time to rest after the last few days and he felt so much more relaxed already.

  ‘Time to get up.’

  Albion swung his feet out of bed and got changed into his clothes that lay folded neatly at the end of his bed.

  Joan must have cleaned them for him. He would have to thank her later.

  He cleaned his face, brushed his teeth, and brushed his hair before heading out into the hallway. He had to be ready for the day before he got up, he had work to do around the house after all. He wasn't going to take advantage of her hospitality.

  “Albion I’m glad you’re awake. Can you help me bring these papers upstairs?”

  Joan handed him a basket filled high with books and binders. Neat stacks of paper stuffed within.

  “Of course, where do you want me to put them?”

  “In my room is fine, it’s the third on the left, just stick it on my desk.”

  Albion did just as she asked and put the papers on her desk, before heading downstairs once again.

  “Can you bring these up to your room. It’s a few new pairs of clothes, I saw that you didn’t have any more with you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Albion smiled and took them, he didn’t have it in him to tell her he had all the clothing he needed…they were just all back in the library. He accepted her kindness and took the clothes with him. They were very nice as well. He didn’t want her to feel bad. He put them in his room and quickly headed downstairs, he could smell something delicious cooking in the kitchen. He was excited.

  “All right, are you ready for breakfast?”

  Joan placed a heavy pot on the table, there was rice and vegetables, potatoes and eggs, all cooked together in a large pot. It looked amazing.

  Albion was practically drooling at the sight of it.

  “Absolutely.”

  Albion opened a portal and teleported from his spot on the stairs and into his chair. He couldn’t waste any time. He started shoveling food directly into his mouth, he didn’t bother putting it on a separate plate.

  “Jeez, there’s no need to rush. It’s not going anywhere. There is more in the oven as well.”

  “Can’t. Stop. Must. Eat.”

  Joan was astonished. Albion ate more than any wild beast of his size possibly could. Where did it all go?

  Either way, she was pleased that he enjoyed her cooking so much. She hadn’t had anyone around to feed for quite a while. She told all of them it was no problem for them to impose but they never did.

  She liked having someone around.

  “Okay, but don’t make yourself sick.”

  “I won’t. Promise.”

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  Albion finished both pots faster than Joan finished the plate she set aside for herself. He was quite the glutton, that's for sure.

  “Is there anything you needed my help with today Joan? Also...I forgot to thank you before, for cleaning my cloths."

  “You're very welcome and if you could go grab some stuff from downstairs for me that would be very kind of you. I just need you to bring up a couple boxes.”

  “Which ones?”

  “The ones at the bottom of the stairs, there are only three. Can you just bring them up to my desk?”

  “Sure thing!”

  Albion stood up and walked down the stairs. He made quick work of the chore of carrying the boxes up the stairs, he could have used his portal, but they weren’t that heavy. He only wanted to use his portals when necessary.

  Yup.

  Only when he absolutely needed to.

  As he carried the last box into Joan’s room he heard her call from downstairs.

  “When you’re all done I have a little bit more food left over if you want some. Just some stew I saved from last night.”

  In a flash of light, Albion appeared sitting in the chair in the dining room. Already eating the stew she had set out for him.

  “Thank. You”

  “You don’t have to rush Albion. I promise my food won't run away.”

  Albion took a second to swallow and looked at her. His eyes stern. Filled with a seriousness not common to such a kin young man.

  “I can’t take that chance.”

  Of all the things Albion loved in this world. Food was at the top of the list, it was just too important to him.

  He hadn’t been able to eat anything for years of his life.

  Stuck in that Library.

  He wasn’t going to take the chance ever again.

  What if he ended up stuck somewhere again and this was his last meal? He was going to make damn sure that as much of it was in his stomach before he got sucked away again.

  Sigh

  “If you say so.”

  Joan sat down opposite Albion and took out some papers she was looking at. Probably from the box he had brought upstairs. They looked important, Albion was a bit curious but he wasn't going to pry. It was her business.

  Every once in a while she would write a little something down and keep reading. Eventually she looked back up and seeing that Albion had finished his food she took it as a good time to talk.

  “I know you’re here to go to Aberelt, but what do you want to specialize in. Have you picked a study?”

  “Study?”

  Joan chuckled, he didn’t know anything about the school and yet he wanted to go there.

  “Yes, a study. Aberelt mostly has specialized learning paths for every individual, but you still need to have a general idea of what you want to get out of it to get a good learning experience. It’s not that confusing.”

  “What are the studies?”

  Albion was interested and slightly embarrassed that he didn’t already know. To be fair though the book he had read had been vague and outdated. He had to forgive himself for the lack of knowledge.

  “Well there are two main learning paths, your study is just what you want to get out of it, you can make up your own if you want honestly. The school just needs to know what you want to learn there. There is combat, and there is research. You pick one as your major, and the other becomes your minor. Then you give a main subject for both. Say you want to be an Alchemist. You would say research of Alchemy and combat mage.”

  “It’s simple, but it works. Most people choose sword combat and strategy research. It’s just what every young boy seems to want to do these days. That's why I am always much more excited to see all the young ladies that arrive at the school. They almost always have an interesting plan. Not that any path is wrong, It doesn't seem like that's your style though."

  Albion took a moment to think, but he already had an Idea.

  “I think I want to research Beasts, languages, and ruins. And as for combat I want to become a magical tamer and a magical combatant..”

  Joan looked a little skeptical

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing at all. That is a lot for one person to learn though...are you certain you could do it?”

  “I am.”

  He already had done most of that after all. He had a book on the study of beasts almost memorized at this point. He had to read and reread parts of it many times during translation to make sense of it. He also learned about ruins and beasts through his reading during those many years. What he really needed to learn were combat skills, but he didn’t want them to be his focus. He wanted to study the world not destroy it.

  “The test becomes harder the more studies you want to take, the classes will be more difficult as well. Just know that before you go in. I hope that you are able to do everything you came here to do, but don't drown yourself in work. That's enough talk about school for now, do you have any plans for the day, I don’t have any more chores planned so you can go off and do whatever you want.”

  “Do you know where I could get some chalk and some clay? Can I also borrow some herbs from the kitchen. I only need a little.”

  “Sure…can I ask what it’s for.”

  “Taming.”

  “Oh…um, sure then. I have all of that here, there is some chalk and clay in the basement under the stairs. If you need more you can ask me.”

  “Thank you Joan!”

  Albion ran through the house grabbing all the materials he needed and used his portal to get to the library.

  He was excited, he finally had the materials he needed.

  It was finally time to apply his research.

  It was time to summon a Faye.