Chapter 154 - 143: She Who Eats Shadows

The fourth gift for Richard was a gold-trimmed fountain pen.

"It’s nothing too special," Warren explained. "My dad bought me two last year. I’m giving one to you since I won’t use both anyway."

"Thanks."

"Don’t mention it." Warren waved his hand. "Are you still going to let me treat you to a meal when the next semester starts?"

"Of course," Richard answered quickly.

"...Alright."

Richard then took out the gifts he’d prepared.

The first was for Warren. After he unwrapped it, he found a hardcover book: *Virgil’s Selections*.

"I can actually use this." Warren opened the book. It was a bilingual edition, with the original Latin on the left page and the Albion Language translation on the right.

The second gift was for Grey. Inside was another book, *Imperial City Baking Family*.

Richard said, "Evelyn recommended it."

Grey hugged the book to her chest. "Your sister really knows her stuff."

"She wants to open her own bakery someday."

"Then we might have a lot to talk about."

The third gift was for Mason.

Mason was a little nervous. The gift was thin and didn’t look like anything valuable.

He unwrapped it to find two neatly sharpened pencils and a brand-new notebook.

"You almost failed geography on your last exam."

Richard was perfectly serious.

"The pencils and notebook... think of them as some early encouragement for you to study hard next semester."

"Williams!"

Mason’s face turned crimson.

"I got you a horse-racing guide, and you give me two pencils and a notebook?"

"Aren’t the pencils and notebook enough?"

Richard’s expression was completely serious.

"In fact, I also wrote a line for you on the first page of the notebook: ’Study hard and pass geography next semester.’"

Laughter erupted around the table.

Warren was laughing so hard he collapsed onto the table, pounding the surface. Grey covered her mouth, giggling, and even Hugh cracked a rare smile.

"You have no heart!"

Mason wailed.

The last gift was for Hugh.

Hugh unwrapped it to find a folded piece of paper inside.

"What’s this?"

Richard unfolded the paper. It was a card he had written by hand.

"With this voucher, you can be treated to free fried chicken legs twice during the new semester."

"Limited to two times," he added. "Disclaimer: my wallet has its limits. If you want to eat more than three in one sitting, you might have to pay the difference."

Hugh clutched the slip of paper in his hand.

"...Then it looks like I’ll have to."

.........

After lunch, people gradually began to leave the dining hall.

After saying goodbye to his friends, Richard got ready to head home.

The classroom was empty now; he was the only one left.

He walked to his desk and bent down to look inside.

As he reached in, his fingers brushed against a piece of stiff cardstock.

Puzzled, Richard took the card out.

It was a folded, cream-colored card. On the front was a drawing of a dove.

The dove held an olive branch in its beak, its leaves rendered in a very faint green watercolor wash.

A line was written on the back of the card: "Pax tibi. (Peace be with you.)"

’Laurel leaves, olive branches... I wonder if I’ll get any more of Lillian’s hand-drawn bookmarks next time.’

Footsteps echoed from the hallway outside the classroom. The janitor on duty was coming to lock up.

Richard slung his bookbag over his shoulder, adjusted his scarf, and walked out of the classroom.

Snow had begun to fall outside.

He stopped as he passed the Stone Griffin gateposts.

Snowflakes landed on the stone wings. Richard reached up and patted the griffin’s thigh.

"See you next year."

The flurries grew thicker. From behind him came the fading notes of a Christmas carol, mingling with the soft hiss of the snow and drifting slowly across the empty campus.