Chapter 175: A Recommendation [1]

"For the record, I didn’t do any of that for you. I did it for Belozersky."

Anastasiya spoke without looking at Ilya as they walked away, her expression having already returned to its usual sternness.

Whatever satisfaction she might have felt after leaving Mikhail in that state was nowhere to be seen, and from the way she carried herself, one might have thought the entire incident had been nothing more than another family matter she had been obligated to settle.

"What Mikhail did was an insult to the entire House, and as Father’s heir, it would’ve been irresponsible of me to ignore it after learning the truth."

Anastasiya crossed her arms.

"So don’t misunderstand what happened back there and start thinking that I involved myself because I was worried about you or because I suddenly felt the need to defend you. If it had only been your personal reputation at stake, then I would’ve let you deal with that idiot however you wanted, but the moment he involved Belozersky—"

"Thanks, Sister."

"...."

Anastasiya stopped.

Ilya continued walking for another step before noticing that she was no longer beside him, and when he turned around, he found his older sister staring at him with her mouth slightly open.

Whatever lengthy explanation she had been preparing seemed to disappear before she could finish it.

"I said don’t call me—"

Ignoring her completely, Ilya stepped closer and casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his side before she could finish complaining.

"I should treat you today," he said. "What do you want? We could go somewhere expensive. How about that ridiculously overpriced restaurant all the nobles keep going to?"

Anastasiya stared at the arm around her shoulders.

"You’re doing it again. Remove your arm. Now."

"Anything you want. My treat."

"Ilya."

"You like steak, don’t you? Let’s get steak. We can order the most expensive thing they have and make Father pay for it."

Anastasiya’s eye twitched, but Ilya only tightened his arm around her shoulders and continued walking, practically dragging her along with him.

"Ilya. Let go, or I’ll stab you next—"

"Hmm. Steak it is. Maybe a bottle of their most expensive wine too? Oh, we should get dessert too..."

Ilya grinned and continued walking with his arm still wrapped around his sister’s shoulders, ignoring the irritated look she was giving him as he went on.

For some reason, however, Anastasiya never made another attempt to remove his arm.

She complained about it several more times that evening, threatened to stab him twice, and even reminded him that she could break his arm whenever she pleased, but despite all of that, his arm somehow remained around her shoulders for most of the walk.

And strangely enough, Anastasiya allowed it.

* * *

"Pardon? You want a recommendation for Professor Antoine’s workshop?"

"Yes, sir."

Ilya stood before Anders Joakim Rosenlund, the Head of the Magic Department, in the older man’s office.

The older man looked at him for a moment before lowering his eyes toward the papers on his desk, seemingly considering the request more seriously than Ilya had expected.

"While there are certain privileges afforded to nobles, particularly those of your standing, admission to a professor’s workshop isn’t something the Department can simply arrange for you."

Rosenlund leaned back in his chair.

"Ultimately, it depends on whether Professor Antoine is willing to accept you."

"I understand."

"Do you?"

Rosenlund raised an eyebrow.

"SkyRune Lab is not one of our ordinary student workshops. Professor Antoine is selective about whom he allows to work under him, and a recommendation from me would only be enough to put you in front of him. After that, you’ll have to convince the man yourself."

"That’s all I’m asking for."

"And why Professor Antoine, if I may ask?"

Ilya had expected that question.

There were plenty of professors within the Magic Department who accepted students into their workshops, and considering Ilya’s unusual circumstances, Rosenlund probably wouldn’t have found it strange if he had asked for help finding one suited to his interests.

Asking specifically for Professor Antoine, however, was another matter.

"I’ve become interested in his work."

"That’s rather vague. And?"

Ilya smiled. "I heard Professor Antoine once conducted a study on Fallen Wizards."

Rosenlund paused.

For a moment, neither of them said anything, although there was little need for Ilya to explain why that particular subject had caught his attention.

Anders was one of the people in the academy who already knew about Ilya’s circumstances, having personally interviewed him regarding the matter before.

"I see."

For all the progress he had made with Niflheim, his understanding of what he actually was remained painfully limited.

He had learned how to use his Fallen Domain through experience, discovered new applications through experimentation, and gradually become more comfortable drawing upon its power, but none of that meant he understood the circumstances behind his existence as a Fallen Wizard.

There were still questions he couldn’t answer.

"I want to understand my condition better," Ilya said. "Professor Antoine has studied people like me before, so I thought speaking with him directly would be more useful than continuing to search through whatever material I can find on my own."

"That makes more sense."

Rosenlund tapped one finger against his desk.

"And you want to join his workshop simply to gain access to him?"

"Not simply for that reason, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the main one."

Rosenlund leaned back in his chair and regarded Ilya for a moment, seemingly weighing whether that reason alone was enough to warrant his involvement.

A professor’s workshop was not something students were supposed to enter merely because they wanted convenient access to the person running it, but considering Ilya’s circumstances, his interest in someone who had previously studied Fallen Wizards was hardly unreasonable.

"You understand that if he accepts you, you’ll be expected to contribute properly. You won’t be there merely to corner the man every afternoon and interrogate him about Fallen Wizards."

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

Rosenlund gave him a doubtful look.

Ilya smiled innocently.

"Very well."

The Department Head reached for one of the papers on his desk.

"Under ordinary circumstances, I’d tell you to approach Professor Antoine yourself and convince him without involving me, but your circumstances are hardly ordinary."

Rosenlund picked up his pen.

"Because it’s you, I’ll allow it. I’ll write the recommendation."

"Thank you, sir."

"Don’t thank me yet. Whether Antoine accepts you is still entirely up to him."

"That’s more than enough."

And it genuinely was.

Ilya had already gotten what he came for.

There was, however, one small detail he had conveniently neglected to mention.

Calling Professor Antoine’s work a study on Fallen Wizards was technically correct, but it made the whole thing sound far more impressive than it actually was.

From what Ilya had managed to uncover, Antoine had only briefly taken an interest in the subject, conducted some preliminary research, and then abandoned it before producing any meaningful results.

There was no famous discovery attached to it, no completed paper that Ilya desperately wanted to read, and certainly no indication that Antoine had become an authority on the study of Fallen Wizards.

It was little more than an unfinished piece of research among the many subjects the professor had touched on throughout his career, significant enough for Ilya to find Antoine’s name attached to the topic, but not significant enough for much to have come from it.

In other words, Ilya had been bluffing.

Not outright lying, of course.

He really was a Fallen Wizard, Antoine really had studied Fallen Wizards, and Ilya really was interested in learning more about his own circumstances.

He had simply arranged those three facts in a way that made joining Antoine’s workshop sound like the most natural course of action available to him.

Fortunately, Anders had bought it.

At that moment, the door opened.

"Sir Rosenlund, regarding the symposium next week, I’d like to have my presentation rescheduled to the following—"

The man who entered stopped halfway through his sentence.

Professor Antoine Chastellain stood in the doorway with several documents tucked beneath one arm.

His eyes first landed on Anders behind the desk before turning toward Ilya, and the moment he recognized the student sitting inside the Department Head’s office, his words came to a halt.

Ilya looked back at him.

"Professor Antoine."

"Belozersky."

Anders glanced between the two before chuckling.

"Speak of the devil. Professor Antoine, I’m sure the two of you are already well acquainted, considering young Belozersky here is one of your students."

"Yes, sir."

Antoine stepped farther into the office, although his attention briefly shifted toward Ilya before returning to Anders.

"Am I interrupting something here?"

"No, not at all. Your timing is rather convenient," Anders replied. "Young Belozersky came here specifically because of you."

Antoine raised an eyebrow. "Because of me?"

"He wants a recommendation for your workshop."

"My workshop?"

"Yes." Anders gestured toward Ilya. "A young wizard showing initiative and taking an interest in work beyond the classroom is something I prefer to encourage, especially when that student has already demonstrated considerable promise."

Antoine’s gaze returned to Ilya.

"I see."

"I was just about to write him a recommendation when you conveniently walked through my door. Since you’re already here, however, I suppose we can skip the unnecessary paperwork and let the two of you discuss the matter directly."