218 Routine Meeting (2/2)
He took a deep breath and lightly rapped against the door. ”Father, I’m back.”
He pushed the door open and the hinges creaked. The man with thinning hair sitting on the patient’s bed behind the door looked up. His hair had practically all fallen out; age spots and wrinkles covered his face. He was only around fifty years old, but he looked like a withered skeleton—it was the backlash of the music theory. He was the head of the Adrian family.
Six years ago, he had tried to complete the levels without care for anything else. In the end, the shaking of the Originator broke down his heart of sound and he could no longer use aether.
Now, he could only survive with the help of machines and medicine. From then on, the Adrian family began to fall, but miraculously started reviving in recent years.
It had been six years…the years were so long and dreary. Gavin became lost in his thoughts.
A scoff sounded. Before the window, Banner was holding the old man’s hand. Seeing that Gavin had come, he glanced over in distaste. The old man murmured something and Banner nodded. He rose, brushed past Gavin, and left.
The room fell silent. The old man with the respiratory only stared coldly at the ceiling.
”Father, I’m back,” Gavin raised his voice. There was no irritation in his features.
The old man’s chin trembled, showing that he had heard. Gavin moved forward and lifted the bed’s headboard. The old man was raised up in this way.
He gazed at Gavin in silence for a long while. Gavin looked down, his expression tame. Bits of the majesty and coldness from before remained on his face, but before the old man, this genius musician respectfully lowered his head and waited for the expected scolding.
”Today…” the old man uttered. His voice was like wooden chips trembling, mixed in with the sound of blisters popping. It was both piercing and scratchily unclear. Gavin stepped forward and put his ear closer to listen carefully. But then he froze.
”Today, the Royal Musician Division brought over a musician robe. You already have one, so I decided to give it to Banner.” The man looked at Gavin. ”Banner was treated badly outside. As family, we should care for him. There will be no second time, understand?”
Gavin looked up in shock. He knew about that robe. It was a musician’s armor and what gave the performer the prestige. The robe that the Royal Musician Division had brought over was one-in-a-million alchemy equipment. Many music scores were inlaid in the inside and it was practically like an instrument on his body. It ensured that the musician would not be in danger in any situation.
”But, Father…” He opened his mouth to speak, but the old man was suddenly angered. The withered hand hit his face weakly, but it cut off his voice.
The man glared at Gavin and panted. With a turbid and hoarse voice, he said, ”You’re the elder! Why are you fighting with your younger brother?” he reprimanded harshly. ”The decision has been made.”
Gavin was stunned but he quickly lowered his head. Rubbing the corner of his worn robe, he replied quietly, ”Yes, Father.”
”I heard of what you did at the school board meeting.” His expression was extremely displeased, but he did not continue. He just said, ”You’re leaving the school soon. Don’t interact with those lowly people and ruin the good tidings for no reason, understand?”
”Yes, Father.”
”And when you join the Royal Musician Division, do not do stupid things and disgrace the Adrian family. Remember, mention your brother when you have the chance. Don’t just think about yourself.”
Gavin hung his head. ”Yes, Father.”
”Good.” The old man’s angry expression softened a bit. He said coldly, ”You can go now. I want to rest.”
Gavin nodded and left politely without arguing. But when he looked back, he glanced at the old man, seemingly without meaning too. Seeing the aged face, rheumy eyes and rheumy irises that were totally unlike his…
”We’re really not similar.” He sighed inwardly, closed the door and left.
-
The old man on the patient’s bed closed his eyes and fell asleep.
After a long while, the sound of a bird flapping its wings traveled from outside the window. Something had come in the night and appeared out of thin air. In the heavy darkness, one could vaguely make out its blurry silhouette and white color. It was a white raven.
-
-
”Professor, are you here?” Bart knocked on the door, but there was silence. He waited for a long time and called again.
Finally, a cold voice sounded from the office. ”Come in.”
Bart pushed open the door, but he froze—the room behind the door was nothing like the elegance and finesse from before. It was in ruins, as if a tornado had swept through. Even the porcelain that his professor loved had been shattered to pieces.
”What are you waiting for? Come in.” Behind the office table, Ingmar’s expression was dark. He was dignified as always, without a single strand of hair astray, and was fear-inducing.
Seeing that his teacher was in a bad mood, Bart did not ask or look. He lowered his head and stood before the table, saying politely, ”Professor, do you have any tasks?”
”Go to the history department for me in a few days.” Bart could not believe Ingmar’s words. ”Ask Abraham if he’s willing to return to the School of Revelations. I can give him the treatment of an associate dean.”
Dumbfounded, Bart gaped at him. ”But…but…”
”I told you to go, so go! Why do you have so many questions?”
After hesitating for a long time, Bart finally said, ”Professor, aren’t you afraid of leading the enemy in. If he accepts…”
”Then wouldn’t it be great news?” Ingmar sneered. ”The history department is too influential now. We need a new plan…If he knows his place, he’ll be obedient. Otherwise, I have one million ways of dealing with him in the School of Revelations!” He looked down and said lightly, ”Genius, so what? Once I publish my findings, he’ll have to look up to me for his entire life! Even if he returns to Revelations!”
Bart froze, but then happiness appeared in his features. ”Professor, did you make a breakthrough in the explanation?”
Ingmar looked down at the drafts on his table. After countless years of blood, endless hours, and even setting aside the breakthroughs and research in music theory, he had finally completed this masterpiece. Once this was published, Abraham would never be able to compete with him. An amateur from the School of Abstinence should not even dream of being equal to Ingmar from the School of Revelations!
”So what if the school board fosters him?” Ingmar muttered. ”After two months, when the Sacred City Summit is held, I’ll become an internationally recognized grandmaster. Abraham can only be forced under my feet!”