Half-step Purgatory

Durin stroked the black cat on the armrest of his chair, sitting on the black leather sofa. Through the glasses perched on his nose, his gaze passed over the long table in front of him and settled on the man kneeling on the carpet:
"I understand, you've made money in Naples, your business has been very successful, and you've led a happy life. You've had those secret police, friends in both the law and the underground, and even the Royal Family speaking on your behalf."
"You don't need a friend like me, I know that. You're afraid of owing me a favor, and you don't want to get involved in troubles."
"But now you come to me and say, 'I beg you, Mr. Durin of the Corleon family, please help me seek justice, so that my life and my family will not suffer and sink into despair.'
Yet, in your eyes, I was nothing more than a second-rate artist involved in movies and music. Even at the brink of death, you still show me such disrespect, not even willing to call me by my title... Keeper of Secrets."

Durin's Diary

Lady Salin Fedra pushed open the door and walked into the headmaster's office. The halfling sitting behind the large red sandalwood desk hurriedly put away the illustrated newspaper in his hand and inconspicuously drew back the legs that were propped up on the desk.


"Dear Lady Salin, what brings you here?"


"I am still dissatisfied with your arrangements, Mr. Headmaster."


Faced with the puzzlement of the halfling, Lady Salin got straight to the point. Furrowing her brows in displeasure, she quickly sat down in the guest chair across the big desk and scrutinized her headmaster, "Why did you agree to let Durin live off campus?"


Chapter 13: Cause and Effect (Part 1)