The Past

The smell of tobacco hung in the air. It seemed to contain the dust of traveling. A man in a gray canvas robe sat on the sofa beside Maxwell. His aether was as still as dead water as if it was swallowed by the darkness in his robe.

He looked as if he had come from thousands of miles away. He held an old pipe; his face was hidden in the darkness and difficult to see. He was talking to Maxwell. "After all, with our relationship, I will definitely agree to help you with this." He rose and bid farewell.

"You’re leaving now?" Maxwell tried to keep him. "Why don’t you stay a bit longer? It’s not too late to leave tomorrow."

"The distance is far and it will be a difficult journey. The sooner I leave the better. My goal for coming to the academy has been reached as well and there is no point in staying. Thank you for your hospitality."