"..."
That very night, the moment that Rotsard Vallhall went to bed, someone began to knock on his door vigorously, making it impossible to fall asleep.
It was most likely a harassment someone like Oliver Berdon or some of Henry Treedor's bootlickers came up with, and hence Rotsard was going to ignore it completely…
…but just as he was about to create a thick ice wall shielding the rest of the room from the annoying noise, he ended up catching the tiniest whisp of a certain scent…
"...what is he doing here…?"
The bleached-blond-haired youth furrowed his brows and muttered to himself as he got up from his bed and approached the door.
He did put on some clothes and didn't try to be particularly quiet about it, but it seemed that the late visitor was making so much noise by themselves that they weren't able to hear it.
"Whoa…!"
"..."
That's why, when Rotsard opened the door, that person let out a shocked gasp, with their hand falling through the air at the failed attempt of one more knock.
"Young Lord… what do I own the inconvenience?"
Rotsard spoke up, focusing his beastly yellow eyes on none other than Syon Gemleware, the momentarily stunned vice headmaster of the Royal Academy in person.
"S-student Vallhall! I must have a word with you!"
As the initial shock passed, Syon let out a gasp and rushed straight at Rotsard, getting right in his face with no regards to personal space…
"..."
That made Rotsard raise his brow with slight discontent and take a step back…
"!!!"
…but for whatever reason, his sudden movement seemed to spook Syon or at least make him think that Rotsard might have tripped and was about to fall down, because when Rotsard was moving away, Syon flinched and hurriedly grabbed onto him.
"...?"
"Ah…! Sorry…!"
Rotsard's brow rose even higher, this time with clear annoyance added to the mix, and Syon was the one to hurriedly take his hands away and back off.
"..."
"..."
By that point, it appeared that the conversation had hit a dead end before it properly began, with the vice headmaster looking away, all troubled. It appeared that it was on Rotsard to progress it if he actually wanted to learn what the visit was actually about.
Meeting the vice headmaster alone really did seem to suck all the confidence and flamboyancy out of him, that's for sure…
"...haaaah… I mean, I don't have a servant right now, and there's nothing like tea or snacks I can offer you, but if you do have something urgent to discuss with me, then you are free to enter."
"...!"
After a moment of consideration, Rotsard did get the idea as to why Syon showed up, so after a sigh, he begrudgingly spoke up, stepping to the side to make way.
"Your cooperation is very much appreciated, student Vallhall!"
Syon perked up with excitement and trotted right in… his confidence might not have returned, but the flamboyancy sure did.
And the moment that Rotsard closed the door and turned around to face him…
"Your meditation technique! It was perfect mana unity, wasn't it?! Please let me study it! Please, please, please, please, please!"
"!?!?"
He found Syon on his hands and knees, pressing his forehead to the floor while asking in a desperately pathetic voice.
It… wasn't what Rotsard was expecting… Not to mention that it really did seem like Syon would scoot over and start clinging to his leg while begging any time now, prompting the bleached-blond-haired youth to step further away.
"...that's…. That's what you came here for…? Not to make sure how much I know about you…?"
Hesitant and honestly taken aback, Rotsard asked cautiously, not even sure whether it was appropriate for him to look at what Syon was displaying.
"But you already know? And you know because of perfect mana unity! My father has a theory that after achieving perfect mana unity, one would be capable of effortlessly discerning all mana around them! Therefore, my identity would be exposed instantly!"
Clearly eager to answer any question Rotsard had for him, Syon perked up and declared enthusiastically.
"Just to be clear, when you say father, you don't mean Lord Gemlewere but rather the Royal Magician, right?"
Rotsard rubbed the bridge of his nose as if in anticipation of a headache before asking.
"That's exactly right! Please, let me study perfect mana unity!"
…and Syon cheered out an answer, and then cheered out some more while bowing deeply once again.
"Wait, no… first of all, you don't have to beg, that's not how a vice headmaster of Royal Academy should act…"
Rotsard flinched, instinctively reaching out to the kneeling man to help him get up…
"My social standings can't match up for the chance of studying perfect mana unity! Perfect mana unity is my father and mine's dream! I was created merely as a byproduct to achieve that dream! At the time, my father believed that an artificial body would be perfect for that but…"
Syon glanced up at the bleached-blond-haired youth before shaking his head and explaining, only to stop himself for a moment…
"...that… that was actually the one thing I underachieved in, showing average results despite my otherwise superb attunement with most elements… That's why…"
Syon didn't stand up, but while still kneeling, he raised a bit just to sit on his feet as he spoke up with an upset expression.
"That's why, please… let me…"
"Alright. I understand."
As the homunculus fidgeted with a troubled expression, Rotsard said, raising one hand.
"You do!? Then…!"
"But I'm not sure whether this really is what you're looking for…"
Syon's face lit up with excitement, but Rotsard interrupted him while the circle and wings of light appeared effortlessly beneath and over him, filling the room with an ephemeral bluish white glow.
"!!!"
Syon's eyes widened, and she scuttled right up to Rotsard, gazing upon the bluish-white light with eyes widened in awe.