Do ratmen dream of the sacred tree of spirits?

Chapter 39 Visit

Fafnir walked at the front, showing the different parts of the school.

"Look, students, this building is the school library, managed by Sister Fanning."

The third-floor bookshelves are filled with books related to magic, including textbooks such as "Introduction to Spirituality" and "Illustrated Guide to First-Order Magic."

"You need a library card to borrow books. A book can be borrowed for a month. If it is lost, you have to pay half a silver shield. Overdue books cost one copper coin per day." Fafnir pointed to the building in front of him.

"Oh... I see." "An Introduction to Spirituality? I've already read that book." "It feels a bit bigger than my family library." "Hey, are you guys in the preparatory stage yet?"

The young new students were excited about the new environment, gathering together and chatting loudly, gradually becoming familiar with their peers.

"Hey, Fafnir, have you read 'Introduction to Spirituality'?" Raymond asked.

"Yes, Raymond. By the way, students, please be a little quieter." Fafnir nodded.

"Who's shouting in front of the library?" A voice drew everyone's attention as Sister Fanning emerged from the library.

"Just because it's quiet inside the library doesn't mean it's okay to be noisy outside, little ones."

The children immediately fell silent, and Fafnir bowed slightly to her:

"Sister Fanning, I'm here today to give some new students a tour of the school. I'm sorry."

Sister Fanning's gaze swept over the children, finally settling on the brown raven feather on Fafnir's chest: "Oh, it's you, Mouseman. Well, let the little ones stop arguing for too long."

Raymond leaned close to Fafnir's ear and whispered, "She called you... Mouseman?"

"Um."

Aren't you angry?

"Why should I be angry?" Fafnir continued walking forward. "Sister Fanning is telling the truth."

The new students followed Fafnir toward the open space.

"Do you know magic? Also, I've seen what rat-people look like in books. Are you really a rat-person? Why do you look exactly like a human?"

"Yes, I know five basic elemental spells. As for my appearance, it's probably because a latent mutation in my bloodline didn't affect my looks, since both my parents are human, but I'm not really sure."

"Do you know any other ratmen? You're the first ratman I've ever met. Were ratmen all slaves in the past? My grandfather said he used to have ratman slaves..."

"Well……"

Raymond seemed to realize he wasn't very good with words, scratched his head, and changed the subject: "Five elemental spells! Could you demonstrate some? Like... conjure a fireball or something?"

The other children also became interested and gathered around.

"Yes, give us a performance!"

Fafner stopped and looked around—they were standing in the open space between the teaching building and the library.

Just for a moment.

Fafnir silently recited the mantra, and spiritual threads instantly wove themselves into shape in his consciousness.

A fireball the size of a fist flew out from the palm of the hand, drawing a bright arc in the air before flying into space and disappearing into the wind as a few sparks.

The whole process took less than two seconds.

The children stared wide-eyed, and one of them exclaimed "Wow!"

Raymond seems quite curious about Fafner, or perhaps he's just more talkative.

However, Fafnir felt quite relaxed.

Kids around eight years old are all like that.

Fafnir answered questions from Raymond and the other children as he led them out of the school.

—At the insistence of several children, and with the consent of Cecilia's guards, and primarily because the safety of the Viscount's daughter was of paramount importance.

Fafnir conjectured that Cecilia was at least a powerful Enlightener, but probably not a messenger.

"This is the school cafeteria, and of course it's a public cafeteria. It closes for holidays in February and August every year. I think it's probably because students are on holiday in February and August, and the cafeteria doesn't have enough customers, so it temporarily closes..."

"Do you eat in the cafeteria?" Raymond asked the new student next to him.

"No way! My personal male servant brings me my meals every morning, noon, and evening."

Me too.

"I don't want to wait in line... waiting in line is such a waste of time, I never wait."

"You can have your personal maid queue up for you," Raymond immediately chimed in.

Fafner didn't participate in the discussion, but instead led them on a tour of the dining hall:

"As students of the grammar school, we enjoy dining discounts. One copper coin can be exchanged for two points, unlimited mixed wheat bread, one point for white bread, and one point for a soup made from root vegetables and beans..."

Joël Lorraine remained silent at the back of the group, with Cecilia following half a step to her side.

Fafnir's voice echoed in the dining hall, and several children followed behind him, looking on curiously.

Raymond rushed ahead, standing on tiptoe to peek through the window: "It's almost lunchtime anyway, I'll eat here."

"Alright, students, you can try the food here," Fafnir stepped aside to make way for them. "Of course, you can also have your servants go back and get the food."

"Since we're already here, I'll eat here too," another boy chimed in.

"You all eat first, I'll have my servant go back and get it." A girl turned and walked towards the door, her personal maid waiting outside the dining hall.

Joël Lorraine, standing at the very back, turned her head and whispered something to Cecilia. Cecilia nodded and stepped aside.

"I'll eat here too," Joelle said in a flat tone.

Fafnir led the children toward the window.

"Fafner, what do you usually eat?" Raymond asked, following behind him.

"I eat everything," Fafner replied, pulling his employee ID from his pocket.

"The cafeteria's menu is pretty fixed; you eat whatever they have. There are usually only two kinds of meat each day, but sometimes they offer three, depending on your preference."

The man at the window already recognized Fafnir. He took the employee ID, glanced at it, and then looked at the group of children behind him: "Brought students today?"

"Hmm, new students, show them around," Fafnir said, taking back his employee ID. "Same as always: fried meat, white bread, and a bowl of soup."

Raymond stood on tiptoe and peered through the window. Meat sizzled on the griddle, and a large pot of thick soup bubbled and steamed.

"Me too, fried meat, white bread, and a bowl of thick soup."

"Okay, that's 6 points in total."

"Oh, do I have to use money to redeem points? What a hassle! I'll use cash."

Raymond reached into his pocket; the smallest coin he found was a silver shield.

"Sorry, the amount is too large, I can't make change."

Raymond and the other kids could only go to the corner of the hall to collect their loose change and exchange it for some student-exclusive points coupons.