"...Your Grace, your implication is," Ravenna's gaze sharpened, "that my grandfather's death is indeed connected to certain individuals within the Etheric Academy, correct?"
"No, quite the opposite," the Duke of Magus Primus shook his head.
"To my knowledge, none within the supreme nine seats harbored overt malice towards Eileen. You could say... at least no one wished to directly end his life — the difficulty was too great, the cost too high."
"But—"
"Yet he died, silently, ha... I initially thought it was a false rumor," the middle-aged man expressed with a hint of melancholy, "Who could have foreseen such an event?"
Ravenna remained silent, her delicate and beautiful visage exuding a frosty demeanor, rejecting any attempt to probe her thoughts.
"Yet you still suggest that if I continue my investigation, it will affect the Etheric Academy."
After a long pause, Ravenna spoke again.
"That's because they are the most likely to commit such an act," the Duke of Magus Primus tapped his head, "The Alchemy Association is made up of craftsmen pursuing their craft, the Zero Explorers accommodate lawless rogues, but only the Etheric Academy... gathers a multitude of scholars."
"Scholars signify a wealth of knowledge, a broader vision, and more... sensitive thoughts."
"Although Eileen was universally opposed at the time, whose hostility was more intense is not so obvious, is it?"
As the Duke of Magus Primus spoke, he stood up, casting a final glance at Ravenna, "However, I must warn you, Ravenna... do not entertain the notion of replicating Eileen's creations."
His gaze turned somewhat menacing, "Because our Ansel, the future Lord Hydral, seems to ... share some affinity with Eileen in this regard."
"The reason Eileen was able to research for so long, even with such audacious ideas, and maintain some neutrality, is because everyone knew it was impossible for him. But you—"
The grand duke, who had enjoyed the privileges of extraordinary status and nobility, narrowed his eyes, "You might influence Ansel, and Ansel... might actually be capable of creating such a thing."
"When that time comes, haha... I can assure you, your fate will not be any better than Eileen's."
"Take care, young one. What you have now, and what you will come to possess, has not been easily attained."
With those words, his figure fragmented like an illusion, until he vanished from sight.
Ravenna found herself alone in the office.
And Ansel, ruthlessly shattered her dream.
Yes, after they had such an indulgent, ambiguous, entangled night, telling her such a reality, giving Ravenna the greatest contrast, tearing everything deep inside her to pieces.
But no matter what... she couldn't harbor any resentment towards Ansel.
What's even more ridiculous is that all of this is just...
Just a mere "side effect".
Ravenna didn't know how she left Hendrik's office, or how she returned to her own alchemy workshop.
She only knew that she shouldn't think about these things, she should focus on finding clues about her grandfather's death, or at least... think about new designs, how could she put so many thoughts on one person? Why couldn't she throw these things behind her no matter what?
Why? Ravenna knew very well in her heart.
Because the most important things in her life were nothing more than the Tower of Babel, the ideals she pursued, and...
And that only companion, the only person who could resonate with her.
Ravenna closed the door of the alchemy workshop and sat down on the floor, leaning against the door, looking exhausted.
"What am I thinking..."
She covered her face and murmured to herself: "Enough, the truth... yes, wait until the memory is restored, then consider these things, now is not the time, not—"
"What's not the time?"
"..."
The petite woman sitting on the floor, her body froze instantly.
She almost instinctively wanted to escape, to run away, but her head uncontrollably looked up.
Looking at that, the only one she had lost.
*