Indeed, cheesecake became the word of the evening.

The mess from Rayden’s attempt was expansive and, given that he managed to wrangle two other students from Tilo’s class to his side, resulted in more punished students than either Nemo or Tilo had anticipated. (A month’s worth of dining room cleaning duty for each guilty individual).

Not a single student in the dining room nearest to Tilo’s room was spared from the cheesecake spray. All of the staff, however, remained untouched, their cloaks affording them magical protection. By the time it was cleaned up, news of the entire situation had reached the headmaster and, in conjunction with the punishment of the students responsible, Tilo was called to the headmaster’s office. 

………………………………………  

Headmaster Erasmus Turitz himself was a simple man. A knowledgeable man, to be sure, but a simple man nonetheless. That is to say, he was a scientist. He was devoted to his rules, but not unyielding to other ideas. He held no hard stances on any particular subject, because that was how science was; in eternal development. And, rather unfortunately, he was the best friend of Rantha Krylin.

“I don’t know why that woman won’t just become headmaster herself.”

It was a statement he had made to himself every day since the moment he became

headmaster. Doubly so every time he met with one particular ex-student.

While he had not met Tilo as headmaster during the young man’s stint at Stonehall, he had come to know Tilo as a professor. From their first encounter until Tilo’s expulsion, Erasmus knew only that Krylin saw value in the kid. That, and that Tilo could be considered a force of nature; without exception, chaos accompanied his presence. 

She gave him so many exceptions, often breaking previously established rules in order to keep Tilo from being removed. Even now, many years later, it was apparent that she was still willing to do so if it meant she could assist the young man.

As per usual, Erasmus couldn’t make heads or tails of her intentions. He knew only that she was seeing something happening that he couldn’t.

Nonetheless, Erasmus wished she had told him that Tilo would be taking her place as a substitute. If that had happened, perhaps he could have at least attempted to put in greater safeguards. Though, knowing the chaos that often followed Tilo’s wake, they wouldn’t have done much. Erasmus almost feared their encounter, wishing he hadn’t needed to call Tilo down to his office.

Erasmus rested his head in his hands, elbows stabbed into the darkwood desk of his office. He looked up, ready to, yet again, face the world.

“Good evening, headmaster Turitz.”

He jumped out of his skin when he realized that just across from him was the face of the young man he’d just been recalling. What was all the more surprising was that Tilo wasn’t unaccompanied. 

Tilo, previously a student known for being unable to keep a friend longer than three days.

“And who is this?”

Erasmus met the unknown man’s eyes. They were a dark amber, shining brightly with curiosity. The headmaster knew them well, though he’d never met the newcomer. He’d never had a student enter his office without a similar look.

The newcomer bowed his head.

“Nemo Kanil, of the island Furvoe. I’m a friend of Tilo’s and I’m assisting him in class.”

“I see. Well, I hope you feel welcome here at Stonehall.”

Nemo gave a pleasant smile. “Very much so, thank you.”

The headmaster gestured to one of the chairs seated before his desk, suddenly very conscious of how small they were in comparison to Nemo. He’d never before felt shame at his nearly empty office, kept obscenely clean to remove any distraction. “Please, have a seat.”

Both Nemo and Tilo sat. To Erasmus’ fortune, Nemo wasn’t particularly wide. Tilo leaned forward in his chair. He was positively shaking, barely able to force words out, but not out of fear. Never out of fear.

“What exactly is this about?” Tilo babbled.

“It’s just a formality. I’m aware that Professor Krylin gave you near free reign of her class, but there are issues with your conduct.” Erasmus leaned back, trying to get the notecard on his desk into focus. “For example, I’ve been told that you challenged a student to… to… a pickpocketing competition? I’m sorry, this is just… new, to say the least.”

“Yes, I was interested in his skills.” Erasmus was well aware of Tilo’s inability to lie. Not an ounce of monotony to be detected meant not a lie in sight. 

The headmaster rubbed his temples. “I’m getting too old for this. Alright, you’re free to go.”

“Just like that?” Nemo raised an eyebrow. 

“Professor Krylin already suggested that you should only be berated heavily for this mistake. It’s not as though we have rules for this sort of incident. It’s never happened before. Professors don’t usually challenge their students to direct fights. Usually, it’s the other way around. So, I will berate you the best way I know how.”

Erasmus breathed in deeply. 

“Don’t. Do. It. Again.”

Tilo put his hand swiftly over his heart. “I won’t. No worries.”

Nemo, on the other hand, wasn’t finished. “That’s it? A slap on the wrist and it’s all fine. Just because of Professor Krylin? I’m sorry, this doesn’t make any sense.”

“Nemo-” Tilo interjected.

Erasmus flinched at Tilo’s voice.

Nemo didn’t stand down.

After seeing those eyes, Erasmus should have known better than to speak as he had.

“Professor Krylin might as well be headmaster. It was originally her position in the first place, she just rejected it in favor of research and pushed me to apply instead.”

“But she isn’t.”

“If you knew her as long as I have, you’d know that what she says goes. Not just because she’s controlling, but because she knows better than anyone how to prevent problems. If she wants you to do something, it’s because there’s a problem on the horizon that you can’t see coming. It’s been years since she asked me, properly, to do something for her. She’s saved my life enough that I can do something in return. And, if it means preventing a problem, I’m willing to do almost anything.”

Nemo grew quiet, which Erasmus took to mean that he had satisfied the young man’s curiosity for the moment. Tilo remained uncharacteristically silent, still shaking with an emotion that the headmaster couldn’t place. It was highly unnerving, so much so that Erasmus couldn’t take it any longer. There was a loose cannon in his office, ready to go off at a moment’s notice. He needed it gone.

“I think that will be all for today. If you have any more questions, please refer to someone else.”

“Then we’ll take our leave.” Once more, Nemo bowed his head, dragging Tilo from the office. Tilo didn’t make a sound, staring at Erasmus until he was outside. 

The doors slammed shut. Erasmus jumped.

He hadn’t realized he’d been shaking. He pulled his hand from its clenched position, watching the fingers move without his control. How was it possible that someone so young incited such fear in him? He didn’t even understand where this anxiety was coming from. 

No.

  He knew exactly where. 

He knew what Tilo had done during his time at Stonehall. What he had achieved.

Erasmus tightened his fingers into a fist. He looked up at the door, eyes fretfully wide.

“By the gods, what are you planning for, Rantha?”