Do ratmen dream of the sacred tree of spirits?

Chapter 88 Unexpected "Incoming Call"

As school was about to end, Fafnir finished his last class and thought of talking to Tyrell Gideon in his office, but he couldn't find him anywhere in the school building.

My goodness, Fafner is really angry. This guy is late and leaves early, he says one thing and does another, and he hasn't even taught a single class yet!

At the end of the school day, Fafnir had Martha and Allen set up a few benches and a blackboard in an alley a little further away from the school. Fafnir had checked the relevant laws of the Holy Kingdom in the grammar school library beforehand, and there was no law prohibiting large groups of people from gathering outdoors for teaching. The Holy Kingdom's laws only had relevant provisions for "large groups of people gathering in public places but harming the rights and interests of others".

Fafnir felt he had to at least make sure the tutoring for this term's informal students was done properly. After all, he had clearly accepted them and registered their names when they were recruited. One should be honest. Even if he couldn't teach inside the school, he could still set up a place outside and teach. However, he had to inform the students not to come if it rained. Fafnir thought that setting up a shed would give Tyrell something to use against him. Fortunately, there weren't many informal students this term, only about forty. Fafnir thought that spending some extra time each day wouldn't be too difficult. He could give them more writing practice, and he could supervise them from the side. They could also learn some Elvish or read other books. Of course, Fafnir knew that even if he continued to teach at the school, what difference would it make?

Bishop Leyton and Tyrell's claims were unreasonable, and Tyrell had already gone home long ago. However, Fafnir did not want to clash with this guy over continuing to attend informal student tutoring at the school. Even if he, as a fourth-level priest, was fine, it might implicate Martha and Allen. Fafnir hated dealing with this guy.

These past few days, a large number of construction workers have started renovating the school, sometimes disrupting the normal teaching order.

Fafnir and Tyrell lived relatively peacefully, since Tyrell always arrived late and left early, so Fafnir rarely saw him. Moreover, Tyrell had already moved his desk and chairs to the classroom on the second floor, so Fafnir could only see a few construction workers going to Tyrell's office to carry out renovations after school each day.

In mid-September, it got dark early, and some of the houses along the road already had their lights on. After finishing his tutoring class in the alley, Fafnir left his bench and blackboard in a small shed belonging to a student's parent nearby, saving him some time. He walked alone towards the grammar school. Sigh, he didn't know what to do next. Fafnir felt exhausted by the long, monotonous spiritual training and the recent events. Sigh—

Lost in thought the whole way, Fafnir returned to the grammar school, where the janitor at the entrance stopped him.

"Father Fafnir, Sister Fanning wants you to see her."

"Now?"

"Yes, he told you to go find her as soon as you get to school."

Fafnir nodded, and without thinking further, quickened his pace toward the library.

Sister Fanning saw Fafnir enter and sat solemnly at the library's service counter. "Come to my office, young man, it's urgent."

Sister Fanning didn't say much. Fafnir followed her to a private office on the second floor of the library. The office door had a sign that read "Director's Office." In principle, this was Sister Fanning's workplace, but she still preferred to help students borrow and return books at the service desk.

"Sister Fanning, may I ask—"

"No need for pleasantries, Victor just contacted me through the telematics system, and he wants to speak with you immediately." Sister Fanning interrupted Fafnir with a serious expression.

Now? What is it? Fafnir was a little surprised. Could it be the letter he sent to Mr. Victor earlier? — This shouldn't be such a big deal, and the mailing speed is very slow, it will take at least two weeks to reach the Eastern Region.

Fafnir watched Sister Fanning operate her remote information processing system. Fafnir understood that he could not contact Mr. Victor directly because the distance between Lorraine Territory and the Eastern District Inquisition was too far. The remote information processing system required both parties to consume spiritual energy, and the greater the distance, the greater the consumption. Fafnir could not use it, but he could "relay" through Sister Fanning.

"Little one, begin your meditation, close your eyes."

Fafnir did as instructed, and he felt Sister Fanning's spiritual threads moving around him, and a spell formed in his mind.

Fafnir felt a cluster of spiritual light coalesce in his mind, slowly weaving into a blurry human figure. The outline became clearer, first the lower body, then the torso, the arms, and finally the face he knew all too well: Viktor Zaitsev. In Fafnir's mental projection, Mr. Viktor wore that black priest's robe, embroidered with golden raven feathers on his chest. His face was still so familiar. "Little Fafnir," Mr. Viktor's "voice" came. Fafnir tried to speak, but then realized that no real sound came out. It was a silent communication, directly on a spiritual level. "Mr. Viktor, it's been a long time. Hello," Fafnir thought to himself. He felt that Mr. Viktor could "hear" his words.

"What I'm about to say, you must not tell anyone. Sister Fanning doesn't know, and neither does Viscount Lorraine, but I have already spoken to Viscount Lorraine."

I have issued permits for your parents through Speaker Hobbury. Have them arrive at Port Ryan by tomorrow morning and wait there. Someone will pick them up; they are absolutely safe. But you must stay with them the whole time.

Tell them to return to the Narns Empire as soon as possible. Time is of the essence, and I cannot say more, but please believe me, this news comes from my family, even before the Eastern Regional Bishops' Council received the intelligence. My father holds a position in the court.

My little Fafnir, time is of the essence, hurry on your way.

Before he could reply, Mr. Victor on the other end had already cut off the communication. Fafnir opened his eyes and found Sister Fanning's face covered in sweat: "Ha, it's been a long time since I've used up so much spiritual energy at once. This remote information processing system is really—let me catch my breath—"

"How's it going, little guy? What did Victor ask me to do for you?"

"It's nothing, thank you very much! Sister Fanning, I have some urgent business to attend to and need to leave now."

Fafnir felt a sense of panic. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. Then, he walked out of the school gate and quickly went to the street to catch a carriage to Lorraine Manor.