The night shift was over as quickly as the last one. The student seemd to be behaving themselfes at night.
Florence sat upright as usual, her gaze roaming through the night until Corin appears. The wind lifted her hair slightly and she smiled when she saw him.
The wind had picked up. Faint light fell across the dark stone slabs as Corin entered the courtyard. Florence was sitting on the edge of the fountain, her shawl wrapped tightly around her. She looked relaxed, almost like a shadow in the light, but her eyes immediately moved to him as he approached.
"Late again, Corin."
"Committee drags," Corin replied calmly. "I'm glad you're still here."
"I'm dutiful. And you're a good reason to stay awake." She casually brushed a white strand from her face, but Corin saw her brace herself slightly against the cold.
Without a word, he took off his jacket and handed it to her. She looked at him for a moment, then took it and put it around her shoulders.
"That wasn't necessary... but thank you."
"You feeling cold makes me uncomfortable," Corin said curtly.
"Maybe we should change places. Next time we could learn at my place," Florence suggested.
Corin paused. "In your dorm?"
"It's warm, quiet and more comfortable than meeting out here," she said, raising an eyebrow. "I think you can handle it? Or are you one of those who blush at pretty girls?"
"I'm more one of those who don't waste their study time playing games."
She grinned. "I like that."
She stood up slowly, her jacket draped loosely over her shoulders. She looked back at him. "So, how are you living? Tidy? Practical? Or does it look like you're never there?"
Corin seemed suprised. "Why are you asking?"
"Because today we are learning at your place." She seemed amused while saying that.
"Well then, practical i would say. A lot of things have stayed packed away. I don't waste time with things I don't need."
"That's what I thought. Sometimes the things we carry with us say more about us than what we say."
"Only if you look closely."
"Oh, I already do."
Then she turned away, the sound of her footsteps almost too quiet for the wind.
The path to Corin's Dorm was quiet, with only the distant whirring of the security barriers breaking the silence of the night. As they entered, Florence stopped short. Her gaze slid over the simple furniture, the neat piles of papers and the orderly, almost sober arrangement.
"So this is how the non-sponsored live," she said dryly. She let her gaze wander further, taking in every detail, before calmly turning around. "Simple. But efficient. Somehow that suits you."
Corin turned the light up a little brighter. "More than necessary is a waste of time. I'm hardly ever here."
"And your roommate?" Florence continued to look around. "Cearen lives here too, doesn't he? I would have thought he'd be back by now. It's late."
"He has things to do," Corin replied. "Committee duties. He often stays out late."
"Hmm." She eyed him for a moment. "I find it interesting that someone like him was put with someone like you in the first place. Usually you look out for... more appropriate hierarchies."
Corin shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe it was a mistake. Or on purpose. I didn't ask."
"I'm not surprised." A slight smile settled on her lips.
He gestured to the small table. "Let's sit down. Before you forget the subject because of all the philosophy."
"I never forget anything important, Corin."
She took a seat, laid his jacket carefully over the backrest and pulled out a notebook. Her posture remained elegant, but her gaze wandered around the room one last time, as if she was memorizing every detail.
"Let's get started. I want to see if you understand today as quickly as you pick up on in combat."
The light from the lamp had long since dimmed to a soft glow. Florence had opened the book again, this time further back. Her fingers glided over the text, then she paused, pointing to a marked paragraph.
"This is probably the part that's giving you trouble."
She looked at Corin, who nodded. The passage spoke of structural instability in pathways near deep contamination hotspots.
"What exactly is meant by 'structural instability'?" he asked, his gaze fixed on the lines.
"A nice word for something very old, very unpredictable," she said softly. "The theory is that death zones are like deep rifts that not only fracture our world, but also warp the pathways. Corruption is like an abyss. Not immediately tangible, but once you get too close..."
She made a quick motion with her hand, as if dropping something into a hole. "...you lose yourself. And the path loses itself with you."
Corin frowned. "But how does that work? How can something like that disrupt the path?"
Florence smiled slightly. "It's hard to describe. Most researchers say it starts with temptation. As if something is... calling. Softly, coaxingly. The corruption doesn't force its way in. It invites you in."
She paused, as if watching his reaction. "You lose your bearings first. Then yourself."
"But it can't just spread like that, can it?" Corin thought aloud. "It needs something, someone. A host. Someone weak enough to respond."
Florence looked at him silently for a moment. Then a smile flitted across her lips, warm and reflecting genuine interest.
"That's one of the most recognized theories. And you came up with it all by yourself?"
"I've had some time to think about it," Corin murmured.
"I can tell." Her voice was soft, almost cajoling. "You don't just understand things, you... ."
She leaned forward a little, lowering her voice as if she wanted to confide a secret to him:
"Most students write this essay like a puzzle they want to solve. You... write it like you're getting a answer out of it, while writing it."
Corin didn't quite know what to say in response. Instead, he looked at the text, trying to concentrate. Florence turned the page.
"If you want," she then said, almost casually, "I can show you a few more reports from the Everhart collection later. About expeditions to the southern zones. Most of them were never published."
Corin raised his head. "You have access to something like that?"
She smiled, knowing this time. "I've seen more than most here. And maybe...I could show it to you too."
She stood up slowly and closed the book. "But not all at once. Study material and nights are a dangerous pair."
The air had become cooler by now, the shadows longer. But the light that fell from the high windows of the academy still enveloped the two of them in a quiet, almost intimate atmosphere.
Corin leaned back, notebook in hand. The pages were now filled with neatly formulated approaches, clear structures, thoughts that no longer seemed like fragments. It was rare that he was able to move a text forward so quickly, but Florence's explanations, her way of making things tangible, had opened something up in him.
He took a quick breath.
"I think that's enough for me. Its not to enoug to write everything, but its a start."
Florence looked at him, her expression bright and genuinely pleased.
"I knew you'd catch on quickly."
She bowed her head slightly. "Then you can concentrate on the important things now. The next few weeks will be... demanding."
Corin nodded. "That's the plan."
As he slid the book back into his bag and went to rise, she held him back with a slight smile.
"Corin."
He looked at her questioningly.
"You owe me a favor now."
Her voice was calm, almost playful. But there was a little emphasis in it, not commanding, more... authoritative.
He raised his brows, slightly confused. "I mean, you're ranked second, heir to the Everharts. I don't see how I could really help you there."
"That's not your problem." Florence looked amused. "I'll know when the time is right."
Then, in a soft, almost cajoling tone:
"But remember, if you have questions at some point. About heavier topics. Things that can't be solved with books or training... then come to me."
Corin looked at her. Her words sounded sincere, helpful. And yet something in her voice made him pause a moment longer than necessary. He finally nodded.
"Will do."
She smiled. "Then I wish you a quiet night, Committee member Denoir."
She turned to leave. And as she walked away, Corin remained at the door. His gaze rested calmly on him until she disappeared into the darkness of the corridors.