Chapter XIII
Fred's warmth against Saure's neck was a comfort in the uncertain cold that permeated the dark stone of the odd chamber. The ceilings were so high she could not see them in the gloom. Everything in the chamber was dark, stark and businesslike. There was no real design incorporated in the pillars, walls or floor tiles. It all had a resounding aura of doom. This was, of course, nothing like how Saure imagined university would be.
She advanced uncertainly, her footfalls sounding much too loud, and echoing. The only light in the room came from a ball-shaped lamp above a high parapet at the other end. Here, the room rounded in a circular floor, and a small black stone podium stood in the center of this rotunda.
"Please stand at the podium." came an old man's voice from aloft. She did as instructed, folding her hands in front of her and looking up at the stony, wrinkled faces. There were five Parapheums in all, and each wore a strange T-shaped headdress of black trimmed with deepest green. They seemed so old as to be almost without gender at all. It was only until the one spoke that she was able to guess he was a man.
"You are a greenhand. Saure Fira… your family is mainly firebloods. What-"
"'Was', your honor."
The Parapheum started a bit, looking up from the parchment (which must have been transferred using bureaucratic magic) and removing his thin spectacles. He leaned over the parapet and eyed the girl with distain.
"Excuse me?"
"My family 'was' mainly firebloods. I have no living relatives currently, to my knowledge."
The Parapheum pursed his thin, wrinkled lips and sat back, making a note of this.
"Ahem… Please excuse me. Your family 'was' mainly firebloods. What made your strongest skill flora?"
"My parents were alchemists. They needed someone to tend to the herbs and trees, and were no great hands at it
