As soon as it was light, I rushed to the academy to wake Gulu from his sleep.
It's strange, really. Gargoyles, which are born without any physiological needs and feed only on stones and emotions, actually have the physiological phenomenon of sleeping. Even if they are just pretending to be real stone sculptures and standing still, it is still quite a strange thing.
"That's because it's so boring if there's nothing to do all the time!"
Gulu complained loudly, "I can't just move around whenever I want. It's so boring to see the same scenery every day! At least there are students and teachers around during the day!"
I asked curiously, "What about those who are on night duty?"
Gulu looked indifferent: "Let them choose their own night watchmen to do it. I don't get paid, so I don't care!"
...That's what I said, but I also know that if something really happens, Gulu will always be the first to react.
"Teacher Gulu, I have something to ask you."
Seeing the gargoyle suddenly become all smiles and start shaking its long, stone-like hair, I asked it, "Is Professor Adrian's workshop located within the academy?"
Gulu nodded: "It's at the observatory behind the west teaching building. You can see it as soon as you look up after you walk through that windbreak forest. It's very obvious."
What do you want with him?
"There must be something going on," I said. "Didn't they say there was an event at the college today? Can't I be called back to participate in the event?"
"Huh? What event? Has Adrian been organizing any events lately?" Gulu asked, puzzled. "Hasn't that kid been staying in his own territory all the time except for classes? What kind of events could he be doing... Yumi, you must have misheard me."
"Don't give me any excuses. You don't seem like the type to obediently come back to participate in any academy event... Did Miss [Witch] ask you to do something?"
This guy is really quick.
I had barely started when it had already filled in the rest of the story in its head.
However, this is not something that can be clearly explained right now, so I can only shake my head and let the question rest for the time being.
"Well, who cares what you two are thinking all day long, all mysterious... Just be careful."
It gently rubbed my head twice, then spread its arms, half-exposing its chest: "Want me to give you a ride? We can get you there quickly in less than a minute if you hold your breath, otherwise you'll need to walk for at least an hour."
That's definitely a good idea.
Only a select few, those whom Gollum acknowledges as friends, can enjoy this privilege within the Academy:
Gargoyles' ability to move and survive within stone is instinctive, but this requires them to be perceived as a complete entity. If they wish to load items or transport creatures inside, they must maintain the stability of the overall external structure, replace the interior with a cavity of a certain size, then wrap the person to be transported inside and close it, thus confirming themselves as a complete container enclosing something.
Gulu said he didn't really like the feeling of having a foreign object inside his body, and people who have experienced this kind of convenience rarely want to try it a second time.
The thin air inside the gargoyle and the pressure from the stone walls are one aspect, but the darkness without light and the fact that one is inhabiting the body of some kind of creature are enough to instill fear in any human being who still retains some semblance of normal sanity.
...While there are people who enjoy it immensely, I don't think I am one of them.
I politely declined Gulu's offer, chatted for a few more minutes, said goodbye to it, and then crossed the gate, heading ahead towards the pre-arranged meeting place.
Near the fountain pool in front of the teaching building, a golden dragon sculpture spreads its wide wings, soaring high in the sky. With its gracefully curved neck tilted back as if about to roar, beautiful scales cover its long tail. Between its large mouth, one can see barbed tongue and two rows of menacing sharp teeth. Its ferocious vertical pupils are lifelike, as if they are brimming with the wrath of a king.
Below, beside the monument that records the past battles, a red-haired girl in an academy uniform stands quietly, gazing at the bright sun rising from the east and gradually moving towards the center of the sky. Her eyes, which seem somewhat weary, lack focus; perhaps she is thinking about something, or perhaps she is thinking about nothing at all.
I greeted her: "Good morning, Grey. I didn't expect to be the one who's late."
Like a quietly burning flame, Gray adjusted her focus slightly, tucking her long hair, which was fluttering in the wind, behind her ear with one hand, revealing a rare hint of shyness: "Good morning, senior. I just had some things on my mind, so I thought I'd go for a walk early, but I ended up arriving ahead of time without realizing it."
As someone with a stake in the matter, she couldn't simply ignore the strange occurrences she witnessed last night. However, given the many other things that needed to be taken care of, she had no choice but to arrange to meet me here early to inquire about them.
"You look like you stayed up late... Did the wrap-up work go smoothly last night?"
Grey nodded and followed me. "It's basically all done. I've handed the rest over to the original people in charge there. It's their job, and if I interfere too much, I might cause them to lose their jobs."
"And another thing... I am a student, after all. Students are supposed to come and attend classes obediently."
As she spoke, she gave an expression that resembled a smile.
The unspeakable bitterness was diluted by the slight upturn of her lips, but it did not make her seem particularly happy or hypocritical. Instead, she seemed like a wise person who had seen through the bitterness of life and had been through it all. She just made this expression at the right moment because she needed to smile the most, in order to comfort others.
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