The Professor and the Starlight Phoenix by Nathan David Ward

Author:Nathan David Ward [Ward, Nathan David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2019-01-12T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

Lessons Learnt

An hour had passed since Arlie had left the lodge and the fire was now beginning to die down as Robin turned the final page of his ink blotted journal. It had been written in 1959, so it held a rather interesting and detailed account of the days he spent as professor. In fact they were so precise that he now knew exactly what he loved for breakfast on a gloomy Monday morning within the confines of the Institute, which was somewhat perfect timing as he began to hear the sound of footsteps, patting by his door.

Robin slapped the leather binding together, threw down the journal and leapt off the bed, reaching for the doorknob and yanking it wide open just in time to catch Grimtale as he slowly wandered by, acknowledging Robin with a delightful smile as he stood under the door frame of his lodge with curious eyes a blaze.

The curvy corridor was now lit by fiery torchlight that lined the walls illuminating the pathway, down towards the stairwell. Robin could just about make out the pink fluffy collar of Magenta’s coat and Silverstein’s silver shimmer before they disappeared from sight, down in to the stone tower.

“Professor Grimtale! Hold up!” Robin called as he ran back to the bed and began to scramble his books in to the satchel. He assumed it would be wise to tag along and not get lost trying to retrace his steps.

“Just one moment!” Robin's voice echoed from within the lodge as he threw his mustard coat about his shoulders and hung his satchel from his arm.

“I’ve been reading,” he said as he reached the corridor, slightly out of breath.

“My journals - everything. Only before I didn’t quite understand my importance - but now it’s safe to say, I sure as hell do!”

He pulled the door to a close, leaving his damp brown trousers behind to dry. Then he turned to Grimtale with a look of relief - he was still standing ever so patiently, watching Robin’s fluster as he made his way over.

“I’m set,” said Robin, adjusting the strap on his satchel and patting his pockets to make sure they were still full.

“Then you’d best follow me,” Grimtale replied as he turned and continued along the corridor towards the tower stairwell the other professors had taken.

“I assume you had the pleasure of meeting Arlie?”

Robin suddenly picked up his pace.

“The Imp! Yes, strange little fellow, doesn’t hold anything back - information overload!”

“Precisely the reason that you were reacquainted, Professor.”

Robin bit down hard on his tongue.

“No, no. Don’t call me that, just call me Robin. I’m not ready for anything like that.”

Grimtale paused for a moment, placing himself in another’s shoes to understand why Robin was reluctant to take up the title that consumed his younger self, as he needed reminding of the reasons - the things believed to be best left behind, he thought, glancing across at Robin. It was then he realised he no longer saw the man he used to know, the man who was caught by temptation.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.