The midday bell rang twice, signaling the start of the lunch hour.
The cafeteria buzzed as people filled in, with clattering with clattering trays and swirls of voices drifting from every table.
Near a long window in the back of the cafeteria, a group of students gathered at their usual spot.
Four of them sat, but the food on their trays was only half-picked at.
Their conversation wound between assignments, rumors, and complaints about surprise exams.
"Did you hear," said one student, setting down their fork, "that Professor Vellichor won't be teaching next year?"
Raising an eyebrow, the second asked, "What, really?"
"That's what I heard. Apparently, he's leaving at the end of term. He was just passing through, they say."
There was a pause.
"Shame, I liked his class. Didn't think I would, but I did."
"You liked golemancy?" the first student said with a laugh. "You always complained about precision work, and golems are nothing but that."
"I liked him as a teacher," they clarified. "He made it feel important. Even if I'll never actually build a golem, I get it."
"The ethics part stuck with me. The lesson where he talked about imitation and identity. I still think about that sometimes. Weirdly philosophical."
The third student leaned in, chin on palm, poking at the untouched fruit on the tray. "He wasn't as scary as I expected. Everyone warned us that Dread Mage Vellichor was dangerous but I didn't feel that. Even though he's a powerful wizard, he didn't seem crazy or anything."
"He is kind of eerie. Never raises his voice, walks like he knows what's going to happen ten minutes before it does."
"Yeah, but he listens. He always answered questions. Took our work seriously, even when it was clumsy."
"Guess that's all we really want from a teacher in the end."
For a few quiet moments, they sat with their thoughts.
"I wish he was staying. There are so many things he could teach us. I wonder why he chose golems."
"He must have had a good reason."
They didn't know the details. No one really did.
"I hope he knows we appreciated his class."
"Maybe someone should tell him that."
They looked at each other, but no one volunteered.