The VIP room of the Starry Sky Magic Academy was quiet and elegant, with a large arched floor-to-ceiling window beyond which the eternal and dazzling Magic Star River of Fran sparkled. Soft artificial starlight shone through the crystal window panes, casting delicate specks of light upon the deep blue velvet carpet. The air was permeated with the light and elegant fragrance of Calming Flowers mixed with ancient scrolls.
Lynch and Graham sat opposite each other in comfortable flannel armchairs, with a low table between them holding two cups of steaming magical tea that could slowly nourish the spirit. The long silence did not make the atmosphere awkward, but rather flowed with a tacit understanding that needed no words after experiencing life and death.
Finally, Lynch broke the silence, his voice gentle, "And then? After the Punishment Square..."
