CHAPTER - 40

  Narrator: Dav, tired and hungry, asked Valeria if she wanted to go with him to his room to eat something. He offered fresh cold cuts with bread rolls and some beer.

  Valeria accepted the invitation, and together they headed to his room, exhausted but starving.

  Once they arrived, Dav set the food on the table and turned on the TV to accompany the evening with the voices of a movie.

  They ate in silence, immersed in the film, alternating between popcorn and chips without taking their eyes off the screen.

  At one point, Valeria looked at him with a mischievous expression and asked him to find a horror movie.

  Dav sighed but agreed without protest and picked something fitting.

  As always, Valeria enjoyed watching Dav’s reactions, waiting for the perfect moment to scare him and make him send the popcorn flying from his hands.

  After the movie ended, Valeria fell asleep with her head resting on the table, deeply lost in sleep.

  Even Dav, feeling exhausted just from looking at her, decided to turn off the TV and put her to bed without waking her.

  He gently removed her jacket, glasses, and heels, then covered her with a light, fresh-scented sheet.

  He made sure the air conditioner was set to the right temperature—not too cold.

  Finally, he lay down on the nearby couch, covering himself with a similar sheet, and fell asleep immediately.

  The next morning, Valeria woke up before Dav and, before leaving, made sure to cover him properly with the sheet.

  Outside the room, she ran into the director—the man she considered like a father—who observed her with a smile and a gaze full of thoughts.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Valeria, slightly embarrassed, hurried to explain that she had fallen asleep after a night of movies and food, spent with Dav after an entire day of work in the library.

  The director, who already knew everything, chuckled softly and, raising an eyebrow, told her not to worry—it would be their little secret.

  Valeria, still a bit flustered but happy to see him, greeted him and headed to the library to organize the shelves.

  The director, on the other hand, remained there.

  He had come to speak with Dav but decided to wait until after lunch, letting him sleep a little longer.

  About half an hour later, Dav woke up and headed to class, walking leisurely through the corridors.

  As he walked, he glanced into the classrooms through the door cracks, observing the students studying and listening to the sound of the lessons in silence.

  When he arrived in class, he found his students chatting and joking with each other.

  Since he was slightly early, he decided to let them be without interrupting.

  Shortly after, Elysia approached with a smile, handing him a brioche and some juice.

  Dav, in a gentle gesture, softly patted her head, triggering a slight wave of jealousy—but in a playful way—from Fin, Leo, and Gabriel, who were watching from their seats.

  As she returned to her desk, Elysia shot them a triumphant look, while they sulked.

  Professor Kael entered the classroom and, with curiosity, asked Dav what he had in store for him that day.

  Dav, smiling, suggested they switch roles and let Kael lead the lesson.

  Kael, excited and honored, accepted without hesitation and began explaining with great enthusiasm.

  Dav listened attentively throughout the lesson and, in the end, applauded with sincere admiration.

  The students followed his example, making Kael blush, though he also felt more confident.

  After the lesson, everyone headed to the cafeteria. As usual, Dav entered and saw his students sitting, smiling, and chatting among themselves.

  He also noticed Lucrezia sitting next to Valeria while Iris complimented her on how pretty she was, especially her beautiful hair.

  Lucrezia, visibly flustered, blushed and responded with a polite and soft smile, thanking her.

  Dav sat in his usual spot and quietly continued his lunch, observing and listening to the students' lively chatter around him.

  Lucrezia, smiling, gave Dav a grateful look, while Valeria affectionately patted her head.

  The director informed Dav that a certain Matteo De Lion had tried to contact him but hadn't been able to since Dav had been busy with packed days.

  Dav nodded, replying that he would take care of it later, once he had finished a few things.

  Shortly after, he headed to the library, looking for Valeria, when suddenly she appeared in front of him, making him almost jump as if he had nearly had a heart attack.

  Dav, recovering, asked her to go to Lucrezia’s room and ask her, once again, to help them in their research after finishing checking the library during their three-hour search for the scrolls.

  After searching once more, without success, they made their way to Lucrezia’s room, bringing the scrolls and the key with them.

  They arrived after about thirty minutes of walking and, once in front of the door, knocked.

  From inside, a voice responded: "Come in, it's open!"

  Dav smiled discreetly, but Valeria noticed anyway and placed a hand on his back.

  [October 14, 2035]

  END OF CHAPTER - 40