Crypian opened the door and stepped into the Dean's office.
The moment he entered, Dean Orin Belebright stood up from his chair with a big smile.
He had gone back to his old messy look after losing everything in the gambling disaster.
His hair was wild and unkempt, his beard looked like a bird's nest, and he wore his usual wrinkled robes.
Yet his face was surprisingly bright and cheerful as he looked at Crypian.
"You are finally here, young man!" the dean said warmly.
He smiled and looked Crypian up and down. "How are you doing in the academy?"
"Good," Crypian replied flatly, his expression not changing at all.
"Cheer up, young man!"
The dean walked around his desk and gave Crypian a friendly pat on the back.
"Guys your age should be more lively and bright!"
The dean had noticed this gloominess for a while now.
The first time he saw Crypian, he could tell the boy carried years of loneliness and heavy burdens on his shoulders.
