Dark Path to Heaven [Demon Romance]

Chapter 56

Chapter Music: "Will-O'-Wisps" by Brandon Fiechter

Thankfully, I didn't have to dwell on my misery for much longer. Our former professor had at last arrived.

"Why didn't you two get inside?" he asked us both with a friendly smile. "There's nowhere to sit here."

Huh. I didn't expect him to be so easy-going after everything that had happened.

"We thought it could be dangerous to enter without you," Merihem swiftly replied. "We don't have the connections you do."

For some reason that sounded more as a compliment than an explanation.

"Right! I didn't think of that," Mr. Stanwood admitted somewhat self-consciously.

I had to remind myself that not everyone was like Astaroth or Orias, always taking everything into consideration.

Mean, aren't I? That goofy wizard may have agreed to help me but that didn't change the fact that he had also helped throw his coworker and student out of the academy.

For now, let's not forget manners. "Thank you for your assistance," I said, forcing a smile.

"It's, uh, nothing. I actually felt guilty," he confessed and suggested that we got inside.

As much as I'd like to question him, I would have to be patient for now. Saving Astaroth comes first.

And so, after walking past the information office, we headed upstairs, to a room in the back of the third floor. There was a single man there, sitting on a desk while diligently writing something down on paper. He looked scrawny and overworked, having one wonder how he could be related to someone like Mr. Stanwood.

Of course, Merihem had already transformed into Vincent so as to avoid complicating matters even more.

"Richard!" Mr. Stanwood greeted the man like a good old friend, causing him to perk up from his seat at once.

"Mason!" He swiftly approached us and gave his friend a firm handshake. "What is the big favor you wanted to ask of your 'bestest friend'?" He stressed the last words, making it quite obvious who they had come from.

However, before any of us had the chance to answer, the man called Richard froze at the sight of my face.

"You're the–"

"Yes, she is." Mr. Stanwood rested a hand on my shoulder. "But this poor woman has done nothing wrong. She deserves to be treated equally as the rest of us."

"Sensitive, as always," he replied, letting out a nostalgic laugh before taking a second look at me.

The doctor seemed troubled. At least, this time the apparent fear and doubt were mixed with sympathy, thanks to the professor's intervention.

As for me, I didn't really care even if the man showered me with rotten eggs. As long as I got out of there with a real ID on my wrist, I would be more than satisfied. I couldn't help but wonder, though, whether Mr. Stanwood believed what he had said about me or not.

Finally, Mr. Richard appeared to have made up his mind and reluctantly asked me to sit in the patient's chair so that we could get started.

"So what's up with you, Mason?" he asked before walking up to the counter.

"Ah, well, I don't mean to start complaining before we even have time to properly catch up!"

The sound of that statement seemed to shock the doctor so much that he took his eyes from the beaker he'd just fetched to look at his friend.