Steadily throwing his cane in front of him, Botros climbed up the dais and spotted the only two other colleagues seated. He was surprised that he was one of the first to arrive, he'd been always the late one (what with the staircases playing with him all the time and all), but today was apparently different. No one seemed to be vibrant and lively with goodbye emotions like the term before, the attack last week had drained everyone - no exceptions. Even his Cruppie sulked often in his corner and refused to play with his toy bone.

Having dealt with so many losses in his long life, the seventy-seven years old was at peace with everything that happened. He was immensely troubled and sad, but also coping and managing to nod and smile at professor Flamsteed, Romanos and James. He dragged his chair to the back and fell onto it, balancing his cane beside him.