"What's it mean," asked one of the maids, Bonded with a blaze lion if Headmaster Ainsley wasn't mistaken. The yellow highlights within the red fur of her feline Bond manifestations were quite distinctive. She waited in the hallway holding a domed platter, steam spilling from the edges. Keeping food warm should be a simple task for someone with her Bond.

The time for dinner had arrived, the headmaster noted, patting his belly. Maybe he could stand to skip a few meals, but that didn't mean he would ever do so voluntarily. If he was lucky, the bakery he passed on his way back to the Academy would still have a few of those fried and cream filled sweet rolls on the shelves. That plus a meat pie would do nicely for his dinner.

"Dunno," shrugged the guard on duty. "He hung it there, pointed at it, then went inside and shut the door." His was a simple forest wolf Bond, common among the palace guard. A good, simple, straightforward Bond option for those looking to develop strong teamwork.

"I think it's a puzzle," said another maid, her with an obvious bovine Bond, one which offered little in the way of practicality. Sometimes the nobility could be truly disgusting. Why couldn't he find a servant willing to pervert herself so? They paid better, no doubt.

Too bad he left his cloak of disguises in the office. He suddenly had an urge to visit his favorite place in the entertainment district once his business for the day concluded. He could try the back wall again, perhaps. A different spot from last time. He'd nearly been thrown out, and had to pay Jewel a ridiculous sum to appease her rage at his innocent mistake. He even paid the girl as thanks for the accidental show. Who knew Jewel would have installed such good dispelling wards in the rooms? A reasonable precaution against recording artifacts, he had to admit. Too bad it countered his half-step phase shifting invisibility trick as well.

Maybe he could buy a cloak with a deep hood and risk entering through the front hall? Even hooded he would be rather conspicuous. There was no helping it, he'd have to go back to the office first. The bakery was in that direction anyhow.

"'X' marks the spot," continued the delectable specimen. "The spot is an open door, yet the sign hangs from a closed door. Either he wants us to find an open door, or it is a way of saying the deserving, those who break the code, are free to enter."

The guard shook his head. "Why would he want us to find an open door? To what end? He didn't go elsewhere in the palace. And if he wanted people to enter he wouldn't have shut the door in my face. I think maybe it's his personal crest."

Ainsley studied the shockingly yellow placard. Maybe the door's state in the image was inconsequential, and the sign indicated 'This is the door' for the door it hung upon, a custom so others would know where one slept? No words were upon the placard, so perhaps the colors themselves were the indicator. Yellow card, red X, black door. The boy did seem to like bright colors, going by his clothing. Perhaps the colors matched his house colors?

He cleared his throat, alerting the maids to his presence. "Has anyone knocked?"

"I did, m'lord," said the feline maid. "Just a moment ago."

The headmaster waited a ten count, then went for the door. He knocked himself. When no answer came he cracked the door. "Silas?"

No reply came from the room.

He opened the door wider. "I'm coming in!"

He found the boy sprawled out in bed, now wearing clothing of blue and red patterned to resemble a spider's web, a black spider design on the chest. Of all the things one might possibly conjure to wear, why the child continued to create such nonsense baffled his mind to no end.

Neither clearing his throat nor knocking on the bedroom door roused the boy. With a sigh he sat down to write a note. He would keep the language simple, as the boy seemed a rather simple sort.

Headmaster Ainsley of the Gray Depths Academy of Magical Studies, for Silas the Conjuring Hero:

I would like to extend you an offer to attend my academy. I feel there is much you could learn of our world, while perhaps we might learn from you as well. Room and board would be provided, plus a stipend for expenses, spending money included. The next term doesn't start until Spring, over a full three quarters away, but we can work out the details and get you settled into a room now.

Seek me out during office hours, daily between 6m and the flex hour, at your earliest convenience.

Looking over the note, he gave a short nod to himself. Keeping the boy around would be worth the risks. With no need to enter a dungeon to progress, Ainsley might actually finish his project in time. He'd try the honey first, while sharpening some stakes.

Silas bolted upright, heart pounding, trying to figure out what shocked him awake. He felt like his mind just got zapped by lightning, or maybe his soul. "What in the table-flipping name of…"