As they headed back into the castle, the professor leaning very lightly on Clue despite likely being twice as strong as the fey lad, Clue felt a new sensation — the sensation of having a rolemodel. Not simply someone he admired (like Narcissus Laurent), or liked (Calla Potts) or envied (like Germander Macnair), but someone he hoped he could be when he was aged a thousand.

(Or however old Professor Valenduris was.)

"I know. I understand", he replied with a nod. He did understand. He'd never purposefully gone to anyone with his problems before, but... he lived in a time of change.