To Chancellor Alastric Emmannulas Noens pel Colophon the Grey, XVIIth Gryphonhorn Magus, Th.M. M.Ex. O.S. Esq.
Chancellor,
I would like to apologize for my outburst during my visit to your office last month. While I was indeed quite upset by the verdict of the CDLXXIIIrd Disciplinary Council, my tone was nevertheless inappropriate for a professional setting, and my personal remarks were entirely uncalled for. I must also acknowledge that, while I still have some concerns regarding Lilias Calbach’s future pyromantic research even with Professor Tarkovsky’s now-mandatory pre-approval and oversight, my judgment of Calbach may have been slightly harsher than was necessary.
This past week, to my consternation, Calbach arrived nearly half an hour late to her Council-mandated duties assisting with the cleanup and restoration of the Library Wing. She did not appear to have slept or bathed the previous day, and brought with her a large handcart filled with notebooks from the University Depot. When I demanded to know the reason for her tardiness, she gave no reply, and merely handed me one of the notebooks from her cart. Opening it, I was astounded to discover Chapters V and VI of Kyrius’ Quaestio Radix Magia, which had been completely destroyed in the recent fire, with no other known extant copies. To the best of my recollection of the grimoire’s contents, the reproduction in the notebook was flawless, including the illustrations and diagrams. Examining more of Calbach’s notebooks, all of them contained similarly perfect reproductions of rare texts I had believed irrevocably lost. Upon closer inspection, the notebooks’ contents were clearly not inked by a quill or printing press, but scorched into the pages. I turned to her in pure astonishment and asked how this could be possible; she responded simply “The fire remembers,” and promptly fell asleep on one of the couches we had salvaged.
Although, as I said above, I continue to hold concerns, I feel I now have a slightly better understanding of your and the Council’s perspective in this matter. I shall continue working with Calbach and with Professor Tarkovsky on the restoration efforts, and will keep you apprised of any further new developments.
Regards,
Avriam K. Bel, Head Librarian