“Special? What do you mean by that?” I asked, genuinely surprised with this guy.

I mean that you have something inside you that others don’t. You are special,” he said simply.

“Ok, so another question: why are you in my grandma’s castle?”

“Simple. I have known her for ages. One day I mentioned to her my need for a private workplace, and she eagerly hopped in and suggested this room. Much to my delight, she said all I had to do was pay for room and board here, and I could do anything I wanted.”

“Wait, so you live here too?”

“Ah yes, but of course back in this room where no one can find me. What would her friends think if they knew she let a nutty old professor like me stay here,” he said with a low chuckle.

“Yeah, I guess they would think it was pretty weird,” I said. “No offense or anything,” I added quickly.

“None taken my dear, none taken,” he said with a hint of laughter in his eyes.

“Ahh, but back to the present, I must ask a favor of you,” he said rather seriously.