One boy refused to move and sat on the floor.

“Will you tell us more tomorrow?” asked another boy before his parent hauled him off.

The solemn, blond-haired child hung back, trying to hide behind one of the storage boxes. His mother, a tall woman with a shock of black hair, laughed and coaxed him out.

“The children seem to be quite taken with you,” she said. “I hope they were not too much of a bother.”

“They … they were not a bother at all,” said Enrique.

On the contrary, it was the most fun he’d had in quite some time. The children’s intense curiosity was like a furnace that his whole being might warm itself against, and their eagerness made him wish to return to his research and regard it with fresh eyes.

“What is your name?” asked the woman.

“Sév—I mean, Enrique,” he said. “Enrique Mercado-Lopez.”

“Well, I am indebted to you for your generous instruction. I have the feeling you’ve made quite the impression on him, and I won’t hear the end of it for days,” said the woman, smiling widely. “Heinrich? Tell the nice professor ‘thank you.’”

“Oh, I’m not a professor—” said Enrique, but no one seemed to hear him.

“Thank you, Professor Mercado-Lopez,” said the boy.

Enrique startled. He had not imagined how much he would love the sound of that title.

“Thank you,” he said, feeling his heart strain against his ribs.

“I KNOW WHAT I want to do with my life,” Enrique announced hours later.

He stood at the threshold of the library where he, Hypnos, and Zofia had agreed to meet before heading down to dinner. Zofia was poking at the fire, while Hypnos was curled up on an armchair, a glass of red wine in his hand.

Hypnos raised an eyebrow. “Make babies?”

“No!”

“You don’t want children?” asked Zofia.

“Not at this particular moment, no,” said Enrique.

Hypnos took a long sip of wine. “Steal babies.”

“Gods no!” said Enrique. “This has nothing to do with babies! Well, perhaps a little to do with children, but—”

“Now I’m confused,” said Zofia.

“I think I’d like to teach,” said Enrique before either Hypnos or Zofia could misconstrue his words any further. His words came out in a rush: “I like that scholarship inspires others to think for themselves and look at the world differently. I don’t want to simply try to change the world on my own by forcing my ideas on people … I’d much rather encourage them to think differently. I think that’s where lasting change will come from and … and I think I’d be a rather good professor.”

He waited for a moment, readying himself for their reactions.

“We knew that,” said Zofia.

“What?” spluttered Enrique.

“Truly, I cannot see why it has taken you so long to come to a conclusion that Zofia and I have already agreed would be the best use of your talents,” said Hypnos.

Enrique could not decide if he was more pleased or annoyed.