"Seven years!" She lets out a little laugh of surprise at that. "Will you be able to function outside academia at that point? I've never met an academic who's been researching for that long who hasn't long since crossed the point of no return."

It's fascinating, now that she thinks about it, that such different worlds as theirs could have similar systems of higher education. She peeks about his shoulder, looking to see if he's done with his rinsing yet.

"Would you start a family after you've graduated or would you look for a fellow scholar to settle with?" She knows full well he's not a Leon type to be flitting like a little butterfly looking to dip himself into every sweet flower that blossomed about him.