This was Hal's first visit to the Empress' office within the Royal Academy. The last time he met her, over a year ago, it had been at her study in the Imperial Palace.
In all honesty, there was not much difference between her study in the Imperial Palace and her office in the Royal Academy... The only really notable difference that was not in the architecture of the room was that her study in the Palace had been more grandiose.
There had been jewels and artifacts while this office was just chock full of books.
Hal's eyes were first on the Empress who was staring a hole into him and then, his attention quickly shifted to a phenomenon a little to the side.
Melinda had her legs crossed and was levitating about two feet above the ground with her eyes closed and a look of serene peace on her face.