Crabgrass
Leaving the dogs for another day, he will knock politely upon the door. Hoping someone less saddened by fortunes comes to the door.
"Hello Sir" (Madam, Miss, young man as appropriate),
"Excuse my late hour enquiry. I am Crabgrass, a minor acolyte and prestidigitator new to the Keep and I wondered in regard to the activity here.
Is the school just for children or are other sessions open for scholarly learning. I must confess I only know of Rev Abercrombie, though he appears a dour taskmaster to be mentored by."
Crabgrass: Charisma 6 vs check [1d20]=7
He probably waffles a bit, not really explaining his interest to well. But if the school has books & ledgers or a library (not 'Faerie Stories' or 'Dick & Dora go on a Picnic', more History of the Region, Biography of Cave of Chaos explorers, The Keep Wars history, etc), he would be interested to know of them.
Plus, at the very least, as he has found any Mage Tower, the school might have inks, quills and parchments he could source to complement his own.
In return I have a dwindling amount of silvers but could reasonably step in to teach a lesson or too; science of the arcane, religion, even languages.