NOVPUBMeanwhile, at another part of the Ichrite Academy, within the Magic Engineering College area.
The afternoon’s tranquility was broken by students’ chatter and laughter from the campus. Many students had just finished their lessons and were exiting the main building, while others who didn’t have afternoon classes were picnicking on the lawn or lazily lying under the shade of trees, relishing this brief time of rest.
Passing the garden and lawn beside the Old Literature Building at the boundary of the Magic Engineering College, the iron-tower-like glass curtain wall building situated not far away is the Main Building of the Magic Engineering College.
On the fifth floor of the main building, the afternoon sunlight slanted into the hallway, spreading warm tones all over the corridor.
The solid door of the dean’s office was pushed open, and a light-haired, green-eyed girl walked out with a smile on her face.
"How did it go?"
Prince Aynor, who was waiting in the fifth floor corridor, asked.
Standing next to him was Sofia, the Earl’s daughter, who was always by his side.
Over the past few days, the task of guiding Carlen around the campus had been entrusted to them by Professor Bolao.
They were not only outstanding students of the Magic Engineering College but also very familiar with the Cardmaker’s Association branch in the Royal Capital.
Moreover, Professor Bolao always felt that they had a lot of free time, always hanging out together, but there had been no progress in the past year or two, which was quite exasperating.
"No problem, Professor Bolao said that Dean Loren will arrange a time for me to observe the Original Slabs this weekend," said Carlen, a second-year, Gold-level Card Maker from the Arolan Royal Academy Academic Visiting Team, with a smile.
The main purpose of her visit this time was to observe [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind].
Despite some trouble caused by the foolhardy senior Adams, Dean Loren of the Sage Academy, who was very generous, had taken good care of her.
The task that Dean Loren had given her wasn’t difficult; it was effectively the most standard one. All she needed to do was to create a certain number of high-quality Magic Cards for the clergy of the Royal Capital branch of the Church of the Goddess of Destiny.
After arriving at Ichrite Academy, she had accomplished this in just one week.
Of course, this also had to do with Carlen’s abilities. If it weren’t for a Gold-level Card Maker with substantial skill like her, it would not have been possible to complete the job so effortlessly.
"Prince Aynor, Sofia, thank you for taking care of me these past few days. I would like you to accompany me when I go to observe the [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind] as a token of my appreciation," said Carlen, bowing slightly in gratitude.
Usually,
because Dean Loren doesn’t have many opportunities to arrange for people to observe the Original Slabs, if the observer is willing, they can also bring along classmates they’re close with.
The observation of the slabs by Magic Artisans is not something that can be finished in a short while. Dean Loren needs to arrange at least two hours of his schedule. Recently, Dean Loren seems to have become particularly busy for some reason, so even this arrangement was quite forced. Considering that Carlen would be returning to the Arolan Kingdom in a few days, he had canceled some of his originally planned work to spare the time.
"No need. I appreciate your kind gesture, but I will find Dean Loren myself for the opportunity to observe the slab," replied Sofia decisively.
She did not need such hand-me-downs.
Even though she admitted her cardmaking talent might not be on par with Carlen’s, she only needed time. Becoming a Gold-level Card Maker was just a matter of when, not if.
Moreover, she had already come to terms with it.
Ever since she ran into Lanci at the Cardmaker’s Association, she felt nothing was too extraordinary anymore.
"In that case...what about you, Your Highness Aynor..." said Carlen, her head drooping and her voice sounding a bit weak.
"He won’t go either," said Sofia with determination.
"I’m sorry...I didn’t realize that inviting Prince Aynor would upset you, Sofia..." Carlen seemed even more timid, as though she had proposed something offensive.
"Maybe it wasn’t appropriate for someone of my common status to get too close to you from the beginning..."
"That’s not the case, Sofia is like this to everyone, she’s not singling you out," hurriedly apologized Prince Aynor, feeling as though Sofia had almost reduced Carlen to tears.
And it made them look as if he and Sofia were using their noble status to bully a talented commoner girl from another country!
"...Aynor, you!" Sofia raised her eyebrows upon hearing this and clenched her fists.
If only the prince was mute!
"Then, Prince Aynor, would you be willing to accompany me to observe the slab? I am quite scared here at Ichrite Academy on my own, and the older students who came with me are not Magic Artisans. You are the only one at Ichrite Academy that I truly trust,"
Carlen tugged at Aynor’s sleeve with a hint of pleading in her eyes.
"This..."
Aynor looked uneasy, constantly watching the expressions of both Carlen and Sofia.
He felt that Sofia’s gaze seemed to be warning him not to go.
But if he refuses, it would seem like he, as a prince, is being arrogant and looking down on Carlen’s status.
However, watching Aynor’s struggle only made Sofia more irritated, to the point that she stomped on the ground.
"What are you hesitating about, if you want to go then just go!"
Sofia closed her eyes and clenched her fists in a fit of anger, shouting out loudly.
She had had enough over these past few days!
"Sofia..."
Aynor looked at Sofia stunned.
He has absolutely no idea what’s going on.
Who would have known, the next instant-
"As I thought... Sofia really hates me... Maybe I should return to the Arolan Kingdom soon..."
After being scolded, Carlen’s tears started flowing out uncontrollably.
"Carlen, no, you must have misunderstood something."
Aynor felt even more helpless.
If rumors spread about Sofia bullying Carlen, it would be disastrous. He didn’t want Sofia to become a notorious bully.
"Sofia, why are you picking on Carlen..."
Aynor turned to Sofia and asked anxiously.
He really couldn’t understand why Sofia would suddenly become so angry.
Even last time at the Cardmaker’s Association and in front of Lanci, she hadn’t erupted like this.
"I’m picking on her? You idiot, just be with her then! I hate you the most!!"
Sofia was already furious, and after hearing Aynor’s words, her grief welled up uncontrollably, and she burst into tears while shouting these words.
However.
The moment she shouted, she immediately regretted it.
Sofia looked at Aynor’s baffled expression, he seemed to be considerably hurt.
At that moment, Sofia noticed Carlen hiding behind Aynor was staring at her, with a hint of sympathy in her eyes.
It was as though she was taunting Sofia—your prince, is easily within my grasp.
With her charm, even a prince could be easily won over, there isn’t a man in this school that she couldn’t get.
Sofia’s shiny deep-colored hair with a violet sheen under the afternoon sun was exceptionally eye-catching. Just as her eyes began to redden, her usually proud eyes were filled with tears.
"I…"
Her voice trembled, her lips quivered slightly. Despite trying to hide it, her sadness was still clearly revealed in her facial expression. She sniffed hard, then wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes, but more tears continued to flow from her eyes.
"Waaaa..."
Finally, Sofia burst into tears.
She turned around and ran along the corridor, continuously wiping her tears with her delicate hands, but the tears kept falling to the floor like beads that had fallen off a string.
The faculty of the Magic Engineering College saw this scene, all of them stopped and were stunned as they watched Sofia rush away, unsure of what had happened.
Sofia ran from the fifth floor all the way to the first. The sounds of her footsteps and panting echoed in the empty corridor, mixed with her occasional sobs.
Eventually, she couldn’t even tell where she had run to, only knowing that it was far enough away from Aynor, where he wouldn’t be able to see her. She sat weakly on the stone steps, her hands covering her face tightly, her shoulders shaking, the back of her hands wet with tears.
Her dark hair scattered over her shoulders fluttered in the wind. The only things around her were the brilliant sunlight, the leaves rustling in the wind, and the fallen petals.
Sofia sat beneath the old literature building, crying helplessly.
"Lady Goddess, please, send someone to help me deal with this bad woman."
Her voice was sobbing, crying like a baby.
