NOVPUBIt was a Saturday morning at Ichrite Academy.
As one of the signature buildings of Sage Academy, the Gu Ta Library still saw many students going in and out even on this weekend.
The interior of this grand structure is magnificent, with beautiful murals, intricate inlays and carvings. The towering stone pillars at the entrance support a temple-like edifice. Along the corridor, statues of eleven benevolent gods can be seen.
At this moment, two shadows were walking down this corridor leading to the central hall of the library.
"Are you upset that Sofia hasn’t come, Prince Aynor?"
The blonde girl asked, her eyes sparkling with a unique green hue, like pure and clear springs in the deep forest.
"...No, it’s just that I am confused," replied Aynor, who couldn’t fully hide his worry, shaking his head.
Today, Dean Loren had promised to meet them in the inner area of the Gu Ta Library at ten in the morning.
Aynor obviously didn’t want his mood to affect Carlen.
As per Professor Bolao’s request, his job was to take good care of his foreign Magic Artisan friend. If she could spend these two weeks at Ichrite happily and satisfactorily, Aynor’s task would be completed.
"Prince Aynor, sometimes you need to consider Sofia’s feelings more. It’s okay if I’m a bit put-out; you need to give her more attention," Carlen said, walking with lithe strides, a confident and resilient smile on her face.
Many seniors often said that she must have been a sensible and pity-inducing child since childhood.
"How can that be? As a prince of Hutton Kingdom, I naturally cannot allow a foreign friend to be treated unfairly," Aynor’s words were resolute.
At times like this, he thought of his dear friend, who was always fair, frank and admirable.
"Hehe."
Carlen smiled as if every little thing in life could bring her joy. Her favourite thing was to break up seemingly harmonious couples.
Love is a game of deceiving oneself or others.
All expectations of love stem from illusions.
And that illusion had shattered when she was very young.
Given a few more days, she believed she could completely captivate this prince, which was one of the great pleasures she found in her scholarly visit.
The two were chatting cordially, and as the light became brighter, they finally entered the central reading hall.
What came into view was the impressive dome ceiling, reaching twenty-four meters high, covered with alternating patterns in dark gold and sky blue, like a dance between stars in the night sky and dawn’s first light. The huge mirror in the center of the dome reflected everything in the hall.
This circular hall, solemn and awe-inspiring, was renovated from the original Hutton Kingdom Assembly, structured like a courtroom or parliament hall, with circles of long tables extending radially from the central space.
In the hall, dozens of peach wood curved tables were neatly arranged on the hard marble floor, each with a green table lamp. The distance between the tables was just right, giving a sense of layering without seeming crowded.
Around the hall, huge wood bookshelves with embedded glass stood tall, neatly arranged with approximately eighty-five thousand books. A gold plaque above each shelf noted its book domain—from "History" to "Art," from "Magic Text" to "Ecology and Nature."
"In the center of the library, a place that looks as much like a lecture area as a stage, is usually closed. It’s only used when there are public academic talks, public outreach, and other such occasions. Sometimes during large activities, those dozens of long tables are filled with all kinds of foreign guests," explained Aynor, pointing in the distance and introducing Carlen to the features of the Gu Ta Library.
Generally, the most frequently used space in this library is for a semi-public project like "Observation of the Original Slabs".
Whenever a student successfully passes Dean Loren’s test, they would be arranged here, and interested students and some scholars from the magic tower might come to watch.
Apart from the circular tables surrounding the base layer of the hall, the high level of the library is like an auditorium’s bleachers, a semi-circle wrap-around. From upstairs, one can not only overlook the entire main hall below but also feel the breath of knowledge and history from all directions.
"I see."
Carlen glanced at the large clock in the distance. They were about half an hour early for their appointment with Dean Loren.
Dean Loren was extremely busy with his official duties; he had squeezed out time for this meeting, and thus would unlikely arrive so soon.
However, Aynor and Carlen soon noticed someone standing right in the center of the central hall -
A man with a dignified posture, standing calmly like a chess piece.
His dress was immaculate; the detailed grid patterns on his collar and tie perfectly complemented his dark outer garment. His gentle gaze carried deep wisdom.
He was smiling warmly at the newcomers stepping into the hall.
"Prince Aynor, and Miss Carlen, you both are here."
Lanci’s moves, whether a gentle nod or the slight shift of his step, revealed an innate leadership quality. In this temple of knowledge, he was like a true tutor, waiting for the knowledge-thirsty students, ready to provide them with the best guidance and advice.
For a moment, Carlen was dazzled. If she hadn’t met Dean Loren, she would have mistaken the youth standing in front of her as the top leader of Sage Academy.
"Lanci, I heard that you were very busy after you just got back from the Shadow World, so I haven’t come to see you. I didn’t expect to see you so soon," said Prince Aynor.
Prince Aynor, who might have been a little unhappy before, felt all his gloom vanishing and left only happiness at the site of Lanci. He quickly paced towards Lanci.
"Prince Aynor, Miss Carlen, originally this time it should have been Miss Carlen to observe the slabs alone, but considering that Dean Loren will be very busy in the coming period, I accepted his request so that Dean Loren won’t have to take out time for me separately in the future," said Lanci.
Lanci made a slight bow to Aynor, who had approached from the opposite direction.
"Prince Aynor, you and Lanci... know each other?"
While trailing behind Prince Aynor, Carlen, surprised, turned to look up at him.
When she received the task from Dean Loren, she was told that because of the time constraints, she may have to observe the slabs with the Ichrite Academy students. Carlen had agreed to this, expressing her thanks and understanding.
Although there are some common features in the magic courses offered by Sage Academy and Magic Engineering College, Sage Academy also has a few students good at Magic Engineering.
Yet, Carlen couldn’t have imagined that the student she was supposedly jostling for a position, was Lanci, regarded as a formidable rival by their senior Adams at Arolan Academy in the third grade.
Apparently Lanci had defeated the Goddess of Destruction from Rebirth Church.
And while facing Adams’ challenge, he didn’t care about winning or losing, and casually let Adams win, which reminds you of Dean Loren’s generosity, it seemed as though he didn’t treat Adams as a real opponent at all.
"Yes, my close friend Lanci, the chief first grade student at Sage Academy." Prince Aynor introduced Lanci to Carlen with a smile.
Carlen may not be very familiar with Lanci. After all, since she came to Ichrite Academy, she has been constantly travelling between the Magic Engineering College and the Church of the Goddess of Destiny. She has not shown much interest in the combat professions of Sage Academy and Knight College. It seemed as if she was already tired of the combative environment created by the Royal Arolan Academy, characterized mostly by constant battle.
Aynor has wanted to brag about his buddy several times but restrained himself.
Professor Bolao had said, before the key step of Lanci’s Platinum Level review passed, they, the few people who knew about it should not publicize that Lanci became a quasi-platinum level Card Maker a week ago to avoid causing external obstruction. For Lanci’s sake, Aynor decided not to say much.
"Lanci, I’m pleased to meet you, I apologise for all the trouble caused by our senior Adams."
Carlen turned to Lanci and greeted him politely.
She was not interested in the disputes among these combat professions at all. It was too mindless, they should all just admire her and that would be sufficient.
"Not at all, if Adams has any needs, I will fulfill his needs to the best of my abilities, it is my responsibility and obligation," Lanci replied sincerely.
"No wonder you are Dean Loren’s outstanding student. I believe he must be pleased with your compromises as well."
Carlen had already observed Lanci in the short period of interaction.
His temperament and sincerity seemed real, indicating he might be an honest and straightforward person.
Thus, another observer today would not matter, and it won’t affect her control over Aynor.
"Prince Aynor…"
Just as Carlen was preparing to continue her conversation with Prince Aynor--
She found, to her surprise, that Prince Aynor and Lanci were arm in arm, as if she was forgotten and be left alone. They only wanted to chat with each other.
"..."
This embarrasses her greatly. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝔲𝔟.𝔠𝖔𝖒
How could her charm seem inferior to a man?!
Aynor was not even one-tenth as obsessed with Sofia.
Lanci looked helplessly at the awkward Carlen and smiled.
At that moment, it was like that time at the Cardmaker’s Association.
Carlen subconsciously squeezed her fists.
She was not sure if Lanci’s smile was really because of the prince or if it carried a hint of humiliation.
As if to tell her--
She could never be as close to the prince.
