NOVPUBThe horizon glowed as the morning sun rose high.
A few steps from the Sage Academy Dormitory building, Lanci and Talia heard the melodious tolling of a bell.
Today marked the first Monday since Talia had moved into Ichrite Academy.
"When we first came to Ichrite Academy, didn’t we also hear the bell just after arriving?"
Carrying the Little Black Cat, Talia walked beside him, both making their way to the Magic Engineering College for class.
At first, when she and Lanci came to Ichrite, their relationship wasn’t very good—they were merely in charge of being his guard and teacher.
Back then, she had accompanied the newly enrolled Lanci around Ichrite Academy for an entire circle. The two of them had to consult signs to find their way, until Lanci finished modifying his enrollment exam registration.
"I think it was exactly three in the afternoon, and I remember you really disliked me, always acting so cold."
After a moment’s thought, Lanci said with a hint of being aggrieved.
The iconic Red Brick Bell Tower rang out nine times before coming to a rest, heralding the arrival of nine o’clock in the morning.
They passed under the bell tower, which stood majestically amidst a vast expanse of meadow, surrounded by green trees. The sunlight filtered through the tree canopy, casting mottled shadows on the verdant grass in a landscape of interwoven light and shadow at dawn.
"It’s because you were always thinking of damnable things. I felt very uneasy about it back then."
Talia scoffed coldly with an air of displeasure.
She hadn’t expected that, more than a year later, she would be walking in the campus side by side with him again.
"But I remember in the beginning, you wouldn’t talk to me at all. From the time we left Nanwantina, you barely spoke a few words to me the entire way."
Lanci reminisced.
"I’ve always been the reticent type. Now that I’m a bit more familiar with you, I’m willing to talk a little more."
Talia shook her head with her typical aloofness.
"You two have been chatting non-stop lately, meow."
The Cat Boss couldn’t resist chiming in.
Although most of the time involved bickering.
However, as an observer, the Cat Boss was quite sure that previously, they wouldn’t even argue.
"That’s not true."
Both Lanci and Talia denied in unison.
As they chatted, they weaved through buildings of various architectural styles.
They walked past the Sage Academy Tower Library adorned with bas-reliefs and strolled through the classical charm of the pointed arches and windows of the Knight College arena.
Upon closer inspection, these were all paths they had trodden before.
And the more they passed buildings with plenty of glass screens, the more uncomfortable Talia felt.
"You’re going to lengthen my skirt for me."
Finally, Talia said to Lanci.
She always felt a chill on her thighs and, as a dignified Princess of Demon Clan, had never worn such a short skirt before.
And wearing stockings in the summer was just too hot.
"I said yesterday I’d modify your uniform, but you were worried that rash changes to Lan Fu’s design might reveal flaws. Now that we’ve left the building, you’re having second thoughts. So, should I change it or not?"
Lanci spread his hands helplessly, like a subcontractor who had been tormented thoroughly.
"..."
Talia was momentarily at a loss for words.
"So what do you think, do I look better in a short skirt or a long skirt? After all, you’re the designer and the pattern maker," she asked after walking a few steps.
The Cat Boss lifted its head to look at Lanci from Tata’s embrace.
There they go again, back to their bickering.
With this kind of question, just throw it back to the other person.
If Lanci said she liked short skirts, Tata would probably respond, "If you really want me to wear a short skirt, I’m not opposed to reluctantly accommodating you and playing the part of Lan Fu."
"These clothes are to be worn on you, and even if I want to make changes, I’d have to ask for your opinion first."
Lanci blinked and said candidly.
"I don’t mind, since most of the time I’m dressing for you to see, so you decide."
Talia wrapped her arms around herself and asked.
Now that they were inseparable, whatever she wore was practically always first seen by Lanci.
"Uh."
Truth be told, Lanci found Tata’s short skirt attire peculiarly attractive to him, but sometimes it was a little hard to keep from laughing.
"What on earth are you thinking?"
Talia’s gaze immediately fixed on Lanci, with a desire for slaughter beginning to surge.
"!"
Lanci realized that now their minds were connected, and she could sense every thought he had.
"Each has its merits, you’d look pretty good even if you paired a short skirt with sports shorts, since you’ve got the basics down."
Lanci paused to take a good look at her, analyzing seriously.
"...Stop staring."
She felt a bit uncomfortable subconsciously and averted her gaze,
"Forget it, we’ll be setting off in less than a week anyway. After we return to the Hutton Kingdom, I won’t play Lan Fu anymore, so for now, I’ll just make do with what I have. Changing Lan Fu’s outfit haphazardly might even anger her."
Talia quickened her pace, walking ahead on her own.
A few minutes of walking later.
The two of them crossed a garden and found the red-brick building at the edge of the Magic Engineering College, the Old Literature Building.
"Our workstation is on the second floor. With the Great Love Poet’s ID, you’ll have the authority to access the second floor’s Dean of the Magic Engineering College’s experimental workshop."
Lanci explained to Talia as he led her into the Old Literature Building.
"Hmm."
Talia and Lanci had agreed it was alright to tell Professor Bolao about Lan Fu’s current situation.
Otherwise, Talia would have to pretend to be Lan Fu in the workshop all day, which would be too difficult.
They ascended the staircase to the second floor and used their ID to open the door sealed with layers of Anti-Magic Steel.
Dean of the Magic Engineering College’s experimental workshop.
The entire massive laboratory was like a square maze in pursuit of knowledge and the limits of magic, with cold white light emanating from the ceiling fixtures, illuminating the magic instruments pieced together from steel, glass, and exotic metals.
Bookshelves seemed to form walls, connecting to the dome of the laboratory.
Talia followed Lanci through the bookshelf corridors scattered with record files and ancient magic books, and they reached the deepest part of the laboratory.
Professor Bolao was sitting at his desk, surrounded by diagrams of magic engineering parts and measuring tools. His slightly lifted pale hair occasionally twitched as he was fully immersed in his work on the desk. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
"Professor Bolao, we’re here."
Lanci greeted him.
"Hmm? Lanci, Lan Fu?"
Old man Bolao lifted his head, took off the silver-framed glasses perched on his nose, and placed them on the desk, smiling as though he had seen his grandchildren.
Although he hated being disturbed while working, his students were the exception.
Professor Bolao opened a drawer and tossed two candies towards the far end of the desk.
Every time Lanci and friends visited, he would give them selected Ichrite Academy snacks as a staff benefit. Each quarter, the school would send a special gift box to all faculty members.
Just then.
"Lan Fu, you today... wait, you’re not Lan Fu?"
Professor Bolao gradually noticed the figure by Lanci’s side and asked, frowning.
