Once Lanqi finished explaining all the details of the arrangement, Talia gave her assent without unnecessary hesitation.
"Starting tomorrow, I will teach you card crafting."
"Great. I'll also have an identity arranged for you at the manor before tomorrow. Would you prefer to be a maid or a manager—"
"Manager."
Before Lanqi could finish, Talia cut him off in an icy tone.
Lanqi nodded vigorously, not daring to provoke her.
Even though he felt he might be acting a bit spineless, and was certain Talia would not readily harm him now, there remained an absolute gap between their beings. In close quarters, she still made him feel a twinge of fear.
As the demonology books in this world stated: "Demons kill humans without reason, and without guilt."
If a whim struck them, they simply acted on it.
Though Talia appeared to behave no differently from a human at the moment, beneath the surface she had merely suppressed her violent, cruel nature in an attempt to blend into human society.
Even if his actions were already akin to asking a tiger for its hide, there was no need to needlessly antagonize this tigress and bury landmines for himself.
Indeed, if he was a kind little kitten, Talia was very much like a fierce tigress; even if the tiger had promised not to hurt the kitten, shivering beside it was only natural.
As these thoughts drifted through his mind, the corners of Lanqi's mouth unconsciously curved up in a faint, barely perceptible smirk.
This made Talia's brow furrow slightly.
She sensed once again that this human youth was thinking about something that deserved death.
Yet she had no evidence whatsoever.
It was purely an inexplicable intuition.
"Well then, please look after me from now on, Teacher Tata."
Lanqi's tone brightened considerably, an innocuous smile returning to his face.
The form of address seemed to make Talia a little uncomfortable, and as usual, she ignored him.
This time, however, she did not deny it, tacitly accepting their master-apprentice relationship.
***
A month and a half later.
On a morning when late summer was giving way to autumn, sunlight awoke the earth alongside the soft patter of dew.
The morning light brushed gently across the dark gray platform and cold metal tracks like a pale gold feather duster, imparting a touch of warmth.
The mana rail train station of the South Vantina frontier city-state bustled with commuters.
People on their hurried journeys parted ways or crossed paths here, embarking on brand-new travels.
The idle chatter of fellow travelers waiting for their trains, the parting words said to family and friends, and the announcements of arriving and departing trains over the broadcast blended together, forming the distinctive melody of this bustling space.
At one side of the platform, Butler Hans lifted the suitcase in his hand and offered it to Lanqi, who took it firmly.
"Thank you, Hans," Lanqi said with a smile.
"Take good care of yourself, Young Master Lanqi."
The butler's voice was as deep as ever, though a hint of gentle warmth softened its gravity.
Noe had traveled to other provinces again, leaving Hans to see the young master off in his father's stead.
With two weeks left before the start of the academy term, Lanqi and Talia had arrived at the station. Today, they would depart from the South Vantina frontier territory and head for the heart of the Hutton Kingdom—the royal capital, Ikerite.
Taking the mana rail train to the capital would take over a day.
After arriving, they would have three days of rest before the entrance exams began.
"Have a safe trip, Young Master Lanqi!"
The maid could hardly hide the concern on her face, her voice steeped in worry. "It would be best if you didn't return anytime soon. If Lord Noe discovers you made off with the family's ancient relic, he definitely won't let you off easily..."
Logically speaking, all of Lanqi's previous misdeeds in town combined had only caused Noe grief and vexation.
Yet if Noe found out that Lanqi had made away with the family heirloom, the Hymn of Compassion, he would surely be beside himself with fury.
Over the past two months and more, Lanqi's cheerful, easygoing manner had changed the household staff's perception of him, and they had gradually warmed to him. Francine, the maid who had been on the best terms with him from the start, no longer spoke to him with timid hesitation.
"It's fine, it's fine."
Lanqi's composed smile never wavered, as though it could set at ease anyone who cared for him.
If his old man, Noe, saw what kind of magic card he and Talia had crafted using the Hymn of Compassion, he would probably collapse into his chair in utter shock.
He wouldn't blame him at all.
Butler Hans shook his head with a casual chuckle. Listening to the conversation between Lanqi and Francine from the side, he could roughly guess the reason behind the young master's complete lack of fear.
He then turned his gaze toward Talia, who stood behind Lanqi in a completely transformed outfit.
Her tailored coat was fitted neatly over a dress, a silk tie tied impeccably beneath the collar, lending her an air of elegance and discipline.
Having shed her filthy vagrant rags, Talia was as dazzling as a newly polished gem.
"Miss Tata, I leave the young master in your care," Hans said sincerely.
When he had first tracked Talia down based on Lanqi's drawing, Butler Hans had been utterly astonished that his foolish young master could take a fancy to such a formidable and dangerous woman.
Yet seeing how harmoniously the two got along, Hans had gradually set his mind at ease.
"..."
Talia did not reply, offering only a slight nod.
Though she appeared similar in age to Lanqi, her composed, icy aura made her seem far more mature than him.
Since she had accepted payment, she would strictly honor the terms of their agreement; even without the butler's plea, she would have done so.
Whether it was protecting Lanqi from being killed or serving as his teacher.
In that brief moment of quiet, a faint silhouette accompanied by a whistle appeared at the far end of the tracks.
Soon, the vibrations through the rails intensified into a low, rumbling hum. The train's outline grew clearer by the second, its metallic surface gleaming in the morning sun.
The headlamp on the locomotive brightened, piercing through the layers of thin morning mist to guide the iron behemoth toward its stop.
Lanqi took out his ticket to glance at it, taking note of the seats he and Talia would need to find shortly.
Just as they were about to say their final goodbyes, Butler Hans seemed to recall something. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he remarked, "Come to think of it, what a pity Miss Tata didn't get a chance to see that portrait in your room before departing, young master..."
"*Cough, cough!*"
Before the mischief-loving butler could finish declaring how great a pity it was, Lanqi hastily coughed twice to cut him off.
Lanqi was certain that while the butler harbored no malice, he was up to no good whatsoever!
"What painting?" Talia asked, turning toward Lanqi upon hearing her name mentioned.
Lanqi panicked internally, yet maintained a calm, steady expression as he replied unhurriedly, "Just a portrait of a poor, pitiful old woman. An early work of mine. Though Hans and Francine seem quite fond of it..."
Right at that moment, the train, banded in dark gray and brownish red, roared into the station. The screech of the brakes mingling with the grind of wheel against rail drowned out the rest of Lanqi's words.
The train slowed to a halt, coming to a complete stop.
Seeing that it had nothing to do with her, Talia lost interest in the topic and looked away from Lanqi.
Warm lights shone from within the windows, illuminating the faces of passengers inside the carriages. The doors slid open, releasing a cool breeze that swept over the platform.
The travelers waiting on the platform began to move toward the doors.
Amidst the bustling crowd, Lanqi breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness his wits had carried him through. The next time he came back, he would definitely hide that painting somewhere secure—he could never let Talia discover that the poor, pitiful old woman had been drawn of her.
"Well, I'm off then."
Lanqi smiled and waved, bidding a final farewell to the butler and maid before turning to step into the train carriage.
Chapter 13