Are You Summoning Lanqi?

At the same time, on the other side of Ikerite Academy, in the School of Magic Engineering's district. The quiet of the afternoon was broken by the chatter and laughter of students across the campus. Many had just finished their classes and were walking out from beneath the main building, while others who had no afternoon classes picnicked on the lawns or lounged lazily in the shade of the trees, enjoying this brief respite. Passing through the gardens and lawn beside the Old Liberal Arts Building at the edge of the School of Magic Engineering, one could see not far away a tower-like glass curtain-wall structure—the main building of the School of Magic Engineering. On the fifth floor of the main building, sunlight slanted into the corridor, washing the entire hallway in rich, warm hues. The heavy door to the dean's office opened, and a light-haired, green-eyed girl stepped out with a smile on her face. "How did it go?" Prince Ainuoer, waiting in the fifth-floor corridor, asked. Beside him stood Miss Sophia, the count's daughter, who was practically inseparable from him. Over the past few days, the task of guiding Karen around campus had been entrusted to the two of them by Professor Borao. Not only were they top students in the School of Magic Engineering, excelling in both conduct and academics, but they were also thoroughly familiar with the capital's branch of the Card Makers Association. Besides, Professor Borao always felt the two of them were quite idle, spending all day together without making any romantic progress for a year or two—it was enough to drive anyone mad with impatience. "Everything went smoothly. Professor Borao said Dean Loren will arrange a time this weekend for me to view the Original Slate," Karen, a second-year Gold-rank card maker from the Aloran Royal Academy's academic delegation, said with a smile. Her primary purpose in coming here was to study the Original Slate - Wind. Even though that brain-dead senior Adams had made a mess, fortunately Dean Loren of the School of Sages was generous and took good care of her. The task Dean Loren had assigned her wasn't difficult—in fact, it was the most standard kind: she only needed to craft a certain number of high-quality magic cards for the clergy at the capital's branch of the Church of the Goddess of Fate. After arriving at Ikerite Academy, she had accomplished it in nearly a week. Naturally, this was also thanks to Karen's own abilities; had she not been a truly capable Gold-rank card maker, she could never have completed it so effortlessly. "Senior Ainuoer, Sophia, thank you so much for taking care of me these past few days. When I go to view the Original Slate - Wind, I would like to bring you both along as a token of my gratitude." Karen gave a slight curtsy to the two of them, speaking gratefully. Generally speaking. Since Dean Loren rarely had time to spare to grant opportunities to view the Original Slate, the viewer was allowed, if they wished, to bring along familiar peers. For a magic artificer, studying the slate was not something finished in a moment. Loren had to schedule at least two free hours in his itinerary. What's more, for some reason Dean Loren had seemed especially busy in recent days; even this arrangement had been pushed through with great reluctance, only clearing time from his original schedule because Karen was due to return to the Aloran Kingdom in just a few days. "No, thank you. I appreciate the thought, but I will earn my own chance from Dean Loren to view the slate in the future," Sophia replied decisively. She had no need for handouts. Although she admitted her card-crafting talent was inferior to Karen's, she only needed time; reaching Gold-rank card maker was merely a matter of when, not if. Besides, she had already gained a broader perspective. Ever since seeing Lanqi at the Card Makers Association last time, no monster could surprise her anymore. "Is that so... What about Your Highness Ainuoer...?" Karen lowered her head, her voice trailing off meekly. "He isn't going either," Sophia said firmly. "I'm sorry... I didn't realize inviting Your Highness Ainuoer would upset you, Sophia..." Karen grew even more timid, as if realizing she had made an offensive request. "Someone of my ordinary background probably shouldn't have gotten so close to you from the start..." "Not at all. Sophia is like this with everyone; she isn't singling you out." Ainuoer hurried to apologize. He felt Karen was practically on the verge of tears because of Sophia. Besides, it looked as though he and Sophia were using their noble status to bully a talented commoner girl from another kingdom! "...Ainuoer, you!" Sophia's eyebrows shot up, and her fists clenched hard. If only this prince were mute! "Then, Your Highness Ainuoer, would you accompany me? I'm so scared being all alone here at Ikerite Academy. None of the upperclassmen who came with me are magic artificers, and in all of Ikerite Academy, you're the one I trust the most." Karen caught the cuff of Ainuoer's sleeve, her voice carrying a plaintive plea. "Well..." Caught in a dilemma, Ainuoer nervously shifted his gaze back and forth between Karen's and Sophia's expressions. He could tell Sophia's eyes seemed to warn him: don't you dare go. Yet if he refused, it would make him look like a prince abusing his status and looking down on Karen's commoner background. Yet seeing Ainuoer's agonizing indecision only stoked Sophia's irritation, until she stamped her foot. "What's there to deliberate? Go if you want to go!" Furious, Sophia shut her eyes, clenched her fists, and shouted shrilly. She had endured more than enough over the past few days! "Sophia..." Ainuoer stared blankly at Sophia. He had no idea what was happening. Who could have predicted what came next? "As I thought... Sophia really hates me... I should just go back to the Aloran Kingdom early..." Having been yelled at, Karen's tears began to stream down her cheeks. "Karen, no, you've definitely misunderstood something." Ainuoer became even more flustered. It would be awful if rumors spread that Sophia was bullying Karen; he didn't want Sophia saddled with the reputation of a villainess noble daughter. "Sophia, why are you picking on Karen...?" Ainuoer looked at Sophia, asking anxiously. He truly couldn't fathom why Sophia was suddenly so angry. Even back at the Card Makers Association, in front of Lanqi, she had never lost her temper like this. "Me? Picking on her? You idiot, why don't you just end up with her, then?! I hate you the most!!" Already seething, Sophia felt an overwhelming wave of aggrieved sorrow rise up at Ainuoer's words, and with tears spilling from the corners of her eyes, she screamed those words out. Yet. The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Opening her eyes, Sophia saw Ainuoer's stunned expression; he looked terribly hurt. It was also at that moment that Sophia noticed Karen, hiding behind Ainuoer, looking straight at her with a hint of pity in her eyes. As if mocking Sophia—your prince is within easy reach. With Karen's charm, even a prince of a kingdom could be wrapped around her finger without effort; there wasn't a man in this school she couldn't conquer. Sophia's dark hair, shimmering with a violet sheen, caught the midday sun brilliantly, but her eyes were reddening, those usually proud eyes welling with tears. "I..." Her voice trembled, her lips twitching faintly. Although she tried desperately to conceal it, the heartbreak showed clearly on her face. Sniffling hard, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, yet more poured forth uncontrollably. "Waaah..." At last, Sophia broke down, weeping aloud. She turned and ran down the corridor, repeatedly wiping away tears with her slender hands, but the tears fell like broken strings of pearls, pattering onto the floor one by one. Faculty and staff from the School of Magic Engineering stopped in their tracks at the sight, staring in bewilderment as Sophia rushed past, having no idea what had happened. Sophia ran all the way from the fifth floor down to the ground floor, her footsteps and ragged breaths echoing through the empty stairwells, mingled with intermittent sobs. In the end, she didn't even know where she had run to—she only knew she was far enough from Ainuoer that he wouldn't see her. Collapsing weakly onto the stone steps, she buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shuddering as tears soaked the backs of her hands. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulders, draping downward. Around her lingered only bright sunshine, leaves rustled by the breeze, and falling flower petals. Sophia sat at the foot of the Old Liberal Arts Building, weeping helplessly. "Oh Goddess, please send someone to help me deal with this wicked woman." Her voice was choked with sobs, crying her eyes out.