Chapter 208
Chapter 208
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 208 – Are You Summoning Lan QiMay 22, 2024 – Author: Pitiful Xixi
At the same time, on the other side of Ikerite Academy, in the Magitek-Engineering faculty area—
The quiet of the afternoon was broken by the chatter and laughter of students across campus. Many had just finished classes and walked out of the main building, while others, who didn’t have lessons in the afternoon, were picnicking on the grass or lazily lying under trees to enjoy this brief time of rest.
Past the garden and lawns by the old humanities building at the edge of the Magitek-Engineering faculty, not far away stood the iron-tower-shaped glass-walled main building.
The Magitek-Engineering main building had five floors. Sunlight slanted in through the corridors, washing them in a thick, warm glow.
The heavy door to the dean’s office creaked open. A light-haired, green-eyed girl stepped out with a faint smile on her face.
“How did it go?”
Waiting in the fifth-floor corridor was Prince Ainor, with Miss Sophia, the count’s daughter, faithfully standing by his side as always.
For the past several days, the professor, Borau, had tasked the two with guiding Karen around campus.
The pair weren’t just excellent students of the faculty—both top of their class, impeccable in both conduct and academics—but were also very familiar with the Royal Capital’s Cardmaster Association branch.
And besides, Professor Borau often felt the two of them seemed too free, always sticking together, yet after a year or two, nothing between them had progressed at all—enough to make anyone anxious.
“No problem. Professor Borau said Dean Loren will arrange a time this weekend for me to observe the Primordial Tablet of Wind.”
Karen, the second-year gold-ranked cardmaster from the Royal Yaloran Academy’s academic delegation, spoke with a gentle smile.
That was her main purpose for coming—to observe the Primordial Tablet of Wind.
Though that brain-dead senior, Adams, had tried to make trouble, luckily Dean Loren of the Sage Faculty was a broad-minded person and had taken good care of her.
The task he gave her wasn’t difficult—one of the most routine, in fact. She only needed to craft a number of high-quality magic cards for the clergy of the Goddess of Fate’s capital branch.
Karen managed to finish it in under a week.
Of course, that was also thanks to her ability—without the skills of a gold-ranked cardmaster, it wouldn’t have been possible to complete so easily.
“Senior Ainor, Sophia, thank you for taking care of me these past few days. I’d like to invite you both to join me when I observe the Primordial Tablet of Wind, as my way of repaying you.”
Karen bowed slightly, expressing gratitude.
Normally, because Dean Loren had limited time, if someone was granted the rare chance to observe the tablet, they could also bring trusted peers along.
Tablet observation wasn’t something that could be wrapped up quickly. Loren needed to carve out at least two free hours, which was hard lately since he had become unusually busy. In fact, this arrangement was only possible because Karen would soon return to the Yaloran Kingdom, so he rescheduled some prior commitments to make room.
“No thanks, I appreciate the thought. I’ll ask Dean Loren myself one day for a chance to observe the tablet.”
Sophia answered firmly.
She didn’t want handouts.
Though she admitted Karen’s talent surpassed hers, she knew that with time she too would reach the gold rank.
And besides, she had come to terms with things.
After meeting Lan Qi at the Cardmaster Association, she realized—after seeing a monster like him—nothing else could surprise her.
“I see… then what about you, Prince Ainor…”
Karen’s voice faltered as she lowered her head.
“He’s not going either.”
Sophia cut her off decisively.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t know inviting Prince Ainor would make you upset, Sophia…”
Karen’s voice grew softer, as though realizing she had crossed a line.
“Someone of my plain background… perhaps I never should have gotten so close to you both in the first place…”
“That’s not true! Sophia’s like that with everyone, it’s not aimed at you.”
Ainor quickly tried to ease things, worried Karen might cry.
Worse, it made it look like he and Sophia were bullying a poor foreign commoner girl under the shield of their noble status!
“...Ainor, you!”
Sophia’s brows shot up, her fists clenching tight.
If only this prince could shut his mouth!
“Prince Ainor… would you come with me? I feel so scared here at Ikerite, all alone. My seniors who came with me aren’t magitek-engineers… among everyone here, you’re the one I trust most.”
Karen pleaded softly, tugging at Ainor’s sleeve.
“This…”
Ainor hesitated, torn, glancing nervously between Karen and Sophia.
Sophia’s eyes seemed to warn him: Don’t you dare go.
But if he refused, it would look like he was despising Karen for her low birth.
The longer he wavered, the more agitated Sophia grew, until she stomped her foot.
“What are you hesitating for? If you want to go, then go!”
She snapped, fists clenched, her voice high and sharp.
She’d had enough these past few days!
“Sophia…”
Ainor froze, stunned by her outburst.
He had no idea what was going on.
And then—
“So it’s true… Sophia, you really hate me… I should just go back to Yaloran sooner…”
Karen’s tears began spilling down her cheeks.
“Karen, no, you’re misunderstanding!”
Ainor flailed, panicked.
If rumors spread that Sophia bullied Karen, it would be a disaster—he couldn’t let Sophia be branded a villainess.
“Sophia, why are you targeting Karen like this…”
He turned toward Sophia, anxious.
He really didn’t understand why Sophia had suddenly snapped.
Even last time, at the Cardmaster Association, in front of Lan Qi, she hadn’t lost her composure like this.
“Targeting her? You idiot! Why don’t you just be with her then! I hate you most of all!!”
Already fuming, Sophia couldn’t stop the flood of hurt, and with tears spilling, she screamed the words out.
And instantly regretted it.
She saw the stunned, hurt look in Ainor’s eyes—like her words had cut him deeply.
Then, she caught sight of Karen peeking from behind Ainor’s shoulder, gazing at her with a faint, pitying look.
As if mocking her: Your prince? Within easy reach.
With Karen’s charm, even a royal prince was nothing. No man in this academy was beyond her grasp.
Sophia’s dark violet hair gleamed under the sun, catching everyone’s eye. But her proud eyes were now blurred with tears, her lips trembling.
She tried to suppress it, wiping quickly at her eyes, but the tears wouldn’t stop, running faster than she could hold them back.
“Waaahhh…”
Finally, Sophia broke down in sobs.
She turned and ran down the corridor, her crying echoing alongside her frantic footsteps.
From the fifth floor all the way to the first, her hurried steps mixed with gasps and sobs, until she herself no longer knew where she had ended up—only that she had escaped far enough from Ainor.
She collapsed onto a stone stairway, burying her face in her hands, shoulders trembling, tears soaking her palms.
Her long dark hair fell over her shoulders, tumbling down, while sunlight, rustling leaves, and drifting petals were the only company around her.
Sophia sat under the old humanities building, crying helplessly.
“Dear Goddess… please, send someone to help me against that awful woman…”
Her voice broke with sobs, her whole figure like a weeping doll.