It was just after noon when Luolan returned to the manor. The sunlight spilled over the high walls, painting the corridor in a warm hue. He gently leaned the pile of supplies he had bought against the living room wall and rubbed his aching shoulders.
A sweet, cloying aroma drifted from the kitchen. Almost the moment he set the items down, the dining room door creaked open.
Clovie peeked out from behind the door, her hair tied back and a flour-dusted apron tied around her waist. The moment she saw Luolan, her eyes curved into two crescent moons.
“You’re back!”
The girl’s voice was filled with obvious joy. Clovie waved a hand at him, her fingertips still stained with frosting.
“Come quickly and try the little cakes I just learned to make from Elia.”
Luolan looked in the direction she was pointing. Through the half-open door, he could see a plate of pastries adorned with berries sitting on the long dining table.
Elia stood with her back to the door, carefully slicing the last piece of cake into small bites with a knife. Hearing the commotion behind her, she turned around and gave Luolan a slight bow.
“Welcome back, Mr. Luolan.”
Elia’s voice was gentle. Her gaze fell on the bags in the corner before quickly shifting back to Luolan’s face.
He pulled the magic crystal transaction card from his pocket and walked over to return it to Elia. The head maid took the card and looked up, speaking with a hint of teasing:
“The money inside… surely Mr. Luolan hasn’t spent it all?”
“Of course not. Do I really look like someone who would spend money recklessly?”
While Clovie dragged Elia back to study how to further optimize the cakes, Luolan turned to the pile of purchases by the wall and began to sort through them.
He placed the magic crystals into storage boxes based on their attributes and purity. Various casting materials were wrapped in moisture-proof packaging, each labeled with its name and date. As for the expensive “recommended equipment” required by the academy manual, he had only bought one set for Clovie. For himself, Luolan felt he likely wouldn’t need those things.
After all, the current finances of the Lufinias household couldn’t withstand any unnecessary extravagance.
Once the last portion of processed herbal powder was sealed away, Luolan returned the organized boxes to their place. He then went upstairs to his room and let out a long breath as he flopped onto his bed.
He wasn’t in a hurry to contact the Zaid Brotherhood.
The situation in the capital was delicate right now, and the aftermath of the last riot had yet to fade. Acting rashly at a time like this would likely lead to trouble.
Many things were like that — the more rushed one felt, the easier it was to make mistakes.
Previously, his nerves had been stretched too tight because of the Scripture and the academy entrance tests. Now was the perfect time to relax during this brief window of leisure before the start of the term at Altralas Academy.
Back when he received the Scripture, the Headmaster had set such a massive stage for him. Luolan wasn’t naive enough to think he would have a peaceful life at Altralas Academy once classes began.
The name “Glow Class” sounded incredibly impressive, a ultimate hall that people fought tooth and nail to enter. Correspondingly, what awaited him there would surely be pressure and a price far exceeding that of an ordinary student.
Thinking of this, Luolan felt it was necessary to take the initiative to visit the Headmaster after the term started. Even if he couldn’t fish any substantive information out of him, he at least needed to figure out the man’s attitude toward him.
***
Tossing those troubling thoughts to the back of his mind for now, Luolan changed out of his outdoor clothes. He put on a soft, comfortable knit sweater and went downstairs to the dining room.
He enjoyed the quiet afternoon while discussing with Clovie how to make the little cakes taste even better.
The girl pinched a small piece of cake base and tasted it carefully. On the other side, Elia had finished tidying the baking tools and was holding a small booklet, quietly calculating the dinner menu.
“How is it?” Luolan walked over and naturally took a bite of another cake. “…I think you could add a bit more strawberry. This is indeed a little too sweet.”
Clovie looked up at him.
“You think so too? Elia keeps saying this ratio is a classic… but I think even classics can be improved.”
Hearing this, Elia looked up from her menu booklet. She gave Clovie a somewhat helpless look before turning to Luolan and shaking her head gently.
Perhaps eating too many sweets had made her drowsy, as Clovie let out a small yawn and rubbed her eyes while heading upstairs.
“I’m a little sleepy… I’ll go up and sleep for a while. Elia, remember to call me for dinner.”
Elia put down her booklet and watched Clovie walk somewhat unsteadily up the stairs until her figure disappeared around the corner.
The dining room fell silent once more.
Luolan looked at Elia’s lowered profile and spoke tentatively:
“Elia, later… do you want to head to the garden for some activity? Like before.”
Elia’s finger paused slightly as it turned a page of the menu. She looked up at Luolan, a trace of a smile flitting through her usually calm eyes.
“I’m afraid I must disappoint you, Mr. Luolan.” Elia shook her head gently. “As you can see, I still have many things to do.”
Catching the faint, almost imperceptible flicker of disappointment in Luolan’s eyes, the head maid tilted her head slightly and glanced toward the ajar door of the living room.
“However, Yuna should be quite free. If you really want to stretch your muscles, why not go and encourage her to get up and move around? Lying down all the time isn’t good for the body.”
Luolan’s mouth twitched involuntarily at those words.
To be honest, Luolan didn’t really want to seek out Yuna as a practice partner. Although in terms of magical attainment, she would be at the very top even if thrown into a pile of geniuses at Altralas Academy.
The biggest problem was actually her attitude. Either she was as dismissive as if she hadn’t woken up, making it feel like punching a cloud, or she would lazily toss out high-level magic with zero interest, putting Luolan down cleanly and efficiently so she could get back to doing nothing.
Luolan had experienced the frustration of being crushed by pure strength more than once.
Left with no other choice, the young man gently pushed open the living room door. The embers in the fireplace still gave off a faint warmth.
The first thing he saw was a fair, slender hand resting on the arm of the sofa, fingertips pinching half a potato chip.
Looking up, he saw Yuna curled up in the large sofa with no concern for her image. She was wearing a loose housecoat, her hair scattered messily across the throw pillows, and her other hand was flipping through a romance novel with a gaudy cover.
Hearing footsteps, Yuna didn’t even bother to fully open her eyes. She merely waved the bag of chips in Luolan’s direction.
“No thanks,” Luolan said, shaking his head. He sat down in a single armchair on the other side of the sofa. “Eating too much of that makes it easy to gain weight.”
“…What are you talking about?”
Yuna slowly sat up, stuffed a chip into her mouth, and licked her fingertips.
“I’m a Mage, Mr. Luolan. Thinking a few chips could make me gain weight is nothing but a pipe dream.”
Luolan scratched his head, feeling a bit helpless. After a fierce internal struggle between two tiny versions of himself, he spoke in the most level tone possible.
“Um… are you free later? I’d like to… well, practice some magic. School is starting soon, and I’m feeling a bit unprepared.”
Yuna didn’t refuse immediately. She dumped the last of the chip crumbs into her mouth, patted her hands, and then gracefully flipped over, landing her bare feet on the soft carpet.
The lapels of her robe fell open slightly with her movement, revealing her elegant collarbones and a small patch of pale skin beneath. Yuna didn’t care at all, simply stretching her arms wide. Her slender waist and soft curves were fully visible under the robe.
“Trying to cram because school is starting?” the girl said, tilting her head. “I suppose that makes sense. Though I don’t know what was wrong with the Headmaster’s brain when he handed you a Glow Class emblem… if we’re only talking about magical attainment, you’re still far off.”
Luolan pursed his lips.
“Thanks for that. I have at least that much self-awareness.”
Yuna nodded, seemingly missing the self-deprecation in his tone.
“Let’s go to the back garden. There’s not enough room here. If I accidentally break Sister’s favorite furniture, I can’t afford to pay for it.”
Luolan followed silently behind her through the corridor. Just before pushing open the garden door, he awakened the Little Iron Book in his consciousness and took a quick scan of the record regarding Yuna.
Currently, his synchronization rate with Yuna was around 16%, still a long way from the threshold needed to activate “Conceptual Faction.”
Seeing this, Luolan sighed softly in his mind.
In the garden, the winter sun was cold and bright.
Yuna stood in the center of a clearing, turning back to look at him with her arms crossed. Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, revealing her pale forearms.
Then again, this slow synchronization rate wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Compared to Ophelia’s magic circuits, which leaned toward the Holy element and direct offense, Yuna’s magical talent exhibited a quality geared toward understanding and construction — even if she usually used that talent to slack off and eat snacks.
For Luolan, this deeper perception of mana and more efficient usage would undoubtedly align better with his characteristics as an Arcanist. The improvements it brought would likely be even more significant.
The only thing was… all of this was predicated on Luolan surviving long enough under Yuna’s tutelage to reach the required synchronization rate.
He had deep doubts about that.
Perhaps Yuna was in an exceptionally good mood today, or perhaps some lazy nerve in the genius Mage had finally clicked into place. Luolan noticed that she was significantly more serious than usual.
There was no dismissiveness, no distraction, and no impatience to finish and leave. The girl stood in the center of the garden with her head slightly tilted, seriously observing every trace of mana fluctuation on Luolan’s body.
Yuna had actually found her conscience and started explaining some tips on high-speed chanting, mana release, and multi-element resonance.
‘Good heavens, the sun must have risen from the west.’
After finishing the practice, Luolan noticed that his synchronization rate with Yuna had indeed risen. He happily expressed his gratitude to her.
However, the girl had a look on her face as if she had seen a ghost. She stood frozen in the garden, watching Luolan’s back disappear into the corridor leading to the living room.
After dinner was the customary study time, both for Luolan and Clovie.
He felt that this quiet atmosphere was very much like a school study hall. It seemed that since arriving in the capital, the time he had to sit quietly and read had quickly diminished to a point where he could count those moments on one hand.
Only a single desk lamp was lit in the study, its warm yellow glow spreading in a small circle across the desk. Clovie sat opposite Luolan, her silver hair falling over her shoulders, her fingertip lightly pressing the edge of a page.
The girl was reading very intently, but Luolan found it difficult to focus.
The book in his hands had been open in front of him for half an hour, but his gaze kept drifting across the table. The gentle glow gilded Clovie’s profile in a soft orange. She was wearing a light gray dress tonight with an intricate ribbon at the collar. As she leaned forward slightly, it revealed a small section of her pale, slender collarbones.
Luolan looked away and took a sip of the black tea beside him. Elia’s tea-making skills were as excellent as ever; the temperature was perfect, and the aroma was rich.
In front of Clovie sat a cup of warm milk. The head maid insisted it helped with sleep, though Luolan doubted whether Clovie, looking as spirited as she did, really needed help sleeping.
Suddenly, a soft *thud* came from across the table.
Clovie had closed her book.
Luolan looked up and met her gaze as she stared directly at him. The girl simply watched him until Luolan began to feel a bit guilty.
“…What is it?” He set down his teacup, his voice unintentionally softening. “Is something wrong?”
Clovie didn’t speak. She just pursed her lips, looking a bit displeased. The girl reached out, her slender fingers crossing the table to lightly tug at Luolan’s sleeve.
“Hm?”
“What do you mean ‘Hm’!”
Clovie raised an eyebrow and waved her other hand in front of him.
“Did you forget something important?”
Something important?
Luolan blinked, searching his mind.
Seeing his blank expression, Clovie’s frown deepened.
“It’s the mana rampage!” the girl said, her voice rising. “The date is almost here. You didn’t forget, did you?”
Luolan opened his mouth, then nodded as the realization hit him.
He really had forgotten.
So much had happened lately that he had actually pushed such an important matter to the back of his mind. Although Clovie’s internal mana circuits had stabilized after years of guidance, they still needed him to personally adjust them at regular intervals. Otherwise, there was still a danger of a rampage.
” — You definitely forgot, didn’t you?”
Clovie leaned forward, staring into his eyes.
“Don’t be silly.” Luolan looked away. “I was just thinking about something else.”
The girl didn’t say anything else. She just gave a soft huff, stood up from her chair, walked around the desk to Luolan’s side, and grabbed his hand without allowing any room for argument.
Clovie’s fingertips were slightly cool, but her palm was very soft.
“Come here.”
She pulled Luolan up and led him toward the large, soft sofa on the other side of the study — a relaxation area Elia had specifically set up at her request.
Luolan allowed her to lead him, but a strange feeling rose in his heart.
…When did it start? This subtle change.
Was it because of Clovie’s proactive move that night in the living room? Or was it even earlier, on those nights in the castle when they were the only two there and she would sneak into his room?
It was hard to pinpoint in the moment.
But right now, as Clovie pulled his hand and pressed him into the sofa, Luolan suddenly felt his heart racing. The girl sat directly on his lap, the distance between them so close that he could smell the faint scent of her hair.