Chapter 35: Lanchi Arrives at the Ikelite Academy Alone
Chapter 35: Lanchi Arrives at the Ikelite Academy Alone
In the early morning of King Hutton's capital, Lanchi woke up early and set out alone towards the Ikelite Academy.
He passed by the station at the school entrance, witnessing the golden rays of sunrise bathing the entire campus in a vibrant light that invigorated his senses.
Three days had passed since the entrance examination concluded.
Today marked the beginning of Lanchi's campus journey.
Following Teacher Teresa's instructions, he first needed to head to the Magic Engineering Institute to exchange his student ID bracelet before he could move into the academy's residence halls.
During this period, Lanchi and Talia had been staying in a hotel not far from the academy, with Talia occupying the room next to his. Each time Lanchi left his room, Talia would follow closely behind.
Lanchi had already informed Talia that once he moved into the highly secure Ikelite Academy, she wouldn't need to continue protecting him around the clock.
Her wages, however, would remain unchanged.
From now on, Talia would only be bothered when Lanchi needed her guidance or advice.
And so, Talia now enjoyed a newfound sense of freedom, no longer constantly tied to Lanchi as his bodyguard.
She also had her fake identity as a member of the Wilford family, which, as long as she kept a low profile and didn't register with any major associations, was unlikely to be uncovered.
In just a few short months, Talia had left her destitute, wandering life behind and was now relishing a comfortable retirement in the capital of Ikelite, complete with a generous pension.
This morning, as Lanchi and Talia shared breakfast, Talia seemed somewhat dazed, as if she were already retired.
Seeing Talia's improved circumstances, Lanchi felt a sense of relief.
Caring for his elderly master was his way of showing filial piety.
"Speaking of which... every time I think about her age, I feel like she's giving me a look... Am I imagining things...?"
Lanchi muttered to himself as he strolled down the main avenue of the campus.
While it was possible that further enhancement of his innate magic of lie detection might lead to mind-reading abilities, Talia was nowhere near close to attaining such a level.
According to Lanchi's knowledge of the story, Talia wouldn't possess any mind-reading capabilities even in the main storyline two years later.
"So, there's no need to worry. Age isn't a big deal, and she probably doesn't care that much about it anyway."
Lanchi smiled, feeling relieved, as he continued walking towards the old liberal arts building of the Magic Engineering Institute.
The plants on either side of the path basked in the morning mist and sunlight, exuding a delicate fragrance. Along the road were various flowers that Lanchi couldn't name—some vibrant, some subtle, and some oddly shaped.
Accompanied by the songs of birds, the buzzing of bees, and the gentle sound of flowing water, he eventually left the road and entered a soft, flowery meadow. According to the signs, the buildings in this area were nestled within gardens.
After a few minutes of walking.
Lanchi finally arrived at the Ikelite Revival-style building located on the edge of the Magic Engineering Institute—a campus landmark known as the Old Liberal Arts Building.
This historic structure, with its ancient red brick walls adorned with sculptures and reliefs, had once served as a workshop where magic engineers brought their imaginative creations to life. It had been renovated and preserved several decades ago and now provided technical services to students from other faculties who required assistance from the Magic Engineering Institute.
Lanchi looked around and noticed that there weren't many students in the area.
Apparently, only the new first-year students were expected to visit this place during these few days.
It was still quite early, and even the doors of the Old Liberal Arts Building remained closed.
"Oh dear, I came too early... I forgot that people here start work at nine and finish at five, not a minute earlier or later."
Lanchi lamented.
He recalled the laid-back work ethic of the Ikelite people, which contrasted sharply with his own.
Many shops closed as early as five o'clock, forgoing potential profits to ensure they could clock out on time. The school's service departments were no exception.
And so, Lanchi could only stand idle on the lawn, his arms folded in boredom, waiting for the staff of the Magic Engineering Institute to arrive for work.
"Well, it's not a bad idea to take some time to appreciate the leisure that modern people should have. Sometimes, wasting time can be a happy thing."
"Speaking of which, it's not bad to take a stroll and draw inspiration from the surroundings..."
Lanchi looked up, admiring the ancient building that resembled a work of art before him. He felt enveloped by the scent of flowers, grass, soil, and the moist air of the garden, which made him feel rather pleased.
At the top of the Old Liberal Arts Building stood a towering tower, adorned with an intricately carved Ikelite Academy crest.
The base of the crest was a silver shield, symbolizing the firmness and conviction of the Hutton Kingdom. At the center of the shield stood a statue of the Goddess of Destiny, holding a wreath surrounded by a radiant cross, with the Southern Cross constellation in the background, signifying the academy's location in the southern continent.
Inscribed on the white banner at the top of the crest were ancient magical words, conveying the sentiment, "We shall grow in the reverence of posterity."
Merely gazing upon it filled Lanchi with a surge of emotion, as if the last vestiges of sleep from his early morning rise had been completely shaken off.
Unknowingly, he found himself drawn to it, and seconds ticked by without him realizing.
"This craftsmanship... It must be a masterpiece crafted by a master sculptor," Lanchi mused, standing transfixed, his eyes fixed on the crest.
"Indeed. It was created by Gera Zelte, a magic craftsman who graduated from the Ikelite Academy two hundred years ago. If you look carefully, you'll find many of his works around the academy."
A familiar voice, belonging to a blonde-haired young girl, interrupted Lanchi's train of thoughts.
Lanchi snapped out of his reverie, turning to see the figure of Princess Vivian, whom he had met briefly during the entrance exam and who had a less-than-friendly relationship with his teammate, Shubellyan.
Lanchi hadn't expected the princess to arrive so early, but as he looked around again, he noticed that with her arrival, the staff of the Magic Engineering Institute had also begun to arrive and open the doors of the Old Liberal Arts Building.
It seemed that the intricacies of human relationships were the same everywhere.
"Your Highness Vivian, my apologies. I was so engrossed in admiration that I didn't notice your presence," Lanchi said with a hint of a smile, greeting the princess who had also been waiting nearby.
"..."
Vivian paused for a moment.
Initially, she hadn't planned on speaking to Lanchi.
After their previous encounter, she had found his personality a bit challenging to deal with.
He was a bit too much of a do-gooder, a bit naive, yet also sharp-witted.
"What do you think sets this carved crest apart from a manufactured product?" Vivian asked, gazing up at the crest atop the Old Liberal Arts Building, foregoing any pleasantries.
Having interacted with Lanchi twice now, Vivian was certain that this commoner named Lanchi Willford lacked the typical distance and reverence that people generally showed towards the nobility. He seemed more like a traveler from a foreign land devoid of aristocratic culture.
However, Vivian didn't mind this.
Lanchi was indeed a talented individual from their kingdom, and his background was impeccable.
She merely wanted to engage in a conversation with him about the ancient masterpiece atop the tower.
There was an innate quality about Lanchi—a poet, painter, and craftsman all rolled into one—that was uniquely his and impossible to imitate.
It was a rare opportunity to find a peer with whom she could discuss art.
Vivian decided to make use of this leisure time to probe his true character.
(End of Chapter)
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