https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-795-Lanchi-and-Talia-s-Daily-Review/12585560/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-797-Sigrid-s-Retrospective-After-Half-a-Year/12585566/
Chapter 796: The Scent of Mother Talia
Chapter 796: The Scent of Mother Talia
In the dimly lit corridors of the Academy of the Spiral Inferno, tall portrait paintings and mirrors reflected each other, with luxurious obsidian inlays and intricate golden patterns winding around them, lurking in the shadows like hidden denizens of the demon realm.
"Tamisha, let's make a quick stop at the Principal's Office. You can place your order there, and by the time we reach the Demon King's Royal Restaurant, our food should be ready."
As the flickering candlelight danced across the walls, the golden patterns seemed to stir, shimmering with a seductive glow in the darkness.
Even the intricate patterns of demonic flora woven into the carpets seemed to come to life under the subtle lighting, constantly shifting forms and silently devouring all traces of sound.
"Can I order whatever I want?"
"Yes."
The conversation between the two demons echoed through the hallways of the Academy on this quiet night.
Lanchi had spent more time in the Central Energy Room than he had anticipated before their departure.
Although he had asked Sandra to inform Huberian and Sigil beforehand, he feared that they were still wondering about his delay.
By returning to the Principal's Office, he could communicate with the principal's secretary, Lysandra, via magic, and also allow Tamisha to place her order early—a twofold benefit.
"I want to order too."
Talia informed Lanchi, and in the corridor, silvery-white light particles gathered as she manifested in the form of Kaliella.
If they were to encounter Huberian and Sigil later, she wouldn't have the opportunity to reveal herself.
Neither of them knew that Kaliella was now his primary summon.
She also had to personally oversee the dining preparations at the Demon King's Royal Restaurant.
"Please."
Lanchi replied courteously to Talia.
"You don't have to be so formal with me. Just treat me the same way you treat Kaliella. After all, I'm no longer officially your master."
Talia couldn't help but wonder about Lanchi's unusually enthusiastic attitude whenever he took her out for a meal, but she kept these thoughts to herself.
"..."
Lanchi furrowed his brows in thought for a long moment.
He couldn't even imagine what it would be like to have a meal with Kaliella.
"So, how does it feel to have your ideal woman, or rather, women, all rolled into one?"
Talia teased as she drew closer, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Let's not talk about acting, Master. Just the thought of acting with you again makes my head ache."
Lanchi sighed and continued walking forward, his words filled with resignation.
The sensation of Talia's high heels on his scalp was still fresh in his mind.
"I heard from Iftia that Abigail is preparing for 'The Holy War Romance II: The Half-Witch Chapter'. If she decides to invite the original cast back, chances are you and I will be acting opposite each other again."
Talia walked alongside Lanchi, sharing this information.
She acknowledged that the success of their previous play was largely due to Lanchi's efforts, but she had no intention of repeating the same mistake. This time, she was confident in her ability to portray the second female lead, the half-witch.
The half-witch, a hidden childhood friend of the Demon Governor, was gentle, kind, and possessed an innocent charm reminiscent of Hubery.
Having spent so much time living with Huberian, Talia certainly knew how to capture her essence.
"And there's going to be a sequel? I nearly lost half my life in the first one!"
Lanchi exclaimed, holding his head in one hand while the other hand clasped Tamisha's.
If he had to take a step back and consider it, acting with Huberian would be barely tolerable, but the thought of acting with Talia made him want to end his life.
"Hmph, I guarantee that if I were to dress up as Huberian, you wouldn't be able to tell us apart. Your prejudice is blinding you."
Talia's smile turned into a cold smirk as she heard Lanchi's inner monologue.
His preconceived notions about her were simply too strong.
The two of them continued their silent conversation, occasionally glancing at each other, causing Tamisha to look up in confusion, wondering what they were communicating about.
As night fell, the upper floors of the Academy of the Spiral Inferno were enveloped in darkness.
Occasional gusts of wind whispered through the quiet corridors.
The clock had just struck 9:15.
Outside the Principal's Office corridor, footsteps approached.
The heavy oak door was pushed open, and a wave of warmth washed over them. Soft lamplight illuminated the deep brown wooden floors, and in the marble fireplace, demon realm rocks burned quietly, emitting a crackling sound. Lanchi, accompanied by Tamisha and Kaliella, had returned to the Principal's Office.
At the far end of the spacious office, the pool's surface shimmered with a gentle blue glow under the soft lighting, resembling a pure blue sapphire.
"Hey, are you guys in the Principal's Office?"
Lanchi's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted two figures lounging on the sofa—Huberian and Sigil.
Huberian and Sigil were chatting animatedly, sipping on glasses of specially brewed alcohol from the Inferno City of Pasqual.
Their hair was still damp, and towels were draped over the sofa, indicating that they had likely taken a dip in the pool earlier and then soaked in the bathtub in the Principal's Office bathroom before changing into dry clothes and returning to the lounge area to warm themselves with a drink.
"What?! Have you no respect for the Principal's Office?!"
Lanchi exclaimed, shocked at the sight before him.
This was the first time he had encountered students using the Principal's Office for a pool party and then turning it into a bar.
His eyes had certainly been opened to a new side of being a principal.
Without a doubt, Sigil had led Huberian astray.
Upon seeing the office's owner return, Huberian and Sigil, who had been laughing and joking on the sofa, immediately straightened up like guilty children, setting down their glasses and standing at attention with pouty faces, awaiting the principal's reprimand.
"First, explain to me why there's a swimming pool in the Principal's Office."
Talia prodded Lanchi, seeking an answer.
"Oh, right... I think I installed that."
Lanchi scratched his head, suddenly remembering.
"..."
Huberian wanted to say something but stopped herself.
She felt that something was amiss, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Tamisha's bewildered eyes darted back and forth between the group.
Having spent most of her time with Huberian taking exhausting exams since her arrival, she had initially thought that school was a very strict place. Now, she felt like the school was more like an amusement park, depending on whom she was with.
Suddenly, Huberian noticed the small figure standing between Lanchi and Kaliella.
"Huh?"
Huberian rubbed her eyes and then, unable to believe what she was seeing, grabbed Sigil's hand and shook it vigorously.
Had she just hallucinated?
Why did it seem like Lanchi and Tata had a child?
"Do you mean that child over there?"
Sigil allowed Huberian to shake her hand as she asked, "I see her, what about it?"
She looked at Huberian, confused.
"You... you don't think she..."
Huberian trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.
Since Sigil didn't know Tata, she wouldn't make such an assumption.
This gray-haired little girl was just as adorable as a miniature version of Tata.
Wait, why did she automatically assume that if Tata were pregnant, the child would definitely be Lanchi's? After all, Tata and Lanchi were clearly just friends.
Huberian soon realized her mistake.
"That's Tamisha," Lanchi said, noticing Huberian's overly expressive reaction. He sounded weary.
"Phew!"
Huberian heaved a sigh of relief, patting her chest.
She had been worried that Talia was going to have a baby with Lanchi, giving her a little sister.
But upon further thought, that didn't seem realistic.
She must have been having weird dreams lately after watching that play that premiered nationwide in the Krexe Empire.
Besides, Talia wasn't even in this shadow world.
"So, this is what Tamisha looks like?"
Huberian's confusion was quickly dispelled.
She ran over from the sofa and knelt in front of Tamisha, studying her.
Huberian wanted to hug Tamisha but dared not do so, fearing that Tamisha would dislike her as always.
"Do you think I'm ugly?" Tamisha asked, looking directly at Huberian.
She actually felt quite close to Huberian, although Huberian might not have realized it.
Tamisha rarely appeared in this form in front of other demons.
She usually felt weary and rejected her own appearance, and in the darkness of night, no one ever longed for her presence.
Based on what Melogarth had said, she believed that she was an ugly child whom demons despised, so it was only natural that her parents had abandoned her.
"How could that be? If you're ugly, then there's no such thing as a good-looking demon," Huberian exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Mhm, she's a real beauty. You must have inherited your parents' genes, that's why you're so pretty," Sigil chimed in from a distance, her arms crossed.
If such a child were abandoned, she would definitely take her home and raise her as her own daughter.
"My parents?" Tamisha asked, pointing to her own face.
"Your father, Mist Lord, is extremely handsome, and your mother, True Night Lord, is a super beauty. To them, you are undoubtedly their greatest masterpiece and the continuation of their legacy that they hold dear," Lanchi explained, kneeling down to look at Tamisha.
"Is that so?" Tamisha said, sounding unconvinced.
This completely overturned her previous understanding.
"Yes," Lanchi affirmed, gazing intently at her.
His eyes seemed to understand her pain, appearing before her, offering genuine love without a hint of pretense.
"Okay then," Tamisha mumbled, looking down.
Staring at her reflection on the tiled floor, she held back her tears.
Pouting, she had never expected to hear such words.
"Tamisha, don't cry, don't cry," Huberian said, frantically searching for a tissue to wipe away the tears welling up in Tamisha's eyes.
However, this only made Tamisha cry harder.
Huberian turned to the others, seeking help with a desperate look on her face.
"I think..." Sigil began, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
In her opinion, the best way to handle this situation was to train the child's self-adaptation skills, so ignoring the child and leaving her to her own devices was the best approach.
However, her direct subordinate, Gloria, had told her that if she ever had children, she must not raise them like that. While the children might become strong, they might not feel as close to their mother.
"No, no, no, don't you think..." Lanchi understood the look in Sigil's eyes.
Here was another person who didn't know how to raise children; nurturing a child wasn't the same as training wolf warriors.
"Aren't you the same?" Talia said silently to Lanchi, handing him a handkerchief. She gently dabbed at the corners of Tamisha's eyes with it.
She still vividly remembered Lanchi's special training of his classmates at the Ekelith Academy, and how it had scared her away halfway through the group battle.
"I've always been very protective of children," Lanchi explained to Talia via telepathic communication. "But now I realize that perhaps I went a bit too far back then..."
Lanchi reflected, gradually acknowledging this truth.
"You actually realized that, my dear Lanchi," Talia said, surprised that Lanchi had gained self-awareness.
She wasn't sure if Lanchi had grown or regressed in the past year or two.
As Lanchi's thought processes became more and more like those of a normal human, it was difficult to determine whether he had gained or lost something by shedding his divine powers and abandoning his status as a god of love.
"Objects take on the emotions of their owners, and people's emotions are influenced by the objects they cherish. Only in hindsight do we realize that our initial perceptions, time, and experiences are like a clean hand, reaching out to take something away," Lanchi mused, his gaze lowered as he smiled with a sense of relief.
"Indeed," Talia agreed, listening to Lanchi's inner thoughts and unable to deny this herself.
The time she had spent with Lanchi had also changed her in many ways.
With Talia hugging and comforting Tamisha, the little girl gradually stopped sobbing.
"Great."
Seeing a professional woman taking care of the child, Huberian stepped back and breathed a sigh of relief, handing Tamisha back to Kaliella's care.
"Tamisha, let's go eat together, have dinner, sleep, and then I'll take you to eat delicious sweets tomorrow morning."
Talia said, caressing Tamisha's head a little guiltily.
Having been seen through by Tamisha earlier, she was still in Kaliella's disguise, and perhaps, in Tamisha's eyes, she looked ridiculous and laughable.
"Mm-hmm."
Tamisha nodded, her head lowered.
The warmth, softness, and faint floral scent of a mature woman enveloped her entirely, a sensation she had rarely experienced since her birth.
This was the embrace she had rarely felt since her birth.
Seeing Tamisha's well-behaved demeanor, Huberian was completely relieved.
Only Kaliella could do this.
In the entire Demon Realm, only she had a mother's touch.
"That's what they call having a product so good it sells itself. The kids aren't fooled, you're amazing, Mama Tata."
Lanchi gave his full affirmation, speaking from the heart.
Hearing this, Talia raised her head, her cheeks reddening as she stared at Lanchi.
"You... are you a child, too?! You always catch me off guard with your tastings!"
Talia's fists clenched in a mix of shyness and anger as she asked through mind-voice.
Lanchi was taken aback by Talia's question.
Both of them fell silent, feeling awkward.
They realized that regardless of whether Lanchi answered yes or no, Talia's question made their interactions seem rather odd. They could be master and disciple, friends, or partners, but never mother and son.
The clock ticked on.
Tamisha gradually cheered up, ready to go to the Demon King's Royal Restaurant for the dinner she had been looking forward to all day.
Lanchi looked at Huberian and then at Sigil.
They didn't yet know the true situation of this shadow world, reflected by the Tebiriath Mirror.
The mission objectives of the shadow world had already undergone subtle changes.
[Mission Objective 1: Read old friend Kaliella's letter; Go to the Demon Realm Inferno City of Pasqual & Protect the little spark left by Kaliella; Understand the Tebiriath Mirror; Write the ending for the Blood Moon Calamity Era. (Completed)]
[Mission Objective 2: Understand the Heart of Black Sun Lanclos: 49.32%. (Completed)]
[Mission Objective 3: All Challengers Survive Until the 21-Day Time Limit Ends, Remaining Time: 5 Days, 02 Hours, 04 Minutes.]
Although they would not face heavenly tribulation if they waited for the shadow world to end.
But the ending of the Blood Moon Calamity era was still a bad ending.
To completely end it, Lanchi would have to reenact the best ending that Lanclos could achieve in the Blood Moon Calamity era in his true body in the immortal punishment ultimate shadow world.
Tonight's brief gathering was probably the rare peaceful dinner and respite at the end of the shadow world.
They still had work to do.
"You guys go to the Demon King's Royal Restaurant first, I have something to discuss with Sigil."
Lanchi said to Huberian and the others.
"Uh."
Huberian hesitated.
She seemed to understand something, realizing that Lanchi was preparing for work and intended to assign Sigil to assist him.
Huberian also looked at the information of the shadow world and was even more certain of her guess.
It was likely that Sigil would be leaving the Inferno Corridor Academy ahead of time.
At the end of this Blood Moon Calamity shadow world, it meant that she would never see Sigil again.
"Sister, we will meet again, I promise."
Sigil walked over, holding Huberian's hand, and said to her.
She understood that Huberian wasn't ready to part with her yet.
If she hadn't known that they would meet again in the mortal world, Sigil would also feel reluctant to part with her so abruptly.
"Sigil..."
Huberian looked at Sigil, her topaz eyes shimmering with tears.
She didn't understand why Sigil could be so sure, but she wanted to believe her with all her heart.
However, the reality was that she would never see her sister again in the days to come.
They were never meant to be together forever, passersby from different eras.
"Sister, if you really don't want to part with me, can you say something about liking me? When I'm alone and missing you, I can listen to your voice."
Sigil took out a voice-recording gem and asked Huberian.
"Of course."
Huberian immediately nodded, not thinking about when Sigil had prepared the voice-recording tool.
"Sigil, I love you the most!"
She hugged Sigil tightly, pouring out her overflowing emotions.
"I love you, too!"
Sigil recorded Huberian's voice with satisfaction, tucked the gem into her embrace, and hugged Huberian back tightly. The two of them were like magnets, unable to let go of each other for a long time, running back and forth in the Principal's Office.
"You two, don't run into the water."
Talia frowned slightly, watching the two girls acting like oddballs.
The vitality of young people was too strong; if they were in the mortal world, they would probably play until eleven o'clock every night in Ikelite.
But what caught Talia's attention wasn't their overly energetic behavior, but the voice-recording gem that Sigil had briefly taken out earlier.
Sigil's voice-recording gem had a very modern feel to it, like a tool magic card, and didn't seem like something from the Blood Moon Calamity era.
However, Talia thought that it was normal for Sigil to have some knowledge and tools that didn't belong to this era, given how much she interacted with Lanchi.
(End of Chapter)
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