Chapter 385: Danger always approaches in a harmless form

Ever since her unpleasant parting with Kuer Si last time, Ilana had grown accustomed to frequenting the cafeteria alone.

Due to her cold, unapproachable temperament, as well as some rumors quietly circulating among the apprentices regarding her and Prince Kelin, very few people now dared to approach her.

Finn had once kindly reminded her that someone was deliberately spreading these stories, yet Ilana did not care.

If Prince Kelin didn't care, what reason did she have to worry?

Moreover, the fact that others kept their distance wasn't a bad thing for her; she quite enjoyed this simple and regular life.

Attending classes, going to the laboratory, and then burying herself in that vast, boundless academic world.

She found that compared to dealing with those complex and difficult interpersonal relationships, elegant and rigorous mathematical formulas were far more interesting.

Especially after witnessing Kuer Si's "change of face."

One morning, Ilana sat alone in the corner of the cafeteria as usual, using her table knife to carefully cut her bread into tiny shapes while pondering a mathematical problem she hadn't solved the night before.

Just then, a figure suddenly sat down opposite her, their slightly broad shoulders blocking some of the light cast by the magic crystal lamp.

Ilana looked up, somewhat surprised, and saw a strange face with a hint of baby fat.

She was wearing a blue apprentice robe symbolizing the status of a Mage, her hair was chestnut-colored, and she smiled with a simple, cute honesty, much like a sunflower blooming in a field.

"Are you Ilana?"

"Yes..." Ilana nodded cautiously, stopped her table knife, and asked hesitantly, "Is there something you need?"

"My name is Anjie! Sorry to bother you. I've been studying calculus recently and there are some problems I really can't figure out. Could I ask you for some guidance?"

"Of course." Looking at Anjie, who was humbly asking for advice, a look of surprise appeared on Ilana's face.

For a Mage to actually ask a preparatory student like herself for help was a rare occurrence in the strictly stratified Academy.

Anjie seemed to notice her confusion and smiled embarrassedly, though she offered no explanation.

She reached out with her chubby little hand, quickly took out paper and a pen she had already prepared from her backpack, and respectfully handed them across the table.

A math problem was written on the paper, which didn't look difficult at all.

To be honest, compared to the problems Prince Kelin assigned to Miss Orphia, the problem Anjie was asking about was not just simple—it could even be called "basic."

And—

Hadn't Prince Kelin seemed to cover this in class?

After taking it and thinking for a moment, Ilana quickly found the solution.

"Senior Anjie, look here," she said, picking up the quill and gently drawing a circle around a key node in the equation, explaining patiently, "The core of this problem isn't solving for a fixed value, but understanding the concept of 'infinitely approaching.' You can't use the conventional substitution method; instead, you should first try to simplify the expression..."

Her voice was crisp and steady, her train of thought clear, and in just a few words, she dissected a seemingly complex limit problem with perfect clarity.

Anjie nodded repeatedly as she listened, the confusion on her face gradually dissipating, replaced by a pleasant surprise of sudden realization.

When Ilana finished her explanation, she couldn't help but clasp her hands together, looking at Ilana with an expression bordering on worship, and exclaimed sincerely.

"So that's how it is! I understand now, Junior Ilana, you are simply... too amazing! This problem has troubled me for several days, but after hearing you explain it, I feel enlightened!"

"I'm not as amazing as you say..." Ilana scratched her cheek, somewhat embarrassed, and returned the paper and pen to Anjie.

"Not at all! You must have exceptional qualities to have gained Prince Kelin's favor. Whether it's your beauty or your knowledge."

Anjie giggled as she took the quill, looking at Ilana, who wore a slightly troubled expression, and continued with great enthusiasm.

"Junior Ilana, can I ask you if I have questions I don't understand in the future?"

"Of course... If my immature knowledge can provide you with inspiration, it would be my honor." Ilana didn't know why this senior was so polite, to the point that even she, who rarely used formal humble language, couldn't help but respond with courtesy.

But to be honest, she actually had a pretty good impression of this simple and polite senior; compared to the ulterior motives behind Kuer Si's enthusiasm, she seemed to be purely asking for knowledge.

At the very least, Ilana couldn't see what this senior could possibly want from her for the time being.

If it was to get close to her in order to enter Prince Kelin's laboratory, it would just be a waste of effort, as she was only an apprentice herself.

The seeds of friendship were sown right then and there.

For the next several days, Anjie followed her like a shadow, dragging Ilana along to eat and attend classes every day, making her, who had originally been a loner, look less out of place with those around her.

Not only that—

The problems this Senior Anjie asked went from shallow to deep, and her attitude was sincere and humble, allowing Ilana to see the shadows of many classmates who studied diligently in the laboratory in her.

Although Ilana was occasionally confused by this sudden enthusiasm, she didn't think too much of it.

Besides, she actually liked using her knowledge to solve other people's problems.

That pure sense of accomplishment not only made her feel at ease, but also made her feel that the knowledge Prince Kelin had given her was meaningful.

It wasn't, as those apprentices standing outside the door watching the fun thought, just some useless, flashy tricks.

Thus, a week passed peacefully, and it was lunchtime again; Anjie sat with Ilana as usual, chatting about the daily life of the Mage Tower.

Poking a sausage on her plate with a fork, she looked at the bustling apprentices in the cafeteria, all discussing the same thing, and sighed as if inadvertently.

"Sigh, the All-Souls Festival is almost here; lately, everyone's topic of conversation can't leave the 'Labyrinth Trial'."

When she said this, Anjie suddenly turned her head, looking at Ilana with her usual sunny smile, her eyes filled with anticipation as she spoke.

"Ilana, aren't you curious? That's the Academy's annual grand event!"

"It's alright," Ilana was sipping her soup in small mouthfuls; she nodded gently and answered calmly, "Many people in the laboratory are preparing for it, I've heard a bit about it."

Of course she knew about the All-Souls Festival; there were many senior apprentices in the Magitech Laboratory who were actively preparing for it.

It was said to be a rehearsal for the Sage Trial, and also an important opportunity for senior apprentices to leave a deep impression on various mentors and professors before graduation.

Especially for those senior apprentices who planned to stay in the Mage Tower, they could be said to be determined to win this trial.

Once she became a Mage, she also planned to give it a try.

Seeing that Ilana seemed to have ideas, Anjie's eyes lit up instantly. She leaned forward slightly, saying with an encouraging excitement.

"Then... do you want to try it out?"

"Me?"

Ilana was stunned by her sudden proposal, subconsciously put down her soup spoon, and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"Senior Anjie, don't joke. I'm just a preparatory student, my magic level is only at the Black Iron tier, and the attack spell I'm most proficient in is probably... casting a fireball and not burning myself. Wouldn't I just be adding to everyone's trouble if I went?"

She paused and added, "Besides, I heard that preparatory students aren't qualified to participate in the Labyrinth Trial."

"That's where you don't understand!" Anjie immediately smiled enthusiastically, waved her hand, and said, "The rules only say preparatory students can't sign up, it doesn't say they can't team up with senior apprentices! As long as there are senior brothers or sisters willing to take them, even preparatory students can participate!"

"So that's how it is..." Ilana looked at Anjie in surprise; this was the first time she had heard this, no wonder one of her roommates seemed to be secretly preparing for it.

"That's right, that's right! That's exactly it! Although our Academy is sometimes quite rigid, it's still very flexible where it needs to be!"

Anjie seized the opportunity, looking at Ilana with sincere and expectant eyes, and issued a formal invitation.

"Our team happens to be missing one companion, Ilana, come with us! You're so smart, you can help us analyze the rune structures of the labyrinth or something in the back. As for safety, you don't have to worry at all!"

As she spoke, Anjie patted her slightly plump chest and guaranteed.

"I'll protect you!"

That heavy voice did indeed give one a sense of reliability, yet at this moment, Ilana felt more caught off guard.

She waved her hands repeatedly in surprise, laughing bitterly as she said, "This, how could I be so bold, Senior Anjie, my strength is too weak, what if I hold you all back... Why don't you discuss it with your teammates and find someone of the same level, that would be better?"

"Oh, don't worry! My teammates are all very good people, and they are very capable, too!"

Anjie smiled and interrupted her, continuing in an affectionate tone.

"And, and, I've already discussed it with them, they were all very happy when they heard you were willing to come! Besides, the Labyrinth Trial isn't a real labyrinth, the difficulty isn't as exaggerated as you think, Black Iron tier strength is enough for self-preservation, many adventurers don't even have transcendent power, yet they dare to venture into real labyrinths, let alone you, who are already at the Black Iron tier!"

She paused and continued in a persuasive tone.

"You just need to follow behind us, safety is guaranteed! Besides, you've helped me so much, I have to find an opportunity to repay you."

Ilana said in a low voice.

"No, I didn't mean for you to repay me..."

"That may be so, but I also want to do something for you, I can't always be bothering you..." Anjie looked at Ilana with glistening eyes, her face full of anticipation, "Can you give me this opportunity?"

Ilana fell silent.

She was not a person good at refusing others, especially when the other party was a friend with whom she had a good relationship. Through these days of getting along, she felt that Anjie was a very good person, just not very good at math.

Seeing that Ilana's delicate eyebrows were still tightly locked and she was still hesitating, Anjie suddenly put away that carefree smile and put on an extremely serious and sincere expression.

"Ilana, I am seriously considering this for you." Her voice became solemn, "In the Academy, there aren't many good opportunities like this to publicly showcase your abilities. As a student as gifted as you, you'll surely stay in the Mage Tower to follow Prince Kelin and do research in the future, right?"

She leaned forward and lowered her voice.

"Think about it, if you can stand out in the Labyrinth Trial, even if it's just getting the most basic credits... passing the Labyrinth Trial as a preparatory student, I think even Prince Kelin would look at you with new eyes."

Ilana looked at the enthusiastic Anjie with a bitter smile.

To be honest, she had a clear understanding of her own strength; wanting to "stand out" in the Labyrinth Trial with Black Iron tier skills was simply a fantasy.

Even if the goblins there weren't real goblins, and the man-eating treasure chests wouldn't really eat people...

However, Anjie's enthusiastic invitation, especially the last reason, made it impossible for her to refuse outright.

Perhaps...

Trying it out, it didn't seem like such a bad thing?

This was, after all, a rare qualification, and Prince Kelin had always encouraged his apprentices to actively participate in Mage Tower activities.

In the end, these were all excuses; she just couldn't refuse a friend's request... especially a well-intentioned one.

Ilana finally nodded gently.

"Hmm... I'll consider it."

A sunny, brilliant smile appeared on Anjie's face, and she excitedly hugged the caught-off-guard Ilana, just before that sunny smile gradually turned into something sinister and cunning.

"Oh! Ilana! You're so good! I'm so grateful to you!"

Although it was only an ambiguous answer, she knew Ilana's personality very well. As long as this bookworm hadn't directly refused, it meant she had already agreed...

The afternoon sun shone through the arched windows of the dormitory tower, spilling into Miss Orphia's luxurious single dormitory, which was decorated exactly like the Duke's mansion in the Shengcheng, warm and cozy.

Although the vast majority of apprentices were squeezed into eight-person rooms like sardines in a can, it was clear that not everyone needed to exercise that damn willpower and social ability.

"Miss, there is a letter for you."

The maid responsible for Miss Orphia's daily life respectfully presented a letter tied tightly with cowhide paper.

At this very moment, Orphia was idly flipping through a "Poetry Collection" brought from the Shengcheng, as a pastime during her leisure time from studying magic and science.

Hearing that she had a letter, she raised an eyebrow in surprise, a hint of interest rising in her lazy eyes.

In this cold Mage Tower, besides the letters occasionally sent by her father, who else would write to her?

"Aelifite, bring it over for me."

"Yes, Miss." The maid stepped forward respectfully and handed her the letter.

Orphia elegantly extended her fingers, opened the unromantic envelope, and flipped through it.

The handwriting on the letter paper appeared somewhat immature, with even a few slight grammatical errors, and the phrasing was cautious to the extreme.

However, it was clear that this boy named "Sana" had already tried his best; the Luo De Kingdom was, after all, the countryside of the countryside, so it was reasonable that the grammar was different from the Shengcheng.

To get to the point, the boy named "Sana" in the letter, in a tone of almost humble admiration, invited her to meet at the entrance of the Potion Classroom in the North District on the twelfth floor of the Great Sage Tower when the bell rang at dusk today, saying he had something important to discuss with her.

Something important...

What could possibly be important for a boy of this age?

Orphia couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly, a knowing smile blooming in her eyes, much like watching a chimpanzee peeling a banana at the zoo.

"A love letter... hehe... truly interesting."

She placed the letter paper on the table, supported her cheek with one hand, and talked to herself in the air, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible playfulness and joy.

As Miss Castillion, she had too much experience with this kind of thing.

When she was in the Shengcheng, the love letters she received every day could fill a desk drawer, to the point where she needed a carriage to haul them away when cleaning out the trash.

She could even conclude from her rich experience that this love letter must have been written by a little boy who had never been in a relationship, who hadn't even spoken more than ten sentences to girls this year.

Orphia stood up elegantly, walked to the dressing mirror, looked at her own flawless face and brilliant golden hair in the mirror, and sighed gently.

"I'm truly sorry, Mr. Sana, this lady already has someone in her heart... You should save this sentiment for your future wife." She said in a tone of slight regret, her cadence rising and falling as if she were performing in a play.

"Don't be discouraged, this isn't your fault, it's just... I prefer more mature men. What? You'll work hard? Giggle, no need, you couldn't possibly be that person's opponent."

If she were at the Shengcheng Royal Academy of Arts, she probably wouldn't even bother to open a letter like this, which reeked of cowardice even in its signature, and would just have her maid throw it into the fireplace.

But...

This was the Academy, after all.

The maid Aelifite, standing in the corner, silently exited the room and closed the door, pretending she hadn't seen or heard anything.

This was purely for the Miss's sake.

If she were to recall what she had done and said as if no one else were around, she might bury herself in her quilt and wail for an entire day without eating or drinking.

"As a representative of the Castillion family, studying abroad in an imperial vassal state, every move represents the family's honor, and one must never lose decorum. Yes, that's right, Miss Castillion, you are a woman who can stand on her own, you cannot lose face over such a small matter."

Orphia nodded with satisfaction at herself in the mirror, "Cannot let the barbarians think that we people of the Castillion family are unmannered barbarians."

She would never admit that the reason she was willing to open this letter, and even planned to go to the appointment, was not because of any family honor, but purely because of the small, restless vanity deep in her heart.

Back when she was in the Shengcheng, the love letters she received could fill a carriage, and she was the focus of people's attention wherever she went.

But here, these unromantic Mage apprentices didn't even dare to write her a letter! And this love letter from a greenhorn was the first letter she had received!

How could this be?!

Miss Castillion can refuse to accept, but that doesn't mean you can not write!

She longed for more attention, and especially hoped that this fragrant breeze called "charm" could blow into that Prince's heart.

Just as it was said in "The Adventures of Baron Corsia," which she was currently following—beautiful things need to be set off. Without experiencing the storms on the vast ocean, he would never realize how hard-won the time he squandered in the past was.

How could a female lead who is the center of attention not have a few dejected suitors as foils by her side?

Thinking of this, Orphia made up her mind.

She decided to go to the appointment, or rather—she had to go!

This was a lady's duty, just like Lady Torakiri in "The Art of Love," who, even though she had no interest in Baron Finlyael's rigid tone, still patiently listened to the other party's pouring out, and only offered a magnificent refusal in the final act.

"Aelifite, help me prepare my clothes, the lunch break is almost over—wait, you heard it?!"

Orphia turned her head back with a blushing face, and only when she saw the empty bedroom did the heart hanging in her throat drop, and she slowly let out a sigh of relief.

That was close—

She had accidentally said her inner thoughts out loud again.

The bell at dusk rang leisurely at the top of the tower, announcing the end of the day's classes.

Apprentices left the classroom one after another, and the corridor gradually became lively.

Orphia tidied up her dress, and with a hint of restraint and excitement from playing a "mature lady," she went to the appointment openly and honestly.

Ilana looked at her strangely, always feeling that this friend was a bit unusual today.

"Aren't you going to the laboratory?"

"You go first, Ilana," Orphia flicked her golden hair gently, giving her a triumphant look, "I have some things to handle... truly a headache."

"Do you need my help?" Ilana asked with concern.

"No need, no need, I'll be done soon." Orphia walked out the door along the corner, fearing that her potential competitor would catch up.

She was only going to the appointment for the honor of the Castillion family, and didn't want strange rumors to spread in the laboratory, let alone let Prince Kelin misunderstand.

The Potion Classroom was located in the North District on the twelfth floor, but because the new batch of preparatory students hadn't started Potion class yet, this classroom had been idle for half a year.

When Orphia walked near the Potion Classroom, a familiar name suddenly drilled into her ears, causing her light footsteps to pause slightly.

"... Ilana?"

Out of curiosity, she didn't walk over immediately, but crouched down and quietly hid in the empty, unused classroom next door.

The classroom was dim, and she used the rows of experimental benches and the strange-looking bottles and jars placed on them as cover, moving silently from the back row to the shadows near the door.

Although eavesdropping wasn't something a lady should do, the Castillion family's ancestral motto was that one needn't be bound by rules, so it was approximately tacitly approved by the ancestors.

This position was just right.

Looking at the sunset halo printed on the corridor window glass, Orphia, hiding under the table, felt secretly happy; it seemed that even Saint Xisi had tacitly approved of her peeping.

The glass reflecting the light was like a mirror, allowing her to clearly observe the corner of the corridor outside the classroom, where several figures were talking sneakily.

And from the well-lit corridor, it was extremely difficult to see her hiding in the shadows of the dim classroom.

"Is it done?"

"Hehe, it's done, Miss Lastina."

Orphia's eyes widened slightly.

She recognized almost at a glance that the fat girl with a flattering smile on her face, who was as respectful as a servant, was none other than Anjie, who had been inseparable from Ilana for the past few days!

And standing in front of Anjie at this moment was a girl with exaggerated golden drill-like ponytails and an arrogant expression.

Judging from her superior expression and bossy attitude, she must be the Miss Lastina Anjie mentioned.

What were they doing?

Why did they suddenly mention Ilana's name?

And...

What was that "done"?

With strong curiosity and unease, Orphia swallowed her saliva and listened carefully.

She saw Lastina nod with satisfaction, the corners of her mouth curling into an elegant smile. Before she could speak, another girl standing next to her said with a wicked smile.

"Great, Anjie, well done! Next, we just need to take her to the deepest part during the Labyrinth Trial, and accidentally get separated while she's entangled with the hungry 'Beating Vine'... giggle, that picture must be beautiful."

A chestnut-haired girl next to her added with a wicked smile: "We can also add a few 'Acid Slimes,' their acid can corrode fabric. It won't take half a minute before there's an extra naked, beautiful girl in the labyrinth... I hope she can hold on until she walks out."

"Haha! It's a pity there are no real goblins in the labyrinth, otherwise she might have to walk out with a big belly, haha." Anjie let out a vicious, sinister laugh.

This remark reminded the girls of something, and the chestnut-haired girl said eagerly.

"Why don't we go to the adventurers and buy two? I heard there are real ones available in the Artisan Street!"

"Alright, you guys stop coming up with bad ideas, the Academy's Mages aren't fools, do you think they can't tell the difference between a real goblin and a fake goblin?"

Lastina interrupted the brainless remark in a leisurely manner, then looked at the girl who was bowing her head in fear and said, "Don't do unnecessary things that leave evidence. Our goal is to teach her a lesson, make her lose all face in front of Prince Kelin, preferably so she has no face to continue staying here... that's enough."

She paused, and that elegant smile gradually turned into something sinister.

"However, the Acid Shi Shi Laimu idea is not bad... it can let more people properly appreciate the sorry state of that bitch."

Laughter filled the corridor, along with whistles that replaced applause.

"Hahaha!"

"It's a bargain for those young guys."

"I hope someone brought a recording crystal!"

Hearing this, Orphia's face turned completely cold, and cold anger flickered in those water-blue eyes.

So that was it—

She knew these dirty tricks all too well.

In the Royal Academy of the Shengcheng, only the most low-class minor nobles would use such base methods to bully those citizens who had entered by their own strength. Only because their family crests had long been covered in dust could they only manifest that pitiful authority in their hands through such methods.

The Castillion family disdained this, and even Miss Lanbell, whom she hated the most, held herself in high enough regard to disdain such sordid business.

She just didn't expect that the Academy, which was regarded by countless imperial subjects as a holy land of academics, would actually have such sordid things!

"Daring to touch my friend... very good."

Orphia sneered coldly in her heart, having already made up her mind to give these blind guys a "surprise" they would never forget...

The matter of the love letter and the confession had been forgotten completely.

Without continuing to wait for the little boy named "Sana" to appear, she tiptoed away from the empty classroom...

There were more important things to do now.

Just as Orphia was tiptoeing away, she didn't notice that there was another person hiding in the empty classroom.

Behind the gently swaying curtains, Sarah's figure merged with the darkness, her cat-like vertical pupils taking in everything that had happened here.

She watched Orphia hide in the classroom, heard the vicious plans of those senior apprentices, and finally saw the cold anger and determination to pay them back on Orphia's face.

Very good.

Just as the Demon King said, she didn't need to do everything herself, she just needed to place the chess pieces where they should appear, and then watch the changes.

Sarah gained another bit of insight into her work.

Confirming that the Demon King's plan had unfolded exactly as expected, she didn't linger, and like a drop of ink merging into the night, she disappeared silently into the shadows under the dusk.

As if she had never existed...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 386 =====