Chapter 574

The northern wind howled in the wilderness, and the wind and snow submerged the lights of the craftsman street, but did not bury the liveliness behind the glass windows.

The "Gears and Malt" restaurant was filled with the fragrance of roasted meat and beer, and the noisy sound almost pulled down the brass chandelier that was swaying precariously overhead.

Adventurers shouted loudly about today's harvest, while those craftsmen complained that the mage masters had too many problems, and there were also a few apprentices arguing about rune configurations.

Generally speaking, most people are unwilling to admit the value of the scientific school, but in the past two years, many apprentices have used geometric principles in the design of magic arrays.

Craftsmen on the craftsman street are also the same.

Because that stuff is really easy to use.

Usually, the mages of the Academy don't like to walk into the craftsmen's kitchens. Unless life is really tight, and they can't even pay for the most humble meal in the Mage Tower.

However, such an embarrassing thing as not being able to pay for a meal obviously wouldn't happen to Miss Castellion, who was rich enough to rival a nation.

She sat here purely because someone had brought her here.

Before leaving this snowy field that carried too many of her memories, she wanted to taste the taste of the past again and share this memory with her best friend.

Ofia cut the sizzling sausage on the plate, elegantly as if cutting a top-grade steak.

And Ilana was decomposing the roasted pork knuckle with a knife and fork; although her movements were also quiet and elegant, the food on her plate was completely different from her own cold and quiet temperament.

"The smoked flavor here is very special, it's a taste I haven't tasted in the Shengcheng."

"Speaking of which, it's really surprising, I thought you would prefer more exquisite food."

"Generally speaking, it is, but occasionally I also want to change my taste."

Forking a piece into her mouth, Ofia narrowed her water-blue eyes slightly, as if thinking of some pleasant past events.

Chewing and tasting the mellow and delicious meat juice, after swallowing the food in her mouth, she said in a pleasant voice.

"Speaking of which, this was recommended to me by Prince Kelin."

"Did you often eat together before?" Ilana looked at Ofia in surprise, her cold eyes carrying a trace of imperceptible envy.

"Not often, just occasionally."

Ofia put down the knife and fork, picked up the napkin and wiped the corners of her mouth gently, her eyes becoming gentle.

"I often ask him for advice on some questions, not only academic, but also in life... you know, being smart is not enough here. If you are not slippery enough, it is easy to be teased by those cunning mages as a fool. And that Prince, he gave me a lot of help at an age when I didn't understand anything. Sometimes I even feel... he is like my father."

Ilana nodded silently, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

"You two have a really good relationship."

For that mentor far away in the south, Ilana was full of awe and gratitude. It was the "Higher Mathematics" he left behind that opened a door to truth for her, and also made her realize that transcendent power and soul level were not everything in this world.

A soul is noble because of its contribution to this world, not only noble souls are worthy of doing those great things.

However, precisely because this kindness was too heavy, she, who was introverted by nature, always felt indebted, and instead felt embarrassed to take the initiative to write to disturb him.

After all, that Prince should receive many letters on weekdays.

"That's for sure."

The corners of Ofia's mouth rose slightly, her pleasant voice carrying a bit of excitement, and her index finger lightly flicked the hair tail crossing her shoulder.

"After all, I am his favorite student."

Not showing off.

She just simply wanted to share this happiness with her good friend.

Ilana was sincerely happy for her, forking a piece of potato and fiddling with it on the plate, but in her heart she was thinking, if only she could have half of Ofia's confidence.

However, for those things she couldn't get, Ilana didn't feel too much regret. After all, with Ofia by her side, it was the same for her to possess them.

Just yesterday, they had just passed Professor Hector's hellishly severe assessment together. That was the victory of the scientific school, and also a turning point in their lives.

Ofia promised her that they would have their own independent laboratory in the Great Sage Tower, and have enough time and resources to verify the conjectures of the scientific school, and continue to carry forward the light Prince Kelin left on this snowy field.

If there really was such a day, and she could let the light of science shine on this snowy field, perhaps it could be considered as repaying the kindness of Prince Kelin's care all along.

Perhaps by then, she could also be more confident than she was now...

However, just as Ilana was thinking this, Ofia's words were like a basin of ice water, extinguishing the yearning in her heart.

"By the way, Ilana. I'm going back to the Shengcheng."

Clang—

The fork in Ilana's hand fell onto the plate, making a crisp and abrupt sound.

"Back... to the Shengcheng?"

She couldn't care about picking up the fork, looking at her best friend in surprise, this companion who had just been promoted to an official magic apprentice yesterday.

"Are you saying... vacation?"

Intuition told her that Ofia's expression was not about vacation, and she gradually realized that this was a farewell meal.

And Ofia's next words also confirmed the anxiety in her heart.

Only seeing Ofia take a deep breath, she said in a calm tone.

"No, it's going home."

"But... why?"

"Hmm... you should be able to guess, right?"

Ofia lowered her head, unwilling and afraid to look at those sincere eyes, fearing to expose the true secret hidden in her heart, as well as the unwillingness under that forbearance.

She actually didn't want to leave either.

Even, if it were her two years ago who hadn't experienced the "Labyrinth Incident," she would definitely have fought to the end with those mages for justice.

However, now, she knew very well that such persistence was meaningless; rashly challenging a group of devils far stronger than herself would only let justice die for no reason, and let the devil lie into the grave that belonged to it.

So she followed Kelin's arrangement—

Preserve strength, wait for the opportunity.

Her index finger circled the increasingly messy hair tail, and she used a tone of pretending to be relaxed to say the "willful" answer word by word.

"I came to the Academy although it was also to study, but more to follow Prince Kelin's footsteps. My father said I would give up, now it seems... he once again saw his immature daughter correctly."

Ilana's lips trembled slightly.

"So... you just gave up like this?"

"Otherwise?"

Ofia raised her head, a helpless bitter smile hanging on her face, hiding the shocking information that could shake the entire Academy perfectly under that straightforward and green mind.

"Two years have passed, he has never returned. I also gradually understand that some waiting may be destined to have no results. And, my father's health has not been good lately, family affairs are piled up like a mountain, I am the daughter of the Castellion family, I can't always stay in the ivory tower willfully."

Ilana opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but didn't know where to start, and the calm thoughts on weekdays became a ball of tangled yarn.

Yesterday they were still cheering in the classroom, looking forward to sailing in the ocean of truth in the future. How could all this come to an abrupt end today?

She looked at Ofia's eyes, although there was a smile in those water-blue eyes, they seemed to be covered with a layer of fog that couldn't be seen through.

Although she was not good at socializing, Ilana's intuition told herself that what she heard was by no means the whole truth.

Ofia was not the kind of person who would give up lightly because of a little setback, and she didn't look like she had encountered a setback.

However, Ilana didn't ask anything in the end.

Merely as a friend, she had no position to question the family responsibilities of a noble lady, and could only silently bless her.

Silence spread between the two.

For a long time, Ilana found her voice, trying to cover up the anxious emotions, and said in a very light voice.

"If you leave... what should the scientific school do?"

This is the most realistic problem.

Although the scientific school has emerged because of the "Science" journal and a large number of simple and easy-to-use "scientific tools," it is still not recognized by the mainstream of the Academy.

Even, not only is it not recognized, the candidate for sage Uriel has always held a suppressive attitude toward the scientific school, and the Great Sage acquiesced to his arrogance.

Ilana had no doubt that if it weren't for the Castellion family crest as a shield, Professor James Wali's laboratory would have been deprived again.

That is the last place for the scientific school.

Losing that place, they, these magic apprentices and researchers from commoner backgrounds, would probably be eaten clean by Professor Uriel.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm worried about."

Ofia sighed and put down the knife and fork in her hand.

She looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to this table, and took out a letter that had been prepared from her pocket.

That was a thin envelope, with the bronze seahorse crest of the Castellion family covered at the seal, lifelike under the dim lamp light.

She pressed the letter on the table, pushed it slowly to Ilana, and said in a tone of unprecedented solemnity.

"... So, don't stay here either."

Ilana was stunned.

"I...?"

"Yes."

Ofia's voice was very low, but unusually firm.

"I know this request might be a bit willful, but you are my most trusted friend, I can only entrust this matter to you... please listen to me calmly."

"The Castellion family has no influence here. If I am not here, no one can protect you. So... I hope you take Jamie, take Ram, and everyone else who is willing to go with you, and leave here."

"This letter will guide you to the south, you will continue your studies there, as well as those unfinished research."

Ilana looked at the letter blankly, then raised her head to look at Ofia, her brain blank.

She had just told her family the good news of her promotion to magic apprentice, but Miss Castellion hoped that she would leave the Academy.

This...

Okay.

If it were the request of the Castellion family, her parents wouldn't say anything. After all, she was an imperial person, and to put it vulgarly, imperial people knew the gold content of this surname, which far exceeded a certificate from the Academy.

It's just that she still wasn't mentally prepared.

This feeling was like her life's boat had just set off, and it was blown to other shipping lanes by an invisible wind.

"South..."

"Yes, downstream of the Rushing River, there is a place called Lei Ming City, although you may not have heard of it, but it already has the soil needed for 'science'."

Unlike the at-a-loss Ilana, Ofia's tone was like arranging everything, when she didn't know anything at all.

Ofia's index finger tapped the envelope lightly, a kind of heat that Ilana couldn't understand burning in those water-blue eyes.

And this also confirmed her suspicion—

Ofia hid part of the truth, the decision she suddenly made was by no means just because of a young lady's willfulness.

"Can you... tell me more clearly?" Ilana asked seriously.

This was not for herself, but to persuade others in the laboratory.

"Unfortunately, this is the last thing I can do for my friends." Ofia shook her head, answering the question irrelevantly.

"... I asked Prince Kelin to help you build a new Mage Tower in the south. Although there is no Void Realm there, nor the magnificence of the Great Sage Tower, there are sufficient funds, people who pursue truth, and our respected mentor."

"But... this is too sudden, can you give me some time?"

"Ilana." Ofia interrupted her, her hands suddenly holding her right hand on the table tightly, the scorching temperature melting the ice on the back of her hand.

"I don't care how others choose, but I hope you listen to me, you are a genius, you shouldn't be buried in the increasingly urgent wind and snow."

"Go to a sunny place, our mentor is waiting for you there."

The sunny Kelin Manor welcomed the night in the noise, the candles on the silver candlestick burned quietly, casting the shadows of several people beside the dining table swaying.

It seemed that a great war was about to arrive, and the fox-eared maid with good eyesight hurriedly pushed the dining cart and left the restaurant.

At this moment, a weak and light delicate cry broke the "armistice agreement" between the Patridge family and the Kelin family.

"Hiss..."

Mia, sitting on the left side of the dining table, lightly rolled up her lace sleeve, revealing her scallion-white forearm.

I saw that on the snow-white skin, there were two rows of neat and clear tooth marks, and there were two small dots at the end.

That was the criminal evidence she deliberately kept.

Hehehe, my dear, my dear, that is your younger sister.

It's reasonable to take off clothes when apologizing, right?

"Kiki, help me see, am I going to get tetanus?" Mia turned to the "best friend" beside her with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful.

Hearing Miss Patridge talking to her, Kiki immediately raised her twelve-point spirit and surprise, holding the arm of this Demon King of Succubus like a treasure.

"Te, tetanus? What is that? Let me see for you."

"It's what Mr. Kelin told me, I heard that the bacteria carried by some wild little animals are so many, will my arm be scarred?"

"Bacteria? Scar, scarred?" Kiki was confused, hadn't heard that a succubus would be scarred after being injured, and what bacteria were.

To be ashamed, she was a high-achieving student of the Demon King Academy, but in front of Miss Patridge, she was like a scumbag who hadn't read a book.

"Will it be scarred?" Mia repeated again.

This time Kiki understood, and immediately covered her mouth exaggeratedly, and that negligible small wound instantly became a disability that could be amputated.

"My God, Miss Yaya! This wound is too deep! That murderer... simply wanted to swallow you alive!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Mia's face.

As expected of the "Eloise" in the hearts of the citizens of Lei Ming City, she is very good at acting!

Kiki laughed helplessly while secretly apologizing to the opposite side of the dining table.

Opposite the dining table, Vivian was holding a cup of black tea, tasting it according to her elder brother's movements. Hearing Miss Patridge's picking on her, the elegance on her face couldn't hold up, and she almost crushed the cup.

However, the little bully of the Demon City didn't make things difficult for ordinary demons.

She just stared at the culprit Mia Patridge, and fire almost sprayed out of those ruby-like eyes.

"Cheep..."

Putting down the teacup heavily, Vivian let out a mocking sneer.

"That's a lesson for a thief! Who told someone to shamelessly wrinkle Elder Brother's clothes in public. Also, who are you calling a wild animal?!"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, she turned her head to look at Xue Nite standing behind her, and pointed to her mouth angrily.

"Xue Nite, get my mouthwash! Just now I accidentally bit a piece of fox fat meat that hadn't been de-fishy, ugh ugh ugh, it almost smoked me to death!"

Xue Nite looked at her master awkwardly, then looked at Miss Mia who was obviously not easy to mess with, and could only bite the bullet and hand over a napkin.

"Miss, please pay attention to the etiquette of a noble..."

"Etiquette is for people, not for the vixen who snatches food!"

Vivian didn't give an inch.

Luo Yan, sitting in the main seat, sighed and put down the teacup, only feeling that this meal was more tiring than fighting a war in the Wan Ren Mountain Range.

Edward looked at him sympathetically, it seems that being too handsome is not all good things.

However, he had to say that Prince Kelin had the ingredients of bringing it on himself, refusing unnecessary kindness is a compulsory course for a gentleman.

Unfortunately, Edward didn't know that indecision was exactly the persona of "Rox Kelin," Kelin was just loyal to his persona.

Just as the war was about to escalate into the Second World War, the brave lady who had been silent finally couldn't help but do something.

It wasn't because she couldn't stand the gunpowder-filled atmosphere, but because she felt she should contribute her own strength to the harmony and tranquility of this home.

Moreover, she had official business to do.

"Prince Kelin."

Princess Ailin took a deep breath, looking at Kelin who was sitting on pins and needles seriously.

"The air here... is a bit too stuffy. Regarding some concepts we discussed at the front line before, I would like to ask you to move to the study to talk in detail, I don't know if it's convenient for you?"

This proposal was simply a life-saving straw.

Luo Yan stood up immediately, moving as if he had been prepared for a long time.

"As you wish, I also have some thoughts I want to talk to you about at length."

The war between the Patridge family and the Kelin family was still burning, and neither of the two demons noticed that the Demon King had been stolen by the brave.

The study on the second floor seemed to be another world.

The oak door engraved with underworld scripts completely isolated the noise downstairs, the fire in the fireplace jumped quietly, sprinkling warm light on the walls full of books.

Princess Ailin sat restrainedly on the velvet sofa.

And Luo Yan lightly flicked his index finger, letting the teapot on the tea cabinet float automatically, pouring a cup of warm black tea for the two.

Holding the hot tea poured by Luo Yan, the clear fragrance lingering on the tip of her nose finally relaxed Princess Ailin's tense nerves.

She opened the conversation with a chatty tone.

"Your home is really lively."

Luo Yan made a helpless smile.

"Let you laugh."

"No... I think, it's good to be lively," Princess Ailin also smiled embarrassedly, rubbing the cup wall with her index finger, and said in a small voice, "To be honest, compared to the solemn Campbell Castle, I prefer the feeling of your home. Whether it's the food here, or the fireplace here... all give me a warm feeling."

It seemed that she felt this sentence was a bit ambiguous, Princess Ailin blushed as soon as she said this sentence, and hurriedly wanted to explain that she didn't mean that.

Worried that she would make it darker and darker, and finally wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into, Luo Yan took the initiative to take over the topic with a gentle voice.

"It is my honor to make you feel at home, which shows that the Kelin family did not neglect their noble guests."

Hearing Kelin's words, Princess Ailin breathed a sigh of relief, but a few strands of awkward emotions couldn't help but grow in her heart.

"Is that what you think..."

What she really wanted to ask was actually another sentence.

Just a guest?

Hearing the hidden meaning in this sentence, after Luo Yan thought about it, he gave an answer he thought was most suitable.

"Part of it is, but not entirely."

Princess Ailin raised her head unexpectedly.

¤C〇

"For example?"

Luo Yan said in a gentle tone.

"For me, you are not just a guest."

That snow-white face was covered with red clouds in an instant, and steaming heat seemed to emerge from the silver hair seam... that was of course the heat drifting from the teacup.

He didn't continue to tease the cute brave lady, the evil and elegant Demon King changed the subject and brought the residual temperature to official business.

"So... the official business you just mentioned, was it actually just to confirm this?"

Hearing official business, Princess Ailin scattered the shyness on her face and put on a formal expression.

"That... of course not."

Leaning her arm on the armrest, Luo Yan crossed his fingers on his knees, making an expression of wanting to hear the details.

Princess Ailin put down the teacup, leaned forward slightly, and continued.

"This war made us realize a fatal shortcoming. Although we have achieved excellent achievements in industrial production, when dealing with the threat of transcendent power, especially the joint magic strikes of the Academy mage group, we almost have no power to fight back."

Princess Ailin recalled the tragic war at the front line, especially thinking of the Ryan Battalion that evaporated under the joint casting of the mage group, which still made her linger in fear until today.

The Campbell Principality also had some Steel-tier and even Silver-tier mages, but they mostly fought on their own on the battlefield, serving as a supplement to the main artillery as a mobile artillery.

Whether it was in range, suppression power, or defense against magic... they were too far behind the Academy.

"This is indeed a problem." Luo Yan nodded, "I remember when this war just started, we should have discussed it."

"Yes, later my brother and I also discussed this issue, regarding the concept of the Mage Guild you proposed."

Speaking of this, Princess Ailin's tone carried a trace of gratitude.

"We unanimously believe that this is a genius concept, the Campbell Principality needs an institution of its own for the selection, assessment, and promotion of mages... we cannot send our boys and girls to that group of man-eating demons, hoping for the bottom line and kindness that those mages don't have at all."

Luo Yan smiled.

"I'm glad you think so highly of my suggestion, and I also believe you indeed have the ability to accomplish this."

Noble souls often reincarnate into noble families, this sentence is actually not entirely accurate. It is just like Newton's mechanics formula, only applicable to classical mechanics situations, and not applicable once it encounters extreme situations such as strong gravitational fields, near-light speed, etc.

The Twilight Province has a realistic example, Count Theron Gard of the Que Mu territory, whose soul level is not as good as the strongest knight under him.

For example, selling a fallen noble lady to a ratman cave for breeding, the soul of the offspring born is actually no different from ordinary people... this is written in the experimental log Ma Lusi kept privately.

For another example, the initial panel of some illegitimate children's souls is actually only slightly stronger than ordinary people, such as Ma Lusi himself is an example.

Rather than saying that the reincarnation of the soul follows some kind of matching mechanism attached to the faith system, it is better to say it is the joint action of the matching mechanism and the soul's own desire.

In human terms, the higher the level of the soul, the more information it can obtain when reincarnating, equivalent to reincarnating with eyes open.

They can instinctively go to the land that best matches their mental state, and extreme love and hate are all in this category, even if they are physically separated by a long distance. Not only that, they will also go to the embryo that strongly resonates with their own soul and complete the implantation of the soul... and this step is choosing a family.

As for what script they get, that is another matter.

According to the theory of the Soul School, perhaps only those "fireflies" who drift to this land from the "Sea of Consciousness" in the starry sky for the first time are confusedly put into flesh and blood, truly starting from zero.

It is also precisely because of this that Ma Lusi said the Campbell Principality is a pure land, this sentence is not a groundless fantasy.

There must be more transcendent beings born in this land, just like the Shengcheng has a much higher content of transcendent beings than other places.

That is not only because people in these two places are richer, can afford the holy water and prayers of the priests, and have a higher proportion of people collecting corpses after death, but more because the rich material world has promoted the development of spiritual civilization, and the proportion of normal souls naturally rises with the tide.

Therefore, Luo Yan strongly suggests that people here set up a Mage Tower themselves and decide for themselves what shape to mold their souls into.

Princess Ailin looked at Prince Kelin sitting opposite her seriously, a trace of embarrassment appearing on her face.

"My brother has approved the plan to establish the 'Mage Guild' and promised to provide the highest financial support. However, there is a realistic problem at the moment... we lack people."

The Campbell Principality is after all a hometown of knights, there are knights everywhere here, but mages are few and far between, and they have to be sucked blood by the Academy's Mage Tower.

Occasionally there are a few adventurers from the wild path, the magic they are good at is often not systematic, and most of them learned two tricks from their peers.

Princess Ailin raised her head, those emerald-green eyes looked straight at Kelin, her gaze carrying a bit of expectation, and a bit of embarrassed pleading.

"Kelin, you have teaching experience in the Academy, not only are you knowledgeable, but you are also a powerful mage yourself."

"I want to... ask you to serve as the first president of the Mage Guild, to forge a shield for our principality that can resist magic!"