It was approaching 4:30 in the afternoon. The sun had already tilted down from its high position, shining diagonally through the tall floor-to-ceiling windows into one side of the classroom. The light had deepened in color, taking on a golden hue with hints of orange-red, adding a soft touch to the room.
The desks, empty chairs, and steps were all bathed in a fading glow, as if quietly narrating the passage of time.
At the back of the classroom, behind the spacious wooden long table, only Huberrian and Lanqi remained.
Huberrian didn't know why Lanqi was looking at her.
But after some thought, she met Lanqi's gaze, staring into his beautiful emerald pupils, and advised:
"Lanqi, you shouldn't get involved in my affairs anymore. There's no need for you to be dragged into this..."
However, upon hearing this, Lanqi wasn't moved at all. He just blinked, his eyes calm and unperturbed.
"I won't stand by and watch my friend being bullied. Besides, when Modan called me a 'clumsy lawyer' earlier, didn't you want to defend me too?"
Lanqi smiled, always returning kindness with kindness,
"Anyway, if you need any legal help, you can come find me at Room 101 in the Sage Academy dormitory. Once I pass the bar exam, I'll be able to hang up a sign for [Lanqi Law Firm] next to my dorm room door."
"..."
Once again, Huberrian found herself unable to respond with any words.
...
Lanqi's words were overheard by other students.
Although still no one came to bother Lanqi, who looked too tired to deal with strangers.
But many people were pricking up their ears to hear what else Lanqi and Huberrian might say.
The rules of Icerite Academy were actually very humane.
Because there were often students with unique talents, such as blacksmiths, sculptors, painters, chefs, pharmacists, card makers, etc., who would make their dormitories as popular as shops, frequently visited by students from various departments and grades.
The school tacitly allowed this diverse campus life and social interaction.
But a law firm...
It seemed like no one had really heard of that before.
Who the hell needs to find a lawyer at school!
This is a magic academy, not a law school!
...
The branches and leaves of the trees on campus swayed gently in the breeze, their shadows dancing on the classroom floor like a silent ballet.
Students came and went on the campus paths, with distant laughter and conversations occasionally drifting into the classroom, making time feel both ethereal and incredibly real.
Eventually.
After much deliberation, Huberrian nodded and accepted Lanqi's sincere goodwill.
"If I can find my father, I will definitely have him invite you to become an advisor to the Alansar Duchy with the highest honors."
Huberrian's expression was one of solemn promise.
Although it was more likely to be an empty check, it represented Huberrian's attitude -
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She acknowledged Lanqi as a friend, and he was also a friend of the Alansar family.
And the Alansar family always repays kindness!
"An advisor to the Duke's family? If that really happens, it would be quite a prestigious title. If my old man knew I was doing so well in the capital, he'd probably have a seizure..."
Lanqi smiled upon hearing this. He didn't care whether this promise could be fulfilled or not, but just marveled at his new friend,
"Huberrian, although you always appear cold and heartless, you're actually surprisingly kind-hearted inside."
"What do you mean?"
Huberrian didn't understand why Lanqi would say this.
"Because you've always been thinking about finding your father, not about inheriting the family yourself."
Lanqi explained with a smile.
"..."
After hearing Lanqi's words, Huberrian's eyes gradually lowered, as if sinking into an inescapable sadness. She couldn't say anything for a long time.
Until a little while later.
"...Father, he'll be fine."
Huberrian's expression still didn't seem to show much emotion, but her mood had obviously become quite complex.
She had risked her life to investigate some clues related to her father's disappearance, only to find them vaguely pointing towards the Creise Empire in the south.
She was too weak now.
Not only was she alone and powerless.
She also couldn't distinguish who was friend or foe or mole in this capital.
Going to the Creise Empire alone to investigate would only be suicide.
She must become stronger quickly. Perhaps her father could still be saved, but she needed to find him as soon as possible...
However, Huberrian would never tell Lanqi any of this.
She couldn't let Lanqi get involved any deeper.
"Are you considering challenging a Shadow World? Let's team up and give the Shadow World a little shock."
Seeing Huberrian sink into silence and not speak for a long time, Lanqi finally asked tentatively.
Among the people he knew now, Huberrian was undoubtedly the most cooperative teammate.
Not only did they have experience working together, but Huberrian had also been very reliable during their previous battle.
This was also why they were able to cooperate and clear the super double version of [Infinite Phantom Valley] that day.
Huberrian's fingers froze on the book page. She stared blankly at Lanqi, her mouth slightly open, as if wanting to say something, or as if trying to breathe fresh air.
"...Do you, want to challenge it with me?"
Finally, she cleared her thoughts somewhat and asked in a daze, still trying to understand this sudden news from Lanqi, this not-so-realistic invitation.
"Of course."
Lanqi's tone was certain and affirmative.
Huberrian lowered her head, staring at the surface of the desk, biting her lip, seemingly very conflicted.
The reason Lanqi was so friendly to her was because he didn't know yet that she was half demon.
She didn't know how to open her mouth to confess to Lanqi.
Even though the current friendship might just be a bubble accompanied by an illusion, ready to burst and dissipate at any moment, she still didn't know how to pop it herself.
"You can change your mind anytime."
Huberrian said in a low voice, looking down.
This was equivalent to agreeing to Lanqi's team invitation.
But she also accepted that Lanqi could unilaterally change his mind at any time.
"I knew you would agree! Why don't we go challenge a Shadow World today while the Magic Engineering Department is still open? I really can't stand this class anymore. Which bastard added 'Non-Verbal Spellcasting' to the required courses this year? I can't learn it at all!"
Lanqi couldn't help but complain as he thought of this morning's class, feeling a pain in his brain.
He hadn't expected the Sage Academy courses to be so difficult, or perhaps his talent for practical magic was really too poor.
Especially this 'Non-Verbal Spellcasting' course, it had really tortured Lanqi. He clearly remembered it wasn't in the required curriculum before, but just happened to be added this year with the curriculum reform!
"Today?"
Huberrian murmured in a daze.
She clearly hadn't expected Lanqi's initiative to be so wild.
This was even more surreal than a spur-of-the-moment journey, making her heart suddenly pound chaotically in her chest!
For a moment, she didn't know what expression to use to speak, or what voice to use to respond.
"Yes, right now."
Lanqi stretched vigorously, as if stretching his muscles and bones,
"Want to come with me?"
When he leaned back in his chair and looked at Huberrian again, his face showed an absolutely confident smile.